tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63841478314499304772024-03-12T18:57:32.510-07:00STEEL INDUSTRY, RAILROADS, AND MORE - MODEL AND REALThe subject matter of this blog is the Steel Industry and Railroading. Most of the posts deal with my attempt to model an integrated steel mill in HO scale, however, there will also be posts on real railroading and the real steel industry as well as other industries, and for that matter, general topics, that interest me.Jim Musserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962872381150403631noreply@blogger.comBlogger523125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384147831449930477.post-65583622085520299462022-05-10T23:13:00.002-07:002022-05-10T23:13:50.179-07:00HO SCALE DELAIR BRIDGE - A Bridge too far?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV2eX_NbArxCjuOG9ALTXhoiA8g-l1HCu1d5P71AT7Mq3oTq3lQcxR2qNkwk3CQEJV7tnPRe6DuJHOM40QeZjWSJiQk88AI2Db5BTOtVSl75DYj5psubyTL70ic7qaxhRKAUVVDrNUqE_P_7UYYqYDH64lxRzzVBPa6G2bz9zAOPfrH3bAP7mofXCmLA/s4032/050CE6F4-CD13-46F0-8B73-0B2152131B57.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV2eX_NbArxCjuOG9ALTXhoiA8g-l1HCu1d5P71AT7Mq3oTq3lQcxR2qNkwk3CQEJV7tnPRe6DuJHOM40QeZjWSJiQk88AI2Db5BTOtVSl75DYj5psubyTL70ic7qaxhRKAUVVDrNUqE_P_7UYYqYDH64lxRzzVBPa6G2bz9zAOPfrH3bAP7mofXCmLA/w400-h300/050CE6F4-CD13-46F0-8B73-0B2152131B57.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p> Our HO scale Free-mo ambitions have grown. The three section module (considered a single module in Freemo as we only have two Free-mo end plates) is set up and fully operational in Jimmy’s basement. We are working on basic scenery and building structures. </p><p>This module semi represents an industrial section of South Philadelphia, with a chemical plant, replaced by a Corn Syrup plant, loosely based on a prototype facility in Morrisville, PA. It’s full of switches and passing sidings, and all the associated electronics and switch machines. A discussion about a simpler mainline only, no turnout, scenery module, morphed into a module with a bridge. Now here is where I went down the rabbit hole - instead of a pretty straightforward Walthers, Central Valley, or Micro Engineering bridge, I decided to ATTEMPT to build the Delair Bridge from scratch. </p><p>The double track, Delair Bridge was built in 1896 between Philadelphia and New Jersey, spanning the Delaware River. Prior to this, any freight between Philadelphia and New Jersey moved on ferries, or via a long rail route through Trenton, NJ. The bridge originally was three fixed, 533 foot Petit through truss bridges, with a 323 foot center pivot swing bridge, also a Petit through truss (also known as a Pennsylvania Truss). Additionally there are steel approach trestles on both the New Jersey and Pennsylvania sides of the bridge - the New Jersey is 324 feet and the PA is 2,129 feet. To make matters more complicated, the construction of the US Steel Fairless works upstream, in the 1950s required a wider channel than the existing swing bridge provided for their ocean-going ore ships. The Pennsylvania Railroad rebuilt the bridge. They kept the New Jersey fixed span as is, permanently locked the swing span in place, shortened the existing Philadelphia side fixed span by 100 feet, and built a new, 542 foot vertical lift bridge. </p><p>We are modeling the present day bridge, which includes the 1950s modifications, making designing and scratchbuilding a bit more difficult. All four spans are mostly different, although the PA and NJ fixed sections are mostly the same, except for modifications to the PA side to shorten it. In my opinion, selective compression doesn’t really look good when it comes to HO bridges, and this is where we are getting into crazy land territory - the module will be around 32 feet long to fit the four bridge spans, the New Jersey approach trestle, and an abbreviated PA approach trestle (the real one is almost a half mile long). </p><p>These structures are very complicated, and big, and honestly I might throw in the towel if it begins to look impossible. I’m starting with the New Jersey fixed span. If this goes well I can build the PA fixed span next as it is mostly the same, and then probably the original swing span, followed by the big vertical lift span last. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Ez84Ms1lKlh7TwttNzvtPmBN8xS04gbNhrwNpJZdUAUf-sCbe-4g6bawetvbZ5oofy_x9HNmMplvI7lEpOdrLXuC_fBtfzeUfuYsP2PnXXlNN4hAWaUa_tbJnrD9_md6P4I3nzACSW5D--4Za3mTvRjb2wBz0VODhi8zKQRI1xVvEypgAmWnxDUJXw/s4032/439BEB40-A39D-4903-B565-CCDA438EBD85.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Ez84Ms1lKlh7TwttNzvtPmBN8xS04gbNhrwNpJZdUAUf-sCbe-4g6bawetvbZ5oofy_x9HNmMplvI7lEpOdrLXuC_fBtfzeUfuYsP2PnXXlNN4hAWaUa_tbJnrD9_md6P4I3nzACSW5D--4Za3mTvRjb2wBz0VODhi8zKQRI1xVvEypgAmWnxDUJXw/s320/439BEB40-A39D-4903-B565-CCDA438EBD85.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhszXX-98ETIoaTuwDBvmmYkjNiUtphLzu-DeEtroyQTdBoSClVRdfAdiII8-1LRu-Q7rXfS6mgCvx42_SNV-HjBUswsx_P2PCDjHaMdsT7SrfaGzReaxCcljmvqk4VXg0KaoI5lOMmGGfGiSBiKFXkiXV7Fzt5NXA5Ql-RNOHeSJWZjK3MhXO3v0IszA/s4032/CF39A3AF-CF53-4BFF-BB43-59F0BF587080.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhszXX-98ETIoaTuwDBvmmYkjNiUtphLzu-DeEtroyQTdBoSClVRdfAdiII8-1LRu-Q7rXfS6mgCvx42_SNV-HjBUswsx_P2PCDjHaMdsT7SrfaGzReaxCcljmvqk4VXg0KaoI5lOMmGGfGiSBiKFXkiXV7Fzt5NXA5Ql-RNOHeSJWZjK3MhXO3v0IszA/s320/CF39A3AF-CF53-4BFF-BB43-59F0BF587080.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Here is where we are at - the deck girders were fabricated from acrylic and .020 styrene. Now I am starting to design, cut and build the vertical columns. As the top of the bridge is arched, each of these is a different size, and they can’t be simply cut to fix, but rather, need to be designed specifically to fix each position. The bridge has sixteen sections and the verticals installed are the center and two immediately adjacent to the center on each side Just keep in mind, this is only a single span - works out to be a bit over 6’ long. There are three more to add to this. More on the details in the next installment. </p><p><br /></p>Jim Musserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962872381150403631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384147831449930477.post-87277756580349550412022-04-17T00:44:00.005-07:002022-04-17T00:44:58.908-07:00OUT OF COMMISSION FOR A FEW MONTHS, BUT PLENTY O’MODEL RAILROADING WAS DONEA surgery, and caring for a seriously ill family member has kept me away from updating for a few months. I had also been considering switching to a video blog on Youtube. I put together a few, but decided not to go that way as there is more work involved than this format. I will however probably put up videos from train shows, railfanning, and instructional videos if I ever make some of my O Scale freight car parts available. When I do, I will link from here.<div><br /></div><div>Strangely, with everything going on, I was a very productive model railroader. It’s easier to just list what I’ve been up to: </div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Proto:48 layout - installed most of wood ties. Designing crossover track assembly in Fusion360. There are none commercially available for Code 125 rail. The plan is to print in resin. The design is for several different sub assemblies that will be glued to metal rail segments, while also acting to gauge the track, and insulate the rails from each other. </li><li>Free-Mo - Yes, you heard that right. I’m back in the Free-mo world. We (Jimmy) are building three 2x6 modules. They will serve as Jimmy’s home, basement layout, between shows. There will be posts on this. Our theme is modern era, South Philadelphia. Mostly scratchbuilt prototype, or prototypical structures. </li><li>HO Structures - related to Free-mo, I’m back building in HO scale. Mostly scratchbuilding, with some commercial parts, or components. Lot’s of digital fabrication to augment this building. Laser cut building parts, and 3d printed details. First up - trash to rail metal warehouse type building - a brick food warehouse - and a corn syrup plant. </li><li>O Structures - Scratchbuilding a freight house, based on an Erie prototype that was located in Manhattan (Not the huge four story one). Also, finishing up some parts for the Tidewater Grain Elevator. All these models will end up on the Cherry Valley MR Club O Scale 2 Rail Layout. </li><li>HO Freight Cars - I pulled out some of my circa 1980s “modern” era freight cars for the Free-mo layout, and have started weathering, and “modernizing” them with patch jobs, rust, and heavy weathering. </li><li>O Freight Cars - In the design/preliminary phase of a Norfolk and Western G72,73,74 gondola. </li></ul><div>Updates to begin again soon.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Jim</div><div><br /></div>Jim Musserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962872381150403631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384147831449930477.post-54640593710328472312022-02-02T22:50:00.000-08:002022-02-02T22:50:51.749-08:00PROTO 48 LAYOUT #6 - FASCIA AND BACKDROP<p> Before adding any thing to the roadbed or foam surface of the layout, I wanted to get the backdrop and fascia squared away. I imagine that both will have to be repainted or touched up during the construction of the layout, however, installed, with a base coat, it shouldn’t be a hassle to do this. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgSIZ2uJQBkUOkFTO9tjmHa-vSfUZG0E0vC3ZJ_N-IHtZPiCS7IzD-pYbzHzSLyg0QHJL7Cx5-d6ym1NFdktflZKDnihVu7Io7ljTGxF9zEhY6ck3fBSuDWVXxf1_z6Go8B855Sgg612Lq9CRd0NT56tvste9XiEoJDkmVPFhxK-ib6XzQZUtA2te6pcQ=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgSIZ2uJQBkUOkFTO9tjmHa-vSfUZG0E0vC3ZJ_N-IHtZPiCS7IzD-pYbzHzSLyg0QHJL7Cx5-d6ym1NFdktflZKDnihVu7Io7ljTGxF9zEhY6ck3fBSuDWVXxf1_z6Go8B855Sgg612Lq9CRd0NT56tvste9XiEoJDkmVPFhxK-ib6XzQZUtA2te6pcQ=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>The layout isn’t independent, but rather, attached to the wall of my shop. The wall is 1/2” OSB. This was both a cost savings measure and a convenience for attaching shelves ,tool holders, etc. on the work bench. OSB has too much texture to serve as a backdrop, and I wanted radius corners. I applied 1/8” masonite over the OSB. This material will curve into a pretty tight, maybe 8” or so radius at the corners with a little work. It was attached to the OSB with drywall screws. Care was taken to place the screws on studs, and a countersink drill was used to “prep” the holes so the screw heads sit flush. There were two seams between sheets, and a lot of screw heads to disappear. I used a two part resin body filler, like Bondo for this work. It’s easy to sand and tends to fill nicer than the putties or drywall compound that most folks use. We use this in our cabinet shop for almost all painted cabinetry. When the heat and humidity return in the spring, we will have to see how the seams behave, but for now, they are invisible. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgnfahT3zi5hG3n68N2eRVy2FQa3HUC8AHjhR-GmcZflkZ61vt5T73akRnUh6aDZCP-1tpcautUeBrqeZW_dbQYokR4YMgJxGL_YMQtcPVXw6bVmOe8-4fi5cJBuPeBoRRr0LH_lc7MUjO1rWTL-AmScvAJJC5eELj8laWNk3iHiHAFpn_vhodombt3NQ=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgnfahT3zi5hG3n68N2eRVy2FQa3HUC8AHjhR-GmcZflkZ61vt5T73akRnUh6aDZCP-1tpcautUeBrqeZW_dbQYokR4YMgJxGL_YMQtcPVXw6bVmOe8-4fi5cJBuPeBoRRr0LH_lc7MUjO1rWTL-AmScvAJJC5eELj8laWNk3iHiHAFpn_vhodombt3NQ=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>After sanding and refilling as needed, the backdrop, and fascia, which was installed in same way with same material, was primed and painted. I’m on the fence with having the sky color on the soffit, and might change to black, although that would add a third color into the mix. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Jim Musserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962872381150403631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384147831449930477.post-20864212361661001132022-01-30T12:34:00.005-08:002022-01-30T12:34:42.009-08:00TOOLS - CLAMPSAs a professional woodworker, I’ve found that you never can have enough clamps. As many as I’ve bought over the years and sit at the ready on racks in my shop, I always seem not to have enough or not enough of the right size. The same goes for my hobby workbench. Two of the clamps I use most often in model railroading are spring clamps, and quick-clamps. Both are basically miniature versions of what I would use in my commercial shop. Home Depot used to, and maybe still does, sell a bag of cheap, plastic spring clamps. They were black with yellow jaws, and there were a variety of sizes in the bags. The most useful for model railroading, were the four smallest ones, although occasionally the larger ones are used. In the quick-clamp department, both Irwin, and DeWalt made miniature version of this type of clamp. Both are very decent, with the DeWalt being slightly larger and beefier. <div><br /></div><div>While shopping at a Woodcraft Store, I recently came across both miniature spring and quick-clamps. The spring clamps are made by Bora Portamate. They come in a box of 20 for around $15. They are superior to the Home Depot versions, in terms of quality of manufacturing; operation; and larger jaw clearance. They also are all the small size you need. The quick-clamps are made by WoodRiver, which is the Woodcraft in-house brand. Sold in a pair, for $13, they are as good, if not better than both the Irwin and DeWalt versions, and may be cheaper too. The jaw pads are the largest of the three and the metal shaft is heavier. The release is between the handles, which is awkward, only because I’m used to it being in front of the handles. It works fine. