Started a curved, segmented, concrete trestle that will have a ballasted deck. Building it around a curved piece of styrene with the parts added to show the segments. Bents are made from Rix Products highway bridge kit columns and .240 x .240 pine strips for the horizontal beams.
I've been slowly building an Ann Arbor sand train of two-bay hoppers, but I've always been hesitant to try the Michigan Interstate-era cars, due to the metal logos on the sides (I'm terrible with anything styrene). But...measuring twice and cutting once does indeed work, and with a decal set released recently, I had to give it a shot. I'm really happy with it, and there'll surely be more to come!
I had recently ordered some Kato low profile wheel sets and they arrived yesterday. Last night and today I got them installed on 2 SD40's and an SD45 plus an Atlas SD60. They do make a difference, no more rumbling over my code 55 turnouts. The actual wheel is the same diameter but the flanges are slightly smaller and the wheel width is smaller.
Using my "N-Man" as a height gauge...I am making sure the Snap on Tool Boxes are going to work inside 'THE Engine Shop' !!! See my Engine Shop 'accessories' build here >>>https://www.trainboard.com/highball/index.php?threads/t-h-e-r-r-reborn.64636/page-72
So my workbench looks the same as last time. But this time the engine has all the pieces inside with the covers on. I’m only missing 2 gaskets and the engine will be 100% complete. One of the gaskets will be here tomorrow, the other isn’t critical, I could seal up the thing with silicone, but I want the gasket. Tubes for the tires will be here tomorrow as well and the bike will have wheels. It will prolly be rideable this or next weekend! I’m excited .
Earlier in this thread, I posted images of my new gas flare project for my oil refinery. Below are 2 images taken earlier today, still work in progress. Since making these pictures I have added 4 pole lights, a micro wave dish, a control panel and power wiring for the motor. I need to add some worker bees decked out in their Nomax suits. I will complete this project Sunday as tomorrow is vacuum, mop day. The cotton flame needs tweaking but this shows the effect is doable.......................... Be kind, be safe, be well, Carl PS: as always all comments are appreciated especially some ideas to improve the scene.
Carl...I just googled...refinery flare images...and I am beyond impressed how you made that look so danged realistic...wowsers. Kudos again
So my workbench is void of an engine. I still have Trail 90 all over the place but the bike is 95% assembled now. I wasn’t able to get a pic I lost daylight. Tomorrow I will get some, and maybe even start it.
Thanks for all the kind comments, some have asked how I did the flame so I offer the following as a quick reveal: I did not use a flickering LED but rather the large item is a bulb that came in a kit with a control board that I never used 'til now. It does not flicker but rather fades in and out. I can control the speed of the fade but it looks best as set now. In addition there are 5 LED's of various sizes and colors plus the 5 light poles. Some of the LED's, including the light poles are set at 3v supply and the others are made to operate at 5-12v (have 840 ohm resistors) and I am operating them at 10v. 1. Lights off showing the mess of lights, also on the bottom there are 2 small mirrors to help reflect the colors into the cotton balls .................. 2. Here are two, cheap stepdowns, one set at 10v and the other at 2.4v........... 3. Here is the lighted version sans the cotton.............. Thanks for looking. Stay well, Carl
