Weekend Update 4/6/14

[PGE-N°2]

When you're not looking for something is when you usually find it.
I have been searching for either E-R Models D&H RF-16 since '09, and had pretty much convinced myself that if I wanted one, I'd have to get an NYC or PRR, and have it painted but lo and behold here is 1205.

Really like the D&H unit, although it seems that in the picture, even the locomotive is supposed to be the shark, the grill of the pickup track actually looks like it has the teeth,  .

Really nice picture.

[bnsfdash8]

A sound test of my first N scale sound instal.

[Dave V]

More RGS fun this weekend.

I experimented a bit with track color.  Not sure I'm going to paint it all.  I'm concerned about electrical connectivity,  It does look nice, though!



Also found a source of G scale coal at Petsmart:



I took my somewhat cheesy-looking D&RG baggage car and am working on making it look much more authentic for the 1940s:

Before:



During:



The paint is Rust-Oleum Hunt Club Green.  Looks like a very good match to what I've seen on D&RGW equipment up at the Colorado Railroad Museum.  The decals are actually from a San Juan decal set for a D&RGW narrow-gauge RPO, and since the D&RGW narow gauge baggage cars were single-door, I had to get creative.  Nevertheless, I think it's looking narrow-gaugey.

Then it was time to play with the trains outdoors.  The track is just laid down temporarily and this is certainly not a final configuration in any way, but it was fun to get the choo-choo outside!



A short RGS freight has passed Hot Tub Springs en route to Spigotville.

[primavw]

I received a Kato C44-9W in CNW livery. I quick test run revealed it was squealing at low voltage. Surprising since the item was described as New in Box. A quick tear down of the mech revealed a bit of flash has made its way into the bearing block. After removal and a light oiling of the "movey-bits" all is well.

[Mike C]

 You have a nice size back yard there Dave, Its a shame you're only using such a small part of it .   

[HuskerN]

I have some new models that are in the process of getting printed. 











HuskerN

[arbomambo]

Hello all...
rainy April day on the Alabama coast, so working at the desk in 'The Turquoise Room'....

painted and decaled the two Skytop Models REA reefers from converted troop sleepers...added BLMA 18"grab irons and faded to reporting marks and bottom of REA emblem per prototype pics...






Also started the detailing process for the L-A-B portion of my ATSF Freight F unit set (C is already done)-masked and painted the grill area ATSF yellow before the decal 'car body openings' are applied.



Thanks for looking,
~Bruce

[Pennsy]

Pictures are actually the ones I tried to post a few weeks ago









This is one of the balloon modules for AustNtrak N-trak modules. And I can still not believe how long it took to spread all that gravel for the yard.

[Alwyn Cutmore]

A picture I can really relate to. My fondness for the PRR Sharks resonates with this shot. I have 2 X A-B Pairs of the ER Sharks and 1 x A unit as well. One top of that I have a 5 Stripe set and 1 Single Strip set from Ak-Sar-Ben and another 16 A-B-A sets either V Line/Delux/Raintree/JnJ or Skull and Cross Bones from the US. Most of these are currently powered with RS3 or RS11 Atlas/Kato Japan mechs and they run well. The Bachmann/ER Model is a good representative of the RF 16 unit while the others more closely represent the Baldwin DR-4-4-15 except for the last 7 which were issued in RF16 Bodies. Great model Dick and I really enjoyed your Blog.

[Dave V]

Finished my baggage car project.  You can't see it here but I even applied the brake test data on the platform step ends.

[Philip H]

Finally back in the train saddle!

First up are a couple of rescued and partially rehabbed Ortner hoppers:





The Conrail one is missing some end components, but I now have two of these for routine work on the line.  I tried to search TRW and see if anyone had done a lowering thread, but alas my search terms yielded little information.  I may try some of Ed Nadolski's etched coupler pockets on these bad boys so that I can file down the bolster.

And in case anyone thought the BQ project was dead:



The large side logos ar enow on both sides, and my first cab number is on.  Considering that I've had the decals for about 10 years, and that each number has to be applied individually, I'd say I'm good.  Still to come are the cab numbers on the other side, the red and yellow stripes around the nose, and figuring out if I want to remove my carefully applied etched uncoupling levers and MU hoses on the pilots to install the zebra stripe decals.   

I also put up a couple of signs I printed from a model railroad Hobbyist thread:

[BCRail_FSJ]

Late post this weekend...   Put some more time on the Beatton River bridge scene.  I now have all the foam roughly shaped.   A bit of patching and grading with Sculptamold then it should be time for a base coat of earth coloured paint.







Hope to put some time in on the rest of the layout this week too...

[Mark W]

Half way through the permanent wiring upgrades on the Free-moNebraska modules.  Set up for a little test run in the garage.

[VonRyan]

My one completed project from the weekend was replacing the thin brass wire on the drawbar of my brass H10 with a pair of slightly thicker Phosphor-Bronze wires. Set up so that one is on either side of the pole on the tender. The wires are springy enough to flex, but enough to where it's giving a good amount if push back on the pole. Hopefully it'll be of some benefit


-Cody F.

[cnw mike]

Made some progress on the K-37 this weekend. Chassis runs, the big lead weight helps in testing since there isn't much mass without a boiler. I think I have the counterweights figured out, should get those on next.