It maybe spring on most calendars but in reality, Old Man Winter has a firm grasp on most of us. Perhaps the late winter weather will keep us focused on our modeling projects. It's time for Weekend Modeling Plans. Winter most definitely has a grasp on East Central Illinois. Last few nights have dipped into the teens and we have snow coming on Sunday. Hard to believe that last year at this time it was 80. Regardless of that cranky old gezzer named winter, I have to start my weekend by sending Jess the railfan Jeep in to get her new tires. I'm getting her ready for the first railfan trip of the year next Friday. This year, a friend and I will be railfaning the Transcon of BNSF in central Illinois. After Jess's tire appointment, I plan to finish the Rock Island GP40 project. I finished the last bit of hand rail painting last night. I just need to clear coat, weather, and assemble. I also need to work hard on my T-Trak module as the clubs first big show of the year is coming up in about three weeks. All of this and a promised dinner for Angela my lady. The saga of my B&M layout continues but after talk with a work associate and Angela, it will not be torn down. Work will continue and Potter Place will still be modeled. How? I'll post all of that in my other thread. So how about you? Are you one of the lucky ones who is enjoying warm spring weather or are you in the same pattern of cold and snowy? What will you do to take advantage of this indoor weather? If I were in NH, I like Mister Beasley would ski! But Illinois winters are not good for that. Track work, planning, maybe an operations session? Whatever your plans are, let us know, with a picture or two if you have them. We'll all come back on Monday the 24th and see how we all did. Until then, have a happy and safe weekend and... ​High Greens!
Old Man Winter did indeed pay us another visit this week in Massachusetts. The storm hit on Tuesday morning. Remembering an earlier storm and looking at the forecast, I decided to just take the day off. So, between that day and a couple of evenings, I did get some layout work done already this week. I've got the Tortoises mounted for the carfloat terminal, and I installed all 48 of those tiny stake pockets on the sides of the other 2 Tichy flat cars that will be used as idlers for the carfloat operation. Penny's knee is sore, so we decided to skip skiing this weekend. Instead, I've got my choice of activities - a Greenberg show, a club open house I want to see, and continuing with the carfloat project. I'm going to need some hardware - hinges for the drop-down shelf where the float itself will sit when "in port," and a terminal block for all the wiring coming off the benchwork extension for the apron. I may press ahead with the brake lines for the flat cars, too. (Those Tichy kits are very detailed, and it's all individually applied parts, including wire that must be cut and bent to shape for brake lines.) By this time Monday, though, I may actually be pulling strings of cars off the float!
no warm spring weather here - we're expecting rain all weekend. So I'll finish the covered hopper decal project I have, and complete the latest round of body-mount coupler installations. I also have one of NZT's amazing Caterpiller crawlers to assemble and weather. and i may sneak out and go fishing in the rain anyway.
Thanks to Jim's thread on his B&M layout, I've got the urge to work on my HCD layout. I've been neglecting it the last few months and, since it's right inside the door of my bedroom, it's become a desk! I have a very bad habit of coming home from work and dropping anything in my hand (like mail and purchase receipts) on it and leaving it there. I've cleaned most of it off this past week, but I still have a few more WP books that need to move. I also need to photograph some of my new trains that I've got and my new figures as well. There's a Sharks games on Saturday morning and NASCAR on Sunday...wheew! MisterBeasley, when I was in HO, I built a Tichy flat car and a tank car kit. Indeed, they are very detailed and once finished, beautiful models.
Busy weekend ahead. Saturday morning, The Hudson Valley Division of the NMRA is having a meeting at my club. So several members are going to be in attendance to operate our layouts. Hopefully i'll get to do somemore work on my switch installation project while i'm there. Sunday, some of my club members will be at a show in Kingston NY with our T-Trak layout.
Trying to get another of my Hollywood backlot wild west building false fronts far enough along to show on weekend modeling photos... glue...paint...dry....glue...paint...dry....glue...paint...dry....
I finally get a chance to post here! http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine...The-500-Southern-Pacific-layout-WORK-STARTED! I am hoping to paint the track, the board, add dirt and ballast
