Colorado Midland in N scale 2.0

[dnhouston]

There are plans for the Rattlesnake mine in the Gazette. I have built parts of it in the past.

Which issue of the Gazette?

[Chris333]

2 parts March and May 1998.

[Dave V]

The previous CMRy rested on a Costco banquet table for benchwork support.  However, for this iteration, I’m reaching back to my roots and using the same folding/telescoping H-legs from Ebco that supported the slightly larger Juniata Division for so many years.  These legs are actually from my dismantled Enola Yard section.  The holes you see in the frame are for round rocker toggle switches that will control track power for sidings.  The side frame will eventually be covered by 1/8” Masonite hardboard fascia.

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[DKS]

Black. Sexy.

[glakedylan]

looks good and sturdy!


i like the concept and the look


sincerely
Gary

[Dave V]

Since the postal service is holding my stripwood hostage I decided to see what I could do with what I had on hand for trestle bents.  The majority of what I need are HO 6 x 6 and 2 x 6, and I happened to have 1/16" square basswood and HO 2 x 6 styrene.  So...it's a mixture.  Not awesome but sufficient when painted.  I may still play a bit with the colors.

[Dave V]

I'm about to go on a structure building binge...  Unfortunately time may be running out on my right shoulder <insert_overuse_joke>.  You guys know I've had my share of injuries, neurological problems, and surgeries as a result of over two decades of military service.  My right shoulder fascinated the VA doc who examined me for my disability determination because of all the audible clicks and pops it makes.  Heck, I've had the various PT test monitor Airmen ask me about it back when I was still cranking out push-ups.  You could hear the grinding and popping even then.  15 years after it began bothering me it's clear that my rotator cuff is shot.  To go along with that, the joint is severely arthritic, there's bursitis, and tendonitis exacerbated by several sharp bone spurs grinding against the tendons like a dull knife.  So...........

I really don't want shoulder surgery.  That would also kill my ski season (as COVID-19 did halfway through last season).  It would stop all model railroad progress for a minimum of 6 weeks.  But...this is only getting worse.  At least we know it's a mechanical problem, and there's a mechanical solution.  We'll see, but 4 more weeks of physical therapy after 15 years of on/off physical therapy is unlikely to produce meaningful results, although I'm giving it my best shot.  Yesterday I painted a small room with a 9-foot ceiling and I can't really lift my right arm above the shoulder today.

[davefoxx]

Tis but a scratch.  You've had worse.



Seriously, hang in there.  I'm no doctor, so I can offer no advice for what ails you, other than to say follow the doctors' recommendations and get second opinions, where necessary.

DFF

[CRL]

Talk about your target rich environment. 

[Point353]

I really don't want shoulder surgery.

As with hips and knees, you have the surgery done when you can no longer tolerate the pain and while you're still young enough to do the rehab.

[pdx1955]

As with hips and knees, you have the surgery done when you can no longer tolerate the pain and while you're still young enough to do the rehab.

This. I've had a number of co-workers over the years having similar  surgeries . It's a royal PITA especially  which the recovery and rehabilitation  but none have ever said I wish I never did it. Wait too long and you'll just have to deal with it either with painkillers  that just dull it or have to stop doing things that use it.

[glakedylan]

15 years after it began bothering me it's clear that my rotator cuff is shot.  To go along with that, the joint is severely arthritic, there's bursitis, and tendonitis exacerbated by several sharp bone spurs...
Yesterday I painted a small room with a 9-foot ceiling and I can't really lift my right arm above the shoulder today.

Dave...I have the same thing happening in my right shoulder and neck
after a physical day of doing things that stress those areas
i have to take a 3-4 day hiatus until the pain reduces to a something manageable

i did, however, get some relief and more ability after 4 weeks of PT


i hope you are able to care for yourself in a way that has the least amount of inactivity involved

be well...

peace
Gary

[Dave V]

Yeah, this shoulder has been on a consistent downward trajectory since the early 2000s.  It's not ever going to get better...and I'm gambling against the odds that it won't get worse.  Might be time.

Here are two of the structures headed for the new CMRy.

The first I actually finished a few weeks ago...it's a Monroe Models kit.  It will sit adjacent to the similarly-painted Campbell ten-stamp mill and represent the machine shop/office/change room for that mining operation (I've paired that mill with a headframe and hoist house to represent a complete mining operation).



The second is an AMB Laserkit I bought from @fifer that will represent the Basalt enginehouse.  @Ed Kapuscinski put me in touch with renowned Colorado Midland modeler Andrew Dodge who was kind enough to share pictures of his Basalt structures as well as to give me tips on CMRy structure paint in general.  I was a bit overzealous and before I spoke with Andrew I'd already painted the window sashes white.  The pictures he shared plus my own further research in my CMRy library suggested the sashes on the Basalt enginehouse were the same oxide as the walls.  The subsequent repainting of the peel-and-stick sashes essentially turned them to goo...but I got most of them looking okay.  I added after market smoke jacks since the AMB kit doesn't include any.



The AMB board-and-batt siding was a bit fuzzy.  I tried a number of methods to try to de-fuzz, but nothing really worked before it started damaging the battens.  If it bothers me going forward I could always just buy another one...these kits are cheap, easy, and everywhere.  I really do like the style and it really does look the part of a turn-of-the-century enginehouse.

[wazzou]

I've had the best luck using really fine steel wool.

[CRL]

I've had the best luck using really fine steel wool.

Agreed, but I’ve always hit it with some primer or sanding sealer first. Then the steel wool cuts the fuzz off without pulling on any grain slivers... but be aware of the direction the grain runs just in case.

Note: If you like to pre-weather the wood with sweet & sour, you have to this before you seal the wood.