Jump to content
 
  • entries
    74
  • comments
    154
  • views
    55,529

About this blog

The build of my former HOn3 layout (the M-K & Eastern RR), now an On30 layout and some excursions into the art of modeling.

Entries in this blog

Part 18: The Blacksmith´s

I have been busy building a little Blacksmith shop of parts I had in the scrap box I "needed" a blacksmith by the track, and also I had a place that was perfect for a small(ish) building. I was sorting through the drawers and found an old Athearn-boxcar shell. I searched a bit online and found some pictures showing that it was quite common to use the decommissioned cars for sheds etcc. I also found an old playing Birthday card of the simplest model, I cut the speaker off and put a red LE
M Graff

M Graff

2

Part 15: Backdrop painting video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8TI503k9VA A little film I made today about backdrop painting and some landscape painting .   Source: Backdrop painting video
M Graff

M Graff

3

Part 11: Downtown Deco kits 2

I have built some more on my Downtown Deco buildings, and it's great to see them painted and detailed . I have started to paint my Adams Ave # 2:     And I made sure to get some variety on the brick color and concrete. Then I put some signs on them that I've printed out: Here is how it looks when placed on the layout:   Adams Ave # 1 is also being "finished"....   Adams Ave # 3 is also getting some work on it as well:   I have also renovated an old laser cut kit (JV model
M Graff

M Graff

6

Part 14: Pics of the finished 2-6-4t

Here are some pics of it as it stands today: Still some small details left.... This is how it looks like with the warm white LED on: I will add some small details on it and maybe a brakeman on the pilot. This was a real satisfying project, and I will try to find more scrap locos to modify in the future, any known ones out there? B)
M Graff

M Graff

1

Part 12: Background and Fascia

I have started to paint some of the clouds now on my backdrop, I sketched up the clouds with a thin white paint and made the shadows with a gray-blue hue: The clouds closest to the horizon have some Ochre in them to give them some warmth.   The clouds are piling up ....: I'm trying to make the clouds with as little planning as possible to make them realistic in shape and form.   Here I have begun to define the clouds with pure white and some Payne's Grey: It's important not to g
M Graff

M Graff

6

Part 9: The Shay´s new clothes

Hi again, I have had the rebuilt Shay (from earlier in the Blog) sitting on my table for a while now. I decided it was time to finish it . I repainted almost all of it and applied my Custom made decals. I also took the time to adjust the driveshaft as well. It runs really good now, and I hope the looks do it justice too :     I made this as well:   I think it worked out well.
M Graff

M Graff

6

Part 6: Shay conversion

Hello in the cold . I took the opportunity while I'm still snowed in to address a couple of projects I have been keeping on the shelf. The first is my Shay locomotive. It is a H0 scale, 3 truck 80-ton Shay from Bachmann and their Spectrum series. The locomotive has led to many concerns, repairs and other headaches.... The first thing that happened was that the Tsunami sound decoder that I ordered did not fit .... So I had to build a new tender shell from brass to make it fit: Then the
M Graff

M Graff

2

Part 7: Pimp my Multimaus!

Hi all DCC fans! I use the Roco Multimaus digital system, and of course I do appreciate that they have done a very ergonomic handset. But the designer that chose the color ought to have been sent on retraining Sure, the red may well be neat, but not on a controller .... Looks almost a bit "so" .... I did this to mine today:   Dismantling it took about 5 minutes, of which three minutes were spent finding a suitable screwdriver ...   I cleaned the cover with soap and water, and mixed
M Graff

M Graff

2

Part 5: Handpainted city backdrop

It was time to do something about the background as it had been neglected due to other activities, such as building houses and such . I didn´t like to sit at the layout doing all the details that are inevitable when making a city.... I bought some high quality artist poster board and went to work on it, sitting at my workplace.   I put the board on the backdrop to draw all the existing buildings. I then printed out some nice photos of houses along with some books I have for inspiration.
M Graff

M Graff

4

Part 4: Marine vessels

My layout is thought to be situated on the US eastern shore in the vicinity of Maine. It is a shortline with it´s major traffic generated through the Harbour and the Car float operation. I had already made the Car float apron so now I "only" had to make a Car float . Initially I had actually wanted to use the Walthers float, but the scarcity of it and the very high prices on it made me plan a build of my own instead. As I had some plans from Sylvan scale, and a lot of pictures from the Web
M Graff

M Graff

2

Part 3: Water and piers

I was getting ready to start on the Harbour, and I needed to add the various items on the quaysides that was going down into the water before proceeding. I was going to have a small fishing pier and a Carfloat apron, The pier was easy to make: I made the stonewall from balsa, and embossing the mortar lines with a pencil. I primed it with gesso and painted it. Ready! But the Apron was a whole different matter, I needed some hoist/balance structure to hold the wires that keeps the actual bri
M Graff

