The ROCK 3.0: Progress Report 04.28.14

This morning and at lunch time, I worked on stripping reporting marks off Rock Island covered hoppers as well as removing logos on a few others that will be converted to Rock Island equipment.  I managed to go through 50 of them today completing all that I had in stock.

To remove the old reporting marks, I dip my paint brush in Micro Sol on a batch of five hoppers or so.  I wait about a minute and then lightly rub it off using a pencil eraser.  It works great and super fast and easy.  Atlas and Athearn are by far the easiest to remove using this method.  Intermountain was worse and Micro Trains the hardest.

Next step, all cars will receive a coat of Testors dullcote.  

All 50 received dullcote as well as two undecorated cars received gray paint.  We're moving right along with the fleet.

The ROCK 3.0: Progress Report 04.26.14 - 04.27.14

Not a lot of work was completed on the layout by myself, but my wife Carrie was very busy.

Saturday, I worked on sanding the parking lot at Philadelphia Quartz (PQ).  It's looking great.  I had to go back and patch a few small areas, but it should be completely done and ready for paint in a day or so.

My wife Carrie logged a bunch of hours sewing the layout skirting panels as well as re-upholstering the free chairs we received for the craft table.  I'm very grateful for all her hard work!!

I was busy working on a non-railroad project for my daughters.  They requested beds for their American Girl Dolls.  I constructed two this weekend out of basswood.  I think they turned out pretty nice.

My next project is to remove the reporting marks from all the Rock Island hoppers in preparation of a massive re-numbering project.   You will notice a Union Pacific hopper in there too.  There are other various ACFX or random gray hoppers.  Those will be re-numbered and re-decaled (logo) for Rock Island.  

The ROCK 3.0: Progress Report 04.25.14

Sand Hopper Re-numbering Project
I re-numbered my first RI sand hopper today.  Super easy thanks to Allen printing off the complete reporting marks for me.  For one, it took me less than 5 minutes to complete.  Not bad at all.  It looks great too!  Thanks Allen!!!!

The ROCK 3.0: Progress Report 04.24.14

I re-decaled the Bluford Shops Transfer Caboose.  Here are before and after photos.  I think it turned out pretty good.

Since it is a foobie anyway, I just made up any road number.  I like it!  

This evening, I worked on hill that is at the entrance of the PQ plant.  I used styrofoam as the base and then covered with wall plaster.

Before.  You can see the fascia board.

After.  Hill is constructed.  Looking from the mainline into PQ.

Looking from PQ west to the mainline.

Turnout point update.  I've been checking turnout points regularly.  I have only found one that popped loose.  Maybe majority of the problem ones are repaired now.

Inspired by Ron's Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railroad Blog I decided to break out my TrainCat loading platform kit.  I have been thinking about this kit with the construction going on over at PQ.  Tonight, I cut out all the parts.  Hopefully, this weekend, I can work on construction.

The ROCK 3.0: Progress Report 04.23.14 - PQ Plant

I have turned my focus to working on the Philadelphia Quartz (PQ) plant in Utica.  I'm really excited about this project.  It's a pretty neat plant that has a lot of cool aspects.  I reviewed the Bing Map images of the plant.  While I can not model the plant to match perfectly, I believe I have come up with a very good representation of the layout and structures.  Here is the design I drew up.

The plant has a total of 23 car spots:

• Inbound Silica Sand - 10 spots
• Inbound Liquid Chemical - 1 spot
• Inbound Dry Chemical - 1 spot
• Outbound Dry Chemical - 3 spots (two locations)
• Outbound Liquid Chemical - 8 spots

This evening, paving crews returned to work at PQ.  Wow!  There is a lot of asphalt to pave at this plant.  I believe I have the first coat completely done.  Now, I'll let it dry a couple of days and then start the sanding process.  The tough part for me will be figuring out what color to paint it.  I'm horrible with colors (color blind).  

Here are pics of the site under construction:

You can see the remnants of the old overpass that was taken out by a tornado the other week.  

I found this interesting.  They unload freight cars and trucks at the same spot.  

I have a lot of sanding to do.

Man, that looks nice!  I can't wait to see the tanks rolling across the lot.

Overhead view of the entire plant.  Hard to believe you can squeeze 23 spots here.
Gosh, I love N Scale!

Many more chemical tanks will be added.  I picked up another piece of PVC pipe today along with some hardwood dowels of various thicknesses.

I have been referencing my own drawing and the Bing Maps I printed throughout this project.

In other news, my good friend Allen in Nebraska (of the http://thelittlerockline.blogspot.com/ blog) hooked me up by printing reporting marks for the 75 or so sand hoppers I need to re-decal.  I can't express my gratitude enough.  Many thanks to Allen for helping me out with this project!

For the crew of the Ottawa Local, I'm happy to report we have a new transfer caboose to be used as a shoving platform.  Why N&W you ask?  I wanted a red one.  I didn't like the RI brown ones offered by Bluford Shops.  The RI (brown) transfer cabooses are foobies anyway.  I figure I will just expand on the foobie idea and make one like I want.  I will remove the N&W logo and reporting marks and replace with the Rock Island logo.  

The ROCK 3.0: Progress Report 04.22.14

Hello everyone?  Did you miss me?  It feels like forever since I've updated the blog.  I had a post here and there since there since the Op Session, but no real progress.  Tonight, I re-entered the layout room.

WHAAAAAAAT?

Yep, you read right.  I'm back!  This evening, I started work on the driveway at Philadelphia Quartz (PQ).  I managed to get part of it done before being called away.  It will need to dry good before I can sand and continue on with the rest of it.  Here's a photo of the progress.

If you look closely toward the upper right hand corner, you see the absence of the overpass and expansion of the PQ plant around the corner.  Disregard the mess to the left.  I placed the buildings on the mainline while I was working.  

The ROCK 3.0: Progress Report 04.14.14

This evening, I re-entered the layout room.  I haven't done much since the op session, and then test solo op session.

Many of you remember the overpass I added down at the west end of the yard.  I was going to use it as a scene break between Utica and Ottawa.  Tonight, I started working on layout of buildings, driveways, adding more chemical silos, etc at Philadelphia Quartz (PQ).  In reviewing the photos I snagged off Bing Maps, I want to complete more of the scene around the tanks and structure on the right side of the industry (that is adjacent to the yard).

So, I look at the Bing Maps of PQ, look at the layout, look at this road crossing.  Something has to go.  Maybe that big road crossing that sticks up well above all the other scenery.  Wait for it....wait for it.....Then within seconds, a tornado touched down on the layout and the entire bridge, road, hill and all, completely wiped off the map!  If you would have blinked, you would have missed it.

At the rear of the PQ property, I will have a tree/brush line with a chain link fence.  It will still be a scene block, just not a raised hill as before.

No love lost on the bridge.  I was concerned about it blocking the turnout access there anyway.  With points popping off at times, I don't need a turnout inaccessible.

All prep work has been completed and I'm happy with the design of the lot and the small supporting structures location at PQ.  Next step, time to pave the lot.