Steffen, Love the layout, signage, weathering, freight car office, switch stands ( I am going to purchase some), and the station. Great work! Scott
Hi guys, thank you all very much. Even if Corona impacts the hobby work very hard, I try to do my best ... Yesterday evening I came up with this weathered freight house. Needs still some signs, but otherwise finished.
This evening I am very happy: After 5 years of building this unidentifiable branchline I suddenly had an idea to design the logo for my imaginary little Arkansas & Western, located east of Pueblo in the plains. While now a subsidary of the big Rio Grande (Kansas Subdivision) it can still operate independently and keeps its own herald. And it can lease needed locomotives and rolling stock from other companies... Now I can tell this little story on frontside of my freight house. So this helps to bring in a special local relation and information for the viewer, a little detail but an important point for me.
That’s a nice job on the kit. Your subtle weathering at the bottom particularly the gas line and electric box is so well done. I like that. It’s not overdone but just looks right. Well done!
Hi all, I used the last weeks to start with the depot. 2 years ago I could buy the RSLaserkit "Cheltenham". But after opening the package I was faced with poor quality. All parts have wavy edges, many small parts are burned away. That is very frustating... So what to do? I wanted to avoid the cost for a second kit and decided to use the paper depot I have already in use as a placeholder and the roof parts from the RS-kit. For some depth effect the walls are made of 2 layers, the first with window openings, the second with window itself. For roofing I shortened original RS roof plate and shingles. So far now. Best wishes for you.
Nice adaptation! I would have sent those photos to the company and hoped for a replacement. Looks like their laser settings were too strong, but I'm not a laser user, and I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.
Steffen, Nice work! I agree with Matt. Two questions, how do you like the Scale Model Plans kit, and secondly, where did you get those cool 90 degree jigs? Scott
Thank you very much. I think so too. I informed the dealer here in Germany regarding these quality problems, but he was unable to offer any possibility of a solution. And I did not want to pay time and costs for shipping it back over the ocean. Scott, I only tried this kit and like this kind of kit to get some buildings in a quick way, especially for background areas. But I found it difficult to cut and build such small details from paper in Z scale. The magnetic jigs are made by "Riteway Clamps", but don't know anymore where I bought it... Search in www with "ho scale 90 degree jig riteway clamps" reveals some dealer. Meantime I could finish the roofing and make a first test arrangement with the new depot on my layout. For the wooden platform I will use the RS parts. Weathering is still to be done.
First let me say you did a real nice job! I just want to tell you that you do not need to throw out the kit with over engraved lase parts, it can be salvaged. 1) Cut a piece of black construction paper the size of the whole parts sheet of wood. 2) Quickly paint that sheet with a thin layer of white glue, and stick to the backside of your laser cut parts wood. 3) Lay a sheet of plastic wrap, or a plastic sandwich bag on top, and weight with a book or something flat and heavy for a day. The next day the sheet of kit parts will be flat, and stiff, and you can cut out the parts without fear of them crumbling, and the kit will salvaged. This is speaking from experience. 20 years ago I spent $150 on an N Scale RLW Sawmill kit, and it was poorly laser cut too. I eventually was able to repair a couple bad sheets of parts this way.
Hi, Scott I got my magnetic clamps from Micro-Mark. They come in sets of 2. They are perfect for z-scale. Jim
Dealer can't help? That's grounds for a refund. This should not be sent back anywhere. RS Laser ... Looks like they don't have an email, but that parts tree should not have ever found its way into a package. I would find a way to reach out to the manufacturer (Rich Shepard) for free replacement sections. https://rslaserkits-com.3dcartstores.com/crm.asp?action=contactus (no email) Might be able to reach him via this facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Interest/Friends-of-RSlaserkits-153307678027488/ Or this facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Collectibles-Store/Rslaserkitscom-1629140384019925/
Steffens, Nice work overall. And I really like the fact that you created your own “little” personal branch in the A&W (Arkansas & Western). They make great Root Beer too! It seems like there’s a big push (or has been for quite some time) in the larger scales to make everything proto-typical. While I appreciate those that do the research and attempt to create a picture perfect scene from the past, to me the beauty of model railroading is that we can create our own scenes that mean something to us, or take us back to an important time in our lives.
Lance, do you mean something like this? I never knew of this... Perhaps I can find it here in Germany for a try. Guys, I need your help because I am not an expert in US railroad signal technology. I wonder what the right position of the depot could be. I think there should be a semaphore signal for train order and more modern light signals at the mainline to protect the crossing. The yard tracks at the 2st crossing should be under radio control of the agent. Here a 3 variations. General questions: - Which one is prototypical? - If the semaphore stands separately, how would it be operated? - Which kind of light signal for the main line protecting the crossing? Version 1: Depot near curved branchline, bay window facing this track too. Semaphore near separating switch at end of platform. Depot good visible for visitors from both sides of layout. Version 2: Depot near straight mainline, bay window facing this track too. Semaphore near separating switch at end of platform. Depot good visible only for visitors from operator side of layout. Version 3: Depot in the middle of platform, bay window facing the branchline. Semaphore stands in the agent room of depot. Depot good visible for visitors from both sides of layout. Thank you very much for any feedback.
The third one is prototypical. Here's a link that will give you plenty of inspiration: https://www.flickr.com/search/?text=train order signal And more links of specific types of train order signals. https://flic.kr/p/2kE4JZR https://flic.kr/p/LTM1PT https://flic.kr/p/2jGSUoY https://flic.kr/p/2eiaLJH https://flic.kr/p/qQnbCc