The Carolina Sandhills Lines in HO Scale

[davefoxx]

Whoa.  It’s been a while since I last posted here.  That’s partly because I haven’t done much with the layout in a while.  However, watching a Thunder Mesa video on YouTube, I learned from Dave Meek that isopropyl alcohol is polar and is only a good track cleaning agent in the very short term.  Whoops!  That explains the black crud that I see a lot.  He suggested a non-polar substance, specifically, odorless mineral spirits.  I bought a quart last night and will go at the layout with a deep track cleaning this weekend.

DFF

[Lemosteam]

Yes, no, maybe so?



I’m going to apply more grass, weeds, and/or bare sandy patches, too

DFF

That last parking spot needs a manager parking sign so they can be right next to the door.

[wazzou]

That last parking spot needs a manager parking sign so they can be right next to the door.

What it needs is one that says "Compact Only". 

[John]

What it needs is one that says "Compact Only". 

I'd make it an EV charging station .. 9V battery with a piece of wire attached to a car 

[Lemosteam]

What it needs is one that says "Compact Only". 

Dude, that’s a 25 foot long caprice net to it. You could fit a Ford Taurus in there, no sweat.

[wazzou]

Dude, that’s a 25 foot long caprice net to it. You could fit a Ford Taurus in there, no sweat.

Some say it's girth, not length.   

[nickelplate759]

Dude, that’s a 25 foot long caprice net to it. You could fit a Ford Taurus in there, no sweat.

I had a 1979 Caprice (and a wagon at that).  You'd be surprised where it could fit.  Of course, it had its share of dents and scratches and I didn't particularly care if it got more...

[Chris333]

Got this idea from Max, but this is the same:

[Point353]

That last parking spot needs a manager parking sign so they can be right next to the door.

For that manager, Berkina makes an HO Cadillac Eldorado and a Porsche 911,

[muktown128]

Whoa.  It’s been a while since I last posted here.  That’s partly because I haven’t done much with the layout in a while.  However, watching a Thunder Mesa video on YouTube, I learned from Dave Meek that isopropyl alcohol is polar and is only a good track cleaning agent in the very short term.  Whoops!  That explains the black crud that I see a lot.  He suggested a non-polar substance, specifically, odorless mineral spirits.  I bought a quart last night and will go at the layout with a deep track cleaning this weekend.

DFF

Non-polar solvents include aliphatic solvents such as heptane, naphtha, and mineral spirits.  Aromatic solvents are also non-polar and would include toluene (toluol), xylene (xylol).

Polar solvents would include alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, butanol.  These all contain an -OH (hydroxyl) group.

Ketone solvents such as acetone and methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) have some polarity, but would not be as polar as the alcohol solvents.

[DirtyD79]

For that manager, Berkina makes an HO Cadillac Eldorado and a Porsche 911,

I think one of the El Dorados in their line is white with the bull horns on it like Boss Hogg's caddy from Dukes of Hazzard. Somebody needs to make a 1:87 scale General Lee.

[davefoxx]

For that manager, Berkina makes an HO Cadillac Eldorado and a Porsche 911

Yep, and it fits!



DFF

[Tristan Ashcroft]

Yep, and it fits!

Um... what precisely is that orange muscle car a few spots over?...   

[wazzou]

Um... what precisely is that orange muscle car a few spots over?...

It looks like a '68 Approx. Dodge Charger.

[davefoxx]

It looks like a '68 Approx. Dodge Charger.

It IS a 1968 model, and, coincidentally, just today I began the steps of stripping it and turning it into the General Lee.  Since it’s the wrong model year for the General Lee (the real General Lee is a ‘69 Charger), I’m not going to worry about getting the colors and details exactly right.  This will be good enough, if I can accomplish a decent-looking paint and decal job.  I found decals available from Circus City Decals.

First, I repainted the raw black plastic interior with Tamiya Deck Tan.



Next, I stripped it in a 91% isopropyl alcohol bath.  That Oxford Diecast paint took a lot of scrubbing with an old toothbrush and toothpicks.



Tamiya White Fine Primer:



Tamiya Orange:



I temporarily plopped the body onto the frame while the paint cures.  I love seeing that tan interior.



This makes me happy, because I have long wanted an HO scale model of the General Lee.  There was a 1:64 Ertl model in the 1980s that was horrible, and the HO scale slot car is also a non-starter.  Lastly, I couldn’t resist while I wait for this paint to cure, and I fully reassembled the General for some instant gratification.



Stand by for detail paint and decal work.

DFF