Weekend Update 9/30/2012

[milw12]

I have mostly finished the 24" x 48" bench work for my practice layout. I'll touch up and paint the fascia once most of the construction is done, and the backdrop will be white until later- a cloudy November sky will be a trick!



As some background, I'm modeling the Cannon River Valley joint Milw/CGW line in the early 1950's, and will be using this layout as practice for techniques to be used on the “big” one down the road. I don't have the time, space or funds for a larger layout, but I'll be keeping this as prototypically accurate as possible with industries, structures and scenery. I really want to push the limits of my modeling abilities with as few modeling compromises as possible.

For a track plan, I'll be using a modified version of this plan David K. Smith drew for Dave Foxx, which almost fits the bill for what I'm looking for. I hope DKS doesn't mind me butchering his plan 

And the sum of my era-appropriate rolling stock, with my new toy in the middle:



Meager but growing!

[Dave Schneider]

Good looking train shrubs! Looks accurate for many of the Milwaukee branch line trains. Five guys to move one boxcar. Please consider starting a layout engineering thread. I would like to learn more about the prototype. This is Minnesota, correct?

As for me, I am making some progress on my layout space and the Beer Line benchwork. Here is the first section. It's 3/4 inch birch plywood and the joints are constructed using biscuits and a plate jointer. Yes, this may be overkill, but it produces very strong joints in plywood. I have some doubts about the long-term stability of screws in the the end of plywood. The top of this piece will be covered with 1//2 plywood and 1 1/2 inch foam. The ends  of the section are 2 inches higher than the sides to allow the track to be glued to the plywood. This modular approach will allow for me to work on sections on my workbench if needed, and turned on edge to do the wiring, etc...

Got our first snow of the year Friday night, so I need to spend some time today getting the house and yard ready for winter.




Best wishes, Dave

[jereising]

An inspection train on the Sub today!



I was notified last week that I have maxed out my flickr "free" photo hosting, the same way Photobucket did...and I won't pay for "free" hosting...so now I'm using google...we'll see...

Here's an overview for those interested:

[C855B]

... Got our first snow of the year Friday night, so I need to spent some time getting the house and yard ready for winter.

Ugh. Snow. Already. (Yeah, I know you're in Alaska. Better thee than me!  ) Mid-state Illinois was snow-free last season. Hoping beyond hope that it is a repeat this year, as this California native has thin blood.

Love the cabinetmaker-grade benchwork, Dave. You and Gary. Nice stuff!

Speaking of California... Jim, you've made me homesick again. Great scene, as always.

[fcnrwy]

This has been quite a weekend in n-scale for me.

Yesterday, a "advance party" for the N-Scale Enthusiast group dropped by to check-out the FCN.  On their layout scouting run.   Their convention is planned here in Milwaukee, June of next year.
Of the layouts that will be possibly on tour for this convention.   Four of them will be owned by members of our club. (MNSE)   The FCNRwy being one of them.

Today, I am finally finishing the last batch of "Fracken Sand" cars for a club member.
Our club seems to go thru fads.  And the latest fad was "spurred-on" by the recent activity of Frac Sand mining, going on up in NorthWestern Wisconsin.
It is stated about 90+% of the sought after "Frac" sand is located here.
    So a weekend ago, a group of us traveled around up-north.  We checked out about seven of these Frac mines.  There are just about everywhere.
In the area near New Auburn, WI. a one mile stretch of highway hosts four of these operations.   It is just crazy up there...
So, of course I got a commission to do, "Frac" cars....



These are the last of a couple dozen cars.   One club member, even cleaned BLW out of these cars and other members are planning Frac Sand mines on their layouts.. 
I am not in a rush to add one.   I added one to the FCN, last year. 

Jerry G.

[up1950s]

An inspection train on the Sub today!

Ahhhh no name on the nose , pre 1960 , love it .

[Dave Schneider]

Love the cabinetmaker-grade benchwork, Dave. You and Gary. Nice stuff!

Mike, thanks, but let's keep this quiet. If my wife finds out she will have me making cabinets for the house! 

Best wishes, Dave

[Puddington]

My heart just skipped a beat when I saw that passenger consist......."wow"......

[bbussey]

I was away on business all week, but managed to advance some projects this weekend.

Started getting decals on the Erie milk cars.  Still have to get them to set better before applying the protective coat.



Also continued work on a second M&StL automobile boxcar, having learned from mistakes made on the first one.



And, I thought I had one of the Gs done and ready for weathering.  The added hatches to the left of the air intakes are fine, but the plating for the former PRR broadband stripe over the rear air intake has started to buckle, so I have to fix that and probably touch up the paint.  I used styrene on this G, and I wish I had waited for my etched ones as I did on the Conrail DGLE Broadband unit.  That G is on hold until I resolve the decals situation.



The black G and milk cars should be rails-ready next weekend.

[coosvalley]

Lots of good stuff this week--keep it coming....

This week I built removable stone loads for my dump cars.....





I also finished up this Lamoille Valley box, an MDC factory car. I removed the door and replaced, repainted both doors, and made a new floor/underframe to get the right floor height.......and weathered it......





Enjoy your week.......

[wazzou]

Nice job coos.

[Dave V]

All this talk of Penn Central got me inspired...

One minor snafu...  The US522 sign is turned 90 degrees.  Oh well.  Must have bumped it when I repainted the road surface.

[avel]

shrubs, you are a smart, smart man. I wish I had your will power.  I also think you should start a Layout Engineering thread. As to the will power part, I mean that you aren't buying everything in sight and planning a huge overly complicated layout. Looking forward for the progress updates.

coosvalley, anyone more details on those stone loads? I have a whole bunch of empty ones that I need to fill.

[kelticsylk]

Dave,
Rather different background music  We usually hear "City  of New Orleans".

[central.vermont]

Well it's been a while since I have done any custom painting but one of our members bc6 talked me into
doing this fictitious paint scheme for a leasing company. I'm sure he will be able to give more info once
he decals them for this leasing company completed with decals. Pay no attention to the way the cabs sit, this is because there is no
glazing in them to snap them down.

Jon