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Teen Model Railroad Place Winter 2010

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  • Member since
    February 2008
  • From: Memphis, TN
  • 3,876 posts
Posted by Packers#1 on Wednesday, February 2, 2011 5:03 PM

Joe, yeouch on the concussion man! I've managed to not get a major one yet, although apparently, at least according to my dad, i've had a minor one once (described a practice incident last year to him, long story)

Tyler, nice progress. saw the trackplan, cool

Today was an early release day; I went ahead and put joint compound on the hills to the right. Hopefully saturday i'll have enough energy to paint them etc

Sawyer Berry

Clemson University c/o 2018

Building a protolanced industrial park layout

 

  • Member since
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Posted by ns3010 on Thursday, February 3, 2011 6:29 PM

I decided to go ahead and make another decision that will (eventually) add some more diversity to my roster.

TSR has purchased C40-8 locomotives from Norfolk Southern for use on intermodal and stone trains:
GE Locomotives Added to Roster

While I don't have the need or money for them right now, I'll hopefully be able to get them during the summer (along with a lot of other stuff). They'll probably end up being Atlas units.

I absolutely LOVE standard cab GE's! They'll go along good with the Geeps used on the local, and I have a realistic reason for having them! Cool

My Model Railroad: Tri State Rail
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My Photos on RRPA: RR Picture Archives

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Posted by Guilford Guy on Thursday, February 3, 2011 9:00 PM

I've been slowly building and upgrading the N scale rolling stock fleet. MTL and Athearn cars have been receiving BLMA wheelsets, and the remaining Atlas cars will receive FVM ones when I have money again. I've also been installing Z scale couplers on the equipment. I would like to add weight to each car to increase the ease of coupling, so we'll see how that plays out, but here's a shot of an MTL hopper (left) with BLMA wheels, and an Atlas Boxcar (right) with stock wheelsets. The couplers are from Full Throttle.

Alex

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Posted by Guilford Guy on Thursday, February 3, 2011 9:00 PM

I've been slowly building and upgrading the N scale rolling stock fleet. MTL and Athearn cars have been receiving BLMA wheelsets, and the remaining Atlas cars will receive FVM ones when I have money again. I've also been installing Z scale couplers on the equipment. I would like to add weight to each car to increase the ease of coupling, so we'll see how that plays out, but here's a shot of an MTL hopper (left) with BLMA wheels, and an Atlas Boxcar (right) with stock wheelsets. The couplers are from Full Throttle.

Alex

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  • From: North Jersey
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Posted by ns3010 on Thursday, February 3, 2011 9:18 PM

That reminds me that I need to eventually get some Kadees to uprade my whole fleet. Yet another thing to add to my never-ending To Do list...

And in other news, or lack thereof, I STILL haven't sent in 1002's board. But I WILL get that done this weekend. I will NOT let that slip my mind for yet another weekend...

My Model Railroad: Tri State Rail
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My Photos on RRPA: RR Picture Archives

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Posted by Packers#1 on Friday, February 4, 2011 4:18 PM

Joe, I also love GE's, both standard and wide cabs. I have 2 U23Bs and a B23-7; I want to get a pair of C40-8Ws for the CSRY mainline fleet (although I'll also have SD45s). There's not very many locos I dislike. I also have a C420 (just love the look of them).

GG, nice man

Well, no rugby today (the pitch owners don't want us playing). Means I can sand and paint my hills today.

Sawyer Berry

Clemson University c/o 2018

Building a protolanced industrial park layout

 

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: North Jersey
  • 1,781 posts
Posted by ns3010 on Sunday, February 6, 2011 11:07 AM

In addition to the genset and GP50-3 I already have, I'll eventually add a pair of Dash 8's for the stone train. After I have those, I'll be able to get a few more geeps (either GP50-3s or GP40-2s) and one or two more D8's, so that I'll have enough power to allow for them to be swapped out occasionally.

