It always seems like I have one project or another going all the time, from building kit cars to installing sound in locomotives. One of my latest projects was building the ATSF Baggage/RPO seen in an earlier topic. What projects are you in the middle of right now and if you have photo's of your work please share them here with us.
I'm working on converting all my manual turnouts to tortoise slow motion drive. I already completed all the mainline turnouts in conjucnction with the installation of a signal system. Now I am concentrating on the yard. The turnouts I am converting are hand laid code 55 that I installed 13 years ago. The manual turnouts always worked fine for me, but do take a bit of know-how to make certqain that the points are thrown properly each time. Now that I am getting more into operating sessions, the Circuitron toroise slow motion controls are much more reliable when used by guests. The yard has 21 turnouts. I have 9 done so far. The rest of the layout has an additional 17 manuals. Could be a lengthy project as I can normally only get one or two done in a day. Probably best that I take it slow anyway to spread out the expense. Daryl [ 10 July 2002, 11:03: Message edited by: DarylK ]
Currently working on an steam engine facility. Right now I'm trying to decide on a turntable and how to power it. Leaning towards the Walthers 120 foot table. Roundhouse will have 7.5 degree track spacing. Anyone have ideas on a power unit for the table?
Current active projects: Paving roads and starting scenery on my switching layout Designing some oNeTrak modules, which will be built soon (hopefully)
I'm still working on my RLW "Coon Gap Sawmill". I has thousands of laser cut parts, and I should have built it as soon as I got it because some of the wood parts are turning into sawdust! Work progresses very slowly this time of year, but I should have it completed by fall.
I have so many projects to do that I don't know which one to do first. But, anyway, here's a list (a partial one, no doubt). Project: Build my New Layout Downstairs Progress: Have one frame built, completed the legs on two more. Just need to put them together. Left to do: Everything else involved in building a layout. Project: Project Box. My Project Box consists of about a dozen cars and engines that need to be built, decalled, painted, or re-coupled. Progress: I keep a list of each item in the box on 3x5 cards. Every now and then I draw one randomly and complete that project. Project: Building Kits. I have about a dozen building kits I need to build. Progress: None to speak of. Project: N-Trak modules. I am building 2 6 footers and 1 corner module. Progress: Corner module framework and legs done; cut lumber for frame of 6 footers. Need to dovetail the parts. Left to Do: Legs for corner, put together the 6 footers, make layout design, lay track, buildings, wiring. I guess that's about all for now.
I have started re-painting all my locos from CSX to Norfolk Southern. I am tired of chasing the paint schemes to stay modern with CSX. I have put my layout in a semi-stored state to make room for the big garage sale coming up on the 20th. Then I will start to build a room in the garage for the layout. You don't even want to know about the non-hobby related projects!
In between testing the electrics etc on my home layout, and doing some scenic work on those bits I'm happy with I've been detailing 2 Kato SD45s (SP livery) to convert them into SD40M-2s. I'll add some pictures to my website when I get the chance. David Milburn (N.Yorkshire, UK)
I am finishing up a SF F45 (super detailed, custom painted blue and yellow bonnet, resin shell BTW). Painting my Surfliner train set. Cleaning rolling stock wheels and going through each peice of equipment I have and looking for things that need to be fixed. I would love to post photos of this stuff, but I was uploading them on Trainorders.com, finding the link to the photo only and posting it here, but for some reason that's not working anymore! oh well
Does daydreaming about the layout I want to build in the loft count as a project; probably not. Seriously I've got several locos to repaint and decal. About 200 frieght cars to convert to MT's (don't know whether to just do couplings or just swop trucks). But I suppose the most pressing project is to build a small layout to at least test all the loco's I keep buying......but what size???? Any ideas ConrailPete Conrail lives on in the UK
Here is a picture of my lastest project a LL GP20 SP with Sunrise detail parts and Richmond Controls light package. I just finished a SD35 for the SP, no pictures yet. I'm working on a SD9 for the SP. Pictures when I'm done Jim Bence San Diego, CA
Since you're asking, I've been busy filling a 28'X21' room with a double deck railroad that is 1/3 permanent, 1/3 N-trak, and 1/3 One-trak. We'll be using CMRI for overall control of the railroad (DCC being priced out of the equation) On the home front; I've got a small Door layout in the scenery stage. It gives me a place to run trains while the big one is building. Hope to have a photo update on the big one soon.
