Weekend Update 6/21/20

[Jesse6669]

Periodic check-in with some manifestations of my small-scale madness.. the 1:450 MOW truck is a Ford F-7000 or F-8000 from what I can tell.. it's a PC hi-rail truck (see Brad McClelland's pic) and will have a spot on my Sharonville Engine Facility diorama/module.  Not quite finished, I have PC decals on the way which will include the door logo.  I may make a version with hollow cab so I can make windows of Krystal Klear or decal film.  I also made one in Z (the larger of the two un-assembled models) just to see how it turned out.  If anyone is interested in it, let me know since my modeling is all 1:300 or 1:450 scale. 
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Also including some of the 1:300 narrow gauge stuff that rolls on 3mm gauge (T-gague) track.  Pic of the 1:300 D&RGW 3000-series boxcar with my decals.. this was a test, the current uses .12mm tungsten wire for the turnbuckles and brake wheel staff, which isn't quite as oversize.
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Progress on the 1:300 K-36.. have etched details coming (rods, handrails, ladder, window accessories..)
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Jesse

[John]

I've been busy printing those things every layout needs for scenery

Junk Pile


Barrels by engine terminal






I think I need a bunch of these

[Dave V]

In 1938 the RGS acquired a fleet of boxcars from the Colorado & Southern through a settlement between the C&S and the RGS' receiver Victor Miller.  While I have several Grandt Line car kits I've built to represent the steel-underframe, metal-roofed, Bettendorf-truck equipped "Type 3" ex-C&S cars, I wanted more variety.  The RGS also got "Type 1" (wood underframe, arch bar trucks, wood plank roof) and "Type 2" (wood underframe, cast Bettendorf trucks, and a 13-seam or 9-rib Murphy roof) boxcars.  In practice, there were three different roof types scattered across all the car classes, although for the most part the planked roofs stayed with the Type 1s and the Type 2s and 3s had a some variety of 9-rib or 13-seam Murphy metal roofs.

To that end I dug up an old Rail Line kit for the familiar, ubiquitous, and unmistakable D&RGW 3000-series boxcar that I’d bought from the local hobby shop. It had been assembled by someone else pretty much in accordance with the instructions, but had been painted for C&S in a block letter scheme. It also had some damage which is why it was waiting in my parts box for many months. Well, I replaced the doors, door hardware, roofwalk corner steps, and trucks as well as made some general repairs. It represents one of the “Type 2” C&S Miller boxcars which had cast Bettendorf trucks and wood underframes. Apparently some of the Type 2 and Type 3 cars were rebuilt with the familiar D&RGW-style 9-rib Murphy roofs. A few so-equipped cars may well have made it to the RGS. I chose 8603 because it was a Type 2 and I couldn’t find a photo of it, so I couldn’t say for sure that it didn’t have the 9-rib Murphy roof. It still needs weathering.



The kit's D&RGW-style heritage is still visible, but hopefully it looks a little more C&S/RGS.  It's a good filler car.  If I go down this rabbit hole again, it'll be a Type 1 and I'll shave the ribs off the Rail Line roof and replace it with planking.  I'd also like to find a way to remove the door guide to the right of the door if I can do so without destroying the siding...if I can do that, it'll look much more C&S/RGS style.

[robwill84]

Is that Krystal Klear (or Elmers?)  Looks like it hasn't quite dried?

Nah, its just blue acrylic paint, the effect is deliberate. I'm trying to add some depth and simulated reflections to the windows. In the past I've painted them straight gloss black, but that doesn't work very well on black vehicles. Keep in mind these are very brightly lit, and about 2x actual size in the photos. On the layout it is a subtle effect.

[nickelplate759]

I'm trying to decal-bash NKP composite hoppers using the Micro-Trains car.
Northeast Decals made a set for these cars, but it's not all that accurate.  Fortunately, I have over 1 dozen sets, plus other odds and ends, and sets for other NKP hoppers from K4s.
First, here's the prototype, from a builder's photo


 
and the 1940s:



Here's my attempt at decal bashing the 1940s version, next a Micro-trains car of the builder's photo version.
Note that the MT car is brown - it should be black.  Other than, it's a really nice rendition of the lettering.



