"What are you working on?" Thread [Archive]

CBCNSfan

01-04-2005, 03:37 AM

Well the Festivities are over for another year, so it's time to get back to the workbench and start another project. I was wondering what projects y'all were planning, and when you'd be starting on it.
For myself, since I'll need at least six cabooses, I thought I'd start with that.
I thought I post my progress with the project here, sort of a report as I go along. I'm no craftsman at this, I make silly little mistakes. If someone has a serious suggestion, by all means post it, BUT NO NIT PICKING or rivet counting, I just do the best I can with what I have.
I am hoping more members will join in and post a sort of report about what they are doing. Everyone is welcome, and your project can be any scale, about anything that has to do with model railroading.

Cheers Willis

The Doomed.

grumpybob

01-04-2005, 01:56 PM

Well, even though i got the railroad running for Christmas, :D I still have more scenery work to go. I also have about five more engines to put receivers in. hopefully, my kids will give me back my digital camera, and i can take some pictures. :confused: :rolleyes:

modelbob

01-04-2005, 04:03 PM

I'm working on a general design for my layout. Unfortunately I've got a rather diverse collection of rolling stock (and interests). I'm not sure what I'll end up modeling, but I am sure you can't fit the PRR, BNSF and northwest steam logging all into 11 x 17...

So my first project is to establish priorities and decide what my focus will be. I'm also giving serious consideration to what radius curves to use and whether to include easements. 22 inch radius looks great with 40 foot freight cars. A GG1 and my Sounder train make it look a lot sharper... ;)

HaggisKennedy

01-04-2005, 05:04 PM

I got a hankering to work on some cheapo IHC Heavyweight passenger cars I had stashed away, so I started those the day before New Years, while watching TV. Besides body-mounting the couplers and swapping out wheelsets, I assembled the interiors and populated them with various Preiser figs.

I'm working on one particular heavyset fellow who's in the optimum position to be seated on "the Can". Biggest issue now is to kitbash the trousers down by the ankles....

:D

Kennedy

RCH

01-04-2005, 05:15 PM

Lady_Railfan

01-04-2005, 07:12 PM

My primary goal is to get the Garden Railway up and running. To that end, I've pulled most of the weeds, but found that during the recent heavy rain, my track has "floated" in places. That means it's time to get some more fine ballast and re-level the roadbed. The good news is that the storms have done a great job of compacting the existing ballast --- that stuff ain't going ANYWHERE!

I also have a Piko "farmhouse" kit to assemble --- a great rainy-day project!

Another project in the works is to get the HO set in better shape for next year's Christmas display. We spent more time rerailing cars than we did running the train this year, but the granddaughters (not to mention the cats) were quite entralled with the whole thing, simple though it is. I'm going to add some scenery, and look into replacing the plastic trucks.

You experts will be hearing from me! :)

JeffShultz

01-04-2005, 08:43 PM

CBCNSfan

01-04-2005, 11:16 PM

Oh my, kind of forgot about these goomers. I stripped the Conrail paint and logos off. Got them painted and now they're waiting for CBNS decals and dummy couplers. Photos not the best but they're 4 bay hoppers.
Cheers Willis

RCH

01-05-2005, 01:08 AM

Not much - I had a couple blue box covered hoppers to assemble from Christmas.

Unfortunately I found that the frames on these things are oddly warped, causing the trucks to sit at an angle from (high) center to (low) end. A bit of filing helped.

The filing helped, I'm sure, but I think the screw holes are tapped at an odd angle, causing the trucks to mount the way you're talking about. I've had that problem with virtually every Athearn covered hopper I've ever had. The only thing that really fixed the "warp" and the coupler height was to mount Intermountain trucks with Intermountain 36" wheels on mine.

SDP45

01-05-2005, 01:58 AM

I'm working on 2/3s of my rolling stock fleet all at once. My Oscar and Piker kits.

I'm taking pics as I go and will post them when I get a few more.

Weather has been below 20 degrees for the last 3 days, with 2 more to come, then more snow. Should be close to being done when the snow flies.

JeffShultz

01-05-2005, 02:46 AM

RC, I take it the Intermountain trucks that you mean are the three piece ones that sorta swivel in more than one direction?

