Wordless Wednesday

 

Modeling Opportunities That Could Be Overlooked

Immessurable guides

Extracting every detail from photos captured of the New Haven Berkshire Line during the later 1950's ether by the original photographer or by knowledgeable historians have been immeasurable guides for my modeling efforts. Without them both, capturing an era of the prototype in scale with any degree of accuracy would not be possible. I thank them for helping me see and understand details that I would have not recognized and the modeling opportunities I would have overlooked.

What's in this photo?

Before continuing west, the power of Cedar Hill - Maybrook NY symbol freight NO-7 reverses direction by running around the Danbury loop track to drop a cut box cars at Danbury yard. 

During an online discussion of this December 1958 photo a knowledgeable person noticed something that was not the subject of the discussion nor the primary focus at the time of the photographer, J. W. Swanberg. 

In the far right of this photo is a rare express car that could be easily overlooked.

An enlargement of that portion of the photo reveals a Boston & Maine converted troop sleeper.

What makes this car rare are the two 6' 8" wide doors per side, and recognized as B&M because the railroad was the only one to my knowledge that had this feature with converted troop to express cars.

The Boston & Maine converted 17 troop sleepers between 10/48 and 1/49 with this 2 door per side configuration, road numbers 3260 - 3276. The conversion included full messenger facilities, these cars were used for all services.

My B&M knowledge is limited, corrections/additions gladly accepted.

Modeling opportunity

Modeling foreign road express cars that have been photographically confirmed to have appeared on the Berkshire during the era of the layout add operational interest and variety.

The existance of these B&M express cars was unknown to me before the discussion of the above photo and now offers a modeling opportunity gladly accepted.

B&M express car #3266 will serve as the prototype for the build.

           Bob's Photos

Decoder Volume Level

I find matching the volume levels of sound decoders individually by ear between one locomotive to another type locomotive difficult. The difficulty increased when the programming track is at a computer desk in a separate room from the layout where the final sound volume is heard during operation.

Matching volume levels between several locomotives with the same sound file downloaded into the decoder is not difficult with a computer and programming track where the locomotive sounds can all be adjusted to a same volume level that is pleasing to ones liking.

It is the difference between the many other locomotive type sound files in use on the layout that offer the most difficulty matching sound volumes for me; Alco 539, 244, 251 as an example and then there are EMD's and motors too. Not only prime mover sounds but I like to match horn, bell, compressor and other sound levels as well.

I have started to use a sound level meter app in conjunction with the computer and programming track to even out the all the sound volume levels of the layouts many different type locomotives. So far this has worked far better that by ear!

The app is free and downloadable from The National Institute for Occupational Saftey and Health (NIOSH). The app can be downloaded here.

Below are a few example photos of the downloaded app in use with a cell phone on the layout, the meter numerals increase or decrease as sound levels rise or lower.

Alco 244 at idle,

at idle with horn,

at run 3.

Maybe this app will be helpful for others?

  

Modeling State Line Interchange Yard part 7 & Rising Junction

The last State Line Interchange Yard post, part 6, a base scenery layer was applied over an earth color painted surface to "make it green" using 2mm blended color static grasses. That post was in the colder months just over a year ago, closing by indicating the next step would be to make background trees, "a lot of trees". 

There is no place indoors to make trees with the ensuing mess from fine turf materials and hair spray fixative. This project was put off until it could be accomplished on the outside work bench during the warmer months of 2023 and I moved on to other indoor projects.

Working two layout locations at the same time ? 

State Line and Rising Junction are adjacent locations across the operators aisle on the layout's lower level, both prototype locations have very similar rural New England wooded scenery. Contradicting the initial goal of bringing each layout location to completion before moving to the next, it only made sense to complete the scenery of both locations at the same time.

Rising Junction is where the 9.6 mile branch line to State Line interchange yard diverges from the Danbury-Pittsfield main line.

Before making trees for both locations, the same methods used at State Line to bring the scenery to the "make it green" level of completion were again used to prepare Rising Junction.

"A lot of trees" times 2, then plant

Pleased by the prior tree making results at Berkshire Junction, once again the Jim Dufour Cheshire Branch color blend and method for making trees was used.

The large number of trees that were made for both locations will remain uncounted, following each tree was "planted" one by one into the scenery base. Both jobs were quite time consuming but gratifying in the end as the scenes came together. 

Finishing up with bushes and taller static grasses complement the trees and help to complete both scenes.

 Completed overall view of scenery at State Line below.

Rising Junction below.

Both locations together at the chair operated lower level, State Line to the left and Rising Junction at right. The upper level lighting is off during this photo.

The close proximity of the scenes and their scenic similarity made working on them both at the same time an easy choice.

Next project is to scratch build and install the State Line structures. 

Wordless Wednesday

 

Wordless Wednesday

 

Modeling the Dudley #4

Painting

The sides, baggage doors, and roof were snapped in place in the photo below so the resin baggage car end could be glued in place. The sides, ends, vestibule doors and baggage doors were painted POLLY Scale Engine Black. 

All undercarriage equipment has been located using Pullman plan 2915E below. Undercarriage equipment, trucks and roof will be painted a 50/50 mix of POLLY Scale Engine Black & Grimmy Black.

When the car sides are separate parts to be installed onto the core it is most efficent to completely finish these parts while still on the flat.

After painting the sides they were decaled, Dullcoted, glazing installed finishing with the shades.

Below all parts ready to be attached to the core.

Interior

The 1952 NYNH&H RR  floor plan below is the latest known interior arrangement, this is the plan that is modeled.

The dinning area layout modeled per drawing above. Some "kitcheny" parts from the scrap box although not exact offer something stainless steel to see thru the 4 small windows of the ex-baggage door.

Finished!

Both sides of the completed Dudley, now ready to serve on the Berkshire 1957.

These are the 3 food service cars used on the Berkshire in 1957.

Narrows Light, Diner # 5247 (Dreadnought) & Dudley.

A model consist entering Danbury with the same equipment as in the J. W. Swanberg photo that inspired modeling the Dudley.

Thank you.

A sincere thank you to J. W. Swanberg, John S. Horvath, Tom Madden and articles in the Shoreliner magazine offered by the nhrhta.org  Their assistance made modeling the Dudley possible.