Weekend Update 1/12/14

[Mark W]

Shaped and spackled. 

[Tom L]

AMB pickle car I have been working on, with a scratch built flat car underneath it.  Just need to paint and figure out how to get decals on it.  It is a nice kit but those tiny parts gave me fits.



Tom L

Wellington CO

[Leggy]

Guess you're in a real pickle with the decals?











 

[mark dance]

Shaped and spackled. 

That looks like a really cool bridge Mark...any close ups?

md

[6axlepwr]

Shaped and spackled. 

I have never built a layout or ever done scenery. Looking at your progress and some of the other techniques using foam, I really like the results. Makes it look like I can actually do this. I have to do desert scenery for my layout and from what I see from you module work, I think it is going to turn out great. I also looked over the technique on Kelly Newton's page and was really impressed with the foam/cheesecloth/plaster method. Loved it.

Thanks for showing your progress. Very inspirational to me and gives me hope that I can even get a layout done.

[Mark W]

That looks like a really cool bridge Mark...any close ups?

md

Sure, dug into the archives to find some of the build photos.










Ok, now I'm getting all nostalgic seeing these old pics/videos of Thunder Ridge.

[Mark W]

I have never built a layout or ever done scenery. Looking at your progress and some of the other techniques using foam, I really like the results. Makes it look like I can actually do this. I have to do desert scenery for my layout and from what I see from you module work, I think it is going to turn out great. I also looked over the technique on Kelly Newton's page and was really impressed with the foam/cheesecloth/plaster method. Loved it.

Thanks for showing your progress. Very inspirational to me and gives me hope that I can even get a layout done.

Thanks.  I've tried most techniques out there.  In my opinion, nothing comes close to the ease and versatility of foam.  I don't even bother with plastercloth.  Just straight foam and paint. 
My old thread on Thunder Ridge documents my process pretty well. 

[milw156]

Had a fairly productive weekend, finished retrofitting a Tortoise to the junction switch at Tower A 20 on my Modutrak modules. When I built the modules, I did not plan on actually using the junction since it was only a few feet long. But decided it would make the whole junction more interesting if it was functional, the ability to put on or take off a short patrol. Found out it was MUCH easier to plan for it and never use it than not plan for it and use it. I should have no problem remembering that one! Since I had "unboxed" the modules to put the switch machine in, I went ahead and set them up, and put the module under construction in line with them.

Forest Glen, MP 11 on the Milwaukee's C&M main line, sits a little out of place to the north of Tower A 20 (MP 20) and the C&NW's New line bridge that forms the freight bypass to Bensenville and Proviso.

here is an overview of the area between Forest Glen and Edgebrook, where the Milwaukee crosses the North Branch of the Chicago river in a forest preserve, with picnic grove above the track, and Billy Caldwell golf course below them. Walked this segment during snow storm in mid 70's and managed to catch both the eastbound and westbound Builders.  Guys, buy your super trees now, it may take them a while to catch up when I get to that point!


for some reason, maybe vertical clearance, two 45' +/- spans were used with a pier. 3 of the spans are identical, the fourth is a bit taller and uses a different type of bridge bearing/foot. Not sure when the communications piping was added, it is not in my photos from the 70's

Set up a train on the line and went rail fanning, fired up the flux capacitor in the De Lorean, and was able to catch the Milwaukees bicentennial unit southbound at Techny road just south of Northbrook

snapped another one from the Northwestern line as it approached the bridge

In the next few weeks, the 156 will be exchanging it's 4000 gallon fuel tank for the 3200 gallon the Milwaukee ordered on their units, along losing it's drop step, and having the chains over the former drop step replaced with phosphor bronze hand rails. Have already added the beacon and the speed recorder and have an all weather window in the paint shop. After that, BLMA fans and the John Colombo sound decoder special. Thanks for the inspiration, hope you enjoy!
Rick

[dougnelson]

Looks great, Doug! Now I'll have to get one. What year do you model?

Hi Josh:

I model around 1950. That's the year these troop cars were converted for REA use.

Doug.

[mcjaco]

Not too much in the way of actual layout stuff, but I did get some more work done on the office which is also the dispatchers office.



Tile is finally in and I will start getting that down tomorrow so I can finish the bookshelves and desk. Need to repaint the one wall as well, as after I painted it I noticed how bad the wall had been sanded and not feathered properly so I had to start knocking it down.

Looking good Ian.  What are you using for the desk supports?

And I hear on sanding.  Did the same thing in our kitchen.  Put up a coast of paint, and realized I missed sanding a patch completely.  There is now picture hanging over it, as I really didn't have time, or want to go back and sand. 

[Philip H]

Looks like the desk supports are the same 3/4 in. MDF he built the bookcase out of.

[Midniteflyer]

Tagged a few cars.........

[Chris1274]

Work on the loadout continues ...

[BCR751]

Shaped and spackled. 

Mark,

Are you using spackle to fill in the gaps between the pieces of foam?  I want to try using foam but wasn't sure what to use to do this.  Is it just the common DAP vinyl spackle?

Doug

[M.C. Fujiwara]

Are you using spackle to fill in the gaps between the pieces of foam?  I want to try using foam but wasn't sure what to use to do this.  Is it just the common DAP vinyl spackle?

I'm not sure about Mark, but I've used both regular DAP spackle and the lightweight spackle with foam scenery.
Personally, I like the lightweight stuff better: easier to work with, takes paint better, lighter (important for transporting modules).
The lightweight stuff you can also tint with cheap craft paint, thin with water, and then pour as some decent concrete pads / roads.