Workshop Wednesday

Thanks guys. I appreciate it. A little Frisco exposure for the masses.


Steve

 

Well, what is the fun in having a layout if you don't operate (part of) it every once in a while? With a sectional layout, I often am working on scenery or wiring a single module or two. With telework and long hours, I decided to set up a chunk of the Crawford and Cherokee, including the new Mine sections--enough to switch some cars around and test the new sections:








I only found one section of track with the feeders not attached properly, from the realignment of track on the south Cherokee section. Plenty of switching enjoyment, and a chance to work on a few places that need scenery tuned up, like this grade crossing area:



Sorry for the mess. Not as nice as a staged photo:



But much more fun on a coffee break. (My office is now 10 ft from the layout). Ha!

Take care all,

-Bob T.

 

Love it Bob. Looks like fun and still great progress.

 

I've been working from home some, too, so I sneak downstairs at break times and do some quick projects.
I messed with the old time muley caboose a little. I tried the old-time passenger trucks:

I had to glue some drilled out sprue to the bolsters so they wouldn't rattle around:

I built a Tichy coal bin, though I can't for the life of me figure out the wood supports:

I found some more ABS the neighbor was throwing out from a plumbing project. I cut it for grain elevator silos. I mocked them up with a tower and galleries made from mattboard and pushed it up against a Heljan kit someone gave me:


Now I've got to try gluing them together and painting them...

 

I particularly like your coffee break and the layout looks fantastic. That is what I like about doing a layout in sections, scenery goes up really fast.

Joe

 

ABS or PVC pipe sections are like "Tinker Toys;" They have many modelling uses as well as other uses besides runs of plumbing!

 

George, I used 3/4 inch PVC pipe for the legs on a previous layout, the guys from the NEONS club in Tulsa teased me about whether it was hot or cold water. To make height adjustments used threaded electrical fittings which gave about a 1 inch variance.

Joe

 

I would like to hear a bit more about renumbering method. Not a complete repaint, I assume? I have one duplicate number.

-Bob T.

 

Excellent. The number boards will be taken out and re-decaled or in place?

 

If you don't mind me wasting some band width here is how I do it Bob.

I use Solvaset, full strength to do this. It works on all major manufactures. Some quicker than others but all easy to do. I like this way because there is no damage to the base color paint like scraping and no ghosting from old numbers under the new decals. I included the stop watch just to show how quick and painless it can be.

The starting points:




I put a few drops of Solvaset on the lettering then a small piece of paper towel. Soak it until you can see through:



After a few minutes the letters or numbers will soften. To remove them I use toothpicks soaked in water. This softens the tips so the toothpick can not damage the base color:


If you have a good decal match and only need to replace a digit:


To remove everything for a repaint or reletter:



Thats doing two at once. I know you do Accurail kits Bob, they come off quick and clean this way. Hope it helps.

Steve

 

Thanks Steve. Great advice. I will give it a try, first on something less valuable than a new GP7! Maybe for the next workshop Wednesday!

 

Those were an Intermountain covered hopper and a Bachmann Geep FYI.

 

Thanks Bob, its pretty foolproof. It works on Genesis printing in case you do work your nerve up.

 

Here is how that same Geep looks now. Those Pennsy units are an easy way to make Frisco units.

 

Steve, are those Bachmann geeps black or Brunswick Green? The first photo, not sure, but the others they sure look black.

 

They might intend for them to be Brunswick green. But they are most definitely black. I’m sure pennsy fans struggle with that like Frisco fans and orange or is that red? Ha

 

For sure, Brunswick green is VERY dark and easily mistaken for black. Grew up in PRR terrotory. Usually no one can tell the difference except a true slobberin' Pennsy foamer. The red-orange problem is worse than that for Frisco fans....