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Whimsical creations

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  • Member since
    October 2007
  • From: Fullerton, California
  • 1,364 posts
Posted by hornblower on Monday, February 17, 2020 1:55 PM

Many visitors to my layout are not into trains.  To get them more interested in the layout, I have LOTS of funny business names on my structures.  It is very common that once one of these visitors spots a funny business name, they continue to look for others. Most people completely miss my Binford Tools store, though!

I also lettered a couple of Accurail Data Only boxcars for the Anahiem, Azusa and Cucamonga.  However, I find that the train people like these cars more than the others.

 

Hornblower

  • Member since
    December 2014
  • 443 posts
Posted by Wolf359 on Monday, February 17, 2020 12:43 PM

SeeYou190

 

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-Kevin

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As a die hard Star Trek fan I have to know, where did you get that car? Or did you make it yourself? Either way that is really cool. I have decal paper for inkjet printers, so I might just have to make one.Smile, Wink & Grin

  • Member since
    February 2015
  • From: Ludington, MI
  • 1,862 posts
Posted by Water Level Route on Monday, February 17, 2020 9:07 AM

rrinker
I think as far as I am going to go is have various businesses to somehow tie to family members

That's what I do.  For example, my wife, an avid(rabid?) reader has a bookstore in one town named for her.  That sort of thing.  I don't have anything against someone putting something whimsical on their layout.  Wizard of Oz characters tucked away in a park, or the Bailey Building and Loan from "It's a Wonderful Life" are fun, in moderation.  I've often thought it would be neat for someone to build a fanciful layout of steam-punk looking locomotives, run by goblins, hauling gold and silver ore in a dark, half dead world of other fanciful beings.  Would make a fun halloween layout article for MR.  I don't have the supplies or talent to pull that off though.  Kevin? 

Mike

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Monday, February 17, 2020 7:12 AM

 I think as far as I am going to go is have various businesses to somehow tie to family members, even though it's not the correct area that I am modeling. Such as, when they first came out with it, I got the Walt's Cafe kit for my Uncle who never turned down a good meal. I've often joked about it, but I am pretty sure I will have a laaw firm on my layout. Just not Deqey, Cheatham, and Howe. No, mine will be Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, and Howe.  Might have to have a Peart & Squire Music Store, too.

 The family ones, only family will get. Some of the others - I know some people will get it.

                                                 --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    June 2002
  • 569 posts
Posted by drgwcs on Sunday, February 16, 2020 9:57 PM

On a recent section I built at the club I did a office building with Dewey Cheatham and Howe attorneys, Monet, Gruber and Steele Accountants and Marvin Acme Novelty Company- (With a stack of portable holes barely visible in the window) The building is far enough back that a lot of people miss it. I also put the Grumobile from Despicable Me (Kinda hidden by a truck) near a bank with an armored car- now to come up with some minions........

  • Member since
    February 2018
  • From: Flyover Country
  • 5,557 posts
Posted by York1 on Sunday, February 16, 2020 9:23 PM

That''s a great Star Trek boxcar!

York1 John       

  • Member since
    April 2015
  • 469 posts
Posted by Enzoamps on Sunday, February 16, 2020 9:11 PM

I have often thought about a power truck since, but when I had the idea, Athearn was using rubber band drive locos.

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Sunday, February 16, 2020 6:17 PM

 What you are describing was available for hi-rail - it's called a "Beep". Close anyway.

 You could probably make one easily using a self contained power truck. 

                        --Randy

 

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Sunday, February 16, 2020 5:22 PM

Enzoamps
I know there are some guys who model exactly 4:13PM August 9, 1954

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Those people are completely nuts.

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Resonable level-headed people model exactly 2:00 PM on Tuesday, August 3rd, 1954.

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You would have to be out of your mind to model a Monday!

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-Kevin

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Living the dream.

  • Member since
    November 2015
  • 723 posts
Posted by UNCLEBUTCH on Sunday, February 16, 2020 5:15 PM

I believe you should do what ever, however, to get the enjoyment you seek.

It's a hobby,aint no rules.

''Whimsical'' ?  I use a pretty wide brush for prototypical modeling, but it has to be believeable. But I stop befor I hit whimsical. I know its a pretend RR in a pretend town, but ''I'' need it to look real.

 

You should try to build thouse locos,worst thing that can happen is you end up tossing it

  • Member since
    April 2015
  • 469 posts
Whimsical creations
Posted by Enzoamps on Sunday, February 16, 2020 4:16 PM

I know there are some guys who model exactly 4:13PM August 9, 1954, and will even have the tiny newspapers in the scene showing the date.  And all details exact.  But I enjoy the other end.  So Tony Koester, go in the other room for a moment...

I hope many of you remember Walthers' Piker and Oscar passenger cars.  One three axle truck with a tiny short Pullman or coach car atop. I always wanted them.  I think they are really cool, myself.  And while it was 60 years ago now, I could swear I had an old wooden era shorty coach, maybe with drawbars, but if I recall, maybe 40 foot tops.  So cartoon charicature sort of stuff, tongue in cheek, but realisticly done.

I lacked, and still lack, the skills, but I always wanted to build a locomotive.  It would be a single four wheel truck with a GP7 cab and short hood on top.  I suppose it would be OK to make one with a six wheel truck and an SD7 cab.  Where inside it an engine might go, who cares?  I recall back in that era "featherbedding" was in the news a lot.  That was born of the RR unions wanting to preserve jobs, and the railroads claiming that meant unnecessary crew people.  Not taking sides here.  But my warped sensibility envisioned one of these things as a extra cab for the extra crew members.  But I also thought it would be cute pulling a few single truck cars - passenger or freight.

Does anyone else get ideas like that, or do I need therapy?  I know some avoid joke scenes on their layouts, claiming once seen, they get old on you.  But I like them.  Even semi-jokes, like a burning building, with a movie crew filming.  Or a T-rex chasing people down the street, and a film crew to the side.  With maybe a "real" Trex about to eat the film crew.  Ah, maybe that is a bit much.  But today there are so many possibilities.  I know there are layouts out there with real movies playing on drive-in screens.   "Say, isn't that The Graduate on that tiny screen?"  "Why yes, but WAIT, this railroad is supposed to be 1964!!!"

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