Hi All:
Received my kit for the pre-Build from George today. It even arrived in the Correct box. I guess the boxes came in early this time. Here's a photo of the box. Will be getting my 11 X13 inch base tomorrow at Lowes. Frank Bernard and I will be building this kit together.
Karl
This is going to be a good one! I'm looking forward to watching the build.
Karl,
Thanks for starting the thread. You will need to try to build at my pace because there is no way I can build at your pace. My base is cut, the retaining walls are painted and installed. The wood for the trestle bents are stained and cut. Castings are primed. I hope to make some good progress this weekend.
Frank
Karl and Frank,
This will be a fun build to follow. I'll be lurking for the whole thing.
Tom ;D
Quote from: ACL1504 on December 21, 2016, 07:00:23 PM
Karl and Frank,
This will be a fun build to follow. I'll be lurking for the whole thing.
Tom ;D
Likewise I'm sure.
Jim
Me too..... ;)
Frank
Good luck with slowing Karl down. ;D
Even the box is exciting! ;D Sad...this is the last "new" FSM build thread. Thankfully, our collective stashes overfloweth!
Hi Tom, Jim, Greg, John S., Jan And Dave K.
Thanks for checking in. Glad to have you along for the ride.
Karl
HI Frank:
Glad to see your post. I have to catch up with you know. Talk to ya soon.
Karl
Karl and Frank,
I am in too.
Vilius
Hi Vilius:
Thanks for following along.
Karl
Karl,
Do you know if George is shipping them out earlier than expected?
Thanks,
Loren...
Hi all,
George wanted me to post a few pictures of his new kit installed on his layout. Also George will not have any kits ready for distribution until around late January/early February. The one Karl is building now for George was hand packed special so karl could double check the final product for George. karl's good like that. ha. The new kit is now located in Beaver Meadows and works really well in operation. George has already made some changes and improvements to the scene since these photos were taken. I'll post newer ones when the kit is officially released. Thanx Thom...
The kit looks a lot better installed than it does in the box photos, without any ground around it.
dave
Hi Loren:
Not sure when they are shipping. Give George A call I'm sure can tell you.
Karl
Hi Thom:
Thanks for the great photos. George told me you'd be posting them. Thanks again.
Karl
Hi guys:
Base is cut and the retaining walls are painted and waiting to be weathered and glued in place.
Karl
George told me last week that he was still waiting for the boxes and he was making good use of the time working on the layout. Since Karl got his in the official box the wait might be over. We had a nice talk about how everything was taking longer than it used to and it was time to spend more time working on the layout. George has sure given us a lot of great kits to build over the years.
Hi John:
I totally agree.
Karl
It's amazing how George can fit a new structure into existing scenery and make it look as if it were there forever.
Tom ;D
Here are some quick pics of my progress on the trestle. They are just posing for the photo. I still need to add the NBW's. Once that is done, I will glue them down and then start working on the coal drop zone.
Frank
Hi Frank-
I have a question: what is your technique for cutting the angles on the strip wood for the trestles? Do you lay the wood over the drawings and cut with a saw?
thanks!
Very nice.
Jaime
Jaime,
Thanks.
Bob,
I just lay it on the template and cut it with a single edge razor blade.
Frank
Hi Frank,
Yeah, that is what I have been doing,,,, wanted to know if you were doing something different. I'm always on the lookout for new/different techniques for doing things!
thanks!
Hi Tom:
Yeah he does have a talent for doing that and he sa9d it was a bear
Karl
Hi Frank:
Looks good. I have my retaining walls glued to the base and the trestles are built. Just have to glue them down. I cut my trestle pieces by marking one one the template and then I use my chopper.
Karl
This is a great thread. Karl is off to a slow start but like the rabbit he'll probably finish first. 8) 8)
Tom ;D
Tom,
You are correct. Karl will pass by me very quickly. I am trying to build at a faster pace but never at a Karl pace. :)
Frank
Frank,
I understand Karl Speed. We have a friend and he likes to run the trains at notch 8+. We call it Greg Speed.
I'm confident both builds will be wonderful.
Thanks for sharing the build with us,
Tom ;D
Hi All:
Had whole day off from work and got lots done.
Karl
This is going to be good with the duel builds!! Reminds me of:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8rUZfQJjPY
Hi Darryl::
Sounds good to me.
Karl.
Karl,
You suck. :)
Me
Hi All:
Thanks Frank
Decided to add some scenery between the trestles as it would be difficult after the track is in. Also added the coal pile.
