Weekend Update 2014/11/23

[tehachapifan]

Little late to the party, but here's some shots of some etched, see-thru radiator grilles I added to my kitbashed SP SW1500...

In this shot you can make out the fan behind the intake grille...






Close up shows some of the radiator core detail beneath the grilles...

[M.C. Fujiwara]

Groovy concept!
Especially as you can exponentially expand the layout with various scenic dividers / blocking:



Blue line creates third scene / staging / "away" at narrow end while separating sides of industrial siding into distinct districts.
Or
Red line a single straight backdrop for buildings to hang off of & expand the two sides into detailed scenes.
Or
Combine both into small scenic sections (heck, our eyes only focus on a small focused scene at a time anyway) and expand your 2'x4' into various city sections & even seasons!

Check out Ulrich's mini-modules for more mini-sectional scenic ideas: http://www.japanrailmodelers.org/pages/modelingjapan/minimodules.html

Food for thought.

[davefoxx]

Plan is to base the structures and scenery on Suffolk, VA, and a couple of peanut processing plants and modern warehouses.

I might move the turnout at top left - which can be a team track or connection for interchange - to the bottom right to get most of the fancy trackwork on one side, and to open the top left corner for a scenic area with a low trestle over a tidal creek and marsh, which is very prototypical for Suffolk. It has a couple interesting bridges.

Like!

[Specter3]

I milled the interior cavity of the I-5 tender body, and I think I got it right on the second shot.  The exterior will be a wee bit trickier.

What mech are you going to use? Those drivers are huge!

[James Costello]

Love it @tehachapifan - Beautiful as always Russ.

Hopefully @Shipsure has the Espee release soon!

[bbussey]

What mech are you going to use? Those drivers are huge!

GS-4.

[keeper]

Thomas,

They are cast resin parts. The solarium seating was done by another party for the brass Olympian Railway Classics cars. It didn't fit until I cut it way down as its a bit wide. A real pain, perhaps I need to make a specific part for this model that would fit without so much carving. I ruined several castings doing this one.

Bill,

Are you planning to offer these castings at some point? 

Thomas

[trainforfun]

Nice job everyone , love the 2 switchers project !!!
Jim ( Reising ) when you use the DPU on the rear of your long trains do you set up them as slave units on the same controller or you control them separatly ? With all the curves it must be something to see it live !!!

[Iain]

Where'd you get those trucks?

[wazzou]

Where'd you get those trucks?

I would guess from Miniatures by Eric out of Canada.

[tehachapifan]

Thanks, James & Louis!

I would guess from Miniatures by Eric out of Canada.

That would be a good guess.

[wazzou]

Beautiful model by the way Russ.

[Specter3]

how much do you have to shorten the GS4 boiler and frame?

[basementcalling]

M. C., I am thinking something like this.



Roads, tree lines, and large buildings will guide sight lines and create mini scenes. It will need to have some open space to truly reflect Suffolk, which is a small town with too many rail lines to count.

I can get my unimproved LL SW unit around all the curves and Rapido couplers stay coupled. Haven't tested with MT yet, as I want the rolling stock to have Z scale couplers. Not sure body mounts will work.

 The tailing leg of the spur has just enough length for the unit and 2 40-45 foot cars.

 I like how the bad quick sketch turned out with a marsh instead of team track in top left. Not sure there is room for the possible connection to the outside world down in the bottom right.

Washington St in Suffolk is a neat mix of industrial, commercial downtown, and abandoned structures in 2014. Not sure on the ultimate era, but probably  not 2014. Thinking 1970s perhaps. Not sure.

[Specter3]

Bryan

How much will you have to cut down the boiler?