Weekend Update 2/2/25

[Jesse6669]

I picked up a pouncing wheel and began tracing the track plan for East Norwood onto the baseboard.  I also did more printing of distressed gondolas and started working on a new piece of Z rolling stock, a (former Reading) Conrail N20 caboose.  This is an early test print.  I'm trying to see if I can successfully print fine end railings.   

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[jpwisc]

My smaller mow project so far, but this one is mission critical!
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[up1950s]

Ritchie, it's such a shame whoever did such an amazing job coloring that highway, building that bridge, and weathering that equipment left such an obvious shadow where the modeled highway meets the photo backdrop.   

Hmmm , just maybe we should actually shade the shadow in there as if the sun did it , regardless of our lighting shadows .

[arbomambo]

ATTENTION!!!
IMPORTANT NEWS!
The Chattanooga 2026 National T-TRAK Layout is officially FULL!
   From this point forward, we will only be accepting participant registration forms WITH MODULES on a ‘waiting list’ or ‘stand by’ basis!!!
  We are still accepting participant forms for participants without modules, but our module capacity has now reached its MAXIMUM capacity.

[Olivani]

Holy crap ! That is looking very good.

[basementcalling]

Ed K spreading the gospel of TTRAK chapter 33 v 160.

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[altohorn25]

Milwaukee Road train #4, the Eastbound "Pioneer Limited" running between LaCrosse and Portage, WI; December 22-23, 1959.

[Tobynnn]

I finished the Heil plant switcher this week. It’s a Davenport 35 tonner. I’m looking forward to seeing it on the Modutrak layout at Madison in a couple weeks.
Special thanks to @Chris333 and @Jesse6669 for their contributions to this project.

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That is so cool! It looks great, how well does it run?

[Jim Starbuck]

That is so cool! It looks great, how well does it run?

Thank you!
It runs well and slow enough to switch cars in and out of sidings and will move seven 40’ cars comfortably.
The biggest problem is the short 12mm axle spacing which can allow it to drop a wheel into a frog. I tested it on Kato Unitrack and hopefully it will do better on the code 55 layout track.
It’s pretty much a flower pot for the layout because the siding on the Heil plant module scene it will live on is only about a foot long.
We’ve had some discussion about actually setting out and picking up cars at various industries on the layout instead of constant mainline running at shows so we may make more use of it that way.

Jim

[Sumner]

I painted all the equipment needed to get a log into the mill and cut into a slab. The chain in, transfer table, log carriage and bandsaw are show below along with other items that still need to be painted.
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A link to more info and images on Railwire here.......

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=58208.msg815305#new.

Sumner

[basementcalling]

Hmmm , just maybe we should actually shade the shadow in there as if the sun did it , regardless of our lighting shadows .

Worth a try. I'm sure proper lighting could help with the illusion.

[Lemosteam]

More work to finish up the buckets today:

Added the cable to the pulleys in the clamshell buckets. Painted and weathered them as well.




I also added some epoxy to the large magnet to give I’d the Bugs Bunny magnet look. IYKYK.


I added some rope to the cribbing on the flat to act as hold downs for the buckets.




I also shortened the crane cable so the attachments were farther off the ground for more realistic posing.


First attempt at printing my grappler design for the scrapyard went horrible. Broken bits, and could not get one from two printed kits. Boo.


Second design, not so bad.




Adding the links to the hooks. One is attached to the upper pulleys.


Adding all of the hooks to the upper pulley.


Grapple open.


Grapple closed.


Grapple at work.

[OldEastRR]

Milwaukee Road train #4, the Eastbound "Pioneer Limited" running between LaCrosse and Portage, WI; December 22-23, 1959.

No sound? No lights?

[bbussey]

Finished the L&NE Northeastern caboose.

[Sumner]

Love it, great work 

Sumner