The Canal Line

[Philip H]

I got a pack of Sharpie metallic colors at Target (or Michael's).  I use them all the time for small details or weathering.

Me too.  Easiest way I have found to do this work.  Until your kids get into them.   

[mu26aeh]

Me too.  Easiest way I have found to do this work.  Until your kids get into them.   

Or your wife 

Both of mine went from fine tip to wide tip because either kids or wife used them for something.

[dandopinski]

"Thanks for the heads up on the Athabaska set, but they are too tall to work for my needs. See the model photo, and then compare to the end handrails. Plus the real ones mount into the top of the walkway, but not the sides. They would be an easy etching job, if I knew some dimensions"


I see what you mean

[coosvalley]

An update of sorts..

First , on the layout front, I have picked up some (correctly colored) scenery supplies, after getting the wrong ones ..Apparently, I am modeling late summer, which, considering the long winters where I live , is nice to imagine...

Also on the layout front, I have purchased some structures to help me finalize all of the structures which I want on the layout, as well as some Woodland Scenics street lights and related hardware..In a month or so I will have a bunch of time off, so that will keep me busy...

In the meantime, I've also been working on some new equipment, and first up are some "before and after" shots, just because I could, before the unmodified cars get whats coming to them

A before and after of these Atlas NE-5s, I faded it and repainted the ends to be the proper red color(#C9)..Both have had FVM wheels added...





Next is a before and after of the Atlas B&M PS1, as best I could, I've already started modifying the unweathered one by changing out the door(from and undec kit, they come with all 4 door styles) , removing the roofwalk and changing the trucks to BLMA's.



Next is a before and after of the Atlas 11000 gal tank car, weathered, lowered, and FVM wheels added:



Next up is this Atlas PS1(on the left) that started as an undec, I went for a lighter shade of faded blue than it's sister, as shown...roofwalk removed, ladders on non brakwheel end chopped, BLMA trucks with FVM wheels added, painted, decaled and weathered..



And lastly, some ESM X65s I weathered, and a Bluford caboose I weathered:





Thanks for looking and more to come soon!

[Santa Fe Guy]

Nice work on the detailing and weathering, they all look fab especially the wheel colour. Can you tell me what brand of paint and colour it is.
Rod.

[coosvalley]

Nice work on the detailing and weathering, they all look fab especially the wheel colour. Can you tell me what brand of paint and colour it is.
Rod.

Rustoleum Camo dark brown!..Chalks applied after sometimes to add color variation..

[Santa Fe Guy]

Thanks for that. Not sure we get that here down under, will check it out.
Rod.

[coosvalley]

Not sure we get that here down under,

Bummer, the stuff is nice, dead flat. I use it for track, wheels and trucks. They have several shades, the "tan"color is pretty good for concrete too.

The nozzles don't do well with lots of re-uses(they clog), so I try to get as much as I can ready to paint before starting, so as not to end up with wasted paint still in the can.

[bbussey]

Bummer, the stuff is nice, dead flat. I use it for track, wheels and trucks. They have several shades, the "tan"color is pretty good for concrete too.

The nozzles don't do well with lots of re-uses(they clog), so I try to get as much as I can ready to paint before starting, so as not to end up with wasted paint still in the can.

After each use, turn the can upside-down and spray until nozzle hisses and paint flow has stopped.  That will keep the nozzle clear between usages.

[wazzou]

With Rustoleum products, it's been my experience that it isn't the nozzle as much as the internal top part of the can where the nozzle goes in.  I do as Bryan has suggested and Rustoleum cans still clog even if a new, unused nozzle is inserted.

[coosvalley]

Speaking of weathering wheels, I had a backlog of about 20 cars that needed to be made "layout ready". For me this includes painting/weathering the trucks and wheels, and swapping out the couplers for Accumates. I would also usually swap out the wheels for FVM, but I need mostly .540s, but they are currently out of stock. These cars all had metal wheels already, so they'll do for now.

Anywho here are the wheels and trucks being painted. In this first pic you can see my incredibly complex painting jig, along with the pencil tip wire brush I use to remove paint from the axle ends before installing the painted wheels in the trucks:



Here you can see the trucks, with temporary plastic wheels installed to keep paint out of the axle cups. First I spray them with plastic adhesion promoter, then some Rustoleum Camo brown. And you can see my ultra complex pipe cleaner painting jigs



Next is a set of 4 IM 40' AAR modified boxcars. Out of the box, these cars sit quite high. So I removed the factory washer, which was a huge improvement. I also installed trucks leftover from some Atlas PS1s, which lowered the cars even further.
 


Here is a shot of one next to an Atlas PS1, now that's more like it!



Next I also lowered this Athearn EL covered hopper, using BLMA trucks with FVM wheels added, and body mounted some Accumates:



And here are some of the cars after modifications:









Thanks for looking !

[svedblen]

Here you can see the trucks, with temporary plastic wheels installed to keep paint out of the axle cups.

So simple, but very ingenious! 

[nickelplate759]

...
Here you can see the trucks, with temporary plastic wheels installed to keep paint out of the axle cups.
...

What a great idea!  I'm going to borrow it.

Regards,
George

[coosvalley]

So simple, but very ingenious! 

What a great idea!  I'm going to borrow it.

Regards,
George

May this info serve you well!

[coosvalley]

This week I used my days off to start this thing. I am currently stuck on how to add a truck loading dock to the structure in a believable manner.(if it needs rail service, it needs truck service too, right? ) The last photo shows an added section, but I already don't like it that way. I'm thinking a wooden addition, perhaps with a corrugated metal roof, with some freight doors. Ideas or photos are welcome! Thanks for looking