RCH

01-05-2005, 04:04 AM

Yes, Jeff, the equalizing trucks. Ray Devine (CNW on Atlas HO forum) sent me about a dozen pair of his unused NIP Intermountain equalizing trucks. I replaced all my Athearn PS 4740 fleet's trucks with them. They take a bit of tinkering to get used to how to make them work well, but once you've got that figured out, they operate wonderfully. No more "one loose truck, one tight truck" on your freight cars. You tighten them up so that they only swivel and don't rock and the equalizing action takes care of the rest. In fact, the equalizing action can take up a small amount of the warp you're talking about. Plus, they look great, IMHO. Much better than the stock Athearn BB trucks.

James Butler

01-05-2005, 09:40 PM

My project is my first decent layout. What better time than the new year to get started. I purchased a house with a 12 X 40 foot basement room that I have the wife’s permission to completely utilize for an HO layout.
I have to decide what I want to do. I model the C&O of 1953 with a three-year fudge factor, so I can run everything from 1950 to 56. I am getting lights installed and completing other room preparations. I hope to get started in earnest this winter. I am in the middle of layout design 101:-)
Any other C&O transition era modelers out here? What are you modeling?
Jim Butler

sushob

01-06-2005, 12:33 AM

I'm working on a little 20" by 30" N scale table-top display. There is a loop, but it's not powered. I wouldn't go so far as to call it a layout, because it's basically just a few tracks on "shelves" that I'm attempting to make look like a mountain. Its all foam (base, mountain, road bed) so far, but I'm adding plaster rocks that I'm casting in Sculpy clay (worked great! if you don't like the mold, just roll it up and start over). I'm planning on on creating a shell with plaster cloth over the areas that don't have cast rocks. Nothing spectacular, but having never constructed a layout before, it's a learning experience for me.

Lady_Railfan

01-06-2005, 02:00 AM

Nothing spectacular, but having never constructed a layout before, it's a learning experience for me.hehehe So's my Garden Railway a "learning experience!" The only difference between us is that I'll be able so SEE my railroad, something I wouldn't be able to do in N scale. :D

Niko at home

01-06-2005, 03:44 AM

I have nothing exciting going on really. I'm still ironing out a plan for my reconstruction. Getting a list of things I have that need to be repainted, things that I'd like to acquire some day, etc.

B_Kosanda

01-06-2005, 03:53 AM

I'm working on the extension to my layout. I have another thread started on that, so no pics here.

Bill

RCH

01-06-2005, 05:16 AM

I have nothing exciting going on really. I'm still ironing out a plan for my reconstruction. Getting a list of things I have that need to be repainted, things that I'd like to acquire some day, etc.

That's a good idea, Nick. It will help you stay disciplined once you have exactly what you need to buy on the list in your hand. It's prevented me from making many impulse purchaes. The ones I have made have caused another item to be scratched from the list in its place (e.g.: my high hood Southern U33C project took out a future Southern SD45 project from the list).

A list is also a good idea to help prioritize your current and impending projects. If you're like me, you have half a dozen things you're "working on" but only one or two really active projects. Since you mentioned repainting, you might find you have three different projects needing some gray paint. If you consult your list first, you might only load the airbrush one time to knock out all the projects. It's little things like that...

I remember a time when money and time weren't really much of an issue - I had enough of either to buy and build what I wanted. These days, if I don't work "smart," I won't get much of anything done. Your mileage may vary. :)

abcraghead

01-06-2005, 06:55 AM

No modeling too lately. I'm planning on that SW-1500 project at some point, but funds won't allow me to start yet. I did start messing about with a paintscheme idea for it though....

CBCNSfan

01-06-2005, 03:36 PM

Well a progress report on one of mine. The first victim has been selected and stripped :eek:
WARNING Photo may not be suitable viewing for all members! Parential guidence is recommended :D

Cheers Willis

abcraghead

01-06-2005, 04:54 PM

CBCNSfan

01-06-2005, 09:02 PM

Did you put those trucks on it, or did they come that way?

