Long Island Rail Road in Z Scale

John Bartolotto Sep 25, 2010

  1. Kurt Moose

    Kurt Moose TrainBoard Member

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    Nice work ya' have goin' there! Be a neat little scene for a railroad barge setup too. And that water looks, umm, pretty accurate from some places i've been too. Yucky!!
     
  2. Z_thek

    Z_thek TrainBoard Member

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    Next?

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  3. Fred Ladd

    Fred Ladd TrainBoard Member

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    John, Looking good. Boats and barges are not up on web site yet-- or did I miss em.
    Fred
     
  4. John Bartolotto

    John Bartolotto TrainBoard Supporter

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    Fred - I am working with Russ to get the barges, boats and other items up on the web site. Hopefully soon.

    Kurt - If I could add the putrid water smell I would just for the effect!

    Lajos - Nice! But not what Gerd is working on for me. Gerd is custom building me an ALCO C420: http://www.trainsarefun.com/lirr/c420/L204-Morris%20Park.jpg

    John
     
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  5. Chris333

    Chris333 TrainBoard Supporter

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    John
    You need a Z scale figure wrapped up in a carpet! ; )

    Lajos
    I started that in N scale:
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    I stopped because I broke one too many drill bits...

    The PRR used a single as well.
    http://members.trainweb.com/bedt/indloco/prrn4lirr403a2.jpg

    Do you have drawings of this locomotive? I had to guess.
     
  6. JuergenT

    JuergenT TrainBoard Member

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    Hi John

    Thanks for the information. :tb-biggrin:
     
  7. chuckc

    chuckc TrainBoard Member

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    John, maybe you can help me out here.. Very impressed with your Swamp land thing, looks too real. It has inspired me to go way off in another direction for my layout design. Since I'm not one to watch trains go in circles, and love the switching possibilities. Could keep this retired vet busy for hours. Noticed you mentioned both Mr Furlow's and Mr Pryke's articles. I was only able to order part 3 from MRR Mar 88. The Jan 88 and Feb 88 are not available. Can't find Pryke's anywhere.

    Thinking seriously about designing and doing the Detroit riverfront and industrial districts downtown. A ton of interesting things to model in that area and would really set up some great scenery even if it's modeled around the middle 50's.( still had rough areas even then ). Anyway, could or would you or someone please scan the layout of The Carbondale Central and email it to me. Basically looking for some ideas of how he did his, since almost all plans are run around in circles and small yards with some switching. Doing this thing in N but have a ton or room to work with.

    Thanks
    Chuck
     
  8. John Bartolotto

    John Bartolotto TrainBoard Supporter

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  9. chuckc

    chuckc TrainBoard Member

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    Roger that!
     
  10. John Bartolotto

    John Bartolotto TrainBoard Supporter

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    Hi ho,

    Been busy working on dual purpose items (ones that will be used on my layout but also sold as NSM items). All of these items are on the way to the caster and I will let you know when they are posted for sale on the The N Scale Architect web site: The N Scale Architect | Quality & Innovation Since 1991

    First I completed the sofa that goes along with the bathtub, water heater, stove and refrigerator:

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    Next I’ve partially painted the deck scow barge – the flat car equivalent to marine operations (I’ll post a better photo later when I have the paint job finish):

    [​IMG]

    Lastly I partially painted the covered cargo barge in NYC marine colors (still have to put NYC decals on it after the paint job is complete) - the box car equivalent to marine operations (some times called a bump end barge, again I’ll post a better photo later when I have the paint job finish):

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    Enjoy,

    John
     
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  11. JoeS

    JoeS TrainBoard Member

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    I can't wait to see it in place on the layout!
     
  12. rray

    rray Staff Member

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    Cool stuff! It seams there are lots of waterfront items available in Z these days! This is great news! :D
     
  13. K.P.E.V.

    K.P.E.V. TrainBoard Member

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    Hi John.
    If you could, could you make those old time round washing machines? They were those big cylinder tub things wtih the ringers on top. (yep, one of those tried to pull me in once).
    Not only are those washing machines great for junk piles, many a home in the country had them out on the porch in use. Perfect for up to the 60's.

