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Weekend Photo Fun, June 29-July 1, 2018

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  • Member since
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Weekend Photo Fun, June 29-July 1, 2018
Posted by mlehman on Friday, June 29, 2018 3:43 AM

Lots of rough weather in the Midwest this week with more predicted for the weekend. Sorta puts a crimp in your outdoor RRing when the tornado dips down and tries to carry away your

train...

Just keeding, no actual tornadoes in my back yard, just squirrels and cats chasing around knocking stuff around. So has been my summer in RRing so far, except for the new fellow who I've been helping introduce to the hobby basics to get him going in his first layout. It's been a few weeks, but we should be cutting benchwork for his first layout this weekend. I've been tuning on his ICG SD40-2 recently, so it's seen a few miles of mountain RRing like nothing on the old IC.

  

Life has been keeping me busy in June, but lets talk about the fun stuff. I've been adding to me thread n hacking the Denver Models Mercedes-Benz straight truck models to build a small container system for the narrowgauge: http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/269915.aspx

Here's a lineup of the different models I've produced from the same basic vehicle.

I think the yellow cab chassis with the crummy paint job is going to be a water truck, so I mocked the tank up. Still debating whether to strip that nasty paint off and start over on that.

What's been keeping you at the workbench lately other than the heat outside?

Mike Lehman

Urbana, IL

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
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Posted by SeeYou190 on Friday, June 29, 2018 6:01 AM

Mike: Thank you for getting us started. Sorry about the critter attack on the outdoor layout. That SD40 looks huge next to the RS3!

.

I finally finished this car this week. It has been on the workbench for a while. I messed up the decals and it took a lot of brush work to cover the errors. Still not 100% happy with it, but it is done.

.

.

Keep the fun photos coming! HAPPY WEEKEND (in 8 hours)!

.

-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Northfield Center TWP, OH
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Posted by dti406 on Friday, June 29, 2018 6:08 AM

Good morning from sunny, hot and humid Northeast Ohio!

Thanks for opening up Mike, got to love the animal life around model trains. Great looking kitbash work on that truck, no Menards around here so I will have to pass on that model for a while.

I managed to finish, except for installing the Sill Steps on the ECW 1958 CF Covered Hopper kit, that I modified from an ACF to a Bethlehem Steel looking car. Also changed out the cast plastic roof walk for a Plano etched one. In the background is the next NSC 4550CF Canadian Grain Covered Hopper kit I am working on.

Nothing else completed this week, so here are my Bowser CP SD40-2's with a grain train made up of my already built NSC 4550 CF Covered Hoppers some for the Canadian Wheat Board and one for the Alberta Heritage Fund.

Thanks for looking, and lets see some more of the good stuff!

Rick Jesionowski

Rule 1: This is my railroad.

Rule 2: I make the rules.

Rule 3: Illuminating discussion of prototype history, equipment and operating practices is always welcome, but in the event of visitor-perceived anacronisms, detail descrepancies or operating errors, consult RULE 1!

  • Member since
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  • From: QLD, Australia
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Posted by tbdanny on Friday, June 29, 2018 6:26 AM

As usual, some fantastic modeling this week.

Here's what's on my workbench.  Yet another On30 scratch-bash which I'm hoping to get finished this weekend:

It's built on the mechanism from a Bachmann HO scale 2-6-2 prairie.  Once it's done, it'll have DCC and sound.

The Location: Forests of the Pacific Northwest, Oregon
The Year: 1948
The Scale: On30
The Blog: http://bvlcorr.tumblr.com

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Texas
  • 2,934 posts
Posted by C&O Fan on Friday, June 29, 2018 10:08 AM

Just found out that TCS offers a Z2 decoder with a keep alive ground wire already soldered in place  which is a blessing for my 74 post stroke shakey hands So i added a KA 3 to the tool trailer

waiting for the decoder to show up

TerryinTexas

See my Web Site Here

http://conewriversubdivision.yolasite.com/

 

 

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Posted by snjroy on Friday, June 29, 2018 12:17 PM

Great work and pictures everyone. I've pretty much completed my aerotrain project. I motorized the locomotive using a BB engine. I had to grind down the frame a bit, and I converted the 8 wheel engine to a 6 wheel arrangement by removing 2 wheels (as per the prototype). I stabilized the truck by adding a plastic support, as shown in the picture below. Have a great weekend (and Canada-day weekend for my fellow Canadians).

Simon

  20180622_171552b by , on Flickr" alt="" />

  20180519_141334 by , on Flickr" alt="" />

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Posted by BRVRR on Friday, June 29, 2018 2:38 PM

Thanks Mike for starting off WPF. There is nothing wrong with the color yellow - it was just too heavily applied.

Kevin - Your car looks good to me.

Rick - Thats a good looking grain train.

tbdanny - An unusual little engine.

Terry - The speeder is gonna be something when finished.

