Weekend Update 1/09/11

[up1950s]

Have at it guys .

[up1950s]

Here is the tender for the sister to 1242 , UP 1243 .. Mostly the same except for the coal bunker . Both have Kato caboose trucks adapted for eight wheel pickup . I should receive my 4-6-0's Monday . I have 2 more coming with the second batch , still pondering what UP's I will bash them into .
 

 

[chuck geiger]

Don't inhale the Loctite PL-300

[Puddington]

OK; so we've seen these puppies...................



Well; we've done some work since..................




The underside work on number one has been done; the truss rods are a serious pain; as they are not too easy to bend.....thank heaven there are only teo as the 37 rebuilt cars had a steel underframe...




Here's where we are so far..... it's getting there....................

[BCRail_FSJ]

Put some time in painting the backdrop for the Taylor yard scene.  Also made a rough mock up of the lumber yard building using photos of the real thing for the textures.

[chuck geiger]

BCR that is OMG!

[wm3798]

Nothing photogenic.  Added cork and a tortoise to Cumberland Station subroadbed.  Once the glue is dry, I'll be permanently installing it on the risers and setting the level for the track through town.

Lee

[BCR 570]

Other BCR:

That backdrop at Taylor just screams "north bank of the Peace" - well done.


I have just returned from an enjoyable day in Portland visitng with Dave Mac Kinnon of Details N Scale and Tim Anderson of Ngineering to discuss decoder and lighting requirements for my remaining locomotive and caboose projects.  I also got to stop in at the Hobby Smith.

The past week was spent applying decals to several projects in hopes of moving them towards completion.  The CN van trailer is virtually finished; the Procor gondolas and Remote Control Car are about half way done:




Following a successful decoder and ditch light installation in C-420 632, it was the turn of C-630M 701.  It now has a TCS AMD-4 decoder, independent front and rear headlights, ditch lights in the nose, and a cab light which will also light the number boards when done.  The unit is shown here after re-assembly with the pilot details complete and the new Miniatures By Eric C-630M fuel tank/air reservoir part:




Dave also replaced the original decoders and ditch lights in my three C-425s, one of which had never run.  810 remains in Erie Lackawanna paint and has independent front and rear headlights as well as a cab light; 804 and 812 also have ditch lights in the nose:




The effect is quite striking at night:




Now I can try one of those Dale Sanders night bridge shots in N Scale!

More decaling during the week to come (and playing with my locomotives).


Tim

[delamaize]

Well, after months of trial, error, work, reworking, Beer and Cussing, I finally feel pretty good about where it is at, and I think I am ready to call it finished, and ready for paint.





So the to do list is pretty much a cord wood, decoder, paint, and decals at this point, I may add more Lead for more traction. I am pretty happy with it overall.
Now like all my other climax' this one does not follow a specific prototype, it is LOOSELY based after the largest class B made, 60 ton. Some of my artistic licenses I took were the vesbule, all weather cab, Walchester valve gear, and some of the dimentions. Overall it is a little longer than the actuall 60 tonner, but this was needed to make room for powering the rear truck, yes both trucks are powered. I used chopsticks for the front, rear beams, and steps. MT 1015 couplers, although I think smaller ones would have been easier, the headlights are both lit, and directional on DC, using Micro surface mounted LEDs, all of the major construction is soldered brass, and the rest is glues on with CA. I hand turned my own bell with my dremel and a Xacto knife. whistle is also stratchbuilt. Valve gear is also all scratchbuilt, and was a pain in the a$$ I might add. The stack is layered brass tube, chucked into my dremel, and turned down to shape with files and sandpaper, again, I am happy with it.

well whatcha think guys?

[mdeberg]

Tim, Is it possible to get some detail shots inside of the C-630M or any of the C-420's of the awesome work you guys did with the lighting?

Other BCR:

I have just returned from an enjoyable day in Portland visitng with Dave Mac Kinnon of Details N Scale and Tim Anderson of Ngineering to discuss decoder and lighting requirements for my remaining locomotive and caboose projects.  I also got to stop in at the Hobby Smith.

Following a successful decoder and ditch light installation in C-420 632, it was the turn of C-630M 701.  It now has a TCS AMD-4 decoder, independent front and rear headlights, ditch lights in the nose, and a cab light which will also light the number boards when done.  The unit is shown here after re-assembly with the pilot details complete and the new Miniatures By Eric C-630M fuel tank/air reservoir part:




Dave also replaced the original decoders and ditch lights in my three C-425s, one of which had never run.  810 remains in Erie Lackawanna paint and has independent front and rear headlights as well as a cab light; 804 and 812 also have ditch lights in the nose:

[seusscaboose]

still playing with the b/w effects on the Mac.

I am working on mocking up the obligatory Mine scene.  I am being inspired by the Sierra Nevada's and Virginia City

The Blair Company Houses are courtesy of a friend and are hiding the "Wine & Women" scene "in the background" with Breakwell Mine in the foreground.

also thinking about using the "Vollmer Granite" signage here somewhere.  There will also be a big Victorian Mansion (home of the Company president) on the left hand side of the scene, overlooking the Mine.

[Ian MacMillan]

I tore down the benchwork along the wall so that I could get started on Springfield Amtrak. Hoping to get some track down next weekend, but this training schedule I am on is really killing me as I am gone during the week.

At last week's operating session at John Newick's (MEC_FAN) I took some videos with the Flip camera that Tabby got for Christmas.

[Ntrainz1]

Great videos and layout. What are those open top cars?

Bob.

[GaryHinshaw]

Got my basement finally cleaned out and the floor repainted.  Too bad I don't own it anymore...



On the flip side, we had a great drive across country, and the view from my living room in Vancouver this morning was this:



Too bad it's only a rental because it's a sweet location.  Hopefully I can get back to some modelling soon.

Cheers from the north and Happy New Year,
-Gary

[John]

Nice view, Gary


I spent the weekend fighting off a cold .. but I did manage to start powering all my UP5s from the 12V aux power line I have running around the layout ..