Weekend Update 3/14/2010

[shawnleon]

James, as a big diesel locomotive fan... I love the work you're doing!

[atsf_arizona]

Hauling an old one out of my archives.  This was originally posted here on SNFF in December of 2008:



Have a good week, all.

[Puddington]

Great lens it appears Jason - very nice work on the little "wheelie thingamabob......." really nice !

[tom mann]

As usual, good stuff posted. I didn't model this weekend, but took a large step towards joining in on the weathering fun.

Glad to see you back around here. ;D

Folks, this is the Shawn who made the weathering PDF for me a few years ago. 

[tom mann]

No pictures (at least photos of finished models) but I'm still working on all these SP engines.

I am convinced that SP is the road to model if you enjoy weathering engines.  The gray makes a perfect base color for all kinds of weather effects to show through.

[Wlal13again]

No pictures (at least photos of finished models) but I'm still working on all these SP engines.

I am convinced that SP is the road to model if you enjoy weathering engines.  The gray makes a perfect base color for all kinds of weather effects to show through.

How true Tom, I lived a few blocks from the Sunset Route in El Paso in the 80`s. The Espee was truely "Route of the grime" not to mention the  brutal desert sun fading paint and the dynamic brake heat scorched carbodies..She had character..

[Sokramiketes]

It's the second crankshaft I've built, and I may build one more to improve it a little. No lathe, mill or drill press used; it's 13 separate parts soldered together.

You've probably thought of this already, but next time you can keep it aligned a little better if you use one long rod, assemble the eccentrics on it, and then cut away the main shaft as your final step.

EDIT: Nevermind, just read your blog post.  I was confused when you said you soldered 13 separate parts together... but you did solder fewer parts together and trim the excess. 

[Smike]

Been working on a small module layout (48" x 12") to test building a larger layout someday (and I have zero room at the moment to do so anyway) Got sidetrack with various other winter activities and was able to pick it back up this weekend. Installed some Pot Toppers grass (um... the ones you buy at Michael's Craft store) to help blend in those all so nice looking ground throws......Stuff is cheap and looks great in nscale.

I've found building this small module a great source of inspiration and test bed of idea's. (also helps get the equipment out of their plastic coffins every now and then) Now just need to get the nerve up to dirty that Katy a bit.  :-\

Mike

[SquirrelHollow]

I also started work on a little something to run on the track (although it will be a very long time in coming). This is the crankshaft for a 32-ton three-foot-gauge two-truck Shay (Ely-Thomas Lumber Company No. 6) in Z scale, sitting on the face of a dime:
 


It's the second crankshaft I've built, and I may build one more to improve it a little. No lathe, mill or drill press used; it's 13 separate parts soldered together.

I give up.  I'm having trouble with an N scale steamer using a planetary reduction 6mm motor, and worm drive....

D.K.S. goes off, and builds a 0.34 micron crankshaft....

[chuck geiger]

Craig needs to do N scale ground throws...BLMA to the rescue - Too many great scenes
are being ruined by Caboose Industries out of scale eye sores.

[kiwi_al]

Some white metal action

N gaugeish ballast wagon

[Philip H]

Installed some Pot Toppers grass (um... the ones you buy at Michael's Craft store) to help blend in those all so nice looking ground throws......Stuff is cheap and looks great in nscale.

Mike

I've been waiting for someone to try those in N scale.  Looks good.  Guess I'll ahev tot give it a try soon enough.

No modeling for me this weekend - recalcitrant teenagers who think they don't need their dad anymore took all my time . . . Not saying it wasn't worth it mind you . . . .

[Smike]

I've been waiting for someone to try those in N scale.  Looks good.  Guess I'll ahev tot give it a try soon enough

Another method I’ve found for smaller short grass bushes is to take a sheet of wax paper and put down some small dots of white glue, and dab a clump of static grass into the dots. Then shake off the excess. Then wait until the glue is firmed up, but not completely dry and pick them off with an exacto knife and place them. 

You can see a couple along side the track in this photo:

[ednadolski]

.... the crankshaft for a 32-ton three-foot-gauge two-truck Shay (Ely-Thomas Lumber Company No. 6) in Z scale, sitting on the face of a dime ....
 
.... it's 13 separate parts soldered together. ....

Hoo boy, and I thought that I was crazy, for hand-made scale grabirons ....   

Seriously, that's incredible work, David.

[Chris333]

I have heard all about those pot toppers, but can't find them at my local store and I can't find them for sale online.  :-\