Weekend Update - 9/6/2009

[lashedup]

Nice stuff everyone...

Here is an old cheat sheet of static grass colors I photographed a while back, but figured I'd bring up to the top again with all the recent discussion about static grass...



Note that the Scenic Express Bulk stuff in the middle row is mostly comprised of bright green, bright yellow and bright red static fibers - not ideal if you plan to do any closeup photography work later.

I use the Silflor stuff (mostly late summer) but I tend to blend it a bit to give it some variation. The woodland scenics stuff is great for dryer climates and/or burnt/dead grass.

Have a good Labor Day weekend everyone!

-jamie

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Not modeling, but moved the CRHS's archives to a new larger location (we need it with some of the cool stuff on the way) and helped inventory the shoppe today.

Look for some big sales starting at the Convention in Philly!

Also did some railfanning with the HBG crew, which is ALWAYS a good time.

Oh, and btw, if anyone is thinking about riding our excursion in October, go sign up now. We're quickly approaching the sell-out point. In fact, I would be surprised if we make it past the end of the week with seats still available.

[eric220]

Nice stuff everybody!  The visitors are gone, and Altoona is back inside.  Once I get a chance to hook everything back up, I should be able to take some photos.  Until next week!

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Actually, I just remembered, I DID do something modeling wise this week. I put together a write up of my U23b, 2735: http://conrail1285.com/news.asp?storyid=61

[shawnleon]

Some AWESOME stuff here guys!

I spent the past week working on the announcement of not one, but TWO new N Scale cars.  These announcements will come one month apart, the first of which will happen in about two weeks.  For now, I've posted the following screen snap in our 'BLMA Blog' as a teaser...     We can't wait for these announcements!

Craig, between this and the blog posting... I'm calling a party foul! I want to know what the new car is, like, yesterday. If it is a hopper, I hope it is something that can be found roaming CSX rails!

Shawn

[Sokramiketes]

Looks like another hopper

Yeah, but that idiot Robbman put the AJAX housing on up-side down. 

Flip the picture over, likely an open hopper, but some covered hoppers had an upper end arrangement similar.  Is the faceted brake wheel a modern thing or just a cad artifact and it's really circular?  Dunno, might poor over some photos later.

[wcfn100]

RE: BLMA hopper.

I posted this on A-Board last week.




I say covered hopper.



Jason

[wcfn100]

Regarding this week, I had a very special birthday to get ready for:




But I did manage to get some pics of the Aspen models C&S caboose I built for my dad before I send it off.



And I got my replacement baggage from Walthers and mocked up what the new doors will look like.  The windows seem a bit large, but I could try and use the original glass if I do them this way.




Jason

[wcfn100]

Oh yeah, messed around with the configuration of my Waterloo modules.




I wasn't having any luck fitting in the IC siding before the bridge. Plus there is a signal that protects the crossing on the bridge.  I don't know if I'm asking for trouble by having module connections in the river and street but MR did it with their Beer layout so maybe I'll read over that again.


Jason

[ednadolski]

RE: BLMA hopper.


I say covered hopper.


Jason

Definitely a GEVO.

[sirenwerks]

...I don't know if I'm asking for trouble by having module connections in the river and street but MR did it with their Beer layout so maybe I'll read over that again.

Consider a lift out river/bridge and street, which span the joint into abutting modules? Then you won't have that unsightly seam running up the middle of a body of water, or a street.

[NorfolkSouthern9708]

@astf_arizona-Nice pics, now if only you could get some modern stuff on there!

@DavidK.Smith-Looks good, but the color seems to be pretty uniform and bright? What are you modeling anyway?

[DKS]

@DavidK.Smith-Looks good, but the color seems to be pretty uniform and bright? What are you modeling anyway?

Color is not as uniform in person as in photos. I'm modeling the northeast in late spring/early summer--

http://jamesriverbranch.net/plan.htm

[atsf_arizona]

Hello, all,

A general invite to all, any of you in the San Francisco Bay area
 are invited to come to the NMRA Coast Division September
13, 2009 Meet at Buchser Middle School,
1111 Bellomy St., Santa Clara, CA.

There's never a charge for guests or members,
it's all provided by the
Coast Division, come on by, what a great deal!


If you do, make sure you look me up so I can say hello and hook
you up with other attendees who may have similar interests.