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

I've done some website upgrades in the last few days. I've added a new shorter URL (see the link below), and changed a few colors, fonts, etc. to spruce up the site. You can use the newly added contact form on the "Contact Us" page to tell me what you think.

bit.ly/tristaterail

My Model Railroad: Tri State Rail
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  • From: Seattle, Washington
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Posted by IVRW on Wednesday, February 16, 2011 6:14 PM

My goodness, its been a long while since any real conversations have gone on, and even longer still since I was a part of one. Well, if you guys are interested, please read the latest issue of the Bradwood Chronicle, in which the author was buried between snow and solid dirt (Read for the whole story). Also, highlights are brought to Bert Wesminster, graduate of the Biltmore Estate Forestry School (real place). Enjoy!

~G4

19 Years old, modeling the Cowlitz, Chehalis, and Cascade Railroad of Western Washington in 1927 in 6X6 feet.

  • Member since
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  • From: North Jersey
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Posted by ns3010 on Wednesday, February 16, 2011 6:45 PM

Wow, you've made some great progress!

So, remember how I thought I had reached a standstill? Well, apparently I haven't!

While going through some boxes (the crap under my layout is a mess, so I'll probably use some of the long weekend to resolve that...), I discovered that I still have some scenery supplies leftover from the old layout. So, the past few days, I've gotten a decent amount of ground covered. I'll continue working over the weekend.

Photos of scenery work, and my now 99% completed PL42AC, are to come. Stay tuned.

My Model Railroad: Tri State Rail
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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, February 17, 2011 5:11 PM

I've also been getting some stuff done...still slogging through benchwork. I hope to be laying track by mid-March.

http://centralmassrail.blogspot.com/2011/02/layout-progress-214.html

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  • From: North Jersey
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Posted by ns3010 on Friday, February 18, 2011 10:13 PM

Wow, Tyler! You've been busy!

A while back, I decided that I would add a road overpass near the Kuiken Lumber spur, but never posted a photo of the mockup. That, and the scenery work I did in the past week can be seen on my blog:
http://http://bit.ly/hnESBS

Over the long weekend, I'm hoping to get some more scenery done, and get the PL42 done once and for all. When the time comes, I'll have photos of whatever gets done.

Enjoy!

My Model Railroad: Tri State Rail
My Photos on Flickr: Flickr
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My Photos on RRPA: RR Picture Archives

  • Member since
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Posted by Packers#1 on Saturday, February 19, 2011 9:42 AM

Tyler, you've been workin hard man! 

Joe, saw the WPF pics, nice man.

Well, I'll jsut share my progress pics here as well. MAN do I love supertrees!

First, an overview of the right side. Still don't have the road planned out (lost both my scale ruler and woodland scenics grader.) Anyone know how many inches wide a 2 lane n scale road is? Anyways, trees in the back, hot rod/car customizing etc shop in front of those, there will be a bait shop in front of that, train to the far right.

Here we are looking down the cut. The hill the camera is resting on will have trees, as will most of the length of the main.

Close-up of the end of the B23-7. I don't really like this paint scheme, and while I've had an idea of another, I'm not really sure. Anyone have an easy to paint two tone paint scheme?

Close-up of the shop:

Finally, got a LOT more trees left to make and plant. Might make a tutorial.

Sawyer Berry

Clemson University c/o 2018

Building a protolanced industrial park layout

 

  • Member since
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Posted by WCfan on Sunday, February 20, 2011 11:06 AM

Packers#1

Close-up of the end of the B23-7. I don't really like this paint scheme, and while I've had an idea of another, I'm not really sure. Anyone have an easy to paint two tone paint scheme? 

I don't think there is a really super easy way to paint to two-tone scheme. Unless you have the option to use decals. The easiest way I know is to spray your first coat (after primer) with your lightest color. In your case it would be yellow. Then, carefully tape off the areas you want yellow. Make sure the tape get's in all the grooves. It's a huge pain in the butt, however you will be more satisfied with the results if a good portion of time is spent doing that. After taping, spray on your darker coat of paint (Green) so that it covers all the primer, and visible yellow. Let the paint dry completely before peeling off the tape.

It is difficult to paint a two tone scheme, and one mistake can ruin the paint job. Try practicing on some boxcars, or other junk models that have grooves and ridges in them to get the hang of it. 

Nice work Sawyer, I like the cut on the rear portion of the layout.