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEildxlNtsKwqNPf1GDQWVZRtNHCmYLgghJqcF0vagNh97_X2XqBfIbv7wcKvzDeJAfthj-K_OCAuRdd-wo3lpUN2aIstLN2ySHUVJ91bF0cDzvjoxMG8j5dd2r2zLypJ_ePe8Uoa7CaChjHEsYvjEaDCIT_TjL3UtxqnreJK-pcBLNRDZ0duE8Z63XqRw=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEildxlNtsKwqNPf1GDQWVZRtNHCmYLgghJqcF0vagNh97_X2XqBfIbv7wcKvzDeJAfthj-K_OCAuRdd-wo3lpUN2aIstLN2ySHUVJ91bF0cDzvjoxMG8j5dd2r2zLypJ_ePe8Uoa7CaChjHEsYvjEaDCIT_TjL3UtxqnreJK-pcBLNRDZ0duE8Z63XqRw=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Quick Clamps - Wood River is at the bottom. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh0BRe9dFqkHUSBI1xHCpbRt_5uHBGufvkboEiVhtb5WkCAxlbJiBdXPbD8Mmw1SaTArtANQwHGcKi5qHwAd8b1yUOmBH93-ObXSqLnt7GDf65pWk0KlAvCyMaY9qi6a5-S8rTIouz5BRMBc8epDXynzWDiEBqekDspM02wk06yurZdg7FUa9Xq7keAWQ=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh0BRe9dFqkHUSBI1xHCpbRt_5uHBGufvkboEiVhtb5WkCAxlbJiBdXPbD8Mmw1SaTArtANQwHGcKi5qHwAd8b1yUOmBH93-ObXSqLnt7GDf65pWk0KlAvCyMaY9qi6a5-S8rTIouz5BRMBc8epDXynzWDiEBqekDspM02wk06yurZdg7FUa9Xq7keAWQ=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Bora spring clamps. Easy to store at workbench<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div>Jim Musserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962872381150403631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384147831449930477.post-86974614473550079432022-01-08T07:16:00.003-08:002022-01-08T07:16:40.514-08:00MORE HOUSEKEEPING - UPDATED LINKS<p> I added the links section when I first started this page, and probably haven’t updated it since. About half were dead links, so sorry about that if you were trying them. Some haven’t been updated for many years, but still exist, and still have good photos and info on them, so I didn’t take them down. </p><p>I only got around to adding one new link - Steel Mill Modelers Supply. If you are looking to heavily upgrade your Walthers Steel Mill kit, or if you are scratchbuilding a mill, this is the place to go. Steel mill modeler, Kevin Tully started this business some years ago using 3d printing technology, when most of us were still working with molds and resin casts to sporadically make parts for steel mill modeling. His products are well researched, well drawn in 3dCAD (not an easy task), and printed using high quality printers (ie expensive). </p><p>I tried to post a link to the Facebook Steel Mill Modelers group that Donald Dunn moderates, to no avail. Maybe I can’t post Facebook links on here. If you are on Facebook, you should be able to find it - just make sure the moderator is Donald Dunn. He also has two associated groups on real steel mills and selling steel mill stuff, which you should also be able to find. Donald does an excellent job at keeping these sites focused on their subject matter. He also puts out a quarterly steel mill modeling ezine (is that even something anymore) which has excellent articles. I will try to find a link for that an post. </p><p>I’m also going to add a bunch of links for O Scale and PROTO 48, but I’ll see if I can organize these things better. </p><p>Jim</p><p><br /></p>Jim Musserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962872381150403631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384147831449930477.post-40413614150956606412022-01-07T23:19:00.003-08:002022-01-08T06:21:48.208-08:00PROTO 48 LAYOUT #5 - THE SAWMILL<p> There is still work to be done sanding, priming, and painting the backdrop, prior to installing ties, but I figured it couldn’t hurt to get them cut. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjHaffF5Gv5JV4sG5TWjrjRP1vwas61DehbN8Sgrejs8ZWhtdXGnbSSzilHNRs4amtJPn3nC1B6TEs6jrj9RBnzJg6B9MGDmeSU6Vn40mRayFkOqtAODufNz_TifK8tlhRolpcFFdl-t4W7O7_vdA3atlgBy3zQTntm0vpPJ99jyFO0fuf0FF5DV5JYyA=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjHaffF5Gv5JV4sG5TWjrjRP1vwas61DehbN8Sgrejs8ZWhtdXGnbSSzilHNRs4amtJPn3nC1B6TEs6jrj9RBnzJg6B9MGDmeSU6Vn40mRayFkOqtAODufNz_TifK8tlhRolpcFFdl-t4W7O7_vdA3atlgBy3zQTntm0vpPJ99jyFO0fuf0FF5DV5JYyA=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><p>The bag on left has the “standard ties”, with the enough turnout ties in the right bag for six #6 turnouts. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEglRGPc0SvTvIZL9h705hjybArV4gRrpI5-C4Le4RoZmklTRGdJWO8rOcvmfprRpEEB7nylyLv3tLtWe6yi1FKhdH1ndFCcIvdoLTiWw338KwvDT89GCCwGXKkRPvdgYJRvAzEASwn26JaBnG8BvVHMkgCT9ERdyh6DFlC6zJcsJeScH-6IRZKrfnjdQA=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEglRGPc0SvTvIZL9h705hjybArV4gRrpI5-C4Le4RoZmklTRGdJWO8rOcvmfprRpEEB7nylyLv3tLtWe6yi1FKhdH1ndFCcIvdoLTiWw338KwvDT89GCCwGXKkRPvdgYJRvAzEASwn26JaBnG8BvVHMkgCT9ERdyh6DFlC6zJcsJeScH-6IRZKrfnjdQA=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><p>Just to refresh - I’m using basswood, as opposed to white pine. I buy basswood in roughly 5”x8” blocks, 8-10’ long. They are rough cut, so you need a jointer to flatten and square up two sides prior to any ripping operations. A single block will last me a decade in model trains, even with this tie cutting operation. My many years as a professional woodworker has taught me that, the lighter and smaller the piece, the more dangerous it can be to cut. There is a lot more to ripping and cutting this material than a table saw and a chop saw. You need to make jigs and temporary fences to keep the material supported, and your hands away from the blades. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Jim Musserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962872381150403631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384147831449930477.post-72335703336122580452022-01-02T22:55:00.003-08:002022-01-02T22:55:59.601-08:00PROTO 48 LAYOUT #4 - BENCHWORK<p> This layout resides over my workbench at a height of about 55” from floor to railhead. I wanted all 20’ linear feet of the workbench to be accessible by a rolling chair, as I have different stations along it - painting, electronics, assembly and build area, machining, parts storage,…etc.. This meant no legs to impeded my lateral movement. Additionally, I didn’t want any vertical supports between the layout and the workbench to obstruct the work space. The bench and the layout would have to be cantilevered off the wall. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwaD_6rKVPSNpbAYbPZ89SqUwhUATv2XNka9RTYo0GIFjsn5mDHh8zax3g61pFR7X_POUiOJ0eAWiOff8LLvhwOq9LMNbCiBarUoIhtH1oG9rcpqAuYRbXNyJcENVxKlU6nJcwQqTVJh7YD4W9HhFfMrCvaNpTLwz3xECdAC5tHQ17a2hD-oVZdhLBMg=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwaD_6rKVPSNpbAYbPZ89SqUwhUATv2XNka9RTYo0GIFjsn5mDHh8zax3g61pFR7X_POUiOJ0eAWiOff8LLvhwOq9LMNbCiBarUoIhtH1oG9rcpqAuYRbXNyJcENVxKlU6nJcwQqTVJh7YD4W9HhFfMrCvaNpTLwz3xECdAC5tHQ17a2hD-oVZdhLBMg=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can see the framing for the layout and workbench on the left. They are both supported by the same vertical “legs” spaced about 4’ apart. The radius arch horizontals don’t interfere with legs, while moving back and forth, and also don’t interfere with the work area. They are actually handy for storing clamps.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>As you can see from the photo, there are plywood stringers, with a L front assembly to strengthen the edge. Everything is made from 3/4” maple plywood. The work bench has steel Unistrut stringers for sturdy support without sacrificing leg room. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgzdgARLJrbjMzQQMaLF35YwBgTv23DOv1haGjnzWq0kYqWBCSYL3Av86_9qpUK2YzLzxvQQrb1WJLlDojw2w5HYAhbxODTnkWc-3W9QHWCXiWUoCwS0RXyyRFFTRa3Ht3bByEdktgkxARU8zwUoIvUcHcPTRqsrt-pFNYxVKOQqDhJz5m1wjL0WoUfeA=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgzdgARLJrbjMzQQMaLF35YwBgTv23DOv1haGjnzWq0kYqWBCSYL3Av86_9qpUK2YzLzxvQQrb1WJLlDojw2w5HYAhbxODTnkWc-3W9QHWCXiWUoCwS0RXyyRFFTRa3Ht3bByEdktgkxARU8zwUoIvUcHcPTRqsrt-pFNYxVKOQqDhJz5m1wjL0WoUfeA=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The “sandwich” Unfortunately the seam fell just at the end of a piece of roadbed and the chunk of homasote on the right is only a 1” triangle. </td></tr></tbody></table><p>The layout surface is a sandwich of 3/4” foam core maple plywood, two layers of 1” foam, and 1/2” homasote. The whole thing is an effort to keep the weight down on the layout. Everything put together, including the homasote was probably around 30-40 pounds. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxKu90AkLe_ZyZKD7uQX2H_h9sRCxy_QUNfDCVTfrtRFF2cfVLtAkq5CIxadGUHrqednJmOuJZ9XmfL1DkZBC5Hw24WlhxpiKPYZ_u4VjxQWJiJ_nSwPqOnyXiFLFVj3Do-7ONMpAfjf_EfhaBTnsZyJPmmrc5VGaH_YxezaS8nt84ZAxYT1L41QAOtA=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxKu90AkLe_ZyZKD7uQX2H_h9sRCxy_QUNfDCVTfrtRFF2cfVLtAkq5CIxadGUHrqednJmOuJZ9XmfL1DkZBC5Hw24WlhxpiKPYZ_u4VjxQWJiJ_nSwPqOnyXiFLFVj3Do-7ONMpAfjf_EfhaBTnsZyJPmmrc5VGaH_YxezaS8nt84ZAxYT1L41QAOtA=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Foam inlay cutouts for homasote roadbed.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The maple foam core plywood was secured to the framing with washer head cabinet screws from underneath. While it would have been more economical from a material standpoint to utilize full sheets of plywood and foam, I cut all the layers in three equal length sections. The idea is that someday, it would be easy to remove the sections, by just cutting the rail at the seams between. Since this is as much a diorama as a train layout, I sort of intend on changing it in the future and building an entirely different scene. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjenMN1rr7VX-UMIQ_FWcHdTiQUHEHsN2rfAm4GKEacUibFcNYQbj3-0L4fjFEwORSXyVXVKnyWshDUegokQ2k0kwwcFOSpwLi8i1adF7QLhqHF5Buek5hK8UX2Hp8N9lylrAWOU2_0lPor7xNCIVXCzm-llU4fAGibp8Egq684GrAj82MMwvu8S8623w=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjenMN1rr7VX-UMIQ_FWcHdTiQUHEHsN2rfAm4GKEacUibFcNYQbj3-0L4fjFEwORSXyVXVKnyWshDUegokQ2k0kwwcFOSpwLi8i1adF7QLhqHF5Buek5hK8UX2Hp8N9lylrAWOU2_0lPor7xNCIVXCzm-llU4fAGibp8Egq684GrAj82MMwvu8S8623w=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Homasote roadbed pressed into foam</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Since the layout was drawn full scale in CAD, I used this and a CAM program, to create cut files for a CNC machine, and everything was cut out on that for accuracy. If I was using flex track, I could have attached directly to the foam, but since I’m hand laying the track, and based on experience doing this as a teenager, Homasote is an excellent base for this, and holds the spikes well. Again, with keeping the weight down, I figured on only placing the Homasote exactly where I needed it. Fortunately my CAM program has an inlay feature. This feature generates the cut file for the pocket in the foam, and the file that cuts out the Homasote. It’s actually more complex than it seems. Since the CNC machine cuts with a round bit (1/4” in this case) the cut in the foam would leave a 1/8” radius on the inside corners, but this same corner on the Homasote, would be an outside corner, and would be cut sharp. The program figures all this out, so you get a perfect fit. I programmed in a 0.020 allowance on the cut, and everything fit perfect but I had to tap them in slightly. Doing it again, I would have gone with 0.030. I could have set this pocket to any depth, but since I’m modeling well used industrial track, I wanted the bed almost flush with the surface. Another nice feature of using the CNC - I used a v shaped bit to cut a barely visible centerline in the roadbed. </p><p><br /></p>Jim Musserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962872381150403631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384147831449930477.post-90508399440195065802022-01-01T00:06:00.001-08:002022-01-01T00:06:54.429-08:00PROTO 48 LAYOUT #3 - TRACK EXPERIMENTS<p> I want to have almost everything concerning the handlaid track work dialed in prior to actually building any on the layout. I plan on cutting the ties myself, since this is relatively easy to do accurately in 1/48 scale. The two most common materials used for O Scale ties, are white pine and basswood. Both of these are soft enough to take spikes without splitting, but hold them well. It will come down to which looks closer to the prototype after finishing. