Well. Let's see here. I'm getting ready to put my AR-15 back into its original M-4 configuration and sell all of the tactical accessories off of it to a friend of mine for about $500. I just bought a new truck and am looking for a tool box to put on it as well as a bug guard and a few other items. I've been wanting to build a life size butler for the front hall entrance for a couple of years now, and though I have the head, hands, old tails tuxedo and all, I still need to build the frame for it. There's a new chick that moved in down the street that I've been trying to figure out a way to meet and ask out. Etc, etc. Oh, you meant train related projects. No, I don't have any of those right now...
Tracklayer
I'm trying to make rock out of tiles!
I'm also trying to decide which buildings to salvage from my childhood layout.
Having just (Saturday) finished installing the necessary subgrade, I'm now caulking down fan-fold underlayment (10mm foam) for a nine yard stretch of to-be-hidden track. All of the foam is cut, but the plywood needs some TLC (in the form of cardboard shims) to correct some twists and buckles - even after applying angle iron to correct the worst of the problems. Next will come a layer of posterboard (combination template and reinforcement) and then the flex - plus wood ties for what will be two hand-laid turnouts.
I use bright white caulk for anchoring foam, and grey caulk for the posterboard, wood ties and flex.
When finished, that will just about double the length of my available run. (I'm running John Armstrong style; back out of the single-ended yard (to be hidden staging) to end of track, run forward to the other end of the "main," then back to, and into, the yard. That, plus some reshuffling of consists, constitutes operation on the so-far-built portion of a 1:80 scale layout that will eventually fill a 2-car garage.)
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - in HOj, 1:80 scale on 16.5mm gauge)
At the moment I'm workin' on a small 4' dorima for some pictures. I have also improved on the quality of my pictures.
My Big project that I'm working on is Super detailing my SW1500. I haven't worked on it because I still need my parts to get in.
My Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/JR7582 My Flickr Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wcfan/
I am just finishing up a small project. I've installed rear view mirrors on around 50 Classic Metal Works and Life-Like trucks that didn't come with the mirrors. I used needle-nosed pliers to bend common pins, where the head of the pin makes a nice "mirror". Then I cut off most of the pin and inserted it with CA into holes drilled into the cab doors. I know the wire of the pin is a little oversize, but the pins with smaller wire have heads that are too small for the mirror, so it is a trade-off. I'm satisfied with the way they look.
I working on assembling and detailing an Alexander Scale Model PRR Flag stop for a friend of mine. I just finished laying down the 1 x 6 wood plank flooring. (Sorry, this is an old picture shot last week):
Click to enlarge picture(s)
I painted the interior walls this evening with a 1:3 ratio of earth and reefer white. (This will give the interior a warmer look, as well as seal the walls.) The upper peaks of the walls bowed out so badly after painting them that I had to shore them up with blocks of wood and vise clamps. I'm letting them dry overnight.
I also need to install the painted trim work around the doors and windows and touchup the interior before installing the removable roof. I still have some exterior work to complete before finishing up the project. I may attach an exterior light.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
tomikawaTT wrote:Having just (Saturday) finished installing the necessary subgrade, I'm now caulking down fan-fold underlayment (10mm foam) for a nine yard stretch of to-be-hidden track. All of the foam is cut, but the plywood needs some TLC (in the form of cardboard shims) to correct some twists and buckles - even after applying angle iron to correct the worst of the problems. Next will come a layer of posterboard (combination template and reinforcement) and then the flex - plus wood ties for what will be two hand-laid turnouts.I use bright white caulk for anchoring foam, and grey caulk for the posterboard, wood ties and flex.When finished, that will just about double the length of my available run. (I'm running John Armstrong style; back out of the single-ended yard (to be hidden staging) to end of track, run forward to the other end of the "main," then back to, and into, the yard. That, plus some reshuffling of consists, constitutes operation on the so-far-built portion of a 1:80 scale layout that will eventually fill a 2-car garage.)Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - in HOj, 1:80 scale on 16.5mm gauge)
Hammered together 9 Athearn Blue Box Kits. All Boxcars of the Steam Era and perhaps a few AAR's sneaking into the mix.
Spent time in two different stores planning August's shopping expedition and assisting in a very small way a group working on one store layout.
Well, I'm done with the couplers on the Athearn passenger cars. They look good. The cars are now slightly closer together than they were before. Not prototypically close, but better than they were. The trucks also seem to be able to move more freely without the couplers mounted to them, so that has lowered my number of derailments. They are still derailing sometimes though, so that I why I plan on getting new wheelsets for them (which is what I believe the problem is).
I got six switch machines off of ebay on Saturday, and as soon as they arrive, installing them will be the next project on my list.
Pictures are to big to host here but these are some of the things on my workbench (TO forum name is different from this one) http://members.trainorders.com/afbombers/
I wish I was model railroading but I am doing business planning. I own my own business and it's a must you have to do every week.
Right now, trying to keep my Heavy Mike from running into my class J.
Got a Town in a Box today from E-bay. Mainly DMP's and the paint work is just Great! somewhere around 25 buliding and fit my other section of town perfect. But for what ever reason the bulider did not in stall the window glass? 2 down and adding rooms and floors as I go.
Next, clean the darn track again!
Cuda Ken
I hate Rust
Tracklayer wrote: Well. Let's see here. I'm getting ready to put my AR-15 back into its original M-4 configuration and sell all of the tactical accessories off of it to a friend of mine for about $500. I just bought a new truck and am looking for a tool box to put on it as well as a bug guard and a few other items. I've been wanting to build a life size butler for the front hall entrance for a couple of years now, and though I have the head, hands, old tails tuxedo and all, I still need to build the frame for it. There's a new chick that moved in down the street that I've been trying to figure out a way to meet and ask out. Etc, etc. Oh, you meant train related projects. No, I don't have any of those right now...Tracklayer
Irons rule, and don't need batteries, but buttstroking with an M4 gets expensive. Stripping FN mags here, replacing springs, bathing them in unleaded and toothbrushing hundred year old cosmoline out back, taking advantage of some fine weather, 7 down, 15 to go. Then another 30 in 5.56, 20s and 30s. Maybe get out to the range tomorrow, and see if clean new springs make the BAR-10 run right. Hope so, can't get anymore Black Hills Blue Box for the DCM anymore so I'm getting the 10 up to match specs.
