Workshop Wednesday

Here is a little I have gotten done the last couple weeks. The Seaboard car was a door prize I won at the St Louis RPM a couple years ago.

 

I also bought some printed buildings to make flats for another photo diorama. I spray glued some foam board and have got them cut out now.

 

Very nice, looks like you've been up to some nice stuff.

 

Thanks Bill!

 

Some fine, fine work above. I am envious of the triple diamond for sure.

Missed posting last Wednesday, but out in the garage today, working on some scenery. One section that is being worked is the "Brush Creek" module that has a short ballasted wood trestle. Thought that it might be a good post for this thread.

Thanks to @Oldguy (Bob Dye), I was able to examine the Frisco's designs a bit more and add some detail. Here are the parts and pieces after painting and weathering with some Pan Pastels and colored pencils. (Sorry for the uneven surface. It makes the deck look warped, but it is flat).

Trestle-parts-top by rjthomas909 posted Dec 30, 2018 at 1:16 PM

Trestle-parts-bottom by rjthomas909 posted Dec 30, 2018 at 1:16 PM

I tried to be true to the nut/bolt washer spacing and deck design (see bottom picture). While much of the detail will not be readily visible on the layout, it is nice to know that it is there.

Started installing on the module today:

Trestle-Install by rjthomas909 posted Dec 30, 2018 at 1:17 PM

Need to make the terrain conform to the ends of the trestle a bit and install header beams at the ends, but I think it will work out OK. Eventually, additional ground cover, water, and scenery will hide the various trim pieces and fix up the gaps.


Happy New Year's Eve Eve,

-Bob T.

 

Very nice Bridge, I see you have added "Fenders" which is the sides that hold the ballast. They look very nice, and as rail lines keep adding ballast they add taller fenders to retain more rock on the sides. It's one reason why the track is undercut instead of just adding more ballast. If you keep adding ballast, eventually need to build "shoulder" because if you get high enough, their is nothing to hold the rock, plus it overloads the bridges, causing the need to upgrade the bridge. So it is much cheaper to undercut. Ballast is the cheapest component on the railroad.

 

Pearls like this... thanks Bill.

 

I took a few quick shots today out in the yard of my covered hopper finished up and a boxcar I finished up yesterday. Really I just wanted to see how the building backdrops would look. Thanks for checking it out.

 

Steve, you never fail to impress us, great work!!!

Joe

 

Fantastic work. Makes me want to hit every model that I have ever built with a hammer.

 

Thank you Joe. I t's great you guys enjoy my stuff even the non Frisco models.

Bob, DONT do that. HA I look at you guys with layouts that run and function and wish I could pull it off.

 

Steve, keep building dioramas and then connect them together. Wa-La you have a layout. ha

You have the same talent with scenery as your weathering, we all have seen your work.

Joe

 

Thanks Joe, I guess that is kinda the idea with the TOMA plans MRH pushes. I could build a layout, but I couldn't wire straight track much less a layout. It would be a fire hazard by the time I gave up. I would need all dummies and push them by hand. Maybe a full basement diorama? I always thought just modeling the yard and shop in Springfield was my calling.

 

Steve, will send you a private message shortly.

Joe

 

Mmmm....hungry for Raspberry Pie?

Raspberry Pi, that is.

What is a Raspberry Pi? It is a small, stripped down computer, complete with WIFI. It can run JMRI, and communicate with a large variety of command centers. They were on sale at Micro Center, so I got one, and I tried Steve Todd's setup for JMRI and wireless.

EDIT: There are different models of the Pi, with different features. The model I got, a Pi 3 B+, has wireless.

It was somewhat difficult to flash the Micro SD card, and I had to borrow an HDMI cord from work to connect it to my TV so I could see what was going on, but with a Program on my Laptop (TightVNC) I can get a virtual view of the program, so I can change settings or use DecoderPro to program decoders.

It's small and portable, so I can easily bring it to my friend's layouts, and use my SmartPhone as a throttle.

 

Don't wait too long Chris, or we will all be gone. Thru the 70's I worked the Springfield Yard almost every day. I got all over, working as a grader operator. Not much I didn't see. All the technical stuff is written down, but the little stuff is what's not.

 

Here is part of my air brush job, I will be doing the easy stuff buildings, boats ans maybe fade my lake.

Here is one more of how I intend to use it.
It will take me a while to finish, I have not done these kits in a while.
Roll'em, Hot Rail !!

 

Great stuff Bill. Love the layout pics.

 

Thanks Chris. I have thought about it for years. I could never wire a layout but a big static display would be neat.