Yep, it's that time of the year again that folks are moving around, taking vacations and just going places that they wouldn't go to this past winter. Smart folks will take the train whether it be on an excursion trip or just to get where they're going. With that in mind, our new contest is going to be about passengers. We will have two contests and each person can enter either or both. They will both be about passenger trains. New trains, old trains, train depots, grand stations or just about anything to do with passenger service on the railroad. The first contest will be for the full-scale world, the second, naturally, is about the scale world.

Here are the meager rules, just to keep everyone on the same track:

1. The theme of these contest is passenger service on the railroad.
   
2. There are two categories, one for the full-scale world and one for the modeler's world. There are two threads started, one for each contest.
   
3. Each entrant can post up to five pictures in each category. These pictures can be of different views of the same subject or up to five different subjects.
   
4. Each person will be judged on their overall entries in each category.
   
5. We will have two voting polls at the end of the contest, one for each category. Certificates will be awarded for the winners.
   
6. Each picture must have been taken by the person entering it.
   
7. The model category can be from any layout, just as long as you are the one taking the picture.
   
8. In the model category, we do ask that we be told in the post, what the scale of the picture is, since this is a mixed scale contest.

Guys,

With the FT.Wayne connector schedule to start June first,is there any interest in a weekly report with some pictures?

If so,I will start a topic and use it as a continuing topic.

I have just read that Sylvan Scale Models has pushed a Great Lakes Ore Boat made exclusively for Walthers is due June 1st, 2009!! The boat measures 36" long (258' scale feet) and 6" wide!! It is designed for use with the Walthers Hulett Ore Unloader and Ore Dock kits. If a longer ship is desired, one can also purchase a add-on kit that includes a hull and deck section that can be added to the center of the ship to further lengthen the model. This kit is due June 15th, 2009.

The boat is not cheap, but man is it a BEAUTIFUL model!! Ill be ordering these when they come out to go with the steel series!!!

http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/696-10501

Check it out!!!

Caught these pictures as CNR 1337 exited the tunnel and rolled along the northern Lake Superior shore at Jackfish Bay.

Bachmann Spectrum 10-wheeler, lettered as Canadian National Railways #1337
[album]1061[/album]

Flat with scratchbuilt lumber load
[album]1062[/album]

Stewart Hobbies 55-ton hopper with aquarium gravel "coal" load
[album]1063[/album]

Athearn flat with Walthers tractors
[album]1064[/album]

Proto2000 8,000 gallon tanker lettered for Shell Oil
[album]1065[/album]

Accurail outside braced box car
[album]1066[/album]

Reefer in CNR's 1933 experimental aluminum paint. Was supposed to keep things cooler than the standard paint scheme - it didn't, and the paint only lasted about a year or so.
[album]1067[/album]

Another outside braced box
[album]1068[/album]

An older Athearn (?) steel sided caboose. The CNR tilted wafer on green leaf is circa WW2, so a bit of a mismatch with the rest of the train, but I liked the marker lights so picked it up from the LHS bargain table anyway...
[album]1069[/album]

Jackfish Bay is a set of two modules taking a single main line through a tunnel and across cribbed infill on the shore of Lake Superior in northern Ontario. Modelled by Jeff Hill, the modules now belong to <!-- w --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.hotrak.ca">www.hotrak.ca</a><!-- w -->

Andrew

While trying to decide on roofing material for my coalhouse trestle, I wanted to see what a shake roof would look like on it. I scaled down a roof picture, made multiple copies, and loosely put them in place. Looking at the results, I could see a wooden shingle roof would look pretty nice. After posting pics on my layout thread...a notion that I was not anticipating came up: Why not use the printed material?

Here are some pics of what I'm referring to:







I have my own opinion about using the print-outs...but I would like to hear yours.

Please cast your vote in the poll

Thank you

As all the layouts i have mad in the past (About 5 micro layouts), and my current Windowsill layout are all done i figured i would create a single thread with some pics of the all in it. As the majority are N or Z scale, N being my favourite as it is relatively tiny, so fits in my room.

