Western Maryland Stone Hopper

Finished decaling 1 of 4 stone hoppers.  Decals are from Steel Valley Models.

A test mini layout

For some reason I don’t seem to be quite ready to start building my next layout.  In an attempt to figure out what’s bugging me about my plan or just get unblocked, I’m building a little mini switching layout.  A hollow core door, 79”x15”, with a 52” removable extension off one end for the lead.  Part of the goal is just to build something and try out some of the newer techniques, like low temp solder feeders, and Joe’s recent article on nallasting and painting track.  Part of the goal is to try different layout heights by carting the thing up 2 flights of stairs (that extension HAS to be removable) to sit on my adjustable height home office desk, where I’ll be able to try operating it at chair sitting height, stool sitting height, elbow height, armpit height, and maybe a little higher before the desk maxes out.

The right side in the photo above is the “front”.  Along the back is a single industry that receives several types of plastic pellets.  The industry track on the left can hold 4 plastic pellet hoppers spotted for unloading, plus one more offspot squeezed in before a comfortable clearance point.  The track on the right is the storage track, for more offspots or if cars need to be swapped out to get the needed type of pellets unloaded.  The storage track can hold 4 plastic pellet hoppers.  The middle track is the main track that continues off the bottom end to another industry.  The lead is imagined to continue on to the yard.  There’s space for 6 pellet hoppers and an mp15 between the points for the industry track and the end of the modelled lead.  I think it should offer some interesting switching.

The industry is loosely patterned after Placon in West Springfield, MA.  Very loosely so far, since all I know about it at the moment is what I can see from satellite and aerial photos, and a little website reading.

Wrapping up lots of things before I go on the road.

Here's a minute and a half to entertain you....

My workbenches are busy for a little while longer.

My next video will probably be "How to get black acrylic paint off your fingers...."

Love it...

Dear Ken,

Gotta say I love where your new project is heading! Can't wait to see where it takes you, and what exploration, discoveries, or even Complete Epiphanies it will provide...

Happy Modelling,
Aiming to assist wherever possible,
Prof Klyzlr

PS West Springfield MA is IIRC serviced by CSX from Framingham, and typically uses 62xx series GP40-2s due to their being equipped with Cab Signals, compatible with the NEC. You may also find yourself looking at my (only) fave Ortner Hopper CSXT 291035... (never thought I could love an Ortner Ballast hopper...)

Thanks Prof

Thanks Prof, I’m not sure where it’ll lead me but I think the journey will be interesting.

CSX owns the former B&A through Framingham, Worcester, Springfield, and west to NY.  It’s part of what they got in the Conrail breakup.  Springfield has a pretty good sized yard, and that spur branches right off the middle of the yard on the south side.  I once saw a GP15 in that yard, but you’re right CSX seems to be almost exclusively GP40-2/3 for everything local these days.

Here’s a video of CSX setting out a hopper on what I’m thinking of as the storage track:

Youtube and so many people wandering around with decent quality video cameras in their pockets has made virtual railfanning so much better these days!

Railfanning by YT

Dear Ken,

...doubly so for those of us modelling said prototypes from 10,000s of miles away!

Happy Modelling,
Aim to Improve,
Prof Klyzlr

Follow

Following

TCS 501 Programming

I’m dialing in the programming for this TCS 501 decoder for my Atlas O SW9. The crew alert feature below.

Laying track

Finishing laying the last two sidings on the Connecticut Northern, getting me to 30 car spots from my current 23 (I think). I decided to handlay the entirety of the sidings, which was probably a mistake, but oh well, it's going to be gorgeous and perfectly in gauge.

Kartrak Scanners

I've been working hard scratch-building some Kartrak ACI trackside scanners for my yet to be built Helper UT yard. IIRC there was a company (maybe Alexander / Stewart) years ago that made a kit but they were very old castings & a bit crude by todays standards for a trackside foreground detail 

So anyway I'd been using a bunch of Showcase Miniatures components to depict D&RGW 3 aspect & searchlight signals, so it wasn't a huge jump to build some Kartrak scanners. I scratchbuilt the scanner housing from styrene and used brass tube & SM components to make a pretty good representation of those I had prototype photos of. 

It was also kind of fun to track down as much prototype reference material that I could find from the 70's

Trackwork

That is very nice looking trackwork Alex!

What's on your workbench for March, April, May.....November 2021

So waaaay back in March 2021, I decided to paint one of my Overland CN Pt. St Charles cabooses since I needed a caboose to run with my new Rapido M420's.  Well after some cushion underframe modifications, the paint went on in March, the decals went on in August and now I'm finally getting around to cutting the window glass for the end cupola windows.  Maybe if I'm lucky it will be bringing up the end of Train 393 from Portland, ME by the end of the year

-Neil Schofield

Steve....Wow!

Excellent scanners....outstanding, even.

Excellent scanners

Yeah, those are really something. You have to admire the patience and skill for creating such hyper-details.

I'm always motivated and a little envious at the work one sees on the monthly "workbench" thread.

Trackwork

Thanks! I love seeing what everyone is up to in these threads, I have lots of skills to learn in the hobby! 

Custom Windows

I bought a 3D printer this fall, and used it to create a full set of custom doors and windows for my station:

This week in November

I had purchased Pan Pastels a couple years ago and they were a mess to keep organized as they came in groups of 5 but only one top cap as they screw together to seal. Anyway a month or so I purchased some PP organizers from Scott Thornton at his workshop sales site. They are great but I had to order PP lids for what I had. Ordered 16 and 5 were useable and told the vendor Dick Blick, who was excellent to deal with but again of the 16 replacements 4 were useable. Here is a picture of my bench with 15 of the PP in Scotts organizers. This was taken the day I left for vacation so when we return it shall be the same. My SIL tells me I have another package from DB but he wanted me to have the fun of opening it.

A almost completed weathered pulp car. Using Vallejo Air, Panzer Aces and Vallejo washes Arcylic paints and a few Pan Pastels

Next

Chris, which printer did you purchase?

Nice looking windows and doors.  Just curious what printer you are using.

Regards,

Jerry

Printer

Elegoo Saturn. It's a larger version of their Mars printer. Size doesn't matter for windows, but you can print a one piece freight car body on it. (a 40' car no problem, and 50' boxcar body would JUST fit on the build plate - haven't tested how close to the edge something will actually print...)

It's a UV-curing resin printer, not melted plastic filament which would never get this resolution or smooth finish.

  Salt storage silos for my

Salt storage silos for my aggregate warehouse. the silo bodies are salvaged chandelier tubes from some old light fixtures, and the rest is Evergreen Styrene and scrap bin parts.

Rico Station (Ragg's to

Rico Station (Ragg's to Riches), O Scale

Kartrak ACI trackside scanners

Those look great. I think items made from separate parts look better than 3D printed objects, much smoother and well defined joints and corners.....DaveB

LED wiring in building interiors

Back to a project started in spring. Adding LED lights and MP3 players to the interiors of buildings. This is the produce terminal and the last building to do on the Union Belt.  Next I will start the buildings on the West Detroit branch.

David

Ballast and Glue testing looking for the quietest but most reali

Ballast and Glue testing looking for the quietest but most realistic ballast. 

Real Stone, Woodland Scenics or DCC Concept legacy ballast 

for 

Sound  -  deadening effects

Sight  - dyeable applying black washes 

Scale/Size - prototypical  

Looking various glues and wet water combinations.