Weekend Photo Fun - February 18 through February 20, 2022

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
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Hello everyone, and welcome to a new weekend!

This week my share is a picture I made on my 30 by 30 photo-diorama that kept me busy for years. I do not think I shared this one before.

I was experimenting with using a blue light on the backdrop while using a yellow light to highlight the main subject. I was going for a dramatic effect.

As you can see, I did not accomplish what I was after, but I did produce a pleasing photograph.

-Photograph by Kevin Parson

There we have it… we’re off to a start for a new Weekend Photo Fun.

Lets see what great stuff we all have to share.

-Kevin

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Here we are already! Seems like I’m in some kind of a time-warp (in fast-forward mode!).

Thanks for starting us off again this weekend, Kevin [Y] That’s a great photo! I know what you mean about the lighting, some cameras are easily confused when it comes to white-balance settings. I’ve never messed with shooting in RAW format which gives more control over post-processing.

I love the lichen on the tree trunk. Seems like I see that on more of the trees in my area than I’ve ever noticed before. You caught it perfectly [Y] or is it peeling bark of a Sycamore? Either way, looks great!

This week I turned my attention to the old GE lamp factory that was perhaps the second or third structure placed on my layout. No LEDs available when I built it so I decided to re-do the lighting, finally get around to mounting the signs I’ve had sitting in a box for years and give it a general sprucing-up:

GE_3-4_view by Edmund, on Flickr

I made a framework to support the front sign and install a pair of GE flood lamps:

GE_front-sign-foundation by Edmund, on Flickr

GE_front-sign by Edmund, on Flickr

The Miller sign has finally found a home. It is modeled after the big electric sign that once graced the HQ building in Schenectady. I think there was a similar one on the small motor plant in Ft. Wayne, too:

[url=https:

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Great starter, Kevin. I noticed the bark on the tree too, nice effect.

Ed, you’re really going to “town” on those buildings. Pun intended! Your layout will be dramatic at night.

Welp, the only thing I could think of that would carry over the hype and excitement of the superbowl weekend into this one is that something special that gives all RR modelers an adrenaline rush:

Ballasting.

[zzz]

This area was still plaster…

Now it’s graveled.

And since that picture was taken the track in front of it and on down to the right was ballasted.

And to the left, too, all the way to the end of this section.

The area in the foreground has yet to be developed, (plans are laid) the mine bldg is a WIP, but progress is being made.

These pictures were taken with none other than that camera I was whining a few weeks ago about losing. It was in a grocery bag in the garage.[D)]

Let’s see whatcha got ! Dan

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Thanks for starting WPF. Kevin. A great looking scene. The fifty shades of green. The clouds. Excellent.

Ed. Stunning work. It is giving a real reason why a railroad is there. Well done.

Dan. Great looking scenes with ballasting looking just right. well done.

Pictures from my last running session.

K&ESR locomotive ‘Thor’ waiting at the signal at Roseville Station

IMG_2044 by David Harrison, on Flickr

Scene outside T&J Harrison Small Arms Manufacturers with cases omf munitions on the platform awaiting dispatch.

IMG_4877 by David Harrison, on Flickr

David

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Nice pic, Kevin.

Ed, That’s quite a monument to GE, which seems to be fragmenting into something quite different than what’s existed for more than a century.

Dan, Ballasting can be onerous, but well worth the trouble.

David, Great flowers!

MicroMark got me some new itty-bits shipped fast, so I was able to finish my clamshell bucket. It actually opens and closes, amazing!

I decided that the clamshell bucket needed a somewhat larger crane to operate it, so I built (and narrow-gauged) a Burro Model 40 crane, also a Custom Finishing kit. Here’s after it was painted and before I did the final detailing and decaling.

Here it is mostly finished, with it looking just right paired with the clamshell and a drop bottom gon.

!https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q90/924/atCaLJ.jpg

I also built a tie handling machine, also NG, also from CF.

!https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q90/924/tgUiHK.jpg&nbs

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Good morning from cold, snowy and sleety Northeast Ohio!

Kevin, thanks for starting us out and that is a very nice picture and it is composed very well.

Ed, like the GE Signs, both my brother and my son worked for GE for a while, also a nice looking truck.

Dan, I like the additions you are making to the layout, very will done keep up the good work.

David, another one of your great looking little mini scenes!

Mike, a lot of track repair and maintenance models that a lot of people don’t do, nice work.

I got some stuff done this week and some under construction.

Atlas USRA Rebuild kit painted with Scalecoat II Boxcar Red and lettered with a combination of Tichy and Champ Decals. The Wabash in the 50’s rebuilt a number of their USRA Boxcars with steel sides. This is the second car I have done, this one has the Flag over the reporting marks as this was done on a hit or miss prospect. This car is in Ford Service for engine loading.

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Exactrail Evans 4780CF Covered Hopper kit, painted with Scalecoat II Cascade Green and lettered with Oddballs Decals. Garvey elevators purchased a large number of cars to service their elevators in the export grain trade, some were painted gray, red or green.

My under construction Tangent PS 40’ Combo door box, underframe work is finally finished.

Finally, took my new Bowser RS-3’s to the club along with a 20 car coal drag, they ran flawlessly.

