Weekend Update 5/26/19

[mark dance]

Got a ton of small projects on the go right now in the sprint to make visible progress before September's bi-annual Vanrail invitational op meet.

Firstly, I got the retaining wall assembled but I am waiting on some parts for the stairs that were missed when the drawings were sent for lasercutting.



Next I assembled two truck dump ramps, one for Cascade and one for the Ottawa-Slocan mine at Slocan City...this is the Cascade one awaiting weathering and general abuse.





And finally, pretty much since they were installed 12 years ago I have wanted to replace the MBS styrene railings around Cottonwood creek.  This creek cuts through Nelson yard and is "bridged" 7 times by yard trackage.  When I got the parts for the diesel shop etched from 4 thou stainless, I added enough railing to the mask image to replace the creek railing as well.  Much better...



Still need to weather the steam pipes and add a bit of rust to the railing.  Oh and replacing those ugly Blunt trucks on the S2's with AAR trucks (from Jeff Briggs) is also on the to do list.  Then I can weather the yard switchers as well.

Have a great weekend!

[up1950s]

Still need to weather the steam pipes and add a bit of rust to the railing.  Oh and replacing those ugly Blunt trucks on the S2's with AAR trucks (from Jeff Briggs) is also on the to do list.  Then I can weather the yard switchers as well.

Have a great weekend!

I love this water channel detail .

[strummer]

Re: the "Gold Star" header: thanks for posting. I think it's often too easy to forget the long-term impact that a loss like that has on the families involved.

Have a good weekend all...

Mark in Oregon

[fcnrwy23]

Back in 2002, on the FCN, I didn't really have a need for passenger service.  So, When I happened upon a Undecorated  6-car KATO Smooth-Side car set. I wasn't sure why I bought it.  It was suggested to me, that an Excursion Train could be a logical way to have one. About the same time, Scale Rail Graphics, sold decal sets for the Wisconsin Southern's own passenger eqiupment and their rental fleet, known as "Northern Sky Charters".  I picked up a few sets, of each.   Later, on after thinking about different schemes and names.   I figured that the "Northern" name could work with my railway, so I decided to use the rental sets.  Leaving out the "Sky" in the name and painting the cars in FCN Blue.  =  Northern Charters.

Northern Charters,  "Northern City"



Also, about this same time, Atlas released their Amtrak Engine, B32-8HW.  I acquired an Undecorated one for the NC train set.

NC 323




I have run the train infreqently over the years, but lately have run it more, since I added another four (4) cars to the set.   The B32 has proven to be a little underpowered with the additional tonnage. So, I have been looking at upgrading the power.  Since I run GE's I had looked at that kind of power. And I had remembered seeing a few examples in my back issues of Diesel Era.  GE's - U28CGs, U30CGs and the P30CH.
I recently found on Shapeways, the possible solution..     The P30CH...

The New Power for the NC train..  P30CHM.



The P30 was based off of the U30C freight loco, which was GE's main puller at the time.  So the logical chassis for this project would be Kato's U30C/C30-7. Of which, I have a few on hand.  When i got the shell, the P30 was found to be 5+ feet longer than the C30s.  I decided to do some modeler's license and reworked the P30CH into a P30CHM, by removing at least a 1/4 inch off of the length..  I relocated the Headlights to the Top of the Cab, from it's nose position with fiber optic tubes.  I also had to create and reinforce couplers pockets at each end...

I ran the P30CHM, thursday night on Mr. Augustino's layout.  And was Very Pleased with the result...


Jerry G.

[craigolio1]

As usual, super inspiring work this week everyone.

The only thing exciting for me this week was that I accidentally bid $2450 instead of $24.50 for a box car on eBay. Got it for $22. Phew!  Haha.

Craig.

[nickelplate759]

fcnrwy23:

That's a terrific finishing job on the P30CHM, especially since the shell is only available in "Smooth Fine Detail Plastic".  Care to share your finishing techniques?

[Mark W]

I'm getting closer and closer with the overpass.  This week I finished more scenery and 3D printed guard rails for the overpass approach.  Here they are painted up and fit in palace.  I think it's almost time for road stripes now!


https://i.imgur.com/E5XOMlO.jpg

[peteski]

As usual, super inspiring work this week everyone.

