Weekend Update 2/19/23

[Chris333]

Coincidentally (this is the railcar Ed is riding in)I just scanned this into AutoCAD:


Haven't touched the trains in a while. Quit my job of almost 30 years because they couldn't hire anyone to replace the 4 people who left 1.5 years ago. New job is going great and I now work regular hours, just taking time to get used to everything and get back to trains.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Chris, you want interior shots? I took a few. I kinda fell in love with it while riding it.

Note the texture of the side panels.

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[Ed Kapuscinski]

While full scale Ed was riding steam, N Scale Ed was spotted in Wisconsin.
(Attachment Link)

Amazing!!

[TrainCat2]

While full scale Ed was riding steam, N Scale Ed was spotted in Wisconsin.
(Attachment Link)

that’s Cheezy

[Chris333]

In HOn30 the body is only 3/4 x 1-1/4" no interior for you. Just enough room for a motor though.

I was going to model the bevel on all of the boards, but in HO you'll never see it.

[Cajonpassfan]

More designing for me. I'll test print them today to check fitment on the mechanisms before adding all of the details.
On today's build plate is an early UP Challenger plus its short a$$ tender, a UP TTT 2-10-2, as well as an SP F-5 2-10-2.

Drasko

Drasko, you're an animal! Wow, don't you ever sleep?
Seriously, that's some good stuff! Wow!
Keep them coming (but do get some sleep)
Otto

[draskouasshat]

Drasko, you're an animal! Wow, don't you ever sleep?
Seriously, that's some good stuff! Wow!
Keep them coming (but do get some sleep)
Otto

Thanks otto. i just work on them here and there honestly. i have a good amount of time when im in the hotel but i also was up late so the wife could sleep while we were in the hospital with my son.

Drasko

[Dayliner]

Another great weekend helping Tim (BCR 570) to put his BCR sub back together--it is going to be a lot of fun to run on the Dawson Creek sub, version 2.0.

Unfortunately, I did not have a lot of modeling time this week, but some progress was made.  With tracklaying and wiring complete at Lake Cowichan, I started assembling the six remaining switch machines required for that trackage.  Essentially, these are Tam Valley servos mounted in custom-made acrylic brackets.

The bracket components before assembly (with an assembled switch machine for inspiration/guidance):


An assembled mounting bracket (complete with dog hair!):


And all six switch machines partially assembled.  The servos are held in place with ordinary CA, but because of the torque exerted in operation, I want to secure them to the brackets with screws, and as a result I'm learning something about acrylic in the course of this project.  I'm used to working with wood and styrene which can be relatively forgiving with respect to pilot holes for screws--acrylic seems to be another matter altogether, and I'm finding it can be very tough to drive a screw into it without a pilot hole of precisely the right size.


Maybe next week I'll show pictures of what my son is doing on his layout right now-it's a lot more fun to look at!

[btrain]

Fantastic modeling this week, everyone! @draskouasshat those are beautiful 3D rendings of boiler shells. I'm looking forward to seeing how these come out. I'm really digging the small details that you have put on the shells, like the footsteps on the boiler barrel and smokebox hinges. Have you thought about doing commissioned work by any chance?

@craigolio1 That's a great utilization of a kato body for that observation. What are you using for the floor? Your project reminds me that I need to start the same with NYC observations that were common on the Big Four for my Hiles layout.

Also, thank you for the EBT coverage, Ed. It's very satisfying to see all those years of the Friends of the EBT work coming to life. I spent a week two summers ago helping clean the store house so they could re-level it. Despite sore back from handling lots of old iron, it was one of the most enjoyable and eye-opening vacations. If anyone is on the fence about helping out or joining there, I'd say do it. It's a very professional lot, and that place is obviously like Disneyland for anyone who loves old industrial America.

Over the past few weeks, I've dusted off my Bellevue layout after several months of storage at the new apartment. Some learning points I've noted are that a temperature-controlled unit is preferable since some of the code 55 switches are a bit wonky and need encouragement to be put back in gauge, mice love nesting with supertrees, and Fast Tracks turnout controls weather pretty well, but make sure when assembling them that you're generous with the wood glue.



Had a little fun in mobile Photoshop in the above image. The new version makes it easier to clear out solid backgrounds and add a little sky to your model photos.

[craigolio1]

@craigolio1 That's a great utilization of a kato body for that observation. What are you using for the floor? Your project reminds me that I need to start the same with NYC observations that were common on the Big Four for my Hiles layout.


I’m using the Kato floor. Working on that today as a matter of fact. I shortened the floor and then adjusted the contact strips. Then cemented blocks in the side of the car and pressed the floor in until it was the right height.

[draskouasshat]

Fantastic modeling this week, everyone! @draskouasshat those are beautiful 3D rendings of boiler shells. I'm looking forward to seeing how these come out. I'm really digging the small details that you have put on the shells, like the footsteps on the boiler barrel and smokebox hinges. Have you thought about doing commissioned work by any chance?

@craigolio1 That's a great utilization of a kato body for that observation. What are you using for the floor? Your project reminds me that I need to start the same with NYC observations that were common on the Big Four for my Hiles layout.

Also, thank you for the EBT coverage, Ed. It's very satisfying to see all those years of the Friends of the EBT work coming to life. I spent a week two summers ago helping clean the store house so they could re-level it. Despite sore back from handling lots of old iron, it was one of the most enjoyable and eye-opening vacations. If anyone is on the fence about helping out or joining there, I'd say do it. It's a very professional lot, and that place is obviously like Disneyland for anyone who loves old industrial America.

Over the past few weeks, I've dusted off my Bellevue layout after several months of storage at the new apartment. Some learning points I've noted are that a temperature-controlled unit is preferable since some of the code 55 switches are a bit wonky and need encouragement to be put back in gauge, mice love nesting with supertrees, and Fast Tracks turnout controls weather pretty well, but make sure when assembling them that you're generous with the wood glue.



Had a little fun in mobile Photoshop in the above image. The new version makes it easier to clear out solid backgrounds and add a little sky to your model photos.

Thank you for the compliments! yes, commisioned work is most likely on the horizon actually.

Drasko

[nickelplate759]

In-progress.  Converting an old Rowa/MRC coach to Amtrak Phase I (ex C&O)

After removing the skirts I realized that the underframe details show, and are all wrong for this car, so I built a new one out of styrene strips and left over American Limited details.  Gonna need a paint job!




Original underframe shown next to the new one for contrast.

[SP-Wolf]

Hi to Y'all

My latest projects:

Trying to make silk purses out of sow's ears. (Well - at least one of them is a basket case). The other more for the improved running quality.

So - Atlas to the rescue.

Key Imports Alco S-1 to receive an Atlas chassis


Key Imports Alco S-3 to receive an Atlas chassis (The sow's ear).




Chassis have been swapped:



Next - adding details - cab shades, windshield wipers, wind deflectors and a hood mounted bell (For the S-3) - then paint and decals.

Thanks,
Wolf

[Cajonpassfan]

👍Otto