Ok guys, I have progress to report. After taking apart my LL GP38 and staring at it for ten minutes. I decided to wait on changing the coupler on that till I have more experience and decided to make one of my boxcars into a transition car. I had the boxcar conversion all done. Really proud of myslelf, then the coupler and spring just popped out. . So I'm going to work on getting that back together should be easier a second time around. [ 25. January 2005, 18:35: Message edited by: Israel ]
Ok Guys this is what I did this weekend..... I built two new buildings/warehouse, and started to get an idea on how they should fit with track. so far it looks good. I also put down some concrete for two of the buildings. this week I might start the track work for this area.
I'm in too. I have 3 weeks to get 1 straight module and 2 turnaround balloon modules track handlaid in time for the GATS at the Cow Palace. I would also like to get some basic groundcover in place, with trees, etc. We (San Francisco Bay Area Z Scale Module Group) are displaying our Z Bend Track modules for the first time. and have to get together at least one weekend before that to see if trains even run, I have to even build legs for the Balloon modules, as well as get the plugs and wiring for Z Bend standards shipped and assembled. -Robert
My goal is to take this scene and (a) cover the shelves with pink or blue foam and (b) lay down track. Simple, really
Keeping the party going. Got some good work done today. Had the football games on my little TV and just built hills! Sorry for the Pittsburghians. I was pulling for them. Also, trying out some different approaches on painting the ground. May have come close to one. This is where I was at Christmas: This is the Borracho Canyon this afternoon (1/23). The mine building (built by me 30+ years ago!) is in the same spot so can be used as a reference for the changes. Another before shot: and after (this spur is going to be a lumber camp): FYI, the mountains are made from 1/2" screen (very stiff) covered by flimsy window screen. Then I tried plaster, then drywall mud before settling on Sculptamold. This week: - Painting the hills. - Ground foam on the flat parts. - Candlelight vigil for my Undec Shay... will they ever arrive? Have a good week, all, and keep on building!!!
I only got one thing done due to pulling a muscle in my back... installed the 2nd of 2 bridge supports: It's sitting in the mud, waiting for it to cure. Then I'll clean the support columns (where I got it dirty) and paint it in place (I know, shoulda painted it beforehand - Lessons Learned Line). Not sure if I want to change the first one (left) now or not to match the 2nd one (right) since I'm kinda fond of the newer one. Comments?
The newer one looks more like what I've seen out in the wild; I've not yet seen a wood column like your first one. I've been bad, and didn't get much done yet, other than making this template for my future bridge, which will allow me to build the girders flat on a table with the correct curve. The horizontal pencil lines on the cardboard (hard to see) mark the joints of the 40' girders. The cars illustrate how 25" radius will look with passenger trains.
well, I'll try to keep up this time. Last go round I bit off more than I could chew. I got most of the buildings built for my service area but then things fizzled. So this time it's a much simpler project, a 12"bi fold door (6' 7" long") that is just a scenic run. Double track main line with a crossover meandering through the low mountains... maybe a siding for a cattle pen. The simplified plan will allow me to inolve my chief assistant, my four year old little girl.she loves to help with the messy stuff! Currently the pink foam is glued to the door. I have to remember to drop feeder wires before any scenery this time!