Grass needs cut, but that's a full time job in the summer, and the garden is looking good. A five foot high wall of bushy tomato plants, at least 6 pea to marble size tomatoes visible, and just plucked my first green pepper yesterday.
Trainwise, knocking out details in areas of the layout that are about to get hard to reach, due to a staging and mainline expansion. Ballast on those sections mostly done, about a foot of double track main to go, and even that's all done but gravel and glue. Seven trees to replant, adding one layer of clear styrofoam glue to the waterfalls about every three days, so it has time to cure and won't create bubbles, then I'm ready to pour water, detail that, finish the free span of the trestle, and then the expansion begins. All the members for the benchwork are cut, (and taking up valuable real estate), still need to stain the legs and braces, and get two matching casters from the hardware store. Need to design and cut pieces for a frame to hold a PC and another for a subwoofer too, they both hang from the benchwork, so it will roll, with only one power line running off layout.
Curves on the two new mainlines will be 22 to 24 inch, finally allowing me to see how my BLI 2-10-4 pulls the new Rivarossi heavyweights, assuming I can drop the lights and people in them sometime soon.
Long list, it's a process, not an objective. I sneak in some "track testing" now and then too.
:-)
From the present until the first weekend in August, I am "spiffing", which means getting the railroad in the basement ready for a Mid-Cont./Turkey Creek Div. meeting and open house in KC. I like open houses as they force me to keep things picked up and repaired. So I am testing and checking to "green up" the scenery, make sure all the turnouts do, checking to see that the DCC does, that most diesels are "dust free" and running, and general "spiffing".
Also trying to get the garden railroad cleared up from all the rain.
In my spare time, I work.
Bob
I'm just finishing up the turntable project. I've got to tweak the alignment of some of the tracks, but mostly there's just scenery in the area to do. I put in a road next to the TT, but it needs some gravel shoulders and guard rails to keep teenagers from driving off the road and into the pit. (My own daughter goes for her license on Saturday, so that's on my mind.)
After that, I might work on the shopping district, Saint Anne Street. There's a proposed trolley line that might get run through there, so I've got some Environmental Impact studies to prepare before I can really get started on that. The old King Coal loading facility needs some work on the solenoids that open and shut the chutes, and then some scenic work around the building and its siding. Or, I might put in the siding to Strumpet's Brewery. I might put in the structure for Strumpet's Brewery, too, to give the siding a reason for being there.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
For the garden, I'm building a Garden Texture dual water tank, and I'm likely 40% done. Fitting dowel to smoothly represent pipe joints is not a fast-moving part of the project. I'm also trying to figure out when to go to the farm supply store to get some "chicken grit" to start ballasting.
For the HO, track-laying will continue on a slow pace. I did find some nice old Shinohara Code 70 items at the train show in Timonium about two weeks ago, and that will ease that process.
I have also finally made the jump to getting a digital camera (Canon EOS XTi), and have a world of things to learn there. Life is good.
Bill
secondhandmodeler wrote: ...to decide which buildings to salvage from my childhood layout.
...to decide which buildings to salvage from my childhood layout.
I'm currently adding lots and lots of trees with an emphasis on SuperTrees at the moment.
Salvaging buildings from my childhood layout has been ongoing for years. It's probably not the best use of time but, ah, the nostalgia!
Craig
DMW
Hi EL PARRo
My latest modeling project is a bit weird and for the other railway.
I am scratch building I.M. Slack Magical Supplies Emporium this is a Warhammer Fantasy meets Model Railways kind of structure built to a nominal (very) 16mm scale for the large scale line.
regards John
I am in the process of building JL Innovatives Picorelli's Ice cream parlor.
I am going for a peeling paint slightly dilapidated look.
I am putting together a photo sequence as I construct this model. You can follow along if you want on my Picture Trail site at http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=16755888&uid=3608462
Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum
Installing backdrop support framing for the lower deck near Glenrock. This involves setting the exact height and width of the upper deck benchwork, so the coved corner near the helix will arrive flush with the front edge of the upper deck (to simplify splicing the backdrop into the helix cover later).
then will come backdrop installation itself.
Mark P.
Website: http://www.thecbandqinwyoming.comVideos: https://www.youtube.com/user/mabrunton
Working on a Furniture Factory using Walther's modulars.
GUB
-Ken in Maryland (B&O modeler, former CSX modeler)
to make it short:
tracklaying
here is the longer version:
Working on a 4X6 layout from MR and Atlas that i modified for 4X8. Lots of switching and having to modify turnouts to fit my board (its a little short/thin) by cutting off the bar thing for switch machines because I'm using under-table switch machines. I was actually doing the Morgan Valley RR with an extra 2 feet added in along with some extra stuff. Just bought the track last week and waiting for the switch machines (track=$198/electrical=~$100-$150). hoping it will turn out good.
EDIT: Also trying to figure out how many cars can be derailed in one minute
UPDATE: currently working on wiring my layout. I had to rip up all the track to install the switch machines/block wiring. 50% of track is complete and 2 out of 9 switch machines are fully wired. I am hoping to finish the wiring on 2 more switch machines and hook up one more block of track.
Rebuilding continues on the rolling stock, 12 has been completed and about roughly 18 left to go.
These were the older Blue Box cars that were in need of new whisker couplers, regauging the trucks and checking the wheel gauge, testing against the coupler tester and weathering. When completed these cars get wrapped up and placed into a box or boxes suitable to travel.
There is always something going on every day. There is hobby items to get and paints for grab irons to buy and a building structure to plan.
I went by the LHS to get some wheelsets today. I needed three packages, but unfortunately, they only had two, so I only got enough for four of the six cars. They run a lot better now, and the only derailments I've had so far have been with the two cars that still have the older wheelsets. There is another hobby shop about thirty-five miles from me (the one I went to today is less than fifteen miles away, and it's my main go-to hobby store), and I might make my way over there on Thursday to get one last package of wheelsets.
Tonight I've got a turnout and about five feet of track to install, as well as two electrical blocks to wire. I'm till waiting on those switch machines.
