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Post by mlehman on Jun 12, 2016 6:58:14 GMT -8
Welcome to another edition of SPF.  I'll open with a dramatic pic where the Cascade Extension drops down the mountain into Tefft. A paired set of Alco and EMD motive power eases a train from Crater Lake and Snowden on this nearly 3% grade, with crude oil bound for the refinery in Durango and raw ties for the treatment plant in Alamosa. If you're going to the NMRA convention (less than 3 weeks away in Indy, 2 hours down the road from Urbana) the layout ops sessnions before and after the convention through OPSIG still have a few slots open. If you want to know more, see OPSIG NMRA National ToursMy friend Rick's layout is also here across town in Champaign and there's a few slots still available there also. Rick's Danville and Western is a modern, signaled bridge line with dispatching, etc for those who want all-diesel action. My layout is a bit more backwoods...  We'll keep things hot for you, though, since it'll be July  It's always cool, if not sunny, in Little Colorado. Come on over and have some fun! |
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Post by TBird1958 on Jun 12, 2016 7:04:44 GMT -8
I can do this.......... Here's a shot I took last week when I had some good early morning light.  SD-7 #5300, the first of more than 100 SD units on the Rio Grande.  My elaborate photo rig, 1999 Subaru.......and a quiet early Sunday morning.  I did manage to weather one freight car this week as well, here's about 3 hours time on one of Nick Molo's beautiful Santa Fe Bx-94 insulated boxcars. Built in 1966, the model is showing about 10 years worth of service, it's weathered with colored pencils and chalk. D'oh! it's always better if I actually include a shot of the model!  |
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Post by riogrande on Jun 12, 2016 7:10:17 GMT -8
Rio Grande did make it to the Pacific! Nice photo's Mark. I picked up one of the ATSF Bx-94 from Nick just before they sold out. I like the plain jane black caboose. Will have to keep hunting since those were pretty common.
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Post by mrsocal on Jun 12, 2016 7:44:23 GMT -8
Good looking stuff to start off this fine day guys. Me, I am experimenting for the first time with Milliput Epoxy putty. This is for that 60' National box I was asking about proto shots for. Anyway, I am thinking that the right side of this test box is going to work better than the left side. I used two different styles of applying the putty. In about 4 hrs. I'll check to see if I can start sanding it down. Everyone enjoy your Sunday!!!!  |
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Post by TBird1958 on Jun 12, 2016 8:06:46 GMT -8
I'm really interested to see what you're up to Scotty!
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Post by dti406 on Jun 12, 2016 8:59:33 GMT -8
I finished work on a couple of cars that fit into my transition era consists for when I run steam and early diesels.  IMWX 1937 AAR Boxcar (10' Inside Height), substituted a Des Plaines Hobbier Viking Roof for the Murphy Panel Roof, installed Yarmouth Models Sill Steps and painted with Scalecoat II Boxcar Red, then lettered with Speedwitch Media decals by Ted Cullota.  IMRC 1937 Mod AAR Boxcar (10'-6" Inside Height) Boxcar kit, with Yarmouth Scale Models Sill Steps, painted with Scalecoat II Boxcar Red and lettered with Speedwith Media Decals by Ted Cullota. By request of Mr Socal, attached is a picture of my workbench with a Proto 2000 PS 4427CF Covered Hopper Kit under construction along with a bunch of stuff sitting around waiting to inspire the creative juices in me.  Thanks for looking! Rick Jesionowski |
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Post by mrsocal on Jun 12, 2016 9:32:38 GMT -8
Just the way an active bench should look!!
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Post by TBird1958 on Jun 12, 2016 9:51:54 GMT -8
Messy bench pics.........I just shot this before running out the door for work today.  |
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Post by riogrande on Jun 12, 2016 9:59:11 GMT -8
Great looking ATSF box car Mark now that photo is up! Whats the book next to your workbench?
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Post by TBird1958 on Jun 12, 2016 10:08:38 GMT -8
Glad to see other folk's bench looking like mine (Thanks Rick!)
Jim, that's Morning Sun's UP Color Guide, it's on top the Rio Grande edition.......which is out on the bench to help with masking another brass caboose that's in silver right next to the books........It's mess of some unknown proportion, I love it!