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCEt9jiIi7dN_RSc3NwGe8TayH3LPDIkiY7F7SXWHTxreATiOu4H7uPIsEGKD4xs2ZQOErTBf9AkBmjkBV_i7T6gcnL8vdIy2hHHEaJ2EGTiiUYGk0Ut4r2LDkaYgPdHLGKGcK6puduTeW5Mvx6N0UB4eCQGX52KMTm2B_1omRHykLKzOGVtDuD3JQzg=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCEt9jiIi7dN_RSc3NwGe8TayH3LPDIkiY7F7SXWHTxreATiOu4H7uPIsEGKD4xs2ZQOErTBf9AkBmjkBV_i7T6gcnL8vdIy2hHHEaJ2EGTiiUYGk0Ut4r2LDkaYgPdHLGKGcK6puduTeW5Mvx6N0UB4eCQGX52KMTm2B_1omRHykLKzOGVtDuD3JQzg=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a block of basswood I had laying around my shop. Although my supplier has a variety of thicknesses of basswood, most are 4-6” thick. In woodworking, basswood is used primarily for carving, so bench the thicker slabs. <br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjOq-GG5ajIZbkwP9sgk27eOTo8o0R_4A33EqIdAJUEbkF-pX4pOEFG56tDbqpvdsj980sAa3lQg3TeBybSOVZwIMVdKionS80HUeU6GMXfQE9XEDQtcruUbrSUpZM17u-O3yEa4GZfKWuvf8anVNSRFgA0MWkvMWKji6lORhRBP_DETA3LCYo5LKBq9g=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjOq-GG5ajIZbkwP9sgk27eOTo8o0R_4A33EqIdAJUEbkF-pX4pOEFG56tDbqpvdsj980sAa3lQg3TeBybSOVZwIMVdKionS80HUeU6GMXfQE9XEDQtcruUbrSUpZM17u-O3yEa4GZfKWuvf8anVNSRFgA0MWkvMWKji6lORhRBP_DETA3LCYo5LKBq9g=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I’ve cut the basswood into more manageable blocks and then cut the tie materials.<br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCxfcptPUUMP9zcFO8yx4f2m3yUM4Y7qyS6NXNVtf5O08gWK4reAIaln4uUJ-JBwDPDCpbeMgmVYBo89qcXq082AQQ8m7XXOI836rxjBZNYjx6jUcP2nz4eALyRxiKzL7hUtUoqBbYFVarhXGAIIM4C0ysTC6rJj6k0NZvg0pq0jcVNRqmW2m05llV2Q=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhCxfcptPUUMP9zcFO8yx4f2m3yUM4Y7qyS6NXNVtf5O08gWK4reAIaln4uUJ-JBwDPDCpbeMgmVYBo89qcXq082AQQ8m7XXOI836rxjBZNYjx6jUcP2nz4eALyRxiKzL7hUtUoqBbYFVarhXGAIIM4C0ysTC6rJj6k0NZvg0pq0jcVNRqmW2m05llV2Q=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glued to a board. The pine at top, looks more prototypical prior to stain.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQo1x6FBPBlIukM-MAI88p0VP4CkkuXN8HZdvII6x4Bg8LRfagB1sVZxE4qNAysJfDMnXVqSdUWIGM4TODDKfKK4KGF7ZIvUDSRe431dt0471TesUeJgBfTtQjCrtTFFHvXtRmjbTKXiE4xaywR3t0Gy9rfA85kZM66dkrZBILMOeOstIH0Yzm394ILQ=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhQo1x6FBPBlIukM-MAI88p0VP4CkkuXN8HZdvII6x4Bg8LRfagB1sVZxE4qNAysJfDMnXVqSdUWIGM4TODDKfKK4KGF7ZIvUDSRe431dt0471TesUeJgBfTtQjCrtTFFHvXtRmjbTKXiE4xaywR3t0Gy9rfA85kZM66dkrZBILMOeOstIH0Yzm394ILQ=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The basswood absorbed stain better. I’m using a water based Walnut stain made by General Finishes as my base coat. It’s a black-dark brown-grey stain combo.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhIxv9pTQTtq5Oq_eXEA3BdwOjVX7ZOzQwwiLEztlrzbn6WMk20LY1jGoeIDHIxJld6Uzx1W8ViY2GOa4cpnLRAXTU-6PCLmLK20HDHOaReeURpVmLaW1ZEQKfJHCktzjcWcOVEcIJ8R36J_7hEGp0UqWgK85ko-QRfVtFyswYIhkC3fliNV2XBmq6DTg=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhIxv9pTQTtq5Oq_eXEA3BdwOjVX7ZOzQwwiLEztlrzbn6WMk20LY1jGoeIDHIxJld6Uzx1W8ViY2GOa4cpnLRAXTU-6PCLmLK20HDHOaReeURpVmLaW1ZEQKfJHCktzjcWcOVEcIJ8R36J_7hEGp0UqWgK85ko-QRfVtFyswYIhkC3fliNV2XBmq6DTg=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some additional fiddling around by selectively adding some Dark Brown Dye Stain (also General Finishes) </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEheEDQBZ9aCJLjC52EL5TEw_oAhZ5T0kB2cxsGOMDtEY1HtU26OtwTXo8C9yrHokY3DZ5mvklT2sqDyNhIlseF16tFyKDFjqcPUsuEh8b5ddCxNvccWwC-u_MMH4xFVURdUtUtfGOlNkXi5AEWSuM73uSfhf6OfoH0mVWvg_M3xQ97-fpUAZ1mtXKfcOg=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEheEDQBZ9aCJLjC52EL5TEw_oAhZ5T0kB2cxsGOMDtEY1HtU26OtwTXo8C9yrHokY3DZ5mvklT2sqDyNhIlseF16tFyKDFjqcPUsuEh8b5ddCxNvccWwC-u_MMH4xFVURdUtUtfGOlNkXi5AEWSuM73uSfhf6OfoH0mVWvg_M3xQ97-fpUAZ1mtXKfcOg=w400-h300" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Testing the ties with some “ballast”. The ballast is actually cat litter - another test. Probably somewhere back in past posts I’ve discussed my dislike of Woodland Scenics Ballast (I like their other products) Woodland Scenics ballast is made of walnut shells that tend to float more than I would like during the glue phase of ballasting. Scenic Express sells ballast made using real stone, however, I have avoided purchasing anything from them since around 2007 when I asked them for a catalog at Timonium and they said only if I bought something. We were at Timonium for the weekend with the Free-Mo group, and was actually planning on buying a lot from them, but just wanted to go through the catalog first and then before the end of the two day show make my purchase. Rubbed me the wrong way, so I find my scenery elsewhere. The cat litter is a clay product and is fairly close to what was probably coming out of the local trap rock quarries on the CNJ. Perhaps slightly on the light side. I’m going to experiment with adding some Woodland Scenics cinder ballast in small amounts to the mix. I also need to see if there is any issue with this material being affected by the glue and water when I actually glue down. I did sift out the larger chunks, and have since made an even finer sifter that gets the rock size to where I want to be. Again, just fiddling around. <br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Finding the right tie color is difficult. If you look at the prototype, most are either newer, very black/brown ties, thanks to upgrades by railroad, or, on unused or little used lines, sun bleached old ties, typically very whitish grey, with some brown. I’m modeling a heavily used, but likely poorly maintained, branch line, where the majority of the freight was liquid petroleum or chemical products. I’m going to probably go with a darker black/brown color, and the ballast will be heavily weathered, darkened. </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Jim Musserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962872381150403631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384147831449930477.post-83722728148788703332021-12-27T21:11:00.001-08:002021-12-27T21:11:32.478-08:00COMMENTS - My bad….<p> Besides neglecting blog updates, I’ve completely neglected the comments. I’ve tried to go through and post the non-span non-anything not related to trains and steel. Sorry if I missed yours. I do appreciate them. There is too much spam for me not to moderate, and also the occasional political or other comment that has no place here. </p><p>Also - please hang on if you are steel mill modeler. I know most of the last several years has been O scale or book reviews, but steel mill modeling will be making a return soon. The layout is done being used as a storage shelf and is up and running again, dusted, vacuumed, and ready for work to resume. Specific long term projects, need to be finished, and there are a few new ones to be started. </p><p>One other matter or light housekeeping - the blog was coming up as unsecured, which maybe kept some folks away. I think I corrected this, but if you are having trouble getting on, or anything else, please let me know.</p><p>Jim</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Jim Musserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962872381150403631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384147831449930477.post-49077468497214522232021-12-22T18:08:00.004-08:002021-12-22T18:08:45.793-08:00PROTO 48 LAYOUT #2 - THE SETTING<p> I’ve explored a few different prototypes to model on this small layout, and eventually settled on a favorite environ of mine - the industrial conflagration of central New Jersey, along the Turnpike Corridor. This is at it’s most intense roughly between Newark and Perth Amboy. As a youngster, traveling between my home in the very bucolic Westchester County, NY and our beach home, in the equally bucolic Avalon, NJ, my favorite part of the four hour ride were the sights and smells along this portion of the New Jersey Turnpike. Activity was everywhere - planes, trains, automobiles, and ships. Smoke and haze all over. Refinery flare towers lighting up the night sky. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLdISiNEweu3z3gkiNudE8EISlRf-LKz0AXe81wsdMZahb3GU9yN0f9XANN0-_e79HqjvE7SK4AEuAbx1wTXAGd7yr6d_ZDnASRrOYPe5zGPpqyBFEthj97ps3fsgrIYnP2kEh9x0SM6YFaBm1qjO8H-LQMGKHfj3KtWemlD93GxaVWbGDrDdRy6Lgmg=s3000" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2036" data-original-width="3000" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjLdISiNEweu3z3gkiNudE8EISlRf-LKz0AXe81wsdMZahb3GU9yN0f9XANN0-_e79HqjvE7SK4AEuAbx1wTXAGd7yr6d_ZDnASRrOYPe5zGPpqyBFEthj97ps3fsgrIYnP2kEh9x0SM6YFaBm1qjO8H-LQMGKHfj3KtWemlD93GxaVWbGDrDdRy6Lgmg=w640-h434" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The inspiration - the southern end of the CNJ Sound Shore branch in the mid 70s. By the way, the plant in the foreground is a copper refinery/smelter and had an extensive 2’ narrow gauge plant railroad, with a dozen or so locomotives. </td></tr></tbody></table><p>At my O Scale club, I model the Penn Central, and initially my plan was to do the same at home, however, as I am now modeling in PROTO-48, and my home locomotives and rolling stock will not be useable on the club layout, I am no longer tethered to this specific railroad. This frees me up to model a portion, of one of my favorite sections of rail - the Central Railroad of New Jersey’s, Sound Shore Branch.</p><p>The Sound Shore Branch, is a small, five mile long branch line that diverges from CNJs Chemical Coast Line at Bayway (Linden); and then runs roughly parallel to it, but along the edge of the Arthur Kill. The Arthur Kill is a waterway between New Jersey and Staten Island, NY. Besides being used to access the industries along both of its shores, the Arthur Kill is a secondary way for vessels and barges to enter the NY/NJ seaport, from Raritan Bay, and the Atlantic Ocean. For the first half of the branch, while there were passenger stations and trains, literally, no one lives there. The stations were for industrial complexes. The branch crosses the Rahway River, a tributary of the Arthur Kill, via a swing bridge, and enters the very industrial town of Carteret, NJ, it’s terminus. There are perpendicular connecting branches back to the Chemical Coast Line at Carteret and Tremley Point. Most of the land that the railroad traverses is tidal marsh. Factories were built on dredge fill, and the tracks were barely above the water line, and in some cases, partially submerged under a mix of water from the Kill, and “other” liquids. To give you some idea of the volume of traffic on this branch, in the early 1950s, this five miles of track had a half dozen or so daily passenger trains, and at least a dozen local freights. The entire branch was operated under Rule 93 - yard rules, ie. The entire branch was considered a yard, so just look out for the other guy and work it out. </p><p>An interesting feature of this branch is that the first industry at Bayway it served was a large Phelps Dodge electrolytic copper refinery, and the last industry in Carteret, was the even more massive, US Metals electrolytic copper refinery and smelter. The US Metals Plant had the largest smokestack east of the Mississippi until it was razed in the 1990s. New Jersey was the largest producer of refined (99.9% pure) copper for years, with four large plants within about a 10 mile line all on the Chemical Coast - the two I’ve mentioned on the CNJ Sound Shore Branch, and Anaconda in nearby Perth Amboy, and American Smelting and Refining in Woodbridge. Besides copper there were at least three large oil refineries, and the Dutch Boy White Lead works. Heavy heavy industry. All of the copper refineries had very large in-house narrow gauge railroad systems. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgaERAt9FYDM7EZpzdCpB_wUdGrhulibt9k9vdzhYiMeK8qteC0ppNwOgu2-2yL2hA6Hq-H6j4wfDuBGR1-NrPO_JX9N3_AX64bgsZT__HzKEwqIIJwG5_xTeg8zWlfqYQ9ET3utAt5PcLLcOkNgsinlbBw54gs3UJEtxDsLHPzuoijU89BN3pAQC3SlA=s2209" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1511" data-original-width="2209" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgaERAt9FYDM7EZpzdCpB_wUdGrhulibt9k9vdzhYiMeK8qteC0ppNwOgu2-2yL2hA6Hq-H6j4wfDuBGR1-NrPO_JX9N3_AX64bgsZT__HzKEwqIIJwG5_xTeg8zWlfqYQ9ET3utAt5PcLLcOkNgsinlbBw54gs3UJEtxDsLHPzuoijU89BN3pAQC3SlA=w640-h438" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tremely Point - DuPont in foreground, GAF behind. If you look close you can see the volume of traffic, almost all tank cars, with some covered hoppers and boxcars. The DuPont plant alone has around 40-50 cars spotted or waiting spotting. <br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The section of the railroad known as Tremely Point, is going to be my specific local. Tremley Point was the home of three large chemical plants, and several tank farms. GAF (General Analine and Film), DuPont, and American Cyanamid, all had large plants on Tremley Point. I will either model the twilight of the CNJ in the mid 70s, or early Conrail in the late 70s. