C&S Landscape Shots

Really great photo's on http://c-sng-discussion-forum.41377.n7.nabble.com/. Check out the now and then section - C&S Landscape Shots.



Thanks Cameron

New Kit - looks like fun

Just picked up - O'Douls Flop House - from Bar Mills. Looks pretty cool. Will build it more "new looking" since modeling 1907.

Two brass C&S passenger cars - if anyone interested

Don't like evil bay and wanted to give you cobbers first crack.  Have 2 brass C&S passenger cars:

1. Overland coach 70-73 - top condition paid 200 - make an offer

2. Soho coach 70 - good condition paid 120 - a little tarnish - make an offer

Neither are painted and I don't see any broken parts, in original boxes.  Let me know if interested.

Thanks 

2016 Plans

Thought it might be fun to share my goals for 2016.

The layout has not seen much progress as we spent several months working on the house, including new flooring and adding a Florida room (mostly done, some cosmetic work still to be done).

The biggest accomplishment was completing the Gilpin engine house and preparing 2 articles for the HON3 Annual.  Also completed hours for my NMRA Volunteer AP.

This year will be hopefully spent on Super detailing the engine house and building a coaling dock for Pitkin.  Based on plans form The Western Structures book.

Also plan to begin a module.  With retirement approaching I want to begin building these modules as movable sections that we can relocate easily.  Some ideas are: a Pitkin module, others include North Black Hawk (using the engine house) or the Alpine tunnel.

Now just hoping these can be begun with something to show for it by the end of the year.  Will post pictures as we proceed.

Thanks Cameron

Happy Holidays & a Good New Year

Wishing all a great New Year.

Cameron

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all. Please take time to remember all the blessings we have received and thank G-d for them.

Also take a moment to thanks all those around you that make your life more blessed because they are part of it.

Blessings, Thank You for being part of our life.

HON3 Annual - shipping Now!

They are shipping now... You should be seeing them in your mailbox soon! - Per Facebook as of 11 November!

Thanks

Looks like the Gilpin Engine house will be in the 2015 HON3 Annual.  Submitted an article on water also, not sure if it made it or not.

Looking forward to the Annual, always great modeling and pictures to get our creative juices flowing.

Not sure what to build next, thinking the coal dock for Pitkin using Joe Crea plans from Structures book.

Any recommendations?

Thanks Cameron

Excellent site for C&S information

Wanted to share a site that I had been visiting, the owners is a great guy.  What is new is the forum - http://c-sn3-discussion-forum.41377.n7.nabble.com/

Some of the best information on the C&S with excellent analysis and commentary.

Thanks Cameron

Gilpin Engine House Update

Couple more photo's, roof will nooed cap to be redone.  Not happy with Coupla, on my to do list to replace.

Interior shot through Engine House doors 1 & 2.

Front view

Front left view

This was a fun build.  Putting a #11 xacto blade into my left hand slowed me down (and hurt), thank goodness no permanent damage.

Thanks for looking - Cameron aka Rabbi

Gilpin Engine house #2

Few more photos.  Repainted, added roof (temporarily in-place).  Will add front extensions, engine doors, lighting.  Will use code 40 for engine house.  Loco pit is done so that should be able to see through doors. Base with retaining wall in-place.  Weathering and detail after that.

Thanks Cameron\Rabbi

Little teaser on current project - Gilpin Enginehouse

Thought I'd post a teaser on the current project - Gilpin Enginehouse circa 1907.  More to come hopefully.

Thanks Cameron

More Colorado pictures - Alpine Tunnel

Here are pictures from our Colorado trip to Alpine Tunnel.

My New Journey into Madness

Been working on the idea of revamping the layout for my future retirement.  Goal is to plan it to fit in my wife's parents house in Mississippi.  Her aunt build a 20 by 40 building that has AC and is very nice.  This of course immediately becomes the target for the new layout.  Original plan was to build a new building, but cost and time seemed disproportional to my goals.  So the idea to begin converting parts of the existing layout into modules and building all new sections modular to relocated to existing building was born.

