I'm just working on some vertical fuel tanks (they do look lame, not bad for a first scratchbuild experience)
Can you get photos and let us seem them. Most of the time, we are a harsher judge of our own stuff than others. Maybe their not so lame after all? Jeff Augsburg & Concord R.R. (a fictional shortline in Central Illinois) http://www.pegnsean.net/~revnjeff
A lot of times when you think a model don't look good enough, it just means it needs a few details. For your verticle tanks you can add things like a knee high cement wall around them for incase they leak, a couple pipes going down the side made out of a peice of wire, a few streaks of something that leaked out and ran down the side paintes on, a sign or logo near the top of one of the tanks, maybe even a few little peices of wood scrap laying around too. Try adding a few little things like that and then the model looks kinda neet instead. I like to cut a peice of the newspaper into tiny little squares and glue around the ground to look like somone was reading the paper and just left it to blow all around.
I mean they really DO look bad. The tanks are out of cardboard tubes. The tubes deformed when I painted and they look crazy now. The roof ain't level, also. It's just a temporary building, I'll try to make some out of something else. Thanks for the tips M@g!ยข
try pvc pipe...most hardware stores (little guys) will cut it for you. So will Home Depot. My grain elevator is made from pvc... This structure will be included on the new layout currently under construction. Jeff Augsburg & Concord R.R. (a fictional shortline in Central Illinois) http://www.pegnsean.net/~revnjeff
Finally did some work on the layout today after about a 2 month lay off Put in about 6 feet of track ballast and put some plaster cloth on one of the mountains. At least it is a start.
first 8' of backdrop is painted and up. Benchwork completed for first section. Drew my first easement! Started laying roadbed. Spray painted roundhouse. Next - more cork and weathering the track.
Nice job, Jeff- I've got friends here in Sherman who are doing the same thing in HO. I may emulate them (and you), as the Walthers kits are a wee bit pricey, and I want to custom-build an elevator for a chicken feed distributor.
the Walthers ADM Elevator silos are a total pain in the ass to build. The main structure wasn't much of a problem but now I'm stuck with the silos and I really dunno how to assemble them.
One thing you might notice about my elevator, it has a shed over the piping on top of the silos. This is common in areas where they get a lot of snow. THis avoids the issue of builiding all the complicated piping. Jeff Augsburg & Concord R.R. (a fictional shortline in Central Illinois) http://www.pegnsean.net/~revnjeff
I think the roof gives a more finished look to the silo's too. I have been working on my turntable lately. I'm trying to get it to look more like a Northern Pacific prototype, with wooden walkways over the deck ties made from scribed siding. I painted the bridge sides black, and mixed up some dirt from my back yard with water and glue to make some great looking mud. I used a putty knife to smooth it around the pit ring, and I like the effect now that it dried.
Heh, Frisco Bob, Don't have any progress to report on layout. Don't have a layout. Will be asking for estimates on train room, soon. But, have been busy decorating locos for various roads, including FRISCO: 2-8-2 Hvy #4210 Mantua; 2-8-2 Hvy #4203 Mantua; 2-8-2 #4013 New One; 2-8-2 Lt Mantua. Happy railroading.
Hi all, I'm just beginning to look into this hobby, so I've not got to much done. I'm still trying to understand the lanquaqe. The hobby is big in the Milwaukee area, so I hope I will find others that share the interest. About the cork sheets, I bought some 10 years ago at ACE hardware in the wall covering department. You will not find it at building supply centers. Hope to talk to you all again. If I can finger out this format.
every night laying down a little more roadbed, and a little more track on my N-Scale layout. Actually quite pleased with the progress. I would say I average 2 feet a night. Doesn't sound like much, but with work, family, etc., I'm quite happy with this pace...
Barry, I know exactly what you mean when I was building the layout I would go to the layout room after dinner and spend an hour working on the layout. It is amazing how much work progresses over the week.
Here's the latest accomplishment, relettering of a locomotive into the new lettering scheme. Here's the new color scheme with the old lettering scheme: And this is the old lettering scheme on the old color. Jeff Augsburg & Concord R.R. (a fictional shortline in Central Illinois) http://www.pegnsean.net/~revnjeff
Yes, these are custom decals from Gary Collins, who runs a company called GMC Rail. He specializes in great decals. Let me tell you, he provided me with even READABLE N-scale end car lettering. He was a pleasure to work with, making it really to help me to figure out what I wanted/needed. He isn't that expensive, or at least not to this cheapskate. I paid $53 and got enough decal material on an 8 1/2 by 11 sheet to letter a dozen locomotives, a dozen boxcars, with dim data, and a dozen hoppers. Reprints will cost me $8.50, including number changes. Considering these decals are in two different colors on the same sheet to me is a great deal. I provided him with the dim data I needed, as well as some custom phrases for the doors and sides of the cars. He helped clean up a jpg graphic for the logo and provided me with several choices of stock fonts to use. The decals are not super fragile, though they are thin and not the easiest to work with. I haven't dull-coated them yet, but the film disappeared even better than MicroScale. If you can't tell, I am really HAPPY with the decals Here's the website: http://www.sound.net/~gcollins/GMCRail1.html Jeff Augsburg & Concord R.R. (a fictional shortline in Central Illinois) http://www.pegnsean.net/~revnjeff
I just visited their site, and the prices do seem fair. I bookmarked them for when I'm ready for some decals. It looks like you figured out your camera too! The pictures game out good!
Actually, I decided that the church should have a nice digital camera for a number of projects, including putting pictures in our monthly newsletter. And since I bought the camera, I figured I better know how to use it, so I can show others. And of course, I couldn't think of a better way to make sure it worked than to take train pictures....had to make sure the macro function was right...LOL
