I’m still plodding along with the wheels journals. In laminating the second layer of bristol board to the first layer, I made the exact same mistake that I made on the previous car. Maybe I should start reading my own blog! I drilled the holes into the first layer, then glued on the second layer and had to re-drill the holes. Someday, I will learn to glue the two layers together, then drill the holes once. Aiiiggghhhh! […]
Whew! I added a new detail - if you look carefully where the journal attaches to the undercarriage. I had some trouble gluing the journals on. I tried the Grrrp Craft Cement, but didn’t seem to be getting the job done very well. I glued the remaining three journals using the Wood Carpenter Glue. That seemed to go better. I’m going to wait until morning to see how the first one glued with the craft cement turns out. As Lurch (from the “Addams Family”) would say, “Uuuuuuuhhhhh”. […]
I started cutting out the pieces of basswood that will make the part of the gravel car that is between the wheels beneath the undercarriage. I’ve spent some time ruminating on how I will construct this and making some sketches.
I also bought an artist palette today. I’ve resisted these things until now. When I first started modeling cars, I tried using styrene for a palette, but that didn’t work. Wet paint stained and dried paint refused to wash off. Styrene isn’t cheap, though cheaper than a dedicated, quality artist palette. So, I gave up that, and started using freezer paper. Cheap and easy to clean-up - just throw it away. […]
I worked some more cutting and piecing the basswood for the underside of the gravel car [Schüttgutwagen]. Some of the wood here has been glued together and some of it is just propped in place. I really enjoy doing this woodworking stuff. My Dad does a lot of woodworking, so I figure I inherited my enjoyment. […]
I finished piecing basswood for the underside. I painted them using the gray that I had mixed and used for the wheels, brakes, journals, etc. I’m about to run out of this gray, but there isn’t much more need for it. After gluing the parts, I added the dark gray/black paint for the dirt. Other than a little glue showing here and there, which I will touch-up paint, it is looking pretty good. […]
The two merit awards that I received back in April - the paperwork and RIBBONS!!!! - showed up in my mailbox today. I love the ribbons!!! They are bigger than the train cars! HOm scale ribbons to hang from the cars’ front railings would be adorable.
Excuse me while I dump some thoughts out of my head. […]
I spent most of today working on the gravel car [Schüttgutwagen]. I added the steps at the front, and painted them with the gray color, then a light coat of the pink dirt color. I also added the gray blotches to the sides of the undercarriage, and the route info to the sides of the car. And finally, I made the pieces that go slant-wise to form the box that holds the gravel. I also painted the top of the deck - not much of the deck will end up visible. I’m still feeling twitchy about the paint on the top of the deck, though. […]
I assembled the top part - the box - that holds the gravel. And of course, the first things I see are the flaws. I think I will sleep on that - and make a list of improvements for the next time tomorrow. There’s still work to be done. Next item is the front decking. I started the decking - painted the basswood with very watered down Studio Lascaux Anthracite. This deck will be like the cement silo car. […]
I added the front deck tonight. The decking is painted with Studio Lascaux “anthracite” that has been watered down. I wanted to give the effect of old boards that were never painted. The boards are not perfectly straight; I made them fit the space. […]
The glue dried overnight, and today I put a thick coat of light gray acrylic paint on the inside. I mixed Studio Lascaux anthracite and titanium white for this. I painted up the entire inside of the gravel box and the top edges, then painted the dusty pink on the top edges and down into the box a little. The photos that I have show the box as being two-toned much like this when empty. No idea why. I plan to fill the box full with gravel. […]
I got quite a lot accomplished today. I added the front railing and the heavy-duty railing that supports the handwheels that are used to open/close the underside gates that control the gravel being let out (in reality - this is a non-working model). I also added the wood pieces to the front steps. I’m quite pleased with how this car is turning out. […]
This gravel car [Schüttgutwagen] is turning out way better than I had expected it to when I started it. I was really concerned that it would turn out like the cement silo car [Zementsilowagen] - slightly out-of-scale and cute - but it is turning out quite nice. It has its flaws and is not perfect, but I’m very pleased that so many pieces have turned out so good. […]
I put in two euro-cents on bottom, then a nickel, and a quarter on top. The gravel car [Schüttgutwagen] weighed 14g before adding the coins, and 29g after. It will gain a little more weight upon completion, but I’m not sure it will make it to the 36g that it is supposed to weigh.
I made a false bottom for the gravel box. And now I’m waiting for the glue to dry so I can paint it. I decided to make a false bottom so that I can put in less gravel. Less gravel should equal less wet glue, which should equal a shorter drying time. And hopefully, less chance of the wet glue damaging the car. […]
Well, Mother Nature decided to help me out with some cooler, dryer weather. Thank you!!! I glued in the gravel last night. And the gravel car spent the night with a fan blowin’ on it to make sure the gravel dried as quickly as possible and as completely as possible. It feels dry this morning and appears to still look ok. Whew!
I added a little dirt (water-down anthracite paint) to the front steps. And it is now complete and ready for a photo-op.