Weekend Update 4/15/12

[rogergperkins]

I had not been able to post the explanation of my earlier photo of two B'mann engines: 4-8-2 on left, 2-10-2 on right.  Just got NCE Power Cab working again.

[Dave V]

Another Bowser class N5c joins the Juniata Division roster. I moved the smoke jack to the correct end of the cupola and added Gold Medal Models Trainphone antennae and induction coils. I weathered it with acrylic washes.

[pnolan48]

I'm nearly there on production of a Santa Fe tug. These were 142 feet long and plied San Francisco harbor for at least 30 years. There's still some obvious detail work and corrections, but the molds have been made and the castings fit together well. Anyone spot anything wrong, let me know. Here's an early incomplete prototype, warts and all:



I'm also close on a 125 foot Active-class USCG cutter. These served from the late 20s into the 70s. Again, warts and all on the first prototype:



I'm being held back a bit by minor production problems with details such as proper scale and type anchors, ventilators, and boats.

No prices yet--I'll have to build a few to see what it takes for labor. I'm afraid they will be more expensive than I hoped.

[GaryHinshaw]

Very nice Pete.  The ATSF tug makes me want to build a diorama of my boyhood town of Tiburon, across the bay from SF:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=171062&nseq=0

(before it became gentrified).

-Gary

[pnolan48]

Thanks, Gary! Especially for the color.

Anyone have information on the car floats that the tug pushed/pulled? This is an area of sea activity that I overlooked, so I'm behind the curve as to the barges. I really hate to ask questions that might have been answered before, but with Kay's health problems the last 18 months, I've been unable to do my usual research.

[M.C. Fujiwara]

Thanks, Gary! Especially for the color.

Anyone have information on the car floats that the tug pushed/pulled? This is an area of sea activity that I overlooked, so I'm behind the curve as to the barges. I really hate to ask questions that might have been answered before, but with Kay's health problems the last 18 months, I've been unable to do my usual research.

The First Quarter 2011 issue of The Warbonnet (The official magazine of the SF Railway Historical & Modeling Society) it pretty much totally devoted to SF Marine Operations in the San Francisco Bay Area.
http://www.atsfrr.com/store/war-Vol17-11.htm
Total goldmine for models who love waterfront / railbarge ops, who love San Francisco, or both.
The magazine takes a little while to get to you after you order it, but very very worth it.

[Ian MacMillan]

The Simonds Industrial Branch had its first train show this weekend:



Man did the layout look empty when we set it up. Being in that big room made it really noticeable as to how many buildings would need to be added. While I also have been planning for the layout to have its own overhead lighting since the beginning, the lights at the show really pointed out the need to get that done. The overhead sodium lights in the gym threw the brick colors WAY off.

Still not bad for my first time showing a layout at a show in 12 years.  I received quite a few comments on how the layout looked so far. The local N scale modular group using Bend Track standards said that I was "brave" in using Code 55 in a modular format, and at all. Well  I'm here to show what can be done in fine standards!

I'm working on some things for the next show, which will be in Bartlett, NH on May, 19, such as structures, and presentation. I did not have the skirting for the layout yet for the Sanford show, but will have it for the Bartlett show as I think it will make a big difference.


I continued working on the NECCO factory today and this building is huge. The building is made out of Walthers modulars (I have almost bought MBK out and I need more.) and parts from Walthers' Corn Storage buildings( a suggestion I got from Erik).

[SkipGear]

Better late than never, about 3-4 years late at least.

The parts for this have been setting in a box at least that long and I for some reason decided it was time to do something with them...



The lead motor hold down plate had self destructed over time so a new one was in order...



All the bits put together so far.



Still need to decide on what to do about the cab. Lot's of work to go but it's a start.
A few people here should know what it is going to be.

[Dave Schneider]

Ian,

That photo of the NECCO factory reminds me that windows are the urban modelers equivalent of trees for the mountain modelers. There are just so many of those stinking things to deal with. Okay, if I just paint, and glaze, and install, and weather 10 of these every day it won't be so bad....it gets old quick.

