every time I wonder why more people aren't into this hobby, something like this happens that makes me say 'yep, that'd do it!' First attempt at repainting these two Rhatische Bahn cars was a disaster - even after a simple green prewash primer wouldn't stick, paint woudn't stick, tiny painted pieces need to fit together so paint doesn't stick there either.... looked like a crackhead painted them with a roller. So, isopropyl bath to take it down to bare plastic, probably have to scuff with 600 or so, and try, try again. I think I'm going to try to do one solid color and hope decals will stick for the stripes. What a mess!
There are enough different levels of engagement in this hobby to satisfy almost anyone, assuming they like trains to begin with. They can collect assembled freight cars and display them on shelves, or build a large, historically accurate model railroad empire from scratch, and everywhere in between. You have a knack for envisioning a scene that requires a lot of scratch-building and modifications to available products, which is great, while others can enjoy the hobby just as much with ready-to-run models. I'm no expert in painting by any means, but when all else fails, stripping down to bare plastic should work, and leave more room for paint thickness in tight-fitting areas.
Haven't really tried to do much of anything lately due to time and space, but got the itch so sat down this morning. I have a handful of these little TomyTec shop and market kits for an older neighborhood on a part of the layout I haven't even gotten to yet, thought I'd do them up since it would be quick and easy. Easy, yes, but quick? HAHA silly rabbit. Got this far and called it quits, have things I need to get done today. Still, weather these guys up and should be a fun little street!
I have another 5-6 kits to put together yet for that street, too, plus an old-timey theater (TomyTec 038-3) that am looking forward to - should fit nicely with the rest of the street. All those are a ways away, though. I just did those because it was something I could accomplish start-to-finish in a couple of hours on the table vs a couple of weeks
Does anyone know of a set of N scale skiing figures besides the Noch set? I can't find anything else, but every figure in that set looks like they are Von Trapps from the 1800s, was hoping to find something that looked a little more modern. Am finding tons of HO that look amazing, the Nochs are all I can find anywhere in N. I might be able to trim and repaint those guys, but 1/160 figures are such a challenge imo
Sending PM-I know of a 3D print company, not sure if they are an advertiser here-they make a whole bunch of very unique figures in multiple scales. Not sure if they have skiers, but I think their business model is to receive good ideas, and then try and sell them. Another alternative to Shapeways I suppose, but specific for model railroading. They’ve got raccoons, forensic teams, skeleton on a motorcycle, bears with antlers (called a beer), and even little n scale folks that you can put on the very edge of your fascia doing hilarious stuff. Haven’t seen them at a show in person ‘myself, but they do go to shows and will body scan and 3D print you. Seems pretty cool. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Maybe find some beachgoers of which there is some variety and put them on skis. I'm betting as a young adult you had a poster or two of a bikini clad skier on the slopes? Funny thing though is as a kid my family used to cross-country ski during the winter months. Mostly because my dad learned of the torture while living in Austria and felt it was his duty to bestow that experience upon his children (1/2 kidding - I miss those outings looking back). Thing is we pretty much looked like those noch figures once we got suited up except maybe a puffy jacket here or there. Yes, we weren't dressed as sporty as many of our downhill counterparts but for a close to as possible out of the box experience with what is currently available see my first paragraph.
yup, that's the Noch. I have several sets and I like the quality plenty, these just all feel old to me. I get that I'm the odd guy out most of the time when it comes to stuff like this as there is way more marketing towards that more romantic age of American trains circa mid-century whereas I lean more to mid-2010s in another country altogether lol but maybe with a detail brush and a jewelers file I could dress these up some.
Got my cars repainted and reassembled, came out much better after stripping the factory paint. Am hoping I can get decals to stick for the striping but if not I'm fine with gluing cardstock on tbh - these will be non-functioning and there for diorama purposes only so not a huge deal. Put seated passengers down opposite sides so I can have them passing and have standing passengers taking photos of the other car, just like IRL. I guess now I need 2-3 sets of figures taking pictures.
Do I have any business starting these kits tonight? No, no I do not. I don't have anything ready for that part of the layout. I don't even have the track for that part of the layout. It makes no sense to put these together now. I should definitely wait. Buuuuut, I'm tired of waiting I have bubblewrap and I have boxes, and even closets to put it away in. I have been wanting to see how this thing looks for a long time, and I could use the distraction right now so we're off and running.
modifying these bridge supports is pretty much what I would expect having kids to be... you make all your mistakes on the first one, then the rest are pretty easy Cut one facing the wrong way (one side is detailed, the other is just grooved like how I took this photo here) but one side is going to have another bridge against it and am pretty sure if I don't point it out no one is ever going to see it in the first place. I am feeling the effects of that annoying habit on this one HAHAHA Kibri models go together pretty easily imo, I really enjoy them but doing what I want with these bridges is proving a skoch frustrating. I don't like the rounded and stone abutments that they came with, does not match the bridge am trying to (kindasorta) pull off so am having to cut, sand, file, etc and turns out those tabs are there for a reason - I think keeping a 27" span rigid the way it came out of the box would have been a challenge in and of itself, the way I'm doing it seems to be testing the limits of what model glue is capable of. Once it all goes together I think it will be fine, but I can't put those pieces in yet and am making a mess over here!
Work on the bridge a little, go over to Mom's and help her out. Come home and work on the bridge a little, go mow the lawn. Work on the bridge a little, clean up the sawdust and bits of 2x4 scraps in the basement. Has been a day but think I am as far as I can get until I can get some nicer finished 1x for my abutments at work tomorrow. Pretty much all that's left, though, besides some finish sanding and paint. the top piece got away from me a little and took me forever to get glue to stick to the structure and not my fingers so it shifted a little before it finally set, but it looks so much worse in the pictures because is blown up - can barely notice that it's off-center by a smidge. Another imperfection my eyes go straight to because I know it's there but am willing to bet no one else every notices. I guess I could prime and paint the railings yet tonight if I really wanted to, but this technically is my last "day off" for some time - think it might be time to find a couch and order a pizza with the remainder of my evening instead!
Same here, beautiful work. I’m sure it will be the centerpiece of whatever scene it’s in! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Got the legs on the bridge and started on the girders underneath, didn't get very far before I got annoyed but got more done tonight than I was planning so win/win. I made the legs significantly longer than what I'll need on purpose, will just set them into the foam and then block it underneath the layout since am still not sure where or how it's going to go (more on that in a minute...) Now if someone would just pick up this desk for me. Holy frak is this a mess!
And this was waiting for me when I got home, too! Pretty happy to have added this guy to the corral, love the story behind "Max". The HK would have been fun, I like the history of the E4 more. It's going to run a loop opposite of the E259, so will be fun to have two of my all-time favorite trains running together.