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Post by tony45324 on Jun 12, 2016 12:39:46 GMT -8
Great stuff so far! Here is my finished project this week, outside for a bit of sun.   |
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Post by Great-Northern-Willmar Div on Jun 12, 2016 12:39:51 GMT -8
I finished work on a couple of cars that fit into my transition era consists for when I run steam and early diesels. IMRC 1937 Mod AAR Boxcar (10'-6" Inside Height) Boxcar kit, with Yarmouth Scale Models Sill Steps, painted with Scalecoat II Boxcar Red and lettered with Speedwith Media Decals by Ted Cullota. By request of Mr Socal, attached is a picture of my workbench with a Proto 2000 PS 4427CF Covered Hopper Kit under construction along with a bunch of stuff sitting around waiting to inspire the creative juices in me. Thanks for looking! Rick Jesionowski At least I know someone else works in organized chaos like myself.....  |
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Post by Great-Northern-Willmar Div on Jun 12, 2016 13:03:52 GMT -8
Okay this is my mess, I mean workbench....  Test track is buried....of course!!!!!  I'm painting a hopper car for my friend. I used Testors Model Master Classic Black and I really like the finish. Interesting use of chop sticks.   You ask what scale is that?  (Hint: the FP45 is an Athearn Genesis)  The answer!  It is a Lionel post-war two bay hopper which is about a dead on match of a Virginian two bay. The car is a remnant of my friend's now closed hobby shop. It was cracked and it has painted Lehigh Valley. LV is one of the most common post-war cars and has little value and add a crack in the body and it actual value is a couple of bucks, if that. We media blasted the Lionel bullet proof paint off. I used body filler to patch the crack and the heat stamped LV lettering from Lionel. For what is considered a true "toy train" this is not a bad model. I'll post photos of the completed car when the paint fully cures and I can apply the decals, etc.. |
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Post by riogrande on Jun 12, 2016 13:05:54 GMT -8
The UP Color Guide would be a nice book to have; will need to put it on my do-to list!
You guys have some pretty spacious work benches. I hope in a couple years I can move to a place where I can get that messy!
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Post by SD90 on Jun 12, 2016 23:22:30 GMT -8
Nice work everyone!
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Post by Colin 't Hart on Jun 13, 2016 3:45:22 GMT -8
The UP Color Guide would be a nice book to have; will need to put it on my do-to list! There are two volumes: - Volume 1 contains photos taken by company photographers.
- Volume 2 contains photos taken by Lou Schmitz.
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mlrr
Junior Member
Posts: 65 
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Post by mlrr on Jun 13, 2016 9:59:32 GMT -8
Progress on my MARC II Sumitomo Cab cars. Atlas' recent announcement of the Bombardier multi-levels (Thanks Atlas!) has helped to get this project back into high gear in anticipation of the MARC roadname. Looking forward to mixing these in with the new cars and my TLT MP36s.  I just need to complete the lighting before assembling the coupler, and truck assembly. |
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cklx
Full Member
Posts: 124
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Post by cklx on Jun 13, 2016 12:20:32 GMT -8
Progress on my MARC II Sumitomo Cab cars. Atlas' recent announcement of the Bombardier multi-levels (Thanks Atlas!) has helped to get this project back into high gear in anticipation of the MARC roadname. Looking forward to mixing these in with the new cars and my TLT MP36s I just need to complete the lighting before assembling the coupler, and truck assembly. The cars look fantastic. How did you build these? Cornelius. |
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mlrr
Junior Member
Posts: 65
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Post by mlrr on Jun 13, 2016 17:52:09 GMT -8
Progress on my MARC II Sumitomo Cab cars. Atlas' recent announcement of the Bombardier multi-levels (Thanks Atlas!) has helped to get this project back into high gear in anticipation of the MARC roadname. Looking forward to mixing these in with the new cars and my TLT MP36s I just need to complete the lighting before assembling the coupler, and truck assembly. The cars look fantastic. How did you build these? Cornelius. Thanks! They are Island Model Works resin kits. I used alclad II chrome for the metallic finish (requires a gloss gray or black undercoat. Trailers are also available. The kits require some cleaning and prep work ahead of time. |
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Post by fr8kar on Jun 13, 2016 18:52:39 GMT -8
