D&RGW narrow gauge: Back to scenics.

[JZ]

For a while, I have wanted to try the Vetero Solutions from Bollinger Edgerly Scale Trains. Michael McCarvile's reviews can be seen here. However, they can be only sent by surface post, so sales are limited to the 48 contiguous states. An offer on Sunday by a member of the Slim Gauge Guild to get some for me later in the year got me thinking that instead of waiting, why not have a go at making some myself.  Watch this space

[JZ]

Came across these pictures of the Memphis Mine above Ouray, Co. in the Colorado Mining Group.. Might have a go at scratch building something like this.

[JZ]

Conducted the first trial with my weathering solutions. Basically it's very thin acrylic paint. While I am fairly happy with the colour, I am trying to reproduce the London Fog and Swamp Rot if you click on the link, I think it needs more pigment. Once the samples are thoroughly dry, I will photograph it and show the results. I might though change the London Fog to match the Shadow Gray or aged Barn Wood.

[JZ]

Quick post before I'm off to work.

London Fog on left. I might still add a bit more grey to this. Swamp Rot on right. Lower swipe is first mix, upper with added olive and middle with two coats. Next will be to try it on plastic. FWIW, the mix is 95% IPA 5% acrylic.

[JZ]

New lighting shows up the falls better.

Still some highlights to add.

[JZ]

[JZ]

This afternoon was spent putting the next section of baseboard in. I now have it all available for the continuous run, apart from the lift out for the door. Still to do the pour for the river, but I have 7 days off after tomorrow, so will wait until next Monday so it can cure while I'm at work. The turntable for the next depot should be here early June.

[JZ]

Two useful books arrived this morning. Only ordered yesterday from EDM Models.

Edited May 18, 2022 by JZ

[Keith Addenbrooke]

1 hour ago, JZ said:

Two useful books arrived this morning. Only ordered yesterday from EMD Models.

Should that be EDM models (rather than EMD)?  I know the proprietor of EDM is involved in American NG and the Slim Gauge Circle (and stocks these books).  Just wondered, Keith.

[JZ]

12 minutes ago, Keith Addenbrooke said:

Should that be EDM models (rather than EMD)?  I know the proprietor of EDM is involved in American NG and the Slim Gauge Circle (and stocks these books).  Just wondered, Keith.

Fat fingers strike again.

Now corrected.

[JZ]

An earlier build of a Frenchie Gratts kit. I was never really happy with the platform I added. Too much colouration with the decking. So I toned it down by giving it a light rub with fine emery and  putting on a coat of my weathering solution.

Now gives the impression that bits were added at different times.

Edited May 20, 2022 by JZ

[JZ]

Lift out section for the door complete.

Secured with M6 studding fixed in place, 6.5mm holes in bridge to allow for a little play and wing nuts to hold. Power supplied via 3.5mm jack plug. 20mm aluminium angle down the sides to avoid derailments dropping to the floor. Reefer runs smoothly over joint, must get out there with a loco later.

Edited May 21, 2022 by JZ

[JZ]

463 got it's first run out in a while. Happy with the way it went. Running at a reasonable speed, it took 4 minutes to run over what track I have down. I have probably another 15'-20' of the main run, plus sidings to lay. After wondering where the mine diorama I built will go, I have decided to have a short branch sticking out into the space in the middle and sit it there.

[JZ]

Seemed to do a lot, yet not much to show for the weekend's work. Much of the timber and boards have been recycled from past layouts, so under the surface it ain't pretty. Dropper wire and busbar is the next thing to get done.

 But there was an unexpected bonus. My cousin emailed me to say she was visiting our relations in Woodstock, Vermont, so I asked if she would mind bringing some stuff back for me if I had it sent to them, no problem she said. So a call to Woodstock on Saturday evening to ask if it was OK and the conversation goes "What sort of stuff is it?" Just a couple of kits for my model railroad. "Oh, what are you modelling? I model HOn3 myself." Really? So do I. So a long conversation follows and ends with "so, what are you after?" A couple of Banta kits. "Oh, I know Bill Banta, tell me what you want and I'll pop down and pick them up for you."  So, in a few weeks, I'll be the owner of my Ophir Depot and Allison Depot kits, which will be the depots for Lucyville (Ophir) and Ava City (Allison)  Although he offered having stuff shipped to him in future and then on to me, we worked out that it would be probably more for two lots of shipping, so I am looking at what else I need from US suppliers that can get to him in the next two weeks.

 

[JZ]

Came across this today.

 

Photo: Andy Payne

Considering the date, it is perhaps surprising that the D&RGW took to rebuild this. But then again, at this time the fleet was down to about 21 loco's. After this incident, double heading was banned. After It went on to head the last regular passenger train in the D&RGW narrow gauge in 1965. It has been out of service since 1977.

