Weekend Update 5/22/11

[bbussey]

Got some etchings projects in hand and started building some P&LE Breadbox coil cars.



The brass etching folded up like a box to create the shell.  All the exterior details will be from styrene strips and the interior will be built from styrene.  Weight will be added under the interior coil racks.  I'll have to mill from styrene the circular roof guides that mount to the sides over the bolsters.  Still working on the cushioned extended draft gear design.  The brakestand and end walkways will be stock parts.  I'll be modeling the cars after the breadbox roofs were removed.

On my modified MTL heavyweights, I'm not happy with my first two attempts at etching the roof fans.  This is the first attempt, in which the fans were too big.  The second attempt yielded fans that were too small.  I then took measurements from a Branchline HO car, scaled them down to N and drew a third set of fans, which I'm waiting on the etchings for.



I also made some progress on the modified Life-Like NE caboose.  I modified an MTL caboose smokestack to replace the LL version.  Atlas leafspring friction-bearing trucks with FVM wheelsets were added.  I'm not happy with the toolbox so that will be redone.  I'm also debating on stripping the shell and redoing the L&NE scheme, since I may want to model the scheme with the herald offset to the right of the vertical belt rail.



If I keep the stock scheme, I will paint the interior black to eliminate the translucent appearance.  The car looks much better standing at the proper height and with MTL 2004 couplers and Ajax brakewheels.  It looks more weighty and less toy-like, even with the stock paint job.

 

[Packer]

I went to 3 operating sessions. Also have a female stalker now ;D

I actually have something to post for once.

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj301/PackerPhan66/Train%20stuff/5-18weathering007.jpg
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj301/PackerPhan66/Train%20stuff/5-18weathering008.jpg
Athearn BB CB&Q high-cube box. Stirrups changed to be closer to the prototype


Details West N&W insulated box. Weathered over a year ago, but finally got ladders on it.


http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj301/PackerPhan66/Train%20stuff/5-18weathering003.jpg
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj301/PackerPhan66/Train%20stuff/5-18weathering002.jpg
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj301/PackerPhan66/Train%20stuff/5-18weathering004.jpg
MDC SCL 50' hi-cube. Unfortunately when I tried to put this unit in a box, the weathering came off... need to work on sealing stuff better.


Atlas BN EV caboose. I was going to make this one that lost it's roofwalk, but then I found some prototype pictures that showed "modernized" ones that don't have access to the roof. This was accomplised by removing the "loop grabs" (I lost one, and couldn't get one bent that looked right) and cutting the top 2 rungs out of the ladders. Weathered very lightly to give the impression of being shopped recently.

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj301/PackerPhan66/Train%20stuff/5-15-11002.jpgE&C SP 50' high-cube box. Dusting was done by prevoius owner. I dullcoated it and "smoothed" the dusting, did the wheels, and added to it. could use a bit more IMO.

[atsf_arizona]

I finally got the March 2011 NMRA Pacific Coast Region, Coast Division Meet Report web page done.
Some cool N scale was displayed, have a look:

http://www.pcrnmra.org/coast/contest/Contest_March_2011.shtml





And while it's not N scale, have a look at this fully working model of a NYC Track Clearance car, elegant and incredible:





Finally, in case you are coming to NMRA Nationals in Sacramento this summer, the local
Pacific Coast Region Branchline newsletter has a ton of good info about what to do and how
to maximize your enjoyment:

http://pcrnmra.org/pcr/branch/BL311web.pdf    (5.7 MB)

The X2011 NMRA National Convention website is:   http://x2011west.org
And the X2011 West Facebook page with 750+ photos is:    https://www.facebook.com/photos.php?id=104852949549706

Have a good week, all.   

[James Costello]

Still working on the cushioned extended draft gear design. 

BB, any chance this could be a separate part? (Assuming the P&LE cushions aren't too unique?)

I was looking at how to body mount some MTLs on the Fox Valley boxcars that could represent a (Hydra Cushion) cushioned coupler.

I've got your article on the brass tube and accumates, but I think I'd like to use MTLs....