Beginning drafts of new plans, require one interior wall to move and 3/4 of front to be extended out 3-5 ft. Aisle 30-36", mushroom and deck  Similar to existing but redoing parts that proved to not be as workable as I hoped.  Allows expansion of cities, wider radius, and addition of Como - Boreas - Leadville and Alpine Tunnel and Gunnison.

Polar Star Mill 2014

The polar Star in Black Hawk in now a residence and the owner has done an admirable job keeping the structure intact and in good condition.  Some pictures from our 2014 visit.  The Polar Star is unique in that it is not on the side of a mountain, relatively flat and house an enclosed water wheel (raised wood section in the middle of the roof).

Deer Creek Mine arrived

Sierra West Deer Creek Mine arrived this week.  First impression very positive.  Pictures to follow-up.

Thanks

HO Scale Deer Creek Mine

Been waiting on this kit since it was first shown in O scale - now in HO.  Ordered, hope to have it in early January.   More info at: http://www.sierrawestscalemodels.com/ckits/210/210.shtml

The HO Scale Deer Creek Mine
pilot model constructed by Brett Gallant and Karl Allison
all photographs copyright Brett Gallant and may not be used without permission

SierraWest Puts the Detail First!
A great kit design deserves details that define what state of the art is in HO Scale.

The HO Scale Deer Creek Mine features:

New Stationary Horizontal Boiler
New Double Cylinder Mine Hoist Engine
New Mine Shaft Blower
New Mine Ore Skip
New Mine Ore Bin Gates
New Mine Ore Cars
Many More New Castings...
Acrylic Laser Cut Jigs and Assembly Aides
Comprehensive Easy to Follow Construction Manual
Laser Cut Windows, Doors, and Interior Wall Framing
Board on Board Hoist House and Tipple

The attention to the smallest detail is evident. SierraWest kits are so much more than a structure and a handful of details. The diorama creation is paramount in the development of each new kit. Instructions are provided leading you through every phase of construction including tool selection, assembly, weathering and aging, diorama composition, and scenery application. When you view the pictures of the Deer Creek Mine diorama remember this. SierraWest kits are unique in the level and amount of detail provided. Since all four sides are fully detailed, you have a ton of flexibility in placement and view-ability.

The little mine cars are incredible and illustrate the large scale thinking I bring to HO Scale. Twenty years ago the industry was excited about castings with all of the details cast in place as one piece. (Like a mine car with four wheels cast to the under-body.) Today I provide you with the body, frame, and four wheels. It is so much easier to weather the individual components and assemble the car than it was to paint the parts as one unit. The mine car is just one example of this type of detailing. (Notice the crates filled with individual parts.)

I love the boiler and you will too. It is the most detailed boiler ever made in HO Scale yet it is effortless to assemble. A two-part resin body that self aligns is complimented by cast metal details. And yes, if you look closely you will be able to read "Williams Bros" cast in place on the front of the smoke box and firebox doors. (Now that's more detail than found in O Scale.)

The Deer Creek Mine includes many laser cut components to aide in your construction. These include assembly jigs, wall framing, and roof trusses. They are designed to compliment the craftsman building techniques, not replace them. This is very important. Careful thought and design practice combined with decades of experience provide for a unique building experience.

A fully detailed hoist house with removable roof is included in the Deer Creek Mine. Would you expect anything less? A prototypical double cylinder mine hoist and blower were mastered new just for this kit. (I also mastered new crates and acetylene tanks.)

Sorry been so absent

Work has been a bear.

Here is a photo from Colorado Trip.

South Park Historical site, stamp machine.

Beaver Brook Station Build Book available in September

We have the Beaver Brook Station build with plans released in a new book that hopefully will be at the Narrow Gauge Convention in Kansas City. The book includes plans for anyone interested in doing this build.





Thanks Cameron

Sound Car Decoder test

Uploaded a short video of a LaBelle Box car built around the SoundTraxx Sound Car decoder. Mounted to roof and created a sound-chamber to force the sound out the drilled holes between the trusses. This is much louder than before and places the sound right at the truck level.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYt8Omz8bqg&feature=youtu.be

The keep alive works very well, runs 20+ seconds after power is cut. My stock of trucks are not conductive so test on rails will have to wait until I can pick some up.

Thanks Cameron