Weekend Update - 9/26/2010

[eric220]

I'm not sure I understand this. Why is the floor at such an angle?

Because it's dirt.  That's a 10-foot tall crawlspace under half of our house.  We're moving the furnace and hot water heater out of there, framing it out, and making about 400 brand new square feet of finished space.  I've already claimed it for the railroad.   ;D

[up1950s]

Because it's dirt.  That's a 10-foot tall crawlspace under half of our house.  We're moving the furnace and hot water heater out of there, framing it out, and making about 400 brand new square feet of finished space.  I've already claimed it for the railroad.   ;D

10' tall crawlspace ? More like a 10' tall pogostick place , or are you 23' tall . 

[Catt]

My Z scale layout as of yesterday.



And my friend Bill's N scale layout as of yesterday.



It was mind blowing the interest these two small layouts generated.

My layout is 2'x4' and Bill's N is 3'x4'.

[NS-CRE]

Steve,

That is amazing work.  The CR&E may need to call on your talents in the very near future!  

If you ever get bored....

Marcus

I experimented with a small patch of "crops".  A dried flower in an arrangement my wife discarded.  It looks OK.  Better in person since the eye is drawn to other things om the section.  More trials are in order.



The last of the trees and ground cover is in, save for a few fill in spots.  Here's the east end of the Black River bridge.



Had a full weekend of trains.  Prototype Modelers meet in Greensboro (Kind of disappointing IMO), the NTRAK meet in Danville, VA (spent a pleasant Saturday afternoon there) and erected the "walls" for the next iteration of the AC&Y layout. 

Steve

[sirenwerks]

Additionally I picked up a book on the Patapsco and Backrivers Railroad which is totally awesome for $22!

The S.

Is that the new Elmer Hall book that got the write up in Saturday's Baltimore Sun? http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2010-09-25/news/bs-md-backstory-patapsco-back-rivers-20100924_1_sparrows-point-elmer-j-hall-maryland-steel

[SAH]

Yes please do share the technique on those trees!!! Great scenery work!!!!

Thanks all.  At the risk of being ostracized by long time Railwire members (tree making topics / articles draw strong reactions if I recall correctly  ), I'll start another thread to share a few techniques.  You'll be surprised by how easy it is.  Let me get some photos together.  I've been taking some now and then but they're not cleaned up for posting.

Marcus - When you get ready for the scenery stage let me know.  We'll organize a foliage throw down day.  It goes quick with some prep work.  I'm afraid you're on your own with the mountain section though.   ;D

Steve

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Steve, I'd love to read more about your techniques. I'm a big fan (although, I think they still might be a bit short for my tastes).

[TrainCat2]

Steve, I'd love to read more about your techniques. I'm a big fan (although, I think they still might be a bit short for my tastes).

Fits your stature.   ;D

[NS-CRE]

Steve,

I have the mountain section covered....most of the puffball hillside trees are being recycled from Version One.  The foreground detail trees will be the ones I need help with.  We'll talk! 

Marcus

Thanks all.  At the risk of being ostracized by long time Railwire members (tree making topics / articles draw strong reactions if I recall correctly  ), I'll start another thread to share a few techniques.  You'll be surprised by how easy it is.  Let me get some photos together.  I've been taking some now and then but they're not cleaned up for posting.

Marcus - When you get ready for the scenery stage let me know.  We'll organize a foliage throw down day.  It goes quick with some prep work.  I'm afraid you're on your own with the mountain section though.   ;D

Steve

[Ian MacMillan]

Fits your stature.   ;D

That's what she said...

[N_DaveS]

I hope I don't get busted for repeatedly stretching the definition of "weekend," but I did get some work done from Saturday until today, as described here: http://p4500.blogspot.com/2010/09/layout-update-13-one-summer-later.html

[Packer]

Sorry about the late entry, but this is my first chance to get on the internet since I got back from my trip to Texas for the weekend. My weekend was AWESOME!

Went to Austin to ride the Austin & Central Texas railroad trip. The train was pulled by an RSD-15 and I was riding in a PRR P70 coach. I got some pics of the inside of the coach and of the ALCO. Here's a link to teh photo album:
http://s275.photobucket.com/albums/jj301/PackerPhan66/Austin%202010/ (if you're wondering, I'm the one in the black shirt, the brother is in the blue)

Also some videos:

After that I hit a shop over there and picked up 8 40' trailers, a PFE 85' flat, 2 SP 50' PC&F boxes, and a BN FMC covered hopper. All Athearn for $80.

And that was only saturday. Sunday I went to the NHRA finals at the Texas motorplex (in Ennis). Had a blast there too (haven't uploaded pics yet). On the way back, I had breakfast with some friends from when I used to live in San Antonio. Got to do a bit of drive-by railfanning (one of the highways parrallels the UP main for about 25 miles). Saw some intresting RR equipment between here and there. 2 ex-SP GP60s still in red and grey, a CNW AC44CW, a patched ex-UP GP38 (couldn't tell if it was an AC, -2, or straight). Also saw some kind of weird boxcar at a goodyear plant in Louisana. Looked like a 50' thrall bulkhead (like the MDC 60' version) with a roof. Guess it's for rubber.

So yeah, awesome. ;D ;D