Weekend Photos - September 2022

[robert.]

That photo in from 1951. I can't find when that structure came down. Could be 1984 that it was demolished. There is a photo from 2012 showing a partial turntable pit.

[healey36]

Shot in lousy light, a small crew from Western Union finally came in to get the lines up on this short section:



I picked up a couple spools of Stretch Magic, a stretchable cord made for stringing beads and jewelry. The poles run down the table edge adjacent to the double-tracked mainline, so I figure they'll be subjected to the occasional arm-waving/overly-exuberant layout visitor. Using a stretchable line seems optimal to avoid damage, and I want to avoid breaking the poles. It might not look the best (no sag), but seems worth a try. An experiment, for sure.

[robert.]

strange sight for bucks county.

[healey36]

Hmmm...maybe they're back east checking on their equipment.

Moving ahead with making a smaller paper/cardstock/matt board station for the contemplated clockwork display:



Loosely based on a prewar Dorfan 425, started assembly last night. I added a few interior walls where the original had none, primarily to provide strength. This is going to get the glitter treatment, so absolute precision is not required. Experimented with using MS Excel to print windows that replicate the originals; that seems to work, but not sure the paper is translucent enough to allow for an interior light. A bit of trim around the bottom edge, then off to the paint booth later today or tomorrow.

[healey36]

I see some printable translucent vellum paper on Amazon, 8.5x11. Not a cheap solution at eight or nine bucks a pack, and I'm left to wonder how well that stuff would stand up to poking little fingers? I used wax-paper for frosted glazing in a Lionel station once years ago, and that seemed to work fairly well.

[robert.]

Line the inside with tinfoil. Get yourself a 100 watt bulb. You’ll see see light coming out those window.

[healey36]

"Bonfire of the Vanities", in O-gauge.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

I see some printable translucent vellum paper on Amazon, 8.5x11. Not a cheap solution at eight or nine bucks a pack........

Maybe parchment paper?

[healey36]

I tried some parchment paper that I took from a roll the wife has. She uses it for various kitchen projects. I had to trim it down to 8.5”x11”. The problem was it jammed in the printer. I don’t know if that was because it had a bit of curl to it, or if was too light to feed properly.

I found some “translucent printable” vellum paper at Amazon, so I ordered a pack of that stuff. Basically tracing paper, it comes 8.5”x11”, so it’s sized properly for the printer. Hopefully it’s not too light to feed. Sarge suggested a piece of acetate or overhead film in front; might try that too.

[healey36]

September's headed out the door. Not much visible progress in the last few days, but things are actually starting to fall into line:



A couple more coats of medium gray matte spray paint (after adding a couple panels for signage over the doors), then some red paint on the "interior" doors. Took about ten coats of Tamiya acrylic insignia red to cover the medium gray; it would have been smart to have painted them red before cementing them in place.

I cut a base from some weird masonite-like material that came in an assembly-required curio cabinet I bought for the wife a few years ago (it was packing material, not leftover parts from the cabinet ). The stuff is about 3/8-inch thick, and looks/feels like "non-tempered" masonite. I figured the extra height would be a bit closer to the original's base specs. The original base was painted a burnt-orange color, similar to the Lionel 2656 stock car on the left.

I went ahead and ordered a pack of translucent vellum paper from Bezos, then used the HP InkJet to print the windows. I was concerned it might smear running through the printer and it did, but only on one. I just need eight full-size and this sheet provides twelve, so I should be good. Any left over can be cut down for the two windows needed for the interior wall (station office). I'm wondering if I should give the sheet a shot of clear matte to sort of seal the ink...what do you think? The paper seems pretty sturdy, so I'm wondering if I need the acetate. I do think cutting the individual windows and cementing them in place may be a challenge; we'll see.

Howard Lamey had sent me some clock-face graphics similar to those found on the cardboard buildings one could buy at the five-n-ten back in the day. I scanned those, removed the "Merry Christmas" graphics, and replaced it with "DORFAN". It's so small no one will likely notice, but a bit of homage to the inspiration. I glued the clock-faces back and front on a couple pieces of black matte board, then used some scraps and some black acrylic craft paint to fashion a clock for the track-side of the station.

The original's roof featured a turned wood plinth with a flagpole. A trip to the dollhouse shop down the street yielded a couple of 1/12-scale newel posts. I cut one in half and figured I could use that; just need to drill a hole down through it for the pole.

The mansard roof is next, then I can start final assembly.

Oh, and the prewar Lionel 2656 stock car is from a fellow tinplater, sent to me the other day. Hondo and I have the 2656 on the search list for York in a few weeks, a car I've only seen in photos. This is the final version, stamped numbers, blackened journals, nickel trim, and electric faux-knuckle box couplers. This guy said he had a few of them and that he'd send me one (hoarder ). I expect this was the worst of the lot, pretty well worn, but at least I know what I'm looking for. Hopefully we find a nice one.