Re: Weekend Update 4/26/26

[up1950s]

https://eastbroadtop.com/ride/locomotive-rides/

https://www.thehenryford.org/visit/venues/greenfield-village/railroad-junction

https://www.triangletrain.com/weddings-events/

https://www.mrym.org/events

https://www.rmne.org/

https://rochestertrainrides.com/event/rails-ales-train-rides/

https://www.hodrrm.org/events

[Dave V]

Over the last month or so I've been all-in on building the Pennsylvania Railroad Juniata Division 2.0 one T-TRAK module at a time. The third module here is an interlocking with operating PRR position light signals. Right now the Walthers tower is lettered for JACKS, but I was recently pointed to a 3D print available from Yelton Models of PRR's MO Tower at Cresson. While I'm not modeling Cresson on the Pittsburgh Division (my layout is based more on the Middle Division), I decided MO tower looks enough like MIFFLIN tower that this module will become MIFFLIN when MO--the third tower I will have built for this module (following the Tichy and Walthers kits)--arrives from Canada and I can get it properly painted.



And the fourth module will be Granville, the PRR's first crossing of the Juniata River west of Lewistown, an 8-arch stone bridge. I've added all the anti-spalling hardware  added after World War II with styrene following photos of the prototype. Not visible, but I've also added 11 of the 40 tension rods that run through the underside of the vault barrels (music wire). Once those are added, then I get to add handrails (etched brass from Gold Medal Models). Unfortunately, proper PRR hairpin stanchions are no longer available from Alkem Scale Models...and besides, I don't think I have that kind of patience! Then lastly it'll be painting time. Note that stone texture was added to the Atlas bridge components using dabs of CA glue and baking soda.

[coosvalley]

I got 3 items off the workbench this week. First, two Maine Central models,  a GP-7, and a U18B which has been "in progress" for over a decade. It still needs a horn and bell. I couldn't have finished either, especially the U18B and its plow without @mcjaco sending me some MU hoses, so big shout out to him.(I still need more, so if you have a package you can part with please let me know!)



Another project is this shorty tank car which I added a GMM detail set to. Here is a before and after photo before I tackle the second one.

[delamaize]

Again, I'm at work, But I did get some painting and decaling done for my Foob Ontario Northlands Passenger equipment. I'll try to post some pictures later, it's not my best work. I'm ok with everything overall, but defiantly nothing to brag about. The decals on the diner didn't lay down around the window frames as well as I would have liked, even with Micro-Sol and Micro-Set, so I ended up with the window frames having chunks of decal missing. I ended up painting the frames black, in the decaled area, trying to simulate window gaskets to try to cover it up. It's not horrible, but it's not good either. If I can find a way to mask it better, I may do the rest of the windows the same way. I got one of the 2 horizons coaches done. I didn't want to repaint the entire cars, so I was trying to just remove the blue Amtrak striping. On the first car, the 99% alcohol wouldn't touch it, even letting a saturated paper towel strip sit on the stripe. So I ended up priming over the stripe, and then painting. It took way too much primer and paint to get good coverage. Again, It looks Ok, I can live with it. The 2nd coach, I used a tiny amount of Acetone Finger polish remover on a q-tip. That did the trick, But even in tiny amounts it still attacked the plastic a little, and took off more than I wanted. On the other side of that coach, I opted to just remove the "Amtrak" and "Coach" lettering, and leave the rest of the strip. I have that car masked, and ready for paint, but I have not got it done yet. Again, it's not going to be perfect, but I'm sure I'll get it to where I'm ok with it. I'm really thinking about weathering the consist to try to hide my sins. Although, this would be my first weathering project, and the Loco is so Nice, I don't know if I can bring myself to weathering it.

I'll try to get some pictures tomorrow, Even though I'm not thrilled with the outcome. 

[chuck geiger]

Over the last month or so I've been all-in on building the Pennsylvania Railroad Juniata Division 2.0 one T-TRAK module at a time. The third module here is an interlocking with operating PRR position light signals. Right now the Walthers tower is lettered for JACKS, but I was recently pointed to a 3D print available from Yelton Models of PRR's MO Tower at Cresson. While I'm not modeling Cresson on the Pittsburgh Division (my layout is based more on the Middle Division), I decided MO tower looks enough like MIFFLIN tower that this module will become MIFFLIN when MO--the third tower I will have built for this module (following the Tichy and Walthers kits)--arrives from Canada and I can get it properly painted.



