Jetrock I used a roll of kraft paper "cedar shingles" for the roof treatment, along with some other enhanced roof detail. Instead of the brick-paper chimney and simple wooden pillars and balustrade on the porch, I experimented with a new technique, using small rocks (filtered from a batch of dirt I used for scenery) to simulate a river-rock chimney and porch (sometimes found on Craftsman homes.)
Great job on the old kit.
The experimental chimney looks good to me. I remember chimneys like that in my neighborhood when I lived in Gainesville, Florida.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
After sitting on the "to be built someday" shelf for quite a while, I completed a Suydam "Brown Bungalow" kit; the old Strathmore board kits have their own feel. Simpler than a craftsman kit, but good for basic skills, and an opportunity to test out a couple of techniques. Instead of the pieces of sandpaper for a simple tar-paper roof, I used a roll of kraft paper "cedar shingles" for the roof treatment, along with some other enhanced roof detail. Instead of the brick-paper chimney and simple wooden pillars and balustrade on the porch, I experimented with a new technique, using small rocks (filtered from a batch of dirt I used for scenery) to simulate a river-rock chimney and porch (sometimes found on Craftsman homes.) I slathered the wooden chimney form (and later the wood/Strathmore board porch) with Hob-E-Tac and sprinkled on the stones, let them dry overnight. I added a thick coat of sanding varnish to seal the stones in place and fill the gaps in between them, then a coat of Dullcote to reduce the shine. I like the effect and may try to find other places to test it out. So, a successful modeling experiment, filled in a blank spot on the layout, and I made a little room on the "unbuilt kits" shelf!
In addition to the cat in the window, there's a cat on the porch (one of my layout rules is that each house has its own cat.)
Matching garage on the far side of the house.
A few things!
Getting a Precision Scale Boston and Maine T1b 2-8-4 to run much better than when I got it. When I got it, it shorted, made a lot of noise, hesitated, and ran intermittently. I got it running a lot more smoothly, I regauged the wheels, eliminated the shorts, and it's much quieter. It had been nerve-wracking working on such an expensive train but I do appreciate the simple construction of brass models that plastic models, especially those with sound and DCC have in comparisson. I'll at some point convert to sound and DCC.
I won an Overland brass Boston and Maine wood caboose for $90 plus shipping and taxes.
My biggest win, and I've posted photos in WPF on here is getting that South River Model Works kit put together and seeing it go from a box of parts to becoming a finished model, and not just of the building, but the scene as well. Still have much to do, but it's getting there. It's the first time I did painting and finishing of a brick building model and though I like to think I do good work, I keep looking at the building's finish and say, wow, I did this.
Alvie
Fantastic topic!
Recent huzzahs:
1. Getting help isolating my pike using DPST toggles;
2. Someone fixing a long tank car, so it can navigate a curve;
3. Snagging cheap green paint for the fascia from HD's "oops table."
Just got them last week found a receipt in the monon cars from 1990
Going back later today for a few more John just texted me heading there now he said he found some more
mikeGTWalso got these two Monon Limited edition cars from 1988 only 200 of each made
Those are all good finds.
Wins all the way!
SeeYou190Now that is a win. I would snap those up for $20.00 each with no hesitation at all. They are wonderful locomotives, my favorites. -Kevin
Yes they are all are powered
Some of the rolling stock was from a place called H&D hobby out of Calgary never heard of them
also got these two Monon Limited edition cars from 1988 only 200 of each made got them both
Hi Doughless--
Well, an H1 painted BNSF (Athearn) SD40-2 arrived today in the mail, along with two Gevo's, and perhaps if I can find an ATSF unit in that number series, I would get one...the low numbers in the 1000's are demoted to switching service. 6209 is a number I would want to have...Thanks for the suggestion.
John
mlehmanThose AP builds are for those certificates that are part of the NMRA Achievement Program
Thanks for the answer. I was unfamilliar with the abbreviation. Nice work on the Kato conversions.
mikeGTWRecent addition for me four Stewart F units one F3A and three F7A-B-B set $20 each.
Now that is a win. I would snap those up for $20.00 each with no hesitation at all. They are wonderful locomotives, my favorites.
Recent addition for me four Stewart F units one F3A and three F7A-B-B set $20 each plus 35 misc rolling stock athearn walthers roundhouse accurail all for $5 ea at a house not even 5 min from me Don't think the engines have ever been run and all the rolling stock new in boxes
SeeYou190 Erie Lackawanna in Georgia I completed both my AP Cars and Structures Sorry, I need help here. What is an "AP" car or stucture? -Kevin
Sorry, I need help here. What is an "AP" car or stucture? -Kevin
Those AP builds are for those certificates that are part of the NMRA Achievement Program, part of the work needed to qualify to be a MMR - Master Model Railroader.
I'm kind of pleased with completing my 3rd Kato NW2M narrowgauge conversion and documenting it here: http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/288953.aspx
They look like this.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
I finally got my brain around the block wiring I need to do -- thanks to the help here -- and have started running wires under the layout for 10 DC bocks. Also I got my yard lead extended and figured out a smooth way to ramp down from cork to subroad (sanded the cork at an angle and then used a masking tape layering trick that someone here told me of), so I will soon have a couple of yard tracks.
Lead coming off the main loop at lower right and curving into yard:
Dropping from cork (mainline) level to the subroadbed (yard tracks) level using a belt-sanded cork ramp finished with tapered masking tape staggered at 3/16" intervals:
Last bit of cork laid running off the mainline and along the sneaky back entrance to the yard. The rest of the track in the yard will all be at subroadbed level, and I even managed to squeeze a short fourth track in. Each of the yard tracks will be its own block, and so will the yard lead.
