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This blog presents my thoughts, information and activities in my model railroading world.

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

Small wood building progress

This building is almost complete except for some outside details.  I have decided this will be a small weekly newspaper building.  The building has a shingled roof and an oil tank of the left side - I made that tank from a wood dowel which I sanded off the sides and added legs and a tank cap.


I added a card stock base to allow for scenicing and details.


There is a shed in the back for storage of paper stock and other things.  This newspaper uses a metal type press as was the case with most newspapers of the time.  Many years ago I had a newspaper client in Washington DC which used presses like that,  They went out of business while they were a customer of mine (not my fault).  Some time ago I bought a tray of metal type at a yard sale kind of a thing.  I use the metal type pieces for glueing weights and braces.


Above is a small sample of the type slugs.  They are about 3/4 " square on the sides with the type face being of various widths based on the letter or character they display.  On the right side above you can see I glued together a set of letters to make my name.  Behind the name is a metal print logo for my father's model railroad.  I have a LOT of the metal type.

I still have to add a bunch of details and scenery around the building.

At the same time I am working on the truck I am making from a fire engine.  It will have a flatbed behind it and will be hauling a steam shovel.   Always keeping busy.



Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Small wood building start

I have started building a small wood building but have not yet decided what it will be.  Still a lot of work to be done so I have time to decide.  It will be some kind of small business since it does not look like a house.  I just like building things.


The roof still need s shingles and it needs more weathering.  Once I decide what it will be I will add appropriate signs and details.


There will be a shed at the back.

While I was thinking about what to build,  I assembled a plastic automobile kit by Mountain States.  Nothing special.  It fits my layout era.


I am also building a truck using the front of an old plastic fire engine.  It needs a new rear section as well as a new cab.  These things are fun.  I acquired a bunch of old fire engines from estates but I do not need any more fire engines.  I built a firehouse a few years ago with fire engines.


Monday, November 12, 2018

Old machine shop complete

My old machine shop model is now complete, unless as usual I decide to make additions or changes.   The first two photos are with the roof on and the second two with the roof off to show the interior.  This shop builds new machines and refurbishes old machines so I have included some old pieces of machinery awaiting refurbishment.


Above you can see I added a water tower for the boiler room and at the right you can see some of the details on the loading dock.  I also added some protective screens on the lower part of the windows on this side to protect them from flying debris from passing trains/trucks as there will be either a track or road here depending on where I install the industry.


And above is the other end showing a loaded dock.


Above is a view of one end of the interior.  There is a work bench at the upper left and some machines.


And above is a view of the other end of the interior.  You can see the small office at the upper left.  This model was fun to build.

And now I need to figure out what to build next.



Sunday, November 4, 2018

Old machine shop progress

I have essentially completed the machine shop building and the boiler house.  There are more details and weathering to be added.  The roof on the machine shop is easily removed by lifting using the vents as handles.  The boiler house has no interior details.


The loading dock at the right was made with wood.  There will be details on it.


The loading dock is reached from inside the shop by the door at the left.  


The machines above are SS Ltd kits.  As usual very nice castings but not that easy to build - especially with  the many small parts and my shaky hands.  This getting old business is frustrating.  These machines will be placed in the shop along with other details and a few figures.  Thus far the interior details include a work bench with tools and a small office structure in one corner.  The story is that the shop used to have an external office but it burned down due to a careless cigar by the previous shop superintendent (he was fired).

It took longer than it should have to make this progress but my cable was out for a day and a half (no TV and no Internet), causing me to spend time fussing with the cable company.