Looking really good, Mark. Well done.
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
quote user="hon30critter"]I hope you washed your face and hands after eating the creamsicle! If it was me, I'd have it spilled all down my shirt too.
Seriously, you are off to a good start, and the gravel will probably correct any colour problems once it is applied.
I am enjoying learning about how you are doing things. Hopefully I will be at that stage in a few months.
Cheers!!
Dave[/quote]Yeah, it was quite a mess!
(Thanks for the kind words.)
21 March 2021
Well, the dirt crossing is finished, except for weeds, ballasting the track on either side, and a bit of detailing. Here's the truck with bear making one of the first crossings. That guy shows up everywhere!
A few of the interim steps...
Here's what it looked like after the Creamsicle drippings dried and I carved and shaved them down with a putty knife:
And after the first layer of dirt went on:
Then the flageways were cut and the top scraped clean to just below the rail tops.
If I'd painted it a concrete color at this point, I'd have had a decent cement grade crossing. But I wanted a dirt crossing, mommy!
So another layer of dirt and a bit more cleanup and I got what I wanted in the top photo.
I also added a couple new pieces of rolling stock to the layout. One was this RTR Bowser covered hopper. The story behind this ugly beast is that a brand new flood loader at the almost-as-new bentonite plant in Lovell came on line, and this was the test car. The chutes didn't close when they were supposed to, and nearly the entire car got buried in the bentonite! There was a half-hearted attempt to rinse it off, and this was the result. Over time rain will clean a bit more of it off, but the car will always look like some disaster overtook it from now on.
Mark P.
Website: http://www.thecbandqinwyoming.comVideos: https://www.youtube.com/user/mabrunton
PruittWell doggone it! I knew I shouldn't have been eating that creamsicle over the layout!
Hi Mark,
I hope you washed your face and hands after eating the creamsicle! If it was me, I'd have it spilled all down my shirt too.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Thanks, Dave and David!
Bear, what can I say? I'm glad you're comfortable leaning against that old station house. I'd be worried it would fall over if I did that.
17 March 2021
Well doggone it! I knew I shouldn't have been eating that creamsicle over the layout!
That is, of course, the bare (ouch!) beginnings of a dirt grade crossing. It's colored plaster (okay, I could have done a bit better on the color. Believe it or not, that was brown pigment). I'll sand that smooth, shape the edges and cut the flangeways, then paint it a more respectable tannish brown. After that will come the dirt layers.
Then you can laugh!
Lovely modeling, Mark. Well worth a Beartoon.
Thank you Bear for all of your very entertaining cartoon answers! You always manage to brighten our days.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
The tank kit looks good Mark.
Thanks, Dave!
Bear, yes I really did. Please forgive me.
14 March 2021
In between steps building the vertical tanks, I added a bit more ground cover and static grass to the CNW line over Casper. I'm now almost to the corner (click on the photos for larger views).
I also realized I put the dirt road in the east end of the yard right where the Ice House has to go, so I started preparations to relocate it. I wetted the area in the distance to loosen the dirt in order to scrape it off.
But mostly I worked on the tanks. Here's the upper platform built up and brushed with Hunter's Weathering wash:
I expected that the ladder would be a real pain, because it's built up completely from stripwood. But the instructions were very clear and provided a process that made it pretty easy. Here are the rungs laid out on the template, ready for the side rails to be attached.
And here's the finished ladder.
While it took a couple of hours to complete, the build was very straightforward. Modern plastic kit manufacturers could take some lessons in making instruction sheets from these older wood kits.
Yesterday I weathered the tanks, and placed the now-painted platform on top. The weathering is pretty garish at this point because I haven't completed the "toning down" steps yet. I did that after I took this shot.
Today I permanently attached the platform and ladder, essentially completing the tanks. I plopped the unit onto the Hudson benchwork and flanked it with a couple of trucks for this shot.
Then I took this wider shot to include the temporary Hudson depot.
This may look okay when the rest of the scenery is done in this area! I just set the tanks here to get a shot of them, but I kind of like them in this location. They may stay.
I haven't built the small filling shed that accompanies the tanks yet. I'll do that in a few days, after I finish relocating the dirt road.
I've never built a kit like this before, and it came out much better than I expected, even given how rough the wooden assemblies are when viewed up close. It was a lot of fun! I'm really stoked to build the east Casper structures at this point.
