Weekend Photo Fun Feb 8, 08

[wm3798]

Here's one for you, Dave...  A PRR RS-11 newly shopped with a fresh brain transplant...

I did this one for friend of mine...  I also finished up another guy's NKP switcher, using a DZ125 gave me enough room to keep the cab weight intact, and to put a working light over the cab!

There's nothing more entertaining than stuffing a bunch of electronics into an N scale switcher!

Lee 

[Dave Vollmer]

...

While there may be a dearth of tact this weekend, I feel that there are a few things a potential "Weekend Photo Fun" poster should consider before posting.

1.  The photograph should at least be recognizible.  The one above is hardly so.  It appears to be a steam locomotive, but beyond that, no further information can be gotten from it.  It's smeared as if it were a time exposure captured while the table was being bumped.

2.  If you post your photographs, be prepared for comments, not just on the photos but on the subject matter.  If you can't tolerate criticism and are only seeking accolades, you may wish to reconsider posting.  I don't believe in automatic attayboys; it feels dishonest.  If we cannot critique each other's work with honesty, then we never challenge each other and never improve.

3.  Please, oh please, don't quote the full string of photographs each and every time you comment on a post with many photos...  I have broadband, but I know that many don't.  All that does is waste bandwidth and space.  If there's something specific you want to comment on, a representative photo can be included.  Remember, you can edit the quote portion of your reply.

Jeff, I'm sorry, but I have to agree...  That Alco doesn't really look weathered.  And I remember your post before you edited it, and it said nothing about being a work in progress.   Again, I'm full well aware of your handicap, and I view your work through that lens...  But many of your other rust jobs are much more convincing (that rusty steamer beside the shop building is quite convincing).  I would simply suggest that you have to expect some criticism if you post that, because it doean't look rusty, just painted sloppily.  Here's a suggestion; try thinned washes of rust and build up in layers.  It will look too light at first, but successive washes will rust it further, but the wash will naturally settle in areas that would collect water anyway, making the rust appear more natural.  And with washes, the shaky hand should be less of an issue.

I'm sorry if this comes off as high-and-mighty, but with all of the criticism flying around I couldn't stifle myself.

At the end of the day we all have different skill levels and expectations of what makes a good photograph and a good model.  We also owe each other honesty, so that we as a group can learn from each other.  Simply patting each other on the back for every blurry photo or messy model doesn't do that.  However, and just as important, criticism must be offered in such a way as to show genuine intent to help the receiver to learn and improve, not just to put that person down.  There's been a lot of personal acrimony around here lately, and it makes this place less fun.

Lastly, so that I don't appear a hypocrite, here's a photo of mine of my N scale PRR (far from perfect, mind you):

[BRVRR]

Good stuff as usual guys. Keep up the good work.

I haven't had time to do too much on the BRVRR lately. Traveling on family business all the time.

Below is a picture of my new Atlas NYC GP-40 as it passes behind the BRVR COOP elevator on the outer mainline.

This is may first Atlas loco and I am duly impressed so far.

I am working on a companion loco. An Athearn BB that I intend to jazz up a bit. I'll try and take a few progress photos as I go along and post them here and on my website.

Keep up the good work everyone. You are always inspiring.

[Packer]

 Here is my first weathered Steam Loco:

Two words for you - Tripod and Timer.  The pictures are so blury that you can't really tell anything about it.

Come on, its a heavy down pour of rain.

At first I thought maybe it was one of those photoshop effects like a pencil drawing or watercolor effect, but you got - downpour.  I just never saw that it the list of effects to choose.

Ya, ya, that's the new trend.  Didn't you see it in mine?..Oh, wait mine was sunny.  Nevermind.

One word: Sunshowers

Basically, it's sunny but raining. Some of them can actually have a good downpour.

[MisterBeasley]

Each of us is on an individual journey here.  None of us was born knowing how to install a decoder, weather an engine, make a realistic-looking mountain or take a picture.  One of the things I've enjoyed most about model railroading is developing the skills I need to make a layout that comes up to "my standards," while all the while seeing those standards get higher every time I open the Photo Fun thread.

It's possible to both complement someone for his efforts, and at the same time give suggestions on how to improve.  (By the way, that kind of tact and careful choice of words isn't something we're born with, either.  It takes time to learn, too.)

[zgardner18]

 Here is my first weathered Steam Loco:

Two words for you - Tripod and Timer.  The pictures are so blury that you can't really tell anything about it.

Come on, its a heavy down pour of rain.

At first I thought maybe it was one of those photoshop effects like a pencil drawing or watercolor effect, but you got - downpour.  I just never saw that it the list of effects to choose.

Ya, ya, that's the new trend.  Didn't you see it in mine?..Oh, wait mine was sunny.  Nevermind.

[jktrains]

 Here is my first weathered Steam Loco:

Two words for you - Tripod and Timer.  The pictures are so blury that you can't really tell anything about it.

Come on, its a heavy down pour of rain.

At first I thought maybe it was one of those photoshop effects like a pencil drawing or watercolor effect, but you got - downpour.  I just never saw that it the list of effects to choose.

[zgardner18]

 Here is my first weathered Steam Loco:

Two words for you - Tripod and Timer.  The pictures are so blury that you can't really tell anything about it.

Come on, its a heavy down pour of rain.

[jktrains]

Two words for you - Tripod and Timer.  The pictures are so blury that you can't really tell anything about it.

For once I agree with you JK. I just didn't want to be the first person to say it. 