The only thing exciting for me this week was that I accidentally bid $2450 instead of $24.50 for a box car on eBay. Got it for $22. Phew!  Haha.

Craig.

I agree about the awesome modeling shown here.
As for the eBay thing, bids can be retracted by the bidder without any retribution  (especially since it is an obvious typo).  I have never done it, but  I have seen it done.

[craigolio1]

I agree about the awesome modeling shown here.
As for the eBay thing, bids can be retracted by the bidder without any retribution  (especially since it is an obvious typo).  I have never done it, but  I have seen it done.

I looked for a way to retract but couldn’t find one. No matter I didn’t think it would go tooooo high.

[craigolio1]

Back in 2002.  On the FCN, I didnt really have a need for passenger service. When,  I happened  upon a Undecorated  6-car KATO Smooth-Side car set.  It was suggested to me, that an Excursion Train could be a logical way to have one.  About the same time, Scale Rail Graphics, sold decal sets for the Wisconsin Southern's own passenger eqiupment and their rental fleet, Northern Sky Charters.  I picked up  a few sets for both.    After thinking about different schemes and names.   I figured that the "Northern" name could work with my railway, so I deicded to use rental set.  Leaving out the "Sky" in the name and painting the cars in FCN Blue.  =  Northern Charters...

Northern Charters,  "Northern City"



Also, about the same time, Atlas released their Amtrak Engine, B32-8HW.  I acquired an Undecorated one for the NC train set.

NC 323




I  have run the train infreqently over the years, but lately have run it more, since I added another four (4) cars to the set.   The B32 has proven to be a little underpowered with the additional tonnage.  So, I have been looking at upgrading the  power.  Since I run GE's I had looked at that kind of power.   I remember seeing a few examples in my back issues of Diesel Era.   U28CGs, U30CGs and the P30CH.
I resently found on Shapeways, the possible solution..     The P30CH...

The New Power for the NC train..  P30CHM.



The P30 was based off of the U30C freight loco.  GE's main puller at the time.  So the logical chassis for this project would be Kato's U30C'/C30-7.  Of which I have a few on hand.  When i got the shell, the P30, is 5+ feet longer than the C30s.  I decided to do some modeler's license and reworked the P30CH into a P30CHM, by removing at least a 1/4 inch off of the length..  I relocated the Headlights to the Top of the Cab, from it's nose position with fiber optic tubes.  I also had to create and reinforce couplers pockets at each end...

I ran the P30CHM, thursday night on Mr. Augustino's layout.  And was Very Pleased with the result...


Jerry G.

I LOVE the charter train!!

[peteski]

I looked for a way to retract but couldn’t find one. No matter I didn’t think it would go tooooo high.

https://www.ebay.com/help/buying/bidding/retracting-bid?id=4013

But I agree that the chances of that item being bid up anywhere near your high bid were pretty much non-existent.  But it pretty much guaranteed that you would win that item. 

[DKS]

I love this water channel detail .

Moi aussi.

Memorial Day and Veterans Day can both be rough for some of us, but it's also my mother's 80th birthday so I'm heading to Lancaster, PA to surprise her...

@Dave V, I wouldn't want to distract you from your plans in the slightest... but Lancaster is a comfortable drive for me, and I'd just love to meet up somewhere. But again, I wouldn't want you to go out of your way during what seems like a "compact" and carefully planned trip...

[Point353]

@Dave V, I wouldn't want to distract you from your plans in the slightest... but Lancaster is a comfortable drive for me, and I'd just love to meet up somewhere. But again, I wouldn't want you to go out of your way during what seems like a "compact" and carefully planned trip...

Offer to bring 'bacon bombs' ... and shoofly pie.

[GhengisKong]

Offer to bring 'bacon bombs' ... and shoofly pie.

I was going to ask if @Dave V had a family recipe to share since it sounds like it is a family reunion, also.

[Curtis Kyger]

I've wanted an Illinois Central General American 4700 hopper for quite awhile.  Yesterday I finally decided to foobie one until a better option hits the market.  My choices were fairly limited to using either the Micro-Trains Evans 4750/4780 car, or the ExactRail PS2-CD 4427 car.  I ended up choosing the ExactRail car because it looked more representative to me.  Decals are from Dan Kohlberg.