AlfaZagato

Started working on a model of BMW's MINI Cooper; Pretty simple kit, actually. No engine, sadly. I can't do much more until I pick up airbrushing supplies. At this rate, I'll have everything built, with nothing finished. Save the Firefly. That kit can rot for all I care. Stupid individual-link tracks... Also, Revell... WHO THE ABSOLUTE F*** THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD G****** F****** IDEA TO CHROME THE WHOLE F****** DASHBOARD? Persistent s***, too. I've had it in bleach for a week now, and the chrome is only starting to lift. And it's not lifting from the switchgear, where I really need it to. D*****. I'll get there, but f***. Maybe next week.

2-6-0 tank restricts range, unless you're trying some bizarre way to carry fuel & water. (Well tanks with saddle coal hopper?) 0-6-2 tender takes weight, hence TE off of the drivers onto a dead axle. Though, if you had a situation with length restrictions, and need for a massive firebox and higher speeds, maybe some potential?

Soon you'll be able to have that glorious monstrosity on the bottom shelf trundling by.

That doesn't look to be too involved a build, at least. You could likely knock the shell together in a night.

Some time ago, I actually tried bashing a Buffalo in N with the outside-framed 08 and a pannier body, both Farish. Not as simple as I had hoped.

Finished up about what I could with the Opel; Bunch of detail here you'll never see. No provision for opening hood (bonnet to y'all,) deep, narrow cab hiding the pedals. Built a box. She's mostly straight. Just a little warpage. Should be fine. Braced the box. All these brackets lift the box maybe 1/4" clear of the frame. The lift also gives space for the fenders. Barring some small details I didn't photograph, this is as far as she gets until I get more primer. Annoyingly, there's no way to fit the tires after assembling the rear dualies. I'll have to paint everything before I can get her on her feet. The scooters all have their own narrative. This little Honda needs more primer, to see if I filled the holes properly; I can't quite manage the yellow on these two. If I can't straighten out the color on another coat or two, I'll likely bin the...not-Vespa. I want the Vespa, though. I like the ivory here, though it laid thick in some spots. Helpfully, those spots are spots I think I'd need to overpaint black, anyways. Finally, I like how this red is coming along, though I'll need another coat or two. All work shown here stops until Illinois allows 'nonessential' businesses to reopen. I need primer & blades from a hobby shop, and little eyedroppers I use for decanting jarred paints form American Science & Surplus. I'd rather wait for the locals to open. They'll need all the help they can get. I'll likely crack open another simple car project. I really don't want to brush paint right now. We'll see.

The thing you made with tape is called a turnbuckle. Fancy name for a tensioner.

I'm fairly certain track circuits were in use by the '30s. Not too hard an idea to run a current through the rails.

Slowly working more on the Opel. I'm dying of boredom, and this isn't helping; I also managed some airbrushing. Started doing color on the scooters. Then it has been waiting. Can't do much with the rain; They'll all need further coats. Thankfully, I'm getting better with the airbrush. I just need to keep working at it.

Really neat, almost if Nielson had lasted to the 20s.

I was going to say, pull the motor from the Nellie. Then use the Nellie chassis for some Mason-Fairlie thing, tied along with the J72.

Shh! Don't tell the man. Just might be too much for him.

The Corris coupling looks wonderfully simple.

I finally finished the Infinity army I've been working on for an age; I felt these were too good of models for my normal wargaming 'color & wash.' I still don't think I did them justice. And I just had to be clever with the bases; These stopped play for a while. Illinois weather didn't help. I couldn't airbrush when I needed to. I also decided I wanted to just build a model. Build it straight, no modifications, no care for the interior. So, I built this (these;) Airfix's 1/72 RAF Support vehicle set. Other than a gap in the hood of the Bedford I can see now in zoom, very well-fit and straightforward kit. Shake-the-box, no fettling or reshaping endemic of Airfix's older tooling. A nice break from the unending paint projects or kitbashes I've stocked up. Finally, I started yet another kit. I came upon a Revell 1/24 Opel Blitz in a lot I bought off of a club member. I've gotten so far with it; Kind of a new experience for me, multipart frames. Probably better I start in 1/24 than 1/35. Those kits are much more money to ruin. We'll see how far my attention holds.

