Building and Kitbashing a Walthers Cornerstone Refinery

[TruckLover]

I try to avoid Ebay where i can. Then again, Ebay is the only place i can even find half the stuff i buy. Then again, i got no more room to build stuff in anymore, so i guess there is a reason i don't have an influx of stuff anymore, lol! I need a new layout...

sign1 Ive had to back off e-bay for now, i ran out of money i need another job

you're gonna have to find people to start a club and raise money for some space or something!

Thats why i'm sticking to just the distribution point. I just need a stub long enough to hold a reasonable train of auto racks, and enough of a staging lot for people to figure out what it all is. I've got two tracks with a 4-5 car capacity, depending if i'm using articulated sets or not.

I did like that tire plant, but i never got a hold of one.

sign1 A club huh? then i could have as big of a layout as i wanted to :twisted:

The Tire Plant is awesome, i see them on e-bay every now and then, sell for between $80-100 usually

Get your priorities straight, you have a refinery to build, and you're out fooling around!:cry:

LMAO, well the girlfriend comes before any building and hobbies :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

Yep, thats how i like them! What you really have to do though, is add some lights! Up here in NJ, they are always like christmas trees. Atleast walthers sells details for that!

That would be AWESOME!!!!! I think i might put lights on it somehow later on, that would just look sooooo cool :thumb: :mrgreen:

 

[TruckLover]

Well Crap, i got some more progress done, glued some more piping in place and the last small fractioning tower in place

BUT, the next step is the brass railings and platforms. And OF COARSE, i dont have a #18 hobby blade to cut the brass handrails off the "tree" :cry: :cry: wall1 :curse:

Grrrrr this sucks, its going to be delayed now for a while, although i can still work on other parts and start the other 2 kitbashed ones. I also need CA adhesive, what is that? Super Glue? Is there any special type of CA i need to get????

Ill post some more pics in a bit of the progress i made a few mins ago

 

[TruckLover]

Heres some more pics of some progress, the Deluxe kit is pretty much done. I just need to add in the platforms and brass handrails, but i cant until i get a #18 hobby blade and some CA adhesive :cry: :cry: so for now, ill work on kitbashing the other 2 kits together

 

[Ralph]

That is shaping up so well! Looks great!
Ralph

 

[jbaakko]

Super Glue is CA, however, CA is not Super Glue, get what I'm saying? Stick to hobby CA, not the crazy glue crap at the local retail store.

 

[green_elite_cab]

sign1 Ive had to back off e-bay for now, i ran out of money i need another job

I hear you! luckily, i only work one day a week but get payed as much as the other kids my age because my job is specialized. If only it werent an hour's commute away into Staten Island, lol.

A club huh? then i could have as big of a layout as i wanted to

If i were you, i'd join a club. You could run your equipment there.

The Tire Plant is awesome, i see them on e-bay every now and then, sell for between $80-100 usually

That doesn't sound reasonable at all!

LMAO, well the girlfriend comes before any building and hobbies :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

I know some very irratated HO scale truck drivers and engineers who are waiting for fuel from your facility. Way to fail the people, man. Way to fail the people...

That would be AWESOME!!!!! I think i might put lights on it somehow later on, that would just look sooooo cool :thumb: :mrgreen:

Seriously, i'd do it now. At the very least, i'd drill the holes. Once its built, its going to be difficult to do.

BUT, the next step is the brass railings and platforms. And OF COARSE, i dont have a #18 hobby blade to cut the brass handrails off the "tree"

I'd use a pair of small flush cutters. thats just what i use. Knifes can work, but the flush cutter is easier.

I also need CA adhesive, what is that? Super Glue? Is there any special type of CA i need to get????

You're joking, right? CA is CyanoAcrylate, or in other words, Super glue. However, You'll want to pick up the types made for hobby applications, as it comes in different viscosities. My personal favorite is thick gap filling CA. I can use a CA accelerator on these this CA to make bonds instant, instead of having to wait, which is useful when it is hard to hold a part together. Usually it will say on the bottle/container. Regardless, most CA types will work in this case.

