WPF 2/22/08 - 2/24/09

[Don Z]

Karl,

That looks incredible! Thanks for sharing with us....

Don Z.

[ukguy]

Great looking start to the structure Simon,

 Very nice looking scenery Bob (southcoastrail), very realistic.

 My contribution, another board-by-board scratchbuild.

Take care & be safe,
Karl.

[Bapou]

Robby P: Outstanding work!

---

As promised, I got my new railfanning video up!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mN0FCGm8QIQ 

Tyler, is that a Bachman 70 tonner? If it ishow does it run?

Also in the end of your video when said 70 tonner is leaving, that is an electric lol sound where did you get it? I need some electric loco sounds. Good modeling!

[Don Z]

Don--

Those are really nice castings--I know from experience that 'wet casting' takes a lot of time, effort and patience, but the results are usually worth it.  Yours certainly turned out well.

Tom

Tom,

Thank you very much! I appreciate the comments. It was quite the learning experience....

Don Z.

[Tom Bryant_MR]

Don--

Those are really nice castings--I know from experience that 'wet casting' takes a lot of time, effort and patience, but the results are usually worth it.  Yours certainly turned out well.

Tom

 

Don said this was one area he worked on. He is holding out the best for the last.

I know. I was there for a little while.

Fantasic work and learned a lot; there is nothing like having a master there to show one how they get certain results.  It does take time.  At one point Chuck was there with an almost scale hammer and chisel, taking little pieces of the castings off here and there to improve the look.

-Tom

 

[simon1966]

Bob, that is some fine scenery work you have going there.  I really like the effect of the plants growing in the embankment, very effective, good realistic coloring as well.

 

[SouthCoastRail]

Hi,

have been finishing off some scenery work down Bega valley way. It seems like we sometimes spend a lifetime doing scenery work and not enough time operating. I think sometimes smaller layouts get finished quicker

On a slightly different note we had the two british ships the QE2 and Queen Victoria in Sydney Harbour today. Perfect warm weather and a great spectacle. Hope it made your news

regards

Bob

[twhite]

Don--

Those are really nice castings--I know from experience that 'wet casting' takes a lot of time, effort and patience, but the results are usually worth it.  Yours certainly turned out well.

Tom

[johnnyx]

Nice stuff going on here!!  Here is some stuff Ive been working on......  Working with some chaulks and the air brush. 

 

First up is my HO scale SD-50, done with airbrush. 

 Next is my HO ALco 420 dressed in Lehigh and Hudson garb.... she has been through alot over the years, and it shows.     Done with indian ink and the airbrush.  Still need to do a dust coat and the trucks.

 

 Heres the prototype.

 

 

 

[shayfan84325]

The whole layout looks nice, Simon, very nice, but I really like your outer finishing touches with the fascia.  I'm no expert, but I would say that is very well done.  Nice touch for the throttles, too.

I really have to think seriously about getting my own butt in gear.  I still have a whack o' stuff to do so that the layout is "finished".

-Crandell

I agree, the fascia looks very nice - as does the rest of the layout.  I've been putting off my finishing touches, too (it just doesn't "feel" like model railroading).  Tis is an example of some very good work.

[Don Z]

I spent several hours today doing some wet casting on my layout. I was fortunate to have the assistance of Chuck Ellis, whose layout was featured in the December 2001 MR and an Allen Keller video, Volume 52. The molds used for the castings were all made by Chuck. I am indebted to Chuck for the personal 'clinic' I received today. Here is a photo of one section I worked on:

I'm anxious to get some coloring into the rocks so it will be easier to photograph.

Don Z.

[selector]

The whole layout looks nice, Simon, very nice, but I really like your outer finishing touches with the fascia.  I'm no expert, but I would say that is very well done.  Nice touch for the throttles, too.

I really have to think seriously about getting my own butt in gear.  I still have a whack o' stuff to do so that the layout is "finished".