Yep they came thataway from someones junk box into mine maybe they'll be replaced depending on what kind of a job I'll do. :D Guess they should look like this
Cheers Willis

abcraghead

01-06-2005, 10:55 PM

Yeah, I was just going to suggest getting some caboose trucks. I think Athearn has some cheap ones, if you replace the wheels with metal ones and weather them they'd look fine.

A side note, I've seen what appears to be a chain drive generator attached to the outer journal boxes of one caboose truck. I think you cna get these as parts from somewhere. That, and maybe some underbelly tool boxes and such could go a long way to dressing up an otherwise plain and detail-less caboose.

Oh, don't forget radio antennas, markers, and unusual stacks as options too. Also, if you decide not to replace the handrails with wire ones, highlight them with another color like white or yellow once they are painted and -- at least from three feet away -- they'll look like they are seperate.

Did I mention I love cabooses? (I think I could model cabooses alone.)

CBCNSfan

01-07-2005, 12:05 AM

Well ABC guess I may as well go whole hog and try for the Point St. Charles Caboose look. "big windows" I planned all hand rails to be wire and painted yellow in contrast to a black body. I may have a few shells completed before I get my hands on some of the correct trucks. I think most of these cabooses came from train sets where anything goes. They only cost me one and some were two dollars Cdn.
Cheers Willis
The prototypes

CBCNSfan

01-07-2005, 02:21 AM

I've seen what appears to be a chain drive generator attached to the outer journal boxes
The next time I'm over at the yard, I'll take some closeups of wheels and undergear, probably take a couple of the flanger and the plow, never know when I'll want them.
Cheers Willis

crook

01-07-2005, 02:35 AM

I am doing my darndest to resist the On30 bug, and trying not to do anything related to modeling.

I find myself slipping....

Niko at home

01-07-2005, 03:40 AM

That's a good idea, Nick. It will help you stay disciplined once you have exactly what you need to buy on the list in your hand. It's prevented me from making many impulse purchaes. ::snip::

I remember a time when money and time weren't really much of an issue - I had enough of either to buy and build what I wanted. These days, if I don't work "smart," I won't get much of anything done. Your mileage may vary. :)

I can be a sucker for impulse buys some times! I tend to get side tracked unless I have a specific list. Especially with something as large as this...

I don't have the time or money right now really. But anyway, I agree... working "smart" in an organized manner will be quite benefitial in terms of cash and manhours.

And I've done some work today... I vac'd the layout.
:cool:

mushroom2

01-07-2005, 05:59 AM

I'm still trying to find time to get some things done. I have a resin kit sitting on the workbench that's been 80% done for the last 2 months. It's getting to me. I'm either gonna finish it, or hide it. :D

CBCNSfan

01-07-2005, 02:19 PM

I have a resin kit sitting on the workbench that's been 80% done for the last 2 months. What kind of kit? How about a photo or two so we can have a peek at it. :D
I can be a sucker for impulse buys some times! Don't worry , it's a human trait, even with the list you'll get the urge to buy some item that later you'll wonder why you've bought it. I do :D

CBCNSfan

01-07-2005, 05:42 PM

I am doing my darndest to resist the On30 bug, and trying not to do anything related to modeling.

I find myself slipping....

Don't fight it, you are lost, come over to the dark side peacefully! :D

CBCNSfan

01-07-2005, 05:55 PM

Due to time delays in getting detail parts I usually have several projects on the go at any one time. Another one is a GP9, CB&CNS 5967. For starters I used an Athearn GP9 ( is actually a GP7). First order is to Strip it, and here is a shot of it soaking up the brake fluid and another one of it naked :D
Cheers Willis

CBCNSfan

01-10-2005, 03:27 PM

Well the weekend was a busy one in the train room. Installed a cable and a main power switch to the layout, will have to buy some more recepticle boxes to finish it up. I got a lot of styrofoam glued to the layout for scenery support on the Little Harbour yard and the mine spur area. I also enlarged the windows on a caboose in preparation for a try at modeling a Point St. Charles caboose. Looks like it may be ok. I cut the winterization hatch from the GP9 shell and mounted another fan as that is the configuration of the prototype. First pic shows the donor and recipient, the second pic of transplant complete except for a little plastic surgery to hide the scars :D
Cheers Willis

HaggisKennedy

01-10-2005, 04:52 PM

I can be a sucker for impulse buys some times! I tend to get side tracked unless I have a specific list. Especially with something as large as this...