Tyler, nice work on the switching layout, I can't wait to see more progress.

  • Member since
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  • From: Memphis, TN
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Posted by Packers#1 on Sunday, February 20, 2011 11:59 AM
WC, thanks man. The cut was inspired by a cut downtown, hopefully someday soon I'll have pics. I've come up with a few ideas, really the only question for me now is colors...I have a maroon/yellow, a GTW orange/blue, and I'm gonna try both CNW green/yellow and BM blue/black. Also going to see how a single-color dip would look, kind-of like the Ann Arbor. btw, here's a supertrees tutorial that I put together: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQmtoYK7bw4

Sawyer Berry

Clemson University c/o 2018

Building a protolanced industrial park layout

 

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: North Jersey
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Posted by ns3010 on Sunday, February 20, 2011 12:15 PM

Adding to what Jordan said:

I've heard that you should spray a second coat of yellow after masking the yellow stripe. Then spray it with green.

I don't have any personal experience with that, but I've always heard that the second coat of hellow helps to seal the edges of the tape.

My Model Railroad: Tri State Rail
My Photos on Flickr: Flickr
My Videos on Youtube: Youtube
My Photos on RRPA: RR Picture Archives

  • Member since
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  • From: Memphis, TN
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Posted by Packers#1 on Sunday, February 20, 2011 12:27 PM

yeah joe, that's what I've heard. I would've tried it, but I sprayed the paint on two different days and the yellow was being a PAIN! oh well. I'll probably spray over the yellow and just run the units as straight blue for now

Sawyer Berry

Clemson University c/o 2018

Building a protolanced industrial park layout

 

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: North Jersey
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Posted by ns3010 on Thursday, February 24, 2011 6:48 PM

So, my plan to do a little more scenery over the long weekend didn't really work out... Somehow, the weekend flew by faster than a regular weekend, and I didn't get much of anything done.

After organizing the mountain of boxes that was under my layout, I found some various wire. So I grabbed the drill and started drilling holes and cutting wire. I have about half the feeders drilled, cut and placed.
Before I continue, I need a soldering iron. My dad has mentioned before that having one would be useful, so I'll talk to him. Maybe we'll split the cost (I'm not sure how much they cost).
Then I'll be able to solder the feeders and rail joints. After that, I can get some heavier wire and those 3M clip things so I can have the wiring done by the time I'll have saved up for a Zephyr and decoders.

Not exactly MRR related, but I finally saw Unstoppable over the weekend (we rented it on iO). It was very good. They could have made it much less dramatic and still had it be good, but whatever.
They did a very good job with the details as well. A few things here and there, but that is to be expected.

My Model Railroad: Tri State Rail
My Photos on Flickr: Flickr
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My Photos on RRPA: RR Picture Archives

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Posted by Packers#1 on Thursday, February 24, 2011 8:41 PM

Joe, my main problem with Unstoppable was the language. Yes, RR workers are potty mouths, but still, there's just too much language. It's still REALLY good though! watched it three times in the space of less than 48 hours.

Well, not much progress. Got a rugby match tomorrow, but Saturday hopefully i can go buy more spray paint and hair spray and get started on making more Super Trees. I'll probably make them this Saturday and then on early release Wednesday next Wednesday.

Sawyer Berry

Clemson University c/o 2018

Building a protolanced industrial park layout

 

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: North Jersey
  • 1,781 posts
Posted by ns3010 on Friday, February 25, 2011 9:57 PM

And my dad's influential power wins again...

After he asked if I wanted to go to the train show tomorrow (I already knew about it, but never mentioned bringing it up), we decided that it wouldn't be worth the twenty bucks in gas (about a third of a tank) and twenty bucks admission.

After some discussion about how I was already overbudget for the year and I didn't want to spend any more money until summer, he convinced me to buy some stuff. Tomorrow, we're going to the LHS. I'll grab some more cork, turnouts, and flextrack so that I can continue staging, some ballast (if I can find a color that I like), and anything else I can find (read: afford).

Also, we're gonna go out to the hardware store and grab a soldering iron. That way, I can solder the feeders I have drilled and the rail joints.

