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Michael Hohn
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Posted - 10/25/2014 : 9:53:52 PM
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With its shorter days and days off, this time of the year tempts the modelmaker to start new projects. I try to resist temptation by beginning the new year with fewer unfinished projects on my desk.
One that has gone unfinished for too long is my model of a Central of Vermont boxcar, actually a modified BTS laser kit of a PRR 28' boxcar. Today it went through the paint shop.

Next step: Art Griffin decals.
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_________________________________________________ Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced. James Baldwin |
Edited by - Michael Hohn on 04/15/2017 7:52:56 PM
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Country: USA
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railman28
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Posted - 10/25/2014 : 10:57:48 PM
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looking good Mike. Nice kits aren't they?
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It's only make-believe
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Michael Hohn
Fireman
   

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Posted - 10/25/2014 : 11:14:04 PM
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quote: Originally posted by railman28
looking good Mike. Nice kits aren't they?
Yes, they are a lot of fun. While I prefer scratchbuilding when I have accurate car dimensions on hand, doing the occasional kit provides real relaxation and the satisfaction of seeing a car come together quickly.
I've done eight of this particular kit so far and have one left to do out of a five-pack I bought a while ago. I'll probably order more BTS kits once I complete the ones I have on hand.
Mike
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_________________________________________________ Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced. James Baldwin |
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Michael Hohn
Fireman
   

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Posted - 10/28/2014 : 8:57:36 PM
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While I wait for a good opportunity to decal the boxcar above, here's another in progress project, Lehigh Valley 28' boxcars cast in resin. I made the masters earlier this year for side, end , underframe, and roof, all to create flat castings. (I'll try one-piece bodies some day in the future, maybe.) I made enough castings for three cars: a "Lehigh Valley Despatch." "Traders Despatch," and a common, non-fast freight LV house car. Here are the masters and molds for sides, ends and underframes, and a casting for an underframe.

In the last couple of weeks I've started to put them together. Here the sides and roof are superglued, and I've added grabs on the ends. The underframe is almost complete except mainly for finishing the bolsters.

I have to do some more details, including ladders; brake staff, wheel and platform; door tracks; and grabs on roof. I'll add weights tio the underframes before gluing everything together.
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_________________________________________________ Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced. James Baldwin |
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Bernd
Fireman
   

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Posted - 10/28/2014 : 9:28:34 PM
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Michael,
Excellent work on those molds and castings. I've done some casting also and want to try a one body casting.
I'll be watching this thread with interest.
Bernd
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New York, Vermont & Northern Rwy. - Route of the Black Diamonds |
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quartergauger48
Fireman
   
Premium Member

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Posted - 10/28/2014 : 11:39:42 PM
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I am always in awe of mold and cast makers.... O have studied the process, but it still eludes me for some reason....That is very interesting, what you have there,,,,
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Ted |
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Michael Hohn
Fireman
   

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Posted - 11/05/2014 : 9:56:33 PM
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Started decaling the Central Vermont boxcar. Meanwhile, I painted and weathered trucks for the CV car, the three Lehigh Valley cars, and two boxcars I airbrushed last week.

I paint trucks with Floquil Weathered Black and the wheels Rail Brown. Weathering is a subtle rusty brown on the springs, shades of gray and brown on the truck frames. I used Bragdon powders this time around.
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_________________________________________________ Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced. James Baldwin |
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Country: USA
| Posts: 7497 |
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Michael Hohn
Fireman
   

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Posted - 11/07/2014 : 10:44:05 PM
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Finished Central Vermont box car. Art Griffin decals.

Modifications to the BTS kit include: replaced kit fascia with thinner stripwood to match appearance in Art Griffin photo; doors with tracks from a resin kit; grabiron ladder to replace wood ladder; left off end sills and scratched new deadblocks; styrene corner braces; nbw's on ends for truss rods, plus a few minor details.
Needs some weathering, but it's too late tonight. I try to heed when it's time to quit for the day.
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_________________________________________________ Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced. James Baldwin |
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railman28
Fireman
   

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Posted - 11/08/2014 : 12:54:33 AM
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Sharp looking box. She came out real nice.
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It's only make-believe
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Michael Hohn
Fireman
   

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Posted - 11/15/2014 : 6:14:14 PM
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I completed a couple more B.T.S. kits, modified to make a couple of Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul boxcars.

Decals by Art Griffin, details based on photos I purchased with the decals. Changes from the kit include scratchbuilt doors and ladders on sides rather than ends. Got around to doing some weathering, mainly to cut down on the fresh-out-of-the-shop look.
Meanwhile, progress has been made on the resin LV boxcars, mainly in details. I'll be taking them to our NMRA division's monthly meeting tomorrow, where the Bring 'n' Brag category is "works-in-progress".
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_________________________________________________ Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced. James Baldwin |
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Country: USA
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railman28
Fireman
   

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Posted - 11/15/2014 : 8:15:52 PM
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What nice cars. Sharp, bright decals too. Very, very nice.
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It's only make-believe
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Country: USA
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Michael Hohn
Fireman
   

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Posted - 11/16/2014 : 12:06:00 AM
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Thank you. Of course I have to give credit to the decals and their maker. They sometimes have to take a lot of punishment as I try to get them straight!
Mike
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_________________________________________________ Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced. James Baldwin |
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Country: USA
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Michael Hohn
Fireman
   

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Posted - 11/22/2014 : 2:13:31 PM
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My three resin Lehigh Valley boxcars are just about ready for the paint shop. That step will have to wait for warmer weather: my airbrush booth is in our garage.


I've heard one good way to notice flaws in a model or a scene is to take a photo. I guess it's true because I can see a nbw casting missing on one of the ends.
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_________________________________________________ Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced. James Baldwin |
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Country: USA
| Posts: 7497 |
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railman28
Fireman
   

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Posted - 11/22/2014 : 4:49:26 PM
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That happens, good yiu caught in now. the cars look good now and will be so pretty (ah, I mean sharp) when painted and decaled.
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It's only make-believe
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Country: USA
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Bernd
Fireman
   

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Posted - 11/22/2014 : 6:57:41 PM
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Mike,
Very professional looking castings. Nice and clean. Only one word to describe them - beautiful.
Whose system are you using to do the castings, I don't believe it's been mentioned. Micro Marks? I use Smooth-On's system. Have had good luck with that system.
Bernd
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New York, Vermont & Northern Rwy. - Route of the Black Diamonds |
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Country: USA
| Posts: 4007 |
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George D
Moderator
    
Premium Member

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Posted - 11/22/2014 : 8:06:24 PM
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Very nice work on the boxcars, Michael.
George
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Fly Army |
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Country: USA
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