What's New on the PRR Panhandle 2.0?

[Rufus T. Firefly]

So far, the contact cement seems to be working. One side of the arch is done; the other is curing. Fingers crossed.

Bet it's easier to accomplish if you uncross your fingers,

Yes, it is. And another tip, don't get your tongue stuck to the contact cement.

So many questions to ask and no answers that I need to hear - TMI, George, TMI.

[rogruth]

Without a lot of details about why, etc, a law enforcement person I know went to check on a probationer that he was fairly certain was smoking marijuana. His only way to check was a spit test. The parolee knew this because it was done on every visit so she stuck a small tube of super glue in her mouth and bit it. No test but jail anyway.

[G3750]

Updated 3/15/2020:

I have many irons in the fire this Ides of March. I am exploring some ways to super detail the bridge. Also underway is the WV scenery. That is taking much longer than I anticipated or wish. Visualizing a 3-D topography in a tight space is a challenge. Carrying it off will be even more challenging as it includes accurate placement of abutments, piers, and plaster castings.

The drainage ditch (about 5' long) between the eastern bridge approach tracks and the backdrop is nearly complete. It has received scenery and will soon get water.

George

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Hurray! Someone is doing some model RR'ing!

Any pictures??

[healey36]

Updated 3/15/2020:

I have many irons in the fire this Ides of March.

Does that now include teaching on-line classes?

[G3750]

Updated 3/15/2020:

I have many irons in the fire this Ides of March.

Does that now include teaching on-line classes?

Yes, La Roche has gone to an online format for the next 3 weeks or so. So I am narrating my PowerPoint slides and doing Q&A via email.

George

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Updated 3/15/2020:

I have many irons in the fire this Ides of March.

Does that now include teaching on-line classes?

Yes, La Roche has gone to an online format for the next 3 weeks or so. So I am narrating my PowerPoint slides and doing Q&A via email.

Sounds like fun.....

[healey36]

Can't be less work, that's for sure. The public schools here are shuttered for two weeks, but I can't see them reopening anytime soon in light of the current situation. They can't go online as too many kids have no computer access from home, so I suspect teachers will be called upon to send packets of work home. What the logistics for that will look like is still to be resolved.

Still no pics of Panhandle progress

[G3750]

Can't be less work, that's for sure. The public schools here are shuttered for two weeks, but I can't see them reopening anytime soon in light of the current situation. They can't go online as too many kids have no computer access from home, so I suspect teachers will be called upon to send packets of work home. What the logistics for that will look like is still to be resolved.

Still no pics of Panhandle progress

It's not less work - absolutely. In fact, as of yesterday, LaRoche is going on-line for the rest of the semester. I spent Tuesday and yesterday narrating a lecture (it didn't work Tuesday and had to be repeated). I've abandoned that approach in favor of an online meeting - Zoom. Today, I arranged for on-line meetings for both classes. And I spent a lot of time re-arranging the syllabi and assignments for the remainder of the semester. Total PITA.

Pics of the Panhandle are not likely any time soon. My camera is kaput and I'm watching my expenditures very carefully in this downturn. Plus, not a lot of modeling has taken place this past week. Too much college sturm und drang.

Sorry, Paul,

George

[healey36]

No worries, mate...keep your head down.

Paul

[G3750]

Updated 3/21/2020:

The drainage ditch on the WV side (between the tracks and the backdrop) is done! Trees, water, vegetation, and some deer were added to it and it has been fastened into place.

I have also constructed several line poles with 6 cross-arms per the photos of the prototype. These need double sets of cross-arms - in progress. I spoke to an excellent 2-rail O scale modeler who is an expert on Pennsy line poles. He's not on line so this was by phone. I mailed him the photos of the funky 3-pole contraption at the east end of the bridge. He gave me some advice but he's never seen anything like it. So it remains a bit of a mystery.

I am also in the process of pulling bus wire pairs under the bridge. These are for:

• Bridge - Eastbound
• Bridge - Westbound
• Steubenville
• River Route
• 12 VDC accessory bus

And finally, work on the scenery behind the stone arch and the WV shore continues.

George

[rogruth]

Good to hear.

[G3750]

Updated 4/10/2020:

Sorry it's been so long since I provided an update. Work continues apace:

• Work behind the stone arch and the first eastern approach span is done.
• The stone arch and pier #1 are now permanently installed on the layout. They have been screwed in place.
• Wiring for accessories near the arch has been installed and tested.
• I extended the hillside behind the arch a further 6" west into the river. I needed to do this because I found that I couldn't hide my poor backdrop painting without it. Now I can install trees that hide my crappy paint job.
• I am in the process of acquiring, assembling, and painting detail pieces for the WV side of the river.

George

[G3750]

Updated 5/20/2020:

Over the past few weeks, I've finished the scenery on both shorelines (sorry about the lack of photos, but that must continue for reasons that will become apparent later).

However, I did undertake a cleaning of the bridge (I've been swiffering! . The scarcity of 90% isopropyl alcohol (for track cleaning purposes) is an unintended consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. That meant I had to use 50% isopropyl alcohol. I put that on a swiffer pad, put the pad on the handle, and was able to reach into the bridge to clean it. Turns out there was a lot of gunk on the track. After the cleaning, I covered up the track with some butcher paper. We still have a lot of construction (about 60% of the benchwork) remaining. There will be much, much more dust and dirt flying around.

George

[rogruth]

Had not thought of a Swiffer for that use. Must remember that.