Weekend Update - 10/18/09

[DKS]

David,

I like the mirror idea, but, in this case, I recommend changing the angle at a minimum.  It seems to me that if it is installed as presently placed, you're going to see two identical trains diverging from or converging into the tunnel simultaneously, one with its lettering clearly reversed.  That, to me, will be distracting and realism would suffer.  Otherwise, as always, your modeling is incredible.

Dave--

Thanks, not to worry; the train will be mostly hidden from the mirror by a scenic divider (trees and a couple of small buildings). The mirror's primary job is to extend the river around the bend.

A better view:

[Chris333]

Got my boxcabs up and running:

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And some Nn3 hoppers to string behind it.

[up1950s]

Is this pic modeling-related? You betcha. This kitchen remodel must be finished before I can start working on the layout.  :

Don't forget the nail plates on the 2x4's to protect the wire

It's also good that you have photos for household reference before the sheet rock goes up . Are those GFCI protected outlets ?

[John]

I finally finished my helix .. its under the stairs into the basement.

I am not the carpenter some of you guys are, so it's kind of ugly, but I have been running trains up it all weekend, and it is smooth.

With one exception, the I was able to keep the 19" radius on the curves. I used C80, mainly to take advantage of the stiffness of the track, and to also use up a bunch of old C80 I had laying around.




The top loop also has a Peco large turnout in place to allow for a spur to some staging over the top of my workbench. I think I can sneak about 4 tracks in there with about 5-6 feet of length. This could be a good place to stage some short trains for the upper level ..



Here is a better view of the area under the stairs. There is enough room inside for me to stand up and be able to clean track ..

[DKS]

Addendum. I just now finished installing part of a road.



I was attempting to simulate the kind of asphalt surface that has visible aggregate:

[wm3798]

Not much on the workbench this week, although there's still plenty of work to do...  This week's highlight was volunteering as a car host on the CRHS Conrail Express on Saturday.

We got a very early start, 4 a.m. ish, but it was extremely cool to be below decks at 30th Street in wee hours...


The Juniata Terminal E units, as usual, were impeccable, standing at the ready to pull our train of over 700 merry makers around southeast PA.


We tried to get Vanna White, but she wasn't available, so we settled for Sean...  As one of the primary organizers of the trip, Sean deserves a huge amount of credit.



The weather was pretty dismal, but having the opportunity to ride the Port Road was not to be missed.  Due to the rain and overcast, you couldn't get much leaf-peeping in, but just being in the remote areas where only the train has access was pretty remarkable.  It was also cool to see the several power generating dams that line the Susquehanna.  The view above was taken as we crossed from the east side of the river to the west via the Shock's Mill bridge.


After rolling through Enola Yard, we crossed back over at Rockville Bridge.  This was one of the few times I could witness the engines at work.  Unfortunately, the rain and slow speeds through the yard left a lot of spots on the windows...


At Harrisburg, we got a short platform break.  Here, we got to enjoy the company of 4859, which is owned by the Harrisburg Chapter of NRHS.  It's noted to be the first electrified locomotive to pull a train into the Harrisburg Terminal after the wires were strung, so it's displayed there along with a wooden caboose.



I had the pleasure of working with Dave Foxx, as well as Jonathan, the guy from the NRHS working our car.  Here we are with 72 of our new closest friends...



It was a great day, and a very memorable experience.  Thanks go to Russ, Sean and Ed, who extended the invitation to me and Dave.  We truly had a blast!

Lee

[C855B]

Answering the sidewalk foremen:

1) Yes, nail plates. They occurred several steps after that photo. Busy day, we're already into mudding.

2) Yes, GFCI on all circuits. That photo happens to show two.

3) No childproof requirement. 1998 NEC in our area.

 

[Puddington]

Nice work gents - that is a uber sweet E unit !

Rough week... Sammy's 6th birthday; and related party... Star Wars party for 6 year olds.... you do NOT want to know what I look like dressed as Darth Vader - kinda like Jabba the Hut goes to a costume party....On the train front it was slow....

It's hard to admit you have to "go back in" sometimes and fix a mistake; even if the mistake looks better than the model will be with the correction... but I "just had to"...

I have always had an affection for my Great Northern cafe Coach; it was one of the first cars I ever painted and detailed. The windows were close enough (still are) and the end was near bang on. The roof wasn't correct but at the time i didn't know or care.

I finally came across some "cafe coach" decals and pulling the GN car out to apply them the wrong roof was bugging me.... she wasn't an air conditioned car yet those tell tale bluges were there... what I needed to do was kitbash a regular clostry roof...... darn !

Here's her original roof with the bulge on the left side and the over sized Mars light





New roof; decals and Mars light....





She's still a beauty to me but I miss the original roof.......... :-[

[Two Truck Shay]

Worked on benchwork and tweaked the website a little. Hope you can see it all:

http://brooklynsubdivision.randyabrewer.com

[tehachapifan]

Great stuff, as always!

David K, that scenery looks terrific!

I worked on handrails for my SW1500. Here's a test fitiing....





Russ

[Freighttrain]

Sweet work.Tell me more about the electronic flywheel!I have always been interested in if it would work for itty bitty stuff where a kinetic flywheel won't fit.Only down side I can see,is if it was to be used in operation.Get that momentum effect going when you shut down power.

Got my boxcabs up and running:

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And some Nn3 hoppers to string behind it.

[sirenwerks]

Chris, they look incredible. I can't wait to seem them painted and operating scenery. And I love the soundtrack to the video. I do have a questions... they seem to hop forward in the video. Is that an optical illusion or a product of the video equipment or track? Or maybe a product of the Matrix?

[Caleb Austin]

David K, awesome roads, thats a very cool scene your building.

It's scenery as usual for me.

I've been sprinkling leaves here and there...



Some photography fun...





And, Lee and other Cat haters will no longer have to avert there eyes from my layout, that Chessie unit will not be playing center stage on my layout anymore. I have ordered a blue and gold C&O SD35. Huzzah! ;D

[Heath]

The first train across my bridge.

[Guilford Guy]

And, Lee and other Cat haters will no longer have to avert there eyes from my layout, that Chessie unit will not be playing center stage on my layout anymore. I have ordered a blue and gold C&O SD35. Huzzah! ;D

And when you get the hang of airbrushing you can paint the Cat 35 into C&O too!