Started back with my maritime fleet of river and coastal vessels which will keep me busy into next year. Needing a least one seaplane I purchased two Fairley Swordfish in 1:144 scale in keeping with my 1930s to 1940s era. I started reducing the plane down to 1:160 by sectioning out a five foot piece of the fusaloge behind the cockpit. Next will be to reduce the wing size and design some floats. Plane is sitting on on box of ship part castings I just finished and hull #6 is behind the plane being worked over. Hint it has an icebreaker bow. Somebody had mentioned looking for a suitable plane for a crop duster. One may want to look at the 1:144 Workshop, Biplane Collection.
Continuing the work on the small maritime fleet that will probably take me into Winter and maybe beyond. In addition to the previously started hulls I've started two others that for now will simply be called hulls 7 and 8. Up until now my biggest hull was a 90 footer. Hull 7 is going to be over 200 feet. And yes that is a turquois color hull and a white superstructure. Big box is the aircraft hanger. I might have to go back to the drawing board and expand the harbor section of the new layout plans a bit.
I just started getting into n scale layouts. I build them for a living. I have not been doing it long but I have learned a lot. I try to make everything hand crafted on the layout. This is one of my layouts.
Continuing to work on the vessels for my harbor scene, mainlt right now the conversion of the 1:144 to 1:160 hull. Managed to add some more superstructure to the deck of one and started work on creating a submersible and a diving bell. With the combo storm of a Northeaster/hurricane/strong winter cold front all coverging at once here I may not get much more done for a while starting Sunday.
Continuing with the 1:144 to 1:160 maritime conversions. Scratch built a heavy lift crane for the stern and also a new platform raised above the stern. Finished cutting down the 1:144 biplane and converting it to a seaplane in 1:160. Original on left resized on right. Also finished scratching my submersible and added a diving bell to the works.
I have been weathering some freight cars, including the following two. Weathering has become one of my favorite aspects of the hobby.
Added a couple of new locos to my M&StL steam roster ('cuz, y'know, ain't nobody else going to do it for me) - Cheers, -Mark
I weathered this two holer that someone blew the door off of ....this trailer and a couple of road building equipment pieces ...
Here's my NS C40-9 that I've been working on, still a little bit of work to do to call it done. View attachment 48812
I'm working toward a more accurate Milwaukee Road RS3 from an Atlas model. I first modified the hood and also moved the horns but I need another set of numberboards. Latest addition is the blount trucks. I got them from Shapeways and they are made to fit the Life-Like SW switcher. Surprisingly the Life-Like switcher trucks seem to fit on the Atlas RS3.
Fabricated two more deck cranes for the vessel which by now if you can't tell is a ocean research vessel. Test fitting them and gave another coat of paint to the submersible and the diving bell. Also painted and added the raised platform to the stern. Next the crane control stands have to be painted and mounted then the boat davits and ventilators and ladders.
NICE! as an oceanographer by trade, I like what you've done. FWIW, there's a whole series of 1:144 models of actual research subs out there you could get and use instead. I have a copy of the Russian MIR 3 on my desk now. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230870368055
Thanks I wasn't aware of them, but I would still have to cut them down to 1:160 and it was a lot of fun the fabricate the submersible from scratch. Not much in the way of 1:160 maritime vessels out there and from what I see of what Pete Nolan is turning out not many of the ones are even near the quality of his. Have a 90 foot trawler kit underway and a couple of 60 foot craft along with a river push/towboat.
Finished some work equipment: Tool Car BCOL 6503: Emergency Rail Car PGE 991130: Power Car PGE 993302: Diesel Fuel Car BCOL 993454: Tim
Thanks Russell. I'll let you know. Trainfest in Milwaukee is next weekend. Hopefully someone there will have a set, if not I'll contact you.