Why is telling the truth such a bad thing?  Or is it better to lie and say "It looks great?"  I've seen what happens when that path is chosen.

[zgardner18]

zgardner18 - WOW! That first BNSF pic is Fantastic!! I really had a hard time telling if that was real or not. The thing that gave it away was the blue truck.

Yeah that darn truck.  I still need to add power poles, signals, and a few other things to area plus weather the track.

Here is a different truck:

[Bapou]

Two words for you - Tripod and Timer.  The pictures are so blury that you can't really tell anything about it.

For once I agree with you JK. I just didn't want to be the first person to say it. 

[jktrains]

 Here is my first weathered Steam Loco:

Two words for you - Tripod and Timer.  The pictures are so blury that you can't really tell anything about it.

[New Haven I-5]

 Here is my first weathered Steam Loco:

[MisterBeasley]

I finally got to do a bit of work on my Bachmann Peter Witt trolley car.  I got the undecorated version, which pretty much comes as a kit, but without assembly instructions.  Not a big deal, as other forum members posted links to pictures, and that was enough.

So far, I've painted the cream-colored roof and the lower half of the body walls.  The roof vents were painted separately and then added, to maintain the "distinct part" look.  The model comes with a decoder and pre-assembled chassis and base.  The trolley pole is particularly nice, with a lot of detail and even a working pickup roller at the top end.  There is a switch on the bottom of the chassis to select track or overhead power pickup, too.

 

[jktrains]

Zak,

Great looking stuff there.  I even like the MRL models, not enough though to stop me from striping one down for an upcoming project though.

Nothing beats natural sunlight for pics.  If we could only get some in OH now.

[G Paine]

Maine Eastern has some FL9s in regular service

This time of year, Maine Eastern FL9s are usually in storage nose to nose in Rockland near the roundhouse, which is adjacent to US Rte 1. IN the summer, they are busy pulling the passenger trains from Brunswick to Rockland and back. They are featured on the home page of the Mane Eastern website. http://www.maineeasternrailroad.com/

[loathar]

zgardner18 - WOW! That first BNSF pic is Fantastic!! I really had a hard time telling if that was real or not. The thing that gave it away was the blue truck.

[Bapou]

What happened to the "fun" part of Weekend Photo Fun ?

Yeah it should be fun! Too bad I don't have pics today. 

[jktrains]

It's nowhere near finished yet. When I feel like I'm up using an airbrush I will, but as long as I have this problem with my hands being shaky, no dice. The rust areas on it will be partially painted over so it will look like the rust is coming through the paint.

Jeff,

What happened to the first version of this post, you know the one I had read earlier?  It said nothing about it being a work in progress, in fact there's not a word of the original in it now.  You and Packer#1 like to re-write history it seems.

Again, I know opinions on this subject vary greatly, but IMO if you posts pics here you should be willing to accept some comments, both positive and negative, about your work.  As others have stated, constructive comments and feedback are helpful in providing us insight into areas that we may need to improve our techniques.  My post provided a suggestion of how you might improve what you're working on, using the tools you know, and I know, you have available to you. 

[Kenfolk]

What happened to the "fun" part of Weekend Photo Fun ?

[Bapou]

I remember the whole thing with your camera, that's why I said that, sorry (gald you got a better camera now!.

I support your modeling Jeff.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Here we go again uh oh...

And where are u going? We're all here just having some fun drinking our "Schlitz" beer & weathering a few engines. Something wrong with that?

Nothing wrong with it on my end.

Jeff,

  come on i'm eating dinner here, if you want to hear something good about the latest pile of crap your in the wrong place.

I didn't say whether or not I wanted to hear anything. I simply posted it. I've seen examples from others that I personally would considered overdone but I don't say anything about them.

 

[Driline]

Here we go again uh oh...

And where are u going? We're all here just having some fun drinking our "Schlitz" beer & weathering a few engines. Something wrong with that?

[Bapou]

Here we go again uh oh...

[jeffrey-wimberly]

It's nowhere near finished yet. When I feel like I'm up using an airbrush I will, but as long as I have this problem with my hands being shaky, no dice. The rust areas on it will be partially painted over so it will look like the rust is coming through the paint.

[jktrains]

Jeffrey,

That loco must be in the deadline for scrap because of FRA safety infractions for having no handrails.

On a more serious note, before starting a weathering project, spend some time doing some internet research and find some prototype pictures so you understand how a model weathers.  There's more to weathering a model that simply rubbing on some brown paint with a paint brush.  This just looks like something someone is using to wipe their brushes on.  Not your best effort.  Why don't you break out one of those airbrushes you have and put it to work.  Just a little airbrushing would be better than what you've done.

[SteamFreak]

This week in the news: Morristown and Lake Erie Ry charged thousands in expired tags.

I should have convinced a cop to slip a ticket under the wiper.

[WCfan]

Ok Alec, where did you get those? lately I have been making my own with 2 window ones. Also, how is your layout coming, I would love to see picture.

Terry, I'll answer for Alec. Yes there was a Wisconsin Central (WC). On Alecs signautre, and on mine shows some WC locos. WC was purchased by CN in 2001.

Zgardner, your not fouling me. Those are real trains. Very nice work you have done.

[Cox 47]

This is a Model Power GP 40 that I repainted to Illinois Central.I picked it up off Ebay..got it repainted and the motor went out of it so its in the shop now awaiting a new motor or it may become a dummy...Cox 47

[Anonymous]

SteamFreak: There's a thread on those FL9s here:

http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/1099897/ShowPost.aspx 

(Hooray for seach engines! )