Author Topic: In normal families... but mine is full of TTRAKers.  (Read 4168 times)

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Ed Kapuscinski

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In normal families... but mine is full of TTRAKers.
« on: July 13, 2018, 02:45:09 PM »
+13
In normal families you ask your parents "what can I bring to Dad's birthday party?" and you expect an answer like "some extra ice" or "a desert".

In mine, with parents who are modelers, and who are directly responsible for my involvement in this hobby, I got the following answer: "well, we're short a TTRAK module".

That meant I had to knock this out this week:










Point353

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Re: In normal families... but mine is full of TTRAKers.
« Reply #1 on: July 13, 2018, 03:07:17 PM »
+1
Gave you an "up" vote, but doesn't either the body or the fuel tank on the RS-1 need to be turned around?


http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/pc/pc9926g.jpg

eja

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Re: In normal families... but mine is full of TTRAKers.
« Reply #2 on: July 13, 2018, 03:07:56 PM »
0
Sweet !

You're a good son too.  ;)

Ed Kapuscinski

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Re: In normal families... but mine is full of TTRAKers.
« Reply #3 on: July 13, 2018, 03:27:40 PM »
0
Gave you an "up" vote, but doesn't either the body or the fuel tank on the RS-1 need to be turned around?


http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/pc/pc9926g.jpg

Haha, I didn't notice that. I'll go fix it.

Ed Kapuscinski

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Re: In normal families... but mine is full of TTRAKers.
« Reply #4 on: July 13, 2018, 03:27:54 PM »
0
Sweet !

You're a good son too.  ;)

Thanks. And I try!

cgw

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Re: In normal families... but mine is full of TTRAKers.
« Reply #5 on: July 13, 2018, 03:44:20 PM »
+1
Can you tell us your dysfunctional family secrets on how they did the ground cover on the module? :?

Ed Kapuscinski

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Re: In normal families... but mine is full of TTRAKers.
« Reply #6 on: July 13, 2018, 04:15:21 PM »
+1
Can you tell us your dysfunctional family secrets on how they did the ground cover on the module? :?

 :)

It'll be my pleasure!

First I laid down a coat of brown craft paint. I used "brown" for the land (because it comes in the big bottle) and switched to burnt umber for the track and right of way. I painted EVERYTHING, including the tracks.

Then I sifted unsanded grout over the entire thing while the paint was still wet. Including the tracks.
I used an acid brush to brush the dirt off of the tops of the ties (you don't have to be gentle).

Then things diverge for the right of way, "forest" area (the green bushes will eventually have trees over them) and "grass" area.

For the grass area I then used a mix of a bunch of my "on hand" scenery materials for the first layer of ground cover. As far as fine ground foams, I think there's "burnt grass", "earth" and the generic medium green blend from woodland scenics in there. The important thing... sprinkle this on, don't cover everything. Let some dirt show through. In fact, let a lot of dirt show through.

For the forest area I used my regular "leaf litter" superleaves from Scenic Express, then some other stuff on top (I don't know what it is, maybe sawdust? tea leaves?). Then a sprinkle of the various fine green ground foams. Again, keeping it very light. I then sprinkled on some medium green (I think) "Superturf" from Scenic Express (http://www.sceneryexpress.com/SuperTurf/products/1243/) as the bigger brush.

The grass side was left alone until AFTER I applied glue. I cannot stress this enough. Do NOT do what I did  (originally) and have to do it again (like I did).

The right of way had some of my ballast mixes (of grout) sprinkled on. I then applied sprinkles of the green ground foams for weeds.

Once I was liking the look of stuff I got the whole thing gently wet with a mist of water and then hit it with white glue diluted considerably with water.

With everything nice and wet with glue I then applied the "grass thatch". It's Heki Decovlies-Wiesengras. Mine came from Scenic Express (surprise!) but I think it's on Amazon too. I took the mat from the package and stretched it out a bit to get a nice natural spread AND ragged natural looking edge. Then I put this on the area to be covered and lightly pressed it in. You don't want the glue soaking into it to, just holding it.

And then I let the whole thing dry.

The first time I did it I put the Wiesengras down first and glue on top of that. Don't do that. It did NOT turn out well and I had to pull it up and do it over.

The real trick to all of this though (aside from the Wiesengras) is to apply things in layers and slowly build it up.

randgust

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Re: In normal families... but mine is full of TTRAKers.
« Reply #7 on: July 14, 2018, 01:26:49 PM »
0
Bringing that module to Altoona?  If you don't have Dave F's contact info to join the big 'pick-up' layout I'll get it to you.

Ed Kapuscinski

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Re: In normal families... but mine is full of TTRAKers.
« Reply #8 on: July 15, 2018, 12:44:59 PM »
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Bringing that module to Altoona?  If you don't have Dave F's contact info to join the big 'pick-up' layout I'll get it to you.

I'm not... But my parents are!

All the joy of showing off without the work.

Ed Kapuscinski

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Re: In normal families... but mine is full of TTRAKers.
« Reply #9 on: July 16, 2018, 11:07:10 AM »
+2
The party was yesterday.

My mom, everyone...



Not bad for 60! The shirt is from my friends at Mohawk Design.



Here's the assembled layout:













The @cbroughton67 masterpiece


Some close ups of my mom's cute and competent modules.







With its proximity to the tracks, I call this Darwin's Playground.











casmmr

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Re: In normal families... but mine is full of TTRAKers.
« Reply #10 on: July 16, 2018, 12:09:37 PM »
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I like the doubles with the track bending almost an offset and return, but, not quite.  The hills are well done, just looks really nice.

Jbub

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Re: In normal families... but mine is full of TTRAKers.
« Reply #11 on: July 16, 2018, 12:29:01 PM »
0
Quote

With its proximity to the tracks, I call this Darwin's Playground.



Ed's law

Dropped Pin
near West Bountiful, UT 84087

https://goo.gl/maps/CGej7Ak7kEk

I'm sure there are several examples across the states but this is local to me and there have been "incidents" at this park in the past.
"Noooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!"

Darth Vader

DKS

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Re: In normal families... but mine is full of TTRAKers.
« Reply #12 on: July 16, 2018, 01:32:30 PM »
0
Some nice stuff there. Many of those modules could be improved 1000% by simply painting the rails. Just sayin...

[runs for cover]

MK

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Re: In normal families... but mine is full of TTRAKers.
« Reply #13 on: July 16, 2018, 02:12:14 PM »
0
Some nice stuff there. Many of those modules could be improved 1000% by simply painting the rails. Just sayin...

[runs for cover]

I disagree.   :trollface:  I say get rid of the gaps between modules.  The tracks are sticking out too far.

peteski

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Re: In normal families... but mine is full of TTRAKers.
« Reply #14 on: July 16, 2018, 02:47:21 PM »
0
I disagree.   :trollface:  I say get rid of the gaps between modules.  The tracks are sticking out too far.

Unfortunately those gaps are part of the defined T-TRAK standard.  I'm sure that if someone owns multiple modules, those gaps can be addressed.   But as a standard those gaps are distracting (more so than the connecting track are in NTRAK standard).
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