In search of the perfect tree . . .

Here is my first and second attempt to make O scale trees.  First, the classic "Bottle Brush:"

Not too bad.  Maybe with a little trimming . . .

Second effort was to use dried Sedum plants to make a deciduous tree (thank you wifey for growing Sedum in our yard).  I bundled and glued them together and spray painted them brown and then touched up with tan.  Then sprayed everything with diluted white glue, dumped on coarse and fine green ground foam, and then repeated that about seven times.  After it all dries I separated the branches and wrapped the stems with brown florist tape.  All it needs now is a kid climbing it!

Making Plasticville less "Plastic"

As I am looking for some details for my module, I pulled out these classic Plasticville lamp posts.  They have a nice look, but the base has got to go.  I did the major cuts with a bandsaw:

Then cut across with a razor saw:

And finish off with a file.

Much better!

Now, I need to be able to mount them so that they are removable.  

Just needed to snip off a pin head grab the blowtorch, and voila!

The second challenge was adapting a picket fence to a hillside.  Out of the box, the pickets point sideways when you put them on a slope.  The fix was to slice the pickets free from the bottom runner, and slice them partway off the upper runner.

Then bend them into a parallelogram and 

super glue the bottom runner back on.  

The fence pieces got the same "red hot pin" mounts:

The neighborhood just got a little more class:

Stillmeadow Crossing at Stillmeadow Church

The Stillmeadow Crossing Modular Train Group had their first public display this weekend.  We set up in the church lobby as part of Stillmeadow Church's Car Show.  It was well-attended, and the visitors seemed to enjoy the layout.  Or maybe they enjoyed the air conditioning and the bake sale next to the layout . . . hard to say.  But, one thing is for sure:  the group members had a great time.

Engineer Jeff!

Almost as fun as riding a train

Best Biker Bar-B-Que

"1, 2, 3 . . . "

"25, 26, 27. . .  uh, I lost count"

Even cows are train-spotters

Power for "StillMeadowVille"

Ah, life in the suburbs . . .

"Rubber Ducky, you're the one . . . "

Train races:  PRR Congressional vs. NYC Empire State Express

Empire State Express is the winner!

The Painted Ladies

Painting the "Painted Ladies"

I managed to acquire a bunch of IHC and Lionel "Painted Lady" building kits.  These are nicely detailed models based on homes from the early 1920s in San Francisco.  But the molded colors weren't great, so I started what ended up being a 3 month painting/assembly project.

Gee, this doesn't look too hard . . .

A little masking tape and we're ready to airbrush

That's better

Skipped about 20 steps here (primer coat, masking, painting, re-masking and painting, add mortar lines, glue in windows and glass, re-glue windows and glass when they fall out, cut and tape in curtains . . .)

Gluing and Assembly:  Rube Goldberg would be proud

Some roof work

Experimenting with layout

Adding the street

Done at last!

This was a long project with many mis-steps.  Here is what I learned:

1. Paint all except white plastic parts.  The molded colors are usually too bright and shiny.
2. Prime both sides of the walls if you want interior lighting (to avoid the pumpkin glow).  Grey Automotive Primer is quick and cheap.
3. Paint has to be scraped with a hobby knife from all glue joint surfaces (a big pain).  Testor's liquid cement does not stick to paint.
4. Contrary to what the "Pros" say, model airplane cement holds much better than liquid cement and is easier to apply without a mess.  But, you have to confine it to interior or hidden surfaces.  Liquid cement only has the edge with bare plastic clamped together.  I did not try super glue - too messy.
5. The best way to glue in window frames and windows is a drop of model airplane cement in each corner of the inside, out of view.
6. Paint and completely assemble each flat wall section, then assemble them together.
7. Spraying Floquil really stinks, even with a paint booth.  Polly S Acrylics are much nicer to spray.
8. An assortment of clothes pins, clamps, rubber bands, weights, square edges, and magnets are the key to assembly (see pictures above).
9. Doing 3 kits together is much more efficient, especially for painting.
10. IHC printed instructions are marginally useful.
11. Above all, have fun!