The Little Rock Line (N)

[Allen]

Cajun Hydraulics, open for business

Well, for the most anyways.

You gotta love the long holiday weekends!

I started working on it again Wednesday night, getting the details ready, some final painting and some minor weathering, then started applying the details. Had it pretty well wrapped it up late Saturday night.

The detail parts are made up from a mix of stuff: detail parts from other kits, both old and new, 3D printed parts that I got off eBay or FB, a couple of items I picked up at some shops over time and of course, one of my favorite items to use: LEGO pieces (let's see if you can find them?).

I suppose I could have added a lot more to the building, but I didn't want to overload it and have it look as if I had stepped back and threw a box of parts at it.

For now I'll call it done, but there is still some painting of parts and weathering needed to do like the concrete pad, the overall building weathering and some of the small detail parts yet to be added. For now I can handle it without worrying about messing up the weathering. At this stage I can at least use it as a keystone when I start rebuilding the tracks in DuBach.



Before I started this build, I was thinking of making this a thin backdrop building. So I asked N Scale Brad how deep his plastic industry was, but as I started laying things out I realized I had more than enough room to fit this kit.

Here's where I'm planning to place it along the backdrop in DuBach.



Now I need to clean up the workbench and worktable, uuugh! I envy those who can keep their workspace clean and organized throughout a project.
Can you find the can of Dew?

[Paul S.]

Well done, Allen!

Are the light fixtures from Lego, as well?

Russ ( Russ C. ) has invented a new RMR game: Find Allen's Mt. Dew Can.

[Russ C]

Well Allen keeps losing them lol. Pretty soon a full can will get mixed up as a factory storage tank or silo lol.

[Allen]

😂

[Michael Whiteman]

That's a really nice structure Allen. Those window A/C units are a unique feature for sure.

[Allen]

Russ C commented
The can of Dew is on the left front, beside the blue box with the clear lid.
That industry turned out great Allen, well done!

Bingo! Winner winner!
Thanks Russ.

Paul S. commented

Well done, Allen!
Are the light fixtures from Lego, as well?
Russ has invented a new RMR game: Find Allen's Mt. Dew Can.

Thanks Paul.
Nope, those are actually made with very fine brass wire, bent to an "L" shape. Then I cut a very short section on 1/16" styrene tube slid on to the wired followed that with a small #8/0 clear bead for the light housing. I'll try to get a close up of one.
Yes he has, sounds like a fun game to continue?

That's a really nice structure Allen. Those window A/C units are a unique feature for sure.

Thanks Michael!
I found them in a pile of 3D parts I picked up and thought: "Why not?"

Here's the funny thing, I posted this on a N scale detail page yesterday, last night it was taken down? When I inquired why, the owner said it was a nice looking structure, but in his opinion, he didn't see anything that was super detailed and said it was just a building that was sitting on plywood with piece of Atlas C80 track in front of it.
I told him that was because it wasn't done, then he replied: Then finish it, looking forward to seeing it complete..."
Whatever...

[Allen]

No, it was a FB page Russ

[Paul S.]

And here I thought the assclowns were only on Railwire. ...

[Allen]

I can tell you haven't been FB much, have you?

[craigtownsend]

I know I know...

1x 2 flat plate, 2 headlight pieces, 1 x2 plate and a 1x1 tap.

There might be more pieces but those are the ones that popped out immediately.

I'm trying to no give any more spoilers.

[Allen]

Go ahead Craig, tell me what you see and where...

[Paul S.]

Whaddya think, Allen?

[Allen]

LOL, sorry, but that needs to be a Diet Mt Dew!

[Paul S.]

Here ya go!

[Russ C]

Rock Island - the DEW line

[Allen]

Lol!

[craigtownsend]

Allen,
I can't call myself a Adult LEGO fan if I screw this up... Showed my kids with no context and they spotted it as well.

https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog...odified%5D#T=C
This has a version with a hole on the end as well.
https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog...=%5BTap%5D#T=C

I'm guessing you glued on a T piece of styrene or a cut off of rail. Flat plate on top to cover the stud, 1x2 plate on the bottom to connect both parts.

If my kids weren't asleep with the LEGO buckets (75 gallons?) I'd build it for you...

[Allen]

Allen,
I can't call myself a Adult LEGO fan if I screw this up... Showed my kids with no context and they spotted it as well.

https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog...odified%5D#T=C
This has a version with a hole on the end as well.
https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog...=%5BTap%5D#T=C

I'm guessing you glued on a T piece of styrene or a cut off of rail. Flat plate on top to cover the stud, 1x2 plate on the bottom to connect both parts.

If my kids weren't asleep with the LEGO buckets (75 gallons?) I'd build it for you...

That's pretty close Craig.

Here's what I used for the vacuum:
The gray on the bottom
The green and yellow block onto, then the grate looking piece onto of the two blocks.
The white pieces were then glued to the sides of the green and yellow blocks and angled down.
From the Precision Masters sprue, I used the two brake wheels on the ends of the white pieces and the two brake reservoirs were glued to the front of the green and yellow blocks.


Then I cut small section from this mesh that I got years ago from the first time I visited real Caboose Hobbies back in 1984. LOL



It was glued to the top and then everything got painted silver.

The other two pieces I used for the vents were these:



Now for the fluorescent lights I used a very small piece of brass wire cut about 1/2" long, bent it 90° with the vertical leg winding up around 3/16" long.
I cut a very short section of styrene tubing and the globe is a 8/0 glass bead. I applied some 5 min epoxy ( cause I hate to wait) and slid them both on to the vertical wire and painted them silver.

You have to pick through them as some are weirdly shaped.
The white square that surrounds it is 1/2".

[craigtownsend]

Okay, I couldn't see the top of the piece to see that it was a grill. Simple pieces, I bet you didn't even know the headlight pieces existed. 😂

I didn't even see the vents.

[craigtownsend]

Here's some other parts that might make good details in N scale. Oh and I made your part how I was seeing if. 😂

[Allen]

Good job!
Yeah those cylinder could work as well.
That gray ribbed piece could be used as well. I think I have one more of them on hand.
I bought 2lbs off eBay awhile back, might need to replenish soon.

[craigtownsend]

I didn't even realize I found the two different taps. One with a hole on the end and the other without.

The cylinder things are wheel hubs? I thought they would make a good roof fan. I could probably dig the real name. The 1x2 brick with the ribs has one side horizontal and the otherside vertical.

[Uncle Pete's Basement]

I used a bunch of LEGO pieces for vents and pollution control devices on my paper mill. It can become a hobby all in itself. 😀

[Allen]

Yes it can!

[Russ C]

There's a local group who solely make local prototype trains out of Lego. You have to be dedicated to do that, normal HO & N kits are enough lol...