Week 103

Week 103

July 20, 2016

Today is TRAIN DAY!

We've missed this day for three weeks.

Dean and Jordan came to begin the day.

Ed Nelson will be here next week.

I hope Carlos will also be able to join us again next week.

Today was more of a planning and discussion day.

Here's how the day began...

 What's on your workbench this week?

Well, I was working on the cut outs for the Kedzie Ave. bridge.

 I installed the lights under the bridge.

 Stepped back and took a wide angle photo.

 Noticed the lens seemed dirty, so I tried the same shots again.

 Oh yeah, much better.

 Yes, you can see more detail.

 We're staying at Western Avenue and trying to figure out the elevations.

 What level will the road be?

What about the sidewalk, gutters, and aprons?

Jordan stopped over and gave us his comments as well.

Notice the road way?

Maybe next week we'll see this installed.

We'll see.

Week 102

Week 102

VACATION WEEK

Jan and I are heading to Geneva NY for a wedding near where we'll be staying.

We'll be staying on Lake Seneca which is one of 11 lakes of the Finger Lakes in mid-state NY.

When we arrived I noticed RR tracks right near our home.

Our first night, while we were in bed, we heard a train on the tracks just across the street.

Turns out the tracks are owned by Norfolk and Southern operated by a ShortLine RR named 

Finger Lakes RR.

Here's the crossing:

 Looking South...

Here's the northbound route along the lake.

One of the following mornings I heard another train coming and raced up the hill to take this video:

Watch as the engine goes by...

I even got a wave from the engineer.

I began putting the warehouse model as soon as we got settled on Monday, July 4th.

Here's the progress...

I got to this point and realized the front of the building was on the angled side. 

Not acceptable.

So I had to "kitbash" my first structure and remove the base and have the front be the back and the back be the front. UGH!

 I also decided the model needed a paint job so I stopped by the downtown hobby store (pretty cool) and purchased some paint and paint brushes.

All I need to do now is add the roof accessories.

Then I'll be all done!

There will be one more picture coming soon...

Actually
Three more.
Roof accessories installed.
Finished product.

Back view

Front view - Western Avenue.

Front and side view. Western Ave and W. 15th Street

I'll see if I can put the prototype here...

Week 101

Week 101

Interesting week.

Wednesday, June 29, 2016

No one came to TRAIN DAY this week.

I did finish the "concrete" base at Global 1.

Tomorrow I made a homebound appointment in Elgin.

Just so happens I'll be by B&G and then I'll purchase a warehouse model for Western Avenue.

Funny how things like that happen?

Thursday, June 30, 2016

As promised, here's my purchase...

Check out WEEK 102 for progress on this model...

Week 100

Week 100

We've hit triple digits!

Let's get started...

Sunday, June 19, 2016

I wanted to get ready for TRAIN DAY so here's what I did to prepare:

 You can see the track on the left is covered with "concrete" and tape.

 I carefully removed both.

 Then I cleaned the rails.

And finally, I parked the intermodal well cars with loads in their respective places.

Before I give you the entire series of how I finished the South Geneva Station Platform,

I will show you what else I finished to prepare for Wednesday's Train Show.

Ed Nelson installed this switch machine last week.

I made the switch machine electronic this week.

Now the series, starting from the very beginning...

This is how it looks without any materials in place.

 Now you can see the side walls.

 Before putting in the cross beams for support, I cut the lumber I used for the walls in half to use for the cross beams. That way you can't see them when you put in the plaster "asphalt".

 There are the cross beams.

 Then I glued every corner.

The weights stayed on overnight.

Monday, June 20, 2016

 After removing the weights, I need to prepare to paint the structure.

 First, I need to protect the rails. So here's my tape job.

 With the other platform I handpainted with black oil-based paint.

This time, I tried spray-painting using brown.

 I think I like this better.

 Before pouring the plaster "asphalt" I need to tape the wall sides and top so they keep the brown color.

 And now we're ready for the plaster "asphalt".

All smoothed out.

Now we wait for it to dry overnight.

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

 I started to remove the tape, but then I thought I needed the tape to finish painting the "asphalt".

 I went ahead and removed the clear tape.

Then I turned the blue tape around and used the "clean" side to protect the brown wall tops.

 I used the same black paint with some white mixed in.

I found it was easier to put it in with my finger instead of using a brush.

 Almost done.

Just need to remove the guide board shown on the edge of the layout facia.

Wah Lah! All done!

Nice!

Do  you like the black frame on the left, or the brown frame on the right?

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

TRAIN DAY!

What are we gonna do today?

Well, I'll show you. Let's take a look...

I thought I'd start the session off with a couple of videos.
It's been a while since I've made a video.
Here goes...

Length: .32s
We start with Ed Nelson adjusting the mechanics for the switch machines.

Length: .15s
Trying to keep Dean from working doesn't work too well.

We finished off the plaster we used last week.
However, the new plaster I bought from Lowes ended up setting too fast.
No good.

 Ed Nelson installed two switch machines tonight.

Dean Hatzis smoothing the plaster "concrete".

Week 99

Week 99

Week of June 12-18, 2016

Sunday, June 12, 2016
Tonight I worked on several projects.
I finished installing one of the switch machines at Union Station Terminal

I installed some ground throws in the West Power District.

And at the entry of the RIP tracks.

Then I began to install the Geneva Station Platform.

Here are some progression shots...

Ready for crossbar.

Crossbar installed.

Glued in place.

What the end of the platform looks like.

Monday, June 13, 2016

More work on the platform before pouring in the "asphalt".

I glued all the joints.

Platform base ready for "asphalt".

The platform trim work painted black.

I lined the trim with plastic.

Then filled with plaster of paris.

I let the plaster set overnight.

Meanwhile, I finished electrifying the installed switch machine.

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

I finished painting the ground throw directional signals (Green or Red).

Back at the Geneva Station Platform.
I carefully removed the plastic protective cover.

Then I painted the pure white plaster black.

I had to get all the nooks and craneys.

Finished product.

Overall assessment? I think it's just too black.
I'll need to lighten it up a bit.

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

TRAIN DAY!

Jordan Osborn at the controls.

 Ed Nelson working on installing another switch machines at Union Station Terminal.

 Dean Hatzis continues laying concrete at Global 1.

 Last "Pow Wow" before heading home.

What Dean finished tonight.

 What Ed finished tonight.

 I wanted to check out the mainline at Proviso Yard.
It was worth another look.