Workshop Wednesday

Nice! If I had the guts (and skills) I'd go back to ca. 1900. What cars are you converting, and what do you do to convert them? I see some new steps, doors, and door slides. Are those Kadees rib-backed wheels?

 

Hi Gary:

I use the old AHM Pocher/Rivarossi "Old Time" trainset cars, as well as Bachmann's variation of same. This line of cars are 34' long. I'm shortening some of the AHM-type flatcars/gondolas to various lengths for more variety. I'm also using cars form the Mantua (and Bachmann's variation) "Old Time" line as well. These are 30' cars that were originally aimed at the Civil War era, but with some modifications make creditable cars for later eras. I also have a modest stash of the old Central Valley wood kits for 34' boxcars. Those will be built later after the "get a basic fleet ready to paint NOW" mode is past. Retirement is only 15 weeks away... and I still don't have a basic fleet of rolling stock. (I alread have an "emergency" roster of RTR steam engines for now.)

As for the AHM/Bachmann 34' boxcars, here's a "before and after" picture. The in-process car is on the left (the crooked corner step has been tweaked since the pic!) and the production example on the right.




And here's a look at the ends. Production example on the left, in-process modified car on the right.



If you'll look close, you'll see that I have scribed joints in the roof walk, as well as made some exaggerated wood grain. (Exaggerated so it will show up better after painting.) The above picture was taken before the modified car received its 58 series (smaller) coupler. It has since received its 58 series coupler.

Yes, I'm using the rib back wheels. The code 88's look great.

As for this era: I have a sizable collection of HO scale diesels that await to see how this 1880s thing pans out. I originally thought to have two smaller layouts: This 1880s one in the Hobby Shack (out building) and the around the walls KC Lines diesel urban switching theme here in my computer/bookshelf room. The bench work is in place for the urban theme here in the hobby/bookshelf room. However, seeing as I come from about 50 years of diesel modeling, and (like you claim) never had the "guts" to pursue a steam layout... I figure at my age, if I'm ever going to try it... I'd better give it a shot.

So, after 50 years of basically the same approach (diesels), just different themes on different layouts, for some time now I have felt the deep urge (and need) for a major change. I scaled back my vision/scope for my Colorado 1880s layout to be more in keeping with my age and thus designing a much more managable sized layout. A Frisco theme was considered... but I just had to try my hand at my version of a Colorado theme layout. (Wife and I both LOVE Colorado, and vacation there often.) I didn't want the expense of narrow gauge modeling, so I'm going with a free lanced standard gauge approach and my HO scale "Colorado & Pacific" was born.

So far going for broke with an 1880s theme is as much fun as I suspected/hoped it would be.

All for now.

Andre

 

Several of us contributed to Jerry Hurt's AT&SF/SL-SF caboose article in Prototype Modeler. My 1145 is still around hauling sleeping conductors and brakemen.

 

Glad yours is still rolling too Doug!

 

Chris/Tom:

LOL!

It hasn't always been that way! However, over the years I've learned that those parts drawers with removable trays are the bomb for the work bench. As you can see, I can simply pull the trays from the drawers that contain the items I need for the project(s) at hand, and it saves a bunch of time instead of having to rifle through the the trays in the drawers to find what you need. Some stay out long-term: Tools/etc. On the short term, the trays with parts go back/forth to the drawers as needed for the project at hand.

Given that I'm almost 66 years old (in March), and seeing as I'm starting from ground zero with an entirely new concept/theme, I can't lose time through disorganization. Gotta make my licks count so little things like that help. I have MANY drawers with parts sorted and categorized in trays for easy/quick access. I also have stackable drawers that can hold entire projects, however, I'm going to try to keep from starting multiple projects that never get finished (as I've done in the past), instead staying the course and working my way through to the next phase. Once I get a handle on rolling stock, and seeing as I have 5 RTR steam engines on the "ready" shelf, I can turn my attention to the starting of the layout. I have been acquiring Shinohara code 70 switches and I'm almost there in regards to those I need. Soon I'll order all the non-weathered Micro Engineer code 70 flex track I'll need for the layout. Thus the track needs will be on hand.

