Rainier Great Western Const Update

RGW Feb 19, 2007

  1. RGW

    RGW TrainBoard Member

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    Here's a quick update to last night's work session. Scott was able to reroute the transfer station tracks with the new #4 altered turnout.

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    I'm really happy with the extra 3 inches for the platform. Now the ball is back in my court to finish the loading platform and the station itself. That starts tonight.

    I was busy experimenting with decals. I had used the last of the Testors decal bonder so I needed a new plan. I purchased krylon gloss and matte. As you can see from these pictures, the gloss (Wesco) turned out more vivid colors than the matte (ProAmpac). I suppose you could use the matte if you are going for a heavily weathers sign, but I think I'm going to go with gloss and use a top coat of matte if wearing is to be involved.

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    Here they are in their respective buildings.

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    For the rest of the evening we chased down an electrical issue with our inline defect detector. Turns out the wire had come loose from the common post in our remote switch. Reynold fixed it right up and we're back in business.

    That's all from last night. More this weekend. Thanks for checking in!

    RAINIER GREAT WESTERN RAILROAD
     
  2. RGW

    RGW TrainBoard Member

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    Here's the work party update for Tuesday the 28th. Scott and Doug spent the evening reattaching the L channel under the fascia of the Renton Yard. We used a 3/4 inch set back and then pulled the backing off the lighting strip and attached it to the wall facing edge of the channel. The lighting is wonderful. The reflection off the channel really does a nice job of filling.

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    Rey made some tweaks to two switches in the Pasco reverse loop. They seemed to be the cause of the reverser failing at one end. Problem solved.

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    As for me, I added three coats of paint and varathane on the transfer station loading platform. It started with Tamiya JN Grey.

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    Tomorrow I'll add one more varathane coat and finish with the top coat, Vallejo Model Air Dark Gray Blue.

    That's it for now, more next week. Thanks for checking in!

    RAINIER GREAT WESTERN RAILROAD
     
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  3. RGW

    RGW TrainBoard Member

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    After a couple of weeks off (the Arizona sunshine was a welcome change from Washington's dreary gray rain), we were back at it last night. I was told in my absence the fellas ran trains. Of course they did!

    I did a quick run through of the layout before everyone arrived and made a list of 'to do' items in preparation for the tours in May. As the fellas started knocking those out, I spent time on the transfer station.

    I completed the concrete bulkhead and used the last of my Floquil concrete paint to finish it. It covers all the exposed edges of the foam and the wood base.

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    After that was glued in place, I added concrete dividers to the scene. Can't have drivers just going anywhere, like off the table edge. These will get weathered as the next step.

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    We were able to get several items completed; like weathering road surfaces, reparing trees, fascia paint touch ups, scenery improvements and more. There are a bunch of things that need to be done and we'll start those this weekend. Look forward to more next Tuesday.

    Thanks for checking in.

    RAINIER GREAT WESTERN RAILROAD
     
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  4. VinceP

    VinceP TrainBoard Member

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    Progress is progress

    Looking great M
     
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  5. RGW

    RGW TrainBoard Member

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    Fun times last night as we welcomed my father-in-law to the Tuesday night RGW hootenanny. As many of you will recall Mike Petty is a world class armored modeler. He is the current national judging chair for AMPS, so it is always a great joy when he is in town.

    We put Mike right to work, he painted certain scenes for touch ups, helped us with our skirting and then started painting the bridge deck.

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    It will be up to me to finish, but what a start. I want to thank him for everything he did over the last few days.

    As I mentioned last week, Scott was weathering up several of our roads. In these scenes we had used Woodland Scenics concrete paint and frankly it was just too stark, nearly an off white. Scott has worked on these two scenes for the last two sessions and boy are they improved.

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    Doug and I spent the evening staging scenes. Here are a few of those shots.

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    As we draw closer to the big NMRA regional, I'm very pleased with how the layout will present. If you're coming to town for it, please be sure to say hi. Until next week, thanks for checking in.

    RAINIER GREAT WESTERN RAILROAD
     
  6. dalebaker

    dalebaker TrainBoard Member

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    A couple of great updates there Mike! Keep it up!
     
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  7. RGW

    RGW TrainBoard Member

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    Quick update from tonight's work party. We are 10 days away from the NMRA tours, so time is getting down to it. Before the fellas arrived I pulled the fascia in front of the transfer station. As you will recall it looked like this.

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    A big gap between the fascia and the hillside and no real way to transition onto or off of the site. So I finally decided it was time to fix it. I started by taping construction paper to the fascia, then cutting it in a shape I wanted the fascia to take. Tonight I took that down and traced the entire piece onto a new 3/16 in thick fascia board. Once I had the board cut. I brought it back in and screwed it in place.

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    Scott cut out the switch recesses and painted the fascia our Wolf Grey color. I went back to the workbench to make progress on the structure. By evenings end this is how it looks.

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    I'm much happier with the contours and the distance to the transfer station diorama itself. The building is ready for paint, which should get done before week's end.

    Doug and Reynold did yeoman's work covering up unsightly areas with touch up paint and getting a few scenery gaps taken care of. I'll be honest, there's still much to do this next week, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Thanks for checking in.

    RAINIER GREAT WESTERN RAILROAD
     
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  8. RGW

    RGW TrainBoard Member

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    Ok, this board has been very kind to me for all these many years, so as a mini thanks I wanted to share with you the first look at a long awaited addition to the layout.

    One of the first building fronts I added to the layout was the primary industry on the RGW, the Boeing 737 plant in Renton. As a part of that build I envisioned the doors replicating the mural on the actual structure.

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    But as fate has it, one thing led to another and this is how that building has looked for years (I'm embarrassed to say)...

