MODELING It's Monday, May 7th 2018: Weekend Modeling Acomplishments

Jim Wiggin May 7, 2018

  1. Jim Wiggin

    Jim Wiggin Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Well, we are back from another weekend, I hope it was a good one. Now tell us all that you got accomplished.

    Saturday: I started by applying the last coat of polyurethane to my T-Trak turned Proto-Trak switching modules. I'm really glad I took the time to do this as the finished ends of the modules have a nice finished look. Next I started sanding the legs of GCJ module 2.0, #3. With that done, I next carefully added the hardware to attach the legs to the frame of the module. Later that night, the cross members of the legs were glued on and module #3 was ready for wire and the top. I was hoping to get the legs of all three modules sanded smooth and painted with the black stain but ran out of time.

    Sunday: With a chance of storms late into the afternoon, the idea was to get our lawn mowed and transition into getting ready for next weekend in Ohio. Well, the weather kept pushing the rain to later in the day and the yard work detail got more complex. Before I knew it, Angela and I had gotten a lot done outside. With dinner done, there was no energy for trains so I called Saturday's progress good and called it a weekend.

    So how about you? What did you accomplish? Let us know. We'll assemble again on Friday the 11th, to start the process all over again. Until then, have a great week, stay safe and as always...

    High Greens!
     
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  2. SP-Wolf

    SP-Wolf TrainBoard Supporter

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    Saturday: Did a bit more prep work on my E-7B project -- it was just a bit to warm (Hell - it was hot) to get anything substantial done.

    Sunday: It cooled off nicely. I installed the rail yard fence. I still have some touch up work to do on and around it. (Photos-next week)
    Made some real good progress on my E-7B. I have a few more details to add. Exhaust lifters and new stirrups.
    [​IMG]

    Hope Y'all had a wonderful weekend!!

    Wolf
     
  3. W Neal

    W Neal TrainBoard Member

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    Yard work for me too Jim. Yeeesh!

    I got my C&IM locomotives ready, mostly...

    DSC_2897.JPG

    In the back, is the "as delivered" Bachmann model. The frontal locomotive was lettered with Microscale decals. I had purchased a second locomotive, thinking I'd re-number it. Come to find out that, while Bachmann made an impressive model, they used the wrong font for their road number along the tender's side. And after doing some research, it seems the tender is not the correct style for the 600 anyways. Ah well. I doubt I'll ever run them as a "double header". I decided to leave the original - in it's original state. Some day I may go back and renumber it. Besides, having them both on a layout might be a topic for future conversations with show attendees someday. Now, to weather and recoupler them...




    A couple weeks back, I took a few minutes to observe the remnants of the Illinois Terminal's shops in Decatur.

    The "Store Room" building offered a fine front. With a suspicious shape in the stonework in front.


    DSC_2837.JPG

    DSC_2836.JPG


    You can see where they had removed the words "Illinois" and "Terminal" from the top and bottom of the logo on the main building.








    Some other buildings appeared original. Ignoring the concrete "new" building in the left front, the brick car shop, wood shop, and others are still standing. You don't suppose the colors on that fire hydrant...


    DSC_2830.JPG









    And this Sanding Tower sure seems suspicious as to "Illinois Terminal" heritage - especially it's yellow color eh?

    DSC_2839.JPG


    Railroad archaeology - always fun!
     
  4. Kitbash

    Kitbash TrainBoard Supporter

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    Did exactly what I sought out to do. Organized wiring for current detection, cleaned up the room, and also wired in a programming section. Not too thrilled w/ programming on the layout and would really like to do so at my workbench with something other than Digitrax.
     
  5. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

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    Nice photos of your C&IM steam and the IT facilities at Decatur, IL. You have a good eye for detail in both your modeling and in prototype photography. I always enjoy finding old facilities and as the decades roll by, sights as you recorded become harder and harder to find. Thanks for posting these!
     
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  6. Kevin Anderson

    Kevin Anderson TrainBoard Member

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    I did as planned, Friday and Saturday I got nothing done. Sunday evening I fired up the airbrush. I purchased a new double action brush from Harbor freight. I had always used their cheap $10 single action brush. I needed to repaint a whole lotta cars that I started two years ago that got messed up when I didn’t mask them as well as I should have. I originally painted them using floquil and Polly scale paints. This time I used Badger model flex. I like the model flex better. Also the CSX gray in the model flex is slightly lighter than the floquil. I like the results. Now to mask them and put a nice red stripe down the side of them. I gotta make them match. [​IMG][​IMG][​IMG]
     
    Last edited: May 7, 2018
  7. Rocket Jones

    Rocket Jones TrainBoard Member

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    Lots of little projects done, I won't bore you with pictures of paint drying (nowhere near as impressive as Kevin's work above). I bought some silicone tubing and have been experimenting with creating my own tire piles. Results are promising, but I need to streamline the process to make it worth the time vs. just buying pre-cast details.

    Meanwhile, at Weaver Junction...

    I started building the final structure for the road in front of the tracks. Held together with blue tape is "Wootie's Bar and Grill" from gary60s' plans in the Resources section. It's going to become "Pinky's" Gentleman's Club. I spent some time developing signs for it. Next to it, in red, is Mookie's pizza, which I've posted before. Still needs permanent signs. These are going to be spaced along the front of the layout where they won't interfere with the Caboose throws or uncoupling picks.

    And here's an oldie but goody from Micro Engineering. Nice and compact, needs a little work, but will be a welcome addition to the front of Weaver Junction.

    Next Saturday is the National Finals of the Team America Rocket Contest, and I'll be working as part of the range crew. The week after will be an overnighter in the hospital for a cardiac procedure to fix once and for all this A-fib thing I've been dealing with. Not sure how much time I'll get for railroading for a couple of weeks, but I'm hoping to squeeze in at least a few evening's worth.
     
  8. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Nothing. :( Was called in to work. Long shifts. Too tired..... :(
     
  9. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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  10. Kevin Anderson

    Kevin Anderson TrainBoard Member

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    So far so good[​IMG]
     
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