By Drew Jacksich from San Jose, CA,  - 483 heading to Farmington, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17932358

Edited May 25, 2022 by JZ

[JZ]

I'll be bringing Picture of the Month forward a few days as I'll be away the whole of November and a bit of October.

So here in June.

486 and 493 at Coxo. 6 June 1957.

[JZ]

A bit more wiring to days after the other day's track laying. I know have a gap of about 8' before the continuous run is complete. But before I press on and complete the loop, I must decide on the location of the Ava City turntable**. Also wired in the Prodigy this afternoon and attempted to give 452 a run. Damn thing just wouldn't run, just went in fits and starts. Took it in and put it on the rolling road and it runs as sweet as a nut. My conclusion is that the pick ups on the tender may be the problem and will give them a good clean after work tomorrow. Then gave 453 a run and all was good, apart from a couple of track joints. 453 gas a switching pilot and the smallest of clearances, any trach joint on an undulation and it will grab. A couple of joints needed looking at and once sorted, it ran smoothly in both directions.

 

**Kitwood Hill Models have said the turntables will be invoiced and despatched the first week in June.

 

[rockershovel]

On 05/05/2022 at 21:00, JZ said:

After painting in the track through the campsite, this afternoon I got some static grass down.

Still to vacuum it all up as the vacuum ran out of battery. A few more trees will be dotted around and a proper fence needs to go around. Probably build something like this I saw between Antonito and Durango.

It will take more than a couple of packets of cocktail sticks.

 

Very impressed with this! Real John Allen style model railroading!

[JZ]

Well, the problem with 452 has been diagnosed and it's beyond me to fix it. So it's been packed up and ready to go off to Oxfordshire for someone with experience to sort it. After discussion, it will probably need rewiring as it seems that the person, not me, that installed the decoder made a right ball up and it is the reason I got it cheap. Very cheap.

[JZ]

Sometimes a browse on ebay sees you see something that makes you think, mmmmm, I wonder what I could do with that. This Bemo carriage sat there with no bids and a start price of £15. So I chucked in a bid of £15 and forgot about it until I got a 'You've won' email.

I did think about painting to match the D+R Modelbahn ones I have, but as the style is different, so went for Pullman Green, actually Land Rover Coniston Green, but close enough. My take on the D&RGW's last attempt at modernising the narrow gauge before all passenger stock was painted yellow.

[JZ]

452 has been rewired and should be back with me this morning. My Banta kits will be with me on Monday and some parts from PSC arrived earlier this week.

Among the PSC bits is a Ridgeway (Bear trap) spark arrester, as fitted to 343 when she was loaned to the Colorado & Southern. My alternate history see 342 also loaned and keeping the Bear Trap.

Phot: Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec.

[JZ]

Ridgeway arrester fitted. A little surgery was needed to the stack, removing the flange at the top. The waste pipe/chute that came with it didn't fit and being cast brass, was too brittle to bend, I tried. So a new one was made up using copper tube.

Next thing is whether to weather it or not. 342 was scrapped in October 1938. It's sister 345 was the last scrapped in D&RGW ownership in 1951 after a wreck in July of that year. As the layout is set around 1960, could it have been preserved? If so, would it have retained the full Denver & Rio Grand Western on the tender, or have the flying Grande?

[JZ]

After watch a fair chunk of this years le Mans 24 hours on TV, I decided to put the flying Grande logo on 342 to match sister 345.

Photo: D&RGW.net. 345 at Durango in 1950. I will weather 342 to match. So my premise is that 342 was also loaned to the C&S, along with 342 and 345, but for some reason, known only to the D&RGW management (actually me) it retained the Ridgeway spark arrester. Seeing I am extending it's life by some 22 years, as I am my K-27s by 4, 5 and 19 years, I invoke rule 1. Main reason for going for the period I am, is the availability of HO road vehicles for the period.

[JZ]

Now in possession of my Banta kits.

 I'll be making a wooden platform for both. Unfortunately the instructions for the Ophir Depot were missing, but an email to Bill Banta and that was quickly resolved.

[JZ]

According tomany in the Railroad structures groups that I am in, the only glue worth using for wood kits is Aleene's Tacky Glue. But after fruitless searches at hobby shops, I was unable to locate any. Therefore I added some to my Foscale order only to get told that they are holding my order as they are out of stock of it. So I had a look on Amazon and they have loads. Why I didn't look there in the first place, heaven knows. So, 24 hours later I have it. and Foscale are sending my order without it and giving me credit as I will be ordering from them again. I will let you know how I get on.