So then, In time order, here are the pics:
First and foremost was the "N-Scale Disc" layout which started my building of layouts. The concept of it was to build as small of a round-and-round layout as possible. I was inspired when someone said that they used a CD-ROM as a turntable, at which point i thought - I know, why not build an entire layout on one. So the disk diorama series was born (A series of 4 layouts in 4 different scales, on 4 different types of disk - On which a train has to be able to run around it without and modification to the engine or rolling stock).
Here are some pic's: (More can be found on my website, as with all of the other layouts)




After the successful completion of the first disk, I thought, i can go smaller than this. The "Z-Scale Mini-disk" was born. An 8cm diameter mini-disc is now the home to a Z-scale addition to the disk series.
Piccy's:




With the Z-Scale one out the way, i realised i couldn't stop. Bring on the LP's (Old Records). A 33RPM 30cm diameter LP has been converted into an OO-Scale Logging layout. As this one is actually alot bigger proportionally to the rest, there was alot more room to try my hand at a bit of scenic work. I managed to fit the entirety of a logging layout into the space, from the mining camp at the top, to the logging pond and sawmill (Which was scratchbuilt from a pile of old matchsticks).
Some pictures:








However i wanted to test how small the gauges could physically go. Bring on HO-Scale on an 18cm "Single." To my amazement, it worked. The scenery somewhat failed due to lack of space, but the purpose of diorama succeded.
A couple of pics:



The disk series was then completed with a couple of none functional Dioramas. A pair of them on 3 1/2" Floppy-Disc's
Pictures:





There are however plans of the next great adventure. T-Scale. 3mm gauge 1/450 Scale. What disc could i possibly use. It has to be smaller than a Mini-disk, and cant be a floppy. I know, an SD Memory card.
(Layout coming to forums near you - when it's built that is, wont be for a while).

Completed Series so far:


After the disc series i made a small diorama as a Birthday present for my mum:




Finally, I come to my current layout. I have migrated from the miniature and gone for the Small. I wanted to build a large layout, however have no space in my room. As such I thought, I know, I'll build a layout on my windowsill. Interestingly, the first ever N-SCale train set i got (before I built any of the layouts), my parents let me buy because i convinced then that i could build a railway on my windowsill. I bought the set, and then did nothing with it (Except turn it into a tiny disc layout). But now, I've finally realised the dream, and my first proper layout is built. Of course I already have finished plans for the next one, but I'll stick to the current one for now.
Here is the general Plan:

Followed by some more recent pictures of the thing completed:


















Sorry about the lots of writing, I just thought i should introduce myself with an history of layouts. Anyway, I'll stop now before i accidentally lose everything i have just typed - knowing me that will happen if I'm not careful.
Bye.

Hi all,

I thought I might let you know that in case you recently updated to Adobe Flash Version 10 like I did you will have trouble copying and pasting pictures from Photobucket to the forum. Their system currently does not work with Version 10 but you can still post pics from Photobucket if you click the thumbnail of your photo and let it go big. Then you can click on the img code on that screen and the copy and paste functions will work.

I received a helpful and very prompt reply from the Photobucket staff today after i emailed them about my problem posting.

Ralph

I know the ACTRR is very very near completion but I have made a large error in the construction.
We have a lot of people stop to look at it and it is a great layout BUT , there is confined space for operators and visitors.
I am also thinking of double main line and the use of Kato Uni-track.
If I proceed with this I will rescue all the structures and try to re-use what I am able to. The layout was designed for switching and that never happens so new layout will have minimal switching and bi-directional mains. My helix works perfect but will go as well (it is a space monster).
Right now I am in the thinking stage and working on a plan of some sort.
It is tough to give back real estate but it has become an issue having the shop and friends over.
Mike

I hope I am not treading on any toes...please accept my apologies now if I am.

This sub-forum seems to suffer a bit from a lack of activity and popularity. I would have to conclude that it is something about its content....? It has been several weeks since the last Photo of the Month which I think was at least as widely subscribed in terms of contributions and other forms of appreciation as any other forum I frequent from day-to-day. I actually think the first/last one was very well attended.

Would we consider offering another? Is there something I am not seeing or appreciating? Do we need a host? Maybe some ideas?

I feel strongly that the both the caliber and number of imagery contributions, whether in the form of a weekly show-and-tell or a monthly friendly contest, is a banner bearer for all such forums. The various entries serve as fodder for getting people not only involved, but also more interested and appreciative of their own modelling efforts and layouts. It acts as a stimulus and motivation for onlookers as well as for those contributing. It is rare that one or two contributors monopolize the contests, or certainly not for long...and that is my point....eventually we begin to see some really top-notch modelling that helps us all to appreciate all that creative minds of all kinds can bring to the hobby...not just the initially strongest or "best". The variation in the subjective representations (entries) and the subjective nature of their judging makes for a better hobby IMO.

Well, I have shot my bolt. I would welcome any dialog or education that anyone can offer. I think we're missing something here.

-Crandell

Hi,
just thought I'd say hi. Im Tom C aka TCWORLD. Some of you might know me from AMR just thught I'd join here aswell.