Doing stuff again.

[chessie system fan]

So what do I need to do to acquire/print some of these hoppers?   

[Chris333]

I'll eventually put them all up on Thingieverse.

[Chris333]

I've complained here a bit about finding plans for the Ma&Pa doodlebug. Their historical society has a order form to print out and mail in    That and motor cars are lumped in with the diesels in one book. (ain't nobody got time for diesels) Then there is the chance any doodlebug drawing would just be a simple outline. So I bought a HO scale brass model of Doodlebug #62 just to scan it and draw it into N scale. That bus was only 59' long and I'm already working on a RPO car to go along with a Atlas 60' coach. This should match the real trains they ran.

This was the last time I tried 13 years ago before 3D:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/NkYvtSiNGeSRs2Gq6

[Chris333]

Working on "Main Street".


The 3D house is based on this one:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/McConnellstown,+PA+16652/@40.4525294,-78.0825691,3a,41.2y,86.87h,95.26t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sQCu9_OE8wmTfD04wLKk--A!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D-5.264065401561069%26panoid%3DQCu9_OE8wmTfD04wLKk--A%26yaw%3D86.8746241753123!7i16384!8i8192!4m6!3m5!1s0x89cbe5a4ae392625:0xb7f91b0613abd807!8m2!3d40.4525899!4d-78.0824654!16s%2Fm%2F027f8pf?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDgwMi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

Need to figure out how much to chop off the back so made a full sized drawing.


The yellow house is from AMB.

[Chris333]

I have no idea how to create signs with text so I asked Gemini. What am I doing wrong here?

In the space of 0.23" tall and 1.85" wide create a 1940 font sign that says "CITY PLUMBING SUPPLY CO." on top in a larger font. Under that in smaller font it should say "PLUMBING - HEATING - INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES". The color should be black with off white lettering.

It gave me an OK looking sign, but the size is wrong.

Sign needs to be longer in scale with 0.23" tall and 1.85" wide.

Gave me the exact same image.

This is the same, make it wider

Gave me the exact same image.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/aTwukWZaksW8B6hN7

trying to make something like the sign on the right here:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/3hPC5zRHXRUxfGQo9

[Chris333]

Well ChatGPT worked, but I had to "sign up" with a fake name...

Never mind that ChatGPT got the size wrong as well. I reuploaded the photo it gave me and told it to resize. It did, but not to the correct size.

So WTF is this stuff like search where the words you type mean absolutely nothing?

[Stolen Moment]

Because you're talking to something that doesn't know the meaning of the words, it's just playing a word association game.

[Chris333]

Painted the foundry


The windows were way too bright so I washed them with a dirt color. That sort of messed up the siding color. I should have weathered the windows before gluing them in... oh well.

This building got redrawn several times till I was happy with it.

Left to right. Painted building was from my Canal Branch layout and based on a Bar Mills kit. I drew up a regular back to it and the empty spot is the one I printed and threw away. I didn't like how big the window panes were. Fixed that and now I don't like how the building footprint is a square. So I narrowed the building. I like that, but then put a scale automobile next to it and it just didn't look right. Measure the man door and it is 9 feet tall. So I lowered the whole building 2 feet. It will end up going here.

The smaller building on the right is based on this one that I pass everyday:
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.2097523,-80.7856945,3a,75y,7.65h,86.25t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sS8ho8xZ-Etw7bA3hZbdUsQ!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D3.751501802996202%26panoid%3DS8ho8xZ-Etw7bA3hZbdUsQ%26yaw%3D7.650837073545617!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDgwNS4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D
It is in way worse shape than the street view shows.

Started putting a roof on the feed mill.



And a Ma&Pa section house next to the water tank (that needs more work)


Ma&Pa RPO car.

[peteski]

Chris, you do some amazing things and I like to visit your build threads often to see what's you're up to, but it seems that your layout building threads are full of side-diversions covering non-layout-related models (like rolling stock or locomotives you are also working on). To me those deserve to be covered in separate threads, because those little gems will likely be lost in the layout design thread, never to be seen by many members.  I just figured I would mention that.

[Chris333]

Yeah I know, but all this "stuff" is in the same folder on my computer. It is a 1940's theme layout and the rolling stock is all 1940's themed.

And I still need to come up with a title for the thread. 

[Missaberoad]

Chris, you do some amazing things and I like to visit your build threads often to see what's you're up to, but it seems that your layout building threads are full of side-diversions covering non-layout-related models (like rolling stock or locomotives you are also working on). To me those deserve to be covered in separate threads, because those little gems will likely be lost in the layout design thread, never to be seen by many members.  I just figured I would mention that.

Hard disagree... All these "diversions" are part of the charm of a Chris333 layout thread.

[Chris333]

So this is the final arrangement of buildings:


These two building were runner ups, but got tossed.


The good thing about 3D is I can just pick a building I like, real or in any scale, just a photo, and model it in N scale. Even things like doors and windows to match what I want instead of using the same old castings available.

The Yellow AMB house is a laser kit. The doors and windows are stacked pieces with peel and stick tape on the back. When you put the parts together they side all over the place because of the tape. This and I can model better looking windows. So I did along with shutters. And when I drew up the front door I added a door handle and a mail slot. The whole front porch *almost* got 3Ded because of how hard it was to assemble.

[robert3985]

Yeah I know, but all this "stuff" is in the same folder on my computer. It is a 1940's theme layout and the rolling stock is all 1940's themed.

And I still need to come up with a title for the thread. 

I also find your posts here fascinating.

I have one word of advice if you haven't already done it.  Back that folder up!  Don't delay (speaking from experience).

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[Chris333]

When you have more money than brains 

I bought this HO brass doodlebug just to measure it. AI told me there were drawings in the Ma&Pa book. There weren't, but I also have the updated version of that book. (another smart idea to buy 2 books...) right inside the cover is the drawing. I found this on the very day the brass doodlebug was delivered. But the drawing in the book was poor with no measurements or even rivet detail. In the back of the updated book there is a list to all published drawings. Jan 1966 MR.



If anyone has (in the US) a Tomytec chassis with 14mm WB trucks to sell let me know. Or even just sell me the trucks.

[Iain]

If anyone has (in the US) a Tomytec chassis with 14mm WB trucks to sell let me know. Or even just sell me the trucks.

I have to look but I might.  I at least have multiple versions of the chassis, just need to check wheelbase.