Seriously though, how did you not know what CA is? I feel like you've been around modeling for at least as long as i have. CA was one of the first things i picked up! This is the second time today i've been shocked, lol. There is another "veteran" teen modeler i know who didn't know some other even more basic things... its crazy! I was about to get in a bigger rant about this, but i'll do it elsewhere, lol!sign1

 

[TruckLover]

Thanks Ralph :mrgreen:

Thanks Josh and Chris

Okay Okay, ill admit, it is pretty sad that i didnt know what CA glue was, but i never had to use it before, always been able to use the Testors Glue in the red tubes :mrgreen:

So with that said, where does one get the CA glue meant for hobby's??? On the web??? What type would be best get? and i do want it to set and bond fast..... :twisted:

 

[TruckLover]

That doesn't sound reasonable at all!

sign1Im going to have to suck it up one of these days and just buy them, i want 2 of them bashed together, one of them just doesnt look like it would do it for me :twisted: :mrgreen:

I know some very irratated HO scale truck drivers and engineers who are waiting for fuel from your facility. Way to fail the people, man. Way to fail the people...

LMAO, well one of the refinery's is just about complete, looks like about another 6 months to a year in HO Scale time for the refinery to open

Seriously, i'd do it now. At the very least, i'd drill the holes. Once its built, its going to be difficult to do.

I would like to but i dont have any LED's and wireing for it and i dont have the money to buy them right now either :cry: :cry: so if i do, i will have to tackle the task while there all built-up

I'd use a pair of small flush cutters. thats just what i use. Knifes can work, but the flush cutter is easier.

Thats a good idea, I should pick up a pair of these as well. But i dont think i could get the cutters in the TINY space that is between the part and the "tree". They would be usefull after the parts were already off the "tree" so i could cut whats left off from the parts....

 

[jbaakko]

Hobby retailers. Check in the hobby section of Michael's, they might have some. Their website only shows Crazy Glue, though I swear they carried Zap-a-Gap in my local one. (Note "Glue & Adhestives" in general crafts section [yes it's spelled that way on their site!])

I buy mine from the LHS, they carry some from BSI Adhesives.

Also, While you're there, buy a container of Testors LIQUID plastic cement (little triangle container), not the gel tube stuff, it works wonders for clean, small applications.

 

[green_elite_cab]

sign1Im going to have to suck it up one of these days and just buy them, i want 2 of them bashed together, one of them just doesnt look like it would do it for me :twisted: :mrgreen:

the size never ends! you're gonna need a huge layout. Atleast you don't have any passenger/commuter trains. I worked out that a reasonable station length is somewhere around 6 feet (try fitting that on a layout easily!)

I would like to but i dont have any LED's and wireing for it and i dont have the money to buy them right now either :cry: :cry: so if i do, i will have to tackle the task while there all built-up

No, all I'm saying is drill the holes for it now. For example, the cracking tower is going to need some holes for the lights to go in. If you drill it all now before you build it completely, all you have to do is thread the wires through. It just might make things easier without all the other parts in the way.

Thats a good idea, I should pick up a pair of these as well. But i dont think i could get the cutters in the TINY space that is between the part and the "tree". They would be usefull after the parts were already off the "tree" so i could cut whats left off from the parts....

Of course you can! I use mine to cut in small places like that on a regular basis! I have done several brass trees smaller than that as well. you only need to make a tiny little snip! I use my flush cutters for almost every metal part.

Also, While you're there, buy a container of Testors LIQUID plastic cement (little triangle container), not the gel tube stuff, it works wonders for clean, small applications.

I also agree with jbaako. This is the glue i use as well when i'm not in need of super glue. I used to use the gel tubes (in fact, i found an old one unused the other day from when i built airplanes....) but they do get a bit messy. The triangular bottle is far superior. Sometimes you need to clean the tip out with a needle, and sometimes its hard to squeeze out, but its usually not a problem.

Another good glue is Micro Krystal clear, if you don't already have some. its great for attaching clear things to stuff.

 

[TruckLover]

the size never ends! you're gonna need a huge layout. Atleast you don't have any passenger/commuter trains. I worked out that a reasonable station length is somewhere around 6 feet (try fitting that on a layout easily!)