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhHP7B-aSnfOPUAygoLTaidbtdvAeiSk1H7xm-ux229sulCPW-GOiIz-4pt3G4W5Bop0s32z8wY4uaGPeMvmn2c9L44DZZ_5Gj6BaCMxYMf9HPBF-BYojnjjddIRyDxPXr-r0i1Ak-2Ksql6GEpKMclVSq-EScRjXmkUFvzWlJYiRKpgsaoNuIvWoPl4Q=s2205" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1486" data-original-width="2205" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhHP7B-aSnfOPUAygoLTaidbtdvAeiSk1H7xm-ux229sulCPW-GOiIz-4pt3G4W5Bop0s32z8wY4uaGPeMvmn2c9L44DZZ_5Gj6BaCMxYMf9HPBF-BYojnjjddIRyDxPXr-r0i1Ak-2Ksql6GEpKMclVSq-EScRjXmkUFvzWlJYiRKpgsaoNuIvWoPl4Q=w640-h432" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We are roughly over the GAF and DuPont plants looking south. You can see the American Cyanamid Plant in the upper left corner. The Arthur Kill is at upper left and the Rahway River is in the center top. You can see the Sound Shore Branch Bridge crossing the Rahway River and entering Carteret. By the time this photo was taken, the bridge wasn’t being used anymore, and the Carteret portion of the Sound Shore was accessed by the perpendicular connecting branch from the Chemical Coast Line in Carteret. Also note the track curve of the Sound Shore and the partially submerged tracks.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Twenty feet in O scale, equals about 1000 feet in real life, so there is going to obviously be extensive selective compression, and partial modeling. When I started steel mill modeling, I spent a lot of time researching and understanding how all the processes worked, what pipe carried what gas, etc. While I’ve tried, the chemical industry, and it’s infinite number of processes and configurations, has me completely stumped, so I don’t plan on going neurotic and trying to model every pipe and pump and tank correctly. (So don’t call me out on this) I am also not going to specifically model the GAF/DuPont/American Cyanamid plant structures exactly. Photographs of this area are not plentiful. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjKY6LINSy-ZsPkUH8EnzaDkZb0MgJT9JpWZtyPVHLu6kcedeMNABSms_jLVkbVk9hptvHJ0sK0Dp1I2BkEBWJvUJeYiQtowJLQfOiryF3QeGP6qCAnGTI-5SpVTJ-bSVITa5stLojD-Qi81AHHDaDN_NhiCoTR6RCCS7HtqIJuN6PeDKxvSFFgEcinZQ=s1309" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="890" data-original-width="1309" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjKY6LINSy-ZsPkUH8EnzaDkZb0MgJT9JpWZtyPVHLu6kcedeMNABSms_jLVkbVk9hptvHJ0sK0Dp1I2BkEBWJvUJeYiQtowJLQfOiryF3QeGP6qCAnGTI-5SpVTJ-bSVITa5stLojD-Qi81AHHDaDN_NhiCoTR6RCCS7HtqIJuN6PeDKxvSFFgEcinZQ=w640-h436" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Sound Shore Branch at upper left and the south end of the GAF plant. The dyestuffs and other chemicals produced at this plant, generated millions of gallons of industrial waste. Tremley Point was an ideal place for this, as no one lived there (the town of Tremley Point, where people do live is a mile or two away on the other side of the NJ Turnpike) , and you could just dig a ditch, like the milky grey one in the center of the photo and your problems would disappear in the tidal flow and eventually into the Atlantic Ocean. While from our modern sensibilities this sounds, maybe horrible, it was quite common practice back then. Some of these plants had permits to haul acid waste out to sea in barges daily. Believe it or not, the above is vastly preferable to what many of the inland New Jersey chemical plants did - fill up unlined lagoons and retention ponds, that leached into the groundwater and did cause harm to many. There is some green, in this photo, but suffice to say I won’t be buying a whole lot of static grass. I am excited about the modeling challenges with these murky, muddy, polluted ditches and creeks.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>I’m going to stick with my hybrid freelance-prototype rule that I’ve used on my steel mill layout, to free myself up. This rule is that I don’t need to stick with a specific prototype, but whatever I model, has to have a prototype - hopefully that isn’t confusing. Basically it means I could build a model of a chemical plant using inspiration from many different prototypes, but that everything has to have existed. I’ve found this will produce an accurate looking model, but without some of the drudgery. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Jim Musserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962872381150403631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384147831449930477.post-62596917809948693892021-12-19T01:09:00.003-08:002021-12-19T01:09:52.478-08:00PROTO 48 LAYOUT #1 - So long Leroy Jenkins…So begins my newest diversion into the world of Proto 48. For those unfamilar, Proto 48 is a modeling subset, of the already small O Scale 2 rail modeling population. Eons ago, when people began modeling in O Scale 2 rail, manufacturers decided it would be simpler to just make O scale mechanisms, and rail, an easy to remember 1 1/4". In 1/48th scale, this of course, is 5', not the prototypical 4' 8 1/2". So you wonder, what does this 3 1/2" difference look like in O-1/48th Scale - 0.073 inches. Not a whole lot visually, but honestly, regular O Scale 2 rail track does look a little wide, if you have been looking at railroad track for years, like me. Besides correcting this rail spacing issue, Proto 48 also addresses flange and wheel profiles, and other prototype fidelity issues, but maybe more on that in future posts.
You have to be a bit of a masocist to delve into Proto 48. There is little out there in way of commercial products, and 99.9% of the O Scale locomotives produced, didn't offer a Proto 48 option. So, just to get some motive power, you are looking at reworking the wheelsets, axles, electrical pickups,...etc. And then you will have to adjust the truck sideframes. Freight and passenger trucks also will need to be reworked with new wheelsets and bolsters to readjust the sideframe spacing. In the truck department, there are commericially available Proto 48 versions of most of the popular designs. They are nicely detailed and made, but also cost in the $50-65 range for a pair. Again, there will be more on the motive power and truck rebuilding in future posts. If I was building a basement sized layout, there is no way I would go Proto 48 - I don't have enough years left, or money to do so. But, since my layout will be a simple 18"x20' shelf, with a minimal number of turnouts, and only large enough to hold a single locomotive and maybe a half dozen-dozen cars, I'm giving it a shot. The layout, though operational, will be built as more of a diorama. I intend the trackwork to be as detailed as the freight cars and factories.
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgIxMwnjjXblzCzg4RK_r1c4WOUw6sm93cFFTKCSVIiAoagoIdlujjxOSKi8GtW8n0JwfUB7i0feXaq85bPwiIPpIKdDpWeYXymPeYOiwBEB78fWYlTxjIhaEGiL_yrbxebKPYurz4Wp8fAJJsfC55A5xWRYA-wjsYJXaa2mkZ-Mz6BcuvWsrRA6mdyRg=s4032" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgIxMwnjjXblzCzg4RK_r1c4WOUw6sm93cFFTKCSVIiAoagoIdlujjxOSKi8GtW8n0JwfUB7i0feXaq85bPwiIPpIKdDpWeYXymPeYOiwBEB78fWYlTxjIhaEGiL_yrbxebKPYurz4Wp8fAJJsfC55A5xWRYA-wjsYJXaa2mkZ-Mz6BcuvWsrRA6mdyRg=s400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It starts with a bad sketch and lots of erasing<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>
Who is this Leroy Jenkins fellow? If you are asking that, odds are, you are older than 35. Leroy Jenkins was an online gamer that gained popularity maybe 15 years or so ago. Leroy was part of a team playing the World of Warcraft online. They had stopped their characters at a door to a game environment that was particularly difficult, and that had defeated them before. They spent a good five to ten minutes formulating a complex strategy to prevail, whenwhile, and unknown to the team, Leroy had went to his kitchen to make chicken fingers, and when he sat back down at his computer, he screamed his name, and just ran through the door. What follows is a comedic nerd meltdown by his unprepared teammates, and fairly quick deaths of most of the team. You can probably find the original video on Youtube. My layout design process from my teens, upto my present age of 55, has been "Leroy Jenkins" - just go in guns blazing and figure it out later. This of course, has let to many renovations and reworks of my HO layout, although overall, it isn't a totally bad thing, since I've been modeling a 1950s integrated steel mill with roots pre-1900. These mills, like Bethlehem home plant, or Johnstown, had tight footprints, and upgrades to the mill would be typically complex and a bit disorganized. This time, I wanted to actually refine a plan, before I started laying track.<div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhq8ZTlLFb7OZn1QMVdc_mkGlYmJkr1jLE_pgnVhQWD08Cw3ros-U2zD6o9mRX6IS6tc_rMg2_j7V9Zu3uK9ClgSvMoCp7JHxoqnTnkP6zE3x4fwHqH0DXgmY5byUSjRStDQZZogjOySo78jOv2tsxf3Z1n-G9iVrD6rr4KhUAYWGrZRnUTlSjvJP7Yzg=s559" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="69" data-original-width="559" height="78" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhq8ZTlLFb7OZn1QMVdc_mkGlYmJkr1jLE_pgnVhQWD08Cw3ros-U2zD6o9mRX6IS6tc_rMg2_j7V9Zu3uK9ClgSvMoCp7JHxoqnTnkP6zE3x4fwHqH0DXgmY5byUSjRStDQZZogjOySo78jOv2tsxf3Z1n-G9iVrD6rr4KhUAYWGrZRnUTlSjvJP7Yzg=w640-h78" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TREMLEY POINT LAYOUT - Initial CAD plan</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>I started with a sketch - pencil on paper. I’m not that creative, and have appropriated sections of the former Glover Road HO layout, featured in the Boomer Dioramas YouTube channel; and the O Scale Cleveland Flats shelf layout. After the sketch was tweaked a few times, and I was in the ballpark, I moved to CAD on the computer. This is a bit complicated, and not something that readers will be able to access readily. The initial drawing was done on a program called V-Carve Pro, by VETRIC. It’s a CAD/CAM program, primarily used by people working with CNC machines or Laser Cutters. After getting all the basic lines in V-Carve, I export the drawing as a 2d vector file and then import it into Corel Draw. It would be easier to just do it all in Corel, but the bottom line is I’m just not proficient enough with it, compared to V-Carve. I also find V-Carve to be more of a linear, geometric, mechanical drawing type arrangement, where as Corel is more about creating art. Corel is useful for this process in adding scenery and structures to the plan, and also, for printing. (I am unable to print well out of V Carve) </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjc8zGnfF5DPheEJITnURylVi0zHnI8pF4x2AmeeQCPAAaKpuAR_pHnAqlqhnKgQA5rUX8s_4uLDRj8s2eg8-PPY1Rh5-Yi50pzVlzOqvtblkEmMKi9MY9rPz8yU_l4JwC_LScmmO1PuH1K0LaVOT_VITp5ViUHXPbv6xPC5PkQHsaCgZU3lf2diDMWTA=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjc8zGnfF5DPheEJITnURylVi0zHnI8pF4x2AmeeQCPAAaKpuAR_pHnAqlqhnKgQA5rUX8s_4uLDRj8s2eg8-PPY1Rh5-Yi50pzVlzOqvtblkEmMKi9MY9rPz8yU_l4JwC_LScmmO1PuH1K0LaVOT_VITp5ViUHXPbv6xPC5PkQHsaCgZU3lf2diDMWTA=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The full sized layout printout</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Speaking of printing - The layout is drawn in full scale, ie. 1” on the drawing is 1” on the layout. So this drawing is 18” wide by 248” long. Fortunately I have an ink jet printer that takes 24” wide rolls of paper, and I was able to print the entire layout out on one sheet of paper. The layout benchwork perimeter was cut out by scissors and I was able to place the entire plan on the benchwork. This allows me to see how it looks; check clearances; identify problems; whatever. I will use this CAD drawing for cutting the bench top, foam, and road bed. If you are scratchbuilding cars, or structures, or whole layouts in O Scale, or HO for that matter, having one of these printers is helpful. They are cheaper than you are probably thinking - mine was around $600, and the paper is cheap, and ink jet cartridges are reasonable. Yes, it has a built in cutter that trims the sheet. It cuts wherever the printing ends, so in a way, conserves paper.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZN7_RkaolQyYMRIWgW6rkztFy0ydYSBwrAUohk5Ru9t4zAx28KX371-2N-0z-bdKUGTJAGIgY8bSL9BiWXtUJfNjyzEgFl1EsJ0UPcrWkSURLnLa618SU0HnLTj4wmPgSKlUkzimEJuwZcHd8kEIzTkFKz3sDmP7xLzCH6tIefh2YoMEE8796iCexwQ=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZN7_RkaolQyYMRIWgW6rkztFy0ydYSBwrAUohk5Ru9t4zAx28KX371-2N-0z-bdKUGTJAGIgY8bSL9BiWXtUJfNjyzEgFl1EsJ0UPcrWkSURLnLa618SU0HnLTj4wmPgSKlUkzimEJuwZcHd8kEIzTkFKz3sDmP7xLzCH6tIefh2YoMEE8796iCexwQ=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Test fitting on benchwork - adding a printout of a #6 turnout</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>Next post - the prototype environment I’m modeling</div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Jim Musserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962872381150403631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384147831449930477.post-17462558489858489042021-11-13T00:05:00.004-08:002021-11-13T00:06:57.794-08:00I CAN’T BELIEVE IT’S BEEN ANOTHER YEAR….. <p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhubbTtwCjDL5p-sh07JEJnSsbgAij8VB43GkAwnaycfx_-SEvJcGmjEk2tV0laWj98U_61ndyNaGMZVafCGoGUiXO4JSOog_OMdYFYcSMXoMir6eZMZNhvp5OjePWywVYFtYftVNyyh049/s2048/4D1265A2-9315-4A57-8173-A72E1D6C8246.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhubbTtwCjDL5p-sh07JEJnSsbgAij8VB43GkAwnaycfx_-SEvJcGmjEk2tV0laWj98U_61ndyNaGMZVafCGoGUiXO4JSOog_OMdYFYcSMXoMir6eZMZNhvp5OjePWywVYFtYftVNyyh049/w400-h300/4D1265A2-9315-4A57-8173-A72E1D6C8246.