Must be one o' them horseflies. I hear they get pretty big.

Turbines are far more delicate than you'd think. BR tried using fuel oil in 18000 and 18100. Fuel oil was found to ash heavily, though, leading to significant wear on the turbine fans. Also, the higher fuel consumption comes from the fact that, even in the Great Plains, a locomotive is rarely, if ever running at a consistent speed. Now, if they applied the Fell concept with turbines, that may have been something. The whole idea of that rig was for constant RPM, wasn't it?

I avoid the issue of pressure with a workshop 1/2HP compressor. They tend to be cheaper than the hobby compressors. Large tanks, too. I think mine has a 10 gallon reservoir.

Not a lot of progress this week. I'm burning out with this shut-down. Spent a not-insignificant part of the week staring at a plank of wood with some bits on it. In other news, I 'finished' the mini I had been working on; I just really couldn't do what I wanted with the shield. I have no talent for free-hand painting. This'll be it. I honestly don't expect the character to live all too long, anyways. I also dusted my Gundams. That was a two-day project. Doing so also gave me a chance to reorganize the shelf. I was hoping I could sort some more room. I failed. Still, these kits are basically action-figures when built, and it is a shame to have them stiffly posed 'at the ready.' The 'action' bases contribute greatly to this sort of arrangement. My only problem is the connection from the bases to the models is itself questionable. The white-&-gray thing, with the blue stripe on the shoulder, is a prime example. The clip to use with a base doesn't hold well. A shame, as that kit is heavier than expected. Illinois weather is supposed to cooperate a little in the next week. Hopefully, I can work some more on paint.

This is looking really good. I've always enjoyed MoW equipment.

I'm finally committing to a long-standing concept I've had. Martinson & Co will be a micro-layout with a gauge of 9mm. I plan to represent a small yard with two spurs. The whole of the operation will sit inside a shoebox of about 15x14". For a little added convenience, I will have a fiddle 'stick' out the side of the box, just to allow off-scene management by the 'Hand of God.' I will plant a couple of uncoupling magnets to allow for hands-free operation on scene. This is about the arrangement I've seen will fit so far; And I've posed it here with the only bit of railway scenery I have built. The goods shed is a Peco item, if I remember correctly. Like I've said above, I plan to show this yard as packed ashes or similar. Part of that plan is burying the track almost up to the railhead. I've seen a handful of recent articles in Model Rail about the subject, but I don't recall solutions for the points. Does anyone have any tips? What would I need to do to assure reliable operation? As I plan to bury the track, I don't fancy digging up the cover to solve faults. The point is a Peco Streamline item, with a wire connecting the two lines. Some of you may have noticed I only referenced the gauge, not the scale. I've also mentioned I wish to represent something like packed ashes. That's my trick. I want to peg or magnetize any buildings & scenery. Doing so, I wish to make such things modular. I'll be able to switch scales in a heartbeat. Go from OO9 to HOe/HO 2 1/2 to UK N to Japanese N to N, just by running a different train and buildings! I went with the name of Martinson & Co for two reasons. My name happens to be Martin, for one. My other reasoning is Martin seems to be a reasonably consistent name amongst European languages, as does the suffix -son. One name plaque covers most prototypes. What does anyone think?

Always remember, sir, no-one will be staring at this from two inches except here on the cold internet. Perfectly fine if it looks better at a distance. Little thing is looking wonderful, man.

I'm too lazy for tags, or any major progress. I did get in a new spray booth. I've used it a whole once yet. I primed a number of different projects. A combination of laziness and poor weather curtailed any further progress. The bases for the Infinity, the Hexbeasts from Wild West Exodus, and some random space fighter I picked up a few years ago. The design is from Star Blazers 2199, according to the box. I can't read anything else on the box. Oh well. The Model Master enamel will at least have cured by the time I go to paint again.

I hate work sessions like that. Never looks to yourself like you've done anything consequential.

I've never much liked the EE aesthetic. I think I have the same problem with it that I do with EMD's styling, in that everything looks the same. Deltic is somewhat excluded, but you can still see the family there.

I'd consider using them as-is. Looks much like a dead bush or so.