I’ve chased down everything I need to get back to work on my build. I still have some tools to move from downstairs to the upstairs former office/present day workbench. I don’t know about you guys, but for me this is a bit of a process. I need to get the juices flowing again. I guess maybe it’s a Zen thing of sorts. Being in the right frame of mind, and after several years simply remembering what the heck you were doing. Here’s where we are:
There has been some damage, even though I stored everything very carefully, so repairs first!
I also have a start on the base, though it is very rudimentary at this point. I decided to hand lay the track instead of just using a piece of flex track. I’ll probably lay rails first as that’s a pretty easy task and will let me work my way into this!
Lastly stealing a page or two from Professor Karns, RTFM! How we got here and where we are going. I’ve got the hard part licked. I got started. I’m looking forward to the updated 3D printed details set that’s on order. That will give me nicer pieces, and some duplicates to sharpen my techniques on these small castings, as well as more things to add to the scene.
That is funny - this is pretty exactly from where I restarted my build a couple of months ago after I had to take a break for work related reasons. Don’t worry, you get pretty quickly back into the flow. Looking forward to following your progress!
I laid the rail on the ties this morning. I haven’t hand laid track in, oh, I can’t remember when! I won’t do it again on a foam base. Insufficient rigidity! The foam doesn’t take spikes well, and the low profile ties don’t have much strength. I made it work, but if I wanted to do it again, I believe I’d use a 2" foam base and cut in a Homasote piece for the track. I damaged a tie or two, and the foam base caved a little in another spot. I’m leaving those, as they may enhance the appearance of dilapidated track. I had wanted to spike every tie but the strength of the base material won’t allow it.
The ballast is dry, and the repairs are almost done. I’ve set the main structure in place. So far, so good. The stairway repair was interesting. It’s one thing to build it, and another to repair it in place after it’s broken. You do some interesting gymnastics with tweezers. I used Evergreen Canopy glue for this application. If you apply it to the pieces, then allow it to tack up for about five minutes, it will grab, but allow you to move things around before final setting takes place. It’s great stuff, what Walthers Goo should have been.
I decided to place the individual structures and parts on the base to see what they look like. They are just sitting in place for now. This, for me, is a dangerous time. I call it “End of project tunnel vision”. You’re close, and you want to finish and see the results. If I’m going to goof, it’s usually here, so time to slow down a bit. I have a couple of stairs to do, a few other minor things, then scenery, and all those detail parts to paint and place!
Thanks everyone for the kind words. I’m looking forward to moving along. I had a painting project take up more of my day today than I’d prefer, but that stuff happens. I also found one pothole. As careful as I was, I managed to lose a stair stringer. The surviving one was in the box with the completed structures, no idea how that happened as I use a plastic tray to keep “in work” parts separate from unstarted work which stays in the kit box. I did find the welding shop roof as well. to replace the missing stringer I cut one from the chipboard sheet that has the hand trucks, grates, hand trucks, and so forth. That material is tough enough to handle fine knife work without splitting. I painted the survivor red and pressed it into the chipboard sheet to leave an impression, then after the paint dried I cut it out. It’s not perfect, but I believe it will do. Not bad for freehand with an 11 blade! It will be mostly hidden under the treads anyway. I just have to paint them both to get rid of that red paint!
I ordered some stair stringer stock today. Great idea. I keep a stash of strip wood handy. I didn’t know they offered stair stringers. Thanks for that!
You bet Alan! Yeah, scratching stair stringers is fine just a lot of work. Commercially prepared stringers save a bunch of time and are laser cut usually so very accurate.
I’ve got the hard part licked. I got started. I’m looking forward to the updated 3D printed details set that’s on order. That will give me nicer pieces, and some duplicates to sharpen my techniques on these small castings, as well as more things to add to the scene.