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The three cars in the foreground are all O Scale scratchbuilding projects . Erie DUNMORE caboose, Penn Central G-38 ore jennie, followed by a G-39. The cars are constructed of a mix of acrylic, styrene, brass, Polybacker, and 3d resin printed brake gear. <br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>I’d like to say “time flies when you are having fun”, but the “fun” has been mixed with a difficult year since my last post, incredibly slightly over one year ago. Despite plenty of available work, navigating a business in the world of Covid, ever increasing commodity prices, and a politically divisive environment has been challenging. With the vaccination available, the election over, and the weather starting to warm, it seemed like the worst was over, and then we had the resurgence thanks to the Delta variant, and since June, I’ve been having fun with multiple kidney stones. While not a life-threatening condition, these bastards are painful as heck, and make it impossible to do virtually anything, when they are at their worst. </p><p>At the O-Scale Club, we are under the rules and regulations of our landlord, the Grace Episcopal Church, but have been thankfully allowed to meet again for the past few months. We had our first open house, since January of 2020, two weekends ago, with two more to come in December, and four in January. Everyone over 2 years old, regardless of vaccination status, has to be masked in the building. The church received thousands of masks from either the state or US government, which we are able to make available to the sizable percentage of folks that show up without them, despite our flyers and everywhere else clearly indicating the church’s policy. So far no morons making a ruckus about this minor inconvenience. We are also hosting the local NMRA Division meet in January. We had almost 300 visitors at our first open house - in four hours. We also just received a donation of a large railroad book collection that we will have out for sale beginning with our December open houses. It’s a nice collection and includes the complete, six volume Central Vermont history. If anyone is looking for that rare set, please let me know - we would probably accept a very favorable offer.</p><p>My O-Scale freight car scratchbuilding spree continues. I have over thirty of the PRR/PC/CR G38/39/39a ore jennies under various stages of construction, with the ultimate goal of around 50. Additionally, I am on my third Erie DUNMORE Caboose; mostly have completed six Georgia Pacific 60’ Thrall Pulpwood Racks; tank construction of four Seaboard whale belly Pneumatic Covered Hopper (they were technically tank cars); four liquid phosphate tank cars, per recent RMC plans; and a half dozen various tank cars, including a six axle Monsanto elemental phosphorous whale belly tank. I will try to update with in-progress posts of these projects more often. As many of these are being scratchbuilt using digital fabrication, I plan to make some or all available for purchase, as “parts kits”. I don’t want to get into fancy packaging, or spending many hours writing, editing, and illustrating instructions, but do plan on posting YouTube videos of the construction process of each. </p><p>I am also scratchbuilding an O-Scale ALCO C415 locomotive. I’ll have more on this too, but suffice to say, the short hood, cab, frame, and power trucks are all complete. Left are long hood, which is mostly designed in Fusion 360, and then all the railings, fuel tanks, and other details. The railings are proving to be one of the harder items to work out. </p><p>What about the HO Steel Mill Layout? Well good new there, especially since this was originally a steel mill modeling blog. The layout is cleared off of O Scale detritus, and I’ve been running trains on there for the past month, after around four years of dormancy. I intend to get back working on the structures and layout soon. Since this was last worked on, my improved digital fabrication equipment, should speed up the process. The hardest thing for me right now, is what to start on. </p><p>The reason the layout is no longer an O Scale storage shelf, is the almost completion of my new 20’x8’ model shop - complete enough that I moved in to it. This shop holds my primary workstation - a 20’x2’ workbench, a new spray booth, my 3d printers, my laser cutter, my model and real railroad books, magazines, and other research files, some of my collection of railroad and other crap, and eventually, an O Scale, Proto 48 shelf layout. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAdaXnGN3rmSXF-dH4EX0fXC2gPJhIQYrymfb-qMS35cd3WTSw1me5l3mKWz6cDSWmeqp1X4rZJdmG90l0i-Y_B2GsxdSyOMwcmdehOmW3FsvkjftLkyrGoVU7Uhitzfdsl2mIyWNNnJAb/s2048/6E47A967-0DE6-49B6-AB84-A4EB8BD5B3EC.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAdaXnGN3rmSXF-dH4EX0fXC2gPJhIQYrymfb-qMS35cd3WTSw1me5l3mKWz6cDSWmeqp1X4rZJdmG90l0i-Y_B2GsxdSyOMwcmdehOmW3FsvkjftLkyrGoVU7Uhitzfdsl2mIyWNNnJAb/w400-h300/6E47A967-0DE6-49B6-AB84-A4EB8BD5B3EC.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The digital fabrication corner - laser cutter, 3d resin and filament printers. <br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ShoWLOPbNznKLrRpsvxdp_76rfzfgBHdpeZ5C-RludUtN0RHfLdTWwIBmahFi6wMat7DL4NLaejKrD-ocSUGJGyU4u54vMlW6sWJofz7RGDAOba20dfhNMPkX9xonrOZyUNTYwxEYG3T/s2048/5B82952F-3043-4C45-898E-9362520C4099.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ShoWLOPbNznKLrRpsvxdp_76rfzfgBHdpeZ5C-RludUtN0RHfLdTWwIBmahFi6wMat7DL4NLaejKrD-ocSUGJGyU4u54vMlW6sWJofz7RGDAOba20dfhNMPkX9xonrOZyUNTYwxEYG3T/w400-h300/5B82952F-3043-4C45-898E-9362520C4099.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The already messy new workbench. <br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Jim Musserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962872381150403631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384147831449930477.post-1096520248800404522020-11-08T10:24:00.001-08:002020-11-08T10:24:27.649-08:00BOOKS FROM ENGLAND<p> For years, I’ve picked up the English model railroad magazine, <i>Narrow Gauge & Industrial Railway</i> <i>Modeling Review</i>. Despite mostly dealing with UK prototypes (occasional US prototypes) it is my favorite, and in my opinion, best modeling magazine out there. Doug’s Trains in Claymont, Delaware, used to carry them, but haven’t for around 4 years. I was told there that the publisher died and there was and interruption in publication, but since it’s been published again, Doug’s hasn’t been getting it. This led me to miss out on a few years of issues (four a year). I managed to fill in what I missed via eBay, but kept meaning to get around to paying for a subscription, which I did two weeks ago. It’s 45 pounds a year to get in US - somewhere around $60 a year - still worth it for me. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwI1qMhSngwEakWbEufPOQlHsTn3ElJXrShT7kTQPOA88HaQvRQZFpIiQawxpR25DFlf_hl-XBpjy0XEIOWsykXtViAEzA-3J4vM9sK14KhV2ue7EMumkAkeGDrbzlpw0GH8UXvOlb6pH_/s2048/1531C9B7-2C04-4C08-BC7F-E34F9C4B6070.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwI1qMhSngwEakWbEufPOQlHsTn3ElJXrShT7kTQPOA88HaQvRQZFpIiQawxpR25DFlf_hl-XBpjy0XEIOWsykXtViAEzA-3J4vM9sK14KhV2ue7EMumkAkeGDrbzlpw0GH8UXvOlb6pH_/w300-h400/1531C9B7-2C04-4C08-BC7F-E34F9C4B6070.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><p>The first magazine came via air mail in less than 6 days from ordering it. While I was ordering from them, I got the few back issues I didn’t have from past few years, and purchased two books - <i>The Crowsnest Chronicles </i>and <i>WDLR Companion</i>. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtkGjAbK8FjFE6DKMbF0YXu3kzdnfu84uQ5lL5jbEy2HL9Jl8MgUSdz7SdHOxxNn6b2MDRoZQ_Y_KoFMCmFL0uBwxd6jRRzfxUVFy8YXXMt3Lw9OrQshfqSuJ_uzWFFeihECU09VA_anY1/s2048/6E7E366D-01B1-486F-9D74-59B39DB275B8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtkGjAbK8FjFE6DKMbF0YXu3kzdnfu84uQ5lL5jbEy2HL9Jl8MgUSdz7SdHOxxNn6b2MDRoZQ_Y_KoFMCmFL0uBwxd6jRRzfxUVFy8YXXMt3Lw9OrQshfqSuJ_uzWFFeihECU09VA_anY1/w300-h400/6E7E366D-01B1-486F-9D74-59B39DB275B8.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><p>The <i>Crowsnest Chronicles</i> is first-rate, and incredibly cheap - 10 pounds, around $13 US. It’s a nice paper bound 96 page book, with 174 photographs and 25 drawings, diagrams, and plans. The modeling is outstanding and something to aspire too, but better, the techniques and materials are explained. It’s the author’s ramblings of his construction of locomotives, buildings, cars, track, and scenery, for a series of narrow gauge dioramas from the early 1970s to the present, based on a fictional narrow gauge prototype. It starts out in O scale but ends up in 16mm, which is a popular scale in England to model 2’, or 600mm narrow gauge prototypes. It works out to around 1/19 scale but the track is pretty much O scale - in US would be like Gn2 or maybe Fn2. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6rB3BAd3fegOnUTdzkiijGtlipsuFdXcgwqjMo8n9Kzqzpcw2jeDgtSUrbPmr4I4ZEqIne4KCILYUNj1rmBICyt2N0JM_bhe3RXJSlkja9ldi-7Y5SFyDhWH-nlgdv5tk4dDV77elt37U/s2048/967994AC-4A8E-4669-92ED-72AC6B919C9E.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6rB3BAd3fegOnUTdzkiijGtlipsuFdXcgwqjMo8n9Kzqzpcw2jeDgtSUrbPmr4I4ZEqIne4KCILYUNj1rmBICyt2N0JM_bhe3RXJSlkja9ldi-7Y5SFyDhWH-nlgdv5tk4dDV77elt37U/w400-h300/967994AC-4A8E-4669-92ED-72AC6B919C9E.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p>The second book <i>WDLR Companion</i>, was a bit more expensive, 32 pounds. It’s about the Western Department Light Rail WWI trench railways. The same publisher put out a book six years ago called the <i>WDLR Album, </i>which is out of print now. This book is a companion and stand alone book, with photos, drawings, and interesting history. Not something I will ever model, but WWI light railways have always been interesting to me. Carstens, now White River, published <i>Narrow Gauge to No-Mans Land, </i>they might still have available, which is about the US light rail system in WWI. The WDLR is the British system. These railroads were operated in dangerous, harsh conditions to supply the front line, and move wounded to the rear. As an aside, one of these 600mm trench railroad systems was relocated after the war to nearby Ft Dix, and used to transport troops to and from the ranges. They have I believe a car in their museum still. </p><p>Besides excellent writing and drawings, the quality and layout of these books are first rate. </p>Jim Musserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962872381150403631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384147831449930477.post-7258542564067726782020-11-07T10:19:00.005-08:002020-11-07T10:19:46.548-08:00BOOK REVIEW - West Floria Rails. Volume 3. Bone Valley Phosphate Operations<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz3sg5IrWWhRclUeUtGdMcbmC7AwnZ07m-hseyh3-oUq2sgxUFA9xg7UyaMdJcc0PlYDN23XYeTez2yRCGwHPPfUEnpDIRBsUAsq3J8WzIKTPp9ofqQyQfbGD0fweg8LDCvTavcrBO0Uhg/s2048/A0D36AB5-12C9-4881-AB5F-57B90BF62999.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz3sg5IrWWhRclUeUtGdMcbmC7AwnZ07m-hseyh3-oUq2sgxUFA9xg7UyaMdJcc0PlYDN23XYeTez2yRCGwHPPfUEnpDIRBsUAsq3J8WzIKTPp9ofqQyQfbGD0fweg8LDCvTavcrBO0Uhg/w300-h400/A0D36AB5-12C9-4881-AB5F-57B90BF62999.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>You know you’ve bought too many Morning Sun books, when you start looking at subjects far from home, west Florida to be exact. In all fairness, I’d always been interested in the Bone Valley area, but there wasn’t really much out there about it. For those not familiar, the Bone Valley is in central west Florida, and has the largest deposits of phosphate in the US Phosphate is primarily used for agricultural fertilizer, but also other things, like giving soft drinks their unique tangy kick. From a railroad/industrial standpoint, the area would be comparable to the coal regions of West Virginia or eastern PA - lots of trains, in a small area, pulling the same stuff. The difference would be that the Bone Valley peaked in the 70’s and 80’s, in terms of output, so the locomotives and rolling stock are more modern. The rolling stock is also very unique and interesting - a mix of open and covered hoppers, with a smattering of tank cars carrying acid. The hopper cars are fairly specific to hauling phosphate. </p><p>The book is nicely laid out, with good maps (something many Morning Sun books lack). Excellent descriptions of the photos. Subject matter not confined to solely locomotives. Plenty of photos from afar, and also plenty without a locomotive. Interesting subject, well described. </p><p><br /></p>Jim Musserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962872381150403631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384147831449930477.post-27833726881947080722020-10-21T21:53:00.002-07:002020-10-21T21:53:47.283-07:00WEATHERING CARS - STEP 1 FILTERS<p>I use my own cobbled together method for weathering freight cars. Generally, it’s three steps - 4-5 coats of various filters, oil washes and highlighting, and finally dry powders. For filters I use Vallejo Air colors, thinned about 3 or 4 to 1 and applied with an air brush. Generally I do 3-4 coats on body and then turn upside down and do two or so coats from under, spraying upward to simulate dust and dirt from the roadbed. My go to is a medium grey for the car bodies, and a dark earth for under frames. The photo shows identical cars, one with three coats of a grey filter, the other nothing. It illustrates how well the filter fades the bright colors. