Ongoing Projects - Printable Version +- (https://bigbluetrains.com) +-- Forum: Mainline (https://bigbluetrains.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=17) +--- Forum: HO Modeling (https://bigbluetrains.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=21) +--- Thread: Ongoing Projects (/showthread.php?tid=10003)

Ongoing Projects - Amalynn - 01-05-2025 So back in May I joined the Bricktown Model Railroad Association in Mt Union, PA, a local museum and model railroad club modelling the East Broad Top, though doing so in the transition era instead of my own. When I told them I enjoyed building kits they turned me loose on their big kit stash of cars so I have been working on those building up skills to tackle the more complex narrow gauge kits I have. Here’s a fair amount of the work I have accomplished there in photos. All of these boxcars were built from Roundhouse kits, except the 50’ UP composite car in the middle which was an Accurail kit. This was a purchased car but the previous owner glued the floor on and used Accurails little plastic truck pins, so I tapped the holes and replaced the pins with screws so the trucks could be more easily removed. These are both from my own kit stash. They were used to teach me how to put cars through the club’s standards battery for consistent operation. These are all coal loads I did. To make them I took the plastic coal loads from the car, sanded the sides a bit to make them easier to remove, and taped around the edges with masking tape. I added white glue to the load, spread it out with a brush, and then coated it in coal. I used the dried contents of expended Brita water filters for the coal. Once the glue was dry I removed the masking tape, knocked any loose coal off the top and sides, and glued a metal washer to the bottom so they can remove by magnet. This was taught to me by another club member. This is an Accurail kit. On this kit I got a little ahead of myself and accidentally glued the little rib across the bottom of the hopper bays before adding the frame. I ended up having to cut the frame apart and cement it in in three pieces but it came out looking pretty good I would say. And these are two more Roundhouse kits. These roundhouse boxcars were especially educational as I started batch-building them seeing as they are reasonably simple but missed that the door rail on several went in upside down and didn’t slow down and check that it was correct on each one before cementing. Important lesson! I went through with a hobby knife and shaved the proud rib down, cemented the doors closed, and then matched paint by eye to cover the cut plastic. I will likely post any more of the work I do for them here, too, unless it’s something more interesting. Hoping to be a little more active in modelling through this winter as I am finding it much more difficult to model at home in the summer because I am outdoors a lot more often. RE: Ongoing Projects - TMo - 01-05-2025 It's great that you've found an outlet for all of that pent-up enthusiasm! That club layout looks like a perfect place to hone skills and get some good ideas. RE: Ongoing Projects - tompm - 01-05-2025 Great job on the kits. Sounds like you are enjoying assembling them. Kits are like potato chips. You can't just make one. I know from experience as I am in the middle of an assembling spree. RE: Ongoing Projects - cnrglen - 01-05-2025 Great work on the kits. The coal loads look really good. RE: Ongoing Projects - hillyard999 - 01-05-2025 Amanda, Thanks for sharing the narrative on the builds. Lucky you, the club needs someone to assemble cars! Also, nice re-purpose of the Britta charcoal.  Hadn't thought of this as a coal load. Having taken apart one, I know they can be messy. I was more interested in the funnel "shape", hoped to find a use as a RBT (really big thing ) load. RE: Ongoing Projects - Amalynn - 01-05-2025 They said when I finish this big box of kits off, they have two more the same size to be built. The rest of everything in the box are Proto 2000 kits which are a *lot* more difficult than the Roundhouse kits were. I’m currently working on a gauge conversion to HOn3 for a scrap gondola. RE: Ongoing Projects - ngauger - 01-06-2025 Great work all around! Glad you found a great place to show your skills. Yes, please post more pictures as you go RE: Ongoing Projects - LiveSteamer - 03-07-2025 That's great you found a place to put your skills to use. I follow the Bricktown Model Railroad Association on Facebook. I for one want to get down there when they get the EBT part running. It's good to see a group modeling the entire railroad.