Weekend Update 2021/05/16

[SP-Wolf]

Really nice job!  I have one in pieces in my to-finish box - gonna do MHAX.  Two questions:
1. What did you use to make the corner stirrup steps?
2. How did you paint the ladders and grab irons black so neatly?

Thank you, very much!!

1. What did you use to make the corner stirrup steps? - They are from Gold Medal Models # 160-47
2. How did you paint the ladders and grab irons black so neatly? - I used a long bristle #10/0 paint brush - with the aid of an Optivisor.

Best regards,
Wolf

[bman]

Received an order from Miniprints consisting of 2 versions of their custom crews totaling 4 figures. I managed to get 1 fully painted and another almost finished after setting up for our club event his weekend. Painting these will make painting 28mm minis easier in the future. I am happy with the prints themselves and semi happy with the paint I applied.

[nkalanaga]

John:  You might have already thought of it, but if you have that many couplers to mount, maybe put a dimple where the hole is supposed to be?  It would cast just as well, and make getting all of the holes in the same place much easier.

[wazzou]

John:  You might have already thought of it, but if you have that many couplers to mount, maybe put a dimple where the hole is supposed to be?  It would cast just as well, and make getting all of the holes in the same place much easier.

Agreed.  It seems to me it would be an easily designed and efficient timesaver.

[Jesse6669]

Thanks @Bob.  Actually, I would maintain that you do have the skills to do this.  The technology itself is relatively easy to use: the printer (Photon Mono in my case, $229 USD) is plug n play and the CAD I'm using (TinkerCAD) is a web-based package intended for school kids who want to get started with 3d design tools.  As of last December, I had zero experience with either of these tools.

I think the main skill that may be hard to teach (not sure about that, really) is to have a good sense of design; i.e., how to actually build up relatively complex parts from basic shapes.  It's also helpful to know what the printers are good at: linear/planar parts at right angles, and what they're less good at: complex curved surfaces, because of the layering.

Based on your work laying out and building up Harper's Ferry, you clearly have a good design sense!

I second what Gary said about TinkerCad.  Despite it seemingly being targeted to kids, I use it for all my 3D design work and find its simplicity is its strength.  I don't need animation or texture tools (yet) and so it serves the purpose very nicely.  Plus its free, and all designs are saved in the AutoDesk cloud so you don't need to worry about losing them (as long as Autodesk stays in business.) 

I still get my models printed at Shapeways, but that Photon Mono is looking more and more attractive..
Jesse

[up1950s]

Dammit!  I totally forgot this was happening today.  I would've drove down from Longmont.  Thanks for posting this video though Dave.

Erik

I was just following orders SIRS . I also use yyyy-mm-dd prefixed by topic of course , in this case wud # in my komputer . By the by I will do the next weeks WUD if allowed . and any way Tom  wants it .

[Cajonpassfan]

Thank you, very much!!

1. What did you use to make the corner stirrup steps? - They are from Gold Medal Models # 160-47
2. How did you paint the ladders and grab irons black so neatly? - I used a long bristle #10/0 paint brush - with the aid of an Optivisor.

Best regards,
Wolf

Wolf, a very neat job on these unique models!
And yes, the Optivisor is my friend, too; I find myself using it (them) more and more as I get older
Can’t wait to see these cars in person one of these hopefully post-Covid days soon!
Otto

[btrain]

At the invitation of @w_neal, I spent an enjoyable time exhibiting my layout at Ohio N scale weekend. It was great to see vendors like CMR, Spring Creek, and Rasputin selling their goods. I also enjoyed meeting and talking with several Railwire members and seeing many modelers' talented works on display. If you live within a several hours drive from Columbus, I highly recommend attending next year's festivities.

Here are some photos of the layout. More can be found on the trip report on the layout thread.

[SP-Wolf]

Wolf, a very neat job on these unique models!
And yes, the Optivisor is my friend, too; I find myself using it (them) more and more as I get older
Can’t wait to see these cars in person one of these hopefully post-Covid days soon!
Otto

Thank you, Otto

Yeah - my Wife likes to poke fun at me when I am wearing my trusty Optivisor. (which is every time I work on my models).

I too look forward to your visit - hopefully very soon. (I am fully vaccinated)

Best regards,
Wolf

[garethashenden]

John:  You might have already thought of it, but if you have that many couplers to mount, maybe put a dimple where the hole is supposed to be?  It would cast just as well, and make getting all of the holes in the same place much easier.

I would put a hole. Make it a little small and plan on running a drill through, but it will be easier to make sure the final hole is square if you start with a molded hole.

[JMaurer1]

This just in: General Francisco Franco is still dead.

[Tom L]

I finally got around to the resin parts offered by @Sokramiketes to make a 1937 AAR CGW boxcar with the proper ends and doors.  A little clean up and it’s ready for paint.  It was a good warm up before starting the other full on resin kits from him.

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Tom L
Wellington CO

[Sokramiketes]

I finally got around to the resin parts offered by @Sokramiketes to make a 1937 AAR CGW boxcar with the proper ends and doors.  A little clean up and it’s ready for paint.  It was a good warm up before starting the other full on resin kits from him.

Tom L
Wellington CO

Looking good Tom!  A bit of information that came up after the instructions were printed, was that Pullman records showed black roofs and unpainted wood roofwalks as delivered.  If you're doing a later simplified scheme, then no worries.

[John]

John:  You might have already thought of it, but if you have that many couplers to mount, maybe put a dimple where the hole is supposed to be?  It would cast just as well, and make getting all of the holes in the same place much easier.

Thanks for the suggestion .. I will once I finalize the design .. it won't be as fancy as the trainworx or lemonsteam design .. ..   I'm going to play around a little to see if I can draw up the coupler pocket in tinkercad .. will see how it goes .. I have to pay for that printer somehow

[sd45elect2000]

Received an order from Miniprints consisting of 2 versions of their custom crews totaling 4 figures. I managed to get 1 fully painted and another almost finished after setting up for our club event his weekend. Painting these will make painting 28mm minis easier in the future. I am happy with the prints themselves and semi happy with the paint I applied.

Please tell me more about miniprints ! I need WW2 - Korean war US sailors , i need a lot of them..