Don't talk to me about impulse buys. Went to the hobby shop to get some styrene and glue, saw some Athearn RTR AC4400s. Newer run, with the DCC plug. So, I'm looking at it and I'm thinking, well, it sure looks like the same chassis as those Blue Box CSX/NS Dash 9s I've got stored away. So, I bought it; mainly to swap the shell with one of the Dash 9s. But, since I wasn't sure if that'd work, I got the one in BNSF, that way, it'd match with something I already have....

Looks like the swap will work, except I need some headlight bulbs as the ones in the AC4400 are really glued in there.

Kennedy

CBCNSfan

01-10-2005, 07:12 PM

Hi Kennedy, question for you. Does the RTR Athearn have the 5 pole motor or the old 3 pole motor like the blue box locos?
Cheers Willis

JeffShultz

01-10-2005, 07:43 PM

I bought one of those Cold Solder devices at COSTCO this weekend. It does work, although the jury is out on how efficient it is.

They are absolutely correct when they say not to use pressure - the tips are rather fragile and start crumbling.

Getting a proper position on the metal to actually complete the circuit is a bit tougher than I expected.

CBCNSfan

01-10-2005, 08:23 PM

the tips are rather fragile and start crumbling.
Hi Jeff, I was planning to get one of those, but missed the sale. Does a good supply of tips come with them, or is a person left out in left field if the tip breakes?
Cheers Willis

RCH

01-10-2005, 09:13 PM

Grain hoppers and more grain hoppers. A friend and I photographed the same hopper Sunday from different angles as it passed by, so I'm working on modeling it. It's a dead ringer for the P2K 4427 kit (HO scale), except for a minor variation in the outlet gates. It's even missing one of its jacking pads, which P2K had the foresight to include as separate parts, but unfortunately I didn't check the photos closely before attaching it (doh!). Now that it's assembled, next step is to begin the rusting process because this car is one of the rustiest cars I've ever seen. This should keep me busy for a few days...

I've added some photos in the new gallery here: http://www.modelrailroadphotos.com/photos/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=2426

These are photos depicting the process of weathering the hopper I talked about at the start of this thread. My original tongue-in-cheek guess of a few days is going to turn out to be a few weeks. This is harder than I thought....

CBCNSfan

01-10-2005, 11:03 PM

LOL, don't know what amazed me the most, must have thought I was looking at photos of the real thing. What was funny for a few moments was I was surprised to see the reporting info on the last shot, finally realising it went went on last. Silly me! Another perfect weathering and realistic paint job.
Cheers Willis

RCH

01-11-2005, 12:35 AM

Thanks, Willis. It's far from done, though. I uploaded the photos in the order in which I thought they would be seen. Instead, they show up from newest to oldest. Doh! Maybe I can upload them again in the correct order....

CBCNSfan

01-11-2005, 01:32 AM

LOL no problem, I was reading the photo captions first, think it said something like 1 st coat, 2 nd coat and the 3 rd looked like it belonged, I don't know it just suprised me to see the car info and faded out too. As I said looks like the real thing.
Cheers Willis

JeffShultz

01-11-2005, 01:58 AM

Hi Jeff, I was planning to get one of those, but missed the sale. Does a good supply of tips come with them, or is a person left out in left field if the tip breakes?
Cheers Willis

You get one tip and a 1-800 number to call for more.

I dinged my tip, but it's still usable.

CBCNSfan

01-11-2005, 02:51 AM

You get one tip and a 1-800 number to call for more.
Hmm thats a bummer, I wont bother till I can buy them in a store.
Thank's
Cheers Willis

HaggisKennedy

01-11-2005, 05:31 PM

Hi Kennedy, question for you. Does the RTR Athearn have the 5 pole motor or the old 3 pole motor like the blue box locos?
Cheers Willis

Can't tell, since it looks pretty sealed. May well be 5, since my GP60s are pretty smooth, compared to the Blue Box GP7s I sometimes run.

