The Western Maryland in Free-moN Modules

[PiperguyUMD]

@chessie system fan I recently upgraded to the Photon M3 Premium too. I think I beefed up the angle to make sure that all of the supports on the end printed. The supports where just an awful mess. Maybe someone more patient that me could get it done, but I fizzled out. I've also been working in the Anycubic workshop, which I like far less than Chitubox. The Anycubic software is really cumbersome and doesn't give you a lot of freedom when editing supports.

When I started down the 3d printing rabbit hole, I built a curing station. Its a basically a plywood box with with some reflective material glued on the insides and UV LED strips on all surfaces. It worked well for smaller pieces but is starting to act its age. I'll look into the curing station for sure!

@Lemosteam That thought occurred to me about half way through the process. I've used that trick to repair 3d printed shells, but until a few days ago had not thought of using it as the primary adhesive. I will be exploring that technique moving forward!

[John]

As for the gluing, please, just try it once. Either buy some resin glue, or you’re a small cap full of resin and buy/find/make a UV light pen or just buy some UV glue. I just don’t trust CA anymore, for the same reason you mention, and the 10 second curing lets me move on to other assembly processes without fear, as I progress through a build.

I've had real good results from this

[PiperguyUMD]

Post paint booth glam shot. I can live with this! On to weathering track and making the abutments!

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I'll need to open the negotiations to acquire a copy of that.  It's not too far from my house, as you know...

Lee

That one of the ones we drove under?

[wm3798]

That one of the ones we drove under?

I don't think so.  This one is just west of PawPaw,  I believe.  I'll consult the Gospel According to St. Jeremy to be sure.

Lee

[sizemore]

I want more details about that Potomac

The S.

[PiperguyUMD]

What a project that was! I had grand ideas and then it seemed like nothing but audibles for years! It’s a 3d printed shell and tender on the newest iteration of the Bachmann 4-8-4. It has 3d printed cylinders with Kato GS4 valve gear. Lots of etched details, and Soubdtraxx Tsunami. Decals were going to be Tichy, but they were a joke so I managed to find an old set from Highball Graphics that miraculously didn’t dissolve. I want to do a second, but time will tell!

[wm3798]

That's a great model.  Thanks for the copy.  I'll try to build something around it to do it justice.


Lee

[wm3798]

So I'm studying the pictures, and it looks like you hand-laid the strips on the main beams?  Are you kidding?  I was wondering what the strip stock was for.

Now I just think you've lost your mind.

Or did I miss something?  On second glance, it looks like brass... maybe a commercially available photo etch?

That's going to be like WORK!!!

Never mind.  I went back and read the words.  I guess I'll need some GMM webbing. 

Lee

[PiperguyUMD]

Finally some progress! For much of the past year the garage has been the work shop for building a shed - a project that became top priority after inheriting some yard equipment. With that project nearly finished, everything for the rest of the project has been moved to the shed, freeing up railroading space



This summer, I’d like to finish my 4th canal crossing module, and possibly add some small 2’ straight modules - but more on that later.

Today I added some stringers made of 1/2” play to straighten out the slight bow that had developed in the 4th canal crossing. The extra material made it very easy to add fascia. I’ll need to do a little bit of track work, but I’m almost ready to start scenery.





Really excited for this module!





Also a foreigner from the north showed up!  I was really surprised at how much larger the J1 is than the T1. Neat to get these two together!



Work is crazy for another 5-6 weeks, but when it comes to trains, the summer is off to a good start!

[PiperguyUMD]

This week was a little slower for me at work so I had a few minutes to do some work on the 4th canal crossing module. I set the abutments but would like the bridge to be removable in case, God forbids, it ever gets damaged. To do this I’ve glued the bridge track in the bridge and will solder the overhanging rails to PC board ties on either end of the bridge. In addition to holding the bridge in place, I’m going to run my feeders to the PC board ties, that way I can have a solid electrical connection to each piece of rail on the module.
 






In addition to this cool bridge, there was a tool house on the west end, and a section house on the east end.  I was able to measure the foundation of the section house when I hiked out to the location last winter so hopefully that info combined with the one photo of the structure is enough to get close! The tool shed is going to take some more digging. Just slightly east of the bridge off the module was a pair of semaphores, I think they do a great job of setting my era, so I’ll include them right at eastern the edge.

[John]

[PiperguyUMD]

That's amazing @John! Thank you!!

[PiperguyUMD]

Getting closer! Sculptamold down, grout ground cover, track, and wiring. So far attaching the bridge by soldering down the track seems to be working.





Around the canal I put down a layer of soil on top of the grout. There are some places here that are bare dirt, and the grout (at least the stuff I’m using) doesn’t cut it in those situations.



Also started some finishing scenic layers. I’m using the handcar shed from the Long Run module as a stand that will allow me to get the scenery in place until I can build a second. The bunkhouse is a fast 3d print that will do for now



Next up is ballast, then most likely I’ll pour the water in the canal. As best I can tell there was there was still something fermenting in there until the 1950s. Getting ground cover under the bridge is probably going to be a pain, but I’m getting dangerously close to running trains!

[wm3798]

Delicious!