Weekend Update 4/28/19

[Dave V]

I repainted and relettered an old early-D&RG-style brass caboose (with magic tape window glazing?—re-glazed with clear styrene) to match Silverton Northern caboose 1005 (which has been recently restored):

[BCR 570]

Another week, another six flatcars decaled.  These are six 52'-6" trailer flat car conversions built from the Briggs Models 3D kits:




These will replace my existing cars which were converted from Con-Cor 50' flat cars (two of which can be seen in the next photograph).


Last evening I held Op Session #9 which was the second of two shakedown sessions in preparation for next week's Railway Modellers Meet of B.C. for which I have been asked to host a session.  The crew comprised fellow North Shore Modellers Michael, David and Philippe, and fellow PGE-BCR modeller David Morgan.

The session began with arrival in Chetwynd of the Vancouver-Peace freight with a record 31 cars and four locomotives including two operating as mid-train remotes for the first time:






The NAR transfer job completed its second outing and is proving to be an interesting and enjoyable addition to the session:




Work Extra 807 is in the clear at Tremblay as the eastbound Dawson Creek Switcher passes by:




The northbound Septimus Turn arrives at Septimus with cars for Taylor, Fort St.John and Fort Nelson:




The westbound Dawson Creek Switcher crosses the Kiskatinaw River:




At the end of the session, the southbound Peace-Vancouver freight prepares to depart behind C-425s 810, 807, remote control car RCC2, and M-630 710:




Apologies for some poor photographs; at some point the camera went from Av to P Mode without me realizing it.

More decaling and prepping for the RMMBC op session are on the agenda for tomorrow.


Tim

[bnsfdash8]

RPCX 800321 "Sandy Creek" ready for paint and decals.

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[rickb773]

I went to the Atlantic County 4H meet and came in the wrong door and got met by these hairy faces:


Now here's a sight you don't often see: the grizzly volcanic death of a freight train:


Was hoping to get to meet DKS personally but had to settle for some of his workmanship:


A few misc. shots:




Sorry about the picture quality. I thought I could get by with my cell phone (Samsung J3) but next time I'll know to take my trusty point and shoot (canon A590 PowerShot)

[Cajonpassfan]

My BL-2 project is done -- the SP is borrowing her for an evaluation for possible branch line use:
Wolf

Nice work, Wolf!
Otto

[craigolio1]

Another week, another six flatcars decaled.  These are six 52'-6" trailer flat car conversions built from the Briggs Models 3D kits:

Tim where did you get decals for the BCR flat cars? I need enough for about 14 cars.

Also great job on the flatcars. They layout is really coming along.

Craig.

[craigolio1]

The first P&W M420 is almost compete. Some minor details and weathering need to be finished. This started as a Briggs kit but modifications were made to the fuel tank to shorten it to P&W practice. The AAR-B trucks were difficult to adapt. There is just no room at the pilots. I cut the back of the steps within an inch of their lives to allow for some swivel. This engine comes compete with Loksound and an 8x12 Sobertron speaker and enclosure.

I learned a few things from this build... Flipping the chassis front to back reduces the interference from the truck side frames and allows for a 9x16 speaker and enclosure without further chassis milling... A good thing since a lot of the frame need to be milled for this kit and leaves it very light.

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I’m really excited to see this loco complete. And your suggestions about reversing the chassis and the passenger car couplers are gold.

My four models are stalled at handrails. Can I ask how you bent the rear section of the side rails? I’ve tried freehanding it and haven’t had any luck.... and I’ve bent handrails before.

Craig

[MOPHEAD]

Wolf;  Great looking BL2. Other then the new paint job, what other changes did you make?

[DKS]

[daniel_leavitt2000]

I’m really excited to see this loco complete. And your suggestions about reversing the chassis and the passenger car couplers are gold.

My four models are stalled at handrails. Can I ask how you bent the rear section of the side rails? I’ve tried freehanding it and haven’t had any luck.... and I’ve bent handrails before.

Craig

The handrail bending template certainly helped, but wasn't really enough. There are parts that assume you bent others already and do not show it in the diagram. This results in handrails that are much too short. The ones on my models are probably 5th or 6th generation. Most of my parts are phosphor bronze as I ran out of the included piano wire long since. Best advice I have is start on the ends and work your way to the cab, where excess can be trimmed easily.

I found I needed a VERY precise Xuron needle nose pliers with absolutely no overhang on any side, and a non ridged mouth. I also found that I had to start bends in every corner the same to get consistency - if you start a bend holding the horizontal section of the handrail to make the vertical portion, you better hold it exactly the same when working on the other handrails, or things get wonky fast. This is essential when working compound bends like the pilot step rails.

I also had to open up the holes on the stanchon to accept the handrail rod.

One last note. I use CA for these rails because the stanchon has a complete hole for the rail to slip though. This means you just need something to thread-lock it rather than fully secure it. CA will break if needed and allows you to adjust the rails if things don't quite fit.

Hope that helps.

Glad Briggs moved over to a better handrail system.

[craigolio1]

That is very helpful. Thank you. The ones that really scare me are the B unit where the side handrail is continuous from step to step. It only has to be perfect.... at both ends... on both sides... on both of my locos. Hahaha. No big deal.

[Iain]

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I have been working on Atlantic and East Carolina F2 #400.

I will note that the nose of this and the other F2 I have (what will be 401) had some serious mold lines going on.

[freedj]

Work continues on the benchwork for the left hand continuous run module.  I think i might call it the pit module because its starting to look like an open pit mine   All of the track here will be open to the top for maintenance and recovery, but contained in a fairly narrow channel to hopefully make it 'dissapear'.

[BCR 570]

Tim where did you get decals for the BCR flat cars? I need enough for about 14 cars.

Hi Craig:

The decals were prepared and supplied by Philippe; I simply supplied the reference notes and photographs.


Tim

[VonRyan]

I sold a lot of stuff today, and Ed decided to lay on the floor.

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