And here're two pics about my tasks. I want to build about a dozen switch stands. And I want new benchwork and track at the other place. We will see how far I can work.... Wolfgang [ 28. January 2005, 21:25: Message edited by: Colonel ]
next try http://www.railimages.com/gallery/wolfgangdudler/aaa http://www.railimages.com/gallery/wolfgangdudler/aab
Wolfgang, Try using </font><blockquote>code:</font><hr /><pre style="font-size:x-small; font-family: monospace;"> </pre>[/QUOTE]
I'm learnig Here will be a switch stand! I want to rebuild this part of the layout. The module "Pulpwood loading" will be sold. [ 24. January 2005, 17:58: Message edited by: Wolfgang Dudler ]
Okay guys, I am cheating a bit here, but for a reason. I initially wanted to run the layout party from Monday to Monday - easy to keep track of that way. What I have decided is that Yesterday - 24 January will be the first official day of the party. The reason I introduced the party on a Friday was to give many a chance to think about what it was they were doing, and what they wanted to commit to. Originally I was going to start the party on a Monday, but decided that too many would start a new work week and have their heads full of work. But Monday is easy for me to organize since it has always been the "real" start of the work in my little world. So: THE BEGINNING OF WEEK ONE - 24 JANUARY I know there are some lurkers here who will be following this thread, but not posting to it. Why not join in and tell us about yourself and what you have gotten out of this thread, even if you don't commit to a party. My objectives for the next week - in keeping with the KISS formula I have learnt to live with in these parties (its far to easy to get complicated) I am devoting this week to cleaning out and up the room I need to "enter" to work on my further goals. This clean will be substantial since the room acts as our basement, since we don't have one. Already there are some great photos and some good reasonable goals presented by our poster's. I'm glad Wolf Gang was able to get his images on the Board. And Colonel, if your following this, I'd love to see some new pics of your layout. I was just thinking I hadn't seen any recently, but mind you I was pretty low key here for the past 6 months or so. Pete N, some pics from you would be great, even if they are old ones. Part of the purpose of the party is "motivational" and I think pics from some of our long time members here with good layouts is helpful to others. To others who have some good pics of your layout, I don't mind if they have been shown here before, I know others like me will enjoy them, and so will the lurkers who are out there. Thanks, now I guess I will have to update some pics and post them here, within the next week to back up my talk. Cheers. PS - to newcomers that want to join in the party, you can leap in at any time, just ensure your goals are doable, if lets say there is two weeks left of the party, your best goal may not be to commit to hand laid track through your layout but to add some turnouts, or build a smaller easily constructed structure, something along that line. [ 25. January 2005, 16:29: Message edited by: rsn48 ]
Hi, I've not only managed to link the pictures. (Can you delete the other try?). I'v uploaded a few pics more to my rail images album. Rick, you're right. My first step will be removing the modules. The following weekend is FREMO-meeting and I take with me a few modules. I guess I will sell the Pinewood module. So, there will be a gap in my layout. I have to work if I want to run trains. Wolfgang [ 25. January 2005, 18:35: Message edited by: Wolfgang Dudler ]
So, I jumped the gun alittle . I'm still working on that coupler that is giving me grief. Hopefully the spring will stay put tonight.
Rick, what can I say? I'm always early to a party! My overall goal remains the same: Remove all traces of bare wood, bare plaster, bare track... anything that's bare. That means covering with paint, ground cover, or something else. I'm not trying to have complete trees and foliage yet, just covering up the uglies. May not sound like much, but we're talking 30 square feet! This week: - Paint the large mountain. - Possibly more 'ground work' to make the rest of the layout look less like plywood. Meaning, Sculptamold around some areas just a couple scale feet here and there. My paint plan involves Woodland Scenics Earth Color slightly watered down. It's still kind of dark, though. so then dry I'll drybrush a tan color over that. Here's a sample area, although it's darker than what I want.
"What I have decided is that Yesterday - 24 January will be the first official day of the party. " Oh thank you, thank you, thank you........ Now I'm only two days behind instead of being four days behind!! Time for an intermediate update of nothing. That is, I managed to let a bunch of stuff (including a bit of golf and some family items) divert my attention and I've gotten exactly zip accomplished on the work plan for week 1. I did get the last two bits of track reglued down after making the final adjustments to some misalignments. But that was supposed to happen before the party so it really doesn't count. Okay, even with the two days of relief, I could use a collective cry of "shame" from all you party participants to help get my energies galvanized and going. So let's hear it, all together now........ I did get a couple of photos taken to show the layout just as it was last Friday and (not incidentally) just as it still is today. Here we go. By the way, you can click on the images to see them in a larger size, if you want. Okay, I promise to get my butt in gear tomorrow and get started on something tangible. Regards
