Weekend Update 12/16/18

[thomasjmdavis]

@robert3985 this is a great photo- we should all keep a copy, (not to go off topic, but...) for those times when visitors to our layouts comment that "the trees in the foreground do not match the colors in the backdrop.  You need to blend things together..."
I can't imagine that I will ever get to the level of layout detailing that glass v ceramic insulators will make it onto my to-do list, but my first backdrop arrived last week, so this photo came at the right time.

[rodsup9000]

  The white rings around the poles are
 

  1 band  is 1/4 mile from mile post
  2 bands is 1/2 mile from mile post
  3 bands is 3/4 mile from mile post
  4 bands is at the mile post.

 These were in acceding order

[Brian M]

I'm sorry to post something off-topic to the off-topic, as I don't have anything related to line poles to add to the conversation.     But it has been a fascinating read.

To switch things up from the constant layout work, I decided to break out three locomotive projects that I've been wanting to get to for some time, as these are pretty straight forward from a painting/decaling perspective.



On the left is an Atlas Gold S-2 that I was fortunate to be given by a friend.  It started life as a B&M unit, so I've striped the paint to give it a New York Central paint job.  By which I mean, paint it all black and apply NYC lettering.  In the middle is an Arnold SW-1 that started as a Penn Central unit and is in the process of getting back to its original NYC heritage.  Finally, an Arnold U25C that is going the other way on the timeline...started as a Penn Central unit and is getting patched into an early Conrail unit.  I faded the PC logo and lettering on the side with a little paint remover and very fine sand paper, a look that I've wanted to try to capture just for the fun of it.

-Brian.

[nscalbitz]

Wow!  I learn something everyday. ... The wires are on the side of the insulators, yes, but they are clearly not resting on the crossarm,  [1]

which is the look that many modelers get when they merely loop the wire around the base of the insulator.  [2]

DFF

[1] Well obviously- if 'real' wires were to touch the wood or metal at any point the circuit would become earthed, and useless or at least 'faulty' (high impediance earth/ noisy/ no rings hahhaa. If the power cables, dangerous as well.

[2] I'd guess that unless a modeller is in an older area, such are not features of modern cities and towns any more.
But in the day -up to 90s here, it was and is still easy to find and see for your own eyes.

cheers
dave

[Cajonpassfan]

Well, I'm the happy new owner of John Lemerise' first ATSF #29 Dynamometer car (woohoo, thank you John!) which came painted but unlettered yesterday. Merry Christmas! Today, I started finishing it. Microscale set 60-383 provided the 5" SANTA FE extended railroad roman lettering, as well as the number 29 which I had to cobble from an upside down 6 and a 2 from another number set, see below. The 4", 9' long "DYNAMOMETER" lettering is a challenge though.
Anybody here willing to take that on? John notes he sold a number of these, so I'm sure I'm not alone who needs help here...
Thanks, Otto K

[peteski]

Well, I'm the happy new owner of John Lemerise' first ATSF #29 Dynamometer car (woohoo, thank you John!) which came painted but unlettered yesterday. Merry Christmas! Today, I started finishing it. Microscale set 60-383 provided the 5" SANTA FE extended railroad roman lettering, as well as the number 29 which I had to cobble from an upside down 6 and a 2 from another number set, see below. The 4", 9' long "DYNAMOMETER" lettering is a challenge though.
Anybody here willing to take that on? John notes he sold a number of these, so I'm sure I'm not alone who needs help here...
Thanks, Otto K

Congratulations on your purchase!
Printing a DYNAMOMETER decal using RR Roman font on my Alps printer would be a 10 minute job - if the letters were metallic gold (gold leaf).  But this lettering looks like imitation (Dulux) gold.  For technical reasons, that is a very difficult color to print using Alps printer.  Even if I got close (by layering multiple inks), it will likely not match the SANTA FE lettering above it.