EL PARRo wrote: I went by the LHS to get some wheelsets today. I needed three packages, but unfortunately, they only had two, so I only got enough for four of the six cars. They run a lot better now, and the only derailments I've had so far have been with the two cars that still have the older wheelsets. There is another hobby shop about thirty-five miles from me (the one I went to today is less than fifteen miles away, and it's my main go-to hobby store), and I might make my way over there on Thursday to get one last package of wheelsets. Tonight I've got a turnout and about five feet of track to install, as well as two electrical blocks to wire. I'm till waiting on those switch machines.
well, my LHS has 3 sets of P2K weel sets. Maybe you can drive here.
Any way, I installed a Peco turnout for the Defective one. Now I got another problum to solve. one of my switches needs to be Switched a certaint way for the train to go ALL the way around the layout. But I basicaly got most of my basic scenery done.
In the train room (read: large shed in back garden) - I added two car routing card boxes, added a new piece of fascia, altered a section of view block backscene and filled some screw holes, then started making up some basic scenery carcass for the "plywood pacific" end of the layout. I have discovered an excellent material for landscape formers - its corrugated plastic board used in the sign industry - I got mine for free off some road contractors who had used them as temporary signs and had finished with them. Its lightweight, easy to cut with a craft knife but very strong (in the direction of the corrugations) - I glued that in place with hot glue, and then used wire mesh over that.
In the den: (read: the home office where I have a small workbench) - I am upgrading an Athearn Blue Box wide vision caboose to go with my 1970s MEC diesel era. So far this week I have:
And there was me thinking that I hadn't done much modelling this week
Working on the asphalt road and adjoining parking lots you see here. It's the first roadway of any type I've ever built so it's been a learning experience.
and testing my new Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0 consolidated. Seems to be a sweet little engine.
Jarrell
My layout has been in the planning stages, where it stands now I have some shelf modules, really some plywood and homosote placed in near position they will be in for the layout. Dropped some track down to see how things fit. I think I narrowed down how I will do Chicago (with lots of artistic license). I'm going to make an experimental loop so I can work on equipment and test them. The loop will be a part of the Belt Railway of Chicago making connections to other lines. The entire layout will grow from that making things work as I go. Thats where I am at at the moment. I set up a long stretch of test track and put my BLI 2-6-6-4 on it so I can get some short run jollies...8-D
Still waiting to build my shed. So I'm chained to the work bench. My latest scratch build is a Scheuerle ladle carrier. A multi-wheel vehicle for carriering up to 400 ton ladles. Really neat looking beast,should have something to share soon.
A side from that a couple of other scratch builds going too .Far to many hands in the ole cookie jar.
Patrick
Beaufort,SC
Dragon River Steel Corp {DRSC}
Fear an Ignorant Man more than a Lion- Turkish proverb
Modeling an ficticious HO scale intergrated Scrap Yard & Steel Mill Melt Shop.
Southland Industrial Railway or S.I.R for short. Enterchanging with Norfolk Southern.
For my home layout:
Installing a sound decoder in a Stewart F3AB, today working on the speaker enclosures that will go in the B unit. The decoder will go int the A unit.Scenery in the Greenvale Junction area of the layout. The buildings and roads are done, but a vacant lot, areas adjacent to ditches, and a small hill need foliage and trees. Telephone poles and other details are awaiting scenery completion, as are some building interiors.Finished re-installing a chain link fence at MidState Machine. The fence had been in storage since we moved some time ago and I just found it again
Installing a sound decoder in a Stewart F3AB, today working on the speaker enclosures that will go in the B unit. The decoder will go int the A unit.
Scenery in the Greenvale Junction area of the layout. The buildings and roads are done, but a vacant lot, areas adjacent to ditches, and a small hill need foliage and trees. Telephone poles and other details are awaiting scenery completion, as are some building interiors.
Finished re-installing a chain link fence at MidState Machine. The fence had been in storage since we moved some time ago and I just found it again
For the model railroad group at Boothbay Railway Village:
Working on two final buildings for Dragon Cement complex - the Admin Office and Maintenence Building. Also, a fuel tank for the cement kiln, and rebuilding a conveyor between the storage silo and bagging plant so it will fit better.We will be doing Great Explorations, a program of the Boothbay school system. It is a summer enrichment program for children. We will be teaching model railroading; and I am building the sample building - an Atlas Shanty with checker playres.Did some research on the Fore River railroad bridge between Portland and S. Portland so we can build a compressed version on the new layout.
Working on two final buildings for Dragon Cement complex - the Admin Office and Maintenence Building. Also, a fuel tank for the cement kiln, and rebuilding a conveyor between the storage silo and bagging plant so it will fit better.
We will be doing Great Explorations, a program of the Boothbay school system. It is a summer enrichment program for children. We will be teaching model railroading; and I am building the sample building - an Atlas Shanty with checker playres.
Did some research on the Fore River railroad bridge between Portland and S. Portland so we can build a compressed version on the new layout.
Who ever heared of just one project underway at any time??