Note that the NYC&St.L lettering on the decal-bash car is too big.  Opinions - too big to keep?

Finally, here's a test with NYC&St.L lettering that's closer to the as-built version (but still not right):



I'm hoping that if I work hard enough Bluford Shops will do these cars

[Spades]

Jesse6669

I am always amazed by your work.   How do the the trucks work in 1:300/400 or do they?  The painting and lettering boggles the mind.

Edit: Just saw your blog.  Even more awesomeness.

[DKS]

Haven't been feeling good lately, so not much modeling for me this week. I did manage to build a Showcase Miniatures kit of a fuel oil tank:



I also resurrected a sanding tower I bashed for a Railwire modeling challenge way back in 2014 for use on the layout:

   

And lastly, I'm closing in on completion of the trestle:



Much more detail in the engineering thread: https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=49183.msg669461#msg669461

[eric220]

What a stunning model, Eric!!
Mason Bogies are among my favorites, too, with South Park #42 on top of my list....
I hope this one gets to be displayed in a prominent spot when not in your back yard
Otto

The rollers came in the mail minutes before the Bogie! The plan is to install a sound decoder in the loco, and build a shelf next to my desk with the rollers recessed into it. That way, I can run it any time I’m by my computer!

[Jesse6669]

Jesse6669
How do the the trucks work in 1:300/400 or do they?  The painting and lettering boggles the mind.

Trucks are 3D printed and use the "pin point" (needle style bearing) wheelsets available from TGauge.com (as close as we get to commercial aftermarket.. with the one main locomotive/rolling stock manufacturer being K.K. Eishindo).  It took a little tinkering and a few "proprietary" design features to dial them in but they roll just fine.  I have arch bars, roller bearing, Bettendorf, AAR-B, etc. etc.   They are not bulletproof being made of the acrylic, but nothing in this scale really is.  They work.  I'm actually pretty proud of the couplers which look decent, even with the air hose, and do work (snap-fit).  The 1:300 narrow gauge stuff really has me interested lately and so I lead a split life between standard gauge 1:450 and narrow gauge 1:300 scales..  I may be doing a Goose in 1:300 soon.. heh! 

I've done my fair share of home-made decals but now do a lot through a custom printer, and have dialed in my vector graphic skills (necessary for etching and decals both).  It's really not too bad, I'm sure most of the modelers here could handle any of this.  Much of the very minute stuff can be omitted so it's road numbers, logos, etc. and forget the "F" and buildier's plate on the frame and such.  I have a GG1 so of course had to do these decals..  Note the numbers are correct PRR style.. [ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[Jesse6669]

I'm trying to decal-bash NKP composite hoppers using the Micro-Trains car.
Northeast Decals made a set for these cars, but it's not all that accurate.

It wouldn't be too hard to do a set of decals for these cars from scratch, to the prototype. PM or email me if you're interested in this (or you'd rather decal bash that's ok too!) 

Jesse

[craigolio1]

I go into a bunch of decal projects that have been lingering.

Here are two Kaslo Shops 56ft bulkhead flat cars that I started, literally, 20 years ago.





A CS Models wood chip car of about the same vintage.



And two Briggs Models double door boxcars which I built probably 10 years ago.





I have 7 more of the chip cars to decal.

Also on the list are four Kaslo 66’ skeleton log cars which are also about 20 years in the making.

Craig

[wm3798]

It rained outside, so I did my landscaping work inside today.


The tunnels at Paw Paw are coming together nicely.

Lee

[peteski]

It rained outside, so I did my landscaping work inside today.


The tunnels at Paw Paw are coming together nicely.

Lee

A spaghetti-bowl amount of track track, with tunnels. A sure sign of a retro-style layout. Nice!    Funny how the track on the right seems too low to allow enough clearance for trains in the pair of tunnels, but it hast to an optical illusion.

Hey, send some rain to New England - we are having a drought here!  The humid 90s weather (for the  foreseeable future) is no fun either.

[Point353]

It rained outside, so I did my landscaping work inside today.

You'd think peteski would be ecstatic to see a "landscape" mode photo. 

[MK]

I think the complaint was for videos.