And the fourth module will be Granville, the PRR's first crossing of the Juniata River west of Lewistown, an 8-arch stone bridge. I've added all the anti-spalling hardware  added after World War II with styrene following photos of the prototype. Not visible, but I've also added 11 of the 40 tension rods that run through the underside of the vault barrels (music wire). Once those are added, then I get to add handrails (etched brass from Gold Medal Models). Unfortunately, proper PRR hairpin stanchions are no longer available from Alkem Scale Models...and besides, I don't think I have that kind of patience! Then lastly it'll be painting time. Note that stone texture was added to the Atlas bridge components using dabs of CA glue and baking soda.

That looks wicked!

[Maletrain]

Nice work, Dave - I especially like the trees.

That tower model looks very B&O, though.

[mu26aeh]

Working on a car I seen go thru on the local last month.  First time using a fiberglass pen to do the removal, as seen on Tim Garlands Seaboard Central page.  Still have to smooth out the lettering as you can see the scratches from the pen, also have to do the patch work and some more weathering etc







https://rrpicturearchives.net/pictures/2135595244

[Dave V]

Nice work, Dave - I especially like the trees.

That tower model looks very B&O, though.

Hence the PRR prototype tower kit speeding its way south from Canada as you read this…

[apudelek]

A project that has been on my list for some time has finally been completed.

I converted a Kato JNR EF-57 boxcab into a close representation of a New Haven EP3.  I patched and sanded several windows, reversed the platforms, added a MU stand and what I believe is a battery box or tool chest on the platforms, added vents made from styrene that I scored with a hobby knife (I didn't like the etched metal options I saw), and added a Kato EMD pilot (not prototypical as the EP-3 had a slatted, almost steam-like pilot, but it looks okay).  I painted with Tamiya spray for the green and Badger Modelflex NH Imitation Gold for the striping.  Decals are Microscale.  I added some roof details like a rectangular tank between the pantographs and cylindrical tubes on the roof corners.

Overall, the striping could be far better and I realize now that I could have recessed the styrene vents into the shell with some extra effort, but overall I am happy that I learned some new skills and honed some others.  I also desperately needed a pre-McGinnis Scheme electric for my fleet.  I will have to troubleshoot some tracking/derailment issues with the pilot trucks, but I have seen some examples of guys weighing down the trucks to solve this, which I will be trying after I return home from work.

Here are a couple shots of NH EP3 #353 leading an Eastbound Penn Job out of Sunnyside in 1955.  She banks around the curve and heads for the Hell Gate Bridge, bound for New Haven and then Boston.

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[davefoxx]

I bought a few hoppers today, specifically an original Norfolk Southern Ry. open hopper and a Seaboard Coast Line wood chip hopper.  I’m currently waiting for the black art sand “coal” load and the sawdust “wood chip hopper” load for these hoppers, respectively, to dry.  In the meantime, the NS has already hauled the empty hopper back toward Star, N.C.



More on The Carolina Sandhills Lines thread in the Layout Engineering forum.

DFF

[bbussey]

@apudelek - nice repurpose of the Kato EF-57 into a New Haven EP3.  Those Microscale NH imitation gold wide stripes are a b!tch to work with.  I've had success by first using a couple of applications of Micro-Sol to get the decal to adhere to the paint, and then full-strength Solvaset and multiple pin pricks to get the decals to confirm to the beltrail and rivet detail underneath.  I've also used Valero Sun Yellow, which is a good match for Microscale's NH color, for sharp relief such as number boards or marker light mounts that the decals simply won't conform to.

[eja]

A project that has been on my list for some time has finally been completed.

I converted a Kato JNR EF-57 boxcab into a close representation of a New Haven EP3.

Wow  ! That looks great !

[dandopinski]

First of 4, built for a friend. Other 3 almost done, Briggs 3d shell on Atlas chassis. When I'm finished I will have built 12 of these suckers.

[jpwisc]

I had a fun couple of fun days running trains at the Railroading Heritage of Midwest America
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[packers#1]

I had tried installing an ESU decoder in an Athearn Genesis GP40-2LW, but the decoder did not match up to my Powercab buttons, so I thought that the Athearn Pins didn’t line up with the 21-pin standard. I bought a DecoderBuddy for the locomotive, and wired it up last night. I don’t have a Lokprogrammer so I order these decoders with the sound files preinstalled, so I can’t check, but I’m pretty sure the wrong file was downloaded on this. I double checked I did specify the correct sound file, and installed the other decoder I ordered for my second U18B which worked correctly. So now I get to send an email and try to get this fixed. However, the good news is I got everything wired up correctly so once I get the decoder set out I’ll be all set. These decoder buddies are so nice though, they make it super easy to solder everything compared to the ESU replacement board decoders and being able to remove the shell with its light wires from the chassis is a great benefit. And of course the Scale Sound Systems speakers are amazing, they really push the sound through and make everything sound crystal clear.