-Crandell

[simon1966]

Hi folks,

I have done remarkably little modelling this past few weeks.  I looked at the forum and see that there are now some choices for weekend photo placement.  The good, faithful WPF where anyone can post, and the newly minted forum where our resident expert can express his esteemed opinion without repercussion because the rules have been defined for the express purpose of protecting his opinion.  So, given the choice I would rather post here, since I value these opinions far more " border="0" width="15" height="15" />

First of all there are some great photos already in this thread.  It would be a great shame if this thread were to be diluted and reduced, so keep on posting. 

Not much to show, but here is the beginning of an obscure JL Innovative model called Dunn Processing

What you see here are some of the clapboard walls that have been painted an weathered to give a peeling paint look.  I have also prepared and painted some of the detail castings that came in the kit.  There is a plaster wall section that I have painted using cheap gray and earth tone acrylic paints, thinned with water and dabbed onto the casting.  It is the first time I have tried this technique and I am quite happy with the results.

The other thing I have been up-to is installing some holders for my throttles. 

These are just cheap automobile cell phone holders that I found at a Dollar store for a couple of bucks a piece.  The adjust in width and fit both my DT400 throttles and my UT4s without obstructing the controls. 

Anyway, I hope to get some more done on Sunday.  For a change there are not soccer matches or other activities other than services first thing, so should be in for a full day of modelling.

Have fun everyone!

[MisterBeasley]

Sorry I can't contribute this weekend.  The ladies have run off with the cameras, and won't be back until tomorrow.  I've got my Bachmann Peter Witt trolley all painted and assembled, and I've painted a bunch of detail parts for the gas station.  Plus, I got the cigar store painted and decalled, complete with its Indian.  See how much you can get done without a: camera and b: women?

But, great job to everyone else!  As always, this thread is an inspiration to go the extra mile with my own modelling.

[howmus]

I used masking tape, cut into strips and colored with a brown felt tip marker.

 

Cool, thanks!

A good weekend so far folks!  I have been little by little working on a panel for the turnouts in the hidden staging area.  I had 4 different DPDT toggles to control the area that were on 2 different facia panels.  I had trouble myself always trying to remember how they had to be thrown to get a clear route into and out of the staging.  Unfortunately  the turnouts are not visible in the staging area from where you have to operate them.  So as part of the requirements for the Model Railroad Engineer Electrical AP award I hope to have simplified this considerably.

It used to part of this:



Here is the rats nest of wiring for it:



Mostly wired up and working correctly:





Still waiting for a holder for one more Bi-color LED to come in.  As soon as it gets here, I can finish the wiring, put on labels to identify the routes, and it will be done.  The panel(s) are painted in gloss black.  Why?  I had some gloss black on hand when I started the project a long time ago, so they are gloss black.  Have any idea how hard it is to get a decent photo of gloss black.  Every source of light shows as a bright spot on it.........

[Railphotog]

Railphotog, how did you make the belts for that scene?  I am building a farm scene from the 1920s that will have a silo loader with a belt tractor and will therefore need a belt.

Thanks!

I used masking tape, cut into strips and colored with a brown felt tip marker.

 

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

That's some nice looking scenery you have there Lee. Good work.

[wm3798]

I shot these this afternoon while working the mine run...

 

Lee 

[howmus]

Railphotog, how did you make the belts for that scene?  I am building a farm scene from the 1920s that will have a silo loader with a belt tractor and will therefore need a belt.

Thanks!

[G Paine]

Don't know if this will be a help, I scratched a wheel lathe many years ago in HO scale for my machine shop.  It is an older belt-driven type.  I used photos and diagrams in an older issue of Trains magazine, in their article on the East Broad Top shops:

It was made from styrene strips, sheet styrene, various shapes and parts from my scrapbox and some gears from an old clock.

Great lathe, it looks similar to the one I saw on the backshop tour at Strausburg Railroad, except it is not as greasy.

[jwar]

Railphotog

Hi Bob. Loved the detailing, ways, gibs and the oiler on the tailstock, and the cans of rosin was a fantastic touch. Ran a large belt lathe a few times and then realized why so many machinist were injured in the bygone days, I guess the same today, one lapse of concentration!!!

