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I'll try to keep some postings up to date on the construction for this layout and the planned move of the Crawford & Cherokee (on it's thread).
The slab went in last week, but should cure for 28 days before framing. I am working up details and should get started around Labor Day weekend (I'll have 4 days off). I had planned to trim back the shrubs and work on the grade in the back corner, but rain this weekend here in S. Texas.
The space will be about 14-ft X 14-ft. We'll have the shelf layout above, room for a workbench, and a 2nd (lower) level. I'll have A/C and power for the building, and will try to do a raised ceiling for the feeling of more space.
Robert J. Thomas
San Antonio, TX
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Good Evening All,
I have spent the past month mostly on the road for work, or on the road for "vacation." Any guesses on how far I drove from S. Texas ?
Anyhow, not much modeling to report other than with the wallet. I did make some progress on the framing of the new out building/workshop/train barn. This weekend's days ended with me packing up tools and running inside from the rain. Anyhow, should have something work posting soon on that front.
The last weekend of August included a train show up in Austin, TX. It was a good show, and was held at the Palmer Center. In a genius move, the next-door event in the Palmer was a "La Garage Sale" for those accompanying the train enthusiasts, but not part of that crowd.
I ended up buying a few hopper cars at the show. For $20, I found this Tangent model and repurposed it for the W&NW project. The Frisco had about twenty five of these hoppers, but sold them off prior to the BN merger. In our alternate history, they are sold to the W&NW rather than going into lease service under the CRDX.
This weekend, I printed some custom decals and removed the original herald and car number/SLSF markings.
(before)
(after).
I also "won" this car indirectly through the "Around the Layout" podcast give-away. Actually Paul Scot August won this car and I won something else,. Paul models around 1960, so we traded. This is a special run through Spring Creek Model Trains out of Nebraska and comes with the weathered placard.
I also grabbed this Conrail car at the Austin train show. I am not much on Conrail paint schemes. There was another "Conrail Quality" version of the car, but I am somewhat sure that was after 1988 (my nominal model date). We'll remove the ACI plate and call it good enough for some variety on the layout.
I also obtained this freelance railroad hopper from Home Shops. I have been kicking myself for not getting one of these in the original release. I found this one on FB marketplace. You can see I have started some weathering, but more to go....
Finally, I worked on assembling these Athearn Bluebox kits. I think this was about as detailed of a kit you could get from that line, with separately applied grab irons and ladders (and a few other detail parts). Anyhow, I added some metal wheelsets and will scrounge up some cut levers and air hoses. I think when weathered, they will hold up just fine.
That's it for now. I hope you all had a great Labor Day weekend.
-Bob T.Robert J. Thomas
San Antonio, TX
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A few updates on the W&NW project from September. I spent most of my work time on the weekends framing up the new outbuilding (14x14ft). It is going slowly, as several weekends were taken up by work travel. I now have three walls mostly framed with partial sheathing, and the windows and doors have been received. Having those is really useful for confirming that the rough openings are correct. I have a long weekend during Columbus day, so I hope to get started on the roof framing then. (Don't worry, I'll square up the walls). I'll put in a small slab or pavers for a porch int he front where the flagstones are here.
In the evenings and while travelling, I have worked up a revision to the track plan. Some friends on the Frisco.org forum have provided excellent details on the prototype (current candidate) Burrton Sub at Ellsworth, KS. (Subject to change).
The end of the Frisco Burrton Sub crossed the Smoky Hill River, then the UP main, and into a strange wye area with interchange to the UP and service to several local customers. I was able to find on the "historic Aerials" website a map with most of the diagram.
Someone provided me a run down of several industries there. One that was not on my earlier track chart was "Chickasha Manufacturing" which made pre-fab (mobile) homes. They received frames and construction materials to a large building which could hold several homes under construction simultaneously. The main Chickasha factor was in Oklahoma, and also on the Frisco. An excellent candidate for this shelf layout.
I also obtained some additional information on the petroleum industry, with tank farms for customers in the area up until a pipeline was completed to the area in the ~1980+ timeframe. But hey, well use that for our 1988 W&NW venue.
I also learned that the Hamolka Grain Supply was at the end of the stub line to the north on the map and had to use a 100-ft conveyer belt to unload deliveries from the tracks to the building. Another neat add.
With this info, along with my own fiction and need to fit on a shelf layout, I decided to include a removable staging cartridge/section in the plan, along with more of the UP for additional operational possibility. I think with this plan, you can bring in a train from staging and keep two operators busy if you like.
Anyhow, that is where we stand in early October. Things might change a lot between now and when we start laying track. Plenty of time before the building is ready.
Finally, I have been having fun working with Patrick Harris at Three Notch Rail Freelance Trains. He recently released this "Longhorn Quarry Co." hopper, and through this photo, we now have a W&NW two bay hopper on his manufacturing backlog. If you watch the Three Notch page on Facebook, you might catch the ordering window in the next few months. He may also produce the yellow modernized 50ft plug-door boxcar. We'll see. (I have no financial interest in the project.)
Draft artwork from Three Notch on FB:
We'll that's about it. Have a good one all and keep posting. This is an excellent forum!
-Bob T. Last edited by KansasBob; 10-05-2024, 05:32 PM.Robert J. Thomas
San Antonio, TX
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A couple of W&NW projects from the past two weekends:
First a PS 5344 boxcar with a first cut at homemade decals. Each side has about 20 different decals, modeled from another ALM car to the left here.
A challenge here was to get the layout to cover the rib on the car without resorting to a plate mounted on the side of the car to post the herald on a flat surface. I followed this video from Marc Simpson on YouTube, which includes a technique for cutting a master decal and then using a second one with a wider than the rib cut to wrap around the sides. Not too bad for a first try...I did find some Plano Models Crossover Platform Set (Part #127) which fits the pre-drilled hole layout of this Athearn BlueBox kit and installed (not in photo).
Reference for decal work:
"Noodling around with decals: how to apply a CN noodle to a ribbed freight car" -- Marc Simpson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8Hx1kS-trg
I also modified this ScaleTrains GATC 4180 Airslide Hopper, removing an IC herald and number using Solvaset, and replacing with the W&NW markings:
Need to get the running board to lay down, but coming along just fine otherwise. Robert J. Thomas
San Antonio, TX
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Well done, Bob. Those cars turned out well.
I really like the W&NW logo.Southern Railway Slate Fork Branch, March 1978: https://realisticmodelrailroading.ne...-fork-branch-n
Old magazines can still be fresh sources of hobby information!
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