Weekend Update - March 11, 2007

[3rdrail]

Another Sunday has rolled around and Daylight Savings Time started early. Somebody (MS) musta told my computer. Not my VCR, though. It'll change in April.  ;D

Got my Atlas LIRR as delivered H15-44 No. 1509 and went to try it out on my portable layout. Nothing. Finally found a broken wire in the lead from the power pack to the layout. This one wire had broken so many times it was much shorter than the other three, so had to replace the track leads. I had parked the can of soldering flux on top of a can of Scalecoat II paint and spent a good half hour looking for it. It's the same size and color as the cap.

Weathered a few cars this week using my A.I.M. weathering powders.

BTW, it had been at least 15 years since I bought an Atlas Diesel - the last ones I bought had truck mounted couplers - and I am really impressed with the quality of the H15-44, speed range, detail, headlight, paint, the whole nine yards.

So, what did y'all do this week? Hopefully you've got some photos to share too!

[Iain]

I spent yesterday working, came home and watched my Wolfpack win again, then started working on FAFSA forms.

[SirTainly]

The first dry weekend for months...

Did lots, but on the train front I resoldered my SDL39 mech and measured up the garden for an extension to the O gauge layout.

[keystonecrossings]

After diversions to weather and drywall, I finally got back to my Sherman's Creek bridge. You can follow progress here...

http://forum.atlasrr.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=34729

I now have the stream bed to the right level, using SculptaMold. Next step is painting the stream bed.



Those who know the bridge know that repeated flooding over the years has left silt deposits which have raised the stream bed to above normal water level under arches 5 and 6 (to the right). Also, there is a small island under arch 4, depending on the water level. Here is a closeup of arches 4 and 5. You can also see how I have lightened the mortar joints using chalk.

[pnolan48]

Here we are entering the second deck, above the main yard. At the extreme upper right, you can see where we are going about two scale miles from now. That's the grade to next deck.

The abandoned station behind the lead unit is scratchbuilt. The rock cliff is a photograph of a granite cliff in Alaska. We're somewhere in mid-Massachusetts. A lot of tobacco is grown here, especially in the Connecticut River Valley. The tobacco is used as the finest of wrappers for cigars.

[3rdrail]

Pete, that couple in the tobacco barn look like they've got other things on their mind than curing tobacco! Litttle touches like that keep visitors form focusing on the whole railroad at once, don't they? 

[Iain]

Pete, how did you do the tobacco?

[wm3798]

In between fooling around with the H-16-44, I also started working on a little more scenery.  This is the temporary peninsula that I'll be running for about the next three years while the house renovations make way for the layout room to be fully mine...



The left side of the peninsula is where the river scene you've seen earlier is located, and the right side, as you can see, is still Blue Foam Acres.  I installed some sidings to keep me amused, and this week I decided that it should be scenicked.

The right side is designated as Meyersdale, Pennsylvania, since the sidings come off of what will be the Connellsville Sub.  It will include the following:

A Walther's feed mill, which is located on a switchback lead, and...


the 84 Lumber store I scratch built many years ago when I worked for that company.  I've started ballasting and roughing in some things...  Look for more progress shots in the coming weeks.






I had just ballasted before this shot.  The next step will be to take a stiff bristle brush and knock all the stray stones off the ties and rail.

So, what's the best way to deal with unfinished scenery?  Work the Night Shift!!

It's before dawn in this picture, and the driver is in the warm office having coffee with the manager while the load is checked out by the counter help.  The familiar 84 Lumber lollipop looms overhead...


Later that night, just as the crew is getting ready to lock up, Harry Homeowner rushes in because he miscalculated how many bags of Sakrete he needed to put a pad under the furnace that's getting delivered tomorrow morning...  Happens every time!

Lee

[Roger Holmes]

Bought a Kato RSC2 cheap on eBay.  It was in Milwaukee Road orange and gray but I already had one so I kept the orange and painted the top black and added chalk weathering and a decoder.

The camera points out that the station roof needs to be repaired >

[Zox]

I wish I had something to post here for this weekend. But some redesign work and a non-railroad-related project got in the way.

Oh well. At least I got a chance to practice with my new saw (sliding compound miter type), which will be a key part of building my bridge module, so I'll chalk it up to experience and move on...

[biker_ray_pa]

got a little work done on my Pittsburgh Limestone Corp. scratchbuild. Other than that, spent a lot of time outside. Spring is nearly here!



Ray

[nscalesteve]

...something I've done the last week (with a lot of help of Roland / engineshop)




stay cool and have decals ready...... 

[MEC_FAN]

Nice work all, Lee really like the lumber yard scene, you've been on a hell of a roll lately. Whats the progress on the engine house!! I've got some stuff done lately and I'll try to post some stuff soon.

MEC

[Atlanticflier]

After diversions to weather and drywall, I finally got back to my Sherman's Creek bridge.

Jerry - Great looking module supports, one of my favorites !

[wm3798]

Nice work all, Lee really like the lumber yard scene, you've been on a hell of a roll lately. Whats the progress on the engine house!! I've got some stuff done lately and I'll try to post some stuff soon.

MEC

Not much.  Been bouncing back and forth around projects.  Hopefully the meds will kick in soon and I can actually finish something!
Lee