Weekend Update 2/21/21

[up1950s]

https://www.becauseofthemwecan.com/blogs/botwc-firsts/meet-bianca-wilson-norfolk-naval-shipyards-first-african-american-female-train-conductor

[PiperguyUMD]

Dissertation submitted!! Defense on 3/29. In the meantime



Hoping for a big model railroading weekend. I think I've finally dialed in my design for WM RS 3/2 end railings, so I'm hoping to get hand rails done for both units. I know I could use thinner wire, but I think this will blend with the stock railings. I really don't want to have to do the rest of the railings if I don't have too!



Big plans for the Owings Mills module this weekend too. Got sculptamold down on most of the module this evening, going to plant the coal trestle tomorrow. Once that's in, then I'll add fascia. If I can get that far this weekend it will be a great weekend!

[John]

Congrats -- What's the topic of the dissertation?  We could start a thread and pick it apart for you here

[PiperguyUMD]

Congrats -- What's the topic of the dissertation?  We could start a thread and pick it apart for you here

Thanks! I’m finishing up a DMA in music. I toured with a brass band called The King’s Brass for over seven years. I did my research on the formation and impact on that group.

www.kingsbrass.org

[C855B]

What instrument? Pleeeeeze don't tell me you're yet another TRW trombonist.   

[John]

Thanks! I’m finishing up a DMA in music. I toured with a brass band called The King’s Brass for over seven years. I did my research on the formation and impact on that group.

www.kingsbrass.org

Awesome

http://www.kingsbrass.org/videos/god_bless_america.m4v

[ednadolski]

Thanks! I’m finishing up a DMA in music.

Direct Memory Access...?   

(Apologies, computer geek humor.... I was working with this stuff all week....)

[John]

Direct Memory Access...?   

(Apologies, computer geek humor....)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_of_Musical_Arts

[PiperguyUMD]

What instrument? Pleeeeeze don't tell me you're yet another TRW trombonist.   

YES!!

[C855B]

[...sigh...]

Respect. My fave famous artist is Joe Alessi. So have you mastered the eyebrow thing yet? 

(My primary pro instrument is tuba, tho' I dabble in other stuff. We have a DMA on clarinet in my woodwind quintet and symphonic wind ensemble.)

[CR4100]

Slide or valve?

[PiperguyUMD]

Slide or valve?

Bass 

When I first found my way to TRW I was surprised to see so many musicians. But model railroading, especially that which takes place here, is a fascinating blend of research, nostalgia, creativity, and craftsmanship - interests that I’ve noticed in many musicians. I’ve met Joe Alessi a time or two, but I’ve heard rumors he’s a model railroader too!

[GhengisKong]

What instrument? Pleeeeeze don't tell me you're yet another TRW trombonist.   

Former tromboneist/er here myself. There must be a correlation of model railroaders and being a fan of trombones.

[C855B]

Bass 

When I first found my way to TRW I was surprised to see so many musicians. But model railroading, especially that which takes place here, is a fascinating blend of research, nostalgia, creativity, and craftsmanship - interests that I’ve noticed in many musicians. I’ve met Joe Alessi a time or two, but I’ve heard rumors he’s a model railroader too!

You messed around with a cimbasso yet? They sort of fascinate me. Tuba range but with an in-your-face timbre.

Alessi a MRRer? That would be a funny coincidence. Gene Pokorny, tuba, Chicago Symphony is a certifiable train nut, even featured the 844 on the cover of one of his solo albums. He's also a member of UPHS. I think I saw him at the UPHS convention in Omaha a few years back but didn't approach given that it was one of those "you look familiar but I can't place it" moments and didn't want to embarrass myself and/or put him on the spot.

[GaryHinshaw]

Congrats @PiperguyUMD!!  Coincidentally, I spent 2 hours this afternoon on what we (the faculty) call a PhD Offence: where we grill the candidate about what he/she knows, and more importantly, doesn't know.     (The candidate passed.)

Not to change the subject, but my adventures in 3d printing continue.  I now have a pretty decent set of parts to upgrade my BLMA spine cars.  My main goal was to replace the hitches, which were pretty wonky in the stock model.  While I was at it, I drew up and printed coupler pockets for some LEZ couplers, and new end-frames to replace the fragile stock parts.  Here are two shots showing before (left) and after (right):





To my amazement, the Photon Mono was able to handle the standalone grab irons and even some open-link chain in N scale.  You can see some clear striations on the front of the hitch, but that was a compromise so I could print the hitch as one piece for strength & reliability.  It's barely visible in service, especially when a trailer is loaded.

The stock hitches were so wonky that I never put these cars into service because the loads were unstable.  At long last I can finally break out my collection of exquisite Trainworx trailers to go with these cars:



Have a great weekend.