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
jeffers_mz wrote: Tracklayer wrote: Well. Let's see here. I'm getting ready to put my AR-15 back into its original M-4 configuration and sell all of the tactical accessories off of it to a friend of mine for about $500. I just bought a new truck and am looking for a tool box to put on it as well as a bug guard and a few other items. I've been wanting to build a life size butler for the front hall entrance for a couple of years now, and though I have the head, hands, old tails tuxedo and all, I still need to build the frame for it. There's a new chick that moved in down the street that I've been trying to figure out a way to meet and ask out. Etc, etc. Oh, you meant train related projects. No, I don't have any of those right now...Tracklayer Irons rule, and don't need batteries, but buttstroking with an M4 gets expensive. Stripping FN mags here, replacing springs, bathing them in unleaded and toothbrushing hundred year old cosmoline out back, taking advantage of some fine weather, 7 down, 15 to go. Then another 30 in 5.56, 20s and 30s. Maybe get out to the range tomorrow, and see if clean new springs make the BAR-10 run right. Hope so, can't get anymore Black Hills Blue Box for the DCM anymore so I'm getting the 10 up to match specs.Grass needs cut, but that's a full time job in the summer, and the garden is looking good. A five foot high wall of bushy tomato plants, at least 6 pea to marble size tomatoes visible, and just plucked my first green pepper yesterday. Trainwise, knocking out details in areas of the layout that are about to get hard to reach, due to a staging and mainline expansion. Ballast on those sections mostly done, about a foot of double track main to go, and even that's all done but gravel and glue. Seven trees to replant, adding one layer of clear styrofoam glue to the waterfalls about every three days, so it has time to cure and won't create bubbles, then I'm ready to pour water, detail that, finish the free span of the trestle, and then the expansion begins. All the members for the benchwork are cut, (and taking up valuable real estate), still need to stain the legs and braces, and get two matching casters from the hardware store. Need to design and cut pieces for a frame to hold a PC and another for a subwoofer too, they both hang from the benchwork, so it will roll, with only one power line running off layout.Curves on the two new mainlines will be 22 to 24 inch, finally allowing me to see how my BLI 2-10-4 pulls the new Rivarossi heavyweights, assuming I can drop the lights and people in them sometime soon. Long list, it's a process, not an objective. I sneak in some "track testing" now and then too. :-)
Yes indeed jeffers_mz, irons do rule!... I thought the red dot sight system I had on it was the coolest thing in the world until it dawned on me one day that if the battery ever went down on me when I might need it the most I'd be in big trouble. Oh well. Live and learn... I am however going to at least put the scope back on it for long distance target shooting. I won first place with it in my catagory at a match back in 01. We were shooting at nickels from 150 yards. I just got lucky...
I use to really be into firearms back in the early 90s after I lost my girlfriend Dana in a car accident, and took a gunsmithing course to give me something to do besides dwell on losing her, but after several years and many thousands of dollars later, I finally sold off most of my collection and am down to just a handful now that I get out once in a while and take out to the range to plink with.
A small sawmill on the mountain line. Hope to add the workers and track ballast this weekend.
More (Caution - large page, scroll to the bottom).
Karl
The mind is like a parachute. It works better when it's open. www.stremy.net
All my ongoing projects just came to a standstill a few months ago. I'm gradually starting to get ambitious and in the right mind to jump back into the projects. There's so many unfinished scenery work at the club besides the projects on my workbench just collecting dust.
In early March this spot was flying along before my wife's condition took a turn for the worse. I'm doing it with another member, we even had a tree clinic but still need hundreds more. The ends are waiting to complete the retaining walls and finish around the portals. Note the extreme cut, the rocks are the Rubber Rock from Cripplebush. Great to work with but rather pricey.
There's many other areas ongoing also. The club really wants to complete the scenery before our next show. The river valley with a mill canal and pond here
The junction at one end of the unfinished mount
The "Y" just to the left of the ME bridge/ mill
And a swampy factory pond and abutments will complete this entire end.
Hopefully by next show the entire leg can look like this.
Modeling B&O- Chessie Bob K. www.ssmrc.org
Working on a two tank oil storage facility along with the loading platforms. I hope to post some pictures this weekend.
Engineer Jeff NS Nut Visit my layout at: http://www.thebinks.com/trains/
jbinkley60 wrote: Working on a two tank oil storage facility along with the loading platforms. I hope to post some pictures this weekend.
Been following you research and work so far on the other thread. Can't wait to see your pics.
Edit: I may have your tank farm confused with another, Well I still like to see your pics.
Secondhand, I would save them all. They look like they were well assembled. A little weathering and detailing, and they'd ALL make good town buildings or trackside businesses. If not, email me, and I'll tell you where you can ship them. Also, good work on your rock walls made from tiles!! Me? I'm working on rock cliffs that are behind my logging industry; assembling freightcars; detailing a new P2K UP GP 38-2 that I got at a killer price. And, oh yes, wiring.. Actually, the wiring isn't that bad now that I know I can wheel around under the benchwork in a low office chair - good neck and back support. I have one rock mold that, well, jumps out at you if you use it more than once on the same cliff. I score it from behind; lengthwise and cross-wise; snap it and then turn it to different angles, and that's like having 2 or 3 different rock molds.
Marlon
See pictures of the Clinton-Golden Valley RR
secondhandmodeler wrote: I'm trying to make rock out of tiles! I'm also trying to decide which buildings to salvage from my childhood layout.
You have any more pics of the tiles?? awesome job so far! Also, my opinion, keep all of them, you never know when you might need pieces or parts to build another project! have fun!
Thanks for the compliment. It's obviously a work in progress. The flash shows the areas that I need to repaint. It's soo dark in my furnace room(train room). I needed to do a fair amount rock walls. The tiles look better in person. I'm trying to free up enough real estate on the layout to plant some old buildings. You van see where I ripped up track.
CPRAIL,
What scale do you model in?
Canadian Shield
I had to take a break from extending my upper level to gap rails and wire detection circuits in the lower level which will be hidden. I'm using Digitrax BD4s which have 4 detection sections per board and will illuminate LEDs or tie in with their other products for signaling or computer interface. For detection and LED indication only, I had to run a wire from the board's ground (pin10) to the chassis of my DCC system.
I'm finishing up the scenery around the roundhouse. Here's a shot outside, with some rusty old wheels. The light on the roundhouse is from Walthers Cornerstone, and I used it to replace the dummy light provided with the Atlas kit.
There's a road on the other side, with a steep embankment. I protected the drivers of Moose Bay with some Pikestuff guardrails.
Control panel, which explains my interest in soldering irons on another thread.
One main line, of a double-main-line oval, is down, with the reversing track, so I can do a bit of "testing" now and then.
Most of you folks are way, way ahead of me.
On30 Mogul detailing: waiting on Detail Assoc. parts from Walthers (since last November -- 75 years of increasingly watered-down service these days, guys!!!)
On30 modules... ordering $200 stripwood from kapplerusa.com for Jack Work king post truss bridge from MR 4/1960
1:48 Trolley Layout: discovered 1895 lithos of original Brill Maximum Traction truck (HAPPY camper, me!), redrew Charles Small CTL plan (12/1965 MR) for new 2-7/16" track spacing from MR Forum input.
