Workshop Wednesday

Good Morning John, and thanks for the kind words. The flat cars were primed with a gray Tamiya spray, and then masked to paint the sides. The black cars were painted using a black Tamiya spray can, and the red car is painted using a Polly Scale oxide red shot with the airbrush (underside is same black Tamiya). The decks were brush painted with a Vallejo paint (English Uniform and Light Mud), which are a light wood kind of color. I used these straight or mixed the two to give a range of browns across the three cars. The wood decks were painted with a variety of brown, dark green, and gray washes from Vallejo, using a brush and going in a random pattern. The trucks are painted with rail brown from some MicroMark paints with a small brush. The car weathering otherwise is a combination of Pan Pastels (Paynes Gray, Medium Gray, Dark Green, Oxide and Dark Oxide Reds, and dark/bright rust colors) applied with brushes after the decaled car was clear coated and then Dull Coated (Testor Cans).

Usually, I would apply a wash coat with an airbrush to fade the paint prior to clear coating, but did not want these to be so heavily weathered. I find such a wash/fade helps with shiney boxcars especially, using boxcar/oxide reds and grimy blacks and browns in 10/1 or 20/1 paint to thinner.

-Bob T.

 

They look great Bob.

 

Well it's Wednesday ready or not. Here is the ocean, it set up nice I am fighting myself, about installing waves or water ripples.

 

Lookin good Bill!

 

You guys are keeping the fires of inspiration stoked...

 

Bill, at the Knoxville Club's HO layout we set up two of the Walthers car floats - they are on a "Lazy Susan", which is rotated between sessions. Each will hold 16 cars for interchange off/on the layout. I'll try to post a photo. When is your next op session? May we come?

 

Here's the photo from the Knoxville HO layout (actually located at the Children's Museum in Oak Ridge).

 

Mine is not set up to operate, but their is several in the Springfield, Kansas City area. If you get up in this area you can come by and tour it, Bill Super looking photo, I don't have my people on mine yet, as a matter I have a bunch of detail work to do.

 

As usual, a day late and......

There is a nice article on the 1400 series of Accurail boxcars this month (December 2019) in the MRH running extra (e-pub for $2.99).

https://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/magazine/running-extra/2019-12/accurail-1400

The issue includes a nice article by Jim Six as well on weathering similar rolling stock. I was working on some of these cars and decided to also continue to add to the details on the Cherokee Yard (switch stands, etc.) and post a few photos. Here is one:



I am hoping to get some time in on the layout over the holidays, including an op-session with a photo tour/summary.

Hope all are well,

-Bob T.

 

Looks great Bob!! Funny you mention Jim Six, you guys have very similar modeling styles and always remind me of each other when I see the pictures.

 

Thanks Tom, back at ya too!!

 

Speaking of Tom's talents. We did family train day at my dad's club layout today. MY WIFE EVEN WENT!!!! I took the belly dragger from Tom to see how it really ran. It was flawless. It was a fun piece to see roll around for a day.

 

Tom, it worked great. It cleared the tunnels and couple of bridges too. The trucks roll perfect. Nicely done. We might get the hang of this someday.

 

A bit early this week, but needed to kill some time at the airport.

Been working on a few of these old Roundhouse caboose kits. They can be grabbed for $5-$10 on eBay if you watch for them. They come with a few details, such as ladders and some hand rails, but not the curved side grabs or roof grabs. The idea here is to give them an early Frisco herald of some sort and use as a stand in for something prior to our favorite 3-window model from AMB.

So far, I have preliminary paint, hand rails, roof grabs installed. Still need end ladders, marker lamps, parts of roof walks, stirrups or steps under the doors, smoke jack, and brake wheels. These come with a solid frame truck of some sort, maybe exchange for arch bars? Also, should rails and grabs be black? Input is welcome.

Also, looking for a guide or guides for marking grab irons. Anyone know of a source and part number?

This is a dry-fit assembly. Still need to touch up where I putty-filled some holes in original model.

Side door caboose 3 by rjthomas909 posted Dec 16, 2019 at 8:50 AM

Side door caboose 4 by rjthomas909 posted Dec 16, 2019 at 8:51 AM

Take care all,

-Bob T.

 

Bob, There is a tool for marking grab irons,
Walthers part #150-blma57 $5.25
I have been using a piece of masking tape 1/2" wide, draw vertical and horizontal lines for grab iron spacing, place the tape on the model and drill your holes. Peel off tape and re use on opposite side or start another piece of tape.

I have used used a drilling template before but keeping them on the model while drilling or marking is a PITA.

John