Good time for a new picture thread!















Jim

Maybe one more!



Jim

Jim, do you have any plans for lettering on that 2-8-0's tender?

I'll have to upload a new picture as well...

So far I've just been numbering the motive power, but I'm going to have to look into a corporate logo for the narrow gauge division.

Jim

Jim,

As usual, very nice photos and work. I have only one new one to show. A lttle weather-beaten consolidation going downgrade over Frijoles Creek.




I'd love to see everyone else's work, too!

Have a great weekend!

JIm

Those little shays are neat engines. Mine is pulling a string of 14 cars right now as I needed to get them out of the way for my 3R rebulding. Some of the ON30 will be changed but not to the extent of the 3R. I should have better operating with my change. Hope to get it done before winter gets here.
By the way, all those pics are great, makes me envious. Keep up the good work.
Al

I'll post on two of my projects...

First is my trestle on my layout...I don't think I've posted it. I have temporarily fitted it...but have a few changes to make...


Nice that all three pictures of those 2-8-0s have straight stacks As I've mentioned before, mine will receive a new tender, new domes, a new stack, new running boards, lose most of the counterweights, and various other things to become Oahu Railway #36. The freight cars are C&S cars.

Here's a photo of baggage-express car #40:

Since then, she's gained a floor. All the windows are glazed...with door glass being removable and hidden in pockets.

You can see the floor in this one:

but the photo is actually of the sides of the box step assemblies. I have two passenger cars and one caboose ready for box steps of varying widths...plus a couple additional passenger cars that will need them soon. I'm itching to start the roof. In in the mood to just built passenger car roofs for my next several projects.

Michael

These are all fine photos. I think we could start a thread about model photography based on the images posted in this forum.

Michael, your baggage express looks terrific! You should win some contests with it. You have a tall trestle; is it scratch or kit built?

Paul S

quote:

Originally posted by PRSearls:
Michael, your baggage express looks terrific! You should win some contests with it. You have a tall trestle; is it scratch or kit built?

Paul S

Thanks Paul. I don't actually plan to enter it in any contests...I've just had fun doing some of the extra little things with it. I'm primarily concerned about building models which I may find unacceptable at some later date. I've seen that my threshold for what is acceptable has only gone up over time...and I don't want any models that I'm currently building to be below this.

The trestle is from scratch. I originally planned to make it both taller and longer, but I found that I didn't enjoy cutting/sanding the lumber anywhere close to as much as I'd expected...so it was shrunk. I assembled it before installing the NBWs as a fellow narrow gauger (Sn2) was coming over to visit. Instead, I pre-drilled all the NBW holes so that I can add them later.

Michael

Great photos! Thanks!

cordially,

Dennis

Here are my first switches for my Puma Creek Branch. I used my Fast Tracks #6 point and frog filing jig to make these pieces. The lighter colored ties are PC ties...I'll need to shim them since they are only half the thickness of the wooden ties I used elsewhere. This is code 83 rail which scales out to 65-70 pound rail required for the K-class locomotives on the D&RGW. The left foreground track runs to a layover yard (4 tracks). The righthand track runs upgrade and out of a tunnel to the visible layout. The two background tracks connect to my under layout reverse loop.



Here is an overall shot of the switches on the roadbed. I experimented with two types of holes through the homasote, one a slot and the other a 5/8ths inch hole. The second technique is easier and cleaner. I'll cover most the hole with styrene after the switches and Tortoises are installed. The switches are gapped for DCC and the reverse loop. I'm going to take a little break from the layout to finish some "honey-do" projects to keep my "chief financial officer" happy. I'm also looking forward to starting several structure kits in the near future.

Paul S

Excellent work, Paul.

There is nothing like the look of smooth flowing, handlaid turnouts, especially on a curve.

Jim

Thanks, Jim. I'm still a rookie at trackwork but am slowly gaining experience and confidence. My future switches should not be as challenging as this set. I really like the look of hand-laid track but it takes lots of time. I'm not sure I have the patience to build it on the whole layout and may use flex track instead. When it's ballasted and weathered, it looks real good.

Paul S

Paul, it looks good.

Are you more of a builder or a runner? And do you prefer building track, scenery, trains, or structures? Perhaps you might just want to focus on laying the mainline for now...saving sidings for later. I have some temporary track on my layout...including in one spot that will eventually receive a turnout.

If you like the extra detail (and work!), Grandt Line and Wiseman offer tie plates. Some narrow gauges used them on curves. I was originally planning to add them to one of my curves, but forgot. I've begun the process of re-spiking my track (slowly) with 4 spikes per tie...and so I'll probably add tie plates in one of my curves. If I do, I'll be adding fish plates and notching the rail. But, I never could have done that during initial construction as it is just too slow...I need some satisfaction from watching trains roll...but really like the look of it.

Something to note...I was surprised to learn that the D&RGW actually used rail heavier than 75lb rail (Code 100)...while I doubt that it was everywhere, I thought I'd mention it while you are early in the track laying phase. Regardless, I prefer the look of Code 83 rail...the cross section is so much nicer than C100 rail.

Michael

Here is a link to a fantastic steam logging layout, the "Elkhorn Iron and Timber Co." (On30?) by Steve Austin. Look at his detailed sawmill complex...very impressive. I have studied logging equipment and methods in the Pacific NW and his models are very authentic. The lush green forest is a nice change from our normally depicted climate of Colorado and New Mexico.

http://s3.photobucket.com/albu..._Iron_and_Timber_Co/

Paul S

I just spent the last two months looking at Kinsey photos of logging. I'm glad I did. I learned a lot looking at those photos and now I have great appreciation for the modeling work that Steve has done.
Impressive work indeed!

Dennis