    At my Aunt and Uncles right next to the Mopac, they used to just haul them out in the yard when they died. There was like a ring of them like Stonehenge, with an old Nomad station wagon with a tree growing out of it next to them. I told my German Ex-wife at the time we were visiting it was abstract art.

    So really not only will your "junk" look nice on the city junkpiles and alleys, they will look just as good on porches and back yards of rual America.
     
  14. John Bartolotto

    John Bartolotto TrainBoard Supporter

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  15. John Bartolotto

    John Bartolotto TrainBoard Supporter

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    I’ve always loved cabover tractors and Freightliner is one of my favorites but no one in Z makes it. I’ve been watching a thread on the N scale forum N scale - Page 95 - TrainBoard.com and was intrigued with being able to shrink items from HO to N. I figured why not down to Z? The shrink master Brian Fedoroff agreed to help me and we took a N scale Freightliner and he shrunk it down to Z! The details are fantastic! I’ve a pretty good molder/caster but man do I need to learn how to shrink items. This opens up a whole new world to Z scale!! Thanks to Brian Fedoroff!! The other tractor in the photos is an unfinished Searails Peterbuilt. By the way this is the first Z scale truck I’ve ever painted, the key I found out was just to take my time (took three days).

    Enjoy,

    John

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    Last edited by a moderator: May 2, 2011
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  16. John Bartolotto

    John Bartolotto TrainBoard Supporter

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  17. Fred Ladd

    Fred Ladd TrainBoard Member

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    John, That's a nice looking cabover. Will these be available--soon. How does the shrinking process work. The above link does not connect to Brian's work, though I got a kick out of the boats.. speaking of which, how's your tug coming along?.
    Fred
     
  18. animek

    animek TrainBoard Member

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    If I'm not mistaken, the process involves making a mold that shrinks, how? By playing with the concentration of solvent when mixing the silicon to create a mold. Very complicated for my taste, but very doable to people who plays a lot with silicon molding agents and resin.

    Here's a nice article about the process.

    Ben
     
  19. John Bartolotto

    John Bartolotto TrainBoard Supporter

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    Fred - You didn't like the barges/scows? I have to make one more "barge" then I will get back to the tugboat. Search "shrinking" under the user name "Rasputen". I don't think that I can legally sell these cause they are miniature copies of an already existing N scale product.

    Ben - Great article! You will have to check with "Rasputen" on the actual process.
     
  20. MrCONRAIL&BNSF

    MrCONRAIL&BNSF TrainBoard Member

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    An easy way to shink something you want for a beginer is to go out and buy a block of hardening clay oven baked quality stuff, cost is about 10$-60$. make 2 blocks about an inch thick or size of N scale truck/car/boat/ building ex.... Press through until the shape of what your molding is sharp looking in the clay. repeat this process on other side of vehicle ex. Leave an open hole at the top so you can pour your resign or filler what ever your using to create the truck ex... Once you bake the clay it will harden very nice and shrink up to 30% which will make it damn close to Z scale. You can play around with it and get it the exact size you want. Now that the mold is very hard and hot out of the oven allow it to cool. do not bake as one 3d mold. bake them at the same time but in 2 pieces. Once your happy with your size glue them together with a strong adhesive glue such as super/crazy glue, or clay glue (takes longer). Then pour your mixer into the top of the hole you left for the vehicle/ building. Let the mixer sit for about 20-30 min. Depending on what your using this step can vary. 2 part foam or scilicon mix works best from experience. After it dries split the mold in half where you glued it together and proceed to chip out your new Z scale product hot off the press. Use an exacto knife or hobby blade to cut or smooth any unwanted particles. Sand your bad boy if desigered, carve your windows/ very fine custom details and paint her and throw her on the lay out : )


    I'll get some progress pics up next time I make a load from N to Z for you guys. Also going to work on a 40-50ft casino yaht. As well as a new crane and fire engine that I really like in N scale but can't find in Z : (

    P.S theres other products you can use to make much better molds for shirinking, but I gave you guys the clay method because its not to difficult and not to costly. If your really into molding and more experienced I'd def suggest using scilicon casting.
     

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