PruittI also just took a couple days off from model railroading altogether.
PruittSo far I'm really enjoying putting this kit together!
That's great Mark! I look forward to seeing the finished product.
Thanks, Douglas and Dave.
9 March 2021
About a week ago I started building the HO Loading Tanks kit I mentioned in my March update.
Work has been slow as I've never built a wooden kit before (though I did scratchbuild a station out of wood about 30 years ago). I also jut took a couple days off from model railroading altogether.
First order of business was to assemble and paint the tanks themselves. These are actually plastic.
Finally, after several days of not really much progress, I had the base painted and assembled and the detail parts mounted to the tanks. Today I glued the tanks to the base and started adding the piping.
And I started building the handrails for the tank top platform.
So far I'm really enjoying putting this kit together!
That's a good video. I'm glad that you are documenting your mistakes as well as your successes. A lot of people will learn from that, including me!
Very nice work. And nice video, as always. Thanks for sharing.
- Douglas
3 March 2021
I just published my latest layout update:
richhotrainShould I stop there? Methinks so. Rich
Rich
Pruitt Rich, saying my physical appearance has a neutral impact is maybe the nicest thing anyone has said to me in years!
Rich, saying my physical appearance has a neutral impact is maybe the nicest thing anyone has said to me in years!
Mark, I can assure you that I spent more time fashioning that remark than the entire remainder of my reply.
I was not about to start a bromance, but some comment seemed warranted.
Should I stop there? Methinks so.
Alton Junction
Dave, Rich,
I appreciate all your comments. Really.
And I honestly agree that the intro was too long. But I had to lay the groundwork for not only the first episode, but also the entire series, right up front. I probably should have gone back and re-recorded the intro, tightening it up significantly. But I didn't.
I was (and am) not upset, Dave. You do not have to shut up, ever. Your commentary has been very kind in the past, and your criticism of my intro isn't unkind. It's well thought out, and very valid. Like you, I'm also one of those guys that gives the talking heads the old heave-ho after a very short period of time. So thanks for your honest feedback. It will help with future videos.
Rich, saying my physical appearance has a neutral impact is maybe the nicest thing anyone has said to me in years! (Dave, "handsome dude"? You're overdue for your appointment with your optometrist).
Seriously, I was concerned at the overall length of the video, because I easily lose interest in videos that long. But I wanted to cover the subject thoroughly. To offset the length, I added in some (what I think are) snazzy graphic effects to keep up the interest. The particle building logo in the intro screen (which taxed the heck out of my computer - it took between five and ten minutes to render each second of that opening shot) and the lines following the route on the maps, for example.
And now this post is too long. I'm getting into bad habits!
Anyway, thanks again everyone (including you, Bear ) for your comments.
Let me give Mark my take on his most recent video and his intent to create a series of videos.
The entire video runs for 24 minutes and 48 seconds. Mark appears throughout the first 3 minutes, 33 seconds. Is the video too long? Is Mark's appearance too long? Does the entire video hold the viewer's interest? In my opinion, the answers are all subjective.
I think that it all depends upon two issues. One, how interested will a viewer be in a nearly 25 minute tutorial on researching the prototype? Two, how interested will a viewer be in the building of Casper Yard? For me, the two issues are intertwined. Even if I don't care all that much about Casper Yard in Wyoming, I may care about the BRC's Clearing Yard in Chicago, for example. What would it take to replicate the yard and how much selective compression will be required to simulate the prototype railroad on my layout?
Is a 25 minute too long? Maybe, yes. Maybe, no. If it's boring, then 5 minutes is too long. If it is interesting and informative, it could be even longer.
Is Mark's 3 1/2 minutes too long? In this particular video, that appearance is all at the beginning of the video, and the appearance represents just over 14 percent of the entire video. Now, I have watched "tutorial" videos, both longer and shorter than Mark's video, where the narrator puts me to sleep. I have watched other tutorial videos where the narrator blabs on and on and on until I forget why I am even watching the video.
In the case of Mark's video, his physical appearance has neutral impact and his voice has a professional, knowledgeable tone. So, those first 3 1/2 minutes are entirely acceptable in setting up what is to follow. But, the viewer has to be interested enough in the content to sit through a nearly 25 minute video. If the viewer is interested enough in the content of the video, he won't be disappointed in this video in my opinion.