Is this NECCO like the tasty candy disks? They have a plant in Pewaukee, WI along the old Milwaukee main line that has a silo painted like the candy. Your most excellent hopper would fit right in!  http://binged.it/HQevMQ

Not much modeling for me this week. My main accomplishments were getting #1 son to the Junior Prom (which for a kid that wants to major in Math or Physics in college is a real achievement!), and an emergency sump pump replacement at my Mother-in-laws house, as the crawl space had flooded and knocked out the furnace (which I also had to fix). That pretty much took up all my free time.

Best wishes, Dave

[Ian MacMillan]

Ian,

That photo of the NECCO factory reminds me that windows are the urban modelers equivalent of trees for the mountain modelers. There are just so many of those stinking things to deal with. Okay, if I just paint, and glaze, and install, and weather 10 of these every day it won't be so bad....it gets old quick.

Is this NECCO like the tasty candy disks? They have a plant in Pewaukee, WI along the old Milwaukee main line that has a silo painted like the candy. Your most excellent hopper would fit right in!  http://binged.it/HQevMQ

Best wishes, Dave

Dave yes it is the candy disk NECCO. Their original factory was in Cambridge, MA and served by CR. Their water tower on top was painted like the NECCO candy.

Yes the windows are a pain in the a$$ to do! There are sooooo many...and not just on this building!

[VonRyan]

My weekend, and entire Spring Break for that matter, was somewhat devoid of any modeling or modelling... I did do two box cars worth of weathering, and ballast a 9" section of track on my module with W.S. "buff" colored ballast which should really be labeled TAN. I cut a sheet of thick styrene for my module's Signal Box panel, and one of the leftover pieces might just become a station platform... and another piece is probably going to become the small Cattle Dock. I did start the process of installing Sprat&Winkle autocouplings on a Graham Farish 3-Plank wagon and am realizing that i need to make a jig for bending the "staples" for the coupler to hang from the mounting plate. I'll possibly make a post of my escapades with the Sprat&Winkles later...

Ian, i like the looks of the potential of those modules. I've a thing for amalgamations of industrial switching, looks like your set. I like what you've done with the walthers modulars. For some reason expansive buildings with lots of small windows really intrigue me.
Are those brick-outs on the bottom left two rows of windows part of the kits or did they have to be made to fit?

I managed to land a box of Tichy windows and such a while back for only $10 and the total content is worth over $60, and they may help greatly since I plan to possibly scratch-build some type of industry, especially since Slater's sells great "plasticard" (styrene) Brick sheet in N.
-Cody F.

[davidgray1974]

Been adding some more rubber rocks this weekend.  Unfortunately when I ordered additional shale rocks, I found out they were on back order.  Bit bummed but didn't let that stop some progress this weekend.  Let me know what ya think.

[Alwyn Cutmore]

Hi Dave, that is a great job of weathering on the cabin car. For whatever reason this image showed up and by going through you photos from you blogg I was finally able to catch up with the P70 Coach. Looking good.

Have a great day,

Regards

Al Cutmore

[wm3798]

Spent the day wrestling the old Rivarossi Challenger, and finally got it road worthy in anticipation of its return to the WMRHS museum layout on May 4.  After Victor worked out the new motor installation, and I reworked it so it would have at least cursory tender pick up, the last thing I had to address was the front engine's drivers slipping on the axles.  A little burnishing here, some cleaner there, and a dot or two of CA and the problem was solved.  Got humpty dumpty put back together, and it ran smoothly for about an hour, albeit on its back in a cradle... (non-DCC model with big ole flanges not compatible with the layout)  But that doesn't mean we can't take some glam shots...







A couple of detail close ups:

The WM nose job I applied back in nineteen diggity doo...


The all weather cab veneers that Chris whipped up for me, and installed in 2011.

I'll be presenting the model back to the WMRHS on Friday, May 4 at their monthly meeting in Union Bridge, Maryland  Paul Hutter will be there providing a slide presentation of the Cumberland area from back in the day, and it was his uncle, Russell Hutter, who originally donated the engine for use on the museum layout back in 1988.  Should be a pleasant evening.

Lee

[rogergperkins]

Lee, what is the ventage of the model of the challenger?  I did not know such a model existed. Speaks to my shelter modeling life.