Paul, in my New York accent - dat is bee-u-tee-ful! Is that scratchbuilt or kitbashed? Your Climax should look most impressive sitting next to it making a delivery. Kudos! Russ Hoffman Valley RR
Hi Russ, It is scratchbuilt out of cardboard(Kelloggs Cornflakes packet) and stripwood, the water tank started out life as a top for a can of paint.
Ah , excellent Paul! Recycling at work. I made a square little building out of cardstock once (wish I had the picture - I was twelve). Anyway, it had drawn on windows, and doors and scribed in representations of brick. Nothing compared to your masterpiece however but in looking back, that little shack was a masterpiece as well. (At least to my warped twelve year old mind) Russ Hoffman Valley RR
Thank-you for sharing that Paul. Now everyone can picture the before and after effect and what a difference "mother nature" can make. Here is a before and after pic of my own. The loco on the right is a stock (with exception of paint) LL GP38-2. On the left is one that I converted to a GP38 High Nose. Why build my own instead of buy one? It's more fun and an easy convert! I like the little projects like this one.It keeps one sane while tackling larger projects. Russ Hoffman Valley RR
Looks good Russ, though how you can do that kind of a job in "N-scale" beats me, I have a bad enough time in HO with my magni-glasses.
Paul, do you make your own windows or do you purchase them ready made? Congratulations on a beautiful project.
Sorry guys its been awhile I've got my hands full in my shop! I got 3 Big Boys in for repairs, 5 Hudsons for repowering and 10 paint jobs! So i'm pretty well caught up in that! Although on spare time when things are slow I do however got 2 Rivarossi E-8's to paint the B&O passenger colors, and one Athearn GP-35 painted to Western Maryland "Circus" scheme (red/white/and black), a Atlas SD-24, in B&O 2 stripe written out "Baltimore And Ohio" scheme, a GP-38 in the solid blue dip B&O scheme, and another GP-38 in the CSX pumpkin scheme, and I'm working on a Q-4 B&O 2-8-2 #4403 with Elephant Ears as the B&O only had 2 loco's with Elephant Ears and both were 2-8-2's and #4403 was the first and #4610 was the second... So I pretty well got my work cut out! It sure does pay to own your own shop. All the trainin' any one person can handle! HA! I love it! Guys bring 'em on!!!!!
Thanks Paul. Do you still have pics of your N-scale layout? I think that it was extremely well done. I especially liked the little warf scene that you had. My problem is not my eyes working in N scale. I get shaky hands from time to time. It makes for interesting entertainment for my wife! LOL Russ Hoffman Valley RR
So, what do you do in your spare time John? Paul, After being totally embarrassed by your excellent building projects, I refuse to do anymore buildings. My people are going to live in caves! Excellent work as always! Russ, I am having to spend a good deal of time on another project, so work on the roundhouse is sorta slow right now. After putting in over 60 years making super detailed engines and stuff for other people, I have gotten burned out on it. My full interest has settled on seeing the engines I have left, actually run. At this point, I do not intend to do any interior detailing to the roundhouse, nor to the turntable. At 71 years old, I feel like I'm racing the Grim Reaper now, just trying to get something running. My largest engines do not look well on the present layout, which is the reason for building this "Someday" layout. We always start small and dream of the Grand Huge Layout we intend to build "Someday". Well, I woke up to realize I should have built it years ago. Time really does get away from you, so try to do all you hope for NOW before you get feable, or get old and have a stroke and can no longer see to do the work you are capable of now. It is nice to be able to make Museum quality items, but my opinion is that, that time was wasted on other people who really didn't appreciate the effort it took to do it for them. That is one of the reasons I praise Paul, Craig and others who do that quality of work. I have reached the point in my life that I am even thrilled for the guy who is proud of the new engine he just bought, and hasn't done a thing to it, BUT HE IS PROUD OF HIS NEW ENGINE, CAR, HOUSE, MOUNTAIN, WHATEVER, just because that is what he was able to do!! I will never run-down any effort anyone makes, so long as they enjoy our hobby THEIR way. It doesn't have to match MY way, it is HIS individual way.
At the moment Watash? Not alot I got a bunch of my own projects started and about 1/8th completed of the few.... all the rest are paying jobs.. work befor play to pay the bills. always comes first.. Or me trains will be on the streets without a home along with me... Best thing is... I get payed to do work I enjoy! I'll never regret one day of the time I worked in my shop... I enjoy it that much. Thats more then 50% of the people can say today in the working world... I may be 23 but I got a one in a life time chance and I jumped on it! And now I'm glad I did. Being I didn't want to wake up every morning to go to a job I'd hate! I guess i'm in my own way getting my enjoyment... I love to try my knowledge and see just how good it is and how good I actually am I take on what ever comes my way big or small doesn't matter if its train repair or train customzing or paint and decaling ... I take it.. I LOVE the challenge. Specially if its of the hobby... [ 26 October 2001: Message edited by: 7600EM_1 ]</p>
Hang in there John, I have seen your work. Its hard to emagine that is just "play"! Most jewelers would be envious of your skills. Nice thing about being retired, I don't have to work, don't care if I get paid or not, and I just play all the time! Jan says for me to watch it or I'll end up a lazy bum! I tell her I'm not lazy, I'm just effecient. I'm not asleep, I'm planning ahead on my next move. I got ready to move one day, and told her to get a firm grip on something solid because I was going to fly into lightening action! About an hour later she quietly mumbled, "I haven't been hit by lightening yet!" I can't help it if I changed my mind. Besides, I could always do that job tomorrow. Then I rolled over and went back to sleep!
