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An Entire Summers Work

1 (One) Truck

I guess the summer wasen’t a complete modeling write off.  I did manage to build this little Jordan Miniatures pickup truck…

I love building Jordan Miniatures kits.  They only take a few evenings, or in this case, 4 months, but the finished models look great!  You can’t have too many of them, so I make one when I don’t feel like focusing on a big project.

I have noticed lately that the quality of the moulding has dropped, it would appear the moulds are starting to wear out.  I think I will try and only buy the old, beat up boxes I see at train shows and avoid the newer production runs.

After I built this model I painted it with a concoction of paint that I made up previously for a steam engine that had a fair bit of Floquil Glaze in it.  Floquil Glaze is an additive to their paints that aids in airbrushing, sort of like a bit of gloss.  I didn’t realize that this stuff would attack styrene, the plastic that Jordan models are made of.  The entire model crazed after painting.  I figured it was ruined.

After a few days (ok 5 weeks) I repainted it with some water based Accu-Flex.  I had been wanting to try this stuff and figured this would be a good test.  I was quite impressed with the results.  I painted the model with Rail Brown, a nice dirty colour, and did a bit of weathering with some Weathered Black.  The crazing from the earlier paint actually works to create a dirty, rusty look to the truck.

I guess it wasn’t a write off afterall.

-T.

About the Author:

I'm your host, Tim Warris, a product developer in Port Dover, Ontario. Since March of 2007 I have been documenting the construction of the former CNJ Bronx Terminal in HO scale. For my day job, I design track building tools for Fast Tracks, a small company I own and operate. Fast Tracks makes it fast and easy to hand lay your own trackwork. Stop by our website to learn more!

Posted by: Tim | 11-05-2008 | 11:11 PM
Posted in: Latest Posts | Comments Off on An Entire Summers Work

View from the Desk

My Fast Tracks Desktop

Fast Tracks Desktop

In a rare moment of cleanliness, I decided to document the fact that the work area on my desktop is actually visible.

I have a phone!

-T.

About the Author:

I'm your host, Tim Warris, a product developer in Port Dover, Ontario. Since March of 2007 I have been documenting the construction of the former CNJ Bronx Terminal in HO scale. For my day job, I design track building tools for Fast Tracks, a small company I own and operate. Fast Tracks makes it fast and easy to hand lay your own trackwork. Stop by our website to learn more!

Posted by: Tim | 11-05-2008 | 10:11 AM
Posted in: Latest Posts | Picture of the Day | Comments (3)

Helix for Sale

30″/27.75″R Double Track 6 turn 2% Grade Helix

For model railroad use.


I built this helix for my former Port Kelsey Railway and still have it.  I managed to dismantle it carefully and it is still very usable.

There is enough pieces to build a 6 turn double track helix.

In addition to all the plywood parts, there is also enough Atlas code 100 flextrack for both tracks.

To aid in laying the flextrack, I cut out Masonite spacers that are placed between the two routes to help form the proper curvature.  These were cut on a CNC mill and are very accurate.

All the risers are also included.  These are very precisely cut and used to space each turn of the helix.  They are screwed in place onto the plywood pieces.

To accurately join each section of the helix Masonite “biscuits” are slid between each section.  This keeps the surfaces completely in line and smooth.

There is over 300′ of flextrack and 4 sheets of plywood here, and countless hours of work.  If your layout design is double deck, this would save you lots of time!

I will have this with me at the Ancaster Train Show this weekend (Nov. 9)

-T.

About the Author:

I'm your host, Tim Warris, a product developer in Port Dover, Ontario. Since March of 2007 I have been documenting the construction of the former CNJ Bronx Terminal in HO scale. For my day job, I design track building tools for Fast Tracks, a small company I own and operate. Fast Tracks makes it fast and easy to hand lay your own trackwork. Stop by our website to learn more!

Posted by: Tim | 11-04-2008 | 10:11 PM
Posted in: eBay Auctions | Latest Posts | Comments (3)

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