M Graff

I've built another one, the 1:72 Albatross, with decal-camo, and I found the Lozenge-decals were a bit fragile after a few years in storage. I re-coated some of them (with some product that Micro-Mark sold...) just to avoid problems.

That may be all well and true, but an old decal will not be as elastic and easy to work with.... Many a kit has been ruined by old decals......

Don't wait too long though.... the decals on those are not easily applied when old........ Just a pointer. :-)

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 fantastic locomotive in relation to the price. But as I have too many, it would be fun to be able to convert it into a "more appropriate" locomotive .... Bachmann's locomotive is very similar with an Illinois Central locomotive, but not with a Camelback: Here is the locomotive on top of the drawing of an IC 2-8-0 locomotive. Camelback locomotives with a 2-8-0 wheel arrangement is a little bit smaller however, at least the kind I have the drawings of. It all works but will be convincing with some selective compression, or rather expansion as the donor engine is a bit longer in the wheelbase .... I started by removing the shell from the locomotive and removed all lose parts! : O Then I made a new boiler of Plasticard, I made it by rolling plasticard on a metal tube of suitable diameter (22 mm in my case), and then dip it in boiling water for 5 minutes. When it cooled, it retains the shape! I took the cab from the donor and made a new rear end that fitted the boilers shape. Then I did the fire box in the same principle as the boiler, though I used a bent brass sheet for that form instead. The roof over the fireman is from an extra ALCO RS-3 cab I had in my scrap box. I glued the stack, domes, bell, air pump, alternator, and tanks in place and suddenly it starts to look like a locomotive! Here is the finished result: The coal tender is a bit on the large side though. A may be in order..... I will post more pics as the build continues. Source: The M-K & Eastern RR Harbour branch

My latest effort:

OMG!! that one made my day completely! A real contender for "please bin it now!"

Here is my latest painting: Again inspired by a picture of K. Burkholder. Acrylic on canvas, on a 8" x 8" 3D-frame (painted on the sides as well).

Here is my latest painting: Again inspired by a picture of K. Burkholder. Acrylic on canvas, on a 8" x 8" 3D-frame (painted on the sides as well).

I found these two oldies, 15 maybe 20 years old. This was a sketch for a commission. I have somehow lost the pics of the finished work.... Rather funny to go back and watch the older pieces as well....

Here is my latest, made today . I find these very enjoying to make. Size 6" by 6". Acrylic on canvas. Original photo by Kevin Burkholder. Source: Railway art, show us your work :-)

Here is my latest (made today ) Size 6" by 6". Acrylic on canvas. Original photo by Kevin Burkholder.

No, I use the carfloat instead.

Very interesting thread! I agree that there is a difference in U.S. Vs European design for U.S.-style layouts. I searched the web for inspiration when designing my layout, and got tips from Forums both here and in the U.S., wich in the end resulted in a layout wich suited me perfectly: It is an urban style layout, 10' by 16". A regular operating session takes 90 minutes, and is very fun to do with two operators.

Lovely work y'all! [] I suspected that we could have much fun with this thread. Not railroad related as such, but a study for a stucko-building in preparation for a painting I'm working on.... and that will have trains! This one is just 6" x 6", and was made today:

Thanks for the contributions one and all. I love to see the different approaches on the subject.

It's fixed now, it seems to be related to the slow performance of the site....

As there are so many talented people here on RMWeb, I suspect we have a lot of artists as well? I thought it could be a good idea to have a thread where we show our railroad related artwork. I'll start with this painting: It depicts the port at night on my HO scale layout. I wanted it to look like a painting of a model instead of a painting of reality. Almost like the old Lionel ads from the 40's. It is 12" x 16" and is acrylic paint on canvas. No airbrush, only classical techniques. Join the fun!

Hi again, some news from the M-K & Eastern RR. I just finished a painting that I made that depicts the harbour of my layout at night. This one is acrylic on canvas and is 12" x 16". I just have to do some "regular" paintings sometimes. Source: The M-K & Eastern RR Harbour branch

I have been into many other model hobbies... More recently I have been into ships and airplanes (RC). . :

This is how it looked before, the area to the right in the picture:

I finally got hold of a kit that I've been "needing" for some time now It's the Heljan Brewery! Every time that it have been on the market, I have either felt no direct need for it, or haven't had the finances for it.... But now I took the plunge and bought it! When looking at the kit, I can see why it's so popular! So many parts and possibilitys.... I can not build it as it's intended to be (and why would I? ). I started with some "bulldozing" of the part of the layout that will be the building site of the new building. I had already built the sections of the kit that would be situated here. I measured twice and cut once, so to say.... This is how the partially assembled building looks like, when placed where it's to be:

These are from a Mfg in Sweden named "Perl". They are to be released again soon is what I've heard :-)

I had a client that had built these from kits (brass/white metal), and he wanted them painted and weathered. I primed and painted them with Phoenix paints, when I got to the decaling I got into trouble (wich didn't really show at this point......). There were 4 sheets of decals with most decals for all for cars on one sheet. The problem was that one of the sheets looked okay..... the rest looked "old"..... I applied them on a gloss surface and used both micro-set and micro-sol. There was some issues with the old decals and I applied more micro-sol. After that I dullcoated them (no problems so far...) and then started to weather the cars and when finished, I used ModelMaster Dullcote to seal them. Guess what? The old decals got frosted..... As the kits are old, the decals are unobtainable, so I have to tell my client that he gets a good price on the job..... I should have listened to my internal alarm-system..... Some pics: The decal on the right is an old one..... From some distance they look okay though.... Thanks to Will Vale, who commented below,I touched up the edges of the decals with some of the original colour now :-) It isn't as visible as before. And as mentioned, not easily registered anymore. I really like these wagons as they sure have some great personality. :-)

To those that would need the ground to shake: Please contact the good folks over at Soundtraxx, and ask them to show you the Surroundtraxx system.... 'nough said I think :-)

Firstly, let me say that sound, as all other things we have on our layouts, is scaleable! :-) Most of the time that I show my sound equipped layout, people buy that the sound is less bass oriented, as they have a preconception that small models are more pitched in tone... I don't know why, but they buy it! Secondly, there is a need for ambient sounds on the layout! I have it, and my friend Troels Kirk have it (and his is most realistic!), that is a thing that makes the whole illusion c ome together in my opinion. To have sound equipped loco's running around in a silent world, isn't at all as "real" as to have them both sounding! :-) To hear how it sound see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXkCoj4aYY0&feature=youtube_gdata_player http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vPXTiYz6pc&feature=youtube_gdata_player