This is the weekend thread where modelers can show their completed models, work under construction and layout pictures new and old.
Let's have a lot of participation this weekend!
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!
Good morning from sunny and cold Northeast Ohio!
Did not complete any models this week, have been taking care of my wife and she had surgery done to repair the torn meniscus and remove some arthritis from her right knee.
So here is a old picture I took at the club of my Athearn SD39's with a train of various RBL's going past our new intermodal yard.
Thanks for looking!
I hope for a speedy recovery for your wife, Rick.
Last week I treated myself to a New York Central P-2b which was a former electric 'motor' that ran in Cleveland from 1931 until 1953 and was then reconfigured to run on the NYC's electric Division from Harmon to Grand Central. I got to ride behind them on several occasions in the late '60s and early '70s.
NYC P-2b 237 wide by Edmund, on Flickr
NYC P-2b 237 3-4 by Edmund, on Flickr
The power and smooth acceleration of these electric locomotives is amazing.
Cleveland Union Terminal P-1a by Edmund, on Flickr
NYC, Marble Hill, New York, 1967 by Center for Railroad Photography & Art, on Flickr
Cheers, Ed
Happy New Years everyone!
Thanks for starting things out again, Rick. I was going to post this last weekend but, as you know, the forum was down till Tuesday morning.
I ran across a very unusal piece of rolling stock while perusing eBay on Christmas Eve. It was a bit on the pricey side. However, after reading the seller's description, I decide to bite.
I received the package right before New Years. Here are photos of the contents of Beaver Models' GATX Navy helium car kit: (Click to enlarge)
The helium car is 3D-printed and each kit takes 12 hours to print. The seller provides a bar graph and table in the assembly instructions outlining the timeline/eras when each version of the helium car was used. All the necessary parts and decals to build any of those cars are provided with each kit. All that remains is to paint, decal, and assemble the car - in that order.
I have to say that it's the smoothest 3D-printed kit that I've ever observed. (Note the tank area, in particular) All the exterior & interior supporting framework has also been removed by the seller.
No additional weight needs to be added to the helium car. The tank section alone weights 3 oz. Adding the remain parts, trucks, and wheelsets brings the car up to 4.5 oz, which is sufficient for its length.
I'll need to wait until the weather warms up again before I can paint & decal everything. This car will definitely be a standout in my roster of rolling stock Here is what the car looks like when completed...
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
tstage Here are photos of the contents of Beaver Models' GATX Navy helium car kit
Here are photos of the contents of Beaver Models' GATX Navy helium car kit
Rich
Alton Junction
Here are some photos from our Silver San Juan & Pacific HO modular layout set up at the Pine River Library in Bayfield Colorado last December. We had a good number of people show up over the day. We let the kids run trains (and anyone else that wanted to). The layout runs with cell phones.
20231216_120511 crp lq by Silver San Juan Division, on Flickr
Getting things ready and showing the visiting engineers how to run.
IMG_6907 by Silver San Juan Division, on Flickr
This is my corner and two of my straight modules, which is the yard for the layout.
20231216_143657 lq by Silver San Juan Division, on Flickr
A shot of my corner module set in the morning sun.
DSC_3639 by Silver San Juan Division, on Flickr
This is one of the two new modules that are muliti pupose. They can be a straight or a corner. Here we see former Pensy RS-27 2410, newly acquired by the SSJ&P, delivering a mixed freight to Texas. Two Granite Peak Mining & Chemical flats are headed for a heavy equipment shipment back to the Rocky Mountains. A Texas storm is a brewing in the background.
20231216_161201 crp hq by Silver San Juan Division, on Flickr
Thanks for opening, Rick. Nice work, everyone.
Ed, nice electrics. It must be nice to have actually experienced the 1/1s that you model, huh?
Tom, the smoothness of the material is pretty remarkable. I was wondering how long it would take 3D reach that level of quality. I looked it up on Ebay, I don't blame you for not buying enough for a unit train!
E C Mills, great looking modules, and let's hope those kids catch the train bug.
A little work on the Cary / Tyco bash:
I milled a slot for the rear axle to be moved back, spacing the wheels to more typical 4-4-0 proportions. That allows the cab to move back some, giving the model more of that long and lean look of 4-4-0s
A couple Kadee 28" wheel axles set under there for mock up purposes, and a cylinder yoke machined for bigger cylinders, as the tyco ones look tiny now.
Keep the pix coming! Dan
Rick, Thanks for opening the WPF, hope your wife heals fast and without a hitch. Good to see the forum and WPF on the rebound.
David Soul's passing has prompted me to repost Brekina's rendition of the 'Striped Tomato.'
Thanks to all the contributors and viewers. Have a good weekend. Regards, Peter
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Rick: I hope the surgery went well.
Ed: That electric engine is very cool - no pun intended!
Tom: I'm very impressed with that 3D kit. Did you have to do any sanding to obtain that finish?
EC Mills: Looks like you had a very succesful event. It's always nice to see kids around a layout.
Dan: Your loco project is coming along nicely. How does she run?
Pike: It would be nice to see a long string of these beer reefers
Peter: Excellent modelling, as always. Those 70's cars bring back a lot of memories. We don't see them often here in Canada. They rusted out pretty quickly!
Bear: Looking forward to the finished model. Is it warm in your neck of the woods? Is it hard to stay indoors??
Here's a scene of passengers transfering from a larger carrier to a local narrow gauge operation.
IMG_20231217_123136 on Flickr
Simon
snjroyTom: I'm very impressed with that 3D kit. Did you have to do any sanding to obtain that finish?
Nope. That's exactly how it arrived, Simon, and why I was impressed with the finish as well.
Bear: This was supposed to be a simple conversion. I didn't realize how much work I was in for to bring this into proportion!
Simon: One of the first things I did when I recieved the "General" was to see how smooth the gear box and drivers work. They are quite smooth, so I expect with the remotor and flywheel, it'll be a great runner. Upcoming WPFs... Dan
snjroy Is it warm in your neck of the woods?
“This was supposed to be a simple conversion. I didn't realize how much work I was in for to bring this into proportion!” Dan, please excuse me as I’m laughing with you, not at you!! I can assure you that you are not the only one who gets “sucked in” with these “Simple” (????) modifications. (It is a trap that I regularly seem to fall into ). And while these mods may be more complicated and or not end up quite as we intended, I often find there is a personal satisfaction in creating something unique, especially if it looks and runs right. Have Fun Cheers, the Bear.
Agreed! I think I'll make that the subject of my pix for next weeks WPF, some hard earned favorites. Dan
That’s a very interesting kit, you’ve acquired, Tom, while it would be sacrilege for me to agree with Rich and suggest you need several more, I’m not sure that a scratch-built HO scale K class blimp, for them to service, would fit on a modest size layout. Thanks for all the really Good Stuff, Cheers, the Bear.
Actually if he were modeling Cleveland, Tom would only need two cars, as NASA Glenn had a two car spur off Brookpark Road where CSX (B&O) would spot a couple of cars and there was a hookup between the rails to a shed where trucks would offload the helium to ship it to NASA Glenn.
snjroyPike: It would be nice to see a long string of these beer reefers
not sure if this link will work. We ran about 70 of them last year on the club modular layout. When we did this I did not have metal wheels on the cars. I do now and they roll much better
https://www.facebook.com/christopher.costello.5/videos/669409457869784?idorvanity=102915816747391
The plan is do 100 at a show sometime.
I guess the group is private so the link won't work
Sorry, can't see the video.