Look for a lot of progress (hopefully) this weekend!

My Model Railroad: Tri State Rail
My Photos on Flickr: Flickr
My Videos on Youtube: Youtube
My Photos on RRPA: RR Picture Archives

  • Member since
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  • From: Memphis, TN
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Posted by Packers#1 on Saturday, February 26, 2011 8:53 PM

Welp, drove all over today and still tired from the game (we lost by a lot, and after missing a week I had NO gas left), but here's my progress form teh weekend

video

Got the roads going:

And here's the industrial corner:

Sawyer Berry

Clemson University c/o 2018

Building a protolanced industrial park layout

 

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: North Jersey
  • 1,781 posts
Posted by ns3010 on Sunday, February 27, 2011 10:13 PM

Okay, so today ended up being a much busier day than I originally anticipated, and I did not get as much done as I was hoping to.

I also discovered that I am horrible at ballasting... Whistling

See here for more:
http://http://bit.ly/f1oVph

My Model Railroad: Tri State Rail
My Photos on Flickr: Flickr
My Videos on Youtube: Youtube
My Photos on RRPA: RR Picture Archives

  • Member since
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  • From: Memphis, TN
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Posted by Packers#1 on Monday, February 28, 2011 6:14 PM

Joe, money saving tip: 50:50 elmers white glue:water is just as good, if not better than scenic cement. Not to mention WAYYYY cheaper

Sawyer Berry

Clemson University c/o 2018

Building a protolanced industrial park layout

 

  • Member since
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  • From: Arizona
  • 136 posts
Posted by modelbnsfer on Monday, February 28, 2011 6:33 PM

Hey Guys,

Holy Crap I haven't been on here lately, busy with soccer and the girl, no extra time for anything else.

Hows everything been?

Sorry its been so long!

Taylor

Bear Down! 

  • Member since
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  • From: North Jersey
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Posted by ns3010 on Monday, February 28, 2011 9:10 PM

Sawyer, I used the mix of white water and glue for the scenery I had done a few weeks ago, and it worked very well, but I figured that I should at least give the Scenic CEMENT a shot.

However, that didn't work, since I was a moron and got Scenic GLUE, which is apparently very different from Scenic CEMENT. D'OH! Whistling

Hey, Taylor, good to hear from you again. Hopefully a few of our other guys start posting again soon...

Well, I have three days of freedom left to accomplish as much MRRing as possible. After that, it's seventy days of lacrosse. Even on Sundays, when we don't have lax, I won't have time for MRRing (and likely time to visit the forums on a regular basis) around homework and research papers (on trains Mischief)

My Model Railroad: Tri State Rail
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My Photos on RRPA: RR Picture Archives

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Posted by IVRW on Wednesday, March 2, 2011 4:37 PM

Yo guys! Well, it seems that things are coming along nicely with your layouts. As for me, it's been a really long time since Ive posted pictures, so here you go!

Some of the Bradwood Residents were unhappy with my roadbed, so they insisted on coming out and checking my work:

 

Ive done a lot of scenery too, and Mr. Walter Woodard admired it when I finished:

 

I also got two new Skidders (or Donkeys, call 'em as you like):

 

The Crew of the BWTC had great fun chuffing them around the woods:

 

Because my good old friend No. 5 was sent away to the DCC conversion shops...

 

...The Railroad received another workhorse, the 0-6-0T, No. 2

 

The gool ol' No. 2 also brought in more company cars:

 

A lot more work has been done on the layout lately. I completely hydrocaled the second module, and the scenery on the third module is only a few trees away from completion, minus the ballast, and the still unlaid track to Camp 3. I have laid track on the switchback, and the main to Camp 3, but the only thing I have left to do is a short length of main left, and the two Camp 3 Spurs. Because today is my Birthday, ( Happy B-Day to me! Big Smile ), I was given some free time, and I started my 4th Kadee Logging kit, and my 3rd Disconnect truck kit. Electrical problems are at a minimum ( Surprise Yes, shocking, I know), and the only one is lack of pressure on the non-DCC turnouts, so I will insert a small sliver of brass in between the stock and point rails of each to add pressure and electrical continuity. I had a great clinic at the OT&W 2011 show, and read my blog for the whole story. Much more has also taken place, all of which can be found on my newly updated website, including a full list of photos. Happy Model Railroading!

