Weekend Update 12/17/23

[up1950s]

https://railgallery.wongm.com/vline-bits/F130_4342.jpg.html

https://railgallery.wongm.com/vline-bits/page/16/

https://railgallery.wongm.com/vline-bits/F146_5372.jpg.html

https://railgallery.wongm.com/vline-bits/F108_9747.jpg.html

https://www.progressrail.com/en/Company/EMD100/1990s.html

https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/off-topic-discussion/grassroots-railroad-sports/161868/page92/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=YiQ1LDDUm6I

[Lemosteam]

The LIRR IS took a major step this week, having all of the background structures installed. The design renders them all removable in case I have to do any work between the PRR main and the buildings. All but the abandoned building on the far right have some form of lighting, so I installed female two conductor micro connectors so that when I get the wall wart installed, I can run a bus and add the the male connectors and plug things together.

In between structure installations, I installed these awesome LED light panels into the existing ceiling light frames. @peteski , might recall when I converted the ceiling light AC circuits to 12v DC using a large transformer and huge bridge rectifier, lol. Needless to say the homemade led strip lights were a failure, so I went and got a six pack of these for about $175.00. Super price on Amazon. They can be synced to a common color and switched between 3k, 4k, and 5k using the wall toggle switch. They are also dimmable, but I am going to pass on that for now.



Here is the structure attachment. The layout is on drawer slides so the buildings will slide back to the eventual backdrop that I have started imaging, from the actual location inspiration for the layout.



East )right) side of the canal:



West (left) side of the canal:

[mplsjct]

CNW transfer rounding the curve at Minneapolis Junction…

[Jesse6669]

I finally did the water for Fraser Lake on the 1:300/T gauge WP&Y.  This was Woodland Scenics "murky water" with the lake bed previously painted olive drab and tan shoreline, with a blend done with airbrush.  Overall it was pretty easy and took two full pours.  The shoreline has the usual surface tension thing that happens with these poured resin waters...  I may play around with some matte finish to mitigate the leeching effect and build up the shore ground texture a bit near the water.  The background rock and foliage was airbrushed with some light gray to blend it with the backdrop (thanks again @Ed Kapuscinski for the help with printing!)  Overall, I am satisfied with the effect of looking across a wide lake with forced perspective.  Now to finish the foreground scenery adding some trees, etc. install the Fraser water tank/station.. then run some trains!  I need to paint up a pair of the DL535Es...



In T-scale news, I "re-tooled" the H-45 hopper to be more accurate and 100% 3D printed (w. handrail/end braces instead of etch) and did a Southern Ry. TrainMaster.  It's decaled but needs some final tweaks and I will post pics when finished. 

[milw12]

That CNW transfer shot looks great!

It's been a few years since I really did anything scenery related, here are some recent attempts to get back in the groove.







Still plenty to tweak but it's coming along.

Lucas

[signalmaintainer]

Work continues on developing "downtown " Slate Fork, VA.



https://realisticmodelrailroading.net/forum/layouts/portable/102-southern-railway-s-slate-fork-branch-n

[Scottl]

@Jesse6669 Great scene emerging.  I recall the lake was a green-turquoise color and completely opaque from the glacial silt.  Is that meant to be Summit Lake?  I have lots of pictures from the area if you need, I spent two years working on Summit Lake.

I finally did the water for Fraser Lake on the 1:300/T gauge WP&Y.  This was Woodland Scenics "murky water" with the lake bed previously painted olive drab and tan shoreline, with a blend done with airbrush.  Overall it was pretty easy and took two full pours.  The shoreline has the usual surface tension thing that happens with these poured resin waters...  I may play around with some matte finish to mitigate the leeching effect and build up the shore ground texture a bit near the water.  The background rock and foliage was airbrushed with some light gray to blend it with the backdrop (thanks again @Ed Kapuscinski for the help with printing!)  Overall, I am satisfied with the effect of looking across a wide lake with forced perspective.  Now to finish the foreground scenery adding some trees, etc. install the Fraser water tank/station.. then run some trains!  I need to paint up a pair of the DL535Es...

