Weekend Update 5/30/21

[up1950s]

https://m.facebook.com/WMSRailroad/videos/welcome-to-our-3rd-edition-of-techtuesday-this-weeks-topic-explains-the-reasonin/589476185043866/

https://www.facebook.com/TrainsMagazine/videos/test-fire-of-chesapeake-ohio-2-6-6-2-1309-at-western-maryland-scenic-railroad-in/2963932473705584/

http://railfan.com/articulated-locomotives-on-the-move-in-the-east/

https://www.times-news.com/news/scenic-railroads-engine-no-1309-still-unable-to-run/article_5313161e-5c3f-11eb-aa74-3b87e7c8ae91.html

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https://www.google.com/search?q=memorial+day+wmsr+1309&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwiI-frBjOTwAhVEXDABHbKuDBgQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=memorial+day+wmsr+1309&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQDDoECAAQGDoCCAA6BggAEAgQHjoICAAQsQMQgwE6BAgAEANQqN1SWMvPU2Dv5VNoAHAAeACAATmIAfMEkgECMTSYAQCgAQGqAQtnd3Mtd2l6LWltZ8ABAQ&sclient=img&ei=wYqsYMiUHcS4wbkPst2ywAE&bih=937&biw=1920&hl=en

[Mark W]

I found some old video clips I recorded of a very awesome model at the 2018 N Scale Convention in Salt Lake City.

[Dave V]

The D&RGW Gunnison to Montrose passenger train has been diverted over the RGS at Lizard Head.  That RPO is a new addition.  I picked it up built on eBay but I painted and decaled it.



And...it's being pulled by a new(ish) addition.  I picked up D&RGW C-19 #346 earlier in the year but my hand injury meant it had to wait for weathering.  It waits no longer!  I used weathering powders, chalks, and washes.  I added real coal and a brass D&RGW-style spark arrestor:





I also replaced the old "house at the end of the trestle" at Ophir that I'd scratchbuilt way back in high school (1990?  1991?).  It was inaccurate in a lot of ways because I built it from limited photographs and no plans.  The Banta Modelworks kit is based on the Mike Blazek plans and is much more correct.





Started work again on Ridgway depot.  This is the Ragg's [sic] to Riches kit.  I've gotten most of the platform subroof done at this point, which--according to those who've tackled this kit before me--is one of the trickiest parts of the build.  But as you can see, it has a long way to go.  So many shingles to add in the near future...   

[CRL]

@Dave V  - Have you tried using rottenstone powder as part of your weathering process? I’ve seen it used to great effect on locomotives & rolling stock, especially very heavily weathered mining & logging equipment… mostly On3 scale & larger.

[ednadolski]

Taking the turnout tie jig for a test drive: https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=51920.msg712121#msg712121




Ed

[dem34]

At this point these K poles are so far removed from the CAD design I might as well have just made them from brass stock, but I guess I can modify the file to accommodate the field changes more easily.




...Oh and I gained a ton of extra work space selling my layout to an enthusiastic modeller a town over, which is nice. But now my roundy round is restricted to Unitrak loops on a piece of MDF.

[nkalanaga]

Nice looking train, but I don't know about the detour.  Gunnison to Montrose via Lizard Head would probably be slower than taking a stagecoach direct!

If the track were still there it would be a great tourist line.  Black Canyon, Lizard Head, Cumbres, any of those would be a good day-trip, if one didn't have time for the whole thing. 

Too bad the tracks were taken up before the mid 20th century tourism boom.

[spookshow]

More piles of junk for my DM&E yard -











-Mark

[arbomambo]

   I’m using the latest T-TRAK builds (original junction modules) to try out the Woodland Scenics utility ‘system’.
In truth, I view all of my T-TRAK module builds as means to showcase various N scale products to the viewing public.; ranging from what can be achieved with Unitrack, to various structures and scenery products that are available to anyone. To that end, my wife creates laminated cards, featuring the actual structure or detail, which I place on the table in front of the module featuring that product. This is one of the reasons I haven’t yet built a T-TRAK module with flextrack.
   Regardless, I purchased a couple of sets of the Woodland Scenics utility system items, enough to populate the two T-TRAK junction modules. I also purchased the substation.
   They were pretty simple to use (everything is pre-painted, weathered, and threaded, although adding poles to extend beyond the 4 pole set requires a steady hand and a good pair of eyes.) The thread doesn’t actually go through the insulators, but through holes drilled in the cross arm just below them. Even close up, it’s not super evident, and looks good.
   The thread is obviously a little over scale (it almost has to be), but it looks pretty good. All-in-all, not bad, and an easy way to add the look of wired utilty poles to a layout. WS did a lot of work getting these to market (each package represents a fair investment of labor/time i.e. the pre-threading of each pole as well as the spool system included to provide enough thread.) So I guess I can understand the fairly steep pricing on these. It sure is easier than attaching EZ-line to each insulator.
   On this module, I attached the telephone pole system on the ‘front’ side of the module (relative as these junction modules are arranged in different configurations), and the power poles on the opposite side of the roadway.

[CRL]

I like the look of the poles & wires in the background running along the road, but not so much the ones in the foreground along the tracks. Your installation is very good, it’s just an aesthetic thing for me… the wires seem a little chunky, but it might just be the camera trying to focus on something that small at that range.

[peteski]

I like the look of the poles & wires in the background running along the road, but not so much the ones in the foreground along the tracks. Your installation is very good, it’s just an aesthetic thing for me… the wires seem a little chunky, but it might just be the camera trying to focus on something that small at that range.

Yes, Bruce's modeling is always superb, but I am also not too excited about the wires.
Those seem to be made using shiny black sewing string, where the fuzzy texture and twist is clearly visible.  Yes, the standard excuse is that they don't look bad viewed in-person, but we do love to take photos, show them online, and photos show all the "warts".   Why not use EZ-line?  It not only has a smooth finish (available in multiple colors), and close to scale size, it is also stretchy, so accidental snags should not cause any major damage to the poles.

[CRL]

Agree with @peteski - I think smooth line would look better. I’m betting there’s some fine monofilament thread one could obtain that would work too… even if not stretchy like the EZ-line.

[bbussey]

RBB&B canvas truck #254. Deconstructed an Athearn Mack B dump truck for the cab, undercarriage and bogie. Cab steps and rear modified to better represent the prototype. 3D printed body parts. Kleenex tri-folded and rolled, cut to width with a razor blade and bound with curled .006” stainless steel wire for the canvas bundles. Stainless steel rod for the side cross bars. BLMA etched stirrups, ALM fuel tanks. The side mirror is an arts-and-crafts sequin mounted on stainless wire. Custom decals Alps-printed.

[peteski]

RBB&B canvas truck #254. Deconstructed an Athearn Mack B dump truck for the cab, undercarriage and bogie. Cab steps and rear modified to better represent the prototype. 3D printed body parts. Kleenex tri-folded and rolled, cut to width with a razor blade and bound with curled .006” stainless steel wire for the canvas bundles. Stainless steel rod for the side cross bars. BLMA etched stirrups, ALM fuel tanks. The side mirror is an arts-and-crafts sequin mounted on stainless wire. Custom decals Alps-printed.

Nice modeling Bryan!  My friend Rolland Kelley would be proud.  You might have seen his RBB&B train with mostly scratchbuilt equipment on the NTRAK layout at the Springfield shows.  He remembers seeing the circus under the "big tent".

[peteski]

Agree with @peteski - I think smooth line would look better. I’m betting there’s some fine monofilament thread one could obtain that would work too… even if not stretchy like the EZ-line.

Actually you just reminded me that @robert3985 uses surgical suture for this purpose.