~G4

19 Years old, modeling the Cowlitz, Chehalis, and Cascade Railroad of Western Washington in 1927 in 6X6 feet.

  • Member since
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  • From: Memphis, TN
  • 3,876 posts
Posted by Packers#1 on Wednesday, March 2, 2011 4:59 PM

Been a while Taylor, I hear ya on being busy. For me it's just rugby though; no gf, and I've reached the point where I no longer care. Anyways, I'm gonna save up to get my uncle to build me a dirt track go-cart (more on that later).

Joe, lemme save you money; 50:50 white glue water works just as good as scenic cement. And white glue or tacky glue might be just as good as scenic glue, although I've never tried it. Also, have fun w/ the lacrosse etc. 

Jon, nice work man!

Made some good progress w/ the trees today, here's some pics (GAH I love early release day!):

So yesterday I had to go to a funeral, and afterwards we went to my uncle's house and ran go-carts on his track. I'm planning to edit my videos together saturday.

 

Sawyer Berry

Clemson University c/o 2018

Building a protolanced industrial park layout

 

  • Member since
    September 2008
  • From: Seattle, Washington
  • 1,082 posts
Posted by IVRW on Wednesday, March 2, 2011 7:40 PM

Sawyer! Excellent work! I like the tunnel feeling, but you know to keep some of the top uncovered. I saw your WPF post, and what I usually do for my track plan is I roughly sketch the plan, and then replicate the same thing on the layout, but dont use exact specifications, working out the problems in stage 2. Try that until you get another scale ruler.

 

Packers#1

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh55/Packers_1/IMG_5354.jpghttp://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh55/Packers_1/IMG_5355.jpg

~G4

19 Years old, modeling the Cowlitz, Chehalis, and Cascade Railroad of Western Washington in 1927 in 6X6 feet.

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • From: Memphis, TN
  • 3,876 posts
Posted by Packers#1 on Wednesday, March 2, 2011 7:51 PM

Jon, the thing about the scale ruler is I need it for the roads (although I have that down now), but also for measuring stories etc. But I have the DPM planning kit so I can start with that

Sawyer Berry

Clemson University c/o 2018

Building a protolanced industrial park layout

 

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: North Jersey
  • 1,781 posts
Posted by ns3010 on Wednesday, March 2, 2011 8:11 PM

Wow, John, lots of great work! And Happy B-Day

Sawyer, loving those trees! I also like the tunnel effect. Really gives it that "backwoods South Carolina" feel.


And yeah, next time, I'll just go with the tried-and-true stuff, rather than "reinventing the wheel" (for lack of a better term) (Prototype Analogy: NJT's GP40PH variants, which still work great after 43 years, or their Alstom PL42ACs, which took a few years to iron out the bugs [good analogy, since I'm modeling NJT!]). I've already used nearly half the bottle of Scenic GLUE Smile, Wink & Grin, so once that's gone, I'll just stick (pun not intended) with the Elmer's/agua mixture.

Yesterday, I finished the last trackwork, with the exception of three bumpers (LHS was out). Up next will be drilling the rest of the feeders, and soldering them once I get a soldering iron. After that will be ballast (after I do a little more practicing...).

Tonight, I laid down some more gravel around Magic Pan Bakeries/Andover Stone and Gravel. Since I didn't get photos over the weekend (because I wanted to get a little more done before I showed anything) I'll try and get some up tonight.

My Model Railroad: Tri State Rail
My Photos on Flickr: Flickr
My Videos on Youtube: Youtube
My Photos on RRPA: RR Picture Archives

  • Member since
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  • From: Seattle, Washington
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Posted by IVRW on Thursday, March 3, 2011 12:04 PM

Joe, Thanks! and nice progress!

Sawyer, Cool, I didnt know you used DPM kits. And again, great job so far!

~G4

19 Years old, modeling the Cowlitz, Chehalis, and Cascade Railroad of Western Washington in 1927 in 6X6 feet.

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