Freelance 2016-2

[alcanman]

Love the Guilford U18B Reinhard - I'm so envious :cry:

I've been waiting for the new run of U18Bs from Intermountain as they will come factory fitted with ESU Loksound.

Your loco #407, is definately from the old run which would not have been fitted with ESU. As Streamline Backshop specialise in dcc installations, I wonder if they have added the sound?

Mal

[faraway]

... Your loco #407, is definately from the old run which would not have been fitted with ESU. As Streamline Backshop specialise in dcc installations, I wonder if they have added the sound?...

I am confused too.
a. I could not find any information about Loksound select decoders used in the old run of U18B
b. This is the model I bought, got the last one. It is out of stock now
http://store.sbs4dcc.com/HOInterMountain...dSoun.aspx
They write
-Factory Equipped with DCC sound decoder
-Factory New
-On the packing list: part number 49452S-03
c. The model came in the original Intermountain box but without ANY papers.
d. The PCB has the quite modern 21 pin socket
e. The cabling looks brand new and not home grown or modified
f. It is a Loksound "select" sound decoder.

g. This CSX U18B
http://store.sbs4dcc.com/HOInterMountain...CSoun.aspx
is listed with " Factory Equipped with ESU LokSound Select sound decoder". It looks like the original series too (I have one in DC) and also "Backorders Not Accepted".

May be it is a mystery decoder :o I sent an email asking for the origin of the model. May be I get an explanation.

[faraway]

I have got an answer:

"That is a factory install. IM is now shipping all units with LokSound. I
guess I got that one in after the change from Soundtraxx to ESU.
To my knowledge anything I get from them at this point would be ESU."

That is crisp and clear :-)

[alcanman]

Thanks for the info, Reinhard. Very interesting indeed.

Intermountain list the following loco numbers for their forthcoming run of Guilford U18Bs - #400, #404, #406, #408.

Maybe it won't be too long before they are released.

[faraway]

Got a second affordable used U23B at ebay. It got a Tsunami too and they run nicely together. I am afraid the new engine will collect a lot of dirt within the next 48 hours

IMG_4893 by faraway52, on Flickr

[faraway]

I am tempted to try something new, switching the season to winter but no snow. Just the cold and dark impression. A perfect summer project.....

I got a Heki product similar to the Scenic express Supertree value pack. A first try is to treat one branch/tree with the black rattle can and a light spray with the gray primer rattle can. (There is much more light gray on the photo than on the tree on the layout )

IMG_4901 by faraway52, on Flickr

Another key test will be applying brown grass over the existing green grass with the Noch GrassMaster. The green grass has been toned down with black and brown dry brushing already.

I have been greatly inspired by the fantastic layout "New England" of MikeC
http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/14628

[faraway]

Testing different brands and kind of ground cover.
Applying ground cover with the GrassMaster is one side of the coin. Getting the results tomorrow after vacuum might be a different story.

IMG_4903 by faraway52, on Flickr
IMG_4902 by faraway52, on Flickr

[mountaingoatgreg]

Reinhard,

Those are very interesting looking trees, I have some of the Scenic Express ones but need some lower bushier trees. This Heki product looks more like what I need.

I also a agree that they have a very early winter look to them, I have always wanted to build a winter diorama depicting that cruddy cold damp part of winter.

Keep up the great work as always!

[faraway]

The glue set pretty fast and I could vacuum in the late afternoon.

It works to brush white glue and water over the green grass and apply brown grass with the GrassMaster. Two layers of static grass look even more 3-dimensional.
Some bushes made of clump foliage got a layer of brown grass too. That did not work and looked strange. The bushes have been removed. I have to make new ones matching the season.
The kind of grass on the next photo is somewhat light. I will proceed with the other mix on the second photo. It contains woodland earth bled turf. The bare ground got a black wash.
IMG_4905 by faraway52, on Flickr

This is in the very background. I learned the "trees" are extremely delicate. Not a big problem (except me, breaking a lot in parts ) in the very background but I have to think about placement in the middle and foreground. The grass got some black wash spots too.
IMG_4904 by faraway52, on Flickr

Playing with the black and light gray rattle can on the "trees" is an interesting process at the balcony. It depends very much on the light if it looks to dark or to light. The base color is middle brown. That is not bad and the trees did not get 100% covered. Some brown spots are ok.

[faraway]

An impression of the new atmosphere.

IMG_4906 by faraway52, on Flickr

and the Monday sections to be vacuumed in the early evening. No photo of the west wing of the layout with the same brown grass.

IMG_4907 by faraway52, on Flickr

[faraway]

May be another backdrop is more suitable to support the new season.

IMG_4908 by faraway52, on Flickr

[faraway]

Monday was the grassmaster battle day. This morning was the merciless revenge of the vacuum.
(The vacuum ran hot and the bag was full of brown fibers blocking the air)

The overall impression has changed a lot. No more green trees and all green grass became brown. I need to get some matching trees and bushes back.
The light is more important then before. With a lot of light glows the grass friendly golden. With dim light is it a depressing brown.

IMG_4914 by faraway52, on Flickr
IMG_4913 by faraway52, on Flickr
IMG_4911 by faraway52, on Flickr
IMG_4911 by faraway52, on Flickr
IMG_4910 by faraway52, on Flickr
IMG_4909 by faraway52, on Flickr

[Twist]

Hi,
Nice new look on your layout. Maybe the backdrop needs some more grey and some darker clouds. I like the new engines.

Regards,Chris

[faraway]

The brown grass has a tendency to look as beautiful as grain fields ready to be harvested. A shot of diluted black paint ruins the beauty. A sample three days old
IMG_4915 by faraway52, on Flickr
and a fresh patch. The grass soakes the paint like a sponge. It will take at least two days to dry.
(Make sure your laser printer is not under one of that areas and there are no holes in the plywood, yes I learned that :o )
IMG_4916 by faraway52, on Flickr

I thought it would be great idea to get dead tree #1614 from Woodlands high class scenic series.
Someone did not fully understand the reason of the coat I will try some solvents to release the trapped fine branches.
IMG_4917 by faraway52, on Flickr

Chris, the backdrop is a "multipurpose" backdrop serving New England as well as SOCAL and Florida. It will be replaced when an all new layout is built. It is collecting spots and marks of many layout themes. Not beautiful but somewhat blue

[faraway]

Got some trees this morning

IMG_4924 by faraway52, on Flickr
IMG_4923 by faraway52, on Flickr
IMG_4921 by faraway52, on Flickr
IMG_4920 by faraway52, on Flickr