3-1/2 month old baby, huge Dell (employer, pays for MRR :-) project, and new home: 98% of my time. Life is good and getting better. :D
Recently purchased 5 Athearn 54' PS Covered Hoppers (BNSF) and of course they are all the same number (433246), so I'm trying to change them to various different numbers i.e. 433248,433240, etc. also have just 'weighed' & put KD couplers on them. Will also have to weather them at some stage in the future.
A good job for a very cool and overcast afternoon.
This week I was able to squeeze in the Nascar race and finish this guy to be placed accross from the gas station in Valle Rojo.Pretty basic , less the turret top and added roof details.
Thanks Guys , Mike
“When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.” -- John Lennon
Man , everybody seems to be pretty industrious lately! Here is what I finished Last week.
Mike
Right now, I am doing research on modeling the Illinois Central's operations at Fulton, KY centered on the late 40's and early 50's...
Back then, Fruit Growers Express shipped bananas arriving at the port of New Orleans north by train in ice reefers (before the advent of mechanical refrigeration and trucking). The midpoint in their journey was Fulton, KY, where they received fresh ice and were then divided up, with some going north to Chicago and some going east to markets there.
According to a book I checked out at a local library, the era mentioned seems to be at the height of traffic -- in 1947, over 53,000+ cars of bananas left New Orleans that year!
Fulton at the time had an enormous amount of rail traffic, boasting a huge yard with a turntable and roundhouse, a sizable passenger and freight depot, and two ice plants for servicing the reefers.
I'm thinking on first making the layout virtual by using Trainz Railroad Simulator with the notion that one day I'll actually put it to benchwork...
Keith
Living at Fulton KY
I just finished upgrading an old Mantua 4-6-2 Pacific, that I had acquired in the mid '60s.
The trucks aren't prototypical for the vanderbuilt tender. I'm not a rivit counter, so I don't care. They look presentable, AND I have a locomotive that can creep along at a snail's pace smoothly without the herky-jerky movement it had before. By the way, I used a technique to improve electrical pickup by using KaDee #5 coupler centering springs as wipers I read about in another thread on this forum. I gotta thank you folks for the guidance and inspiration to get this done.
Now if I can only figure out why my headlight only flashes on momentarily when I turn track power on, yet is otherwise off under all other conditions...
In my head: I am kit-bashing an N scale Mother Hubbard loco out of an old bachman chassis and starting to build my dream layout in a finished train room.
In reality: Feeding horses, cows, and other critters, continuing to work on our new house, trying to figure out how to pay for a concrete slab in the future train room, and planning a little HO table layout under glass for my wife.
As my mother(RIP) use to say, "No rest for the wicked". -Rob
CanadianShield wrote: CPRAIL, What scale do you model in? Canadian Shield
HO scale. Why are you asking?
BTW Hoople, go with the S1.
B&o Bob K. very nice layout. If I just lived closer.
Its hovering around 100 here and I haven't done much on my RR, but I did install some tunnel portals and make plans to add a siding near the yard for a Sunkist(maybe) plant. Have much to do around the house before I head towards the layout but I will be experimenting with colors for grass and soil. I may have to take a trip to obtain the real thing as the dirt in my area is too dark.
I am also working on a schedule again and hope to have something soon.
I also have a few buildings under construction but it has been too hot to paint. Combo engine house car shop, grain elevator, and a few odd city buildings.
mfifer, I like the color choices on the corner building.
John
Lynn
Present Layout progress
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/11/p/290127/3372174.aspx#3372174
A: trying to get the wife to clean out the basement for my layout space so that: B: I can get the basement mitigated for radon (major issue here in Ohio and my level was 38.7(anything greater than 10 requires immediate attention) so that: C: I can start my benchwork. For any of you following my prior posts on this subject, this is beginning year two of this saga
Jim
Hmmm,
Ordering flex and sectional track (Model Power Flex, Atlas Sectional, Peco Turnouts) and saving paychecks for Life Like 2-8-8-2 Mallet.
I plan to build the benchwork for my layout by the end of this month and have track down by early August.
Cheese
Nick! :)
Working on two structures. Well, finishing one and getting ready to start another. Finishing up the 'Bailey Savings and Loan' from Walthers. A near perfect arcitectural match to the real 'First National Bank' it's modeling. Getting ready to start a no longer in production Bachmann Spectrum series stucture, the 'Variety Store' or Woolworth's as it will be on my layout.
Deciding on a paint scheme for my 4-4-0, with will become Smoky Mountain Central #1 "Davy Crockett".
Dave Loman
My site: The Rusty Spike
"It's a penny for your thoughts, but you have to put your 2 cents in.... hey, someone's making a penny!"
Backdrop
and terraforming !
Regards,
The bulk of my layout track is laid, and the feeder wires are soldered to the track. I'm currently finishing up the Tortoise mounting, and will then move to wiring the switch machines (promptingg the construction of the control panels) and then running and connecting the DCC bus wires to the track feeders.
Photos, track plan and what not can be found here:
UP in SE Oregon
Still painting windows and doors.
Wulfblat wrote: The bulk of my layout track is laid, and the feeder wires are soldered to the track. I'm currently finishing up the Tortoise mounting, and will then move to wiring the switch machines (promptingg the construction of the control panels) and then running and connecting the DCC bus wires to the track feeders.Photos, track plan and what not can be found here:UP in SE Oregon
I checked out your site and pictures... nice layout! One thing though: Whats with the flatscreen tv & Buffy the Vampire Slayer DVDs under the layout? ;)
Oh trust me, there is absolutely nothing wrong with having Sarah M Gellar displayed on the screen! She's not all that hard to look at... just keep the TV on mute, the dialog in buffy is Horrid :)
..then again, that might detract from getting anything done on the layout :/
claymore1977 wrote: ..then again, that might detract from getting anything done on the layout :/
AND?
Finished breaking in the 4-4-0 from Roundhouse.
There are other projects pending, but are on hold at this time.
Just spent 2 weeks building the benchwork... Now working on laying track and roadbed and wiring as I go. So far about 40 feet of staging down and 5 switches.... only another 35 or so switches to go and another 200 feet of track to go...