Marty, sorry the photo wouldn't show up, so is posted here as promised. I first drew the pit out on the computer then plotted it full scale. That tracing velum was then located dead center on the layout modules' top, and glued in place along one edge, and pinned on the other. A 1/4" dia. hole was drilled through at center for the pivot pin. I set the radius attachment of my router to be short of the necessary radius for the rough cuts. Then a 12" wide cleat was screwed under the table top with screws to support the cleat to the table outside of the big hole, and four more screws that will support the center disk when cut free. I set a 1/4" flat bottomed two flute cutter to just 1/32" below surface, and made a full all around cut. Then I raised one edge of the paper pattern and sanded off all burrs. With the pattern out of my way, I then made plunge cuts until The cutter had cut compleatly through the table top and 1/32" into the cleat below. Now the center disk is free, but still held in place by the cleat. Replacing the pattern, I re-set the cutter out to within 1/16" of full radius and cut through all around again. Then I vacuumed the saw dust, and started making small cuts 1/16" deep wider and wider. Each time I would try the pit in upside down until it fit snug. Then I finished cutting all the way through and into the cleat all around. You can see the micrometer adjustment on the radiusing attachment in the photo. The hole was perfectly round, and there is no gap to fill. Far better and easier than trying to do it by jig saw, see? I used the same attachment with extended legs to locate the radius, and all the post holes for the roundhouse doors later. They are all 6 degrees, 34 of them for the 33 stalls. I laid out the rear of the roundhouse with a large drafting trammel. The roundhouse is 7 feet outside diameter. I am machining the ball bearings and post for the turntable to mount first, then all stall tracks will be matched to the turntable for accuracy. Then the roundhouse and turntable will be finished up detailing as needed. Its the best way I have found so far. Hope this helps you with yours.
Watash, I got alot in the jewlers tools department! However, Being it seems like "play" Its not I get payed for what I do its "play" to me being I enjoy it so much. I get payed for parts and things I may have to supply and my time in the working process. With my shop, my moms job and when times are slow in my shop my carpenter skills come to show. I'm a full time modeler with a part time Carpenter job that I do my own contracting for myself! I'll post a few pics of the Contract job I did this past summer..... I beauitfull Alexandrian Ginger bread house made into a bed and breakfast for the "Allegheny Highland Trail". Which once was the Western Maryland Railroad right of way. Its now "Rails To Trails" Hopefully in somepoint of the trail a ole Western Maryland #1200 Challenger haunts the trail! HA!
I would love to see it John. You and Benny asked about making boiler castings awhile back. I found a couple of photos of how they were made, and am trying to post them on that Topic, but it is over 60 days old, so isn't allowing my "Add Reply" yet.
Watash, If you can (which is no problem from me) E-mail them to me if you like! ... I'll get to see them that way forsure with out problems! HA! I know how troublesome posting pictures and things can be! I've had trouble doing so a few times! It took time but they posted latter on. Might because of me roaming the net for new R.R. sites and all so... Slowed down my connection speed... Anyway heres a few pictures of my Carpenter/Contracting work.... I done all 3 pourches, and the moulding, and decks, roof, and painting. Another company came in to wash the bricks and all I did all the wood work and painting and so on... It would be a great home to model for a layout Its beautifull in person.. Their is however some "Ginger Bread thats not on it yet! At the tops of the post you'll notice their a Cordual type thing facing the other post on the inside, Thiers a smaller version of railing that goes up their. Not yet gotten to be sealed with base primer coat, 2 coats of that and then the regular base coat, 2 coats of that and then 2 coats of finish color coat and then a high gloss finish coat that is undecided clear or the same thing but white.... Look at the railing all ready on the pourches and you'll see or have an idea of what the top railing will look like just smaller... This is an example of the carpentry work I went to school for! [ 28 October 2001: Message edited by: 7600EM_1 ]</p>
Catt, If you want I can take some more pictures of it when its daylight tomarrow! Its dark out right now.. Let me know what you would like in a picture! Those pourches were a real pain in the you know what! Very Tedious work! I hate to imagine what it would be like in HO scale! And God forbid in N scale! HA! But I can't say I'd hate to see someone scale model it! That would awesome! I restored the real one and someone go and scale model it! That would be wild! Catt you want to further talk about this through e-mail me with your questions and all at: yellowstone10@hotmail.com And I'll be of much help as I can being its only 3 houses down the street from mine! [ 29 October 2001: Message edited by: 7600EM_1 ]</p>
Hi all, This topic went dormant but i am sure that everyone is working on something. I am working on a caboose to go with the GP38 at the beginning of this post and will have pics soon. Until then, here is a pic of Lil' Ugly - a kitbashed N-scale camelback on my pike. That is the nickname that the crews gave her. (you can see why!) Russ Hoffman Valley RR
