SPF March 6, 2022

[simulatortrain]

I was looking at a picture of ACFX 4375 last week on rr-fallenflags, and I noticed it had a welded tank on a riveted frame. That seemed like an easy and interesting project- use an Intermountain frame, print a new tank, change to a steel walkway and add a platform. Well, I think the center sill and brake hardware survived.

[djh4d]

That tank car is looking good.

It's been a while since my last update, but much has been done. Staging yard is almost complete and the main for phase one is done. Once the wiring is installed, I'll be able to run some trains.

Overall view of the staging yard. Each track is 27'


A view from the other end. The staging yard is actually two yards. One for computer ran trains, the other for manually ran trains.


Temp loop at Willow Springs, IL


My test car, The Southern Transcon is Schnabel car approved.

Enjoy,
-Dave

[kentuckysouthernrwy]

Dave: Great looking railroad, you've gotten as far as a lot of folks ever get, get some trains running and make some money for improvements!

How do you keep the place so clean? Terrific looking. Schnabel is neat.

[Christian]

Dave: What are your long-range plans for the floor? I understand sealed concrete now while cleanliness is a battle.

[danpik]

A few more fantasy beer reefers for the collection.

[TBird1958]

Finished this set power a few weeks ago, two Atlas red box GP40s that got new noses, cabs, fueltank, air tanks etc and a P2K/Kato GP30.

[djh4d]

Mar 6, 2022 9:13:41 GMT -8 kentuckysouthernrwy said:

Dave: Great looking railroad, you've gotten as far as a lot of folks ever get, get some trains running and make some money for improvements!

How do you keep the place so clean? Terrific looking. Schnabel is neat.

Keeping everything clean is something I always push. I've seen several people post layout photos and it looked cluttered and it's something that's always bugged me. It also helps that the other guy that heads this is a little on the OCD side on cleanness.

-Dave

[djh4d]

Mar 6, 2022 9:35:28 GMT -8 Christian said:

Dave: What are your long-range plans for the floor? I understand sealed concrete now while cleanliness is a battle.

The track plan or, literally, the floor? I can post the track plan if folks want to see it. As for the floor, it's sealed concrete and I might get some rubber mats for the aisles.

-Dave

[stevef45]

Data decals applied to the SD70M-2 fleet
20220306_154722 by Tripps Pics79, on Flickr
20220306_154707 by Tripps Pics79, on Flickr

Tru-color G&W orange sprayed last night. Looked to have to much white in it. Wasn't really a vibrant orange. We'll see how it looks tonight or tomorrow in daylight.
And yes, that is orange in the picture with my FWWR that i needed to touch up some blue before masking it for the black underframe.
20220305_192218 by Tripps Pics79, on Flickr

And I found this in my garage while looking for the second FWWR unit. It was a athearn genesis f45 that i wanted to do into a "what-if" it survived into the BNSF merger to be painted in H3. Decals for the nose just don't work or look right with the nose light in the front door. Maybe i'll resurrect it again someday.
20220305_193055 by Tripps Pics79, on Flickr

[fr8kar]

It's been awhile since I had an actual model in my hands, but that changed today. A few new things came off the printer and got to be handled today. First is a Fruehauf ragtop trailer that needs a little tweaking still but certainly proves the concept viable.








The bows are drawn in there to keep the body square since the door is printed separately. They can be replaced with something finer or left alone and covered with a tarp.

I also converted my Rockwell truck drawing to be compatible with Tangent wheels and bearing caps. I'm really happy with these. I think I'll print some more to replace the other Shapeways prints on my Rock Island bay window caboose.






Aside from printed models I finally dipped my toes in the refreshing water of making decal artwork, which was printed by Bill at PDC. I started off with decals for my printed trailer kits and intermodal details but I've been having so much fun creating fonts and drawing shapes that I've kept on going. Nearly every project I wanted to do but couldn't because of decals is either in the works or already done. Here are some of the printed sets (apologies for the poor photos - I'll try to retake them):

[sd40dash2]

Several VIA F40PH-2Ds were leased to CP Rail for eastern freight service back in 1994, '95 and '97. I tweaked these Rapido RTR models by repainting the cab seats to black, adding rerailers, replacing couplers with Kadee 158, reposition the wipers and uncoupling levers, paint black behind the pilots and steps, relocate the bell and paint the rear battery plug yellow. Finally, the models were renumbered to VIA 6448 and 6450 (these two were among the dozen or so used in this lease service) using Microscale decals for the side numbers and Rapido decals for the rear numbers and numberboards. I am not yet brave enough to weather these for their freight service appearance!

[simulatortrain]

Gotta figure out something to use those Rockwell trucks on. Maybe build 2 C&O RBLs, one with those and one with XL-70s.

Now that the tank is done I got a running start on a RDG GHy after work.

[jonklein611]

Mar 6, 2022 11:00:55 GMT -8 djh4d said:

Mar 6, 2022 9:35:28 GMT -8 Christian said:

Dave: What are your long-range plans for the floor? I understand sealed concrete now while cleanliness is a battle.

The track plan or, literally, the floor? I can post the track plan if folks want to see it. As for the floor, it's sealed concrete and I might get some rubber mats for the aisles.

-Dave

I'd love to see the track plan!

[690]

A bit late for Sunday, but I finally had the day off, and it was raining outside, so I decided to dust off my NACC PD 5150 project.




Tichy grab irons for the bottoms of the ladders, Moloco draft gear, a Tangent brakewheel and trucks, and Plano crossover platforms. I also used some .005 styrene to build up the jacking pads.

[packer]

Just some basic stuff (I really should post on Sunday):


Weathered an IM kit I built a while back. Tried to go for a car that’s about 5-6 years ago.




Some work on some Atlas U30Cs. The MILW number seems to usable for coal traffic, maybe interchange stuff.



Went railfanning with a friend. Got nothing off of FGAR and CSX, but heard a horn when getting gas. That led to finding this. An RS-1 in 2022 still doing work.

[Bob Stetser]

I'm also late, as it's Tuesday...but I finally made a video of my Sperry Rail Inspection Car doing a clearance check ahead of a H & W movement.

Please take a look.

www.flickr.com/photos/194451419@N05/

Bob Stetser

[kentuckysouthernrwy]

Nice to see someone runs trains.

[stevef45]

RCPE painted units. Gotta paint the cab roofs white and get the a/c units installed.
20220308_162825 by Tripps Pics79, on Flickr

And nothing like having decals get caught in some masking tape even after being coated in clear. I guess the only positive is they came of some what evenly and should not be an issue over laying new decals. Will give it a good coat of gloss before new decals go on.
20220308_162822 by Tripps Pics79, on Flickr
20220308_162019 by Tripps Pics79, on Flickr

[grabirons]

I put together my first Accurail ACF 2-Bay Covered hopper. I would like to point out if you haven't built one, take your time filing the parts and test fitting them. It's a fun kit, and I look forward to more roads in this body style.

[idgara]

Nice car, I noticed the door on your shed building is upside down.