Kennedy

RCH

01-11-2005, 05:34 PM

They're all 5 pole motors now. Anything RTR has a newer generation of lower current drawing motors. But, they're still blue box motors, so you won't get the world's best performance out of them. There's always room for tweaking with Athearns, though....

greffern

01-11-2005, 11:23 PM

Flak bunkers and anti aircraft gun positions are in progress......
Solid reinforced concrete.
I think I'll use them for a H0 module.
I need a safe place for hefty web discussions that exists here in Norway.
I'm thinking about anti aircraft protection in addition to sabotage protection for my trains too...
Some armoured cars would be nice for use against those red light runners. I already have 105mm artillery with transport units for self defense use.

CBCNSfan

01-11-2005, 11:39 PM

Wild plans here. Jon I hope you're not planning WWW3 :D
Thanks for the info on the motors, fine tuning I don't mind it gives me something constructive I can do.
Kenedy the blue box locos will smooth out too, at least to an acceptable level, it does take some patience and study to see where the drive is binding.
Cheers Willis

sushob

01-12-2005, 12:10 AM

Jon I hope you're not planning WWW3 :D

Wow! Three W's! Must be a heck of a war! :p LoL!

CBCNSfan

01-12-2005, 12:44 AM

Wow! Three W's! Must be a heck of a war! :p LoL!
:o Well WW II was known as the big one, what Jon is planning sounds like a monster, or is it just on the World War Web. I goofed didn't I :D
Cheers Willis

sushob

01-12-2005, 02:54 AM

:D WWW= Willis's World War

greffern

01-12-2005, 06:33 AM

Maximum module length: 1,2 meter.
You must remember that Norway was occupied for 5 years and that the germans left so much stuff here that the government made an own department to govern it all. When they left, they just went home. The module is planned with a couple of bunkers and maybe some foxholes and trenches as they were ten years on, in the fifties. But then again I'm no stranger to strange projects and lofty planning.

HaggisKennedy

01-12-2005, 05:07 PM

All locos benefit from break-in time. Obviously, if there's something dreadfully wrong, it needs fixing. Plus, tweaking does help. Still, if you're of the lazy type, that break-in period may well be sufficient.

Kennedy

GrumpyGerman

01-16-2005, 01:48 PM

I am working on a book project about American Model Railroads (in German) for a publisher here in Germany. I will have to deliver my material within the next few days, all the pictures and drawings will follow in early February. Naturally, there was no time for model building projects with the exception of stuff arranged for the book. I have traveled a lot in the US an have a good number of photos from the prototype, but still I had to depend on some of my friends for more stuff.
The book will be out in late April and there is still a lot of work to do...
Martin

Pictured below is the title page

CBCNSfan

04-14-2005, 07:42 PM

The title page is very attractive Martin, good luck with your book

Well I guess I've been working on a few different things and this is the latest. I've put a lot of time in on this but I'm pleased enough with it now to leave it alone. I'll need a name for the area pretty soon, it's on a 45deg dog leg. The photo with the engine was how it looked before ( sorry this is the only before one I have)
Cheers Willis

AmtrakFan

04-17-2005, 02:39 AM

Getting my Layout Rolling. :D

CBCNSfan

04-17-2005, 03:53 AM

Getting my Layout Rolling. Speaking of your layout John, how is it coming along and when do we see the pictures? :D
Cheers

GrumpyGerman

05-06-2005, 04:33 PM

http://www.amazon.de/exec/obidos/ASIN/3613712539/elektrolokde-21/028-6310524-7242151

Two days ago, one of my friends called to tell me he had seen my book in the bookstore. The same night, I had it in my hands.

Feeling very happy
Martin

Lady_Railfan

05-06-2005, 05:02 PM

Congratulations, Martin! That's a wonderful accomplishment. You should feel very proud as well as happy. :)

CBCNSfan

05-06-2005, 06:37 PM

Congratulations, Martin! That's a wonderful accomplishment. You should feel very proud as well as happy. That is wonderful Martin, I can only echo Claudia's words, it's an achievement most of us will never acomplish. http://www.modelrailroadforums.com/forum/images/icons/icon14.gif
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/nibbs/clappinghands.gif
Cheers Willis