Weekend Update 3/21/21

[up1950s]

https://www.thetravel.com/20-pictures-of-deserted-train-stations-we-would-never-want-to-be-caught-in/

[DKS]

The layout nears completion. Start here for the last week of updates: https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=46796.285

[Dave V]

Forward progress on the N scale Colorado Midland.

[ednadolski]

Here are a few quick pics from my first attempt to 3D print some usable model parts.  These are some 1/48 scale tieplates for code 125 rail, so they should work for Proto:48 as well as Ow5 track.  I build a Q&D sample section of half-track to see what they look like when installed/painted/weathered with rail, ties, and ballast.

I used a profile from an actual prototype tieplate, so you can see that they include the slight taper from the rail base toward the outside edges. The 3D print does show some aliasing there under magnification, but it is not too evident after paint & weathering.  The spike holes at the rail base are slightly elongated to accommodate the P:87 O/S spikes (which are actually rectangular cross-section, not square) tho that too is hard to spot that once the spikes are installed.  The spikes seem to hold pretty well in the wood ties without going completely thru them, so no Homasote or other spike-holding roadbed is required.

I think these are an improvement over the plastic tieplates typically used for 1:48 scale, which are flat and have enlarged holes to permit the oversized spikes typically used for O scale track.  I also know of some 3D printed tieplates on Shapeways, but those are costly and have a few other downsides (to me anyways).

I'm pretty pleased with the results, so I am now working on the various kinds of tieplates and other such parts that I will need to build a complete turnout.







Quick sample of (half-) track:






Ed

[narrowminded]

Very nice, @ednadolski !

[BCR 570]

I like the effect on your ties; what did you use to paint and/or stain them?

Tim

[ednadolski]

I like the effect on your ties; what did you use to paint and/or stain them?

Thanks @BCR 570 , those have a base stain of Minwax (Jacobean, IIRC), then I roughed them up a bit with a saw blade, X-acto knife, and some sandpaper (to get rid of that "new furniture" look).

[bbussey]

Finished a couple of payloads for the circus train consist, the baby elephant truck and the giraffe wagon.

[mu26aeh]

Finally some 1:1 progress to share.  Next step, get it dried in !

[peteski]

Finished a couple of payloads for the circus train consist, the baby elephant truck and the giraffe wagon.

Very nice!
Are those Alps-printed decals?

[bbussey]

Very nice!
Are those Alps-printed decals?

Alps for the white and gold metallic, HP LaserJet for the CMYK including the red panels on the wagon.

[BCR 570]

The Spring Break has afforded me a little extra modelling time.  The layout was reactivated recently for some article and clinic photography.

RS-18 607 is seen departing Dawson Creek with the track cleaning car:




C-420 632 and C-425 804 are crossing the Kiskatinaw River with a string of pre-production boxcar samples from NARC, which were on the layout for testing:




I have also spent some time changing the pins on my trailer fleet so they will ride on the Briggs Models hitches.  I used .035" styrene rod to replace the Micro-Trains pins:




The arrival of some custom 3D printed parts allowed me to complete assembly of my Tie & Rail car for the Prince George Auxiliary:




This model started as an Intermountain composite gondola and I installed styrene sides as others have done here.  The rail holder assemblies were too intricate to try and build in styrene so 3D printing was a good solution.  The parts hold the rail very well:




I also got decals applied to my two CC&F twin trailer flatcars (more here https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=21968.165:




With the arrival this week of decals for my Railwest woodchip cars, a lot more decaling is in store for me next week!




Tim

[dem34]

First time making something useful in Fusion. 3D Printed utility cross arm, it is roughly based off commercial utility poles from Atlas. Its a little chunky compared to the lasercut, Cast metal, and Resin printed variants but this has enough general tolerance to be printed on a FDM printer and the 2mm Styrene pole will break long before the crossarms making it more suitable for traveling layouts.

[peteski]

Alps for the white and gold metallic, HP LaserJet for the CMYK including the red panels on the wagon.

Ah, that explains why the color mural had white  background but no apparent halftone artifacts. A hybrid decal!  Excellent idea.

[Iain]

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I built another micronart kit; I have it in my mind that I want to build a small switching layout based on New Bern, NC after I move in a couple months, and I need a bunch of early 1900s vehicles.