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  Using "Big Blue Light"?
Posted by: ezdays - 01-27-2022, 10:46 AM - Forum: Forums Issues, requests, and FAQ - Replies (2)

Just in case you missed it, we have a problem with our "Big Blue Light" mode. We have a total of 17 people using that mode, and when they post, they will get strings of HTML code ( <p><bs></p> ) throughout their posts and PM's. You can avoid this by selecting the"Big Blue Dark" mode, (lower right on any screen).

We are sorry for any inconvenience, but it's the best we can do until we find out why.

We'll let you know when we've fixed the issue.

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  Determining Car Era?
Posted by: Amalynn - 01-23-2022, 06:09 PM - Forum: Upper Berth - Replies (2)

So I model specifically from 1937-1942, and have found myself with a lot of difficulty knowing what models, roadnames, and liveries are appropriate for interchange in the time that I model. I was wondering if any of you might have suggestions for keywords, recommended reading, suggestions of anything specific, or just general advice to help guide decisions on whether or not a car at a swap meet, on ebay, or just for sale at a retailer is appropriate to my time period or not.

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  Electronics Captchas
Posted by: ngauger - 01-22-2022, 06:45 PM - Forum: Hobo's Camp - Replies (4)

I had to share this here!
Just seen on Facebook:

The Captchas are getting out of hand!
https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t...e=61F27307

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  Weekly Photo Fun 1/21 - 1/27/22
Posted by: bdw9535 - 01-21-2022, 04:59 PM - Forum: Shutterbug area - Replies (19)

WPMA-19 eases up the siding to the Lower Bank team track.

Bruce

   

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  Some observations of prototype railcar trucks for weathering
Posted by: Charlie B - 01-18-2022, 07:59 PM - Forum: Weathering - Replies (5)

Hi gang
Before I retired I took some close up shots of items that may interest you when weathering the wheels and bolsters of equipment. I will try to share some of my observations with you.

There are a lot of differences between roller bearing and Babbitt bearing trucks. Here are both types of trucks used on a caboose. This roller bearing truck shows there is a little rust on the wheel       
This one is a modified friction bearing truck. It can show some rust depending on how much the wheel was cleaned when the roller bearing was installed.       
and last is the babbitt (or friction) bearing truck that was the norm for most cars before the late 50's. There is no rust on the wheels because the wheels always had journal oil on them because the journals don't have a rear seal around the axle. You also want to remember when these cars were humped the journal covers were opened and a man would be adding oil using a tube as the cars were pushed over the hump. Many times his aim wasn't as good as it could have been     

I also took some close ups of the Blunt truck that were on the ALCo S-1  It too had friction bearings and the outside surface of the wheel always was oily with no rust. Keeping the truck side frames clean was always a job because there was enough journal oil to keep the dust sticking        

Attached are several more photos that will enlighten a little more. 
Charlie



Attached Files Thumbnail(s)
               
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  JGL MarkII
Posted by: jglfan - 01-18-2022, 02:25 PM - Forum: HO Modeling - Replies (15)

Hello everyone!  I've been away for a long time.  Sold my house in New Jersey, I think my last posts were photos of the dismantling of the first John Galt Line.  That was 5 to 6 years ago.  About 4 years ago I started a new version.  I'm even busier in retirement than I was while working!  I thought I'd just let you know that I've started over and see if I can post a couple photos.  

OK, my files are too large, will have to resize.  Can't do it right now as it will take me awhile to figure out.  And I have something else to do.  I will try one of my photos I posted long ago for now

       

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  Barry Bee
Posted by: ezdays - 01-18-2022, 10:45 AM - Forum: All Other Hobbies - Replies (4)

It's been a long time since I posted anything regarding my woodworking challenges. A while back my son bought what he thought was a decent-looking bee whirligig for his wife's garden. What he got was not what he ordered, Amazon gave him full credit and he didn't have to return it to China. So he asked me if I couldn't make it look like a bee. I gave him a new head, a fatter body and put bearing in his wings, then a new paint job to make him look like Barry Bee. The first photo is what he got, the other two are what it looks like now:

OLD BEE:
   

NEW BEE:
   

   

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  A First Attempt at Weathering
Posted by: CNR5103 - 01-18-2022, 10:33 AM - Forum: Weathering - Replies (7)

Saying that I was reluctant to weather my cars is an understatement.  I was simply horrified at the idea to take a new car out of its box and make a mess of it with paints or chalks, not to mention a car made from a resin kit and painstakingly painted and lettered.  I had read magazine articles but couldn't decide to go ahead.  And I must admit that I didn't always like the the results I saw. 

After reading advice from Doctorwayne many times and seeing his nice weathered cars, I finally decided to go ahead.  I grabbed a car I had planned to modify and used an airbrush to follow Doctorwayne's advice.  For this first attempt, I did three different things :

  • a light coat of  Red Brown acrylic paint all over the car so the lettering was not so obvious;
  • a light coat of Earth color acrylic paint on the bottom of the car and trucks to simulate dust;
  • a light coat of Black acrylic paint on the roof and top of ends to simulate soot.

All of those paints were well diluted with water.

Here are some photos.

Before 

   

After

   

Left : Weathered car.                  Right : a similar car unweathered.

   

Top : Weathered car.                  Bottom : a similar car unweathered.

   

It was easier than I thought and I am pleased with those results.  I should have been more generous on the coat of dust on the bottom of the car and trucks though.  I don't like heavy weathering and I tried to stay on the light side, maybe too light.  I will have to practice a lot more before taking one of the kits I have built myself.  There are also other techniques described by Doctorwayne which I should try.

It's just the beginning of a new journey.

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  Testing only please
Posted by: ezdays - 01-15-2022, 10:47 AM - Forum: Forums Issues, requests, and FAQ - Replies (29)

A few members have issues with HTML characters being added to their posts an PM's, so we are doing some testing here to see if we can pinpoint the source of the problem. If you are having this problem where extra characters are being added to your posts, such as:
</p><p><br></p><p>
Then let us know by posting here. If you are not having this problem please, DO NOT POST HERE unless we ask you to. Thank you. we need to find out why this is only affecting a few members, then what we can do to get rid of it.

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  Weekly Photo Fun 1/14 - 1/20/22
Posted by: bdw9535 - 01-14-2022, 04:34 PM - Forum: Shutterbug area - Replies (3)

Nothing new from me this week.   YPMA-02 making a pick up of an empty refrigeration car at Flying Fish Brewery.

Bruce

   

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