Thanks f

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Great pictures everyone!

This week, I wrapped up my steam loco project. It’s intended as a workhorse locomotive to be used our club to tackle hilly terrain (and dirty track[:(]). It’s actually two locos in one: there are two motors, one under the boiler, and one in the tender. I used an old Kato diesel to motorize the tender. Two decoders, working in MU mode. I finished the paint job this week… It’s an excellent puller!

Simon

IMG_20220217_131255 on Flickr

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Hi Everyone,

I normally don’t comment on WPF because I don’t have anything to contribute. But, even though some of us don’t comment we still enjoy the superb modeling done by all of the contributors on this thread.

Just phenomenal.

Keep up the excellent work gentlemen.

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A few weeks ago I posted about my new Bosch smooth sabre jigsaw blades, and how easily they cut through Homasote. I was asked about how they would cut through foam. We finally got in some foam at work, and I was able to try it out.

-Photographs by Kevin Parson

I made my first test cut and was completely amazed. This blade cut through easily and left a perfectly smooth edge on the foam. There was absolutely no dust or mess. This was amazing.

-Photograph by Kevin Parson

I then tried something more complicated. I tried cutting a roadbed profile into the foam. Again, it was very easy to get good results, and there was no mess at all.

-Photograph by Kevin Parson

I am completely happy with how these blades cut foam. This will make building my next batch of CosPlay props so much easier and neater.

There was also no odor from the cut like you get when using a hot wire cutting tool.

After about 48" of cutting, the blade did start to get warm. I imagine if you were to cut for a long distance without stopping the blade might get hot enough to melt the edge of the foam.

The Milwaukee Fuel D-Handle M18 jigsaw is variable speed, and I never went over half-trigger position. There is no maximum speed stop setting on this saw, so holding a constant blade speed was tricky. A saw with a positive trigger adjustment stop might work even better.

If you are building with foam, I think these blades will work perfectly.

-Kevin

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Kevin - Thanks for starting WPF. Great photo, lots of greens.

Ed - Good looking building(s). Like the signs too.

Dan - Good job. Ballasting isn’t much fun but really adds to a scene.

David - Great photos as always. Nice flowers. Lots of detail packed int each photo.

Mike - Cool machines and great scenes/photos.

Rick - Good looking cars as usual. Your attention to detail boggles my mind. The RS-3’s and the coal drag is impressive.

Simon -!!! Incredible and a great job!!

Grandpa got to run some trains today. A short NYC mail and express and a short freight train.

A pair of New York Central trains approach Black River Station.

NYC F7 1821 leads a short mixed freight around the curve at the east end of the BRVRR layout.

NYC E-7 #4034 leads a short “Mail and Express” through the Olive Street Crossing in Black River.

Walthers track cleaning car is the newest addition to the BRVRR car roster. It appears to do a good job of polishing the track.

Some of the smaller details for the Shockers Electric scene have started to arrive. A gondola load of old wire spools is the beginning.

Keep the photos and ideas coming guys. Thanks to you WPF is always the best thread of the week.

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[url=https://flic.kr/p/2n4j5Qs]Skin by Bear, on Flickr

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Thanks for all the positive and encouraging compliments on my GE building and city scenes, folks! There’s sure some excellent contributions here this weekend!

This form has wrecked my train budget for the month what with the threads on combines and milk cars and when I did a Google search on these subjects all of a sudden there were two HO cars in my shopping cart! [:-^]

Nyc_Combine_NJ-Custom by Edmund, on Flickr

As a bonus, Atlas made more of the single window, former Branchline coaches available, making my commuter train looking great:

NYC_RS3-8209_Commuter by Edmund, on Flickr

NYC_Atlas-Branchline-coach by Edmund, on Flickr

Borden Overland milk-tank by Edmund, on Flickr

If that wasn’t enough to give the CFO a headache, the Rapido GLa hoppers were also available this week!

PRR_GLa_701626 by Edmund, on Flickr

[url=https://fl

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Kevin, Thanks for opening with a WPF mainstay; a pleasant image steeped in imaginative fun.

Stoney Mountain castings are kinda crude, but so are my airbrushing skills. Still, there’s joy in having a reasonable 1:87 rendition of a 41’ Chevrolet, similar to the one my late Pop owned.

Thanks to all the contributors and viewers. Have a good Washington’s Birthday weekend. Regards, Peter

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One for Peter:

Eye it - - Try it - - Buy it!

Chevrolet_1941 by Edmund, on Flickr

Regards, Ed

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Good morning everyone. A cold, windy start to Sunday in east central Wisconsin but it’s supposed to get into the upper 40’s today. 50+ degree swing in less than 24 hours.

Really neat stuff this week. A slow week, with too much going to get anything done so this weeks contribution is just the 44 tonner delivering a coal car.

Scott Sonntag

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This is ALWAYS THE BEST THREAD, and some really cool images!

Caught the local making their rounds…

Terry

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Funny! And thanks for fixing my photo Bear. I lost my photo editing software… Simon

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weathering done. still have electrical work. mostly mini plugs so the lights work. need to figure outhow to get ditch lights on and installed.

shane

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Thanks Ed, I much enjoy vintage automobile ads, and also a Shorpy fan.

Regards, Peter