[Scottl]

Running trains again has reminded me that I need to power my frogs. I have a few Tam Valley frog juicer boards but I need another 20 frogs powered, several of which are in isolated locations.

I've been working on a plan for an Arduino "frog juicer" using a Nano, relay board and AC current sensors.  They are all cheap and available from eBay or similar online sources.  Here is the first version I put together (only wired for 2 of the 8 relays).  It worked with my test on some track and a DCC locomotive (TCS decoder).  The sketch is very short and simple.  If it ultimately works, the relay boards come in 1/2/4/8 configurations and the Nano can handle up to 8 frogs.

It looks like a rats nest of wire, so the next version will reduce this and make the connections to the layout more straightforward.

[wm3798]

Looks like I need to add another industry to the layout...

Seen today in Weldon,  NC.
Lee

[John]

Running trains again has reminded me that I need to power my frogs. I have a few Tam Valley frog juicer boards but I need another 20 frogs powered, several of which are in isolated locations.

I've been working on a plan for an Arduino "frog juicer" using a Nano, relay board and AC current sensors.  They are all cheap and available from eBay or similar online sources.  Here is the first version I put together (only wired for 2 of the 8 relays).  It worked with my test on some track and a DCC locomotive (TCS decoder).  The sketch is very short and simple.  If it ultimately works, the relay boards come in 1/2/4/8 configurations and the Nano can handle up to 8 frogs.

It looks like a rats nest of wire, so the next version will reduce this and make the connections to the layout more straightforward.

Please start a thread on this in the electronics section… this is cool stuff

[mu26aeh]

Looks like I need to add another industry to the layout...

Seen today in Weldon,  NC.
Lee

That seems right up your alley Lee

[Jesse6669]

Thanks!  I considered some more turqoisy/bluer undercoats but deferred to the "safe" olive drab/sandy brown.  Too late now to change it in any event, and I think it largely depends on the sky anyway.  I opt for gray/overcast even lighting.

I thought it was "Fraser Lake" but that's actually Bernard Lake (according to the map)..  Here's the view (link)

@Jesse6669 Great scene emerging.  I recall the lake was a green-turquoise color and completely opaque from the glacial silt.  Is that meant to be Summit Lake?  I have lots of pictures from the area if you need, I spent two years working on Summit Lake.

I finally did the water for Fraser Lake on the 1:300/T gauge WP&Y.  This was Woodland Scenics "murky water" with the lake bed previously painted olive drab and tan shoreline, with a blend done with airbrush.  Overall it was pretty easy and took two full pours.  The shoreline has the usual surface tension thing that happens with these poured resin waters...  I may play around with some matte finish to mitigate the leeching effect and build up the shore ground texture a bit near the water.  The background rock and foliage was airbrushed with some light gray to blend it with the backdrop (thanks again @Ed Kapuscinski for the help with printing!)  Overall, I am satisfied with the effect of looking across a wide lake with forced perspective.  Now to finish the foreground scenery adding some trees, etc. install the Fraser water tank/station.. then run some trains!  I need to paint up a pair of the DL535Es...

[Scottl]

Ah, the lake at Fraser is definitely less turbid so it works well.  Overcast is a good choice there- there are not many sunny moments on the pass.

Thanks!  I considered some more turqoisy/bluer undercoats but deferred to the "safe" olive drab/sandy brown.  Too late now to change it in any event, and I think it largely depends on the sky anyway.  I opt for gray/overcast even lighting.

I thought it was "Fraser Lake" but that's actually Bernard Lake (according to the map)..  Here's the view (link)

[altohorn25]

The Olympian Hiawatha and Morning Hiawatha running over the LaCrosse Division; July 5, 1953:

[bnsfdash8]

I decided to wrap up my BN 4750 hopper weathering. One of my cats decided it needed a fall off the table so I had to piece the end railings back together the best I could. Thankfully the damage was somewhat minor and I found most of the pieces. I ended up painting the repaired section fresh BN without any weathering.

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I gave AK Interactive's "Ultra Matte Varnish" a try. It sprayed nicely though my airbrush without thinner, but it also thinned well with their acrylic thinner, and gave me a really nice finish. I'll definitely be using it on any future projects.

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Obligatory cat tax:

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