My lathe will not be as interesting with electric cabinets, controll panels and will be a tracer type lathe. Is not of any MFG and just from memory from operating a few, fun and very easy to build. take care...John

[Kenfolk]

 Great photos everyone! 

 

Here's my repainted (freelanced n-scale layout) 0-6-0 Bachmann switcher. 

 

 

 

[Brian M]

I took a few photos of some CP power last weekend:

The locos belong to Steve Smith, and the switcher is brass, with a Loksound decoder installed.  

Brian  

[Dave Vollmer]

New Haven,

My H10sb kitbash is explained in an article I wrote for the NTrak Steam Information Book 2007 addendum.

It's a Bachmann Spectrum N scale 2-8-0 plus a cut-down Minitrix K4 boiler, smokebox, and firebox.  Then I added a Minitrix B6sb cab.  I modified the tender and added a bunch of details.

It was a fun project!

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Thanks, NH I-5.  The 0-6-0 is a Proto Heritage. The 4-8-2 is by bachmann that I lettered for CB&Q.  I normally operate diesels, but I have several steam locos to operate. It is essentially changing the layout date by simply changing the equipment.

I have photos I took of the process of making rock strata and i am thinking of posting them in a thread to explain making rock strata.

[New Haven I-5]

 

   Nice work! Heartland Division, what brand is that loco in the top right hand corner?

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Hello everyone ....... I see some great photos already.

Here's a picture of a section of the layout. I have been working on the scenery here in recent weeks.

[New Haven I-5]

Westbound Train 33, the St Louisan, passes an eastbound symbol freight at M Interlocking in East Mifflin, PA, in August 1956.  Most of the Pennsy's Blue Ribbon Fleet pass through East Mifflin in darkness, so Train 33, departing Harrisburg at 3:36 PM, is a favorite for photographers.  Passenger trains rarly stop here at East Mifflin anymore; the PRR Class B passenger waiting shelter, though well-maintained, lies unused most days.

Dave,

I really like this picture.  Terrific context...and believeable.  Siskel and Ebert award for that one, buddy.

Tom

Dave as always love your work

Thanks, guys!

When I "compose" a photo (if you can call it that), I like to think about what story it tells.  After all, my layout represents a working transportation system.  So, if you were to visit this working system one day, what would you see happening?  It was never hard in the 50s to catch a meet on the real PRR...  But I do give a little thought, based on real train sequences and numbers, as to what in particular you'd see.  Each train movement has a purpose, so I hope my photos reflect that sense of purpose.

Thanks again for the kind words!!!

Hey Dave, how did you kitbash your H-10sb??

[New Haven I-5]

Westbound Train 33, the St Louisan, passes an eastbound symbol freight at M Interlocking in East Mifflin, PA, in August 1956.  Most of the Pennsy's Blue Ribbon Fleet pass through East Mifflin in darkness, so Train 33, departing Harrisburg at 3:36 PM, is a favorite for photographers.  Passenger trains rarly stop here at East Mifflin anymore; the PRR Class B passenger waiting shelter, though well-maintained, lies unused most days.

Dave,

I really like this picture.  Terrific context...and believeable.  Siskel and Ebert award for that one, buddy.

Tom

Dave as always love your work

Thanks, guys!

When I "compose" a photo (if you can call it that), I like to think about what story it tells.  After all, my layout represents a working transportation system.  So, if you were to visit this working system one day, what would you see happening?  It was never hard in the 50s to catch a meet on the real PRR...  But I do give a little thought, based on real train sequences and numbers, as to what in particular you'd see.  Each train movement has a purpose, so I hope my photos reflect that sense of purpose.

Thanks again for the kind words!!!

Hey Dave, how did you kitbash your H-10?

[ukguy]

Once again Bob your detail and the realism that you achieve is an inspiration.

Fantastic photography as always.

 Karl.A