Weekend Update 2/26/17

[up1950s]

[basementcalling]

Awaiting a weighty weekend of posts.

[Tom L]

Need a kick in the butt to finish this project that I have been picking away at for about a year, so I thought I would post this in progress shot. Rock Island caboose built from a boxcar. I always thought these were pretty ugly, as cabooses go, and then I found some drawings........
I used commercial window frames because I didn't have the heart to try to frame in all 9 piece by piece. I hope the thickness of them disappears when it all painted one color.

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Tom L
Wellington CO

[Lemosteam]

Excuse the wheezing.  Sinusitis...

Proof of concept video for this:
https://goo.gl/photos/hKEzaL878ZTQaHFN6

[bnsfdash8]

Admiring my 2 NS first responder training cars that came in today.

[cbroughton67]

Excuse the wheezing.  Sinusitis...


That's all manners of awesome, Darth... 

[craigolio1]

Slowly things are starting to get moving our Royal Hudson project.



While Fredrick works on the 3D parts, I'm learning to use Inkscape and draw etchings thanks to Scott's help.  Above I've blocked out the shapes of my panels based on measurements of the prototype.  Next up, thousands of rivets.


https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=40377.15

Craig

[peteski]

While Fredrick works on the 3D parts, I'm learning to use Inkscape and draw etchings thanks to Scott's help.  Above I've blocked out the shapes of my panels based on measurements of the prototype.  Next up, thousands of rivets.

Good to see progress. Are you working in Inkscape using vector or raster (bitmap) format?

[BCR 570]

During this past week, grading crews completed preparation of the sub-roadbed for the yard at Dawson Creek.  A work train has been called to retrieve the heavy machinery, and you are just in time to climb aboard for the ride.

MBS CLEARANCE 2017-02-20 Engine 632 work between Tremblay and Dawson Creek between 2000 and 2200.

Work Extra 632 departing Tremblay:





Crossing the Kiskatinaw River:




Arrival at Dawson Creek:




The sub-roadbed for the yard was completed with a mixture of Woodland Scenics foam sheets, strips and balsa ramps for the changes in elevation.  This view is looking west toward Western Agri-Service, Alberta Wheat Pool, the company trailer ramp, and the mill:




This view is looking east toward Fosters Seed & Feed and Cargill Ltd, with the spur for Peace River Lime on the left.  The five vehicles are sitting on the surveyed lines for the main line, three sidings and runaround track:




Further east, we see the station and freight shed and the Scott National warehouse.  The mainline climbs toward the backdrop; in reality it continued east to a connection with the Northern Alberta Railways.  The spur curving away at left is the BC Hydro spur:




During our tour of the yard, the grading crews have been loading their equipment aboard the flatcars:




During the coming week I will be cutting and test fitting track for the yard, and marking for the feeder wires.


All for now,

Tim

[craigolio1]

Good to see progress. Are you working in Inkscape using vector or raster (bitmap) format?

Ummmmmm. Yes.

The file is an SVG. Vector?

Did I mention I'm still learning?

Craig

[jereising]

After eight years temperature and humidity fluctuations had begun to take a toll on the Sub's backdrops. 

I tried several repair methods - wallpaper seam sealer, Aileen's, and what I used to install them in the first place, rubber cement.  The rubber cement won out as being the least disruptive and easiest.  There were seven locations needing varying degrees of work but one of them was a real pain because of the distance from the layout edge. 



So here's what I did:



The scenery here is cardboard lattice with masking tape and several coats of joint compound, the thin shell is quite strong and cut fairly easily with a utility knife.
Here's a shot of the plug back in position:



And not too long after:



It was much easier than I thought, and now I wish I hadn't waited so long to execute.  And yes, it's time for a lens clean!

[chessie system fan]

I've made progress on a big project of mine.  A while back I finished a master for an early GP40-2 and this week I finally got around to making a mold and started the casting process.  I model Chessie System so I'll eventually need a bunch of these things.  I did a calculation years ago that if I had a 100 unit roster (for easy math), I would need 20-25 GP40-2's!



To make the model, I changed out the fans to the correct kind and swapped grills with a GP40.





Here's what the mold looks like.  I purposefully made all of those bumps and ridges so that the mold locks into place correctly.



I think I first started this project maybe four years ago?  

And these are some of the first few pictures with my new camera, a Nikon D3400.  Quite a jump from my old 5mp Nikon Coolpix 5700!  I'm still on the learning curve but I'm pleased so far.

[chessie system fan]

@Tom L , that caboose looks good!  What did you use for the bracing? 

[Tom L]

@Tom L , that caboose looks good!  What did you use for the bracing?

Thanks, the bracing is a .010x.040 strip with a .020 square strip glued even with one edge, to give it the "L" profile. Next challenge is the steps.  I'm thinking I will sand down or cut some regular steps to give them that thin profile (Proto photo attached)

Tom L

[cjm413]

I've made progress on a big project of mine.  A while back I finished a master for an early GP40-2 and this week I finally got around to making a mold and started the casting process.  I model Chessie System so I'll eventually need a bunch of these things.  I did a calculation years ago that if I had a 100 unit roster (for easy math), I would need 20-25 GP40-2's!

If you want more variety, B&O 4215-4221 were Phase I units that were built with Phase II grills:



I recall the stock Atlas GP40-2 short hood/long hood assembly does fit the GP38-2 sill/frame assembly. 

Aside from correcting the fans, the only other modification depends on the cab you use.  If you use the GP38-2 cab, you'll have to remove the molded blob from the long hood that interferes with the ECAFB on the GP38-2 cab.   If you use the GP40-2 cab, you'll have to relocate the holes on the cab to accept the GP38-2 handrails.