I said I would shut up about your video introduction, but I feel compelled to respectfully make one more comment. This is entirely based on my own initial reaction to the video. I claim no expertise in the field of keeping peoples' attention:
You are about to embark on creating a series of YouTube videos. If you want them to have any impact you will want to make the first video as sharp and entertaining as possible. That will entice people to want to watch the future videos. Most people will not be inclined to watch a 'talking head' for more than a few seconds. If you are lucky they will skip ahead like I did to get to the good parts. Otherwise they will move on to other videos. In other words, if you don't significantly catch their attention right at the beginning, they might not be inclined to follow your YouTube channel.
How to do that is another question. I think that your skills with creating summary screens could be put to use at the beginning so that the screen changes regularly instead of just showing your face (not that there is anything wrong with your face - you are a handsome dude ), perhaps interspersed with scenes of the layout and the plan.
These are just my thoughts. They are not intended to disparage your work. I would hate to see you go to all that work without gaining an audience.
Dave, it is all my fault.
In a different thread, I challenged Mark's use of the term "it's a waste of money" and Mark wasn't exactly pleased. So, when you commented on the intro to his video with less than effusive praise, I kiddingly suggested to Mark that he shouldn't stand for it.
PruittI don't think it's near as bad as some. Is it?
Mark,
Sorry if I upset you. Your video is not "bad" in any way. I probably should have kept my mouth shut, but I will try to explain why I said what I said.
I think your introduction was very thorough. The only reason I made my comment about it being a bit long was because there are several minutes of just you talking at the start. I will confess that the first time around I skipped a fair bit of the start of the video. I had to make a conscious decision to go back and watch the whole thing. Once your graphics and layout scenes start everything is fine, great in fact.
I hope I haven't upset you. You are to be admired for your dedication to producing such excellent videos. I look forward to them.
I'll shut up now.
Respectfully,
Pruitt richhotrain hon30critter Hi Mark, I do have to say that I think the introduction is a bit long and somewhat repetive Rich Yep. In fact, I kind of agree. The heck of it is, that's the edited-down version. I tried to cut it down more but it got too choppy, so I had to leave it as it is. I could have re-done the whole intro I suppose, but... I don't think it's near as bad as some. Is it?
richhotrain hon30critter Hi Mark, I do have to say that I think the introduction is a bit long and somewhat repetive Rich
hon30critter Hi Mark, I do have to say that I think the introduction is a bit long and somewhat repetive
I do have to say that I think the introduction is a bit long and somewhat repetive
Yep. In fact, I kind of agree. The heck of it is, that's the edited-down version. I tried to cut it down more but it got too choppy, so I had to leave it as it is.
I could have re-done the whole intro I suppose, but...
I don't think it's near as bad as some. Is it?
Your first episode about building the Casper yard is really well done, as is typical of your work. You offer a step by step guide on how to go through the design process which is excellent. I hope that your video(s) get a lot of publicity because a lot of newcomers would benefit enormously from your experience.
I do have to say that I think the introduction is a bit long and somewhat repetive, but once past that the video gives the viewer a lot to think about.
Keep up the good work!
28 February 2021
I just published Episode 1 of Building Casper to my YouTube channel
PruittHey look, everybody! There goes Bear again!
Bear, all I can say is party on! LOL!
Dave, thanks for the compliment. And I'm glad to be of service to the community.
Rich, thank you. When I look at a project like this, mostly what I see is all the little things I screwed up. But feel free to send your fleet of tank cars! I'll get them all weathered up and placed on the layout. Uh... you didn't really want them back, did you?
24 February 2021
The dirt road is looking better. I added some coarser dirt between the ruts and along the edges, then scrubbed in the ruts with a Brite Boy to "polish" them a bit.
An odd thing happened - where the diluted Elmer's glue that affixed the dust and dirt seeped off the sides of the road the fake dirt darkened, and it looks like it won't lighten back up. It's not very noticeable from this angle, but from a higher perspective it's pretty obvious. I'm not sure what to do with that, but maybe ground cover, sparse though it will be, will hide it sufficiently. Or maybe I'll dust on a bit more fake dirt alongside the road to lighten it back up.
Hey look, everybody! There goes Bear again!