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Post by slowfreight on Apr 19, 2020 8:47:57 GMT -8
I guess it's finally my turn to start the SPF thread. Despite the nice weather, I made some real progress on my BCOL caboose van. Paint work finished, and ready for decals:  I used a camouflage black rattle can for the underframe, Scalecoat II reefer yellow for the ends, TruColor for the dark green, and Rapido for the light green. Based on everyone's feedback to my question of coupler and truck base color, I tried Valspar Flat Brown Velvet (had one on hand) from a rattle can. Very pleased with the base color, and so much faster than airbrushing. Unfortunately, as a long-time lacquer guy, I struggle with the Rapido paint. For me, it seems like it's not really airbrush-ready, but too much distilled water and it runs...too little and the needle instantly clogs. I can't find the optimal pressure, can't keep it flowing, and can't clean it up without resorting to acetone. But when it does spray the gloss finish is almost as nice as a lacquer. I got on a roll, and brush-painted all the aluminum window frames. Then I got on a bigger roll, and finished decals on one side.  Here it is, coupled to my Kaslo combo box kit:  The decals were a challenge. Kit decals were so horribly pixelated that I shelled out another $10 for Highball Graphics decals. The Highball logos were nowhere near as nice as Microscale or Herald King, but were enough better that I was ok using them. Curiously, I've never had a decal set that didn't give all the numbers in correct font, so I couldn't give it the car number I wanted. The kit set had more number choices, but the fonts were different and Highball seemed more likely to be accurate. Frustrating, but I think the car looks more RTR or brass than resin so I'm happy overall. |
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Post by fr8kar on Apr 19, 2020 10:27:06 GMT -8
That BCOL caboose van looks fantastic. I always loved that two-tone green scheme. I wish more of that equipment had found its way to Texas in the 80s. I have decided to get started on some cement hoppers representing cars destined for a little cement transload facility in Roanoke, Texas. I used to walk, ride my skateboard or bike to Roanoke as a kid because it was the closest siding. Add in the cement plant and Roanoke is where the action was on the Whitesboro Subdivision back in the day. You could see quite a variety of schemes in the UP, ex-Rock Island and T&P/C&EI/MP cars, though the MP cars dominated. Although I don't spot this plant in my job now (it's served by UP), there is another cement transloader that I deal with pretty frequently in Saginaw, Texas, so I get a good look at the weathering patterns on these cars. It will be fun to get to that point. Here I've replaced the running board and crossovers on this Walthers hopper and repaired some end cage damage on the Intermountain car. I'm waiting to see how things shake out at work with all the cuts in the past couple weeks before I go spending a bunch of money on wheels, trucks and couplers. It's a marathon, not a sprint and the journey is the fun part anyway. That's what I keep telling myself...   |
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Post by dti406 on Apr 19, 2020 11:00:56 GMT -8
Completed projects this week. %20IMG_0731.jpg) IMWX 1937 AAR Boxcar Kit, painted with Scalecoat II Boxcar Red and lettered with my last set of Mark Vaughns Wabash Decals. The NJI&I stood for New Jersey, Indiana and Illinois a railroad started by the Singer Sewing Machine Co. to connect the 11 miles between their plant and the Wabash. The name stemed from the locations of the Singer Co. plant locations. Line was eventually sold to the Wabash and also serviced the Studebaker plant in South Bend. %20IMG_0732.jpg) Proto 2000 Greenville Gondola Kit, painted with Scalecoat II Black Paint and lettered with Oddballs Decals. Wondered why a Greenville car had a Pullman Standard Manufactures Plaque on it, but found out PS built the car using Greenville's plans. %20IMG_0733.jpg) Hallmark Wabash Brass Caboose, Painted with Scalecoat Red/Silver/Black paints and lettered with Mark Vaughns Decals. The cabooses were built at the Wabash's Decatur shops or by International Car Corp. and were used by the Wabash, Ann Arbor, Manistique and Lake Superior, and eventually the DT&I. %20IMG_0734.jpg) Got my Rapido Ann Arbor FA-2's, can't wait for the club to open up again to try them out. Thanks for looking! Rick Jesionowski |
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Post by stevewagner on Apr 19, 2020 14:04:35 GMT -8
One of the nicest of the watercolor paintings Howard Fogg made for Alco shows two of these AA units at the Annie's main car ferry slip on Michigan's lower peninsula. A unframed print of that was one of three in a lot that I won the first and only time I bid at one of the auctions sponsored decades ago by the model railroad club whose layouts (HO, N and O scale) are in Boston's Roslindale section. I wanted Fogg's portrait of a Delaware & Hudson RS-2 leading the Laurentian. I paid $10 for the three. My competitor was a New Haven guy. I sold him the NH print for $3. Jim Hediger had done a great model of a matching AA scene; I wrote him and asked if he'd like the Annie print. He said yes, and I sent it to him. Everybody was happy.