Here is what we have planned (note the clinics, they're always great):

9:00 AM......Doors open. Free Door Prizes. Buy Raffle Tickets.
9:30 AM......Get Auction Cards.
10:00 AM ....Layout Signaling – an update for today's modeler by Kermit Paul
11:00 AM.....The UP in Niles Canyon – a progress report on his layout by Seth
Neumann.
11:00 AM.....Model Railroad Roundtable moderated by Jerry Littlefield

12 Noon........Business Meeting
1:00 PM .......Auction starts, Roundtable continues
1:30 PM .......Model/Photo Contest Results – afterward Auction continues
3:30 PM .......Timesaver Results, Raffle – afterward Auction continues if
required


Check out the models and photos that will be on display:

9:30 AM – 1:15 PM:

Model Contest: Steam Locomotives, Diesel & Other Locomotives, Passenger Car

Photo Contest: Railfans I Have Known

Allen Fenton Timesaver Switching Contest (until 3:15)

Here's a sample photo of an N scale superdetailed SD40 that
was displayed on the Show and Tell table at the last meet :



And here's a URL for the previous meets so that you can see
what goes on at the Meets (it's says 'contest' but that's not
what it is, it is the Meet Reports):

http://www.pcrnmra.org/coast/contest.shtml


Also, you can find out about the Coast Layout Tours, that are on
the following weekend, September 19 & 20, 2009 -
area is South East Bay!

If you're not a NMRA member, you'll need to join to go to the
Coast Layout Tours - however, NMRA has a 6 month trial membership
for only $9.95 (which includes getting the Scale Rails magazine),
and this trial membership will qualify you to go on the layout tours..
so it's very easy and low cost to 'kick the tires'.


Most importantly, the Meet is a place to see what's going on in the
San Francisco Bay area (there is a lot), and to have a venue for
idea exchange, seeing and kibitzing with your fellow
model railroaders and guests.

Learn more by seeing our web site at:

http://www.pcrnmra.org/coast

Here's more info below, hope to see some of you there.

The Coast Division callboard is online at:

http://www.pcrnmra.org/coast/Coast_Call_Board.pdf


=================

MODEL CONTEST/PHOTO CONTEST/SHOW AND TELL

You are cordially invited to participate in the Show and Tell.

Feel free to bring a model that you are proud of, even a 'last
minute' entry. We all love to see what you are up to. Note that
Show and Tell is a great place for works-in-progress as well as
finished models, and any category is OK for Show and Tell.

As usual, participants in Show and Tell
will have the opportunity to have their models photographed for
the Coast Division web page (with their permission), and the digital
photos emailed to them for their own use. See recent photos at:

http://www.pcrnmra.org/coast/contest.shtml


==============

PHOTO CONTEST:

On behalf of Pat LaTorres - Coast Division Photo Contest category is:

Sept 2009: "Railfans I Have Known"

==========

SWITCHING CONTEST

Have a go at the Allen Fenton Timesaver
switching puzzle, Which is a fun, devilish little
switching layout and friendly competition we have at
every Coast Division Meet.

You got to try it!

Special thanks to our Coast Division Switching Contest
Chair: Mark Schutzer, who keeps the TimeSaver running
smoothly like a (fast) Swiss watch.


==========

Hope to see many of you Coast Division, Pacific Coast
Region, and guests there!

On behalf of the Coast Division,



John Sing
Coast Division Model Contest chair-flunkie and webmaster-dude

NMRA PCR Coast Division Model Contest /
Photo Contest / Show and Tell web pages:

http://www.pcrnmra.org/coast/contest.shtml

[Chris333]

Ack! G22's don't throw me in the briar patch.  

Decals?
 Baltimore & Ohio
 Pennsylvania, later large Keystone herald
 New York Central
 Erie
 Nickel Plate Road
 Western Maryland
 Missouri Pacific
 Lehigh Valley
 Wheeling & Lake Erie
 Canadian National
 Reading
 Pittsburgh & Lake Erie
 Pennsylvania, Circle Keystone
 New York Central, early paint scheme
 Delaware & Hudson

Edit: Ok cross out
Erie
LV
NKP
MP
http://www.steamfreightcars.com/modeling/reviews/walusragonmain.html

Double Edit:
OK guess they would be G25's not G22. Oh well I can fudge :-\