Working on several projects:
1. Just finished a kitbash of my design using the learning kits of Walthers modulars. Will post pic soon for wpf.
2. Working on a Perkins freight building using Walthers modulars, base on pictures of said building.
3. A kitbash project that was feature in RMC Feb 1973 issue, that Vollmer must have done a design change to the kit involve, so I'm redesigning the layout for kitbashing.
travon wrote: Working on several projects:1. Just finished a kitbash of my design using the learning kits of Walthers modulars. Will post pic soon for wpf.
Why do you call them "learning kits"? Just wondering.
Well, right now I'm finishing cleaning off the layout so I can add a few additional layers of foam. Then, I'll get my final track plan down and start laying track. Then, I can start sceniking (sp?) and getting my structures and roads in order.
Luckily, a crew from Nashville is coming to waterproof the basement near the end of the month. With that, the guy who came to provide us with a quote said that I would have to move everything out away from the walls about 4 feet. As of now, there is about 2 feet of space between the wall and the layout, so it's a simple task of un-bolting the three sections (each of them a 6' x 8' table) it and moving them toward the middle of the basement away from the walls.
-Brandon
GUB wrote: travon wrote: Working on several projects:1. Just finished a kitbash of my design using the learning kits of Walthers modulars. Will post pic soon for wpf.Why do you call them "learning kits"? Just wondering.GUB
Cause that was named of kits that I used.
I guess i am going to have to have a closer look at them. I am using the Walther's Modulars for a Mill that I am building. I didn't realized they were called "learning kits".
Right now I'm working on my (5th?) HO layout.....I just finished the benchwork, which is very easy with a 4x8 foot layout (steel studs) Next comes the subroadbed/scenery base.......just need my dad's truck to carry the foam sheets.....
Here's a few pics
It's sitting on a desk until I build some legs
Dave
I'm sorry GUB,
It was a DPM modular kit, that I used.
I used Walthers Modulars for a Cold Storage which turned out well, fortunatly there is a large box of left overs that has sufficient parts in number to build a large warehouse to go with the Cold Storage. I only need a few foundation peices from the store and some paint.
I find the Modulars somewhat expensive because they only package 4 or so of a badly needed item. Take Blank walls for example. I needed roughly 42 of these which meant I needed to buy 11 seperate blisters at 8.00 each to get the required number of blank walls to finish my design.
I already have several other nice complete kits based on modulars that I recieved on sale pricing.
I know I wont be considering any more of the walthers modular after the warehouse is built. Walthers needs to take each major peice like Blank Wall Sections and package them 16 to a card. It might support future projects using this system. Otherwise I carefully buy pre-designed kits that I think (Sterling Dairy for example) is good for the railroad.
I probably will consider DPM Kits such as the 15 building town kit in the future. They do provide learning kits that are pretty small but teaches you how to build thier system. The challenge for me is a large flat surface of some precision without warps or sags is necessary and there is not an item here in Arkansas with a straight angle.. except maybe a carpenter's square.
Still waiting on those switch machines.
Hopefully tonight I will airbrush that Kadee logging caboose and have it finished by tomorrow.
I'm 'populating' my version of the 1950 ROYAL GORGE, courtesy of some really neat Preiser Passengers. Finally got the train I wanted, courtesy of both Walthers and Con-Cor (the dome car) a mixture of Standard and Streamline.
WARNING: Do NOT, I repeat, do NOT follow the Walther's directions for prying the roofs off of their cars. Just grasp and gently twist, instead of using the X-ACTO chisel blade that they reccommend. Roof will pop right off, and after you've seated the passengers (courtesy of a coating of WS Accent Glue on their little butts), snap the roof back on. And if you're having trouble with those Walther's trucks derailing--on anything above the reccommended 24" radius, I mean--just unscrew the trucks and make sure that the four little screws that hold the trucks together are TIGHT. Half of mine liked to catch on the metal light connections on the underbody because they weren't seated properly.
Other than that, all those little Preiser people look pretty happy in there.
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!
Learned how to use very short sections of Kato track to start and end grades. I think a set of 6 2" sections over a foot or so will give acceptable transition at the bottom and the top. I will experiment further on this.
I also ran the MRC/Roundhouse 4-4-0 to the grade empty and it went up until it hit it's limits and spun. No problem there, I know I can put a coal trestle at that distance with a gentler grade and try it with a set of 4 cars to the trestle.
Up the hill she went, it took alot of power to raise it up that high (2 inches or so over 4 feet).
When I moved the engine forward she moved 1/4 revolution and stalled. The weight of the 4 cars combined with the grade made the engine "Cog" badly every 1/4 turn. In fact the resistance from the gears stalled the motor completely and started a fry according to the amp meter.
I learned how to start and end grades properly tonight.
I also learned the Roundhouse 4-4-0 is strictly a flat land engine and will not work on downgrades; especially if the slack runs in and the weight pushes the engine faster than the set speed. I confirmed this by allowing the engine to run light on level track and pushing the tender a little. She went back to cogging.
My BLI NW unit was called into action to get those 4 cars up the short grade. It did that easily. It also got off the grade without cogging.
It is my opinion that Im going to probably box the 4-4-0 and put it away because it does not do grades. I could allow the engine to gain speed on the downgrade by deliberately throttling up and the results are a little crazy. So, it goes into the box.
I know that I have been posting alot about this particular engine and I have determined to replace this unit with another light engine that does not cog on downgrades.