M Graff

4

Part 2: Some tracks and grass

I started with a mockup with the finished houses to get a better view of how the track planning would work in real life. As it were I didn´t have to change more than a few small curves to make it fit. I use Peco code 75 rail as I think they are a good looking and well functioning alternative to the more pricey brands. I glued the rails to the foam with No Nails: I painted the ties and rails before ballasting. I used Vallejo Umber and grey: ballasted it with Chinchilla sand, it is a
M Graff

M Graff

2

Part 8: Some details

I got some nice stuff from my wife this Christmas, a bunch of laser-cut fire escapes and park benches from "Imagine That Laser Art" in Canada. They were not exactly hard to build, but a bit time-consuming   A little paint on it, then it will look good.   I just had to see how it looks when it´s in place.   The Fire escapes is very nicely designed. I have looked at some of the others on the market, but they are too ornamented to be suited in a more basic setting. One pack
M Graff

M Graff

0

Part 1: The story so far...

Hi all, I thought that it was time for me to start this blog as it is more easily read I think . I will on this Blog, show the build of my HO scale US prototype layout, and the various items that have to be constructed on it. I will also show a lot of Airbrush painting and weathering as well.   I will, in a few short captions bring you up to speed how far I have come on the HO scale M-K & E. It is meant to be set in the northeastern USA in the late 40´s, early 50´s sometime. It is a s
M Graff

M Graff

0

Part 31: Kitbashed "Reading" Camelback in HO

As it was shown in another forum a scratchbuilt Camelback, I just felt like that was something I had to try! The one shown was a 0-6-0 type, but I don't have any suitable donors for that.... After looking in the Steam locomotive cyclopedia, I saw a Reading 2-8-0 Camelback. That meant we were in business!   To give some insight into the project we start by showing the donor for the conversion: A Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0 Consolidation with a Soundtraxx decoder (retrofitted). It's a fantasti
M Graff

M Graff

0

Part 32: Relocating my world.... :-)

Evening all! Sometimes a lot of things happen at once..... After living and working near were we live for the last 12 years, we have now decided to relocate. We have just signed the deal for this house: Not so very far away though, only about 12 kilometers from were we live now, but it's a very much better accomodations for both me and my wife. Both the communications and the house is better suited for our current needs. My wife attends University for her theological candidacy, and I'
M Graff

M Graff

0

Part 38: Pratt truss bridge.

Hello everyone! I have built a bridge that I've longed to build for many years! Namely the Central valley 150 foot Pratt truss bridge in HO! It may probably be one of the trickier bridge kits on the market .. I think it may have something to do with that it is built of loose beams that has to be cut to the right lengths and angles ..... But the end result more than outweigh the difficulties. I built it as a dual gauge bridge with both HO and HOn3 gauges. With a bit of painting and weathe
M Graff

M Graff

0

Part 48: Finished my brass K-27

My brass Sunset models K-27 is finished. This has been a long road.... First I had to sort out the power pickups, and added phosphor bronze wipers. Then I replaced the worm with a new one from NWSL. The next was installation of a Econami decoder with stay alive and dual speakers. The worst problem was that the drive wheels were out of gauge (and so was the tender wheels...). I corrected that, and finally I could paint it! I used Scalecote 1 engine black and baked it in the oven. Then I painted t
M Graff

M Graff

0

Part 50: Benchwork!

So, finally part 50! I have started the benchwork.   It's 1/2" construction Plywood that I had the lumber yard rip for me in 5" widths.   I have glued and nailed the modules together.   The longest sections will be 8' and no one wider than 2'.   That will make it easier to move if needed.   This is the first two sections:  
M Graff

M Graff

0

Part 51: Pool Hall and Bordello

Thomas Yorke's kit of the "Pool Hall and Bordello" in HO scale. Finished!   Front   Primed the castings with grey and started the stone color.   I paint the stones with a light ochre.           The floor: I used the Vallejo wood paint set.   Looks nice when dry.   The fronts are very time consuming to build, as they need to be built to fit.     Interior wall for the stair well.   Most of the building assembled.   The rooms are lit up with SMD LEDs  
M Graff

M Graff

0

Part 53: tracks, lots of tracks...

I made an updated trackplan that is more accurate. The track laying is progressing. The tracks around Holy Cross jct are getting closer to being finished.... (yes, the town is named to give me some bonus points with my resident priest. It's not easy being a priests "wife" )   
M Graff

M Graff

0
×
×
  • Create New...