JPT Sub - my new layout project

BNSF FAN Mar 14, 2019

  1. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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  2. BNSF FAN

    BNSF FAN TrainBoard Supporter

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    Well, I did a good bit over the weekend but overall, I was in a foul mood so I realty didn't do some things I could have done. Even though I spent most of Saturday and some of Sunday in the train room, I spent most of time between project steps watching videos and drinking coffee.

    The main objective of the weekend was to finish the electrical sub station. Here is where I had gotten to last week.
    20200516_111406.jpg

    I installed the center support beams, wires to the overhead lines, secured the insulators, and installed the fence.
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    I did the fence with the gates open so that when it finds it's home on the layout, I can add a vehicle and a couple of workers checking out the equipment. It really may not look that great but I am okay with how this kit turned out. I don't mind admitting that those little insulators and some of the wire work was a challenge for my fat, stiff, and achy fingers.
     
  3. BNSF FAN

    BNSF FAN TrainBoard Supporter

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    Another thing that was on the work bench was another trailer from Royale Models. Really like these trailers.
    20200516_112554.jpg
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    The detail on these is great and they are a bit fragile. Just like with the last one I did, I managed to break a mud flap but it was easily repaired so no harm, no foul. So I finished removing it from the base and found almost no additional clean up to do before painting.
    20200516_131718.jpg

    After a nice coat of aluminum paint, I applied the hatches and wheels.
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    And all done. Here she is on the layout with another friend.
    20200517_121207.jpg
     
  4. BNSF FAN

    BNSF FAN TrainBoard Supporter

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    Another kit that has been sitting on the desk for weeks waiting to be started is the sphere storage tank. I assembled the majority of it and it is now awaiting a coat of white paint. Once painted, there are only a couple of parts left to assemble and it will be done.
    20200516_183211.jpg

    Since I am out of white paint, it may be a bit before I get back to this one

    I did manage to get a coat of gray on and old 40ft MoW box car and a coat of black on a crane carbody
    20200517_184201.jpg
     
  5. BNSF FAN

    BNSF FAN TrainBoard Supporter

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    And my last project of the weekend was making a load of aluminum ingots for a gondola load. This one was super simple.

    To start, I took some plastic caps from a VGA cable and painted them aluminum, gathered some tooth picks, and found a suitable gon from the collection.
    20200517_125415.jpg

    I cut the toothpicks to represent some cribbing for the load.
    20200517_130417.jpg

    Once the loads were secured to the cribbing, it was a simple matter to put some tacky glue in the bottom of the gon and place the loads. Project done.
    20200517_131234.jpg
    gon.JPG


    That was it for the weekend. Seems like a lot but to be honest, not really as much as it appears.

    Hopefully everyone id doing well, enjoying the update, and is having a good day! Thanks for stopping by.
     
  6. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Those caps make great ingots!
     
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  7. Philip H

    Philip H TrainBoard Member

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    I like how that substation turned out. I have a search set for one on eBay - its too bad ConCor doesn't appear to be making them anymore. Piko has one as well that is somewhat findable, but it has a European flare to it.
     
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  8. BNSF FAN

    BNSF FAN TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thanks Hemi. I have a bag full of hdmi caps that I painted as well. Just trying to come up with a good use for. They are just a tad short for being trackside electrical cabinets. I'll eventually come up with an idea.
     
  9. BNSF FAN

    BNSF FAN TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thanks Phillip. It did turn out to be a neat kit. I bought it ages ago and was a bit intimidated by all the wire work at fist so it got set aside until now. I struggled a little with the wires that had to be formed but in the end, I'm good with it.
     
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  10. Carl Sowell

    Carl Sowell TrainBoard Supporter

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    BNSF F,

    I like all the images above but I especially like the new dry bulk trailer that turned out real nice. I am an N scale truck nut ! ! Maybe just a nut period. The substation turned out cool too.

    Now to show my ignorance: what are VGA caps?

    Stay well and as always, have fun,
    Carl
     
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  11. BNSF FAN

    BNSF FAN TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thank you very much Carl! You can count me in the just a nut category as well. :D:p:ROFLMAO: Those dry bulk trailers are cool and I may have to add one more of the newer one to the fleet. I also just saw that Royale Models has introduced some propane tanker trailers so I'd venture to say I see one or two of those in my future as well. :D

    So, those caps you speak of. A VGA cable is the serial cable that connects a computer to a monitor like this one. Most of the ones I see here in our IT room don't come with them but there have been a couple and as you can see, I collected those.
    vga.JPG
     
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  12. BNSF FAN

    BNSF FAN TrainBoard Supporter

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    Long weekend that was way short on layout work.