Returning to model railroading after 40 years and taking unconscionable liberties with the SP&S, Northern Pacific and Great Northern roads in the '40s and '50s.
tstageObviously you didn't go to high school, Kevin.
If I could have earned a college credit by passing a AP structure building class, I would have showed up for that!
Obviously you didn't go to high school, Kevin. AP History...AP English...AP Cars & Structures. THAT'S how you prepared for the SAT tests in my day.
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Erie Lackawanna in GeorgiaI completed both my AP Cars and Structures
Sorry, I need help here.
What is an "AP" car or stucture?
I completed both my AP Cars and Structures in the last year which I consider a win as my modeling skills really improved during the process!
it was all about the journey - not the finish line.
PRR8259My "win" is today finally deciding to give in and modernize to current day BNSF, which as a former ATSF fan I said I'd never do (never is a long time),
Congrats.
While not a dash 2, these BNSF ex ATSF Athearn units are still available in some outlets, so you can have both road names . I believe these SD40's (or 39s) are still running on the BNSF in this paint scheme.
RRpictures Archives: from 2006
- Douglas
Well I, train wise and other, started to tackle and finnish a bunch of stuff I have been putting off. Whole railroad is now DCC (yard area used to be DC to make basic testing easier for shorts and stuff). Have got the whole layout ballasted and nearing final scenery layer over much of the layout.
PRR8259 My friend and I were comparing various manufacturers' SD40-2 units the other night. He owns at least 40 of them...and at one point he reminded me that no matter what we are doing, they are all really just toys, and a whole lot of people out there are even happy with their fleets of not-quite-state-of-the-art engines. That food for thought of course got me thinking. My "win" is today finally deciding to give in and modernize to current day BNSF, which as a former ATSF fan I said I'd never do (never is a long time), and this afternoon buying and being happy with a Walthers Mainline SD-60M Cyclops unit, despite a not very noticeable glue mark that might have driven me crazy were it not for remembering that these are just toys. Just running and enjoying the trains that I have. John
My friend and I were comparing various manufacturers' SD40-2 units the other night. He owns at least 40 of them...and at one point he reminded me that no matter what we are doing, they are all really just toys, and a whole lot of people out there are even happy with their fleets of not-quite-state-of-the-art engines.
That food for thought of course got me thinking.
My "win" is today finally deciding to give in and modernize to current day BNSF, which as a former ATSF fan I said I'd never do (never is a long time), and this afternoon buying and being happy with a Walthers Mainline SD-60M Cyclops unit, despite a not very noticeable glue mark that might have driven me crazy were it not for remembering that these are just toys.
Just running and enjoying the trains that I have.
John, that's a win on a whole other plane. A couple years ago, I decided to lighten up. I think I posted on it somewhere here. Don't sweat the stupid stuff that only I would know the diff on. Fill in gaps that research or finding a prototype can't with a little imagination.
Freelance our layouts' way to whatever degree we want to into the bigger small world we all play in. And don't waste energy on stuff like justifying why 2 different road's engines are pulling one train. Anymore, "cuz that's how I like to see it" suffices. It's great! Enjoy your toys.
tbdannyWhat's a recent model railroading victory you've had?
I am sorry to report that victories in SGRR World have been slim lately. I am 19 months behind on my house remodel, so I still do not have a train room.
In 2017-2019 I very methodically designed the new layout and purchased nearly everything that I need to build it.
I just need the space to be ready... I am getting there, but it has been frustrating and slow.
2x4 studs have dropped by 29 percent over last month, which has been a major win as I slowly build the train room.
Nice work and acquisitions, everyone.
I usually don't RR during the summer, but this year I slowed down, didn't stop. I snapped up a buy it now Keystone 44 tonner on the bay listed at 17% off MSRP, and that at early '80s prices, mind you. Then won 2 more on open bid for FAR less, each! (my all time fave model locomotive kit) Then a Mantua General 4-4-0 to bash, and a nice Athearn BB EMD switcher, also really low priced.
Well, as I am still determined to stick to actually making visible layout scenery progress before diving into loco projects, (buying and maintenance isn't off limits) ground contour and cover IS going in by the scale acres. That's rather gratifying. Dan
Hi tbdanny,
My relatively recent modelling victory is the fact that I have started to lay cork on my layout, and track will not be far behind. I admit that my pace of construction is painfully slow, but at least I'm getting somewhere.
My layout thread also went over 60,000 views! I find that to be amazing, especially because my progress is so slow.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Purchased 2 Trainman 40' boxcars lettered for Union Pacific. What's different is the slogan is "Be Specific Ship Union Pacific." I saw literally hundreds of these cars growing up, but they're not that common in models.
Jim (with a nod to Mies Van Der Rohe)
Completed the hot side of my steel mill. It has 26 buildings on a 3X7 foot area on my layout. The main buildings are a blast furnace, electric furnace, basic oxygen furnace, sintering plant, oxygen plant, blower building, slag plant, slag dump and power plant. Some of these buildings as well as others were scratch built.
An article about my layout was published in the June 21-MR. The Ashland and Iron Mountain RR. I've been designing (in my head) a drop gate across a doorway to access more area for the layout. Of course no drawn plans just saw, drill, assemble parts, and they're right about that "measure twice" thing. Yesterday I finally started to build it. Tonight it's about 3/4-ths done. Good times on all fronts.
Mark B.
Very cool. I especially like the new take on the traditional cops-at-the-donut stand theme!
Jim
Making some passable hay bales for my bicycle race and finishing the scene before the Tour de France ended.
Thanks tbdanny, regards, Peter