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!

The ROCK 3.0: Progress Report 04.30.14

Silvis Shops is working overtime trying to get through this re-numbering project.  31 more cars were released from the shop today for a total of 50 completed (14 remaining).  The CEO is very pleased to not see every sand hopper numbered either (Atlas) RI 12039 or RI 12049.  When this project is done with the gray hoppers, I will still have a few blue hoppers (8 or 9 with duplicate numbers).  Those will take more time as I don't have a quick replacement decal with the full reporting marks.  The good news is that I'm getting better at my decaling skills.

These by far take the most time as I have to cut out each individual letter.  I could probably complete ten of the ones above in the time it takes to do one of these.  If you get too cocky and try to soak more than one letter at a time in water, it inevitably ends up ruining the decal.

When you fail, try, try again.  Back to signals.  I managed to light the first signal tonight on the layout!  Say what?  

I installed a small dwarf type signal outbound at Ottawa Yard.  It displays yellow and red only.

The ROCK 3.0: Progress Report 04.29.14

Silvis Shops released 20 hoppers today with new reporting marks.  

I have both the Block and Speed Lettering decals.  I decided to mix it up and have some of both.  Here is a hopper with the speed lettering.

Covered hoppers are pouring back into Ottawa Silica as they are released from Silvis Shops.

This evening, I re-visited signaling for about 45 minutes or so.    It did not go well.

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.