Recent content by BillW

Lexon, That's a beautiful piece of craftsmanship! The crankshaft load has a lot of appeal on the heavy flatcar. I recall seeing the article you mentioned in the Kalmbach book, 24 Dollar Car Projects. That's a great a book for anyone who wants to learn the basics of scratchbuilding rolling...

Hi Bill, I love your attention to the little details. Despite viewing the model as a photo, the tar paper roofing looks beautifully curled. I'm also really fond of the way the supporting post has punched through the roof of the awning. Excellent work!

Hi, That's a beautiful set of classic Roundhouse cars you've prepared. I love the idea of double paint schemes. It seems like an innovative way to double your railway efforts. I've been wanting to try the roof technique you explained with embedding tissue in a generous layer of paint. I have...

Jeffrey, I love the rust effects on that passenger car in the last photo. It looks like you achieved a nice balance between dirt, rustiness, and bare metal. Heavy rust weathering is not one of my talents! I struggle with basic overall griminess. -Bill

I have not made nearly as much progress as I would have liked in review of the past couple weeks. On the positive though, the layout does have track laid and trains running. Yesterday was rather warm so I lifted it outside and spray painted the track. I kept things simple and used a tip I...

Mike, That's a great looking pair of locomotives! I've always found the F45's appealing and would love to have one myself. The locomotive though is likely too large for the 10.5" radius curves on my new layout. But you never know what I could end up buying at this year's train show.

Hello, My typical niche in the context of model railways formerly involved scratchbuilding structures and freight cars in HO scale. Although I've had aspirations to build some sort of HO logging themed railway, I never seem to take the plunge and begin construction. In fact, I have never...

Ah, Thank-you for the information. I was initially going to calculate 55% from my HO standards gauge, but I can't find the gauge under a mountain of other disorganized train stuff. I'll stick with four percent grades throughout.

Just an update with regard to where I'm at with the new railway. I've since built the bench work for the layout. Given the size, it is a relatively simple sort of open grid design. Soon I shall begin a new thread in the n-scale section as I suppose this is beyond the scope of track planning and...

I've been inspired by the posting of the original track plan. Although I've never read the original book, I think that layout has a lot of potential to be a fun mini-build over the rest of winter. In fact, I just bought all the supplies necessary to assemble it in N scale (locomotive, track...

Harold, I'm really fond of the look handlaid code 55 in HO. Your work is absolutely incredible! I'm planning on doing a 4x8 logging railway in HO and handlaying in code 55 as well. I've done a few practice sections of track and have to perfect some of my turnout construction techniques. I'm...

Jim, I appreciate the references and will hopefully eventually check them out. If I ever get this logging railway going, it is my goal to scratchbuild as much as I can. I've already scratchbuilt a couple cars and got some more underway. It takes me an awful lot of time but it sure is...

Glad to hear you've basically got it all together. I've obviously been luckier as I've never had any missing parts with the Kato products I've assembled or bought. Perhaps the plow and horn got lost in transit or fell off by people inspecting it at the hobby shop. I don't know about Kato's...

Ah, Just the thread I was looking for. Those cars in that three part series look incredible and I just may try them. Last train show, I got an HO Bachmann Shay I'm ready to learn more about logging railroads. I hope one day to have a logging based railroad but for now I will start slowly and...

I assembled my friends CEFX sd90 about a year ago and I can tell you that there are no problems storing the detailed locomotive in the original box. As long as it is orientated the correct direction, and you take care in removing and placing it back, the box will keep the fine plastic details...