Simon - I couldn't see your photos or pull them up by clicking on the link.

I've spent most of the week applying numbers in number boards and updating my website. Here are two tangible results:

The numbers are so small on the FA that I had a devil of a time making them.

The numbers here like those above were made on my home computer.

More stuff on my updated website. The link is in my signature.

Keep the photos and ideas coming guys. Thanks to you WPF is always the best thread of the week.

Tags: BRVRR , PRR

Remember its your railroad

Allan

  Track to the BRVRR Website:  http://www.brvrr.com/

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  • From: Morgantown, WV
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Posted by cheese3 on Friday, June 29, 2018 10:28 PM

Mike Good looking trucks.

Kevin Nice work, for what its worth I think the decals look great.

Rick The covered hopper is looking good. 

tbdanny Looking forward to seeing the finished product.

Terry Good luck with your projects. Glad you found a decoder that will make things easier.

Simon Awesome work. the aerotrain is looking good.

Allan The numbers look great.

 

I managed to get all the track laid and wired this week.

trackwork

After some minor adjustments everything seems to be running fine on it. Had some fun running a few trains around.

WM SD35

 

 

Adam Thompson Model Railroading is fun!

  • Member since
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  • From: Bradford, Ontario
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Posted by hon30critter on Saturday, June 30, 2018 12:51 AM

Hi folks:

I haven't posted here for quite some time.

Mike - nasty derailment! Water truck looks good but I would definitely repaint.

Kevin - great car.

Rick - nice hoppers.

tbdanny - excellent little engine. Well done as usual.

Terry - Keep alives rule!!! Please post a video of the wee beast in action.

Simon - I have a bunch of the old Varney Aerotrain locomotives and cars. I could have sold them a couple of weeks ago for $300.00 but I declined. They are too unique to let go.

Allan - Your home made decals look really good.

Adam - Solidly built layout!

 

My contribution is not something that I have made personally, but I hope it will generate some interest at our club. We are about to complete the mainline loop in our new club layout, and I thought it would be appropriate to have a Golden Spike ceremony. I asked a local jeweller to make a real golden spike and he did a great job. Here are a couple of pictures. I will post photos of the ceremony after it happens. It should be in the next 2 - 3 weeks.

It is so tiny that it is hard to see how accurate it actually is with the naked eye. Of course only the head will be visible after it is installed, but I'm hoping the entertainment factor will make it all worth while.

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
    August 2011
  • From: A Comfy Cave, New Zealand
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Posted by "JaBear" on Saturday, June 30, 2018 4:26 AM

on Flickr

"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."

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Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Saturday, June 30, 2018 12:52 PM

Nice work everybody ... 

I just returned from a trip. I just looked at alll of your work. Great! I hope you understand if I don't comment individually this time.

Here is a photo of a trackside shed. 

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Bakersfield, CA 93308
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Posted by RR_Mel on Saturday, June 30, 2018 1:06 PM

Dave, if the spike is real gold pre drill the hole, gold is pretty soft.
 
Great looking stuff guys!!!!  Old age hasn’t been much of a help for the last week so nothing to post.  I did get another hand full of figures painted, still over a hundred to go.
 
Mel
 
 
My Model Railroad   
 
Bakersfield, California
 
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
 
  • Member since
    November 2007
  • From: California
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Posted by HO-Velo on Saturday, June 30, 2018 2:05 PM

Mike, Thanks for starting the WPF.  Wow, the Mega-Cat & Squirrel-zilla battle did wreak some R/R havoc.  Nice of you to show what modeling fun and good results can be had with less detailed & costly vehicles.

Snjory,  Nice model, have admired the automotive looking Aerotrain since boyhood, but by the time I visited Disneyland their scaled down version was gone.

Dave,  A real golden spike, novel & fitting for such an achievement.

My fictional rail yard workers finally have an employee parking lot, but with the potholes they may still prefer the plywood.  Hoping Mike C. aka wobblinwheel notices that the motorcycle kick-stand is now on the correct side, lol.

Thanks to all the contributors & regards, Peter

 

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Posted by gmpullman on Saturday, June 30, 2018 2:23 PM

mlehman
Just keeding, no actual tornadoes in my back yard, just squirrels and cats chasing around knocking stuff around.

Mike, that vegetation in the background looks like it is getting pretty thick.

I have a soulution for that—

 Curious Goats by Edmund, on Flickr

The attack of the Gargantuan Goats!

Thanks for kicking off the WPF! Great stuff everyone...

Ed

 

  • Member since
    March 2017
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Posted by Track fiddler on Saturday, June 30, 2018 6:32 PM

Mike thanks for weekend photo fun. I enjoy this thread, if I'm not posting I am looking

Well I found it. It's kind of funny sometimes when you talk about something and then all of a sudden there it is.

