Weekend Update 12/23/18

[chicken45]

Finished the lift bridge module this week. My layout is back in action again! The bridge itself is the kit from Custom Model Railroads.


(Attachment Link)


(Attachment Link)

Damn that looks so good. The backdrop is the cherry on the top.

[mark dance]

Beautiful lift bridge and approach spans Chris!  Magnificent work...

Well following nearly a year of design and construction, and after a final push this week, though there are some small things left to tidy up, I am now declaring victory on the Nelson shops and moving on to other projects.

This week I adjusted the step down resistor effective values for both the battery and DCC power modes to increase the brightness a bit.  This was easier said than done as all but 5 of the nearly 50 LEDs wired in parallel can be "unplugged" and I had to assure that the current was enough to improve brightness but wouldn't fry any LEDs still in the circuit when the others were unplugged (for example when the roofs were removed for access during an ops session!)

I also added the final roof trim and weathered the shops with airbrush, PanPastels and powders which really finished things off.  The roof of the running shops has the unique "figure 8" pattern from the dual vents and the oily FM exhaust.  A dusty fade to the walls was kept deliberately light so as not to obscure the view through the windows. 









I also made up fuel and water stands for the east end garden tracks from old Stewart castings bashed to more closely resemble the dual filler set ups that were at Nelson.  These and the concrete still need weathering and the hoses need more realistic positioning...



so here the shops are "substantively complete..."







... and on the layout !









phew!  Now for the holidays and to get ready for a January ops session...the C&W hasn't been operated in 6 months and I am looking forward to trying some revised hostler procedures to show off the shops!

thx to everyone at TRW for the feedback, encouragement and support.  A better model resulted.

Have a great weekend and happy hols to all!

md

[Santa Fe Guy]

Stunning work by everyone again.
Rod.

[LARGEdrop]

Stunning work by everyone again.
Rod.

Agreed, awesome work everyone!

[aikorob]

http://sbiii.com/rrschnb7.html

Anybody modeling heavy loads, rail artillery, LIRR, and just assorted odd stuff needs to have
http://sbiii.com book marked--that guy has a wealth of photos and links

[Mike C]

That is some incredible work on that module, Chris. Well done!

I went up to Flint, MI the other weekend to chase the Huck and 1225 Christmas trains. Something really bad happened on the way home as my traveling party stopped at Rider's Hobby Shop (Highly recommended if you're in the area). I don't know if it was my friend bad advise, or The Railwire Effect of changing from N scale to HOn3, but I bought a narrow gauge gondola made by Micro-Trains. I have to admit, I'm pretty smitten by it and the itch to search for more HOn3 has flared up pretty badly. I don't know if Doctor Dave could prescribe me something to calm my fixation with it now. 

  Take 1 K-27 and call me in the morning 

[James Costello]

Here you go, James. With the frame and grills being open, I glued a small tube behind the rear headlight for the LED to slip into and act as a light shield. The speaker is a 9x16mm.

Thanks Chris - just the inspiration needed to tackle my 'Aces too.

[SecretWeapon]

MAGNIFICENT WORK Mr.Dance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Boilerman]

The shop is outstanding!

[crrcoal]

Some AWESOME modeling posted this weekend!! Great stuff! Merry Christmas all!!

[chuck geiger]

Merry Christmas from Dirt City, CA on The BNSF Ponderosa Sub where it's a sunny 67 on December 23rd.

[narrowminded]

For those not following the 3D printer thread, here's some of my efforts in the last few days.  The tipper cars are Nn3 with functioning link and pin couplers and separate hoppers that can be staged tipped and are easier to paint. They are riding on Fox Valley 33" Z/ 24" Nn3 metal wheels.  The long ones are .85" o'all length and the short ones are .77" length.  They are identical in all other respects.  There may be some edits to them but in general I'm quite happy with the tippers but also with the 3D resin process, material and finish.

On the left is the single shorter hopper.  The balance are the longer length, staged together for comparison.
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Then there's the monument that was needed for my town center/ train station scene.  This is 3D printed and in a primer paint coat.  These shots show the size, print detail, and general location where it will be located.  The scene will be finished with pad, benches, maybe planter boxes, and such yet to be determined. 

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It's been fun with more to learn.

[dnhouston]

Been adding and blending in rock molds along a mountain stream.  Threw on a quick wash to see how it was turning out.

[legostudios34]

I don't think I've posted anything on this forum in years, going back to when I still modeled FEC. These days, I'm modelling the BC Rail Dawson Creek subdivision and have been working on scenery at the east end of the Dawson Creek yard.

BCOL 641 approaches 21st Street as it switches the small yard in Dawson Creek in September 1987.



Baxter Barnes

[CHUCKGEO]

Best representation of a locomotive repair shop I've ever seen.