Karl
Hi Karl,
I am here for the build. I'll keep checking in.
Isn't Karl Dunn yet ;)
Well I'll have to bookmark this topic in order to ensure that I don't miss this build.
--Rich
I will post my photos later of my progress. Not quite where Karl is yet. My only hope of beating Karl in the build is to hope that he keeps posting the progress pics to the wrong thread!!! :D
Frank
Love the design and waiting to see how it is going to come together.
Marty
Hi,
Here is where I am at this morning.
Frank
Hey:
Cut it out. You're gonna catch me. I better get to work. I have a package for you with taskboard. I will mail it Monday as when I calle the PO they were closed already.
Me
Hi,
Thanks Karl. Looking forward to getting the taskboard. In the meantime, I did a bit of the scenery under the trestle. I also decided to paint up the walls for the stone shed.
Frank
Quote from: richbeau on December 24, 2016, 07:10:10 AM
Well I'll have to bookmark this topic in order to ensure that I don't miss this build.
--Rich
Wow! A rock star out of the past. Welcome Rich, and Merry Christmas.
Hi Frank:
Looks great. Keep the good photos coming. I will send your taskboard today.
Karl
Hi Mike:
Thanks for posting.
Karl
Hi,
A little more progress while I wait for Karl to send out some taskboard so that I can do the road. I decided to assemble the stone shed and started working on the rest of the parts for the trestle. The stringers are built and are just resting on the bents. They need to be trimmed and glued in. I will wait to do this as I want to detail some of the bays a bit more while I can get into them.
Frank
Frank, and Karl,
Excellent progress so far....you guys are lucky, I have to patiently wait to get my kit.......but one day I will come home, and there will be that surprise on the door step...I already purchased the Wisemann Model service Kleiber open cab dump truck, which was my guess as to what George used for the display...
Loren...
Hi Loren:
Thanks for the reply. Looks like frank is ahead of me.
Karl
Hi All:
Made a little progress today. did the stringers across the bents and the long tie. On to the short ties then rail. Also weathered my streets.
Karl
Karl,
You are making good progress. Looking good.
Frank
Frank and Karl
Your builds are look great.
Hi Frank & John:
Thanks for the compliments.
Karl
Hi Frank:
Stone building looks great.
Karl.
Hi Guys:
Got the stringers assembled & glued down along with the ties. Just finished adding the rail. It is 5 minute epoxied in place.
Karl
Hi Karl,
What did you use to make the roads? It looks good....
Hi Bobby:
Used 1/16th inch taskboard. Dick Blick has it by the sheet.
Karl
Hi,
Here is where I am on my build. A bit behind Karl.
Frank
Brilliant work Frank. Very clean build.
Darryl,
Thanks for the kind words.
Frank
Hi guys:
got some work done today. The trestle is finished. Also added the cribbing to the sides of the road. Instructions cal for it on the inside only. I like it better than the hill so I made one for each side.
Karl
Karl,
Looking good buddy.
Frank
Karl and Frank,
Great job on both builds. I love this place.
Tom ;D
Tom,
Thanks for the kind words.
Frank
Hi Frank:
The weather on the street looks great after you toned it down a bit. Great job so far.
Karl
HI Tom:
thanks for the compliment.
Karl
Hi Guys:
Just finished up installing the guardrails on the highway.
Karl
Really nice work ,,,, what color/type paint did you use on the roadway?
Hi Bob:
I used Floquil Aged concrete, A&I Stain, dry-brushed with gray and rust weathering.
Karl
I kinda thought that was the color-- I have 1 more bottle of the Polly S aged concrete left,,,,all my Floquil paints ran out a long time ago, which I guess is good for my brain cells....
thanks!
Quote from: rpdylan on December 30, 2016, 11:21:35 PM
I kinda thought that was the color-- I have 1 more bottle of the Polly S aged concrete left,,,,all my Floquil paints ran out a long time ago, which I guess is good for my brain cells....
thanks!
Look at Tru-Color CN Grey as a potential replacement for Floqui/Polly-S concrete.
dave
Hi Bob:
I agree with Dave on the CN gray. I have several bottles of Floquil. I will try that next time.
Karl
Thanks guys, I will check that color out! BUT.....does it smell as good as the old Floquil? Ha ha!
Hi All:
Got the supply shed done this afternoon.
Karl
Karl,
Really a great build. Looks fantastic.
Tom ;D
Hi Tom:
Thanks a lot buddy appreciate it.
Karl
Hi,
Here are a few pics of my progress.
