Howdy folks, The hot days of summer are here, and I don't know about you, but the lawn and garden are eating up my time. In spite of that, the dog days of August are approaching, and it will be too hot to spend much time outdoors (at least in Texas). So, I hope to start a few projects like finishing the weathering and speaker installation in a brace of F3's. How about posting photos of your progress and finished projects from the summer. I am anxious to see some Frisco models! Best Regards, mike
Mike--I don't "model" in Winter or Summer as such. I do little bits the year 'round--Reading, layout planning, test running engines, a roof here, a brake wheel there...etc. Maybe some of the others do this also and it might require another category on the poll?? Tom
Our Seattle area Z Scale group, spear-headed by Tom Gilchrist, Summer project is a combo Train and Lego show at the Issaquah NP depot museum this July 19th, 2008. I will display my 2' x 4' Zbend track module with an assortment of Z Scale passenger consists: Santa Fe, BN California Zephyr, IC Casey Jones, Sounder, B&O, and some Marklin German passenger sets. My module is mostly flat and this year will have the addition of a Kansas buffalo farm! No Frisco locos are available in Z Scale.
Howdy Tom, No problem on the categories, I was using the summer as an excuse to model. I was trying to get folks to post photos of their models...and using all the tricks I knew...LOL. Best Regards, mike
Howdy Jim, I saw some amazing Z scale models at the Craftsman Structure Show in Mansfield, Mass last year. A modeler by the name of Bob Mitchell displayed models that were so detailed, I thought they might be S scale when I saw the photos. He is quite a modeler and will be teaching a few clinics at this year's CSS08 show, too. He is a Z zealot! Do you have any Frisco freight cars yet? Best Regards, mike
Mike - Don't really know why, but it seems I do most of my model work in the fall, winter and early spring. Too many warm weather distractions I guess. Ken
Busy summer, for me i am moving my 8' by 8' layout to my grandmothers home because I have to make room for my younger brothers room. My granny is fine with it. In fact exicted she bought my two international hobby corp engines. A Pennsy GG-1 and a Frisco 4-6-2 1015.
I have been busy getting my HO Scale Kansas Arkansas and Ozarks (Kansas City terminal) ready to be judged for my NMRA Master Builder and Civil certificates. The layout is going to be judged this friday July 11th 2008. Should I be successful I will only be one certificate short of my MMR. It has been a rather pleasant summer so far here in Kansas but the last couple of days have been very hot and humid. I will try to post a couple of photos of the layout in the next few days. Bob Wintle Parsons, Ks.
Oh yeah, I recently scratch built the triple crossing in Columbus and hope to do a Freemo module of that area this fall or winter. I am looking for photos or maps of the immediate crossing area if any one has them. Bob Wintle Parsons, Ks.
I finished replacing my old CTC 80 command control system with Digitrax about two weeks ago. In addition, I just completed converting my time period from 1975-78 to 1947-51 including all new paperwork for operations. Next step is to load test my Digitrax system which will begin July 20 when my KC crews are available. At present the railroad includes the 19th Street, Rosedale and Glen Park (MKT) yards and the main line goes south through Merriam, Lenexa, Spring Hill, Paola, Fontana and Ft Scott. I am getting lots of pressure to get Lamar, Elwood, Nichols and Springfield going. If the load test on Digitrax is positive, I will start on the benchwork before the end of July. My wife, Jo and I cannot afford to go on a big vacation this year so I am going to vacation in my basement. To sum it all up, my modeling knows no season. I am always trying to get something done. Rick
Rick McClellan and Marty Vaughn came to my house today and I am happy to report that I passed my NMRA Civil and Scenery certificates. While they were here Marty informed me that I only have one more certificate to earn for my MMR. He knew that I recieved a merit award for a car I scratchbuilt at this years MCoR convention. He asked if I had any cars I would like to present towards my car total so to make a long story short I am within 3 scratchbuilt cars of earning my last certificate. I am going to try to upload a picture of my layout and will post a couple of more when I get them edited. I tried earlier today but for some reason the post didn't work. Bob Wintle Parsons, Ks.
I was finally able to upload a few photos of my layout. These photos were taken by Marty Vaughn. The ones I have taken are too large to upload. Click on my nmame to see my photo album
Wow, that's great Bob, We just started the AP program at the Texas Western, so I hope to get started real soon. Please keep us up to date on your quest for MMR. Best Regards, mike
The layout is a freelance with a decided Frisco Flavor. The initial design starts with a 4x8 and adds around the wall extensions into a sort of fishhook shape. Other projects include converting an O scale 0-8-0 road switcher into a Frisco Consolidation, building the bridges for the layout and a loading ramp like the one at Pauline, KS on the BNSF (Big New Super Frisco!). Hopefully some of these projects will qualify for NMRA merit awards and apply to progress toward MMR. Gary Hemmingway
Latest progress is track going down for north Fort Smith and power drops soldered to track. Next is attaching to bus wires and installing the EasyDCC system (secondhand.) Real estate is waiting for the Fort Smith yard. Limited operations to test will be transfers from FS to Van Buren with both MP and Frisco switching the FS industries. Can I get that all done "this summer?" Locomotive department is also bringing in consultants to install decoders in N scale hood units.
From one fellow Texas resident to another, I can sympathize. Right now, I'm finishing up debugging the track on my new N scale ArkLaTex Sub in preparation for scenery. No towering mountains for me- pretty flat scenery all around, lots of vegetation (weeds, tall grass, brush, trees), and I'm trying to think if I want a pond for the local wild birds.....