Now that would be an awesome station :thumb: :mrgreen:

No, all I'm saying is drill the holes for it now. For example, the cracking tower is going to need some holes for the lights to go in. If you drill it all now before you build it completely, all you have to do is thread the wires through. It just might make things easier without all the other parts in the way.

How do i know how big of holes to drill?

Of course you can! I use mine to cut in small places like that on a regular basis! I have done several brass trees smaller than that as well. you only need to make a tiny little snip! I use my flush cutters for almost every metal part.

I put a pair of flush cutters in my shopping cart on a web site :mrgreen: along with a TON of other hobby tools ($116 worth )

Another good glue is Micro Krystal clear, if you don't already have some. its great for attaching clear things to stuff.

Last night i was chatting with Josh (JB) and he told me i should get some Insta-Cure+, Insta-Flex+, and Super-Gold+ as well as some De-Bonder in case i mess up or need to unstick my fingers :twisted: ops:

This stuff dries and sets REALLY fast and he said its great stuff to work with. I also added one of each of them to my shopping cart along with those hobby tools which included a Mini Vise, 12 Pcs. File Set, 6 Pcs. Tweezers Set, Sanding stick and a 10 pack of 220 grit sandpaper for it, 5in. Flush Cutters, Fine Tooth Razor Saw, and a Precision Cutting Kit with Small 5 1/2" x 9" Cutting Mat

 

[green_elite_cab]

Now that would be an awesome station :thumb: :mrgreen:

Yeah, if i ever do make that Northeast Corridor layout, i think i'll just make one whole leg of my layout one station. That should be good enough.

How do i know how big of holes to drill?

I would just buy whichever light and casting i wanted for it and measure it. Even then, the wires aren't very big,so it shouldn't be a problem. Hopefully you have a pinvise and a set of drill bits for it!

I put a pair of flush cutters in my shopping cart on a web site :mrgreen: along with a TON of other hobby tools ($116 worth )

Are you sure you're not rich? Granted, i spent $400 two weeks ago at that Commuter Rail convention, but before that, i had barely bought a thing (hadn't bought anything serious for two months, and even then, i didn't spend much).

Meanwhile, its as if you're getting things left and right. better not be maxing out anyones credit cards!

Last night i was chatting with Josh (JB) and he told me i should get some Insta-Cure+, Insta-Flex+, and Super-Gold+ as well as some De-Bonder in case i mess up or need to unstick my fingers :twisted: ops:

I don't know anything about particular brands, but the important thing is that you get "thick" CA. this is the most versatile kind in my opinion. It also works with the accelerator. I've never needed a debonder, my fingers usually pull apart alright.

Ironically, the whole point of CA was to bond skin. It was developed in the second world war as a "liquid bandage". It never really caught on, i haven't ever tried to test it to see how it works.... Not sure i want to!

This stuff dries and sets REALLY fast and he said its great stuff to work with. I also added one of each of them to my shopping cart along with those hobby tools which included a Mini Vise, 12 Pcs. File Set, 6 Pcs. Tweezers Set, Sanding stick and a 10 pack of 220 grit sandpaper for it, 5in. Flush Cutters, Fine Tooth Razor Saw, and a Precision Cutting Kit with Small 5 1/2" x 9" Cutting Mat

You'd be surprised how much "fast" isn't fast enough. Always have accelator, it makes fast instant. I can see you are purchasing a lot of the necessary tools. I'm surprised you didn't have many of these things already! I figured them to be standard equipment for the models i've seen you build.

 

[TruckLover]

Are you sure you're not rich? Granted, i spent $400 two weeks ago at that Commuter Rail convention, but before that, i had barely bought a thing (hadn't bought anything serious for two months, and even then, i didn't spend much).

Meanwhile, its as if you're getting things left and right. better not be maxing out anyones credit cards!

hehehehe nope :mrgreen: Well i didnt place the order yet, and no i can assure you im not rich and neither is my family lol. I have a whole $1.53 in my checking account right now, wall1 wall1 i really need another job, i applied for a couple warehouses near my house and im really hoping one of them comes thru :cry:

I can see you are purchasing a lot of the necessary tools. I'm surprised you didn't have many of these things already! I figured them to be standard equipment for the models i've seen you build.

