Week 334

 Sun, Dec 20, 2020 thru Sat, Dec. 26, 2020

This Week's Goals

1. Continue work on Clinton Ave. wall sections

Progress: Need to purchase more parts...

2. Continue work on California Ave. Metra Maintenance Facility entrance off Sacramento Blvd. 

Progress: Will accomplish more on Train Day, Mon, Dec 21, 2020

3. More Weathering Locomotive Roster 

Progress: Continue on CNW fleet

4. Coming soon: Work on streets/parking lots in Industrial Park

Progress: Will try to do more this week...

Sun, Dec 20, 2020

SPECIAL GUEST

Charlie Zielke

Charlie Zielke in action...

Length: 00:00:20 sec.

Mon, Dec 21, 2020

Ben's Birthday and also...

Train Day!

Rob Fair 6-8pm 2 hrs.

Jordan Osborn 6:45-8pm 1.25 hrs.

Working on Goal #2

We decided to use a different structure for the
building at the entrance of the Metra Maintenance
Facility. Here Rob recuts the foundation for this structure.

Crew assigned to put up the signage at the Metra
Maintenance Facility.

Rob Fair shows off his handiwork.

Jordan at the controls out on the tracks...

Length: 00:00:23 sec.

We lowered the door from the structure to the
foundation. Some intricate detail work.

Jordan stops by to take a look at the progress.

Here's the prototype next to the model

I was also able to make some progress on getting
the materials cleaned out and straightened up so
we can use this as an unobstructed isle once again.

Tue, Dec 22, 2020

Jan and my anniversary - 41 years (1979)

Plus I was able to work on the RR...thanks Jan!

What a mess!
Working from the prototype photo on the left,
I keep chiseling down on the foam board.

Removing the model and looking at all the remains.

Model in place. Now for some details.

More chiseling of the foam board.

Sidewalk in place plus the side walls.

Next up is the wood trim. Maybe tomorrow night.

Wed, Dec 23, 2020

Progress on Goal #2 today:

Today I'm going to secure the foam piece to the base
using the foamboard adhesive shown in this photo.

Base in place with weights as
I wait for the glue to set.

I noticed the sidewalks were
slipping so I figured out how
to weigh them down using
the tube dispenser.

Thu, Dec 24, 2020

Christmas Eve!

Heading to the office later today so I had some time this morning to work on the RR

Securing the concrete walls at the entrance.
Front and side.

I'm going to clear off the shoulder and put in
foamboard that will be used to meet the newly
constructed entrance to the
California Ave. Metra Maintenance Facility.

Shoulder cleared.

Using the tube dispenser again to hold the concrete
wall in place while the glue sets.

Adding foamboard to the shoulder.

Another section...

More sections added...

Final piece in place.
Now it's time to fit them together and make some
adjustments as needed.

Hopefully when this section is put back in place
it will line up with the foam pieces
I put on the road shoulder in the previous pictures.

Fri, Dec 25, 2020

Christmas Day!

Before heading to Chicago to visit James & Natalie and family I took some time to work on the RR.

Before heading to the basement I wanted to research why my Walthers Metra F40PH runs so jerky.

Using the Digitrax io-Group I found a possible solution.
I will try this suggestion in the near future.

Now let's get downstairs...working on the foamboard.

Matching the meets - where the foamboard meets
the two sections. Section one on the base and
section two on the lift out.

Should be interesting to see how close I can get
this so you can't see the seam.

Another angle.

Adding downslopes around the pond.

This is what Natalie got me for my Christmas present.
After all these years, I still love getting toys over clothes.

Sat, Dec 26, 2020

Adding the foam pieces on the down slopes.

Section by section by the roadside.

Bit by bit...

Time to trim and then...

...start painting.

Painting finished by the roadside.

Painting finished on the entrance side.

Back to the clean up of the isle space.

DONE!
And this wasn't even set as one of my goals!

Back at the Sacramento entrance.
Time for signage.

This Week's Goals Progress Report

1. Continue work on Clinton Ave. wall sections

Progress: Need to purchase more parts...

2. Continue work on California Ave. Metra Maintenance Facility entrance off Sacramento Blvd. 

Progress: Continue working on this and maybe finish during Week 335

3. More Weathering Locomotive Roster 

Progress: Continue on CNW fleet - one finished more to go...

4. Coming soon: Work on streets/parking lots in Industrial Park

Progress: Concentrating on Goal #2 this week, will tackle this next year.