Weekend Update 9/10/17

[up1950s]

[mu26aeh]

A late afternoon run to the hobby store for trees caught me this:

[SP-Wolf]

Some GP-9's. Getting them ready for a lettering back date project.  So, this is a set of before photos.





Thanks,
Wolf

[tehachapifan]

5 black widow GP9's....I gotta sit down!

[C855B]

Made a little bit of progress on C855B v2.0:



Some of you might recall I irreparably hosed the paint on the first try. Like a few advised, second time around goes faster. This is after two coats of Tamiya Fine Filler.

It's a nice shell, but not fully plug'n'play. Aside from the normal Shapeways FXD issues (you can still see some crosshatching on the left corner), there were a couple of minor mistakes that needed to be corrected... such as the missing headlights. Oops. I'll work a little more on smoothing out the surface defects, and then start the finish paint, likely on Sunday.

[BCR 570]

This week's progress included removal of my Budd RDC shells from the heptane soak and getting a first really good look at the print results.  I would rate the front ends and sides as Very Good to Excellent, the rear ends as Good, and the roofs as Fair.  A fair amount of prep work on the shells lies ahead, but until then, here are the results:






I also returned to a project long stalled and waiting for re-sized decals - a Caravan Trailer Rentals 45 foot dry van trailer:




And two Atlas chemical tank cars re-equipped with BLMA Models trucks and Micro-Trains #905 couplers:




While digging for Intermountain boxcars parts for my Cat Tool Car, I came across two complete AAR Modified boxcar kits waiting to be built.  These are a good match for the PGE 4001-4072 series boxcars.  These will be completed in later PGE and BCOL paint schemes, so I filled in the holes for the running boards, relocated the 'AR' top corner grab iron directly to the roof, and cut down the 'AR' corner ladders.  The cars were equipped with Micro-Trains trucks, Fox Valley wheels and Micro-Trains #1027 couplers.  They will wait for paint until other cars in the same colour are ready, but here are the assembled cars:




Finally, I started on a car which I have wanted to build for a long time, which is the business car for my consist of the Provincial Museum Train.  The PEACE RIVER was actually the British Columbia Railway's NORTHERN SUMMIT on loan.  It was converted from a Pullman Plan 3521 sleeping car by the Norfolk Southern and sold to the Pacific Great Eastern Railway.  The first week of work on this car included cutting the floor, locating the centreline and bolsters, and adding the bolster hubs, plates and beams.  The bolster hubs were tapped for #2-56 screws and the Micro-Trains #1017 trucks were test-fitted.  All of this is fairly straight-forward construction work, but I chose to do it slowly and carefully as these steps are crucial to a successful build and a smooth operating car:




Next up is fabrication and installation of the centre sills, diaphragms and cross-members.


Tim

[davefoxx]

We're terraforming this weekend:



More on the Seaboard Central 3.0 thread in the Layout Engineering Forum.

DFF

[mark dance]

Very Impressive work Tim!

So back to modelling after a sad absence.  I needed to take time off from hobby stuff in August as my Father passed away at the end of July.  Although not wholly unexpected - he has had a degenerative disease for a long while - his sudden passing did catch us all by surprise.  It also prompted soul searching of course about how I spend my time and life.  I am getting back into life and this weekend's VanRail has been a good motivator on the hobby end.

Here are a few shots on the state of the Nelson Station build.









The shingles should be on their way soon so I can begin addressing the roof after VanRail.  They are 0.005” thick, adhesive backed shingles with a tear off spine which will hopefully keep them straight(er) on assembly.

I also have probably a week of work to get the back wall done and another week installing lights under the awning and inside!  (To that end the borders of all widow and door frames have been taped with aluminum tape as have the building corners so light should not leak though.)

Photos from this weekend's 3 C&W VanRail ops sessions tomorrow if I get time.

Have a good weekend.  My thoughts and prayers are with our neighbors in the southern-most states.

md

[nkalanaga]

DFF:  It's been a long time since I've seen the term "terraforming" used outside science and sc-fi.

[BCR 570]

Hi Mark:

Please accept my condolences re Dad, and best wishes for a successful Van Rail.  Your Nelson station will be an impressive structure when complete - well done so far.


Tim

[wazzou]

@mark dance
Condolences on the passing of your Father.  I know know how that feels and miss him after 16 years.
If you don't mind indulging me so I don't have to look back, did you do the design and have the depot custom cut or was it designed and cut by someone?

[John]

Sorry to hear about your loss @ Mark Dance


The car in the picture is preserved at the B&O museum

[mark dance]

@mark dance
Condolences on the passing of your Father.  I know know how that feels and miss him after 16 years.
If you don't mind indulging me so I don't have to look back, did you do the design and have the depot custom cut or was it designed and cut by someone?

Thanks for the condolences John, Tim and Bryan.

Yep, I did the deign and have had elements cut at a few different places at @Chris333's suggestion.

md

[CSXfan]

Mark my prayers and thoughts are with you. Also that station is incredible. I really enjoy your videos.
Jeff

[CSXfan]

Mark my prayers and thoughts are with you. Also that station is incredible. I really enjoy your videos.
Jeff