Weekend Update 11/27/22

[bbussey]

Hey Bryan - I am really intrigued by your use of the dollhouse bricks.  Can you say a bit more about these?  Did you dye them different shades of gray?  If so, how did you do that?  Can they be cut with a razor saw?  I can see using these - you mentioned that you are sealing them - can you say what you are using for that?  Thanks!  Bob

The product I bought is manufactured by Andi Mini Brick & Stone, and their product line is sold through dollhouse dealers and on Amazon.  The bricks are cast dyed clay and available in various color families.  I used the brown blend, which consists of the bricks cast in various brown hues.  The manufacturer's instructions are to use a non-water soluble clear glue such as Beacon's Multi-Grip and then protect the finished assembly with a standard brick sealer or polyurethane.  I used a brick sealer applied with a spray bottle.  This will be followed with Andi's mortar applied as a wash-and-wipe, and then I'll airbrush-weather the abutments to blend the colors for more subtle variations.  Yes, the bricks can be cut with a fine-tooth razor saw and filed with jewelers and bastard files as well.

There are other manufacturers of dollhouse bricks as well, in various dimensions and scales.  I chose the 1:16 Andi bricks because their dimensions are very close to those of the prototype abutment blocks.

[TrainCat2]

So more progress on the Delaware Ave design. In fact, I can call one of the four modules as done. Here is the overall trackage I have down on "paper". A more detailed report is in my layout thread.

[Sokramiketes]

Wabash Bluebird on the CGW layout this week.

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[Erik W]

The kit is laser-cut wood and etched brass with some 3-D printed and injection molded details.

As for paint, that's just Rust-oleum's 2X Ultra Cover flat red primer. It's almost a dead match for PolyScale/Testor's Oxide Red.

Thanks Dave.  I spent the afternoon messing around mixing Tamiya Hull Red, Red Brown, and Buff in various combinations for a freight car project I'm about to start.  I wasn't really happy with what I was coming up with, so the Rust-oleum tip is timely.

Erik

[jpwisc]

I started work on an SP&S fire car too. This one is for a friend
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[ednadolski]

Caught this pic today of DRIR 88 in Denver.    Seems like it could be respectably represented in O-scale by modifying the Red Caboose GP9 kit. 



Ed

[haasmarc]

Playing with my new toy (Mini 8k), these are N scale.

The tank hulls are just sitting on the tracks so they are not lined up perfectly.





The fit between the hull and turret is perfect.





Things were looking good so I thought I'd try a hopper.



Even the holes in the brake wheel platform came out. The ones you can't see through have the platform supports under them.



The grabs and ladders aren't as fragile as I was thinking they would be.

So far I'm pretty happy.

[mu26aeh]

Can't wait to get mine set up, though only a 4K.  Still be will fun

[Dayliner]

Wait what? How can there be another person that is also modelling Lake Cowichan. I thought I was the only one that knew the place existed.

This is very exciting! Looking forward to seeing more.

Craig

E&N modelers could be anywhere--you never know where you'll find one!

Actually, to say I'm "modeling" Lake Cowichan is a little generous, as there is only so much you can do on a 10"-wide shelf.  It is basically a place to run the log trains to and from, as well as the twice-weekly wayfreight.

One of reasons for the rebuild was to use the space more effectively and realistically.  This was the first portion of the layout I built, long before I knew very much about the actual track arrangements at the Lake.  Having learned a little since then, I've discovered that a more prototypical track arrangement also gives me more room for structures and scenery--a win-win!

[altohorn25]

I was able to work on a set of Micro Trains FT A-B units this past week.  I added Gold Medal Models and BLMA details (rear view mirrors and windshield wipers) as well as some weathering.  Weathering was done with an airbrush and consisted of railroad tie brown around the trucks and car body and flat black on the roof for exhaust (Modelflex paint).

Digitrax DCC was also added.

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[Scottl]

It is almost two years to the date that I tore apart my last layout in Ontario.  Today, my new train room was officially populated with my boxes of train gear and my work table.  Time for new layout construction.

[craigolio1]

E&N modelers could be anywhere--you never know where you'll find one!

Actually, to say I'm "modeling" Lake Cowichan is a little generous, as there is only so much you can do on a 10"-wide shelf.  It is basically a place to run the log trains to and from, as well as the twice-weekly wayfreight.

One of reasons for the rebuild was to use the space more effectively and realistically.  This was the first portion of the layout I built, long before I knew very much about the actual track arrangements at the Lake.  Having learned a little since then, I've discovered that a more prototypical track arrangement also gives me more room for structures and scenery--a win-win!

Excellent! I’m really looking forward to seeing more. I’m modelling a section on one side of my room which is 12’ long and represents the Malahat, including the Niagara and Arbutus canyons, and the other side of the room represents Lake Cowichan from the Cowichan river to the station/ log load outs/interchange. I’ve used some creative license to make it fit the space but I have a passing track, a wye, a log load out, the station, and a team track. The road bed is down for the main right now so I’m getting there.