I think the Wabash / Ann Arbor "Bluebird" scheme was absolutely beautiful, though I think it didn't look quite as good on the FA's flat nose as on other types of locos, where the "birds" really appear to be kissing each other!
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Post by csxt8400 on Apr 19, 2020 14:19:28 GMT -8
Good stuff gents. I have been meaning to add a few pictures of a project I've been dancing with, but to no avail. One step forward and two steps back. As of now I have the trucks weathering almost complete, still need to seal the initial weathering and decal work before moving onto the next phase.
Maybe next week..
Stay safe and stay busy!
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Post by slowfreight on Apr 19, 2020 15:31:27 GMT -8
Good stuff gents. I have been meaning to add a few pictures of a project I've been dancing with, but to no avail. One step forward and two steps back. As of now I have the trucks weathering almost complete, still need to seal the initial weathering and decal work before moving onto the next phase. Maybe next week.. Stay safe and stay busy! Projects in progress are just as exciting to me. |
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Post by sd40dash2 on Apr 19, 2020 16:06:58 GMT -8
Projects in progress are just as exciting to me. OK slowfreight, I took these photos just for you. They show my stalled project of circa-1900-1910 Canadian Pacific bobber caboose 3007. This was rebuilt around the Mantua frame, salvaging the pedestals, sway bars and wheels with everything built back up from styrene. The cupola and running boards are spare Kaslo parts along with Moloco draft gear and everything else from parts inventory and scrap box. This is my only outstanding project, but I lost interest in modelling last October. So the parts are sitting here gathering dust. One day I'll get inspired and finish the project with Black Cat and Tichy decals and various small bits. Fit will be important here and I'm just not in the mood to fight that battle right now. Hope this was of interest to you. Love your BCR van.    |
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Post by slowfreight on Apr 19, 2020 16:53:10 GMT -8
Projects in progress are just as exciting to me. OK slowfreight, I took these photos just for you. They show my stalled project of circa-1900-1910 Canadian Pacific bobber caboose 3007. Definitely feelin the love here today. That's a fascinating project for being done out of leftovers. I've had a few projects like that which I just can't get back in the groove. But your work is outstanding and I'm sure it'll be great when you get back to it. |
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Post by sd40dash2 on Apr 19, 2020 17:12:55 GMT -8
OK slowfreight, I took these photos just for you. They show my stalled project of circa-1900-1910 Canadian Pacific bobber caboose 3007. Definitely feelin the love here today. That's a fascinating project for being done out of leftovers. I've had a few projects like that which I just can't get back in the groove. But your work is outstanding and I'm sure it'll be great when you get back to it. Glad to help your cause. I appreciate your feedback. You really need to be in the mood to do work in this hobby. This caboose will look a lot better when it's complete. Mostly it's just assembly and final finishing at this point. Yeah, you can get a lot done if you have a good parts inventory and scrap box. I hope you will continue to share your efforts here, whether completed or in progress. |
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Post by timvanmersbergen on Apr 20, 2020 5:33:44 GMT -8
More progress this week on Sinsinawa Avenue, East Dubuque. Added street lights, fire hydrants, period vehicles, and more structure details.
Back at the workbench, I did some experiments on weathering an Intermountain wood flat car deck for an OTTX car in preparation for an ag equipment load.
Now it's back to being essential again on Monday.
Tim VanMersbergen
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