Weekend Photos - February 2026

[webenda]

Miniaturization of incandescent bulbs was still a ways off, I suppose.

What year were those engines first sold?

GRAIN-OF-WHEAT
Smithsonian
National Museum of American History
Grain-of-Wheat miniature incandescent lamp
ID Number: EM.308667
Credit: from General Electric Company, Edison Lamp Works
Date Made: 1925

[healey36]

The 1096's first year of production was 1925; my grandfather's is a 1927 version. My recollection is that the 3015 was one-year-only, 1927. The Lionel 258 cracked the catalog in 1930.

There were slightly smaller profile bulbs available, but likely would have still looked a bit ungainly in those headlight fixtures. Personally, I like the larger bulbs.

[webenda]

I plan to add a mountain to my door layout with a cut rather than a tunnel for the track to snake through.

During the recent freeze, I was fascinated by the ice waterfalls in the road cuts.

ICEFALLS in KENTUCKY by Wayne Benda, on Flickr

I wonder if dripping hot glue in the cut would look like the scene above?

[Rufus T. Firefly]

I wonder if dripping hot glue in the cut would look like the scene above?

I don't think that hot glue will flow like water freezing. Viscosity and cooling differences. Maybe a clear fast setting epoxy brushed on downwards adding shorter and sorter layers working from the top?

[sarge]

White candle wax.

[healey36]

Hmmm...wax is an interesting idea, one I'd not have thought of. I could see that looking pretty decent.

Been working on another glitter-house modeled on The Maplewood from the 1932 Sears catalog of pre-cut/pre-fab houses:



Still a ways to go. That front entryway porch roof might be tricky, but it doesn't have to be perfect if it's gonna get slathered with PVA and glitter. Still, taking much longer to complete than it should.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Hmmm...wax is an interesting idea, one I'd not have thought of. I could see that looking pretty decent.

Could work if you avoid globs at the bottom; maybe "paint" with the candle?

Been working on another glitter-house modeled on The Maplewood from the 1932 Sears catalog of pre-cut/pre-fab houses:

Interesting location for the chimney....

[healey36]

I dumbed my version's chimney down a bit, but it's still a little crazy. It's also tough to figure out the entryway roofline from the conceptual drawing. It sure looks like it sits below the eaves.

Started cutting out and painting the roof this morning; hope to have that cemented into place by this evening.

[webenda]

It's also tough to figure out the entryway roofline from the conceptual drawing. It sure looks like it sits below the eaves.

Does this help? :: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/19-E ... 7209_zpid/

[healey36]

Helpful, yes, thanks.

Sears house in brick...someone had extra money to spend.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Sears house in brick...someone had extra money to spend.

Interesting example.

Looks like a big addition off the back, too. But it does give you the roof line on that side of the entrance. Just seems like the weather might accumulate on the other side behind the chimney. Oh, well....people don't take that into account all that often it seems.

[healey36]

Yup, but that'll be handy for me. Places of snow accumulation are a Godsend for covering up cut/fit issues on these glitter-houses

Seven year-old Owen stopped by yesterday and we ran trains for a few minutes while his mom was dropping off some stuff for an upcoming yard sale at the local hysterical society. Owen's pretty observant...he was asking me about the interior on the faux-tinplate station I built a few years ago. "What's a book stall?" he asked. I'd forgotten about that:



One of those times I got a bit too cute for my own good, I suppose. I had to explain that it's like the book/magazine shops at the airport you see when you go on your thrice-per-year trips to Disney World with your family (I still don't understand that fascination, but whatever). "Oh", he said.

BTW, the graphics are from a battered old Hornby station we have here, scanned, printed, and pasted in with a bit of acetate overlay. Kinda neat that the kid spotted it.

[healey36]

Inspired by all of the folks out there shoveling out, finished off the Maplewood:



Might stick a snow-covered fir tree in the front yard, but otherwise, calling this done.

[webenda]

Most excellent rendition, Healey.

Uh, the hole in the back of the building? Was that a feature of the Sears plan, in case of future problems like ICE agents knocking down the front door?

[healey36]

Thanks, Wayne, and nope, no easy access for intruders. Does, however, make it equally useful as a birdhouse