Weekend Update - 10/03/2010

[CBQ Fan]

Great work everyone!  I am pulling the final ingredients together to start doing some scenery of my own now that my track design is 99% final and complete.

[Dave V]

So while spending cash at my LHS, I got a deal on the ExactRail 40' Gunderson gon...  It's not a CR prototype (CR had few if any 40' gons), but it looks really good.  Other than the fact that it's a fantasy car, the only thing that bothers me is the broken CR can opener logo.  So, the very first thing I did to prep it for weathering was to fix the can opener with bits of decal.

Before:



After:



Now it's ready to be weathered!  Also, I picked up a beautiful Athearn PS2 2-bay, which is a dead match for an ex-EL CR class CE12A.  Athearn did a great job with it; the etched metal roofwalks, freestanding grabs, and excellent paint make this one of the jewels of my fleet.  To prep it for weathering all it needed was a Microscale ACI label (the prototype was painted in April 1977, when ACIs were still mandated) that was indicated for this class, build date, and paint scheme in my handy Color Guide.



You can see the ACI above the COTS.  This car will receive a light fade coat, some light road grime, and some minor rust patches.

Up next, I committed to changing my fictional Lewisport, PA to the prototype Lewistown, PA.  One of the major industries in Lewistown, right near the junction, was the American Viscose Corp.  My fictional Juniata Machine Tool Company seen here in an early photo:



Is starting to look like this now:



And lastly, just because it's such a neat engine, here's my HH1 again:

[sizemore]

Looked at (real) houses. Completed three decoder installs. Changed couplers on my Atlas track cleaning car, to a more proper set. In the process found new coupler pockets for my IM F-7 Coupler Project over on TB from eons ago. Cleaned the layout for continuing scenery, current goal is to paint track this week (hence the desire to get the track cleaner ready). Sent decals off to press for SuessCaboose' PA project.

The S.

[Midniteflyer]

Did some scenery on one of my modules............

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Did some scenery on one of my modules............

I like the forrest fire! A friend of mine did that on an NTRAK module years ago. It was pretty cool.

[Tom L]

That is a nice job on the fire............something that is pretty common out West, often along railroad tracks

There is a nice Forest Fire scene here, scroll down

http://www.gfsm.org/Index.htm

I have seen this layout in person and as someone who spent 10 or so summers fighting fires for the US Forest Service, I can attest that it is well done.  What you may not notice in the photo is that they used a smoke generator and some subtle lighting effects.  It was the highlight of the visit for my 5 year old.

Tom L
Wellington CO

[Midniteflyer]

I have been to the Greeley museum. That is the best fire scene i have ever seen. A friend of mine is on the operating board there, and the group i belong to will be setting the mods at the show there will be oin Greeley in 2012. The mod with the fire scene is the left side of my 3 mod trestle corner.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Not much from me this weekend. Between bouts of vomiting, 102 degree temp and fits of coughing, I did mahange to weather two freight cars. I missed several days of work, and may miss a few more if I don't get my voice back in a hurry.

Last time I went to work like this I was ordered home untill a doctor cleared me.

For christ sake, is it flu season already? This is the third time in 12 months.

[NorfolkSouthern9708]

I'm guessing so, they are giving out the flu vaccine so early, maybe I'll get it, if you are that bad...

[Puddington]

Love that little bridge Mid !

[BCR 570]

is it flu season already?

In a word, yes.  i am just getting over a week of it myself.

Tim