I dont know how ive gotten by without these common tools either

 

[jbaakko]

Honestly, I think the setting stuff is/was a waste of my money. I've since run out (almost 4 years ago) and never looked back. The 5-15 second Insta-cure+ as worked for me. I'm sure I'll be kicking myself in a few weeks, when I find a use for it though!

 

[green_elite_cab]

hehehehe nope :mrgreen: Well i didnt place the order yet, and no i can assure you im not rich and neither is my family lol. I have a whole $1.53 in my checking account right now, wall1 wall1 i really need another job, i applied for a couple warehouses near my house and im really hoping one of them comes thru :cry:

another job? you're already working one? I know its exciting to build hobby stuff, but i think maybe the answer is to slow down, otherwise you won't have enough time to spend the money cause you'll be working!

I dont know how ive gotten by without these common tools either

I know! when i started the hobby in HO back in the day, (for a year i was sticking to O scale before i realized i couldn't afford it), my parents went and bought me a "model railroad tool-kit" for christmas. That thing was a god send, not only for the trains but for everything else i did. Before then, my models were jokes, to say the least, lol.

Honestly, I think the setting stuff is/was a waste of my money. I've since run out (almost 4 years ago) and never looked back. The 5-15 second Insta-cure+ as worked for me. I'm sure I'll be kicking myself in a few weeks, when I find a use for it though!

That really depends. I assemble a lot of Resin models. Not to many glues work favorably with resin plastic. The thing that really drove me to pick up accelerator was after i built the Walthers Guard shack. The kit is completely made of resin plastics except for the fence posts and wires. You have no idea how MINDBENDINGLY annoying it was to glue these parts together, since it took a long time to set, and i had no clamps to hold the walls square. I eventually got it together (you can see it in my older pictures, but i've since relocated it to the "one day when i have more room" box), but never again!

Especially now that i have been assembling a lot of resin kits, as well as modifying things. I have three GP15-1 resin kits, i still need to finish components of my Arrow III EMUs and other commuter engines i just got, which are all resin. A normal glue would be a pain. In the case of the GP15, the shell is made up of so many wierd parts that you NEED CA and accelerator because its difficult to hold it together right.

Additionally, CA and accelerator are good for filling up gouges or holes where there shouldn't be. I've used them to fill in the cab numberboards of my C32-8 (it is hollow for no reason, but to small to light the number boards), as well as filling in the dynamic brake area on my NJ transit F40PH (backdating the bachmann model. Using the accelerator allows you to quickly build layers an fill in gaps (hence the term gap filling CA).

 

[ZeldaTheSwordsman]

Plus, a small drop can change the shape of a figure's hat, or turn a thin figure into a portly one.

 

[jbaakko]

Additionally, CA and accelerator are good for filling up gouges or holes where there shouldn't be. I've used them to fill in the cab numberboards of my C32-8 (it is hollow for no reason, but to small to light the number boards), as well as filling in the dynamic brake area on my NJ transit F40PH (backdating the bachmann model. Using the accelerator allows you to quickly build layers an fill in gaps (hence the term gap filling CA).

Interesting idea! :thumb:

 

[CN_Fan]

The Borg called, they're asking when they could move in.......

 

[MasonJar]

Using the accelerator allows you to quickly build layers an fill in gaps (hence the term gap filling CA).

While you can fill gaps with multiple layers of "thin" CA set quickly by using an accelerator, there is "true" gap filling CA that has a thicker formulation. Accelerator is good for it too, since it is has a longer cure time in my experience.

Another stand-by for filling gaps, especially air bubbles in resin castings, is to fill the hole with baking soda, and apply (thin) CA.

Andrew

 

[green_elite_cab]

While you can fill gaps with multiple layers of "thin" CA set quickly by using an accelerator, there is "true" gap filling CA that has a thicker formulation. Accelerator is good for it too, since it is has a longer cure time in my experience.

Another stand-by for filling gaps, especially air bubbles in resin castings, is to fill the hole with baking soda, and apply (thin) CA.

Andrew

This is true i forgot to mention that you need the thick CA. i've tried using it on regular "thin" CA, didn't work!

I'll have to try the Baking soda idea, because a few of my resin kits have bubbles (thankfully not visibile on the outside) that need to be addressed.