Projects - F7's

Just a few views of the completed F7 set. I changed the lettering and striping to make them more correct

I used 2 inch striping and rub on lettering. These are Key units from the late 1990's. 

They run very well and can really pull. 

I have been painting cars and trying to get them on the layout. I will send some photos along soon.

 

Some Model Projects - A GP7

I have a Sunset GP 7 that I have been doodling with for some time. I want to wrap it up so I installed DesPlaines photo etched grilles and louvers in the hood, assembled a 3 chime horn from PSC, and decided to model a non-dynamic model as the Northern Central in my area had received four such units in 1953. 

I also added lifting loops and a hand brake to the end of the hood. I had to drill out the headlights so I can install lighting. 

So, now it goes into the painting booth.
 

The Hill Moves Forward

I next covered the webbing with my red rosin paper and then a layer of plaster cloth. 

I worked around building onto the existing hill and raising its peak to cover the end of the photo. The plaster cloth then drops down to meet the foam hill. 

Alan sold me some of his excess Sculptamold which is like paper mache and showed me how to mix it. He suggested I add my earth color, which is a tan latex paint, to the mix. The resultant mix came out like tan mayonnaise and I troweled it onto the plaster base. It has a sort of a rough finish which will be covered in ground foam. 

I carried the paper mache down to the foam hill where I stopped for the night. It stuck to the foam very nicely.

 So, the hill looks very nice and I need to now set up the foam base along the wall to the bridge at the end of Herndon. I also have to think about how to vary the surface to look more naturally. I may try some red rosin paper to smooth the layers into a single slope. 

Continuing the hill saga

I had the help of Ed and Rich in putting up a plastic covering of the photo backdrop. I need to develop an approach to covering the lower level of the photo, up to the top of  the white border. 

I started the photo in a place where it can appear from behind the plaster hill which is coming around from the left.

Paul brought me some scrap 2 inch think green foam to use to build a low hill. Mat helped me rip it on my table saw into pieces that stack up into a 6 inch slope up to the base of the photo. 

There is some flexibility to the foam so it curves with the backdrop. I found that it glues with carpenter's glue and really sets up quickly. 

So, we mocked up how it would appear before covering it with some plaster. 

Now, I have glued the foam down and held it in place with screws until the glue dried. Now I have to integrate it into the cardboard frame.

Low and behold, the foam can be glued with hot glue so the strips just glued to the hill base. 

Now I have completed the webbing for the hill base. 

So, the corner's base is now in place.