Weekend Update 9/3/23

[up1950s]

https://time.com/4020710/first-labor-day/

https://oakham.nub.news/news/local-news/cottesmore-rocks-by-rail-commemorates-vj-day

https://www.med-dept.com/articles/ww2-hospital-trains/

https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo/wwii-train.html?sortBy=relevant

https://www.trains.com/trn/railroads/locomotives/reading-t-1-4-8-4-2102-steam-locomotive-profile/

https://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/car-carriers/car-carrier-of-the-day-australian-road-train/

https://www.santacruzsentinel.com/2018/09/19/san-lorenzo-trestle-walkway-okd-by-state/

https://www.hvsry.org/train-rides/labor-day/

https://www.parentmap.com/calendar/labor-day-weekend-train-rides

https://slowrollbuffalo.org/2018/08/labor-day-ride-host-heritage-discovery-center/

https://www.wtoc.com/2020/09/07/coastal-heritage-society-museums-open-labor-day/

[chuck geiger]

Worked on adhering the graphics from Jackson Railcar/Midwest Model Railroad onto Las Piedras Road. Took some work to spray the area with matte medium, squeegie the graphic and then burnish onto the craft foam road. Come over with spray matte medium again and tweek any rough spots.

[chessie system fan]

As is typical for me these days, my modeling has been virtual. First up is a minor edit.  A CSX modeler wanted some GP15T shells, so I modified my shell I created last year to add the latches CSX added to the tunnel motor grills about 15-20 years ago. Every unit is different by now, so I chose 1506. Others had more extensive modifications. I might do some of those one day too.



And traveling back in time, work continues on creating Milwaukee Road passenger cars.  This week was a 1937 Baggage and Express car.  If only decals were available somewhere...



More information here: https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=55911.0

[nkalanaga]

If you can do the art, Highball Graphics can print them.  One sheet could do quite a few cars.

All I've had him do were white, but he can do colors.

[Lemosteam]

Little bit of work on the LIRR IS today.  Added road crossings for my intended single-lane two track roads.

Here are the intended roadways:

[CR4100]

I finally got back to my Sodium Chlorate hopper project. NAHX 2900 and UNPX 120509 are almost done. They still need to have the safety rails installed along the roof walks. These cars have the thin end ribs like the Canadian wheat cars and a triangular hopper bay with a visible cross brace.

I also painted five cars from the CGLX 200-757 series. They feature thin end ribs and batwing shaped hopper bays.

I'm finding the aluminum color difficult to work with. It shows every flaw and seems to react with both gloss and matte clearcoats.

[lock4244]

I finally got back to my Sodium Chlorate hopper project. NAHX 2900 and UNPX 120509 are almost done. They still need to have the safety rails installed along the roof walks. These cars have the thin end ribs like the Canadian wheat cars and a triangular hopper bay with a visible cross brace.

I also painted five cars from the CGLX 200-757 series. They feature thin end ribs and batwing shaped hopper bays.

I'm finding the aluminum color difficult to work with. It shows every flaw and seems to react with both gloss and matte clearcoats.

This is excellent work.

And you guarantee Rapido will announce in N any day now.

[brill27mcb]

([snipped)
I'm finding the aluminum color difficult to work with. It shows every flaw and seems to react with both gloss and matte clearcoats.

Can I ask what brand aluminum paint you used? I'm concerned about clearcoat reactions...

Rich K.

[CR4100]

I was using Rustoleum High Performance Enamel. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Rust-Oleum-Professional-15-oz-High-Performance-Enamel-Gloss-Aluminum-Spray-Paint-7515838/100120114

[PiperguyUMD]

It’s been a busy summer, maybe the busiest I can remember. I’ve been slowing working on my 4th canal crossing bridge. This was supposed to be a proof of concept test print, but it may very well be useable! I’ll do a layout thread update later this weekend.

[BCR 570]

I am occasionally asked how often I run trains between op sessions and the correct answer would be not very often.  Most of my hobby time is spent modelling or working on the layout.  However I had an enjoyable evening to my self this week when I ran a Dawson Creek yard job in preparation for next weekend's Vanrail ops extravaganza.  (Mine is one of eleven layouts in the Greater Vancouver area on offer - see https://vanrail.7divpnr.ca/.

Engs 574 and 567 arriving in Dawson Creek for the yard work:




Pulling cars from the Northwest Wood Preservers mill:




The fall grain rush is on and am setting out cars at the various elevators in town:




I also made further progress on my Marine Drive diorama and have concluded the first phase which is the styrofoam base and cardboard contour levels.  More at the build thread:  https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=56303.30.  My attention will now turn to learning how to build paved roads:




I have also been working on the bridge track for the permanent span across the Pine River.  It comprises three sections of Micro Engineering bridge flex track.  After assembly, the next step was to attach feeder wires to each end.  These will have to thread down through the plate girder spans at each end and then go through the abutments before down to the bus wires, so I used AWG 28 stranded wire for flexibility, and will switch up to the usual AWG 22 solid after exiting the abutments for the run down to the bus wires.  Attaching the feeder wires was a challenge due to the closer spacing of the ties but the meter says they are working:




I then painted the three sections of track using the method I developed for the layout.  I was aiming to capture the subtle differences in colour between the ties, tie plates and rails as well as some weathering effects such as oil drippings down the middle, and tie plates rusting out at the sides:






I also painted the three refuge bays I built in styrene; these will be placed after the track is on the bridge:




My next step is to get the track glued down onto the permanent span, and it will then be ready for installation on the layout!


Tim

[chessie system fan]

If you can do the art, Highball Graphics can print them.  One sheet could do quite a few cars.

I've considered that, but comments like this on his spec page give me pause:

Some colors just do not print well, shades of orange, light blues and light greens. Avoid these colors if possible.

[nkalanaga]

Yes, if you need those colors, that would be a problem. 

[Ike the BN Freak]

I've considered that, but comments like this on his spec page give me pause:

Can always give Circus City I try, I've had great luck with his decals

[kiwi_al]

Santa Fe Atlantic build:
Work in progress


Santa Fe Madame Queen build:
Work in progress