[Denver Road Doug]

Made some more progress on the Saginaw Transfer Railroad.   Got all the foam cut out and painted, got the track put back in place, outlined (to know where to drop feeders, etc.), and (since these photos were taken) got about half of the turnout and feeder tracks dropped through.


The interesting side of things.


Overview shot.  I have some bookshelves that will be picked up this week to replace the tubs.

[sizemore]

Got some good time in ACME Labs this week, performed some brain trainsplants on a couple diseaesles. The AL: Skunkworks Division was able to get out three Wallyworld Berks back onto the rails with super-secret modifications that proved successful video to be leaked tomorrow.

The S.

[SkipGear]

Finally got somewhere with my vinyl cutter/styrene station project.





A similar angle of the real thing:



Still researching window trim color before I paint and add them.

More pictures in here - http://therailwire.net/forum/index.php/topic,23354.msg233507.html#msg233507

[Sokramiketes]

The previous owners of our house loved yellow paint.  Only one room in the house was another color, and that extended to the basement. This weekend I was able to scrap the loose paint, scrub everything with TSP, and get some primer on the walls and epoxy on the floors.  This is the future home of the Rich Weyand's Pokie, whose benchwork was moved to the garage for a bit.

Before:


After:

[Dave Schneider]

Looks like a great start Tony. That is going to be an epic building. Bryan, I love those etchings. Could you share a photo of the prototype?

Best wishes, Dave

[bbussey]

BB, any chance this could be a separate part? (Assuming the P&LE cushions aren't too unique?)

I was looking at how to body mount some MTLs on the Fox Valley boxcars that could represent a (Hydra Cushion) cushioned coupler.

I've got your article on the brass tube and accumates, but I think I'd like to use MTLs....

I haven't quite figured it out yet for this type of project.  I did finally figure out how to do it in plastic for the X58, but that will be integrated into the floor which doesn't help in this case.  I might just default to the brass tube/AccuMate solution for now.

Dave, P&LE and B&LE had these Evans-built cars.  I can't find any online pics of the P&LE cars.  Here are some pics of the B&LE cars:
http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/ble/ble31000a.jpg
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=572971

The P&LE cars originally were painted jade green, lettered in the NYC style and sported the cigar band herald.  In later years the cars were repainted black with large P&LE in yellow.

UPDATE:  There is a pic of the P&LE car in the July 1966 issue of NYC's employee magazine on page 9.
http://www.canadasouthern.com/caso/headlight/images/headlight-0766.pdf

[Dave Schneider]

Thanks for the links Bryan. That is one crazy looking car. I have never seen a car like this, but I don't know that much about the eastern steel industry. That will be a very nice car when completed.

Best wishes, Dave

[nscalemike]

Have a late entry this weekend.  I spent the week working on my CN loco, making some good headway on it.  Then the weekend came and I split my time between working (working nights and weekends, fun) and pulling bushes from around the house, so I didn't get anything more done on it.  It's all painted, decaled, have the fans installed and a coat of dullcoat on it.  I put the pieces together somewhat for these photos but you'll notice that the cab isn't all the way installed.  I also haven't installed the glass yet.  Not very good pics but it's late and must not have had the camera set right.  So better ones next week.





I'm going to weather it next.  Will put a light fade coat on it, then just a little grime and dirt around the lower sides and front and back.  Not too much, the prototype looks pretty clean and I think I am leaving this one clean too.  I may not even fade it.  Decided to letter for GTW as that won't be as hard to explain as the black patched out version (although I really liked that detail!).

Thanks and have a great week!
Mike

[James Costello]

Nice detailing there Mike!

[nscalesteve]

looking good, nice job Mike... 

[GaryHinshaw]

Great updates this week!  No modelling for me as we continue to settle in, but I did order Traincat's Tehachapi signal bridge kit, which I hope to provide a nice home for.  I also got XTrackCAD up and running on my Mac, and have started laying out some of my track plan sketches. 

Speaking of Traincat:

Spent the week testing the PRR N6B Centered and Offset Cupola kits.

I'm not sure if the hack in this shot is an N6B or not, but it looks awfully close. If not, there are plenty of other choice tidbits to linger over in the photo.

-gfh