Frank
Hi Frank:
Looks great. The crane looks really good.
Karl
Karl
HI guys:
Frank did his model with the hill beside the road. I did mine with cribbing to show a different approach. I think both ways look great.
Karl
Hi All:
Haven't posted for A few day as I've been working on all the details behind the front buildings. Crane is in. with it's details. Work bench and the street cart are installed. Have 3 buildings and details around them to go. Hope all looks OK.
Karl
Frank & Karl,
Both builds are looking great ! Keep sharing those progress photos... :)
Tommy
What is the stone shed made from? Resin castings?
dave
Frank and Karl
Your builds are looking great.
Hi Dave:
Stone building is metal castings. George doesn't use resin that I know of.
Karl
Hi John:
Thanks buddy appreciate the compliment.
Karl
Hi,
Thanks for the compliments.
Karl,
Your build is looking great. Here are some new pics of my progress. Trying to catch up to Karl. :)
Frank
No need to catch up , just keep doing this fine work.
Hi Frank:
Looks really great as usual. I'll Give you a call soon Ok.
Karl
Both of these builds are looking great guys. It's cool to see the subtle differences between your modeling styles.
Hi Steve:
Thanks for the compliment. Yeah I enjoy building along with Frank. He's a great modeler.
Karl
Guys...
Both builds are coming along very nicely and look fantastic. Interesting to see subtle differences in both your approach to building.
I find these threads extremely helpful for this of us who plan on buying the kit.
George has done a great job on his instructions and they are very easy to follow. These threads just add to his work and makes great reading.
Looking forward to seeing both builds completed.
Regards
Bagman
Hi,
Thanks for the great compliments. Karl and I enjoy doing dueling builds.
Karl,
You are too kind. Thanks as always buddy. You are no slouch when it comes to building great models.
Frank
Quote from: fbernard65 on January 09, 2017, 09:10:11 PM
Hi,
Thanks for the great compliments. Karl and I enjoy doing dueling builds.
Karl,
You are too kind. Thanks as always buddy. You are no slouch when it comes to building great models.
Frank
Sure it is all fun and compliments until the banjo comes out!
These are coming along nicely!
Hi Bagman, Frank and Darryl:
Thanks for all the kind words. As Frank said we enjoy doing this every year. Its a lot of fun.
Karl
Karl and Frank,
The dioramas are looking most excellent. Extremely well done as expected.
Tom ;D
Hi Tom:
Thanks much for both of us.
Karl
Karl, Frank,
Christmas came early....Mr. UPS just dropped this off....
Loren....
Loren,
Great news. I did not even know that George started shipping. Now it is time to join in our build thread.
Frank
Hi Loren:
Yeah I agree with Frank come on and join our build. We will be glad to have you aboard.
Karl
Karl, Frank,
I would love to join, but I am preserving my kits for a future generation of model builders. Kind of like preserving a piece of history.
Loren...
Hi Loren:
Sorry to hear you won't be joining us.
Karl
Hi guys:
Been working on the supply shed for a few days now. I tried new ground cover the stuff in the first picture. Let me know if you think the color is good. I used it and some darker stuff in spots.
Karl,
Great build as always. I like the ground cover color and texture (I think - those are just larger clumps, not sparkly, right?)...Everything Jimmy at Monster Modelworks makes seems excellent. Not always what I'm necessarily interested in, but always really nice stuff. I would expect his dirt to also be excellent.
John
Hi John:
No it is not sparkly. Just larger clumps. Thanks for the compliment.
Karl
The dirt looks real good Karl..... 8)
Hi Greg:
Thanks. I was hoping it was OK. 1st time I used it.
Karl
Hi All:
George and Frank said I had top get rid of my boulders in my ground cover. So I took an emery board and filed them down and used fine dirt to recover the area. Hope it looks OK.
Karl
Karl,
Looking better. Now, mix some of the very fine dirt with a little water putty (to make the color a bit lighter) and dust the foot path areas to highlight them. Then it will be perfect!!!! :)
Frank
Hi Frank:
Will do per our conversation.
Karl
Hi Guys:
OK in following George's & Frank's suggestions I Mixed some water putty with the my fine dirt to lighten it up. I applied it to the diorama dry and blew off the excess. I think I came up with how the color photos look in the kit.
Karl
Hi Guys:
Stone walls are painted and assembled.
Karl
Karl,
The dirt looks much better. Stone shed is coming along nicely.
Frank
Frank and Karl
Your builds are real coming along nicely. Note: mix water putty with dirt to lighten it up. Great tip.
