Weekend Update 3/2/25

[Dave V]

Having been very uninspired lately, I forced myself down to the basement to partake in some JFRTM therapy. I'm glad I did, because I was just in time to catch this 1930s-era D&RGW mixed up in the high country.

[chessie system fan]

This weekend, I've been helping a local modeler sort through his collection so that he can move to HO and found this! Whoever did the modeling did an excellent job. I think it's a Randgust kit out in the wild? And check out that angled motor. Can't say I've seen something like that before.

[chuck geiger]

Scenery Sunday

[Slim Rail Mike]

This began over a year ago, https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=56678.msg780579#msg780579 .

 This weekend I’m just getting back to it.

     The 0-6-0 runs nicely, with the new motor on dcc. I wasn’t happy with how squeezing the dz123 decoder into the model power vandy tender, was going. It was a mess of wires, and the shell wouldn’t fit right. I finial removed the weight, which provides more room. To neaten the wiring, I mounted the decoder on a small piece cut from a pcb bread board. Each wire now is attached to the board. If the lack of weight is an issue, some tungsten putty should cure it.

     Started to modify the locomotive’s shell. From a drawing on Night Owls site.

 https://nightowlmodeler.blogspot.com/p/locomotives-of-southern-pacific.html

I measured the cab to be 91.5”. It seems the SP used this size on a lot of steam power. The other roads I model ATSF and WP look to have used a similar length of cab. Using styrene on hand, I carved and sanded a new cab front from .060”. and backed it with .080” strip. This piece on the shell makes the cab 92” long.

   Now a little butchery. B-Man casts what one would guess is part of the loco frame under the cab wall. Chopped that out, some tanks will go here. Removed some of the window panes to represent partially open windows. The power reverse was chiseled away, as was the cross compound pump. These will be separately applied detail.
 
   The cab front is attached. Then the extension was filled and sanded. I think I need a shot of primer to tell if it is smooth enough. After adding the tanks, shell was put back on the chassis to see if it still fit.

[SD452XR]

Replaced all my T5 lights on the layout with LED replacements. Wasn't cheap, but so worth it. Better quality light and the LED's put out a lot less heat then the old T5's.

[samusi01]

Ran some trains.



Ran more trains (sorry to whomever followed us at Butler Yard: I had a plan! Really, I did!):



Didn't run trains:



...until I got assigned a hotshot at the end:



and even more trains:

[davefoxx]

The wood chip loader is in the homestretch with a coat of flat black paint.



DFF

[wm3798]

What?? They aren't assembled yet?? 
Looking forward to seeing the finished tanks, as the intricate detail incorporated into the digital models is spectacular.

On the Conrail OCS front, I was hoping to have CR 9 finished by now, but I had to redo some components and redesign the circuitry.  The model should be in paint at least by the end of the weekend, and the electrical work finished during the coming week.  In the mean time, I resumed work on CR 1.  I printed observation platform railings on NH Flying Cloud and they came out extremely well, so I'm incorporating the railings in the subsequent models rather than removing the floor from the MTL end railings (which is a very tedious process) as I did for CR 10.  CR 1 had the extended pass-through with scissor gates (as it usually was in a mid-consist position).  It also had diamond tread on the platform floor, which I'm going to attempt to simulate.  If the relief renders, painting it will not be fun either.

I rendered the diamond plate for the old rolling platform with a printed decal.  I lifted the image from a treadplate manufacturer's website, applied it over the base color, then applied some weathering washes when it was done.  It's a tad overscale for maximum visibility, but I think it might be a good solution for you.  You could apply the base color to the decal art, I would think, slap it in and call it Christmas!



Lee

[John]

Upgrading old Atlas whalebelly tanks. I'll keep the Suburban Propane as is, but the other cars will be Sherritt Williams.

I have to do some of those also .. what parts are you using?

[randgust]

This weekend, I've been helping a local modeler sort through his collection so that he can move to HO and found this! Whoever did the modeling did an excellent job. I think it's a Randgust kit out in the wild? And check out that angled motor. Can't say I've seen something like that before.

Yeah, that's one of mine.  I did those for a couple years, also had a version where I put in a gearhead drive, and also had a version that used the Bachmann 44-tonner mechanism.   Then Bachmann did the 70-tonner, sorry, mine had a more accurate cab.   I still have the molds but my etcher went out of business for the handrails, taking the design files down with him.

[peteski]

   I still have the molds but my etcher went out of business for the handrails, taking the design files down with him.

Computer storage is cheap and very compact. I always keep a copy (and couple of backup copies on different media) of all my design files.  I put in many many of hours into my designs - I don't want it to all just get lost. I always wonder why others don't do that.

[dandopinski]

[I have to do some of those also .. what parts are you using?/quote]

Hi John, I'm using Gold medal Models etched brass kits.

[Sumner]

Sawmill Complex Finished....

After a year of working on this off and on and a few hundred hours I consider the sawmill finished enough to put away until it is time to put it on the layout. This page will be more or less an overview of the near finished build.

















More pictures and info on Railwire ( HERE ).

A link to this whole build ( HERE ).

Sumner

[chuck geiger]

Finally got this kit complete and almost in place. There is no passenger service, so the plan is for offices and such or a museum.

[craigolio1]

Sawmill Complex Finished....

After a year of working on this off and on and a few hundred hours I consider the sawmill finished enough to put away until it is time to put it on the layout. This page will be more or less an overview of the near finished build.

















More pictures and info on Railwire ( HERE ).

A link to this whole build ( HERE ).

Sumner

This saw mill buildings a whole other level of awesome. Well done!!

Craig