Weekend Update 8/26/12

[davefoxx]

That's the ship we'll be on. And thanks for the wishful words. Hopefully the hurricane doesn't interfere with what should be an interesting vacation (never been on a cruise before). I'll see you in Bedford in 2013.

-Cody F.

Cody,

My wife and I sailed on the Carnival Pride in May 2010 for our honeymoon.  The food is fantastic, and there's always something fun going on, e.g., I won the Slots Tournament and a cash prize of $500.00 on the first full day!  Our seven-day trip was to Port Canaveral (we toured the Kennedy Space Center), Nassau (Atlantis), and Freeport.  It was a great trip, and we would like to do a cruise again.

Dave Foxx

[bc6]

Awesome work from TRW contributors as usual, Below is a photo of what Ive been working on. First from the bottom is a Kato SD40-2 Snoot that I installed a digitrax decoder in and is also waiting for a BNSF body to show up from ebay. Second is a Kato SD80 that just got a decoder install and is waiting a custom paint job, third is a Dash 9 that is waiting for a decoder and custom paint job. Finally is an Atlas SD50 that I also resurrected and is waiting for a custom paint job and decoder install.







Ive been working on this fuel facility for my engine house, I just finish building the BLMA radio tower last night, it was a fun little project to put together. Thank goodness I have a set of Optovisors lol.

[Scottl]

Lots of nice work, as always.

I managed a bit of a milestone myself.  I drove in the figurative last spike last night on my layout.  I cleaned out the LHS of flex track last month and refused to finish with code 80.  The last bit of track work was composed of 4.25" sectional lengths and a few joins were made with overlapping rail-ties rather than joiners. 

I finished a small yard for the pulp mill (to be):



The main Hornepayne yard is done as well:



It all runs smoothly, but one turnout point broke somehow and I needed to put it together with a bit of styrene for a shim on the back.  It seems to be holding and it is a minor turnout in the scheme of things, so I don't think it will be a problem.

[SAH]

AC&Y Ph III H16-44s ready the paint shop.


Now I have a decision to make.  The stock Atlas H15-44 is to the left.  The bashed combo door in Sante Fe Yellow in the middle.  The recently painted model to the right.  Armour Yellow.  There's a long story about how it is thought the AC&Y locos were painted the same color as UP FM H20-44s.  I understand there are all kinds of variables when it comes to how color is perceived.  I've put the question to the AC&Y historians.  We'll see what turns up.

Steve

[w neal]

Nice.  I did this about five years ago.



I ended up de-stranding wire, cutting it to length, CA'ing it to the underside, and then painting it.  After that project, I said the heck with that.

MC,

I like yours much better. Much more convincing! Well done!

[chuck geiger]

I am going back and forth trying to figure out my ARR APU track plan. DKS is
helping rework for Code 83 HO. More info on the blog:

http://alaskarail.blogspot.com

I am trying to have my cake and it too. Can't do.

First plan: N Scale



First plan HO scale

[Dave Schneider]

Chuck,

This is why God invented N scale! Good luck with the struggle.

Best wishes, Dave

[Zox]

Working on the Kankakee station, detailing the CorelDraw renderings for eventual Silhouette action.

Here's a byproduct, if anyone's interested:



This is brick in American bond pattern. The image tiles, and at 600dpi it's correct size for N scale. (You could also use it for HO at about 327dpi.)

[chuck geiger]

Chuck,

This is why God invented N scale! Good luck with the struggle.

Best wishes, Dave

This is all your fault LOL

[davidgray1974]

Well I can just about say I'm 3/4 of the way done with the mountain.  Since the last post I have added atleast another 250 trees / bushes to the layout.  I'm almost tree'd out.  Must.... press.....on!  I also received my new bulbs this week and I'm including a comparison photo. 

Where I was done as of last week.  Old bulbs.


Where I am done as of today.  New bulbs.


Here are some different angled shots of the completed area.




Not sure how I feel about the trees around tunnel #2.  Also need to start adding some trees and bushes around the rocks above the coal mine.

[skytop35]

Looks great!! What paint did you use.  I have my kit from you and also my donor car.  What paint did you use?

Scalecoat Pullman Green. I tried PollyScale Pullman Green but it was too light. The Scalecoat was much darker and matched CB&Q dark green better.

[BCRail_FSJ]

607 and 611 are now finally starting to look like the CRS-20s they are supposed to look like.   



After several failed attempts to rebuild the upper nose corners with styrene, I resorted to brass detail parts and some work with a fine file.  The Metal frame has been filed down to make room for a new narrow fuel tank.  Chassis was re-assembled and the shell components dry fit quite nicely together again.   

Next step.. (now I have the parts) is to plug those ugly holes with proper RS-18 pilots

[NARmike]

WOW... Everything looks so good this week!

Dave S.; Congrats on getting the home for your Beer Line in place.

Dave G.; Your scene looks fantastic... love the trees!

Andy; Your CRS-20 project is fantastic... can't wait to see the finished product.

As for myself... modeling has been at a stand still for much too long now (work, summer etc.  ).

I did manage to resurrect my old cardstock elevator which will perform a stand-in for the permanent one (of 5) I'll be building for my Falher Alberta "module".



Jeff of Prairie Shadows in "the Peg" sent me a pre-production shot of the Atlas NAR GP-9. Road numbers will be 201, 203 and 205... sadly he doesn't think they will be ready in time for the Edmonton show (Sept. 15 & 16)... http://www.mmrf.ab.ca/show.shtml





Mike Maisonneuve
Modeling the Northern Alberta Railway's Peace River subdivision in N scale
http://nscalenar.blogspot.ca/

[ai5629]

I did some Conrail freight car research in Altoona, PA and railfanned the NS Pgh Line this weekend.  I then went 35 miles south to the N Scale Weekend in Bedford, PA.  I saw some nice modules, spent some money and met Doug Nelson.  The highlights of the show for me were two excellent running PRR K4's (one was Doug's) and a Traincat 4 track PRR Lines East signal bridge with working position lights on one of the modules.  It was incredible.  I have also been renumbering my BLMA Conrail 52' 6" gondolas.  I have done nine so far; 8 renumbered and reclassed to G31B's  and one GE51D.  Six GE51D's and four more G31B's to go.  Thanks.

Jeff

[jereising]

The Caliente area I've been working on for some time has now been finished.  Here's an overall view:



Here's a closer view of the upper end of the road:



You've got to look to see that gate - and the road extends into the trees about a foot.  Doesn't matter no one can see in there, I know it's there!