Weekend Update 4/12/20

[johnb]

So, I fixed the kink and the junction is glued down.

So I am using #4’s to get the yard tracks to fan out quicker. The yard feeds off of the interchange track. There are a pair of #6’s on both ends of the interchange and PE mainline with enough room for an old Rivarossi 2-8-2 and a Dimi Trains Vanderbilt tender to make a run around.


I was able to find a spot for the very first laser cut kit that I ever built.



And yes, it's Atlas code 80, my Tomix powered interurbans have pizza cutters

[peteski]

Thanks Peteski, but I'm confused. Who doesn't like quick-n-easy solutions? 

-Mark

Me!
I go out of my way to fastidiously complicate my projects.  I usually over-engineer and over-build my models. 
But there is nothing wrong with doing things quick-n-easy way.

[wcfn100]

Nice project Tom.  Of course I'm partial to this one:



 

Jason

[Mark W]

Always look forward to the weekend update, y'all never disappoint! 

This week I decided to stop hoping Kato re-runs the Kobo CalTrain MP36.  It seems like a simple enough paint scheme, so let's break out of my comfort zone and give it a shot!


https://i.imgur.com/W6pMfpu.jpg

Sorry Mr. VRE, you've been selected.  Taken from the 4 unit VRE starter set, I have the 3 Gallery Bi-Level Commuter cars available if anyone is interested.


https://i.imgur.com/r88D6N2.jpg

Testing color, Mr. Surface Gray Primer was a pretty dang close match for CalTrain gray, so I just went ahead and  started spraying.
Yeah, it looks white here. But it's correct.


https://i.imgur.com/WZ8MuCU.jpg


My least favorite task.  Masking.  Admittedly, nearly all of my past issues with this are my own fault, rushing through it and being sloppy.  So this time I took extra time to burnish the tape edges and then make sure the paint was not too wet, which would allow it to soak underneath. 


https://i.imgur.com/aO18Od6.jpg


And I'm gonna call that a great success!  The real test will come tomorrow when I have to mask the red...


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

[wazzou]

A good trick is to spray the first color where the mask meets the shell to seal it.
Heck, I even did that when I painted two color separations in my daughters rooms.
You did very well though.

[Tom L]

Nice project Tom.  Of course I'm partial to this one:



 

Jason

That’s a real classic! I mean it’s so classic it is almost a caricature of a depot.

Do you have any photos of the other side?

Tom L
Wellington CO

[peteski]

A good trick is to spray the first color where the mask meets the shell to seal it.
Heck, I even did that when I painted two color separations in my daughters rooms.
You did very well though.

That is the common molding wisdom someone came up with long time ago.  Alternate recommendation is to spray clear lacquer at the edge of the tape to seal it.  But that those techniques might not be optimal.  This video provided some eye-opening facts, and disspells some of those conventional wisdoms.

Paul Budzik is a well respected modeler. I recommend checking out his website for lots of very useful modeling info.
https://paulbudzik.com/

[nkalanaga]

Coldriver:  That train looks familiar - I think I saw it in Pasco, 50 years ago! 

Peteski:  It makes sense that barbers were also surgeons - they had the sharpest knives (razors) in town.  Physicians did the diagnosing and prescribing, barbers did the surgery.  Oddly, many states still require some medical training for a barber's license, even though they're no longer allowed to practice medicine.  Hair stylists and beauticians don't require that training.

[Mark W]

Paul Budzik is a well respected modeler. I recommend checking out his website for lots of very useful modeling info.
https://paulbudzik.com/

Yes, Paul's videos have been a huge inspiration to me over the past few years!  Even though he's primarily model air planes, his tips and techniques are universal.
In fact, I used his CA + powder trick on this very project!  The VRE unit has illuminated number boards on either side of the headlight, but CalTrain only has a single number board between the ditch lights.  I didn't take any pics, but I filled in and filed smooth the old letter boards with CA + powder. 


Well, let's try another coat of paint before bed.  I masked off the main red stripe free-hand.  What a mess!

(Ha, I just now noticed what the washi tape says!)

https://i.imgur.com/11a1sfF.jpg


Well, looks like I get to keep going!  There's a few boo-boos, but overall I'm very pleased.  The mask bleed on the door will be covered with another black stripe that underlines that red.  And you can see it looks like my secondary mask came loose on the shoulder.  I think I can get that fixed fairly easily too. 


https://i.imgur.com/bbW64Fa.jpg

[BCR 570]

The twin trailer flatcars have made their first test runs:




More photos and videos in the build thread:  https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=21968.105

Tim

[peteski]

Peteski:  It makes sense that barbers were also surgeons - they had the sharpest knives (razors) in town.  Physicians did the diagnosing and prescribing, barbers did the surgery.  Oddly, many states still require some medical training for a barber's license, even though they're no longer allowed to practice medicine.  Hair stylists and beauticians don't require that training.

Oh, I was aware of that fact. Actually, I just recently watched a PBS program abouta stash of human bones found in a basement of a house where Benjamin Franklin resided while he lived in England, and the subject of barbers of those times also being doctors.surgeons was brought up.

What I wasn't aware of was that the red downward rotating spiral on the barber pole represented blood flowing down. Maybe the blue stripe was blue blood ? 

To be honest, I used to think that the red/white/blue on the barber poles was simply representation of the colors on the USA flag.

[peteski]

Yes, Paul's videos have been a huge inspiration to me over the past few years!  Even though he's primarily model air planes, his tips and techniques are universal.
In fact, I used his CA + powder trick on this very project!  The VRE unit has illuminated number boards on either side of the headlight, but CalTrain only has a single number board between the ditch lights.  I didn't take any pics, but I filled in and filed smooth the old letter boards with CA + powder. 
 . . .
Well, let's try another coat of paint before bed.  I masked off the main red stripe free-hand.  What a mess!
      (Ha, I just now noticed what the washi tape says!)
.  . .

Mark, what the heck is Washi tape, and why aren't you using Tamiya masking tape for precision masking like that?!?!? 

[wcfn100]

Do you have any photos of the other side?

I think most of what's available on on this site.

http://slphistory.org/mplsst-louisrr/

The Kenwood depot was another interesting one.



Jason

[Mark W]

Mark, what the heck is Washi tape, and why aren't you using Tamiya masking tape for precision masking like that?!?!? 

Washi tape is to Tamiya tape the same way MEK is to Plastic Cement.  Pretty much the exact same thing at a fraction the cost!

[NtheBasement]

Supplemental entry: I made another working barber pole.

Excellent animation!  How did you attach the wire to the motor shaft?