Search results

This picture shows that the mold is made in layers. It’s four layers high. The top (fourth) layer is the tunnel opening. It’s hidden inside the white styrene wall. The piece for the opening is glued on the vertical centerline of the third layer, and it’s flush with the bottom. The...

I started by cutting out the tunnel opening from a piece of styrene. I use the scribe and snap method of cutting styrene. Maybe a quick explanation of this should be covered. To cut styrene, scribe a line where you want the cut and snap it apart. I use an Xacto knife with a #11 blade...

It all started when I needed a single track tunnel portal for a layout that I’m helping to build. A while back, I built a mold to cast some double track portals for our club layout, so I figured why not change the dimensions and make a mold for a single track portal. Building this was pretty...

For materials, I used some scrap wood, 0.030 styrene sheets and the glues in the picture. I use non flammable contact cement when I glue styrene to another material. I’ve heard that contact cements like Walthers Goo will attack plastic. I can’t confirm it, but why take the chance? The two on...

I thought someone might be interested in the process I used to make the mold that was used to cast this tunnel portal. The portal casting is HO. The casting needs a little more sanding then painting, and it will be ready to go.

Remember, I said it "ain’t gonna be pretty". :) George

I forgot the picture!

Speaking of tanks, here’s a small industry with tanks that I built on our club layout. EF GAS WORKS refers to our three elder farten members (I’m one). It’s made with 2" pipe and caps with the walkway hiding the seam. I'll let you guess what's stored in the tanks. :) George

I read somewhere that running trains on a hollow door layout is noisy. Does anyone have any experience with this? I have an old closet door begging to be used for a switching layout. George

Phillip, To resize your picture use a program called Paint. It comes with Windows. (If you're a MAC user, stop right now - this doesn't apply.) Click your start button to get your list of programs and go to Accessories - you'll find it somewhere in there. Open your picture with Paint...

I don't think you are going to get a satisfactory answer to that question. If the building was assembled using styrene cement, the plastic pieces were essentially welded together. That means you are going to have to cut the pieces apart, which ain’t gonna be pretty. George

Blake, I never met a model railroader that had a neat work are - how long did it take you to clear things off to take the photo? :) Last night, at the train club, a friend told me that I should never clean my work bench, I wouldn’t be able to find anything. You may regret what you did...

Blake, I had a friend that had the world’s messiest desk. He had a sign on the wall above it saying, “If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, what does an empty desk signify?” :) George

Not only do you have a beautiful model, the work bench looks clean. Are you real? :) George

Nearly finished? I wish my finished stuff looked that good. George

It looks good. I'm in HO, but enjoy seeing good work in any scale. I'm looking forward to seeing more pictures as you progress. George

I’m interested, but I hope it’s not like a government program, where if it isn’t successful you can’t shut it down. :) George

They look great, Eddie. Did you hand paint the graffiti? George

Thanks for you comments, Steve. There are no special secrets. I started with a base of foam core. After shaping it, I covered some areas that were too rough with plaster impregnated gauze. The rest I left bare. Next came two coats of latex paint. I bought a gallon of an ugly brown from...

Thanks Chris. The module is HO, 2x4 feet. The track is down and wired and I hope to have the ballasting finished tomorrow. I work in fits and starts – I belong to a model railroad club with a permanent layout that takes a lot of my modeling time. George