Weekend Update 2/3/19

[trainforfun]

This has been an interesting project - I was commissioned to build the USAF MRS1 2104 (Vandenburg, now at the Campo railroad museum).   The shell was originally a Shapeways design that didn't really make it in FUD, was passed around and reprinted by another service and sent to me....and this was just amazing.  This is the best RP printed shell I've ever seen.   No sanding, no prepping, no nothing - other than a whole lot of detail and paint work on handrails, wire details, and getting the entire thing to work over a Kato RSC2 chassis that I got last year down at Altoona.   For those of you saying that an Atlas RSD4/5 would work better, I strongly disagree, as the performance of this chassis was just outstanding, and very little material had to be removed from the cab frame area to do it.







Yes, the door handles are individual bits of .010 wire, etched walks added, .010 wire handrails, and fully soldered end rails with rectangular .010x.020 stock.   Micro-scale decals, and computer-printed number boards.



Like most RP designs, it was done without much consideration for how it was ever going to work on a mechanism or a finished model, so if anybody else is trying this I've got two pages of detailed notes on all the dimensional modifications I had to make on the shell to make this work.

Great job !
As you know I am currently working on a CN slug printed by Shapeways and I truly understand all the work you had to do to finish decorating your unit . I am not sure yet if I will be willing to show my work ...

[Cajonpassfan]

That's really looking terrific Andrew. @hegstad1
Dean @coldriver very believable scene and very nice execution.

Yes, superb modeling, both of you!
Some of the best N scale can offer, and inspirational.
Otto K.

[CHUCKGEO]

I have a Shapeways #1300 HEP shell that I will paint and detail (FDOT era) for Alaska RR P-4. I mistakenly ordered an AMTRAK HEP 686 that was to be P-5. I will either paint and decal the 686 as early AMTRAK, or sand away side grills/vents and paint as ARR P-5. I also ordered chassis for both, as MT Troop car chassis do not fit.   I'm using MT 1141 trucks, and will attach couplers to bodies.

[SAH]

Great work on the Oregon Joint Line scene and the Missoula depot guys.  Inspirational.

We attended (Mama & I) the Timonium show yesterday.  Doing so was on the MRRing bucket list during my Eastern Seaboard  stay.  I don't know how it compares to other Timonium events but I was impressed with the depth and breadth of the offerings.  I found some cheap freight cars for an upcoming project and got to see firsthand some products I've been considering.  It's funny that the bulk of my purchases $wise came from two vendors (Mohawk Design tee shirts and Tichey Train decals) that are located within 50 mi of my home base in Greensboro.  Go figure.  Afterwards we took the scenic route to Westminster and had a pleasant dinner.  An enjoyable day.

Not so enjoyable is the result of my decal job on the covered hopper conversion project.  More in the AC&Y Layout Engineering thread.  I'll be stripping the side and starting over I'm afraid.



I've also continued the weathering campaign.  This is the first time I really took a good look at the Broadway NYC rebuilds.  Nice cars that will add some variety to a freight train.

[cbroughton67]

Made some headway on the Free-MoN module this weekend. Slow, but sure.


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[garethashenden]

I picked up a B&O depressed center flatcar from BLW’s closeout sale. I decided to see if I could improve it a bit. I lowered the car by filling off the bolsters on the underside of the car, then I drilled new holes for the bolster pins so that the trucks were closer to the ends. Next up I replaced the plastic wheels with FVM 28” wheels. Finally, I fitted true scale couplers.


After I took this picture I started to weather the car and dropped it. I managed to break a stirrup and a coupler pocket, a new pocket is currently printing, I’ll see if I can find a spare stirrup in the parts box.

The other thing I’ve done this week is to design an adapter to mount true scale couplers in 1015 coupler boxes, this has been a problem for converting all the cars that come with 1015s body mounted, especially when half the box is moulded into the bodywork. Here’s the prototype in a BLMA covered hopper. I’m going to fit these to a few other cars and do some testing, but so far things are looking good.

[davefoxx]

I built my first T-TRAK module:



More on the "Ashland, Virginia T-TRAK Module" thread in the Layout Engineering Forum.

DFF

[BCR 570]

More progress on M-630 722 and M-630W 727 - most carbody details now in place including front headlight, engine intake screens and rear number boards for 722, brake wheels, grab irons, radiator walkways, lift rings, and rear flag holders. 






722 is waiting on ditch light housings; door handles are on the agenda for this coming week.


Tim

[Ed Kapuscinski]

What a weekend!

It started on Thirsty Thursday with @DeltaBravo helping me get the remains of Windsor St back on its feet.



Blitzed through the Timonium show yesterday and stocked up on MA&PA reference stuff and was there to see @davefoxx gear up for some TTRAK fun. Then it was time for a stop at Mainline Hobbies where I, too, got a BLI NYC car (the pre-55 version, or so I hope). That was followed with a chase on the old WM ending in Hagerstown.



Today I got a chance to start messing with the tender @Lemosteam hooked me up with and... damn! Look at this. The Trix old timer shell fits almost PERFECTLY on a Bachmann slopeback tender frame. Hot damn!

http://conrail1285.com/fitting-a-minitrix-old-timer-tender-to-a-bachmann-4-6-0/

[wm3798]

I built a bus

[unittrain]

Getting ready to add a bog at the base of the embankment, finally got a static grass applicator the woodland scenics static king, I'll apply 7mm and 12mm static grass to the bog, will also add WS realistic water tinted in various merky shades, and yes I will eventually paint the bridges but still have to add some more details..

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[unittrain]

I also tried some close up photography under my new lighting currently being installed.

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[MK]

I built a bus

DC or DCC?

[arbomambo]

Now that the Brownhoist wreck crane is done, I need to paint, decal, and weather the boom car. I was 'sweating' do the lettering on this, as I didn't believe any actual ATSF MOW decals existed, but I was mistaken! MicroScale sets are on their way! I'm going to go ahead and paint this one in ATSF MOW silver, although I don't know if this was accurate during my 1957 modeled era. (If anyone has info about this, please let me know)

[DeltaBravo]

Managed some weathering this weekend. Here are two of several, with before shots as well.