Karl,
The dirt looks good but then I liked the dark dirt also.
Tom ;D
Hi All:
George asked me to mention that Frank & I are using Taskboard for our road surfaces. I sent him a sample and he was impressed with it. It's a very nice textured material. Dick Blick sells it by the sheet. I think you will find it much easier than using plaster. I've been using it for quite some time. I know that Bar Mills uses it in their kits. Jim Mooney introduced me to it.
Karl
Karl
Hi All:
Stone building is done except for some more interior detailing and the roof.
Karl
Karl,
As usual your work is simply perfect.... But what's happening... It seems to me that you put more time than usual to finalize this kit ... some difficulties ? :D :D :D :P
Eric Québec city
Hi Eric:
No difficulties just haven't been working quite as fast. Watching more TV I guess.
Karl
Nice work Karl. I was wondering how you'd deal with the stone building seams. BTW George lives close to the sea shore so his 'dirt' is definitely lighter then the stuff further inland.
--Rich
Hi rich:
Thanks. I followed the instructions on covering the seams. Front wall. Some weeds and Lumber. Rear wall All lumber to cover the seams.
Karl
Hi guys:
OK here's a new picture of the stone build after I completely removed it from the diorama as I glued it down crooked and the roof didn't look straight. I is reinstalled and the roof looks fine.
Karl
Karl
Karl,
Looking good. I started painting up more of the detail parts. I got the roof done for the stone shed and I started building the open shed. I got the first floor done. I hope to get the rest of the open shed done tonight. I took some pics outside. The sun was a bit too harsh though.
Frank
Hi Frank:
Looks great. I used the powders and colors George used in the directions for my roof. I looks a little different than your. Let me know if it looks ok. My stone building is finished. One more to go.
Karl
Hi All:
Frank and I are working on the open shed. He used a template to assemble the lower level due to space restrictions for assemble in place. He was kind enough to share the template with me.
Here's a photo of the lower level being assembled.
Karl
Hi guys:
Thought I'd try something I never did before. I used #M tape to glue the deck to its frame. It actually worked quite nicely. Save A lot of gluing time.
Karl
Karl , there is an even easier way to do this, lay the tape on your workbench sticky side up, lay the boards on the tape , when you are ready laying boards cut off excess tape , peal off the paper from the tape and stick the deck to the beams. The advantage is not having to hold the vulnerable beams or other parts while laying the boards one by one, plus the boards will stick to the tape better.
Quote from: Janbouli on January 17, 2017, 07:04:56 PM
Karl , there is an even easier way to do this, lay the tape on your workbench sticky side up, lay the boards on the tape , when you are ready laying boards cut off excess tape , peal off the paper from the tape and stick the deck to the beams. The advantage is not having to hold the vulnerable beams or other parts while laying the boards one by one, plus the boards will stick to the tape better.
Good tip!
dave
Hi Jan:
I guess either way would work. I had no trouble at all the way I did it. I will try your method the next time and see which I like the best. Thanks for the tip.
Karl
Hi Guys:
The open shed is done except for detailing and the roof. It's a lot of work. All individual boards.
Karl
Hi Frank and Karl
Really nice work going on here. Very impressive.
A question on the base size. In the instructions George acknowledges that sometimes space can be a problem on layouts and as such suggests a base size of 11" x 13".
I'm wondering from your experience wether it is possible to place all the buildings, trestle etc on a smaller base ?
Just curious.
Regards
Bagman
Hi Bagman:
I think that would be pretty tough. As you can see there isn't much space to move things around. Lets see what Frank has to say about it.
Karl
Bagman,
Thanks for the compliments. I think that trying to squeeze it down may be a bit tough. The structures are pretty tight as it is on the diorama. You could always break it it up into smaller structures if you wanted. But as a complete diorama, i think that maybe an inch or two might be possible.
Frank
Quote from: fbernard65 on January 20, 2017, 07:35:46 AM
Bagman,
Thanks for the compliments. I think that trying to squeeze it down may be a bit tough. The structures are pretty tight as it is on the diorama. You could always break it it up into smaller structures if you wanted. But as a complete diorama, i think that maybe an inch or two might be possible.
Frank
Hi Frank and Karl
Thank you for your feedback. As I said was just curious if it could be down sized any further, but as you point out it's a pretty tight fit as it is.
I guess you could build the structures and then place on the base to see if any room could be made free.
Thanks for replying and I look forward to both of your continued great work.
Regards
Bagman
Hi Bagman:
You are quite welcome.
