D&RGW narrow gauge: Back to scenics.

[JZ]

10 hours ago, rockershovel said:

Please tell me your DCC DX include a banjo...

Maybe. I have this kit from Blair Line.

As the weather is always good, this band will be playing outside.

Accompanied by the odd banjo layer or two. From Miniprints.

And perhaps the soundtrack could be from this album. The only one I have with any banjo, it's all banjo, on it. Though my next door neighbour has one, but by her own admission, is not very good at it.

 

[CameronL]

1 hour ago, JZ said:

my next door neighbour has one, but by her own admission, is not very good at it.

Isn't that a requirement for a banjo player? 

[rockershovel]

4 hours ago, CameronL said:

Isn't that a requirement for a banjo player? 

How can you tell there is a banjo player outside your door?

 

He can't find the key, and when he does come in it isn't quite when you expect 

[JZ]

Added the first layer of ripples to the water surface. Still rather white at the moment, but I have pressed the rafters into it. If I need more ripples, I will add them tomorrow and also some waves around rocks with WS water waves.

 

While thing were drying, I had a browse online and found this wonderful site.

 

[pH]

… as in “those in small unpowered water craft” and not as in “those holding up the roof”.

[JZ]

I have just been given a couple of old Colorado Narrow Gauge calendars, for 2017 and 2018. So 'Picture of the Month' will become 'Pictures of the Month' from January.

Edited October 18, 2023 by JZ

[JZ]

And in the last few minutes, got hold of the 2024 calendar.

But you'll have to wait until 2025 for pictures from that.

Edited October 18, 2023 by JZ

[JZ]

18 hours ago, pH said:

… as in “those in small unpowered water craft” and not as in “those holding up the roof”.

Added ripples over all of the water surface. The thickest areas not completely cured yet. This is the WWS product.

WS Water Waves will be added around rocks and down the cataracts when this is dry and when that is dry, I can add some white highlights.

[didcot]

Looking rather good. 

[JZ]

Silverton, Colorado May 30, 1954

. What particularly caught my eye was the British built Ford Zephyr. This must have been extremely rare on US road, as it was only imported in very limited numbers, hundreds, rather than thousands. Also of interest in the three different patterns of window shades on the three cabooses.

Photo Otto Conrad Perry. Denver Public Library Special Collection.

Edited October 22, 2023 by JZ

[Nick C]

I suspect that's been colourised from a black & white photo - a lot of the shading looks odd.

[JZ]

19 minutes ago, Nick C said:

I suspect that's been colourised from a black & white photo - a lot of the shading looks odd.

Pretty sure it is. Auto colourisation often gives the freights cars a too red shade, but here it seems to give both that and a more correct colour.

[JZ]

Ordered some parts from Tichy Trains, not parts that have been available from Mech Models. Following the tracking and Tichy very quickly got them in the post. They reached New York 4 days later, where they have now been for ten days. Well, according to the tracking that is. My postman handed the package to me this morning.

[JZ]

Going through the "Chasing Trains" pictures and found this of a boxcar being repaired at Alamosa depot. Interesting to note that although a bogie vehicle, the brakes are body mounted.

[JZ]

Fresh out of the car shops at Alamosa.

Rail-Line kit, Kadee trucks and couplers, Microscale decals, Woodland Scenics figure from the Hobos set.

[JZ]

There is a full set of washes waiting for me at a collection point in Bergen. Trond, of Modellbygg, created these as he couldn't get these. Like Bollinger Edgerly, he cannot ship abroad. Fortunately, I had previously arranged a trip to Bergen and after a bit of faffing, we managed to sort out a deal. Also managed to find some HOn3 bits with Togbutikken and these are being sent to my hotel. International postage and customs all circumvented in one go. Both Trond and Tore, of Togbutikken, are HOn3 modellers.

And my first project with the washes is this

Picked up for a song on ebay today.

[JZ]

Picture of the month. A few days early as I'm off to Gatwick in a few hours. Overnight stay, then Bergen in the morning. Planning to do all the things I never had time for on previous trips.

 

Anyway.

488 & 492 on an eastbound Gramps tank train. This was a 16 car train and 497 was cut in ahaed of the caboose as a helper. Lobato trestle is only about 1 mile ahead and due to weight restrictions, 488 will be cut off and cross light engine. The maximum load for two K-36 or K-37 was only ten of these tanks on the 4% grade to Cumbres. October 11 1962.

[JZ]

One last one before I go.

Richard Kindig photo of the Ophir Loop.

[Oldddudders]

3 hours ago, JZ said:

One last one before I go.

Richard Kindig photo of the Ophir Loop.

That is 356 foot Bridge 46-D, the longest of the High Line bridges above Ophir. Above and to the left you can see the Butterfly Trestle, Bridge 44-A, far below. The numbers indicate the mileage from Ridgway. The railway here is continuing to climb to Lizard Head at 10,250 ft, a thousand feet higher than Ophir depot. 

[JZ]

No modelling this week as I am in Beautiful Bergen. I have done a bit of narrow gauging.

 

 

Metre gauge funicular, the Floibanen. Takes you up 320m above Bergen. Great views from the top.

 

Tomorrow I'll be taking the cable car up Ulriken. around twice the height.

If you visit you must try the Bergen fish soup.

This was at Fjellskal, in the fish market. Have it as a starter, or a large as a main course. It really is wonderful. At the other end of the price range is Trekroneren, a hot dog stand. in Kong Oscars Gate.

Wide range, this was reindeer. When you have finished this, two minutes away, down a dark alley is this little gem of a pub. Frille og Dyvekes Vinkjeller in Hollendergaten.

[JZ]

My washes from Modellbygg arrived safely, but unfortunately the stuff from Togbutikken were sent by Postnord, who appear to be the Scandinavian equivalent of (insert your worst performing courier here). They tried, I use the word loosely, but there was no reply at the address, it's a hotel for gods sake. Even the customer service girl was bemused by this. But anyway the conversation goes on, "can I have a phone number?" Yes, but it's a UK mobile. "That's OK, we will ring you. We cant deliver today though" Ok, what about tomorrow? " Yes, we can deliver tomorrow." What time tomorrow? " We can't deliver tomorrow. Saturday?" Sorry I have to go home tomorrow, so please return to sender. "Yes, we will do that." So hopefully it will be finding it's way back to Tonsberg and I await Tore contacting me for the postage to UK.

[JZ]

No. 491 heads a dual gauge freight train around the first curve in Alamosa and prepares to cross 7th Street. Note that behind No. 491 is an idler car to enable it to couple onto the standard gauge reefers. Not visible in the picture is a second idler car behind the standard gauge consist and then the narrow gauge consist. A dual gauge consist behind a narrow gauge 2-8-2 was not a rare occurrence. October 17, 1960.

Photo: Tom Gildersleeve.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 8, 2023 by JZ

[pH]

3 hours ago, JZ said:

No. 491 heads a dual gauge freight train around the first curve in Alamosa and prepares to cross 7th Street …

Are you planning on being able to run a model version of this?

[JZ]

1 hour ago, pH said:

Are you planning on being able to run a model version of this?

Space is the issue. But I could do a diorama, as I do have some dual gauge track, but no turnouts.

[JZ]

This is the Banta Modelworks blacksmiths. I used the Modellbygg stains for this. Individual planks were stained in several wood shades, cut to length, mixed up a bit then fixed in place. Once complete, I gave it an all over with light grey stain. As you can see, I still haven't done the doors.

 

The roof isn't fixed, so I can detail the interior.

 

Image from Banta website