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5p8Om8m1_eMSyVsLTh3CG6PH6Rm9ywvWGroorAPSyloOVIbOjXILqubRY1EXIq8TFnHo_w24xoSp2O55-EqcWyVrcDaUPCXNHD0QHADHFg2G08KdrxtYtp864zs1XpJhs5AnSvh8YB_Qz/s2048/41E94F95-5B85-4BF8-A477-A63EB83FB782.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5p8Om8m1_eMSyVsLTh3CG6PH6Rm9ywvWGroorAPSyloOVIbOjXILqubRY1EXIq8TFnHo_w24xoSp2O55-EqcWyVrcDaUPCXNHD0QHADHFg2G08KdrxtYtp864zs1XpJhs5AnSvh8YB_Qz/w640-h480/41E94F95-5B85-4BF8-A477-A63EB83FB782.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Since I model the PC era, I take into consideration the dates on the cars, and the use of the car to determine how much or how little weathering. </p><p><br /></p>Jim Musserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962872381150403631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384147831449930477.post-13796220727761126332020-10-14T20:35:00.001-07:002020-10-14T20:35:27.509-07:00ERIE DUNMORE CABOOSE BUILD, CONTINUED<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-Ojfvyi6AZ0pWgNpBoT-GXbBBi2cBONAYVIbU70syopqwGfwRqLPImDQYhyphenhyphenWrHMPkTUq5IMXC8ArcaUx2aOgiI0tcIT7ohfk1d4ujYv8OQbk_svkO2-1ppWCCQ4fnPKteAgVXTqVv4OY/s2048/266D6426-86C2-48B0-94AC-062BC2D06582.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-Ojfvyi6AZ0pWgNpBoT-GXbBBi2cBONAYVIbU70syopqwGfwRqLPImDQYhyphenhyphenWrHMPkTUq5IMXC8ArcaUx2aOgiI0tcIT7ohfk1d4ujYv8OQbk_svkO2-1ppWCCQ4fnPKteAgVXTqVv4OY/w400-h300/266D6426-86C2-48B0-94AC-062BC2D06582.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is the Dunmore caboose in O-Scale, almost ready for the paint shop. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEK0fiEOKfg7zxLvzljjoQKDt1ovCNRV6x_HMyAzfyUdP0oR3vPKjZUAxUMRlFLUxkBql3w85FAwG-RQWnkD2ECyawachEu6grfrXoWj1aS2raHVEEevvL4pUmqwWlgbVbvEAZkaJdk9s_/s2048/52F8BF7C-15FE-47E3-AD3E-480DEF1F4886.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEK0fiEOKfg7zxLvzljjoQKDt1ovCNRV6x_HMyAzfyUdP0oR3vPKjZUAxUMRlFLUxkBql3w85FAwG-RQWnkD2ECyawachEu6grfrXoWj1aS2raHVEEevvL4pUmqwWlgbVbvEAZkaJdk9s_/w300-h400/52F8BF7C-15FE-47E3-AD3E-480DEF1F4886.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This sandwich bag contains all the laser cut parts to build the above caboose. Besides these, there are a few Evergreen structural shapes, some wire, and Grandtline AB brake gear. </div><p></p>Jim Musserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962872381150403631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384147831449930477.post-42633521644173892972020-10-13T20:56:00.001-07:002020-10-13T20:56:24.333-07:00DIGITAL FABRICATION - G-39 and G-38 Ore Jennies continued..... <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWOli0xP_p6jNvR67yeKbBrvn_soYlIfAuBZ39DcW3eMFP2lemLAFpJn4xr5bTe_LovCK1WPe6zbGXQDda-hKsN93_cbvv9iFpxv323W48_TpD4d2_5LBff2MXTlLAjTRc-rV6N6JRVm-B/s2048/4F2A4A97-1A10-49B8-A022-E0584DBCC154.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWOli0xP_p6jNvR67yeKbBrvn_soYlIfAuBZ39DcW3eMFP2lemLAFpJn4xr5bTe_LovCK1WPe6zbGXQDda-hKsN93_cbvv9iFpxv323W48_TpD4d2_5LBff2MXTlLAjTRc-rV6N6JRVm-B/w400-h300/4F2A4A97-1A10-49B8-A022-E0584DBCC154.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>The first G-39 was completed a few weeks ago. The photo above was from a test run on the Cherry Valley O-Scale layout. The white car to the right is the prototype G-38. The G-38 was the original PRR home built “modern era” Jennie. 1000 of the G-38s were built in the very early 1960s, soon followed by 2000 of the G-39s and G-39As. Much of the two cars are identical, with the exception of the additional 18” of height on the G-39s, the absence of steam lance portholes, and the much larger, pusher bumpers. The G-39 was built coincidentally with the emergence of taconite pelletized iron ore. The 70 ton rating of the G-38s couldn’t be realized with the lighter taconite. With the higher sides, the G-39 could carry the full 70 tons of ore. In the Penn Central era I’m modeling in O-Scale, the ore trains were a mixture of both versions of the car. I hadn’t originally intended to model the G38s, but for prototype fidelity, I changed my mind. Some of the laser cut files need to be adjusted and parts added or eliminated, but overall, much of the work had already been done, and the assembly was similar. The first G-38 is complete, painted, and partially weathered. I need to do some final weathering with oil paints and chalks and it will be good to go. At this time, I have about 24 G-38s and 39s under various stages of construction. The ultimate goal is around 45-50. Again, the laser cut parts, the laser drilled holes, and the laser alignment marks, makes assembly easy and fun. I have a number of other O-Scale projects of similar nature underway - an Erie Dunmore Caboose, a 60’ tank car, an 85’ TTX piggyback flat, and a Seaboard Pneumatic whale belly covered hopper. I’ll be posting about these occasionally, under the Digital Fabrication heading. All these cars are being built from scratch, with the intention of production of multiple cars, using digital fabrication to speed, simplify, and add precision to their construction. They are being built of a variety of materials, primarily plastics, and using a CNC router, a laser cutter, and multiple 3D printers. </p>Jim Musserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962872381150403631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384147831449930477.post-91893870902049751582020-08-25T21:56:00.002-07:002020-08-25T21:58:44.677-07:00STEEL MILL MODELING AGAIN, SORT OF.... G39 PRR Ore Jennie<p> I’d mentioned in one of my more recent posts, that I was attempting to model the PRR G-39 ore jennie in O Scale 2 rail, using a combination of traditional scratchbuilding techniques and digital fabrication. This is the car I am talking about - </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2SztGubY4Y2vOL_nK4jIMF1gFuX36dUsv-BJfs9_w2_pQAZ_PFW9nunUHe5XCQOvzZu96OS8eo2wrFVO8Mo3M6XFJ1fGc-tbKoL0s5XNu32yd-GCEax5A6qFhq4WoG59Vphl97AQeMdYl/s500/ABB94AB0-0048-484F-9637-F8131D87BE15.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="382" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2SztGubY4Y2vOL_nK4jIMF1gFuX36dUsv-BJfs9_w2_pQAZ_PFW9nunUHe5XCQOvzZu96OS8eo2wrFVO8Mo3M6XFJ1fGc-tbKoL0s5XNu32yd-GCEax5A6qFhq4WoG59Vphl97AQeMdYl/s0/ABB94AB0-0048-484F-9637-F8131D87BE15.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><p>The PRR built 1000 of the G-39 ore jennies in the earlier 1960s. They were to augment the thousand car fleet of G-38 ore jennies, that PRR built around 1960. The underframe, general construction, width and length of the G-39 was essentially the same as the G-38, however, the G39 was 18” higher. The extra height became necessary with the emergence of taconite ore. Taconite pellets were lighter and, because of their rounded shape, there was more air space within the load. The G-38 ore jennies were maxing out in volume, but not weight with taconite. Adding 18” to the car, increased the amount of taconite that could be carried, up to the weight capacity of the car. Some other improvements were made, notably, the oversized bumpers at each corner of the car. These bumpers were to minimize damage at the ore piers by the narrow gauge pusher cars.</p><p> Overall, the G38 and G39s were successful as purpose built cars. They were four or five tons lighter and significantly shorter than the hoppers the PRR had been using to haul ore. They had no bottom doors, meaning they could only be unloaded using a rotary dumper. They were used in service between PRR ore docks in Cleveland and Philadelphia, to the inland steel mills, including my favorite, Bethlehem Steel. Both the G38s and the G39s survived well into the Penn Central and Conrail Eras.</p><p>I am modeling the Penn Central in O Scale, roughly 1968-1976. How this all started was the purchase of two Alco 630 locomotives. The big Alcos were concentrated by the Penn Central in and around Mingo Junction, specifically for use pulling mineral trains to and from the steel mills. I thought a string of these cars would look great behind them. The only trouble with this plan, was that this car was never offered in O-Scale (it was in HO). Looking at scratchbuilding 40-50 of these cars, I realized the laser and CNC were going to be important tools, to produce exactly identical parts, allow for the use of tabbing and slots to align parts without measuring tools or squares, etch markings in the plastic for part locations, and my personal favorite, and you will know what I mean if you have ever built a resin kit, laser cutting/drilling 95% of the holes for the grab irons and other wire parts. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJBNiWhIAWQzAqu7R-Yfarl2wG8QQPZSr817v61iKndqKchqy3cWt91puypnRDomF-ExGyP2IgBtgEVu6IuPoyc0OrhB8TTmTDFtxVPMc6TgX4oqQBJf9OUYjtCxR4N7wLP_ZiT8dVE1N6/s2048/F663AE9B-4E04-4686-93BD-6A46ECD15693.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJBNiWhIAWQzAqu7R-Yfarl2wG8QQPZSr817v61iKndqKchqy3cWt91puypnRDomF-ExGyP2IgBtgEVu6IuPoyc0OrhB8TTmTDFtxVPMc6TgX4oqQBJf9OUYjtCxR4N7wLP_ZiT8dVE1N6/s640/F663AE9B-4E04-4686-93BD-6A46ECD15693.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>The car floor is .125 acrylic. The car sides, rim, steps/ladder verticals, coupler mounts, and underframe parts were made of .060 laser cut acrylic. The ribs were CNC cut from .100 styrene. There is also some .020 styrene laser cut parts, as well as .020 laser cut polybacker for much of the detail. Additionally, there is a mix of Evergreen strips and structural members used, along with wire, and Grandtline brake parts. I’ll get into the actual development and construction of this model in more detail in a later blog or YouTube video. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCpHaHbuYTKOqVBhUzViSUGGF6LFJj266fqee3XwsttbmhHKF6gE418iniu5CD3iU7ohpNWqGBJCDzOZEznZHDVrglqWaq9PwZ7fMeWNvUCoif517mncoiohXXHDDIdvwhHBPp86jGzY70/s2048/C295F867-2A69-46EF-8D03-354205E52832.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCpHaHbuYTKOqVBhUzViSUGGF6LFJj266fqee3XwsttbmhHKF6gE418iniu5CD3iU7ohpNWqGBJCDzOZEznZHDVrglqWaq9PwZ7fMeWNvUCoif517mncoiohXXHDDIdvwhHBPp86jGzY70/s640/C295F867-2A69-46EF-8D03-354205E52832.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>This is the first completed car - technically Version 5.0. There were some very minor corrections made and construction of the first ten cars of Version 6.0 are underway. Looking at more prototype photos while designing and constructing the model, I realized that Penn Central ore trains were a mix of G-39s and the older G-38s. The ratio was typically 2-1, with the 39s being the more prevalent car. Being that the G-38 is similar or identical in many aspects, a slight redesign of the CAD files enabled me to make the G-38 also. I still have to work out the ladder, end details, and the 32 steam lance portholes. Despite this cars simple appearance, it is very difficult to model, especially the ladders and end gear. I believe this is because you are dealing with sloping sides, ladders that joint on the corners, and partially rest on poling bumpers, that are themselves extremely angular. I hope, as I build more, these elements go faster. </p>Jim Musserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962872381150403631noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384147831449930477.post-85822389814388097442020-06-16T20:58:00.001-07:002020-06-16T20:58:42.992-07:00MODELING THE PENN CENTRAL ERA - JUST WHEN I THOUGHT I KNEW EVERYTHING ABOUT TRAINS.....I have a vast model railroad and train magazine library that stretches back to the 60’s, so it was surprising for me that in posting about my PRR/PC G-39 Ore Jennie project on an O-Scale 2-Rail forum, someone suggested and older article in Rails Northeast magazine. What the heck is/was Rails Northeast? Well it turns out that it was a railfan magazine published during the 1970s, into the early 1980s. During my college years, 1984-1988, my railfan activities really picked up and the monthly, Railpace, another north/mid eastern railfan magazine (still published today) was eagerly waited on. So it looks like I just missed Rails Northeast by coincidence of my age and interest. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibVs4aBw1oF_6EFjEEq3MQqQQpo3xNnwSqmfN8q5EQ-bC_ujxso1vYvohIYEE1gCcdBdbSCDYPQmZbFAHqZsvK4O43aAsFZCRm92n-M9-h0NnM0L4DtHtYH-zrwtq6UVi0xHhKpxzEP_kn/s4032/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibVs4aBw1oF_6EFjEEq3MQqQQpo3xNnwSqmfN8q5EQ-bC_ujxso1vYvohIYEE1gCcdBdbSCDYPQmZbFAHqZsvK4O43aAsFZCRm92n-M9-h0NnM0L4DtHtYH-zrwtq6UVi0xHhKpxzEP_kn/s320/image.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>What a great magazine, especially for anyone modeling the 1970s and early 80s. Compared to Railpace, it lacks color photos, except for the cover sometimes, but inside is a good mix of railroad news AND drawings, maps, operational information and schedules,..etc.. A lot helpful to a model railroader. