Weekend Update 11/16/14

[up1950s]

[jereising]

And here's the last of my FVM GP60M LED Ditch Light locos.  You'll find the tutorial at https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=34488.0

[mark dance]

My hobby time in the last couple of weeks has been dominated by preparation for the annual BC Trains show.  A packed weekend last week including:

- A C&W operating session for guests Friday night (ably home-road-crewed by TRW's own Gary Hinshaw),
- Three open houses including a visit by 12 BCR/SPFs (Steaming PGE Freaks?) with several TRW members amongst them on Saturday night, and
- Two seminars, one on the construction of the large bridges of the C&W, and one a review of car forwarding systems now and into the future.

Here are a few shots from the Friday ops session.  Smiles and laughter are how to measure a successful session in my books!











As to the seminars, should anyone be interested in them just PM me and I can email the Powerpoints over to you.

Have a great weekend!

md

[PaulP]

This week I finally got my ballast regulator painted and weathered.
One amazing kit by Showcase Miniatures.


Anyone heading to the Puyallup train show tomorrow?

Paul

[up1950s]

Wow , that regulator paint job looks fantastic .

[randgust]

Did a short video of the YK unit coal train last week.    This is one of the few I've made lately where I'm finally satisfied that all the changes I've made at this location actually show up, from the backdrop to the buildings to the changes in the ballast color.

/>
Prototype location:  This is a 1997-era one, but taken from that exact vantage point - the top of the old piggyback ramp: 

/>
All quiet zone now.   I can sympathize, but... it was one heck of a show while it lasted!   The changes are everywhere, today even the passing siding has been removed, all concrete ties with light ballast, station has been repainted to the white/turquoise, and what had been a rather seedy bar area of Santa Fe Ave. is now all crystal shops and coffee shops...

[arbomambo]

This week I finally got my ballast regulator painted and weathered.
One amazing kit by Showcase Miniatures.


Anyone heading to the Puyallup train show tomorrow?

Paul

BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!

[wm3798]

Put a little work into the Canton, Highlandtown and Fells Point today.



First I did a little "Blue Sky" thinking... lined the book case with some blue poster board...  You can also see the new undercabinet lights I put in to brighten the dioramas a bit.



Tidied up the front edge with some styrene strips gleaned from an old set of vertical blinds...



And applied a coat of paint to make it look less like a giant chunk of blue foam in the office.  I also drilled the required hole in the vertical member in the middle so the railroad could poke through.

With these little advances, the next step will be to install some of the rear-ward track infrastructure.

Lee

[sizemore]

Put a little work into the Canton, Highlandtown and Fells Point today.

With these little advances, the next step will be to install some of the rear-ward track infrastructure.

Lee

Good to see you back to modeling (not the bathing suit kind!)!

The S.

[GaryHinshaw]

I also hosted the same PGE/BCR group that Mark did last weekend.  Hopefully Tim will post a photo of the standing-room-only crowd filling the Tehachapi, BC garage.  It was great to meet the group, including several Railwire members.

Smiles and laughter are how to measure a successful session in my books!

Hmm, I give it a 1/7 then.    [Just kidding - I know everyone I talked to had a great time!]

Paul, that regulator is stunning: a beautiful kit, beautifully assembled and finished!  One question: will it short the layout if it is put on the track, or are the wheels insulated?

[jmlaboda]

Mark...



Every time you share shots of the C&W I am struck with a bit of nostalgia, being taken back the the early- to mid-1970s when Rail Classics magazine was running a series of articles that documented the last years of operation of the various CPR FM (CLC) power.  Your layout is like a "looking glass" to a part of the past and what railroading use to be like and I do greatly appreciate it every time you share your shots.  Thanks so very much!!!

[Scottl]

Mark, the layout looks great.  Nice to see that operations are going smoothly.

I pretended to be a landscape artist this week.  All those YouTube instruction videos and Mike Danemann's articles make it look easy... 

[Rich_S]

Did a short video of the YK unit coal train last week.    This is one of the few I've made lately where I'm finally satisfied that all the changes I've made at this location actually show up, from the backdrop to the buildings to the changes in the ballast color.

/>

Very nice quartet of Alligators on a good looking unit hopper train.

[mark dance]

Mark...

Every time you share shots of the C&W I am struck with a bit of nostalgia, being taken back the the early- to mid-1970s when Rail Classics magazine was running a series of articles that documented the last years of operation of the various CPR FM (CLC) power.  Your layout is like a "looking glass" to a part of the past and what railroading use to be like and I do greatly appreciate it every time you share your shots.  Thanks so very much!!!

Thank You!  Ah Yes, the "Chasing C Liners" articles. This photo from the article...



Inspired the beautiful painting by John Signor which graces J.F Garden's book...



Which in turn inspired Tim Horton and I to try and recreate the scene for an RMC article.



Thank you for citing the influences!
md

[mark dance]

I pretended to be a landscape artist this week.  All those YouTube instruction videos and Mike Danneman's articles make it look easy... 

Nice scenery coming along there Scott...

Yes, Mike D does make it look easy doesn't he.  I remember when I was trying to replicate his snow covered trees on his backdrops I contacted him looking for help.  I asked how he painted them so I could try to do the same.  He was very kind and sent back a photo of one of his scenes with the wise advice: "I paint the trees first then I paint the snow on them"   He makes it look easy because for him it is.  A true master.

md