Weekend Update 1/12/14

[Mark W]

Working on a new Free-moN module.



I immediately regret this decision!




Nonetheless, no spills, no drips.  Success!  *whew*

[M.C. Fujiwara]

Working on a new Free-moN module.

You're a madman!!!

Haven't we had a "Great Stuff" Intervention for you before?!?
Don't make me come out to Nebraska, yo!

Not to be a nit, but what about the fab Free-moN modules you were rocking last year?
Done, done and done?
Will be ready for Portland 2015?
Or flaming foam warming your room? 

[Catt]

After seeing DKS next to that caboose coupler I no longer concider my MT Accumate-McHenery couplers as being to big for N scale. That pic kind of puts the coupler size in perspective for me.

[basementcalling]

After seeing DKS next to that caboose coupler I no longer concider my MT Accumate-McHenery couplers as being to big for N scale. That pic kind of puts the coupler size in perspective for me.

But big couplers help Code 80 rail look scale. 

[mark dance]

Between vacations, work and dealing with computer problems, not much has gotten done in the past month...modeling wise anyways.

I did finish a video today describing the "tag + spread sheet" car forwarding approach that I wrote about in TRW a year ago.  The video is to accompany an article which should be in the April edition of the Dispatcher's Office.

Sorry for the length of the video...it seems I had a lot to say

Have a great-rest-of-your-weekend.

md

[dougnelson]

A new addition for the mail and express consist.  Finished my Skytop Models REA troop car to reefer conversion.  There were 200 of these cars plying the rails throughout the 1950s and into the 1960s.



Doug Nelson

[central.vermont]

I use Tru-Color paint but it's really the prep work that helps the paint stick. I first used baking soda in an old airbrush to prep the surface then used adhesive promoter that I bought at Autozone before painting.

Bill,

Can you elaborate a little on what you did with the "adhesive promoter" such as how much you used. I have an Autozone nearby and am wondering what the brand and stock number is you used. Once you add it does this give the bottle of paint you use a shelf time or once it's in your good to go for quite some time with it should you not use all of it.
Also that baking soda trick in an old airbrush sounds neat. I have an old air brush I'm not using but am wondering if the tip size matters that you use.

Jon

[John]

Between vacations, work and dealing with computer problems, not much has gotten done in the past month...modeling wise anyways.

I did finish a video today describing the "tag + spread sheet" car forwarding approach that I wrote about in TRW a year ago.  The video is to accompany an article which should be in the April edition of the Dispatcher's Office.


md

Mark .. Nice video .. I've been pondering a lot of the same things as I develop my ops scheme .. this is timely .. I like jmri ops, but like you, don't like the car number requirement ..

[skytop35]

Bill,

Can you elaborate a little on what you did with the "adhesive promoter" such as how much you used. I have an Autozone nearby and am wondering what the brand and stock number is you used. Once you add it does this give the bottle of paint you use a shelf time or once it's in your good to go for quite some time with it should you not use all of it.
Also that baking soda trick in an old airbrush sounds neat. I have an old air brush I'm not using but am wondering if the tip size matters that you use.

Jon

I should note, I only just started experimenting with this technique, so only time will tell!

It's called Dupli-color Adhesive Promoter. It comes in a spray can, just look in the paint section.

Use the largest tip you have for the airbrush.

[skytop35]

A new addition for the mail and express consist.  Finished my Skytop Models REA troop car to reefer conversion.  There were 200 of these cars plying the rails throughout the 1950s and into the 1960s.
Doug Nelson

Really nice Doug ! I especially like your weathering.

[arbomambo]

A new addition for the mail and express consist.  Finished my Skytop Models REA troop car to reefer conversion.  There were 200 of these cars plying the rails throughout the 1950s and into the 1960s.



Doug Nelson

Beautiful!..
my two castings are prepped and ready for the paint shop!
~Bruce

[Jeff AKA St0rm]

Being cooped up this week in the house with all the snow we had at the beginning of the week I was able to put in a few late nights to work on CN 8918.

Just for kicks her it is with my only other CN locomotive, CN 5544 (ignore the giant mess in the back ground  ) :

Looks great. Can we get a close up of that Conrail NS patch in the back ground?

[peteski]

Bill,

Can you elaborate a little on what you did with the "adhesive promoter" such as how much you used. I have an Autozone nearby and am wondering what the brand and stock number is you used. Once you add it does this give the bottle of paint you use a shelf time or once it's in your good to go for quite some time with it should you not use all of it.
Also that baking soda trick in an old airbrush sounds neat. I have an old air brush I'm not using but am wondering if the tip size matters that you use.

Jon

Adhesive promoter is not mixed with paint - it is used as a primer coat.  It looks like a fairly viscous (compared to other spray paints) clear lacquer.  Personally, I have never tired for painting handrails.  Looking at how Billl does his, we both use similar techniques.

I also sandblast the handrails. I use Badger air eraser with the aluminum oxide media (sold by Badger).  Then, for a primer coat, I use Pactra paints for polycarbonate RC car bodies.  Supposedly, that paint is more flexible than other hobby paints. If Pactra is not available, I think Tamiya makes similar paint.  The color I use is either gray (like primer), or a color similar to the final color (sometimes custom blend the color). The final color is a coat of Accu-paint.  Tru-Color is a similar paint.

In my experience, the step which makes the largest difference in promoting paint adhesion is the sandblasting. On a microscopic level, the surface becomes so rough that most paints will stick to it.

If I was to try using the adhesion promoter (I don't feel I need it), I would try to thin it for airbrushing with whatever solvent is in it (listed on the can label).

[Jeff AKA St0rm]

This week we started to stipe the club layout so we can start over. After 9 years we are finally tired of the mistakes made in the design. For anyone that doesn't know the club layout is in the warehouse of Panther Hobbies in Mississauga Ont.

Photo taken from high above



Here is a link to some photos of the old layout from start to finish.

https://picasaweb.google.com/101236537843388734996/PantherLayout?authuser=0&feat=directlink

I only had my cell phone with me to take pics and I forgot to clean the lens sorry for the bad quality but you still get the idea.









And here is the basic plan of what we will be putting in its place. This plan is far from complete but will give the basic idea.

[chicken45]

A new addition for the mail and express consist.  Finished my Skytop Models REA troop car to reefer conversion.  There were 200 of these cars plying the rails throughout the 1950s and into the 1960s.



Doug Nelson

Looks great, Doug! Now I'll have to get one. What year do you model?