Weekend Update 3/1/26

[up1950s]

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/sand-move-onto-railways-tackling-desert-problem-bakas-1st-dmjtf

https://wildfiretoday.com/tag/fire-train/

https://www.eurogunzel.com/2018/03/russia-robotic-fire-fighting-train/

https://www.fxcollaborative.com/projects/207/sunnyside-yard-amtrak-rail-facility/

https://takingthekids.com/old-georgia-train-stations-that-deserve-another-visit/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Station_Rail_Corridor#/media/File:Commuter_GO_Train_departing_Toronto_Union_Station_0116.jpg

[Sumner]

Got the N scale U.P. rotary snow plow about where I want it.  Now have to design the tender....

Sumner

[BCR 570]

Two more projects completed this week.  After completing my wye project last week, it was time to power up and test:




After resolving some polarity control issues, I was able to complete a successful test run around the wye:

The second project to reach completion is a MLW C-424 which I finished building in 2024.  It came home after receiving its digital installation and is now ready for service.  It is a Hobbycraft Canada C-424 with new fuel tank, new rear end, battery boxes moved from the cab to under the left walkway, and numerous CN specific details.  it is finished in the original paint scheme for these locomotives:






I am now painting the rails in Dawson Creek yard, which will take me some time.


Tim

[arx nakanishi]

Let me share with you another cut from my N-scale Cisco, Utah diorama: the highway through Cisco.

The pics below show how the former US 50 & 6 through Cisco was in 2014.


The screenshots from the movie Vanishing Point show how it was in 1970.





The highway through Cisco, Utah, was first designated as the Midland Trail in 1913. It was redesignated as US Highway 50, aka the Loneliest Road in America, in 1926, and added US Highway 6, aka the route runs uncertainly from nowhere to nowhere, in 1937.

The pavement is made of paper clay on stacked plywood. Several coats of thin paint and polishing the surface with sandpaper brought the result shown below. Almost faded lines are done with color pencils.






A video with a train is embedded below.

Thanks for watching!

[InterurbanModels]

Recently, I got my hands on a Bachmann Light Mountain, first series from 2003, without illusions. @spookshow has rated this engine as a really bad puller with a terrible grade "C" ... But I absolutely wanted an NY Ontario & Western steam engine, and it wasn't expensive.

I took the model with me on my short "spring break" away from my printers, along with a hodgepodge of cars that I currently work on in 3D.
Surprise, I had to put all those eight cars on the test track, and the Light Mountain still valiantly pulled her train on the Kato 315 mm radius. A typical Bachmann syndrome: large quality disparities within the same series

Now I have to decide if this engine should be renumbered 405 and get some streamstyled "Otto Kuhler treatment" for the NYO&W premium "Mountaineer Limited"...

[Jim Starbuck]

Got the N scale U.P. rotary snow plow about where I want it.  Now have to design the tender....

Sumner

That is extremely cool!
Looking forward to the file being available.

[bbunge]

Finished hacking a 1st run BLI Mikado to be more B&O like.  3D printed boiler front and foot steps.  Added a small piece of styrene to divide up the fireman window B&O style to have the brakeman's window.  I removed the BLI weight that was in the boiler that is made of some lightweight type of metal and replaced with a combination of tungsten cubes and lead strips.  Also filled in the inside of the steam dome and filled the top of the cab with lead strips.  This added over an ounce and increased pulling capacity by about 20 percent. I repainted most of it and used silver paint to high light various parts that would show wear.  Finally, it got MT couplers front and back.  Taking a hint from @Lemosteam I left the headlight number boards on the boiler print unpainted and used black decals.  Considering it wasn't designed to do this, I think it's pretty cool.







Here beside the Yulim brass that I did about a month ago.  It is impressive to see how much better the Yulim looks with the addition of air hoses and other minor details. 

Bob

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Framed!

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Oh, also, for you Letterkenny or Heated Rivalry fans: last night I had a cocktail next to their creator, Jacob Tierney. No big deal.

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And THEN proceeded to have George Motz's onion burger.

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It's been a good weekend so far.

[packers#1]

Oh, also, for you Letterkenny or Heated Rivalry fans: last night I had a cocktail next to their creator, Jacob Tierney. No big deal.

(Attachment Link)

I am insanely jealous Ed

[mu26aeh]

Sent this BNSF GP38 home today.  Started out life as a BN unit

[nickelplate759]

Used the ESMC body-mount adapters on this Columbia Southern tank car (Atlas model). 



Also added BLMA 70-ton trucks.  The wheelbase is wrong, but the bolster height is just right.

[chessie system fan]

I did a couple things.

First, I finished the design for this Milwaukee branch line car.  I had designed the body a while ago but had paused before finishing the end steps and railings. We'll see how well the railings print.



I also did most of this 1939 RPO car.  It still needs a few more details before it's finished.



And finally, here's a walk down memory lane!  This is a resin shell that originally came from @bbussey .  Backdating this "SW1500" shell to an NW2 took a lot of work back in the day.  But since it's a novelty now, I used it to practice making handrails. I haven't touched a soldering iron in 20 years, and this is my first time making handrails.  All I can say is it was as tedious as I thought it would be.   

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I am insanely jealous Ed

Terri and I were sitting in the bar at our hotel in NYC and her eyes got wide. I'm like "what's up?" so she texts me (ya know, so we could be cool about it) "That's Jacob Tierney behind you". Holy *****.  I didn't say anything but I thought about it. Still pretty damn cool.

[Sumner]

That is extremely cool!
Looking forward to the file being available.

Thanks and if you wanted to play with it DM me and I'll send the files as it is now.  I need to design/print a tender so maybe another week or two to do that and install the decoder, wiring and figure out Bluetooth sound.  Want to hold off on putting files up on thingiverse until I'm done with all of that.

Sumner

[Point353]

Terri and I were sitting in the bar at our hotel in NYC ...

Did you stop in at the Red Caboose?