Two Small Projects Underway for the Layout

Started working on a couple of minor projects for the layout this week.  First up here is some chain-link fence, using the fence posts from Walthers kit.  I tried to use the metal wire that comes with the kit for the top and bottom horizontal chords, but the pieces are rather short, and they're not straight so they are a bit difficult to work with.  So, I'm using used guitar B-strings instead.A look at what is included in the Walthers Chain-Link kit. Their short pieces of wire, underneath that is the fabric chain link mesh provided, and the plastic fence posts and gates.

This is the fence jig that Brian Smith made for me some years ago.  It's real handy to have around to help get the fence posts evenly spaced.  Also in the photo is a section of fence that I did make using the wire and mesh that comes in the Walthers kit.  And above that is the piece that is still in progress using the guitar string for the horizontal chord.

The fence I'm making is intended to be put in front of my Tri-State Paper industry, so it'll be about about 49 inches or so in length.  I don't think combined the two pieces above are going to be quite long enough to cover the entire length needed.

A look at the Tri-State building.  Some fencing here should really improve the appearance.

When I do get the fencing installed between the GTW main and the paper plant spur I think the Tri-State Paper industry will look at least a little more convincing. And I'll probably add an entrance gate across the railroad spur as well.  I'll be working on this more in the week ahead.

And the 2nd little project underway here is an oil tank.  This simple Rix kit has been lying around here for too long, so I've finally put it together.

Here's a quick look at where things stand with this project so far...

I didn't build it as the 43 foot height.  I went with just 4 sections vertically, which totals up to about 28 scale feet in height.

With the tank assembled, it'll be time for paint.

Sprayed with a nice flat white, and then added the weathering.

I'll be putting together a bit of piping as well to go with the tank.

Have a good week everybody.

RBOX 31224

I recently came across this RBOX photo by Colin Reinhart.  I liked the white paint-out across the bottom portion of the boxcar, and the white spray painted reporting mark, and thought I could maybe try to do something like this with one of my RBOX's.

The car I used is clearly not the same model, but I'll just call this modelers license and plunge ahead with it.

The number of panels/ribs is different than the prototype photo, but the colouring of the car is about right from my previous weathering of it.  As a first step, I painted black overtop of that red primer that I had on the door.

I made this styrene mask to help soften the upper edge of the white paint patches.  The styrene spacers, which I've outlined in black here just so you could see them, fit in between the boxcar ribs and raise the edge just a bit off of the model.  Flat white for the paint.

In this view, I've sprayed the flat white on the right side of the model, and it's taped in place on the left.  Also the door is masked so as to not get white paint on the black 'cuz that wouldn't be good

Some looks at the finished project...

I used a white paint pen and some patience to try to sort of emulate the similar scribbled marks on the prototype picture.

The graffiti is decals by Blair Line.  The reporting marks are decals from the Microscale Stencil Lettering set.

A look from the B-end.

To finish up, I also darkened the tack boards to show some wear, and added rust on and below the door track.

That'll be all for now.

Double-Door Boxcar

I used to see PDRR boxcars going to and from the paper plant in Port Huron, Michigan fairly often.  As I remember though, they were painted in a boxcar red or sometimes in yellow. Most of the prototype PeeDee River boxcars are now owned by UP and marked BKTY.

This one of mine is an old Roundhouse model that I weathered.  I didn't follow any prototype photo for the weathering, but I think it looks believable, so I'm more than pleased with the way it turned out.

Happened to catch this PeeDee River RailRoad boxcar this week at door #4 at Tri-State Paper.

Below are a few more photos of this boxcar from my files:

 This view shows lets us see some graffiti on the inside of the boxcar

 

It makes for kind of a nice change for the layout to have a freight car rolling around with the doors open

A view of the brake end of the boxcar as it sits at the local team track

I like this particular photo even thought the boxcar is on the other side of the chain link fence.

I'll close out with this view

The roof is certainly showing it's age

And that'll be all for this week.

A Short Train (Part 3)

Continuing on with the work along the South Industrial, JSSX 815 has grabbed the RBOX, pulled it out and then shoved the two high-cube boxcars into the customer's spur.

In this view, there's a crewman that's just uncoupled the trains two high-cube boxcars from each other.

I've often wondered just what train crews might think of having their pictures taken while they're working.  I don't know if I would have thought much of anyone taking my picture while I was doing my job.

815 starting to pull back after spotting the two boxcars at the loading doors.  The short train of 2 boxcars that we started out with is going to be even shorter now with just the one car for the trip back to the yard

On the return trip to the yard now.  Utility poles kind of got in the way of the photograph, much like they do along the prototype railways.

That RBOX is looking a little the worse for wear.

Running around the bend, passing by a couple of plastic pellet hoppers at MidWest Plastics over on the GTW.

I'll finish up this series now with this view of 815 passing by brother 813 as it switches a couple of tank cars at the transloading facility.

Thanks for following along as I've tried give a little insight into how part of the JSSX operates for these three posts.  I hope you've enjoyed them.