Mu current project is the total dismanteling of the old layout and the beginning of construction of the new layout. The old layout no longer exists, the benchwork is being assembled a little at a time. Here's a glimps of the new layout. 14'x8' space. 22" radius on main, 15" on branch. Jeff Augsburg & Concord R.R. (a fictional shortline in Central Illinois) http://www.pegnsean.net/~revnjeff
The kitchen table of my little 1-bedroom apartment here in Ely has been transformed into a diesel shop, in both HO and N scales. In the HO department: Superdetailing my Frisco GP15-1 with the proper parts (Leslie airhorns, plow pilots, rotary beacons, grab irons, lift rings), and putting in that see-thru grille at the end; Painting and decaling two small switchers for my son's proposed HO layout (the Joplin District Terminal, or JDT- his initials). This includes a GE 70-tonner (Bachmann Spectrum, runs like a Swiss watch!) and an Athearn Baldwin S12. Colors are blue & yellow, with yellow lettering & numbering), and; Decaling and weathering some MDC ore cars for a buddy of mine in Bagwell, Texas. As an added feature, I've added Proto 2000 metal wheels, and I'm gonna make some removeable loads for him (not too far away from me are some copper mines, BTW). In N scale, I'm decaling two LifeLike GP20s and one Atlas GP7 for my home road- colors are dark blue with white striping, lettering & numbers. After which, come the M-T couplers. Gotta have something to do here......... Update: The HO JDT diesels are finished, painted in blue & yellow & equipped with Kadee number 5 couplers (I've got several packages of ol' number 5, and no 58s left). I also painted my RSD4 orange with black walkways and radiator shutters (modeled after an RSD4 KCC used for a brief time on the Nevada Northern), with black letters & numbers. It is now Oklahoma, Red River & Texas number 89, and will be "borrowed" by parent Paris & Mt. Pleasant from time to time. Why orange? The two Alcos here on the NN are in Kennecott orange, and orange is also the color of my college alma mater (no stinking Sooner red on MY layout! ) [ 29. July 2002, 05:26: Message edited by: friscobob ]
I had to check the age of this topic to make sure I didn't reply once before! My projects take a long time..... I just finished a kitbash of two union city roundhouses. I truncated it to nine stalls, and left three shortened as storage areas, just like the one at the old Rossford Yard, where my grandpa worked. I made a few changes, based on some roundhouses I have seen, to make it look like the building evolved for use in the 1980's. I am using styrene for the front doors, with squared entrance, and a side from a disused Micor engineering diesel shed for the shortened stalls. I took out the european style high center, in favor of an american style constant slope roof, and added some piping and details. I wish I had a picture to show. It looks okay, as long as you don't look too close!
A friend of mine in Upland CA. is working on a hugh layout in his family room. Its the complete Cajon Pass from San Bernardino to Barstow. This layout is accurate right down to the correct rock placement following prototype photo's and his "Summit" area is some of the best work I have ever seen . I will get some photo's of his work the next time I visit.
In the big picture, I am performing last minute clean-up and adjustments to my layouts for next week's NMRA Natl convention home layout tour. Also I am trying to upgrade and maintain my locomotives. Basically I just test ran, trouble shot and repaired all my steamers. I am just finishing upgrading one steamer, a total kitbash project starting with a Kato 6 driver mechanism and fabricated pony and trailing trucks to make a 2-6-4, shortened and modified a J3a Hudson shell, scratchbuilt the drawbar and added a DimiTrains/Rivarossi Vanderbilt Tender. I modified the tender to pick up juice on all wheels. After decalling it for my Shenango Valley, I weathered the loco, added real coal and a Unimate coupler. The only problem now is the coupler is a little high and rides up, so I have to shim the coupler box so it will hold on to its consist. The diesel project is an older ConCor/Kato PA1-PB1 painted to Shenango Colors. I resurrected it from the dead, completely cleaned and lubed it to look and run like new, add MT's and now all I have to do is to decal and trim paint it. The color is dark maroon with black top and yellow lettering. Those projects alone have kept my hands full over the last couple of weeks. Ken "Steamguy" Willaman
You have GOT to get some photos Bob! That sounds like one nice layout! Jim, that is one very, very well done GP20! Keep up the great work! Now, do you super detail anything a little more modern than that?
That is a GREAT idea! I should try it. I have about 6 cars in the paint shop needing paint, decals or couplers and trucks. I have 3 locos in the paint shop, also. The latest and most complete is a Kato SD90MAC in BN fantasy Whiteface scheme with white separator stripe on the long hood. I just called Microscale for BN SD70MAC executive colors decals for another 80MAC that will become fantasy BN. 2 more (UP/CNW)SD40-2's are coming from ebay, to be stripped, and a coat of BN green and black laid down. One will be BN 8002, the only Tigerstriped nose SD40-2 on the roster; and one whiteface with separator stripe. I have about 10 DPM, Walthers, and Atlas kits to build for the layout, which isn't even started. The layout needs more track and turnouts before serious scenicking begins. The branchline scenery forms are laid, and the grade forms are in place for when track is ready to be laid. The layout has basically stalled, due to lack of funds; it is more of redirection of funds for Katos.....
