UPDATE: Woohoo! It's finally done - Pic added

[tstage]

I finally finished my smalll Suncoast coaling tower that I've been practically scratch-building, off and on, over the past 3 months. It has been a lot more challenging project than I orginally expected it to be.

I'm going to take some pictures tonight when I get home and hopefully post them in the next day or two. The only changes that I might make to it wouild be to add some "real" lighting to the light fixtures.

Anyhow, I'll try and get those pics posted soon...

Tom

[SpaceMouse]

What a tease. Common. Let's see it.

By the way--way to go!

[Anonymous]

Tom,

Why do you tease so bad? I look forward to seeing your project.

[selector]

We're waaaaaaiiiiiittiiiinnnnggg!

[ukguy]

That is just too much of a tease.... darn it.

Funnily enough I was just contemplating posting pics of my first scratchbuild... it went great( in my humble opinion) until I painted the darned thing. I've repainted it twice so for and it still looks like dung(spelt with an s an h and only 1 t).

Somewhere I've read the quote ..... "a good paint job can make a mediocre model look great where a poor paint job can make a great model look like cr@p" mine falls into the second category.

Cant wait to see yours and congrats on completion.

Have fun & be safe
Karl.

[tstage]

It looks like it will have to wait till Wednesday sometime. I couldn't get the camera to "let go" of the photos. (I'm borrowing a camera from work and the software isn't working on my computer.) Took 36 pics of the coaling tower this past evening so I'm hoping that at least a few of them should turn out.

You think you're antsy about seein' the pics...?

Tom

[rrinker]

If the camera is USB and you're running windows XP - don't even bother with the software! I started having wierd crashes ever since I loaded the Canon software for my new camera. So I removed it, computer back to normal, and I can still copy the pictures off with no problems.

This sounds like a great project, can;t wait to see it. My latest is this old E&B Valley covered hopper I found at a train show for a whole $4. Problem is, this thing is like screatchbuilding if someone else mdae all the seperate pieces for you - few if any locating pins or holes, just a bunch of pieces! I have same other assembled covered hoppers of the same style that I can use as a pattern though.
And I built a third tank car - LOL! I can build those things in my sleep now.

--Randy

[tstage]

You're on a roll, Randy. You could make it a business....nahhhhh!

Tom

[rrinker]

Well there are about 8 more numbers of SHPX and UTLX that have my era dates on them....

but then I'd be in the position of having the tank cars on my supposedly coal-hauling railroad outnumber the hoppers. [:o)]


--Randy

[tstage]

Thanks for your patience everyone. At last...here she is! [:D]



If you want to see more pics and closeups of the coaling tower (and other parts of the layout), click on the link at the bottom of this post. I'd appreciate any feedback and/or constructive criticism. Thanks! [:)]

Tom

[ukguy]

Finally !!! but it was worth the wait, looks great tstage

[selector]

That is one sweet layout, Tom, and the tower fits in there like you had it planned all along![^] Great model work, too.

Karl, I have a new railimage account, and a recently developed roll of film on a CD-ROM. Once I read-in and figure it all out, I'll post some images. Hopefully my retired brain hasn't become a 'retarded' brain. [(-D]

-Crandell

[Anonymous]

Very nice! I like the whole layout.

[rrinker]

Great job, that looks neat. Nice change of pace from the Fairbanks-style concrete towers used everywhere else.

--Randy

[SpaceMouse]

Uh Tom, uh it looks great, but now we've seen those pictures. What are you going to do for Sunday Photo Fun?

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by tstage

Thanks for your patience everyone. At last...here she is! [:D]



If you want to see more pics and closeups of the coaling tower (and other parts of the layout), click on the link at the bottom of this post. I'd appreciate any feedback and/or constructive criticism. Thanks! [:)]

Tom

Nifty. Very nice.

[davekelly]

Excellent job!!

[twhite]

Hats off, Thomas--that's a beauty!! Just goes to show what patience can produce. BTW, can you send me some? Patience, I mean, LOL!
Tom [:P][:P]

[Anonymous]

looks good!

[tstage]

Thanks, fellas! I appreciate the encouragement and the comments.

Karl: I take that as a real compliment, coming from a (uk)guy of your talents. [:)]

Crandell & Randy: Thanks. Yeah, most of the other coaling towers on the market are 11" high and would overwhelm my small 4 x 8' layout. The Suncoast Models coaling tower stands only 4" tall (~29' in real life) and should fit in nicely as part of the servicing terminal. It will definitely be a centerpiece for my layout.

I'd eventually like to substitute the plastic lamp shades for brass ones so that I can put in "real" lighting. It will have to wait till I get the layout design finalized first.

Chip: Not to worry. I just may have a few more pics up my sleeve for Sunday Photo Fun. (Or, maybe, I'll just string you guys along again with more "teasers".) [:P]

Tom

[selector]

I know what you mean about the 11" sanding towers. I took one look at the Cornerstone Concrete tower and said to myself, "Nope, but it will do nicely for a mine crushing plant on the side of Sentinel Mountain." And, there she rests. Pix to appear at railimages.com in the next few days...if I had my ancient SLR metered correctly in the low light of my basement.

Again, I really like what I see on your layout. My compliments, Tom.