Karl
Karl and Frank both of your builds look great.
Hi Jim:
Thanks much.
Karl
Hi,
Thanks for all the great comments. Here are some more progress pics. I have a nasty head cold so I am not able to get as much done as I wanted this weekend. I hope you enjoy.
Frank
A few more. The roof on the open shed is not glued down yet if you see a slight hump in the middle. :)
Frank
Hi Frank:
Wow looks great. Keep the photos coming.
Karl
Karl and Frank,
Two superb efforts. Thank you for sharing.
ed
really nice work! I love how much detail is packed into a small area. In the FSM book, there is a photo of this little area that is packed with detail. George is quoted below the photo that the entire scene is only 2 inched in depth from the layout edge, and how space available is not really related to the modeling quality. I always think of that advice when I model.
Big question, is the dude dunn?
Quote from: engine909 on May 23, 2017, 06:53:43 PM
Big question, is the dude dunn?
George has retired.
Hi John:
You are correct from what George told me.
Karl
Quote from: postalkarl on May 24, 2017, 07:42:30 AM
Hi John:
You are correct from what George told me.
Karl
Quote from: S&S RR on May 23, 2017, 10:41:25 PM
Quote from: engine909 on May 23, 2017, 06:53:43 PM
Big question, is the dude dunn?
George has retired.
Everyone;
Let me complete the trio'. George is R-E-T-I-R-E-D George is talking with other manufacturers on selling all his kit & casting equipment. George keeps his phone machine turned off most of the time when not hosting his open houses one Saturday a month from april to october. George dedicates his day to only building and improving and enjoying his layout. He comes in later in the morning and leaves earlier, and takes one to two days a week with no notice to spend time with his wife Cathy traveling on daily trips and enjoying their retirement!!!
George is Dunn. :'( Thanx Thom...
Quote from: tct855 on May 24, 2017, 08:26:02 AM
Quote from: postalkarl on May 24, 2017, 07:42:30 AM
Hi John:
You are correct from what George told me.
Karl
Quote from: S&S RR on May 23, 2017, 10:41:25 PM
Quote from: engine909 on May 23, 2017, 06:53:43 PM
Big question, is the dude dunn?
George has retired.
Everyone;
Let me complete the trio'. George is R-E-T-I-R-E-D George is talking with other manufacturers on selling all his kit & casting equipment. George keeps his phone machine turned off most of the time when not hosting his open houses one Saturday a month from april to october. George dedicates his day to only building and improving and enjoying his layout. He comes in later in the morning and leaves earlier, and takes one to two days a week with no notice to spend time with his wife Cathy traveling on daily trips and enjoying their retirement!!! George is Dunn. :'( Thanx Thom...
He had one heck of a run..... 8)
Quote from: GPdemayo on May 24, 2017, 08:31:53 AM
He had one heck of a run..... 8)
Boy, He sure did 8) 8) 8) 8)
Jim
One amazing run by a true gentleman. I am sure I am among many who wish him the best.
ed
Great job on the build Frank, are you still puttering along on it?
On the F&SM itself, right?
G'day
Here are a couple of photos of my version.
I decided to eliminate the trestle and build as a ground level unloading facility.
Actually, to be perfectly honest I couldn't be bothered ripping up the existing track/scenery to accommodate the trestle.
Some more details to add plus more weeds to plant etc but pretty well finished.
A fun kit to build as George's instructions are first class.
Bagman
David,
Great job on your version of the FSM JS-19 kit. It fits perfectly.
Tom ;D
Quote from: ACL1504 on August 20, 2017, 07:15:45 AM
David,
Great job on your version of the FSM JS-19 kit. It fits perfectly.
Tom ;D
Thanks Tom. Appreciated
Great scene David.....I like the change you made eliminating the trestle. The elevations work well in locals that have a bit of hills, but not so much in the flatlands. 8)
Frank,
Great shots of your build on George's kit. Very well done sir! Thanks for sharing. Thanx Thom...
Quote from: GPdemayo on August 20, 2017, 08:34:51 AM
Great scene David.....I like the change you made eliminating the trestle. The elevations work well in locals that have a bit of hills, but not so much in the flatlands. 8)
I agree with Greg.
Bagman,
Wow! what great pictures of your work. You've just proved no kit structure is only for one part of the country. I like the realism you created for a monolithic topography. Pretty
awesome Aussie modeling mate!
Can't wait to see a posted video of your fantastic "Franklin, Hamilton & Essex" railroad layout. Cheers! Thanx Thom...