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Our Model > Progress >
2009 Progress -
Year
eight >
We really sped up our modelling in the Spring of 2009, mainly as a result of a number of all day sessions. Having nearly completed the buildings we moved on to weathering rolling stock (initially coal hoppers). With a definite plan to take Mauch Chunk to our exhibition in the fall (end October 2010) we had a deadline! Chris pretty much finished the Freight
house - here it is
under construction and in its finished form on the layout. Paul finished the Central
Hotel with only the Hotel Switzerland's back and sides to do now. In the picture
he is making an RS3 work again (how? haven't a clue!). He also fixed the
trackwork and wheels when stock doesn't run smoothly (i.e. falls off) - also a
mystery Steve Rogers, from the Leigh Model Railway
Club, joined us for modelling sessions and painted the roof of Chris's
Station Building. He has also finished off another cliff face, most of which
will sadly be hidden by the buildings on Susquehanna Street. Chris has also been
working on Paul and Steve's Hotel and Iron Works respectively to get a
consistent brick finish (below). Dave worked manfully on with the gas
station and associated buildings on Susquehanna Street. Steve painted and weathered the
buildings on Susquehanna Street. Steve has also had a go at weathering the
coal hoppers on the layout using weathering powders (mostly Carr's). All the remaining photos below (nearly all) were taken at the Spring Open Day in mid April. Some have a temporary backscene put up during the Open Day, which gives a much different feel. The old-style cabooses were built for us by Bill (Rails2) after a contact through eBay - beautiful.
In the summer, Dennis Morley, an O-Gauge modeller, delivered our brass locos back after painting - he'd done an excellent job. Weathering still to be done. Here are three of them, the 4-8-0 was finished later.
Steve spent much time
doing shop interiors using various materials from Langley Models (UK, 4mm to the
foot but manageable) and Preiser (right scale but not cheap!). He also made good
use of the colour printer and photos of old shops that he'd been accumulating.
Sadly you can't really see very much once they're
in. To finish them off Steve's been using
computer written signs and scanned and reduced posters. Home made decals have
also been employed with extensive use of various free and not-so-free software.
The signs and buildings still need a fair bit of weathering but it's getting
there. Susquehanna Street is pretty much done now, except the sidewalks and
ashphalt. Chris finished the detailing on the
freight house and only the weathering of the roof remains. Dave finished the gas station on
Susquehanna Street, again awaiting only weathering. Here are a few extra photos from
our last open evening as we counted down to the MMRS Exhibition at the end of
October. |
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