Good Morning;


Club House is open, pot of coffee on the stove and donuts on the counter. I'm sitting on the back porch enjoying the cool (upper 60's) central Florida morning weather. Looks like another 90 degree day for a high.

I have beenn working on getting a little FPM 3D machine working and hoped to wake up to my firshed useable item printed on it. I'd previously tweeked it until it made the test print. Unfortunitly not to be I woke up to this:



So apparently FPM machines have their own set of printing issues. I might work some more on it today or just put it back on the shelf until the tinkering mood hits me again. I am ready to work on something else. Hope everyone hss a great day.

Jim

Afternoon Folks;

While I write this I have a little Anycubic Filament PLA printer (Kodia Go) chugging away on my desk making what I hope will be its first complete and correct 3D print. I bought it a little over two years ago when Anycubic was running a discontinuing sale as better faster units were out and this little guy is 'ancient' compared to what is available, or so I am told. I think I paid $189.00 for it but you had to put it together, which I got around to about 3 months ago. I tinkered with it, got bored and put it on a shelf till I got bored again. That time is now. So today I took the time to fuss with it and get it to work (YouTube Videos for learning and fixing are the best).  I have been 3D printing now for 4-5 years but with liquid resin machines, this guy uses a spool of thread resin, heats it up in a nozzle and the plate and print head move back and forth to deposit the resin. Liquid resin printers produce a much finer detail finish product and can make pretty small items so great for working in HO (evenn N gauge). When I make something for someone in O gauge the detail achievable is truly amazing. These filament printers are getting better for detail parts too, just not as fine yet as resin and not this little guy. You can definitely see the layer lines with each layer .2mm thick (my main liquid machine deposits a .03mm layer). However none of that is to put this little guy down he has a bright future I hope. 

The drawbacks of liquid resin printing is you are not done when the part is made. It needs to be washed, the support sprues removed then UV light put on it for some more time. All these processes turn out to easily cause a mess with dripping and sticking and such. Keeping the printing area clean is a must and is on going duty. Further, liquid resin smells, period. The manufacturers use cute names like 'low odor',  green and so on but it smells until the product is hardened by UV light. I have my machine in an enclosure and vent the majority of smell outside and the machine sits in the garage. The wife says she can still smell the resin a little but I can't. Did I mention the liquid resin is slightly toxic (like fiber glass resin) so wearing nitrile gloves while dealing with the wet parts is a must. Still even with all that I love making resin details for my layout using the liquid resin printer.

So here is where this little filament printer comes in.  I have begun to do use the 3D printer make the building 'shell' then I add the wood siding, details, windows, doors and such. Doing so creates a building with strong 'bones' and eliminates the stress of getting things plumb.  I can do this because instead of using pen and paper to draw out my structures I use a free CAD program called Tinkercad. It was developed for elementary students to learn CAD through the use of object addition and subtraction such as rectangles, circles and triangles. I am sure the students learn it much quicker then my old brain did but I now can try things out on the computer before actually making the item. Now I export the file to a USB stick (or direct through internet) to the printer and it makes what I designed. Using the liquid printer to make these shells is overkill and expensive, lots of liquid used. I hope to use this filament printer to make these shells (and other stuff like the 9 volt battery power pack) at a lower cost and without the worry of a mess. As I mentioned to begin this it is currently on my desk in my office and no smell, even the wife can't smell it and she is the sensitive nose in our house. We will see how it and I get along but it is looking promicing. I will post to this thead a 'shell' when I get to that point. In the meantime here is a photo of the little guy chugging away.

Jim

The Judging Eves reviewed all entries based on the contest criteria including the complexity of the modelling, the detailing of the diorama, the finished look of the diorama and most importantly the detail explanation of the methods used, tips provided and explanations of why a certain way was used over other methods. I want to thank everyone that participated. Everyone that entered the contest (regardless if they finished or not) will be receiving a collection of unique 3D printed detail parts in the gauge they model in.

First place is Fiordland Lobster Company by Mark Dalrymple. Mark provided an amazing project that uses a wide variety of modeling techniques with great explanations, documentation and photos. The final result is a truly unique scene that showcases his talent.




Second Place goes to AMB Interlocking Tower made by Tom Langford. Tom's overall sense of 'how to' construct an attractive diorama, easy to follow explanations, critical changes and improvements to the original kit and meticulous attention to detail resulted in a winning presentation of what at first look looks like a simple building.

I have been working on my AP for Structures in the NMRA modeling program so I have to have the buildings judged. I light all of my buildings and in the past took a power pack with all the wiring, kinda of a mess. So I decided to create my own portable power pack. It consists of a buck converter, two wire snap connecter and a nine voit battery (with connector).  Measuring the various parts I used Tinkercad to design a box to hold all the parts in place and here is what I came up with.

