Okay, so, as tradition dictates, it is here again. Here are the things that I did this weekend.
This is the decal on my rolling mill. The Micro Sol has done some more softening of the decal since the photo was taken.
These are the decals that I applied to my station platform.
This is the layout of the building components of my asphalt plant. The pit/conveyor assembly is from the Walthers Bulk Transfer kit.
These are the caution decals that I have on this side of the rolling mill.
This is the completed grain elevator, minus weathering.
This is a overall progress shot. Not much has changed that you can see from the angle of this photo, because it’s all in the details[:D]
Got some good work in this weekend. Got the bedding and track layed on the grades. Put in the risers, soldered and tuned everything above elelvation zero. The train that has the most trouble styaing on the track is the Hogwarts and I can pretty much leave it on and walk away.
I asked my daughter to paint the pilings. Check out the job she did.
Our first attempt at trees. We’ll get better at it.
Spacemouse–impressive! Like your layout so far, and the pilings are SUPER!
Bnnboy–that grain elevator makes me wish I could put a Midwest division on my line–looking really GOOD! Like your decal detailing, too–decals and I are not the best of friends, somehow they see me coming and decide to crumple up right on the spot–even before I’ve got the Microset on! Keep it up, guys. Looks GOOD!
Tom [bow]
Tell your daugther that she has several high paying jobs lined up for her at the club. She did a GREAT job painting those pilings! Are you sure she’s only 12? C’mon, the trees don’t look that bad. You’ve gotta start someplace and you are all off to a good start. [tup][tup][tup] Has your son been able to help with things?
I haven’t braved weathering my rilling stock yet or my engines for that matter. Maybe I should let my daughter do it. She calls it withering. I guess that’s the same right?
Tom,
My son wanted to run his Hot wheels around the trak. I gave him a tanker nad he spent all day going up and down the grade, keeping ahead of whatever train I was testing. Sometimes it was a pain in the butt, but mostly I liked him there.
Weathering isnt hard at all. I did the cars in the pictures with an airbrush but you might want to start out with chalks. I like doc o’briens. Search for them on the micro-mark website. If your afraid to try it on your trains practice making rust streaks and such on paper or cardboard. I like doing it with an airbrush because you dont have to bother sealing it with dullcote. If you dont seal the chalk it will rub right off. Weathering (or withering[:D]) adds a lot to the realism of your rolling stock in my opinion. Give it a try, you might end up impressing yourself.
Great stuff everyone!
I love all of the Santa Fe lashups. Inspiring.
SpaceMouse, can I hire that girl to paint my bridge abutments? She definitely has the touch!
I have nothing unique to add tonight. Some updates on the website though. Check out the Railroading and What’s New Buttons when you get there.
Keep up the good work all.
Although I didn’t get to work much on the layout this last weekend due to other commitments, here are some photos of current projects on the SLO&W.
The first two are of an area started about 20 years ago and almost done… The last two are of areas that are currently under construction. The one showing the logging line (#3) has a new rock wall installed about 2 months ago (still needs details). The last will be a major hillside as you would see in the Endless mountains of the Southern Tier of New York state. It will end up having an Ice Harvesting operation in front of it.
Well, I don’t have anything new right now, but have finally got some photos online of my work so far - here’s the Walthers CSX Dash 8-40B that I’ve mentioned a few times:
I fitted a Lenz 1025 DCC decoder and reused the original bulbs for lighting - with 300Ohm resistors to stop them melting the shell. MU hoses were added from offcuts of wire and the pilot plow is the one supplied in the box. Kadees were fitted, a #5 at the rear and a #26 at the front. Apologies if the picture’s not too good, was using an old camera at 640x480 resolution!
I thought I’d mention this in case anyone wants to model scene similar to mine.
The stone pier holding up one end of the truss bridge is from Chooch. The problem is Chooch does not (or did not) make a double track pier in this style, only double track abutments. I had to buy 2 single-track piers, cut them, splice togther, and carve the stones. I offered to send it to them before installation (to make a mold) but they weren’t interested. So if you get a Walthers double track truss bridge and want Chooce supports, think about using 2 abutments.
Also, I made the chasm/gorge a module by necessity not choice. I laid it sideways on a table to glue on all the rock castings, filled gaps, painted, then flipped it over. Repeat 2 more times for other sides. Then I stood it upright and did the river. It weighs 80-100lbs (rock-solid on HO).