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    Well, thanks to a little creativity, including the help of my buddy Mike Slease and his team at Sir Speedy, here is how that building looks this afternoon...

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    You'll note it's not the same as the prototype, but that was just not possible. There is no angle a pedestrian can get that photo so that it shows the door head on, everything is from an odd angle with multiple obstructions. So, I purchased a high-res artists rendering of a 737 in flight and Mike's team put it on a sunset background. I added the blue stripe at the bottom because I will eventually add all the doors and windows.

    Eventually the building will be lifted to accommodate the ground surface, for now, I just don't have the time or inclination to bury the tracks.

    I couldn't be more pleased with the result. It will be the first thing the visitors see when they walk in the door. I'm sure it will be a conversation starter.

    Until Tuesday, thanks for checking in!


    RAINIER GREAT WESTERN RAILROAD
     
    Last edited: May 6, 2023
  9. VinceP

    VinceP TrainBoard Member

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    Coming along nicely Mike
     
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  10. BNSF FAN

    BNSF FAN TrainBoard Supporter

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    That's fantastic Mike! It's always neat to see how one addition can really change how we see things. (y)(y)(y)
     
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  11. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    I has been a great topic, which I hope will continue! Especially interesting to me, now living far away, yet knowing the area well. :)

    BTW- This topic has generated over 190,000 views! It would seem that a few people are interested in what you folks are accomplishing! (y)
     
  12. RGW

    RGW TrainBoard Member

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    Evening fellow railroaders, we put the final touches on the RGW tonight prior to Friday's open house. Scott and Doug added scenery to the turntable area, then did a little staging.

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    I put some final decals on buildings, here is Dunn Lumber in Renton.

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    Allied Waste transfer station at Black River Junction. As you can see I was also able to paint and stage garbage trucks at the site.

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    Here is the Boeing plant with the Seahawks 12th man flag added.

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    One last staged area was Edwards and Bradford lumber.

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    Well, I think we're ready. I have some last minute cleaning to do, but otherwise this show is about to rock. I'll have photos and comments next week. Until then, thanks for checking in!



    RAINIER GREAT WESTERN RAILROAD
     
  13. VinceP

    VinceP TrainBoard Member

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    Cool mike coming along great
     
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  14. dalebaker

    dalebaker TrainBoard Member

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    Have a great show Mike, I know you will. The layout looks fantastic!
     
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  15. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member

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    All the best Mike! I hope you showing goes well.
     
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  16. RGW

    RGW TrainBoard Member

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    So as you all know, the RGW was on the layout tours for the NMRA regional convention here in western Washington. For starters, I enjoyed it very much. I had 35 unique visitors over the two days and 37 in total. Yes, one couple came twice.

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    My overall reaction is that folks were extraordinarily nice, they were respectful of my home, property, and the layout. They were engaging and we shared stories and even a few laughs. Their questions were solid, even made me think a time or two.


    I could tell by their responses they were enjoying the convention and the clinics but as always seems to be the case, the challenge was to attend the clinics you valued and still see as many layouts as you could fit in.

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    I was glad the overall response to the RGW was really positive and that the layout presented well. That feedback was rewarding, given all the effort by the guys that work on my railroad to build it and get it ready for the show. Frankly, can't remember the last time my floor was that clean and the trains ran flawlessly, which is always a bonus.

    Now back to normal. Thanks for checking in.



    RAINIER GREAT WESTERN RAILROAD
     
    Last edited: May 16, 2023
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  17. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    I would be shocked to learn that anyone visiting could have possibly come away with other than a VERY positive impression. The effort expended in creating this empire has been extraordinary! Congratulations! (y)(y)(y)
     
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  18. RGW

    RGW TrainBoard Member

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    Thank you Ken, you've always been a big supporter of mine, much appreciated my friend. M

    RAINIER GREAT WESTERN RAILROAD
     
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  19. RGW

    RGW TrainBoard Member

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    Here's tonight's update. Doug, Scott and I each took a task and knocked it out before calling it a night. Scott's job was to smooth the transition from down grade on a superelevated curve and onto the Molzahn Bridge.

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    The trick was to bring the outside descending rail to the proper elevation at the end of the bridge rail. Then to take and lower the inside edge of the visible rail joiner. It's been years since that section was installed, but the rocking of cars as they cross this section is unacceptable. All in all, I believe Scott was successful in improving performance. While he was at it, he also spiked down the inner guide rails.

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    Doug spent the evening at the golf course scene adding scenery to two minor hillsides that were just too brown for my liking. I will say he may have taken my comments about "greening it up" a little too seriously. We'll dial that back a bit next week.

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    As for me, I dropped a feeder at one end of a reverse loop to give us a shorter area being used by the auto reverser. The reset delay was a problem this weekend, only noticable to me perhaps, but it got addressed tonight.

    That's all there is, until next time, thanks for checking in.

    RAINIER GREAT WESTERN RAILROAD
     
    Last edited: May 17, 2023
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  20. RGW

    RGW TrainBoard Member

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    Hey there gang, short update from last night. While Rey, Doug and I worked to restore the lower staging return loop to proper order (and we did!), Scott continued his work on the problematic West end of Molzahn Bridge.

    This week he replaced the troublesome rail joiner and added a 020 shim to address the transition.

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    It's definitely improved, but the more I see this up close I'm convinced major repair is needed. I've already reached out to Scott this morning to discuss replacing the rail completely. That is the only way we eliminate the depression between the two joints. Paste, tape and bail wire isn't going to do it, no matter how good Scott's handiwork is.

    I will admit, the new rail joiner is a vast improvement.

    Before:

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    After:

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    Anyway, more to come on this saga, that's for sure. That's it for now, as always, thanks for checking in.

    RAINIER GREAT WESTERN RAILROAD
     

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