Weekend Update 12/6/20

[Point353]

and perfecting my Bolognese recipe . . . . .

Next time, try slightly undercooking the pasta and then finish cooking it in the sauce.

[voldemort]

More than half a lifetime ago, in Rome we ate at Alfredo's (Alfredo was still alive).  The fettucine was beautiful.  An appetizer.  They brought out a silver platter of the cooked noodles, added a pound or two of tuscan butter (in the classic grocery store butter shape), lots of fresh parmesan grated on top, some salt and some pepper, then mixed it at the table.  Unbelievable.  And no cream, it was a simple as that, and is impressive to serve guests (at that time, to impress ladies)

[up1950s]

Is that N ? Whos rims are those rims ?

[dougnelson]

1940 Ford flatbed truck from a Hagen N Scale kit.

[wm3798]

The 'third' locomotive I ever owned in N was an Atlas FM, used.   It still holds the title as the ultimate POS I've ever owned, the most remarkable feature being that the slightly out-of-round traction tires on the powered front truck could, at full slip, vibrate it vertically right off the rails.   And it died of zinc pest.   Salute to anyone that still can run one, but it would take a video to convince me!

Ask and ye shall receive... 

The C liners are on the inside loop.  Only the lead unit... and the lead truck on the lead unit... is powered.
Given their age and the fragile nature of the motor, I rarely run this set for more than about a half an hour at a time.  By comparison, the Life Like BL2 on the upper loop, which is a first generation Lead Sled, runs pretty much continuously while I'm working...  sometimes 8 to 10 hours at a time.

N Joy!
Lee

[wazzou]

The picture of the Rasputen F850 I posted was just a quick cell phone grab.
Early last week, I downloaded the Affinity Photo program after a recommendation here on TRW by @rickb773.
I had not used it yet but after looking at the photo I posted, I thought this would be a good example to try their focus merging.
The photo below is a merge of 13 photos taken with my Nikon D500 and 60mm Macro lense.
The only touchup I did was a slight curve adjustment to the final photo.
I'm really happy with the results and I can see using this quite a bit.

[wazzou]

Is that N ? Whos rims are those rims ?

It is N Scale and it is a kit from @Rasputen
This particular kit as with a couple of the other truck kits offers just the cab and the wheels.
I built everything else, grain box, fuel tank, mud flaps and used one of the many, many CMW trucks bought on sale in order to use the frame.
The frame did require some mods, lengthening and filing here and there to fit nicely but I have lots just for this purpose.

[peteski]

The picture of the Rasputen F850 I posted was just a quick cell phone grab.
Early last week, I downloaded the Affinity Photo program after a recommendation here on TRW by @rickb773.
I had not used it yet but after looking at the photo I posted, I thought this would be a good example to try their focus merging.
The photo below is a merge of 13 photos taken with my Nikon D500 and 60mm Macro lense.
The only touchup I did was a slight curve adjustment to the final photo.
I'm really happy with the results and I can see using this quite a bit.

That looks great Bryan (both, the models and the focused photo).
One thing that would likely further improve realism (and what is likely not apparent viewing in-person, but visible in the photo) would be to paint the insides of the front fenders black.  That would hide the non-scale thickness of the casting.  It is one of those small things that would make a big difference.

[wazzou]

That looks great Bryan (both, the models and the focused photo).
One thing that would likely further improve realism (and what is likely not apparent viewing in-person, but visible in the photo) would be to paint the insides of the front fenders black.  That would hide the non-scale thickness of the casting.  It is one of those small things that would make a big difference.

Thanks Pete. 
The inside is painted black, like behind the wheels which can be seen in the photo, but as 1968 is about the sweet spot for my modeling era, I chose to leave the fender wells untouched for now.

[Lemosteam]

Agreed the fenders on medium and heavy trucks are typically left body color. the prospective owner MIGHT apply undercoating, but depending on the modeling year, that might not even be a thing.

[wm3798]

I don't think the black paint is there to represent undercoating.  It's merely a visual trick to make the fender itself appear to be made of thinner material.  A darker contrasting gray would do the trick as well, without being as stark as black.  As is, the fender material is probably close to a scale foot thick.  Black or dark paint inside the wheel well simply makes that harder to see.

Think theater set... it doesn't have to be there, it just has LOOK like it's there.

Sometimes we get too hung up on prototype ideas that we lose sight of modeler's tricks that just make things look more realistic.

[wazzou]

...As is, the fender material is probably close to a scale foot thick. 

It's pretty close to 4".

[peteski]

I don't think the black paint is there to represent undercoating.  It's merely a visual trick to make the fender itself appear to be made of thinner material.  A darker contrasting gray would do the trick as well, without being as stark as black.  As is, the fender material is probably close to a scale foot thick.  Black or dark paint inside the wheel well simply makes that harder to see.

Think theater set... it doesn't have to be there, it just has LOOK like it's there.

Sometimes we get too hung up on prototype ideas that we lose sight of modeler's tricks that just make things look more realistic.

That's exactly it Lee.  Black would hide the fact that the fender is so thick.  That area on a 1:1 truck, under regular lighting conditions, would be in deep shadow (and very dark).

[wazzou]

While I doubt that I'll ever take macro photos of that truck again, since it was just originally intended to show @sirenwerks the model as part of the Sears thread, I'll be sure to complete the illusion for you two.   
After looking at the original with the blurry background, I decided to take the Affinity Photo program for a test drive and it was super easy.

Stay tuned to see the truck when the next layout is built, (if only AnyRail were as simple as Affinity Photo)


PS. as mentioned above, the fender isn't that thick, coming in close to 4", it's just the oblique angle and the previously mentioned same color that gives that impression.

[peteski]

PS. as mentioned above, the fender isn't that thick, coming in close to 4", it's just the oblique angle and the previously mentioned same color that gives that impression.

It's all good. It was simply an observation and a suggestion.