Weekend Update 12/8/13

[chuck geiger]

New UP pics from Cheyenne

http://scalewestrails.blogspot.com

[peteski]

Peteski:  "The corrugated duct is a copper wire wrapped like a spring around a music wire core...."  Interesting technique.  Is it yours, or is it common in the vehicle modeling world?  Sounds like there may be some things we could learn from them.

This is something I came up while trying to simulate those air ducts.  I bought some ready-made flexible ducts for model cars on eBay, but the corrugations were too far apart for what I wanted to simulate.  Those were made from loosely wound steel springs inside shrunk heat shrink tubing.  But that gave me the idea for the ducts I came up with.

I started experimenting and the result is what you see.  I took a 0.032" music wire and mounted it in my Dremel tool. Its speed control is modified to give me really slow speeds.  Then I also stuck a piece of thinner bare-copper bus wire in one of the slits in the Dremel collet. Then I made few close wraps of the copper wire around the music wire.  Then I turned on the Dremel using a slow speed. That continued wrapping the copper wire around the stiff music wire.  I used my fingers to guide the copper wire, making sure the wrap was tight, and also preventing the music wire from bending.

Once finished I removed the wrapped music wire from the Dremel and relaxed the wrapped copper spring (by unwinding and stretching it out slightly (to have some space between each turn). I made sure that the music wire could be easily removed from inside the copper spring.

Then I thinned some black Plasti-Dip (I think that is what that stuff is called) and put it in a small test tube (since I needed to dip a relatively long spring in it.  Then I dipped the spring with the music wire inside in the thinned Plasti-Dip. It had to be dipped few times, to build up the rubbery coating.   Once it skinned over and I saw that it looked good, I removed the music wire core. Since the Plasti-Dip was still liquid inside the spring, the music wire came out easily.   Then I hung the now-hollow coated spring and let it dry. That's it.  It was a bit a pain do do, but it gave me the result I was looking for.


Bob, sorry to hear about all the problems you keep going through. Your bridge is an absolute photoetched masterpiece!

[Leggy]

PCM/BLI E7

Thanks Bill, great looking loki!

[CR6707]

Here is my first contribution photo to the N scale forum. My skills are not even close to all of you, but i think i am improving as i keep trying.  This is the PRR Lewistown station modeled in around 1953 before the tower was torn down on the station.  I wanted to get this project done and on the layout so i can visualize more on where everything is going to fall into place.  Yard, roundhouse, etc.  My layout is 36"x80" with half being Lewistown and the other half modeling Huntingdon.  I will post a layout photo once i have more to see on it.  Well here goes nothing..............

[craigolio1]

Picked up a copy of Robert Turner and Donald MacLachlan's definative work on the E&N; "Vancouver Island's Esquimalt & Nanaimo Railway". An absolutely outstanding history of the E&N from its dieselization in 1949 to today's operations, the book is chock full of rare photo's and facinating accounts of E&N operations. Focus on rail ferries, budd car operations, mill runs and special movements (the circus comes to Vancouver Island, the Confederation Train, NMRA specials). The book features scale line drawings of key structures and bridges and gives a very detailed account of all diesel power assigned to the E&N.

This book is highly recommended if you are interested in the E&N, are a fan of Baldwin motive power or just lije a really well written rail book.

Agreed.  It was worth it just for the drawing of the Johnson St bridge.  Do you know if the first book has more drawings?  I'd really like one of the Niagara Canyon bridge.

Craig

[pjm20]

Thats looks great! It nice to have even more SPFs! Care to share more about Lewistown Station and your layout?

[ednadolski]

I've also been weathering NS 5273.

Looks good!   Is that an airbrushed fade?   Do you have any more pics?

Ed

[Philip H]

Building bridges without burning them with fellow  's can be tricky:



https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=30300.msg348604#msg348604

[bnsfdash8]

Looks good!   Is that an airbrushed fade?   Do you have any more pics?

Ed

Yep it was faded with an airbrush. The oil marks down the side were also done with my airbrush. The rust spots and streaks are enamel paints.

[Smike]

I've also been weathering NS 5273.

Love your work, also partial to modern things...  Keep it up!

[nkalanaga]

Peteski:  Yes, it does sound like something of a pain, and not suitable for mass production.  But they sure look good!  Thank you for the instructions.

[davefoxx]

Building bridges without burning them with fellow  's can be tricky:



https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=30300.msg348604#msg348604

I like the track in the bayou.   

[strummer]

Here is my first contribution photo to the N scale forum. My skills are not even close to all of you, but i think i am improving as i keep trying.  This is the PRR Lewistown station modeled in around 1953 before the tower was torn down on the station.  I wanted to get this project done and on the layout so i can visualize more on where everything is going to fall into place.  Yard, roundhouse, etc.  My layout is 36"x80" with half being Lewistown and the other half modeling Huntingdon.  I will post a layout photo once i have more to see on it.  Well here goes nothing..............

Wow,that looks terrific. Can't wait to see more of your work.

Mark in Oregon

[PGE-N°2]

Limited hobby time available this week but I did finish the install of the two bridges, so last pictures I will post on here.  The piers and abutments made last week were installed, the surrounding scenery finished and more trees added

McCormack Creek



and Barr Creek





Have a great weekend!

md

Wow! I was really looking forward to seeing these bridges completed. After only ever seeing really mostly poor quality photos of the prototypes, it's nice to see what they're supposed to look like.

[BCR 570]

Attempting to learn how to post video:

Tim