    Started out by drilling some holes for lighting some more buildings (no pics). Then I planted one more pack of W/S tombstones to finish out the cemetery scene (no pics). After that, I built and painted another storage tank and also painted some speed limit signs.
    20200525_125111_resized.jpg

    I am also facing a curious dilemma with the creek. After pouring two full bottles of W/S realistic water, I have a creek level that is slightly lower thank it should have been from one bottle. I thought I had the creek bed sealed fairly well but I guess not good enough. Nothing has leaked out to the floor so it has to be between the foam sheets or soaked into the pink foam. When I drilled one of the holes for some wiring not too far from the spot, I checked the drill bit and the foam but found no signs of water that far away. Maybe I have a gremlin that is drinking the stuff. :eek: Who knows. The other odd thing is after the last pour had cured for a week (mind you it's supposed to dry in 24 hours or so), I had an area that didn't self level for some reason. Here we are a couple more weeks down the road and I have started a new pour. As I was getting ready to pour, I noticed that odd spot had leveled itself out. Totally have no idea what to expect with this round so I guess we shall see how it goes. Thanks for reading my ramble and stay tuned.
     
  13. MK

    MK TrainBoard Member

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    Are you suppose to seal the pink foam (e.g., paint) before pouring? I vaguely remember reading that though I've never done it myself.
     
  14. Joe Lovett

    Joe Lovett TrainBoard Member

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    I always paint the foam but that is only because of scenery. Don't want the foam color showing and don't think it would matter with pouring water as long as the water is darker.

    Joe
     
  15. BNSF FAN

    BNSF FAN TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thanks for the thoughts guys. I actually painted the foam and then glued rock over the top of that so that just adds to the mystery.

    In the end, I don't guess it will really matter other than it just took more material than expected to complete it.
     
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  16. BNSF FAN

    BNSF FAN TrainBoard Supporter

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    Here's some recent progress from the weekend.

    My intent was to work on the scenic divide and get started on the fascia but alas best made plans didn't happen. In stead, the mood hit me to work on signs for a couple of buildings. I started with the small metal shop and just added a company logo and name by the door. From there I moved to the bigger metal building that is a combination office and shop at the propane dealer. I did a little research and saw that Ferrellgas does the refill tanks labeled as Blue Rhino so I thought that would be cool to add to the signage. For the front of the building, I put a company logo and name along with a big advertising banner. I also thought it would be cool to do a Blue Rhino ad for the side as well. You can see here how they turned out. Is the side ad creative enough or too much?
    FG001.JPG FG002.JPG FG003.JPG
     
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  17. BNSF FAN

    BNSF FAN TrainBoard Supporter

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    In the same area is the recycle center. Since I haven't come up with a town name yet, I just added a generic sign. Sorry that the pic is a lot blurry. I didn't catch that until I uploaded the pic from my phone.
    RC001.JPG

    Also while we are in this area , here is a pic of the cemetery after I added one last pack of W/S tombstones. Now once I get some trees added to the left, some landscaping around the church and the back drop in, it should look pretty good.
    cem001.JPG
     
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  18. BNSF FAN

    BNSF FAN TrainBoard Supporter

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    Next up on the sign list was good ole Inland Cement Company
    AI002.JPG

    This structure was on my last layout and I was never happy with the choice of names Wathers included so after who knows how many years, I finally got around to changing the name. I spent some time checking out names and logos and settled on this. I also applied the name to the little office as well.
    AI001.JPG

    I still need to add some additional signage for the cement plant but at least it's progress.

    Some task that didn't make the pictures were pouring another layer of water in the creek. Looks like the levels are staying finally. One more thin pour next weekend should hopefully finish it up.

    When I took down my previous layout, I tried my best to salvage what track I could and it has been sitting in a closet in a trash bag until last weekend. On this layout, I went to Kato Unitrack and I will say I am happy enough with it that I won't be using regular track any more. So, last weekend, I finally spent a few minutes to sort out what track was clean and ballast free and put it in a box, the rest I put in a bucket of soapy warm water to soak. After it sat in it's bath all week, I pulled it out and rinsed it off, wiped it down and set it aside to air dry any spots I missed. Finally that is a bag gone from the closet. I also have a couple of switches and rerailer track that is new in the package. The plan is to lay it all out sometime soon and post a pic in the Swap Meet tread asking for an offer plus shipping. A heads up for you guys following along, It won't take much for me to let it go. :)

    I hope you all are doing well. I enjoyed the SpaceX activities over the weekend and will only say, I hope everyone makes it through these trying times unharmed and healthy. Take care all.
     
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  19. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    People are just dying to get into that place... I know... *groan* :p

    All dad jokes aside, the propane dealer looks the part! Just add NFPA 704 labels....
     
  20. BNSF FAN

    BNSF FAN TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thanks Hemi! And you are right, it does need some hazmat placards.
     
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