I have really been wanting a Duluth Winnipeg and Pacific locomotive just like the ones I used to watch when I was a kid going to school looking out the bus window. They are rare. The peg it was called, a small railroad from International Falls to Duluth. Only 170 miles of railroad isn't exactly a high in demand run by a big company like Atlas. They did have a limited edition though.

A couple 3 years ago I seen one, it was used. I regretted passing on it.

This one is brand new never out of the box. And to find the matching Caboose by two different sellers the same day was rather ironic.

They just came in the mail from eBay the other day. I paid way more than I wanted to. But you can't put a price on something that you really want.

It needed to be broken in. It was a little glitchy at first but now the thing creeps like a panther. 

I wonder if this locomotive could be considered a bloody nose locomotive.

I was really happy to find this one, I didn't know if I would Big Smile

PS.... oops that's not like me. Nice work everyone I always enjoy looking at everyone's work here

  • Member since
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  • From: Bradford, Ontario
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Posted by hon30critter on Saturday, June 30, 2018 11:06 PM

Mel and Peter:

Sorry, it's gold plated silver. Solid gold wasn't in my budget.

Yes, we will definitely have to drill a hole to get through the tie plate and the tie. I would like it to be installed like a real track spike up against the rail, as opposed to using it like a track nail.

Ed:

I should get a couple of goats for my neighbour to the north. In fact, they could graze cows in between lawn cuttings.Bang HeadLaughLaugh

By the way, this afternoon I had a couple of margaritas in a nice Southern Railway tumbler while sitting on the deck in the heat. Thanks again.

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
  • 16,367 posts
Posted by gmpullman on Saturday, June 30, 2018 11:52 PM

hon30critter
By the way, this afternoon I had a couple of margaritas in a nice Southern Railway tumbler while sitting on the deck in the heat.

Aaah, yes. Maybe those glasses are intended for Mint Juleps, a favorite beverage of the southern states.

 SOU_DOF by Edmund, on Flickr

Instead of margaritas we have discovered Mojitos with freshly crushed mint. Mighty tasty and refreshing!

Glad you're enjoying your glass Big Smile

Cheers, Ed

  • Member since
    September 2003
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Posted by mlehman on Sunday, July 1, 2018 12:15 AM

Kevin, Tongue-twister of a roadname, but it looks great!

Rick, Love that grain train. Yes Menards does mailorder, but for some reason the one online is red and costs $14.99! Yeah, better wait for one opening nearby. This does remind me that I need to locate some truck decals>>> Frank, you out there hanging in through this hot Midwestern weather?

tbdanny, I can already tell this is going to be a neat loco Big Smile

Terry, The video is much looked forward to on this project.

Simon, Happy Canada Day! and to all others north of Hotter-then-heck-Land! Digging that Aero-Train. realy creative hack for the drive, too!

Allan, The FA just looks so dignified in the distinguished Pennsy paint scheme. Actually, I misted the yellow very lightly. It erupted like a hundred tiny volcanoes! Those two paints just did not get along.GrumpyBang HeadCrying

Adam, Awesome little layout. Cool I'm helping a friend with a roundy-round and like yours, it's still a great concept, what makes it fresh is reconcptualizing the form as you're doing there.

Dave, That golden spike is well-deserved. Take some pics when the ceremony is held, please and share them here! We could use a bit more ceremony. Yeah, I think you're right about the truck, I'm never going to be really happy with it unless I fix that paint. Fortunately, it's very easy to take apart down to just the cab. I'll strip it and go from there. I still like that yellow, just want it slick, not pitted.

"JaBear" wrote the following post 16 hours ago:

on Flickr

Honored with a Beartoon! That made my day, Bear. I can tell you though, the Bear is probably glad he's nowhere around these parts right now. A fur suit could be the death of you around here with the temp topping out today at 95 F and 83 F for a dewpoint TWICE today and basically running a dewpoint of 80 F or above from 8am to 6pm local. There would have to be cooling stations (BeerBeerBeer) set up ...in case of emeregncy only, of course.Smile, Wink & Grin

GARRY, A very common, but also very nostaligic scene.Big Smile

Mel, I had about a hundred figures to go when I was painting mione, but it's been a few years...Better luck than mine on getting them done!

Peter, Thanks for your kind comments. That's a stunning scene you have going on there!

Ed, I kinda like that, not sure how they and the cats will get along...and not sue goats are legal in Urbana (chickens are, pigs no), but then I d have a 8' tall fence, right!?? Great pic, thanks for sharing.

Trackfiddler, Thanks and congrats on finding that 'Peg loco. I have a thing for Canadian shortlines, although it's usually just books and the occasional car. That caboose looks sharp also!

Yes, a cold drink is a good idea....but I've really been liking the pineapple popsicles, yum!

Down in Hesperus, the team track is helping the crew make hay, while keeping an old 50' boxcar running a few more revenue miles.

Mike Lehman

Urbana, IL

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