Jim:

Those are nifty little engines and a real boon to those of us that like "Early Rail" modeling. (Also called "TOC19".) I have five of those new tooling Bachmann 4-4-0's that I can start operation with once the track starts going in and is functional (wired). I have several (many) steam engine kits on my "projects" shelves for later when I can start allowing myself to tackle more involved projects. However, for now the priority is get the basics in place for an operating layout... then hit the layout itself. Oh, and all of my little Bachmann 4-4-0's run really nice. The "Sound Value" DCC option is a hassle free way to have some sound. Four of my 8-wheelers are factory DCC/Sound equipped, and one is DCC ready. I intend to eventually install either a Tsunami 2 or a TCS WOW decoder in the one lacking DCC/Sound.

And here's where my basic fleet was as during the "Fast Acquisition" stage last summer. Fully 95% of the cars pictured here were "as received". (i.e. Out the box "train set" cars.) If you look closely you can see horn-hook couplers on many of them!



You can add about another 30% more (mainly boxcars, but also some more flats/gons) to the above to get an idea of where I'm at currently in regards to total number of cars on hand for the basic fleet.

All fer now!

Andre

 

Jim:

It's fun to see it, coming together. As you likely well know, there are MANY reasons us TOC19 guys like specific eras within the TOC19 time span. My 1880's choice gained me several features I wanted:

* The typical LONG cars of the 1880s were only 34' long! Lots of 25 - 32 footers were still plying the rails, too. This makes for much shorter trains that look longer than they are.

* SMALLER power and SHORTER trains (see point 1!). My pass tracks on my small C&P layout will have a standard clearance of only a measly 5'. Into that 5' will fit: 1 engine/tender, 8 - 34' cars, 1 caboose, and 1 engine/tender helper... with a bit of room to spare. IF there are some 25' cars in the train, 1 more car will fit.

* Micro-industries (1-2 cars spurs) were everywhere.

* There were still some wood burning locomotives, funnel and diamond stacks, short smoke boxes and still some nice looking paint schemes, though as a general rule the bright gay colors of the 1860s were gone. There were also innovations starting to show up in numbers, such as straight stacks, longer smoke boxes, and that sort of thing. I wanted a good mix of "looks" for the engine roster, from diamond/funnel stacks and short smoke boxes, both some wood and coal burning engines, longer smoke box and some straight stacks, etc. I love variety. Keeps it interesting for me.

* New lines were still being built and rails were being run all over the place in the 1880s. I far prefer the "boom time" and excitement of a new and growing railroad to that of the later "depressing" years of a failing railroad or line. Plus, modeling the "boom times" makes for a much better traffic potential in contrast to modeling a line that's on its last legs and in its death gasps. Depressing.

There are more reasons the TOC19 approach called my name... but above are the equipment/era reasons.

Here's another pic of the fleet as of last year:



And here's a shot of my workshop "corner" in my new Hobby Shack out building. I'm LOVING having space and organization in my work space area! Space and organization were elements I sorely lacked trying to cram all my interests into this small computer/book shelf room I'm in as I type.




I need to update the above pic. I've since added MANY storage tray units in the holes and gaps in the desk itself, as well as the available space in the shelving units. I have made a vow to NOT have to temporarily store things ON the in process layout once started. I detest having a layout cluttered with my in-process stuff, supplies, etc. In the past, doing so negatively affected working on the layout. When our limited energy for layout betterment's hit, the last thing we need is to HAVE to clean/clear the layout before we can even START working on it. We typically use up our creative energy doing mundane chores such as cleaning/sorting and the layout loses out. Oh, and walls around and above my workbench area will be adorned with framed 8x10's of railroad art that depict my favorite themes and locations. I expect there to be about 10 -12 8x10 pics thereon eventually. (I have 7 picked out, printed, framed, and waiting for the others to come along.)

All fer now!

Andre

 

You do excellent work, Don!!! Have you ever thought about starting an album with all of your locomotives?

Joe

 

Fantastic work, Don.

 

Wow... Tom... that Cat scraper is even chocked and boomed down!

I may have to stay on the porch... you big dogs are tough to run with.

Andre

 

Jim:

I think in my haste to blather on about this n' that in my reply to you, I fogot to tell you what a neat picture that was you shared! You've always done good (model) work.

Andre

 

I like that this has turned into a week long post too,forget Wednesdays. HA
Don that looks beautiful like the others said. I'm with you I could not work in a neat area as much as I'd like to it wouldn't happen.
Tom, the loader on the flat looks great! Who made the binders on your chains? They really look nice on there.
Jim and Andre, neat layout photos. I certainly know very little about that era of railroading but appreciate how much work you have put in those. Neat there are at least two of you here doing that.