Tracklayer wrote: jeffers_mz wrote: Tracklayer wrote: Well. Let's see here. I'm getting ready to put my AR-15 back into its original M-4 configuration and sell all of the tactical accessories off of it to a friend of mine for about $500. I just bought a new truck and am looking for a tool box to put on it as well as a bug guard and a few other items. I've been wanting to build a life size butler for the front hall entrance for a couple of years now, and though I have the head, hands, old tails tuxedo and all, I still need to build the frame for it. There's a new chick that moved in down the street that I've been trying to figure out a way to meet and ask out. Etc, etc. Oh, you meant train related projects. No, I don't have any of those right now...Tracklayer Irons rule, and don't need batteries, but buttstroking with an M4 gets expensive. Stripping FN mags here, replacing springs, bathing them in unleaded and toothbrushing hundred year old cosmoline out back, taking advantage of some fine weather, 7 down, 15 to go. Then another 30 in 5.56, 20s and 30s. Maybe get out to the range tomorrow, and see if clean new springs make the BAR-10 run right. Hope so, can't get anymore Black Hills Blue Box for the DCM anymore so I'm getting the 10 up to match specs.Grass needs cut, but that's a full time job in the summer, and the garden is looking good. A five foot high wall of bushy tomato plants, at least 6 pea to marble size tomatoes visible, and just plucked my first green pepper yesterday. Trainwise, knocking out details in areas of the layout that are about to get hard to reach, due to a staging and mainline expansion. Ballast on those sections mostly done, about a foot of double track main to go, and even that's all done but gravel and glue. Seven trees to replant, adding one layer of clear styrofoam glue to the waterfalls about every three days, so it has time to cure and won't create bubbles, then I'm ready to pour water, detail that, finish the free span of the trestle, and then the expansion begins. All the members for the benchwork are cut, (and taking up valuable real estate), still need to stain the legs and braces, and get two matching casters from the hardware store. Need to design and cut pieces for a frame to hold a PC and another for a subwoofer too, they both hang from the benchwork, so it will roll, with only one power line running off layout.Curves on the two new mainlines will be 22 to 24 inch, finally allowing me to see how my BLI 2-10-4 pulls the new Rivarossi heavyweights, assuming I can drop the lights and people in them sometime soon. Long list, it's a process, not an objective. I sneak in some "track testing" now and then too. :-) Yes indeed jeffers_mz, irons do rule!... I thought the red dot sight system I had on it was the coolest thing in the world until it dawned on me one day that if the battery ever went down on me when I might need it the most I'd be in big trouble. Oh well. Live and learn... I am however going to at least put the scope back on it for long distance target shooting. I won first place with it in my catagory at a match back in 01. We were shooting at nickels from 150 yards. I just got lucky...I use to really be into firearms back in the early 90s after I lost my girlfriend Dana in a car accident, and took a gunsmithing course to give me something to do besides dwell on losing her, but after several years and many thousands of dollars later, I finally sold off most of my collection and am down to just a handful now that I get out once in a while and take out to the range to plink with.Tracklayer
Nickles at 150, wow!
I can usually run a string or two at Master level, or even High Master occasionally, but something always goes wrong, bad correction, fliers, jam or other malfunction, run out of time, and have yet to finish a match at Expert.
Hitting a nickle at that range may be luck, but you still have to group them dense to even have a chance, and that's something to be proud of.
Sorry to hear of your loss. I split with what seemed to be a good one a few months back, said she liked Highpower, backpacking, music, model trains, skiing, all my favorites, but then in the space of a week, she did a 180 and those became liabilities.
Oh well, now I have more time to work the things I like, no more long drives several times a week, just to hang out and not accomplish much.
Just keep doing what you're doing, and that way, even if the perfect lady doesn't materialize out of magic mist, you still get to enjoy yourself. Hopefully get your layout well established too. Once it's in, it becomes a pre-existing fait accompli, etched in stone and no longer subject to argument, or even discussion.
Well...we can hope, right?
GKC1839SLC wrote: I just finished upgrading an old Mantua 4-6-2 Pacific, that I had acquired in the mid '60s.Changed the old pitman motor for a new can motorFine tuned the meshing of the gearingReplaced the burned out headlamp with a white LEDAdjusted the side bars so they no longer shorted out the drive wheelsCleaned and lubricated all the valve gear related moving partsAdded a Digitrax DCC DecoderInstalled mini connectors to the headlight and the tender wiringReplaced the tender trucks to get elecrical pickup on all wheelsThe trucks aren't prototypical for the vanderbuilt tender. I'm not a rivit counter, so I don't care. They look presentable, AND I have a locomotive that can creep along at a snail's pace smoothly without the herky-jerky movement it had before. By the way, I used a technique to improve electrical pickup by using KaDee #5 coupler centering springs as wipers I read about in another thread on this forum. I gotta thank you folks for the guidance and inspiration to get this done. Now if I can only figure out why my headlight only flashes on momentarily when I turn track power on, yet is otherwise off under all other conditions...
I'm working on one of those too. I put a Helix Humper in it, but now can't temember how to bring power from the tender to the motor. It was my favorite loco back when I was 14, in the mid 1970's, but the tender got lost and the replacement doesn't seem to have tender wipers, a wire from the tender to the motor, a port for the wire to run through in the tender or even a screw to hook it to. I know the frame carries one side from the drivers, and the tender has brass wheels on one side, but it's been so long I can't remember how that power gets to the motor.
How did your's feed before you modified it? Also, do you have the link for the Kadee spring wiper How-To?
Appreciate any help you can give.
_________________________________________________________________
Stripped down the MRC 4-4-0, identified the wiring to the tender, scrapped the engine and tossed the unnecessary parts away. I did save the nice drive wheels for the engine house and a few other nice tidbits. Next up is a 4-6-0 that will recieve this tender.
Spent money today at the store buying the last few of the USA Athearn Bluebox kits left in stock. I may return over time and scoop up the last few remaining. There is still alot more left where I got them.
Now I gotta log off and go do some honey do work in the slave ship and pay off my spending LOL. That is part of the hobby too ya know; especially for married folks.
At the present time I am working on my small N scale layout (32"X72") getting the bugs in the trackwork taken care of.
I am also finalizing plans for the big layout (about half done) and trying to catch up with this forum that I haven't had any time for for the last year.
On the HO side I'm reworking some LifeLike Thrall door cars and reworking some 18 wheelers for the HO layout that is about 3 years down the line.
Detailing a kitbashed N scale Pennsy H10s 2-8-0:
Modeling the Rio Grande Southern First District circa 1938-1946 in HOn3.
Spend the free time today after chores and errands building the freight cars. Turning 9 kits of boxcars out in a few hours assembly line style. Trucks reamed, couplers installed etc.
Now I wait for the paints to dry before final weathering and assembly.
Logs. Realistic logs to be used as loads.