It’s exciting to find another E&N modeller (albeit I’m running BCR equipment).

Craig

[Dayliner]

Excellent! I’m really looking forward to seeing more. I’m modelling a section on one side of my room which is 12’ long and represents the Malahat, including the Niagara and Arbutus canyons, and the other side of the room represents Lake Cowichan from the Cowichan river to the station/ log load outs/interchange. I’ve used some creative license to make it fit the space but I have a passing track, a wye, a log load out, the station, and a team track. The road bed is down for the main right now so I’m getting there.

It’s exciting to find another E&N modeller (albeit I’m running BCR equipment).

Sounds good! I would really like to see what you've done--and I'm impressed that you have been able to include the wye.

I've stayed away from the Malahat as I'm somewhat intimidated by the bridges and I wanted to focus more on switching possibilities in designing the layout.  But if I ever build my long-anticipated peninsula addition, I will have the Malahat with probably the Arbutus bridge (a little easier to re-create than the Niagara one) as well as the tunnel.

I model Victoria-Chemainus, with the Lake Cowichan sub essentially a long spur behind the backdrop, which pops out into the open at Lake Cowichan above "Wellcox" (the northern staging yard).  At the Lake itself I will have the log track (but not the actual loadout, which was down by the water), the main track and a siding to run the power around--so a "selectively compressed" version of the actual log yard, as well as a spur for the shingle mill.

I'm also running BCR/PGE power right now, as Tim has kindly loaned me some of his RS10s and 18s while my own fleet of GP9s is being detailed and upgraded.

I will keep posting here as the Lake Cowichan project progresses--my goal is to have something new to share every week.

[draskouasshat]

I started work on an SP&S fire car too. This one is for a friend
(Attachment Link)

Those look great. Did you do the designing or is it from somewhere else? I'm looking at picking up an 8k.

Drasko

[craigolio1]

Sounds good! I would really like to see what you've done--and I'm impressed that you have been able to include the wye.

I've stayed away from the Malahat as I'm somewhat intimidated by the bridges and I wanted to focus more on switching possibilities in designing the layout.  But if I ever build my long-anticipated peninsula addition, I will have the Malahat with probably the Arbutus bridge (a little easier to re-create than the Niagara one) as well as the tunnel.

I model Victoria-Chemainus, with the Lake Cowichan sub essentially a long spur behind the backdrop, which pops out into the open at Lake Cowichan above "Wellcox" (the northern staging yard).  At the Lake itself I will have the log track (but not the actual loadout, which was down by the water), the main track and a siding to run the power around--so a "selectively compressed" version of the actual log yard, as well as a spur for the shingle mill.

I'm also running BCR/PGE power right now, as Tim has kindly loaned me some of his RS10s and 18s while my own fleet of GP9s is being detailed and upgraded.

I will keep posting here as the Lake Cowichan project progresses--my goal is to have something new to share every week.

Excellent. Tons of action back in the day in the area you have chosen.

Here is a thread where I have some decent progress on my lake Cowichan section.

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=49229.0

It only shows from the Cowichan River to the CN trestle over the E&N  before the station. The rest where I have the y and such is on a permanent turn section at the end of my room and I don’t have any pics unfortunately. It’s too messy right now. Even though the prototype was a single track, I chose to double track these modules as a need a passing siding.

I also don’t have pics of the Malahat section as it’s disassembled up in my garage right now for some messy scenery work. But here is a YouTube video showing my progress just prior to disassembly. It was the first time I’ve ever run a train in my basement!

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I hope to get the modules back down stairs in the next couple of weeks. Then the next step is to lay track on the permanent turns at the ends and I’ll have a race track. The helix will come off the side of the turn at the lake Cowichan end and exits through a wall. For now it doubles as the interchange for lake Cowichan/Mesachie lake and also accesses staging. It will eventually also enter helix to the lower level. But I’m waiting on that until get some real progress up top.

Here is a VERY crude sketch of the plan I’m working towards right now. My room is 19ft by 7ft. Gives me a nice long continuous run loop so I can watch long trains. A 6ft long siding so I can park something decent. A bit of switching. A couple of epic bridge crossings to stare at. And my staging will be 6 12ft long tracks in the adjacent room so I don’t have to spend a lot of time building a train if I just have a short time. My time in the train room is sporadic at best these days.

The ultimate plan is to move the Malahat section to the lower level and the whole top shelf will be the Lake Cowichan sub. The lower level would be Victoria to welcox.

The long part of lake Cowichan near the bridge over the river is a very nostalgic place for me which is why I’ve dedicated so much space to such an unimportant part of the line…. But it also gives it the right feel.

Craig