I got some of Al's Monster LEDs installed this afternoon. Man, they look great. I aimed my phone at my test track and took this terrible photo:  Yeah, I know the photo is bad, but this was a milestone for me. I don't mess around with lights and wiring and all that jazz. Well, until today. Now they're all getting lights! During the last week I decided to correct an error on an Athearn blue box SD40-2. At some point, Athearn updated the blue box SD40-2 to have either wire radiator grilles or corrugated radiator grilles but the nose stayed the same. Although there were a few prototypes that had both the 88" nose and the wire grilles, the combination was unusual. Throughout this model's life, I have incrementally upgraded it with detail parts and triple clasp sideframes, all while preserving the factory paint. I knew correcting either the nose or the radiator grilles would require a new paint job, and I had a couple SCL U-boats prepped for paint, so it was a good time to fix this last nagging error. In the end, I went with a new nose and a paint scheme that lasted into the 90s on the prototype.    Edited to add: That's an Athearn RTR SD40-2 in the background and the only thing I've done to it so far is modify the trucks. That's how the model in the foreground was painted up to last week. |
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Post by riogrande on Jun 14, 2016 3:34:18 GMT -8
Ryan, great job on the NW SD's - looks like the re-lettering job turned out excellent!
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Post by drolsen on Jun 14, 2016 4:42:42 GMT -8
Progress on my MARC II Sumitomo Cab cars. Those look good! I've been hesitant to buy those because their finished bi-level shown on the website looked a little chunky, detail-wise, but I'm impressed with how yours are turning out. I need a few of these cars to model 3 or 4 train sets for my '98 modeling period. I want to run them with ex-PRR coaches (modified from the Walthers 21-roomette car) like I used to see on the Camden Line. Not sure how I'm going to kitbash enough GP40WH-2s though... Dave |
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Post by stevef45 on Jun 14, 2016 19:38:25 GMT -8
Painted last week, decaled this week, reflective striping today.   |
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mlrr
Junior Member
Posts: 65
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Post by mlrr on Jun 15, 2016 6:26:24 GMT -8
Progress on my MARC II Sumitomo Cab cars. Those look good! I've been hesitant to buy those because their finished bi-level shown on the website looked a little chunky, detail-wise, but I'm impressed with how yours are turning out. I need a few of these cars to model 3 or 4 train sets for my '98 modeling period. I want to run them with ex-PRR coaches (modified from the Walthers 21-roomette car) like I used to see on the Camden Line. Not sure how I'm going to kitbash enough GP40WH-2s though... Dave Thanks Dave! That's an old pic of my bi-level on the website. I provided updated photos with the metallic finish but IMW hasn't updated the page with the new photo. I gave it an overhaul a few years ago but kept the molded on detail. They're pretty good actually but you are right that some of the detail is a bit bulky. You can always choose to modify it further to add the fine detail yourself but I understand only wanting to go so far.   What I did takes quite a bit of time. One could probably do one car per week (roughly), even though I like doing the painting in batches. The most time consuming part (aside from providing time for paint to dry) is installing the window glazing using a rotary tool. Each window needs to be cut out and sanded in order to fit snugly. Another aspect is painting the window gasket detail. This too can be time consuming and assuming you work, you realistically can bank on doing this detail work on one car per day. |
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Post by danpik on Jun 15, 2016 14:13:03 GMT -8
I just finished this one as a special build for a good customer.   Here is the prototype  |
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Post by Chet on Jun 16, 2016 12:32:03 GMT -8
Been down in Nevada for the past few weeks for national bowling tournaments and it was nice to see some really nice photos posted when I got back home. Some really nice work and some sorry looking work benches. I won't post my workbench because someone may think I'm a clean freak.
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Post by Christian on Jun 16, 2016 14:05:59 GMT -8
I won't post my workbench because someone may think I'm a clean freak. Every so often we do clean bench postings. Usually been me and, well, hardly anyone!  Nice to have company. |
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We'll keep things hot for you, though, since it'll be July
Nice to have company.