Well here we are, our first start and pure run of weekend modeling goals for 2012. With all the major holidays done for a while, maybe we can get some progress done. I spent most of the first day of 2012 doing my research and meeting with the Andover Historical Society regarding Potter Place. This was very helpful as I learned a lot from the current care taker. Everything from what that spur north of town was, to learning my guess on a large siding was correct. With all of this info in hand, I have a lot of work I want to accomplish this weekend. The above is a USGS map of the area in around 1925. While the structures have changed compared to my era of 1975-83, the main track and road situation is the same. Unfortunately, all the work I did a few weeks ago needs to be taken up as I found my measurements from Sunday, do not line up with what I did. The turn out and spur I laid will need to come up and I'm going to fake the main to look like it is going straight, mean while hide the "model main" so I can have a loop for running. Hard to explain so future posts will illustrate what I'm doing. Looks like the thread or blog on this will be started soon. I also have a days worth of photo's the Andover Historical Society sent me as well as my own pictures of Potter Place and bits of the Concord & Montreal line I need to upload, sort and caption. I'm also working against the clock as I have only a little over eight weeks before I move back home to Illinois. So how about you? Layout work? I've seen some great diesel and rolling stock projects here lately. How about structures? Tell us what your plans are and don't be afraid to post a picture or two. We'll get together on Monday the 9th and discuss progress. Until then, ​High Greens!
Last weekend, installed three turnouts with Tortoises, laid tracks from these into a backshop and machine shop. Plan for this weekend is to use my new Dremel hand held circular saw to cut and then install thin plywood over foam for branch line going up into a rounded corner that will lead into two adjacent coal mines and lay down track for the main line around the same curve.
Continue to work on existing locomotive roster (decoder installs, repairs for both MNNR and future Attic layouts) Install track feeders and wire up DCC track bus (at least make some serious progress may not complete) Photograph rolling stock roster for future database use
I have to re-locate my paint booth area to the garage. That is highest on my priority list. Then I am going to finish up some models to sell at the Monroe show in 4 weeks. I am hoping to have some Chehalis Western GP 38-2s and a Seattle & North Coast SW 1200 done for the show.
I've had this week off, so I made some progress since this picture: The pile of parts on the far right is now a full-fledged building. I still have to work a bit on the interior and the signs on the outside, but that's a small evening job. Next up on the Mooseport project will be the laying of the street-running girder rail which goes around the back of the buildings and emerges at the carfloat terminal off the right side of the picture. But, it's not happening this weekend. We'll be up north skiing, taking advantage of the nice weather. Unfortunately, the nice weather does not bring snow, but there's a goodly amount of man-made on the mountain and the crowds should be pretty small, since we're sandwiched between two holiday weekends and there's been no snow at all here around Boston.
Hoping to get started on my Walther Express Baggage car project to make it more correct for the Soo Line. The car is fairly accurate, the doors are not. I've been doing a lot of research for a potential article, which is taking up my time.
I've finished my Precision Scale Short Caboose kit. The next project will be an LaBelle RPO car. Wolfgang
Going to make another section of the DCC buss for my club with installation next Wednesday evening and decaling a caboose for the club too. I also have to build more signal sontrol boards for my T-Trak modules.
I rebuilt 3 motors for some old Athearn Blue Box locomotives I pulled out of storage and Installed 2 of them this evening. My shipment of Caboose switch stands arrived yesterday, so I will be installing them as well as the remaining switch points in Ravenswood Yard. I need to get a sheet of lauan to place under the foam board for the end modules.
weather a few boxcars, take/post some pics of weathering, and pretend to work on my fire-fighting cars....which has taken me 2 months hahaha
Attempting to scratchbuild an HO articulated covered hopper, CN 398000; not sure it will be successful, but won't know till I've tried.
