The ROCK 3.0: Video on Scale Operations

Here is a video I put together on the scale at Ottawa Silica.  The scale is by Boulder Creek Engineering and is fantastic for creating realistic operations.  It uses infrared sensors to detect cars as they pass over the scale.  The scale will ramp up and generate a random weight in the range you set.  In between cars, the scale ramps back down to zero.  On my layout, any cars over tonnage must be set off at the plant to be reduced by plant employees and then re-weighed again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUwUqhd0ETo

The ROCK 3.0: Video Time!

Inspired by fellow RI modeler Allen in Nebraska, I decided to pick up some oil based paints to start weathering some of my cars.

It's video time!  I put together this video.  It gives a general overview of the layout.  Nothing fancy, but more testing my abilities at video editing and such.  Hope you guys like it. I would like to add more videos to the blog in the future.

The ROCK 3.0: Progress Report 05.06.14

I'm missing my Xuron rail cutters.  I need them to cut in a new crossover at the east end of Ottawa Yard.  I started looking last week.  No such luck.  Yesterday, I went through every last thing in the room.  I can't find them anywhere!  I looked in my car, work, no where!  I ended up purchasing another pair that will arrive by Friday.  You know as soon as they arrive, I will find the other pair.  In other news, the room is cleaned and organized after the great search effort.

Last night, when looking for the rail cutters, I stood up on the stool, as my wife looked at me like I was crazy, to gain an elevated view of the entire layout.  I was hoping to spot them on top of the layout somewhere.  Anywho, I thought this would be a great view to show people the layout.

I took some test video and it turned out pretty good.  I'll put together an official video and update to the blog.  Maybe I will make one on the local operations as well.

In other news, the last of the Rock Island hoppers arrived.  I ordered 9 DOWX Atlas Sand hoppers.  The hoppers were stripped of the old reporting marks and re-decaled with logo and new RI reporting marks, sprayed with dullcote, weight added and Micro Trains couplers added.  This completes my quest for the little gray RI hoppers.  I believe I have plenty now!

One of the converted Atlas DOWX Covered Hoppers

Intermountain Ex-Southern Pacific Hopper.  You can see the Southern Pacific logo fading through.

This evening I started on the TrainCat Tank Car Loading Platform.  

The ROCK 3.0: Progress Report 05.01 - 05.04.14

Thursday, I only completed decaling one of the Athearn sand hoppers.  Those just take so much more time.

Friday, I completed decaling the remaining three Athearn hoppers.  I have 9 more Atlas DOWX hoppers  to re-decal that will arrive this coming week.

Sunday evening, I hit everything I re-decaled with a coat of Testors dullcote.

The re-numbering project has gone much better than expected.  This is mainly due to Allen Heimsoth's efforts providing decals with the full reporting marks that could be applied as one decal.  Many many thanks to Allen for his help!