Weekend Update 9/4/11

[up1950s]

UP 2888 done .

[mark dance]

I spent much much too long this week debugging Digitrax duplexing radio problems.  I hope they are behind me as I have a 3 day-long op sessions next weekend.  18 visiting operators will try their hands at the C&W and two guests have even offered to dispatch!  Should be/I hope it will be fun.

Other than that I finished off the scenery on the second deck. I took the opportunity of documenting a steam-powered train #11 through the whole layout. The photos below are a sample through the recently completed scenery.

Arriving at Coryell Tank


Departing Coryell Tank


Enterring Snowshed #2


Exitting Snowshed #2


A new Flikr album http://www.flickr.com/photos/27907618@N02/sets/72157627583978672/  documents the whole train trip for #11 from the unfinished scenes at Nelson, South Slocan and Castlegar on the first deck, through Shields, Coykendahl, Farron, Fife and Cascade on the second deck.  Please visit the new album...I would welcome any comments on it.

md

[M.C. Fujiwara]

More fun with lightbox & new camera:



Tried to weather the trucks by spraying Scalecote "graphite" on a plastic lid & brushing it on the springs & metal bits, then applying powders over.
Not sure how successful it was.

And on the layout:



Thanks for looking.

[BCRail_FSJ]

Started preparation for the helix by securing the base platform.  It is perfectly level despite the apparently rickety mash-up of scrap lumber used to support it.

[eric220]

I got the east ladder and another track in the upper staging yard installed.



I also did some playing around with the design of my industrial town.  Here's a mockup that I did of one of the denser sections, including the power plant and entrance to the hidden track that will go through the backdrop to the mine.

[delamaize]

Not much modeling, I did go to the DB- Dampflok-Ausbesserungswerk, The German Railroad Steam locomotive shops, in Meniningen Germany. SO MANY LIVING STEAMERS!!! And all big'un also.
Pictures here, it is a Facebook gallery, if you can't see it PM me.
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2381687626793.139536.1388783373&l=41fbb46aa0&type=1

Also my Daugher and I got our first Steamer cab ride in a little meter gauge 0-6-0. only about 150 yards back then forward, but it was still awesome!
My brain almost exploded!

[Scottl]

Nice work everyone.  Mark, those scenes are remarkable.

I finally have something to show.  First day in the layout room since June.  Planted supertrees and poured the water (not dry in the pictures).  Lots more to add, but the wetland is starting to come together.









Scott

[Chris333]

Testing turnouts:

[bbussey]

I was able to acquire Lake Maitland from the MTL Pennsy 10-1-2 runner pack, which has prototypically-correct mechanical air conditioning.  The modifications are finished, just have to paint the roof and interior.

[cv_acr]

Almost finished my first handlaid switch:



Need to cut out the flangeways in the frog and add guard rails yets. And a throwbar and a way to throw the switch.

Then only 9 more to go on this layout!

[TrainCat2]

Spent the first week at the new job and finishing up the artwork for the next new structure. I photographed this on the way back from Sacramento in a very small town of Sanders, AZ along I-40 near the New Mexicao state line. Two tracks plus a vehicle loading bay. The cars were spotted at the loader by a Trackmobile.

[cv_acr]

What are they loading at that industry there Bob? Cement?

[John]

Not much - picked up a T2i .. so maybe the pictures will get better

[SD452XR]

They load silica sand at that facility. It opened up a few years ago, shut down for a year during the recession and opened back up last year. The locals out of Gallup switch it out.

[Bsklarski]

Decaled an Atlas GP7 in the patch scheme Guilford started to paint some units in during the early 1980s. Weathering is next.



Brian