"Being misunderstood is the fate of all true geniuses"
EXPERIMENTATION TO BRING INNOVATION
http://community.webshots.com/album/288541251nntnEK?start=588
Trying to save up for a BLI big boy.
The cutoff is next month...
Lettering a Bowser GLa hopper for the railroad that I model using Woodland Scenics Dry Transfers. What a nightmare! The lettering scheme is simple, so I thought I could handle it with individual letters and the Woodland scenics data dry transfers. This is my first attempt at custom lettering. Keeping everything straight hasn't been easy. They don't include 2 of everything with the letter sets, so it will take me two sets per car. Here is how it looks so far, have one side and one end done, have to go to the LHS for some more sets tommorrow. Hopefully they have them. The second photo is the prototype.
Prototype:
I finally figured how how to post the photos.
Brunton wrote:Installing backdrop support framing for the lower deck near Glenrock. This involves setting the exact height and width of the upper deck benchwork, so the coved corner near the helix will arrive flush with the front edge of the upper deck (to simplify splicing the backdrop into the helix cover later). then will come backdrop installation itself.
But now I've begun rebuilding my control panel. I ripped out the old one last night. I'll be re-using the frame, but I needed a different style of turnout control switches so that I could indicate track selection, and the newer switches are larger enough that I couldn't just install them in place of the older ones. So, new panel face and guts are the order of the week.
I'm "super detailing" a Walthers Wisconsin Central GP9M to resemble the prototype GP7M #1503. It would be done by now, but Walthers is out of the required spark arrestors until July 19th.
Parts added include all required drop grab irons, front and rear ditch lights, front and rear coupler lift bars, front plow, front and rear dropsteps, front and rear MU plugs and hoses, lift rings, antenna mounting stand with a firecracker, cone, and can antenna per prototype, front sand filler hatch, all-weather cab window, windshield wipers, bell, proper horn, and spark arrestors. I'll post photos when I'm done.
All you wonderfully productive people. I am going through culling the fleet, putting prices on the rejects, getting ready for a swap meet this weekend.
After the recent move and my wife's suggesting that I build a railroad with all the stuff I have been moving from place to place so that she can finally see what the fuss is all about... I have been planning the railroad and writing the basic parts of the project book that will accompany it.
Here are photos of the plans I have come up with... So far Plan 3 is the winner but I will probably put together a dozen plans before I choose, I don't want to get into something beyond my skill, but I don't want a circle of track and one switch either.
the one above is plan one and it is obvious what the problems are, so back to the drawing board.
This one also, tails too short on run arounds and roundhouse poorly located...
The plan below is the winner thus far, but I will no doubt do several more before I decide.
I got out a box of track and laid some of it out and saw where the holes in plans one and two were, I also got some good feedback from some friends on the n scale yahoo group.
After waiting for God , Walthers , somebody ! to make a southwestern stucco style building , I gave up on the wait. I made a mold out of modeling clay and cast the first wall of a Stucco building for my layout. After it gets totally cleaned up and detailed I'll re-mold it to make multiple copies in order to construct my City hall building for my town. Resin cast.
First pix of rough casting:
Jerry SP FOREVER http://photobucket.com/albums/f317/GAPPLEG/
I have been working on finishing my Kitbashed GP30C. These were built for the SOO line and were later sold to the Twin Cities & Western railroad. These locomotives were equiped with Catepillar engines and were rated at 2000 horsepower. This locomotive closely resmbles the TC&Ws GP30C #4302. There are still a few details that need to be added but for the most part it is almost done. There are some decals that I am unable to get and have to have them specially made for the unti.
Enjoy!!
James
What a busy group of talented folks here. Impressive work.
Started drawing up the new addition with wife and priced some of the building materials today. She keeps bringing up model trains and asked if there is some aspect of it her dad might be able to work on. I think perhaps Garden RR structures would be more realistic than anything HO scale (wife collects HO), but more on that another time.
As for my (N) train projects: Have almost finished converting the chassis of a 0-6-0 Trix switcher into a 2-6-4 Camelback. Am using the shell along with both front and rear trucks of an old Lima model. Right now it is a relatively smooth running 0-6-4, so still have to figure out the best way to mount the front wheels & cow catcher onto the trix frame. Found a decent photo of the prototype online so once complete I will attempt my first weathering job on a loco. (GULP!)
On the near-future list is re-motoring several older steam locos, including a Rivarossi BigBoy. Plan is to pack in as much motor as possible without grinding too much frame away, then add as much weight as possible.
Have a nice evening all! Rob
I have limited time so I am only trying to complete my unfinished projects.
I am getting close to completing an N Scale structure. (about 90% there, but then the last 10% will take the most time ;) )
More photos here if one is so inclined:
http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/2/1172927/ShowPost.aspx#1172927
"Keeping my hand on the throttle...and my eyes on rail."
Took delivery of a DS-64. While evaluating high amp circut boards, I found another DS-64 hidden away for a discount lower than what I paid Tonys LOL... sorry murph's law at work here. However Im more than satisfied with my new purchase.
Ordered parts for rolling stock, planned next month's purchases.
Rebuilding commenced on 8 peices of rolling stock that could not pass the Coupler Gauge. Some will be scrapped and parts saved, others will be rebuilt and placed into service.
Started diagramming electrical board needs for the yard; examined suitable circut boards at the LHS.
Finished painting the RS-1 spare handrails, the blue I used was a few shades lighter than the B&O Blue by Atlas but close enough.
Other house needs have slowed me down this week, we lost our water line when the one tree broke it (Roots) and are under short water conditions at the moment. So there is not too much hobby stuff going on. We hope to have a new line relaid this week to the home.
So one does not do too much of anything that consumes water. We are getting by on 12 gallons a day from our reserves, one of which is for coffee LOL.
Well, I finally got all the pieces and parts from Walthers to finish my Wisconsin Central GP7M.
Here are the prototype photos:
Here is my attempt at modeling it...
I still have to fix the number boards, add the rear ditch lights, and paint the all-weather cab window silver. But otherwise, this is my first attempt at a truely prototypical model. I know I didn't correct the front window, but like I said before, I'm new at this.
Eric , I think you have done a great job and nothing to be modest about.
ezielinski
Nice work.