[learmoia]

Congratulations on your purchase!
Printing a DYNAMOMETER decal using RR Roman font on my Alps printer would be a 10 minute job - if the letters were metallic gold (gold leaf).  But this lettering looks like imitation (Dulux) gold.  For technical reasons, that is a very difficult color to print using Alps printer.  Even if I got close (by layering multiple inks), it will likely not match the SANTA FE lettering above it.

If you go the custom route, You'd be better off removing the "Santa Fe and 29" and go 100% Custom.. Then you can adjust for exact size and spacing and all the colors would match.

[Mark W]

No, but it will sound a lot cooler...

*singing*  San ta Clause is Chugg-in, to Town!

[nkalanaga]

Rodney:  Thank you for clarifying the stripes.  I didn't remember the 4-stripes at the milepost, but it makes sense.  Much more visible than just the number.

[OldEastRR]

So is there anybody here who is producing and selling these green crossarms? For those of us with neither a 3D printer nor the technical equipment to program one.

[rodsup9000]

So is there anybody here who is producing and selling these green crossarms? For those of us with neither a 3D printer nor the technical equipment to program one.

 @Mark W redesigned them with 10 insulators on each arm.  I'll be printing them, but they are Mark's property. These new ones will be printed in translucent green, clear, and if the it comes out well enough, translucent yellow (amber) .

 I'm sure Mark will post them in the "Trading Post" when he has them ready for shipping.

[Cajonpassfan]

Congratulations on your purchase!
Printing a DYNAMOMETER decal using RR Roman font on my Alps printer would be a 10 minute job - if the letters were metallic gold (gold leaf).  But this lettering looks like imitation (Dulux) gold.  For technical reasons, that is a very difficult color to print using Alps printer.  Even if I got close (by layering multiple inks), it will likely not match the SANTA FE lettering above it.

Thanks Pete, I appreciate your response. I don't know how different the two colors are but can't help but wonder whether given the small size of the lettering (.025") it's worth trying?? Is the "gold leaf" metallic finish less yellow orange? If you'd be kind enough, that is...
Otto

[peteski]

Thanks Pete, I appreciate your response. I don't know how different the two colors are but can't help but wonder whether given the small size of the lettering (.025") it's worth trying?? Is the "gold leaf" metallic finish less yellow orange? If you'd be kind enough, that is...
Otto

Very different.  Gold Leaf or Metallic Gold paint, as the name implies, is shiny reflective metallic finish.  Looke like a gold or brass metal surface.  Alps printer actually has a Metallic Gold ink cartridge, so it is very easy to print lettering in that color.

Dulux or imitation gold has a basically the same golden yellow hue, equivalent gold-leaf or metallic gold paint, but it is just a plain non-metallic paint. It was made to look like gold (thus the name "imitation gold").  Basically it is a orangy-yellow color (which is difficult to reproduce when using the Alps printer).

[Cajonpassfan]

Ok Pete, thanks for the explanation, appreciated.
My good late friend Chris Lane of Tucson scratchbuilt a beautiful one of these cars and cobbled the 4" "DYNAMOMETER" lettering out of individual letters, TWICE
He was a better man than I, so at least for now, I'll run this pup, ocassionally, as is. We'll see how many people will notice the missing letters...
Otto K.

[Cajonpassfan]

Well, I figured I needed to get the Dyno done while it's fresh and in my friend Chris' honor, I decided to try to use individual 4" letters from the "UNITED STATES MAIL" and "RAILWAY POST OFFICE" lettering sets. Voila, it worked, double magnification goggles necessary, see pic below...tedious, but possible. I'm very happy with this. Thanks Chris, my friend! And thanks a million John Lemerise for making this unique piece of ATSF equipment a reality! I couldn't be more pleased with the results!
BTW, I understand Dyno car 29 was loaned to a number of railroads that didn't have their own test equipment, so it's not just limited to ATSF home rails... just saying
Pic below,
Otto K.