Weekend Update 3/27/22

[Chris333]

They said it was like a Shay, but it is more like a 4 truck class A Climax (they never made one).

[nkalanaga]

The engine was Shay-like, but yes, the drive was more like a Climax.

The center driveshaft is more efficient, and makes curves easier to take, but the Shay's big advantage was ease of maintenance.  Everything was outside, not hidden underneath.

That "Loco Locos" site has a lot of even stranger things, many of which were actually built.  A modeler with a weird sense of humor could have a field day with it.

[Chris333]

Yes, but a class A Climax had a vertical 2 cylinder engine mounted in the center. So more like a Climax than a Shay.

[amato1969]

Spring break travel is behind me, so I made some progress on this GP7.  I sealed the decals with flat clear, and sprayed some lighter green colors to vary the finish (armor guys call this modulation):



To simulate the small fuel tank (800 gal?) on this group of GP7s, I cut the air tanks away and attached them with two-sided tape.  I painted the remaining frame dark gray.  This should give the look of the small tank under the frame:



  Frank

[nickelplate759]

...

To simulate the small fuel tank (800 gal?) on this group of GP7s, I cut the air tanks away and attached them with two-sided tape.  I painted the remaining frame dark gray.  This should give the look of the small tank under the frame:

Great fuel-tank tip @amato1969 !   NKP GP7s had little fuel tanks too.

[davefoxx]

Great fuel-tank tip @amato1969 !   NKP GP7s had little fuel tanks too.

I might suggest laminating the frame with 0.005" or 0.010" styrene, to give a better impression of the small fuel tank than just the bare Atlas frame.

DFF

[chuck geiger]

Finally got a new video up from earlier in the month's work session.

[amato1969]

I might suggest laminating the frame with 0.005" or 0.010" styrene, to give a better impression of the small fuel tank than just the bare Atlas frame.

Thanks @nickelplate759 and good pro tip @davefoxx !  I need to set the side sill on the mech and see how much can actually be seen.  Here's the proto inspiration:



  Frank

[Cajonpassfan]

To go with last week's picture of "beautiful downtown Moria", here is a "roster shot" of the buildings.  From left to right, they are:

Silverlode Hotel, an old Model Power kit, basically stock.  I did repaint the first floor stoneowrk, as the chocolate brown didn't look right.  The sign was generated in Wordpad and printed out.

Murray Rexall Drugs, Mostly "stone" paper over styrene, with styrene corner stones and window frames.  The sign is an actual film photo, close to 40 years old, from the Heppner, OR prototype.

Harvey's Bar and Grill, Woodland Scenics

Miners and Merchants Bank, paper and styrene, based on the old Commercial Bank of Grayson building, now gone, our local bank.

Moria Free Press, Woodland Scenics

Moria Mining Company, one piece of a modular building set, with styrene corner trim and cornice.  This is the local office, the main offices are in North Moria, on the other side of the mountains.

Wanglie's Department Store, Woodland Scenics.  Again, a computer printed sign.

The background houses are from Grandt Line.  At the bottom of the concrete trench is Silverlode Creek.  Moria is based on Wallace, ID, as it looked before the Interstate was built.

Makings of a very nice scene!
This being the Railwire, one thing I'd suggest is to do something about the prominent T-shaped window frames on the Silverlode Hotel; they just scream "Europe!" at me. Even just extending the center piece to the top would help disguise their heritage, but double hung would be best. My two cents....
Otto K.

[nkalanaga]

Chris333:  OK, I didn't realize the Class A was that different.  It is more like a Climax than a Shay.

[nkalanaga]

Otto:  I see your point, but at this stage, I think I'll leave it.  That building probably dates from the late 1890s or early 1900s, so could very well have been intended to look European!  At the time, it was probably the highest-class accommodations in town.  In the 1970s, it is probably STILL the highest class, which doesn't necessarily mean much, for an ex-mining town trying to become a tourist destination.

[wcfn100]

I need to set the side sill on the mech and see how much can actually be seen. 

I believe the one I'm working on, I just filed the frame to the bottom of the sill.   I'll paint the frame black and mount the smaller tank between the frame halves.

Jason

[garethashenden]

I'm  almost done with my covered bridge project. Needs weathering and installing on the layout.

[John]

Finished some grain bin prints to use up some Anycubic plant based resin thats expiring .. The designs came from an HO model on Thingiverse that I modified. The bin's were scaled to more accurately reflect actual dimensions I found from manufacturer literature ..  I still need to print up some stairs and roof vents for the top to more accurately reflect what the real things look like ..

For the grain drier - the HO files were modified to add grating vice solid platforms, also made the blower fan see through ..  I added various electrical boxes and an access door on the end for cleanout ..

The plant based resin isn't very good - it breaks easy, is soft, and distorts easy on thin parts .. not ideal .. will need to redo the stairs in a regular resin ..  and probably print the entire assembly less the platforms and blower assembly as one unit to eliminate some warping

[randgust]

Latest off the workbench.    The Highball Graphics decals have evolved so much since I did the first one of these about 4 years ago.   Just excellent stuff.