Weekend Update 4/6/14

[up1950s]

[pnolan48]

I finally finished the 560' Mobil oil tanker, Mobil Engineer, which served from 1972-1993. The model is more than 45" long. Only decals and a few touch-ups are lacking, and will be done when I get back from Alabama. I wish I could bring it to Columbus in May or Roanoke, but it's sold and will be gone.

Port Bow view:



Port Stern view:



I won't be offering this as a kit, but only as an expensive built-up. It would take me a year to write up the instructions.

[Chris333]

Installed the backdrop on my door layout and mocked-up the buildings.

[BCR 570]

My three MLW M-630 locomotives reached completion last week and have now officially joined the roster.  I selected one unit from each of the three orders received by the PGE/BCR.  708 is a repainted PGE unit with 20" BCR logogram, 710 remains in the original PGE map logogram, and 717 is as delivered with the 16" BCR logogram.  I began assembly in the fall of 2012.  Paint and weathering by Jeff Briggs, decoders and lights by Dave Mac Kinnon:




The M-630 carbody offers an interesting comparison with the earlier C-630M carbody:




On the road, with lights on:




Tim

[pnolan48]

Chris333.

Always admired a modeler who needs two eXacto knifes in his layout photos!

[peteski]

On the road, with lights on:




Tim

Tim, these models look incredibly realistic in this photo (they look to be at least H0 scale)!  The headlights and ditch lights look awesome too. But why is there a brilliant glow inside the cab? 

[wmcbride]

This is masterful work and I always liked those extra noise lights BC Rail used.

As to the light in the cab: a bit of underway welding repair? 

SMD's for the nose?

[BCR 570]

Tim, these models look incredibly realistic in this photo (they look to be at least H0 scale)!  The headlights and ditch lights look awesome too. But why is there a brilliant glow inside the cab?

The cab light is intentional as there is an LED dedicated to lighting up the cab.  From the angle I photographed you are looking almost right at it and the effect is too strong; from a normal viewing angle it simply gives the effect of the cab being occupied aboard the lead unit in a consist.  The light is mapped for F4.


Tim

[mark dance]

Mr. Nolan: that ship is magnificent.

And Tim the locos are beautiful.  when is the ops session?   And please pass my congrats on to Jeff on the amazing painting/weathering job on those units as well!

I haven't spent much time modelling recently. Between Soundrail in Seattle, work and videos not much modelling.  I did however find a few hours to make up another bunch of supertrees and "densify" the foliage around Farr creek...



Have a great weekend!

md

[peteski]

The cab light is intentional as there is an LED dedicated to lighting up the cab.  From the angle I photographed you are looking almost right at it and the effect is too strong; from a normal viewing angle it simply gives the effect of the cab being occupied aboard the lead unit in a consist.  The light is mapped for F4.


Tim

Ah, that makes sense.  Are 1:1 locos driven with the cab light on at night?  Wouldn't that be the same as driving the car with the dome light on? 

[BCR 570]

Are 1:1 locos driven with the cab light on at night?

Yes, I can remember watching the M-630s motoring along the seawall in West Vancouver at night and looking up into the lit cabs. 

Tim

[nkalanaga]

That thing in the opening picture does look like a kitbashed road grader.  I've never seen a MOW machine quite like that one.

The cabs aren't "living room bright", but they are lit, so that the gauges and controls are visible.  As long as the signals are visible, the crew doesn't need to see as well as highway drivers, since they can't dodge obstacles anyway.  The headlights are good enough to check switch points and such.

[BCR 570]

And Tim the locos are beautiful.  when is the ops session?   And please pass my congrats on to Jeff on the amazing painting/weathering job on those units as well!

Hi Mark:

Ops session will have to wait for completion of main track, hopefully later this year, and then the two yards which would likely be next year at the earliest.

I have forwarded your note to Jeff.  I will enjoy watching your video when time allows.  We enjoyed the Loxie tour of the E&N at Steve's last op session.


Cutting of window glass for the three work cars is finally done.  Back down to the U.S. tomorrow for an N-Scale advisory board meeting.


Tim

[Chris333]

Chris333.

Always admired a modeler who needs two eXacto knifes in his layout photos!

How do you like me now?   

[keeper]

I finally finished the 560' Mobil oil tanker, Mobil Engineer, which served from 1972-1993.

WOW, perfect!

Thomas