I will start 2014 with a positive attitude and remodel the slum into an area inspired be the north side of S. Blue Island Ave between S. Leavitt St and S. Paulina St. in Chicago.

First steps completed are
- Remove all six 6 level buildings
- Remove all window covers representing abounded buildings from remaining six 2-level and one 3-level story building
- Remove covers from KFC windows (A CPD patrol car has an eye on it )
- Remove car wrecks from the street
- Populate streets with nicer cars

The free lots will be populated with small one level industries found everywhere in the US and also along S. Blue Island Ave in Chicago.
https://maps.google.de/maps?q=chicago+il...e&t=h&z=20
I modeled similars from prototypes in the warehouse district of LA some time ago.

I found a faded historic photo of life in Joy's Camp, about 100 years ago.

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I'm unable to view pics in Gary S's woo woo time to build thread, all I get is that I'm not authorized to view image. Any suggestions? This has also happened in several other threads.

Bruce

Up to now I've been using pretty simple tools for modeling ...The Chopper , and the usual assortment of small saws and blades , etc . Maybe it's time to look at one or two power tools ( like Micro Mark ) and I was wondering what you would recommend since I just starting . What tools have impressed you the most ?

I model in mostly wood and styrene , with the odd resin casting , and sheet brass on occasion .

Suggestions ?

Thanks , T

Howdy everyone! If I may introduce myself, my name is James Little. I live South of Houston and am about to start my first serious HO layout. This forum looks to be full of great ideas and inspiration that will hopefully help me along the way. I look forward to learning and seeing what y'all have to offer!

I'm back at modeling again!
Since my new girlfriend works for the corporation that owns the Winchester & Western Railroad, I thought it would be cool to have some rolling stock decorated for the W&W.
Intermountain does make a ACF Center Flow lettered for the W&W, but try finding one available was like pulling teeth that had already been pulled.

So I settled for doing it my self. I used this one as an example.<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/ww/ww7050jja.jpg">http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/ww/ww7050jja.jpg</a><!-- m -->

But trying to find a two bay Center Flow was just as bad as finding the Intermountain model. So I the only choice I could find was an Atlas Three bay. This one started out as an Alaska RR.

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Using modelers license, I made up my own reporting marks, but used the example for decal placement. The lettering is "dice and splice". I have ACF specific decals on order from Microscale.

The question about covering the front of bench work uglies got me to thinking. What is on your floor? I started with old carpet on thick padding over my concrete floor. It wasn't to bad for first 10 or so years but it was starting to loose its cushion ability. I got some floor pads from Harbor freight.
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I put them right over my worn out carpet. I had to put duct tape on the joints to hold it together. I think that might be from it walking on the carpet under it. Any way I love it, in fact I had a very expensive loco hit the floor last week. Very little damage and that was minor. I should say no damage from 48 +- inches.

I'm a little disappointed that the GP7s Bachmann has announced in sound versions for ACL and RI are overdue. On the other hand, I did get one of their D&RGW GP7s:


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Unlike the various discrepancies Matt has found for the CN GP9, which Bachmann numbered and lettered (twice) for GP7s, and unlike the L&N GP9, also numbered for a GP7, the D&RGW version is pretty good. Among other things, it's numbered for the first few D&RGW units, which had the plain side sills, unlike the slotted side sills on the GP9s. Also, the shade of yellow is good for the earlier bumblebee scheme.

As a next step in DCC conversion, I installed a TCS decoder in an Atlas yellowbox D&RGW GP7 in the later paint. I wanted to see how well consisting worked.


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Based on what I've read, I agree with anyone who says adjusting the motor control CV values is no picnic, and you can only come so close in getting the locos to run together. It turns out that the Atlas loco, at least with a TCS decoder, starts at a much lower voltage, so I had to tweak that. Then I found the Atlas loco had more momentum than the Bachmann, so I had to increase the Bachmann momentum values. Then I found the Atlas decelerates more slowly than it accelerates, so I had to work around that. The two locos will in fact run together now, but it was a fair amount of work!

Maligned both as a prototype and a model, I've still always liked these cars and bought seven of them over the years at flea markets for a couple of bucks a piece. For those who are unfamiliar with the clam shell coil car, the prototype is an Evan's product from the 1960s that was one of the first dedicated steel coil cars. The clam shell lid opened so half of the lid slid down either side of the car, providing access for loading and unloading. Seemed like a well intentioned concept but the heavy shells often got bound up, twisted, and dropped unexpectedly, creating a safety hazard. I think the P&LE had about 50 of them while the Bessemer had considerably fewer. Most had the lids removed pretty quickly and either ran without tops or had different styles fashioned.



Here is a prototype photo of a simlar car...
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In my imagined layout world, the KP&W thought the concept was worth a second try so they purchased seven of the gons from the P&LE and B&LE, tinkered with them in their shops, and found a way to make them work. I added body mounted couplers, a little patching and the KP&W logo, weathered liberally, and put them in service. They are often seen on the "Steel Job" coming out of Williams Yard for KP Steel.