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Jim Musserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962872381150403631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384147831449930477.post-43085936925941041102020-06-11T20:49:00.000-07:002020-06-11T20:49:40.684-07:00O-SCALE DIGITAL FABRICATION<br /><div><br /></div><div>I’m convinced, that as niche suppliers, manufacturers, and distributors continue to close up shop in the model railroad world, digital fabrication will be our salvation. There are already a number of fabricators offering excellent parts and kits, in steel mill modeling, and On30. In smaller scales, where Shapeway type parts are sort of economical, there is a vast array available. Being a modeler that likes to build whatever prototype I want or see, laser cutters, 3D printers, vinyl cutters, CNC mills and routers, .etc just make things easier. Having a robot cutting out your parts is time saving, and free’s you up for the more interesting assembly, and finishing, however, it’s not just about saving time cutting parts. For me, where digital fabrication really shines, is in it’s precision, repeatability, and the ability to tab or mark precise part locations. I’ll get more into all the details in future blogs, but to be sure, buying the machine is the easy part. Without good CAD/CAM skills you’ll be handicapped quite a bit, although more and more 3D files are becoming available for free or low cost, so maybe not. I have a laser cutter, two 3D printers - one filament and a new resin machine, and two CNC machines. Again more on this in the future. For now, a few O Scale projects I’m working on - an Erie DUNMORE Caboose, and a PRR G-39 Ore Jennie. Parts are laser cut from a mix of acrylic, styrene, and Polybacker. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFEKOIZ9wKMdZM1D4QDlYh7wlsH4MKXlypR_k-HB81nnzjtl8yym2Q-AZePzMQKhwWWy0RRwIKydFHD8uncg-1RbbHQYjewQa4ZC7G2l0hI5OxsDn4v1dVTv3cR6y9vBF1qM8rMlEn4Hn/s4032/939B39AD-6CA6-4F06-961C-5D0C1F8E8FA6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFEKOIZ9wKMdZM1D4QDlYh7wlsH4MKXlypR_k-HB81nnzjtl8yym2Q-AZePzMQKhwWWy0RRwIKydFHD8uncg-1RbbHQYjewQa4ZC7G2l0hI5OxsDn4v1dVTv3cR6y9vBF1qM8rMlEn4Hn/s320/939B39AD-6CA6-4F06-961C-5D0C1F8E8FA6.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh3QLwVG645OiYmpMSrU6LT09Hl65_vD52xnjK-4LcUn2m2u4LxDKrn5H3plh636OCG8CfluXhS44uwhrxt9TBgHGFVL6oaQF5DgE_Ou3MN_APuX3iM4PSZp0JerOgIlk0XUCpiAFCRwVB/s4032/BABA6BE0-BEC8-4E6A-888E-0C20BBEE2CCE.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh3QLwVG645OiYmpMSrU6LT09Hl65_vD52xnjK-4LcUn2m2u4LxDKrn5H3plh636OCG8CfluXhS44uwhrxt9TBgHGFVL6oaQF5DgE_Ou3MN_APuX3iM4PSZp0JerOgIlk0XUCpiAFCRwVB/s320/BABA6BE0-BEC8-4E6A-888E-0C20BBEE2CCE.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZr_VXb_OZ4b4GO8teXHVJJ_87fFLD8qdwWwVh-IyDAFuBWKV_aW6sulcVVe8eTmtctqCoc_j-MIY0dB_6vEUajPf1Cyw6uJcDh6MCylQf0fnQCjMH9aG2BS8QimUeJDnVDKmbEWfseas2/s4032/BBC52858-CEE2-48F6-85AA-C810AE401BB8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZr_VXb_OZ4b4GO8teXHVJJ_87fFLD8qdwWwVh-IyDAFuBWKV_aW6sulcVVe8eTmtctqCoc_j-MIY0dB_6vEUajPf1Cyw6uJcDh6MCylQf0fnQCjMH9aG2BS8QimUeJDnVDKmbEWfseas2/s320/BBC52858-CEE2-48F6-85AA-C810AE401BB8.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO-rhNXVqywmvN9re80nVCHctQqNETV6LgTu0_ScuETwSPqGXzyqINtYX4TwU3rNQQrdOWeDtkEZDmSowc-fuIEO7y1g533obT6SDLHDf1I0cLVc1ON_xa0Bzkn4i6uW-CE2h90ocRXCYT/s4032/FF5C06B4-79BC-495B-910D-5B80BC4CB377.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO-rhNXVqywmvN9re80nVCHctQqNETV6LgTu0_ScuETwSPqGXzyqINtYX4TwU3rNQQrdOWeDtkEZDmSowc-fuIEO7y1g533obT6SDLHDf1I0cLVc1ON_xa0Bzkn4i6uW-CE2h90ocRXCYT/s320/FF5C06B4-79BC-495B-910D-5B80BC4CB377.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdL7h7QfzF8oUhDI5jlSGWXE5_1MBw88Fv5EJDQszcQqnC2Pp0PlT1yOLhpw_-gn45_D0I2xFy26bJM2Ukg-dBpDzfl49mjp1aIr6urzgcTxXjiT8tAZ3qJN-tF6u2qxgpwH_NQ7LbA-xT/s4032/3C02F55C-7CAE-48AB-A5D2-BE830A414A3E.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdL7h7QfzF8oUhDI5jlSGWXE5_1MBw88Fv5EJDQszcQqnC2Pp0PlT1yOLhpw_-gn45_D0I2xFy26bJM2Ukg-dBpDzfl49mjp1aIr6urzgcTxXjiT8tAZ3qJN-tF6u2qxgpwH_NQ7LbA-xT/s320/3C02F55C-7CAE-48AB-A5D2-BE830A414A3E.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz1w6hJ8colPAyuGNKJroaOIbind_FhJMVFB8piVfXS9WsZPFlxBVs3Hz-WEyNYVfR0im7pKQsHOJWk-3HhHGXVMgDwaP9sghz3T3eccvIG6K6zhkIYrpd36newRTNKWDnc-rR-8RPKgZz/s4032/9D48A6CB-51DB-4A45-B1B8-FD42D9BB6C87.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz1w6hJ8colPAyuGNKJroaOIbind_FhJMVFB8piVfXS9WsZPFlxBVs3Hz-WEyNYVfR0im7pKQsHOJWk-3HhHGXVMgDwaP9sghz3T3eccvIG6K6zhkIYrpd36newRTNKWDnc-rR-8RPKgZz/s320/9D48A6CB-51DB-4A45-B1B8-FD42D9BB6C87.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGCHebVTrvA5CSbZGtBdw-xsPQ43ZNsdwGG6LKnJO23E0yzsdGnr4i2Y-8VkpJyHVPXtEVed-EehiOFQF3C8YZwdD4od7J_4gxagC3pGghSscE6w4C5vpKwEkABJrNEr5uVk9JcQxJeyr6/s4032/72FFE98E-C879-42A8-9B81-CF4CF447547D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGCHebVTrvA5CSbZGtBdw-xsPQ43ZNsdwGG6LKnJO23E0yzsdGnr4i2Y-8VkpJyHVPXtEVed-EehiOFQF3C8YZwdD4od7J_4gxagC3pGghSscE6w4C5vpKwEkABJrNEr5uVk9JcQxJeyr6/s320/72FFE98E-C879-42A8-9B81-CF4CF447547D.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh19slt6naT6XIB8u2uZ9GtnnRMu3UJkikqciJqgoR_qxG6zBjxmxZxvZYCpnypaif8m9s5kbQ_yOKX5IWy6Zg4j_b6UHYSVCW5qULjY2RQjPd1UHTZWS9eW4I9_Puu2BRLI6oSzhw1Kdiq/s4032/A3C77597-6787-4B88-BDCA-EAA95307BC61.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh19slt6naT6XIB8u2uZ9GtnnRMu3UJkikqciJqgoR_qxG6zBjxmxZxvZYCpnypaif8m9s5kbQ_yOKX5IWy6Zg4j_b6UHYSVCW5qULjY2RQjPd1UHTZWS9eW4I9_Puu2BRLI6oSzhw1Kdiq/s320/A3C77597-6787-4B88-BDCA-EAA95307BC61.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Jim Musserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962872381150403631noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384147831449930477.post-58184732732293004612020-05-23T21:25:00.002-07:002020-05-23T21:25:19.199-07:00O-SCALE ADVENTURES - CABEESES In O-Scale, I am modeling the Penn Central/Penn Central era (1968-1976). What is available in O-Scale (O-Scale, scale, ie not Lionel Tinplate type products) in plastic is fairly limited, especially compared to HO Scale. Weaver and Atlas both produced plastic 1:48 scale locomotives, and freight/passenger cars. Weaver is out of business now, although Atlas has produced a few of their products under their Trainman line. There is a smattering of other plastic kits and a few resin out there, but most are steam/transition era, leaving, scratchbuilding, or semi-scratchbuilding in the form of wood/metal kits made be Athearn/Reynolds, or the Quality Craft/Ambroid/Gloor Craft lines. The later all seem to have produced the same products, I just don’t know the exact lineage/order of these companies. Another manufacturer, Lykens Valley Models, also produced wood kits, abet, more primitive than the Ambroid-Gloor craft kits. All these manufacturers are long out of business, but kits can be found at eBay and train shows. On Ebay, especially for some reason in the past two months, sellers tend to list these at very high prices and the bidding is robust. Shows are a better source and I rarely pay over $20 for one of these kits. Since the heyday of these companies was likely the 70s and very early 80’s, the “modern cars” they were producing kits were, are perfect for Penn Central era. Many of the kits are fairly unique prototypes that should add some nice diversity to my freight manifests. A quick list of some of these kits I have - 86’ Trailer Train piggy back flat with trailers; 86’ high cube box; C&O Coil car; 89’ auto rack flats; shorty corn syrup tank cars; the giant Publicker tank car; all-door boxcars; Railbox type cars; 63’ mechanical refer; bulkhead flats; heavy duty well flat car; and then there are the cabooses. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi35zyF_ijHTWUdJX02YVOpZBmETJtPT6CRTpeyW8dYlI-ULa6vdB-4YpVr3FEymebNKTDBtccIiYk1bFdl80kfvcrIu_XyFjEdic0VByT_C0ZHOerTnFOMlC-coZ5AypP2oxNLMYskCf65/s1600/67C87A6C-7A28-4243-BDA6-A3FE319193BA.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi35zyF_ijHTWUdJX02YVOpZBmETJtPT6CRTpeyW8dYlI-ULa6vdB-4YpVr3FEymebNKTDBtccIiYk1bFdl80kfvcrIu_XyFjEdic0VByT_C0ZHOerTnFOMlC-coZ5AypP2oxNLMYskCf65/s400/67C87A6C-7A28-4243-BDA6-A3FE319193BA.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small portion of wood kits.<br /><br /></td></tr>
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I must admit, I also have been buying these type of kits in HO, “for my old-age”, but haven’t built any yet. I have a half dozen O-Scale freight cars underway in various stages of construction, but for some reason I’ve grown an interest in cabooses of late, and am currently building four, along with a caboose like flanger. Getting the wood pieces in the box to look like steel is the real challenge - lots of sealing/sanding, and you still have an imperfect surface. Even the prototype wood sided cars are not great, as the scribes on the siding are too deep. I’m experimenting with substituting styrene or acyclic for the wood parts. The full size plans and metal castings, more than justify the cost of the kit, and the wood can be used elsewhere. I decided to keep things cheap and fun, and I’m building the caboose kits with the wood and other parts in the box. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwXgvGtyvlibR0POjtInvXg-bcLq-ycrESBsBcL3ys3mnzbe40orl2YPPZxKBP3V0icDmDKz-ATa5jiqRDWHi9AiNFuhPqQKGfLTiXdHKln62txoTZN8Yx1UZyqHBoCROdp7IULn4jnSWy/s1600/E0CFFBD3-198D-4D0B-82A8-E381F7F6A0D9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwXgvGtyvlibR0POjtInvXg-bcLq-ycrESBsBcL3ys3mnzbe40orl2YPPZxKBP3V0icDmDKz-ATa5jiqRDWHi9AiNFuhPqQKGfLTiXdHKln62txoTZN8Yx1UZyqHBoCROdp7IULn4jnSWy/s400/E0CFFBD3-198D-4D0B-82A8-E381F7F6A0D9.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gloor Craft PRR ND four wheel cabin car,; Quality Craft Erie wood-sided caboose; and Ambroid Nickel Plate caboose. Various stages of construction.<br /><br /></td></tr>
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Building these kits has been a bit of a learning experience, but hopefully mistakes are only made once. I would highly recommend trying one of these. Some patience is required, but many hours of fun, for low cost. None are complete yet, but I’m in the weathering phase of the Erie caboose. All these cabooses, even the four wheel PRR were technically still around during the early part of the Penn Central era. Photos of the Erie (Erie-Lackawanna) caboose from the late 60s show a pretty weather worn, beat up car. It looks like they had been relegated to MOW trains. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I’m not happy with the Erie decals, but working on camouflaging them. <br /></td></tr>
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Jim Musserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962872381150403631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384147831449930477.post-24116823887840323822020-03-25T20:19:00.001-07:002020-03-25T20:19:12.417-07:00CORONAVIRUS MODELING<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It’s been over a year since my last post. Life has usual been a blur of work and other things, until the Coronavirus ground the economy to a very slow crawl. My business has been affected severely since 90% of the work we do is residential. For the first time in over thirty years of business I have had to lay off employees, all of them to be precise. I can afford to keep the lights on for four months or so hopefully I’m back in operation by then, however, with the react to the stock ticker government response, I’m fairly worried we could be looking at a slow bleed for longer. I’m sure all the billionaires and their corporations that pay slave wages will make out fine. Small businesses like mine, always get shit on. With or without the virus, I’ll keep on paying forty times the tax rate that Amazon does. <br />
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Well, now that I’ve aired the dirty laundry, and as the boys from Monty Python say, “always look on the bright side of life”, there is an upside - more time for model railroading. <br />
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I think in my last post, I talked about my expansion into O-Scale. I joined a local O-Scale 2-Rail club last winter. The Cherry Valley Model Railroad Club has been located in the basement of the Grace Episcopal Church for 56 years. I had never been much of a club person, preferring to do my model railroading in my basement, alone, or with the help of my son. I’ve been presently surprised, and have been having a fun time with a great group of model railroaders. Having a specific meeting night every week has more or less “forced” me to play with trains - not a bad thing. With owning your own business, there always seems to be something you could be doing, especially when your shop has months of backlog, and it’s easy to just work more hours and forget about the fun things in your life. With Cherry Valley, I almost always get in three to four hours of model railroading a week. Sometimes its just running trains, sometimes working on the layout, and plenty of times just shooting the shit about trains, etc. Those of you who know me personally, know I’m pretty skilled at the last item. <br />
