Modeling general discussion
What's on your workbench February 2018
I assembeled this gondola from a PBL kit in Sn3. I then sprayed the entire model with wood colored paint. After that dried for a few days. I brush painted on boxcar red and before it dried I rubbed it gently to show the wood color below. I also used a roto tool to gently distress the tops of the boards. Then I used powders to dirty up the inside and outside of the gon.
Knife blade source
Blades in the most recent package from a well-known name seem to hold a sharp edge for three or four cuts -- generally in the past I have gotten through a wood or styrene project with one or two blades.
What suggestions do the model builders in the crowd have for a blade that can hold its edge, and might even response to a little touch-up with a sharpening stone?
Unusual or Cross Hobby Tools
On another forum, we had a post about unusual and cross hobby/jobs tools that were of benefit to model railroaders. I would like to see what others here have to offer as well.
To start off with, here are some ancient surgical tweezers (from about 75 years ago) that I use often! I wouldn't sell them for any amount. My dad got these when he was a medic in WWII. As can be seen, they lock on things up to about a 1/8". Invaluable for placing small items.
Monster Review: Scaletrains HO Gunderson 5188cf Covered Hopper
I initially saw these new covered hoppers last month at the Scaletrains Booth in the Better Living Center at Amherst Train Show. I liked them so when the show ended and I got home I pre-ordered 5 for my layout. I ordered 3 Union Pacific and 2 CMO. I was surprised to receive an invoice for them last Thursday because I didn't even know they were due to be released this early. So anyways I immediately paid for my order and counted down the time for them to arrive.
finding a vendor of a product?
I have been looking for a vendor of a product called Homabed. It is a pre-split and notched flexible sub-roadbed for HO trackwork. I only need 6 feet for a test/programming track. You have a great index of vendors, but no cross-references when it comes to finding one for a particular product.John Colley, Sonoma, CA
Good airbrush paints
I just purchased an air brush. I have never owned one before. I was wondering if any one can recommend some high quailty paints for me. I have been out of the hobby for a while, just getting back into it. I cant seem to find this one brand of paint I really liked. Was it floquil?
Any way, I am open to some suggestions. Is that Vallejo brand any good?
Who Are You Trying To Impress?
Allen Keller, who used to produce the 'Great Model Railroads' videos, during the interview segment, would always ask the layout owner/builder: "Who are you trying to impress?" I thought it an odd question back then but it got me thinking recenty about the division of "us", the model railroaders and railroad modelers. The rivet counters and the good enough group. The operators and the let 'em run round and round folks. And there are even more groups with sub-groups within, I guess.
New Model Train Stuff Website
Model Train Stuff has a new website. Like most "improved" websites it is worse to me.
Lots of features are gone. For an online ordering company, ruining your website is non brilliant.
Their old site just needed more capacity for throughput on the back end.
cracking decals
i'm in the process of putting an organge strip on a guilford caboose. I applied the decal put solvaset on and let it dry after about an half hour little cracks appeared on the stripe what causes this and how can I fix it?
It's a balmy day and it is ruining my model railroad plans
It's very warm here in Canterbury, NB today. Reached a high of 15 celcius (about 60 F) and the snow is melting. This causes the driveway to be a sheet of ice. The snow is rolling off the roof. I went over to the church (where my layout will be built) and it's flooding due to some drainage issues that were not looked after last year. The water is lapping at the bottom of the basement door. My layout roon has about a 1/2 inch of water. All that matters is up off the floor but this will delay layout building further until it dries out.
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