Busy busy SGt. Tim Great work Tim. Hopefully can you list all the great projects you have for us in 2008? I would really like the modern tank cars you showed awhile back. Any progress on them? How are you progressing on the SD70ACe shell. How dynamite does it look? When can we be expecting it approx? Happy new year bud-d-d.
Hey Kim, I am relatively new to this forum and just came across this thread. I saw some of your work and was wondering if maybe you could do a how-to on the photo etching or laser stuff for z-scale? Thanks Eric
A New Year of BuZy! Happy New Year!!! I have just recovered from a nasty flu/cold!!! Glad it took place in 2007. Don't like'em, don't want any more!! 2008 is earmarked with lots of projects!!! Unfortunately I can't mention what most of those are. The ones I will mention are a final start of a good solid module of the Intermodal Yard I have been desiring to build for 2+ years now. Will also have animated projects to build into it too. I have several of Robert Ray's laser rollingstock I need to finish assembling too. I will also be slowly building that 4-4-0 loco of the General. That is a personal project also. I hope to get it looking as good as what Chris made his scratchbuild loco. Chris is the Master!!! As far as projects for the general Z population, I haven't thought about it yet. I do know one thing though, I will not be making any more Mi-Jack's. I have thought about some coal loaders, but way back on the burner. Now, for the SD70ACe, I have not received it in the mail. It is not in my hands yet! When I do get it, I have to wait on some fresh RTV rubber and resin to come in the mail. But I believe this will be a great project indeed!!!! This photo was taken at the end of August. That is the last I have worked on that project. Have etched one time since August but did not modify the brass. You can see the brass needs modifying. Other than that was a great project. We'll have to see what 2008 brings!!! Hobo Tim
Photo Etching at Home Their have been several Photo Etching How-To's in this forum. You need to search the Z scale section and also the Inspection Pit section. I do know both sections have had excellent discussions in home photo etching. Hobo Tim
Fred, Tank-Tainers are also on the back burner. Here is a photo of what I do have pertaining to the Tank-tainers. Yes, those are cast resin and etched parts for Tank Cars!!!! Hobo Tim
Casting and Etching Armand, In February of 2004 I joined the Yahoo Z scale group. From day one I was scratchbuilding things in Z scale. First was a PS2 3bay covered hopper. Z_Scale members loved it so much they wanted some too. This yearning sparked an interest in knowing how I could make my talents producable. In all of 2004 I learned how to work with 2 part RTV Rubber and 2 part casting resins. I also learned how to etch at home. Thanks to the available website, Micro-Mark supplies, and everyone who helped. Before coming into Z scale I did not know how to do these things. I make all of my masters from styrene. I do all of my own RTV molds and casting in resin. I also do all of my own brass etching. (except of course the Ztrack THRALL brass-Professionally Etched) Their is so much I do not know. But I am learning!!!!!! Looking forward to expanding my skills in a CAD class soon. So much to learn. Have a Happy New Year! Hobo Tim
Eric, Welcome to the forum. The how-to are the most common and favored posts. As Tim said if you search a bit you will get a lot of info. Here is a few from a quick search. If you have any specific questions feel free to post them here. Photo Etching Brass - TrainBoard.com Photo Etching in Z scale - TrainBoard.com Laser, Laser, Laser - TrainBoard.com Kim
I've bought over 100 Decals from Tim in the last 2 Years but never found the Time to use them. Yesterday I started with the SP Decals for the Gunderson Cars. It's a bit time consuming but fun and the SP Cars are now very much nicer.
My workbench is for the moment empty, just next week will be US-Signal PCB testing with video, I think. But on PC I work on plans from Mars WR-5000-A Light. I want to put this famous light system to Z scale.
Tim, If you're ever interested in putting on a seminar, let me know. I'm just in Athens and would love to learn! John
John, I have never thought about doing a seminar on Scratchbuilding 101, but is an idea!!!! Maybe a Web-inar could be a posibility!!!! One of these days all of us Georgia Z scalers need to get together and Brainstorm!!! Hobo Tim
One project down (mostly) 999+ more to go Picked this up this past weekend figuring it would be fun. It's an MPP kit with a few minor issues, the main on being not enough tar paper to complete the roof. So it's not 100% more like 85%. Not as impressive as others out here but still, a barn has to have a light for those early mornings and late evenings. Besides the farmer still needs to finish the roofing.
Nice Job on the Barn Paul. I know that MPP always have some Issues to build, just ask Rob. About the light in the Barn, try a more warmer yellow color instead of this halogen light.
I don't have laser cutter yet, but I do have a knife cutter. I cut out the main structure in a sheet off styrene. After I popped out the parts I glued on strip wood on the sheets and then glued the walls together. Lots off manual labour, but I hope the results will turn out okay in the end.