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What about steel mill modeling? Unfortunately, I haven’t worked on my layout much - why? Besides the time issue, honestly, it’s covered with O Scale cars and locomotives that I am building, painting, decaling, and weathering. To be fair, I went a bit overboard gearing up for O Scale, and have purchased at least 90 cars or car kits and probably a dozen locomotives over the course of a year and a half. I’m also doing what I have never really done in HO scale - for each locomotive or car, I’m painting, decaling, weathering, weighting, coupler height adjusting, decoder installing, before it gets brought to Cherry Valley. As most of you know, my basement is really small, so the only place I can set my rolling stock is on my HO Steel mill layout. O Scale cars and locos are twice as long, high, and wide as H.O., but that also mean four times the volume. I’m building a work room/ O Scale shelf layout in an old garage attached to my house (not really a garage - 7’x20’) When this is finished, I’ll be able to move all my work up there, and also have space to properly work on my large HO steel mill structures. <br />
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Moving on I am going to try to update this blog more regularly. If I go back in it’s history, the times I was most prolific with the posts, were also the times I did the most modeling. I’m also going to post some of my O-Scale modeling in this blog. The techniques and methods are transferable to any scale. I’ll title the posts with O-SCALE EXPLORATIONS, so if you don’t want to read, you can skip. I’ve posted photos some of my O Scale freight car weathering projects.<br />
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Everyone stay safe and healthy.Jim Musserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962872381150403631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384147831449930477.post-23577757114980687052019-01-28T22:22:00.000-08:002019-01-28T22:22:02.679-08:00STEEL MILL MODELING RESOURCE - SUBMARINE HOT METAL CARSI came upon a good resource for steel mill modelers, especially for those modeling the transition era like I am. <br />
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<a href="https://historicpittsburgh.org/collection/william-j-gaughan-collection?islandora_solr_search_navigation=0&f%5B0%5D=RELS_EXT_isMemberOfCollection_uri_ms%3A%22info%5C%3Afedora%5C/pitt%5C%3Acollection.95%22" target="_blank">William Gaughan Collection - Historic Pittsburgh</a><br />
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It's about 600 photos, mostly of the US Steel Homestead Works, and their associated, Carrie Furnaces. The subject matter ranges from people photos, wartime events, buildings, processes, equipment, a few aerial photos, ..etc.. Something for everyone. <br />
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It did solve one mystery for me. When I had a tour of the Carrie Works six or seven years ago, I asked the guide, who had worked in the blast furnace department there, when they switched from the open top hot metal cars to the submarine or torpedo type. He thought the mid 60s. There is a classic railfan photo of a string of open top, Kling type 50 ton hot metal cars being pulled across the hot metal bridge while I think it's a B&O train moving under the bridge. Based on the F units I figured it was a 1950s photo. According to this photo collection, the first submarine car was put in service in 1958 at Homestead/Carrie. Photo of the inaugural pour at the open hearth. <br />
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<br />Jim Musserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962872381150403631noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384147831449930477.post-63893235398482116862019-01-13T22:31:00.002-08:002019-01-13T22:31:35.278-08:00UPDATE, Long overdueOn Saturday I hosted an open house layout tour for New Jersey Division of the NMRA. As Jimmy and myself were vacuuming and cleaning the tracks of our layout, I realized that the last time it had run was two years previous at another open house - January of 2017. The layout ran fine, abet without looking much different than the last time some of the people visited. I’d been down in the basement about a half dozen or so times over that same time span, but just to build a plastic non-railroad model kit or two or three. Of course I have stayed current as an arm chair modeler via the Facebook Steel Mill Modeler’s group of all the happenings in that world. It’s been nice to see so much good modeling. <br />
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What’s been going on? Well the short answer is life. My business grew quite a bit, peaking in terms of number of employees and number of jobs we were doing at once, around this time last year. Since then I have downsized, not for lack of work, but rather for my own sanity. I’m running with a much smaller team. During this “downsizing” I upsized my shop facility and invested in more equipment. We moved across a parking lot, into an old factory building that originally made aluminum TV dinner trays and pie plates. Our square footage tripled. Not wanting to make some of the mistakes I’d made in several previous shops, I was careful with the layout to allow for maximum efficiency. Moving our office, materials, and equipment took about two weeks via a forklift, however, setting up the shop, installing the electric, air, dust collection,....etc. and all the benches, shelving etc. has taken from August and continues, although the to-do list left is down to a page or two, and things are mostly fully functional. Just when I should have had more time on my hands, hundred, but more likely thousands of hours were spent just setting things up, primarily nights and weekends. The good news is that I’m recently feeling I have more spare time, or at least can take time away for myself without feeling guilty. <br />
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My personal life has been equally hectic. In the past year, both my children bought their own houses and moved out of mine. My daughter got married almost a year ago, but as you can imagine, wedding planing, parties and showers, etc, took up most of last fall. Wedding went off without a hitch, despite a late January date. My daughter wanted snow for it, but we got balmy 60 degree sunny weather. My daughter, who is one of those people that asks, where we are going for dinner while eating breakfast, promptly got pregnant, and as of this past October 30th, I have a Grandson. I’m sure the little guy is going to be into trains.... <br />
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Even before we’d become empty nesters, I’d been talking to my wife about possibly moving to a bigger basement, with a house on it, or alternatively, an apartment in the city of Philadelphia. This put work on the layout on hold. Also, even if we stayed put, I’d considered ripping everything out and starting over with a better planned layout. In the end we are staying put. I think I was duped by my wife with the offer of a second train room (after I relocate the laundry room that takes up part of it, and renovate about 60 percent of the rest of the house). This new train room will feature an O-Scale 2 Rail (ie not Lionel) Penn Central switching layout, set in the early 70s in the swamps of New Jersey’s Chemical Coast. More on O-Scale later. Besides staying put in our house of 27 years, we bought land on the side of a mountain in Jim Thorpe, PA for a family vacation house. The construction of this, which Jimmy and myself will be doing the bulk of. Jim Thorpe is a beautiful little town in the Lehigh River Gorge. It was originally named Mauch Chunk, before the town purchased the body of the famous athlete Jim Thorpe and changed the name of the town, and was one of the commercial centers of the American industrial revolution. Anthracite coal mined in the mountains to the west of the city was moved through Mauch Chunk to market, using canal and railroad technology developed to do so. The Central Railroad of New Jersey and the Lehigh Valley Railroad ran through town on alternative sides of the river, and the Lehigh Valley had a large coal marshaling yard in town at one point. The railroads through town are still use for freight and a fairly busy, year round tourist railroad. The town is an outdoor sports Mecca of sorts today, with whitewater rafting on the river, bike trails on abandoned rail beds, hiking on mountain trials, and nearby ski areas. The tourist railroad has a dedicated gondola for transporting bicycles north twenty miles, where the riders disembark and ride down the side of the gorge back into town. The CNJ pulled out of Pennsylvania in I think the 70s and the LV altered their main line to use the parallel CNJ where more efficient. Fortunately for hikers and bicyclists, the abandoned main sections could only be placed close to the river due to the steep sides of the gorge, making for some nice scenery. We are hoping to start building in the spring or summer. <br />
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Looking over my layout Saturday I started making a list of projects. Besides the obvious, “when are you going to finish some structures”. I need to take some time to properly wire the layout, and make some track improvements in a few locations for smoother switching. Hopefully there will be some blog posts in the near future on this. Also, I’ll be including my O-Scale adventures. Stay tuned. Jim <br />
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<br />Jim Musserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962872381150403631noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384147831449930477.post-34340596269038159722017-03-17T20:55:00.000-07:002017-03-17T20:55:35.602-07:00TUTORIAL - CUTTING PVC PIPE FOR BACKDROP STRUCTURESNot much to report on the steel mill front, but I was doing some preliminary work on my future sinter plant and thought the technique involved might be useful. The sinter plant is going to occupy a sliver of real estate against a backdrop and essentially cover up a hole that is needed for access to a concealed section of track. I'm using the Bethlehem Steel sinter plant as a lose prototype for the structure. One of the elements of the Bethlehem Sinter plant was a bank of storage silos for raw materials. Storage silos always make for good backdrop structures as there is rarely a single silo - usually a half dozen or more. Prototypes can range from glass making, grain, portland cement, coal, sand mining, and more no doubt. Of course, for the budget minded modeler, PVC piping offers a cheap material modeling and comes in a variety of diameters. Cutting PVC to length is simple on any chop saw - cuts easy and you should be able to get nice smooth, receptive cuts. The trick is when you need a half section of pipe. Cutting this can either be very tedious or very dangerous. Besides the obvious alignment problems (cutting perfect halves) there is a serious danger of kick-back if you try to cut on a table saw. There is a bit of tension in the plastic and cutting it can cause it to press against the blade excessively. <br />
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Cutting halves can be a breeze on a table saw. The trick is turning the round pipe into something with a square section. The first step is to use a ruler, tape, or easiest, the pipe itself to set the fence of your table saw to the exact outside diameter of the pipe. Take some scrap 3/4" plywood and cut square pieces - two for each piece of pipe you are cutting. Using a hot glue gun, glue one of the blocks to the end of the pipe, fitting it perfectly onto the end. Then place the block and pipe on a flat surface and glue on the other block, using the surface to ensure exact alignment with the level plane. Now you have essentially turned a pipe into a square block of wood. <br />
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Set the saw blade height just slightly higher than the wall thickness of the PVC pipe and set the fence so blade is exactly centered on diameter of pipe (and width of wood blocks) All that is left is to turn on the saw and run the assembly through once and then flip it and run it through again. Since you are only cutting slightly into the wood, the glue and the block will maintain the structural integrity of the pipe until all the cutting is complete. Just knock the blocks off with a hammer and you will have two perfect half pipe sections. NOTE - knock sideways with hammer. Hot glue has a decent amount of tensile strength (pulling object away from glued surface) but not much sheer strength (hitting it sideways) The blocks should pop right off. <br />
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<br />Jim Musserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962872381150403631noreply@blogger.com1