Good Morning;

Clubhouse is open and the coffee is ready. We hsve another really nice day on tap here in Central Florida with high expected to be 80. Yesterday we had dinner with the neighbors and had a nice time. I was also able to finally pour the 'water' for the bridge scene on my canal section of layout, so progress.

Today I hope to work on cleaning up the layout and get everything ready to begin work directly on, up till now I've been having fun making structures but time to put them on the layout.

Have a great day.

Jim

Good Morning Folks;

Coffee is on and the clubhouse open;

I took a group of local modelers down to Orlando to see Tom Lanford's impressive layout. He has already posted photos over on the Geezer Lounge thread so wander over to it if you want to see a bunch of gray hair guys smiling! We had a great time and Tom was his normal gracious self. We were with the Orlando gang for almost 5 hours and hope to host them up here in the Villages in the near future.

Here is a photo of a couple of the incredible structures on Tom's ever growing layout. 

Have a great day.

Jim

Dave told me he was having issues when on the web site. I am trying to look into it but finding no issues while I am on so who else is having problems and if so what the issues are. You can send me an e-mail through the site or just post a reply here.

Thanks

Jim

Good Morning Folks;

I will open the clubhouse, get the coffee going and put the donuts out for anyone to enjoy. I learned this morning Dave Buchholz is fighting cancer and is having difficultly even walking so prayers to him as he deals with what he is going through.

As for myself all is well. We continue to enjoy great weather and even got some needed rain late yesterday. I have been keeping in touch of the astronauts progress as they head to the moon. The quality of people we have for these challenging endeavors never ceases to amaze me. 

Today I meet up with a train modeling group I am part of and will continue puttering around the garage, fixing the work areas up as well as moving forward on my current model. My bride has been busy getting the house ready for Easter as we will be hosting her sisters and husbands this year, should be a fun day.

Well off to the garage, have a great day.

Jim

Wow another month about done;

Good morning, hope all is well. I did some yard work this morning, cleaning up dead plants from freeze. Now enjoying coffee , music and reading what is going on in the world. Like the Chinese say 'May you live in interesting times' and we do. Nothing I can do about any of it so I will work on my bench instead. I am designing the Pickle factory, plan to name it after my brother called Paul's 67. He just turned 67 and he certainly was pickled on his birthday. Every family has one I guess. Oh well.

Weather is nice and I plan to have a great day, hope you do too.

Jim

Good Morning;

Coffee is on and smells great. It is looking like another great day in Central Florida. I see many new members so welcome, glad you joined this great group of train modelers.

I am going to do some work on the layout today but need to get some yard work done as well. I am fitting the bridge I made on the layout and then pouring the 'water' to that section of the canal. 

Jim

Good Morning Folks;

The clubhouse is open and coffee ready. Woke up to beautiful weather, unlike most of the country! It is already in the 70's going to low 80's. Maybe a storm later but I doubt it. After to hard freezes we had iun Central Florida it is nice. I need to begin the trimming and pruning today of the bushes as most died back from the cold. We may have lost one of the Palm trees as well. Once that is done for the day I will be back at the work beench tinkering and working on something I am sure.

I hope everyone has a great day and those in the way of the weather stay safe apparently tornados will be abundent today in the middle of the country.

Jim

Good Morning Folks;

Coffee is on, the clubhouse is open and the day has begun. I hope to begin putting parts together on my current train project today. Otherwise we are having great weather and hope to enjoy some of that as well. Have a great day.

Jim

Well happy Presidents Day. For us retired it is yet another Saturday. Cold front with some weather came through last night. We sure need the water so that was welcome. Today gray and cool but rest of the week is suppose to go back into the 70's. 

I cleaned up the work bench, got another part printed for bridge project and even helped mop the floor so I get my gold star this morning. Some more bench time I think and perhaps a nap. Hope everyone has a great day.

Jim

Everybody slept in today so I will open the clubhouse.

It is in 40's damp and cloudy today in FL. Understand we may hit freezing again tonight, bummer.  Yesterday I hit a milestone on my resin printed Rolling Lift Bridge project, I glued the platform parts to the lift part and everything fit. I did learn that due to my attempt to keep dimensions to scale the final bridge will likely be too fragile to motorize. Frankly that is OK since the number of times I would likely actually open the bridge would probably be less than 5. So with that concern out of the way progress should be better as I move forward. I dropped a photo of it below. I have it on its own cut out section of canal, when complete I will b able to drop it into an area waiting for it.

Hope everyone has a great day.

Jim

Coffee is on and clubhouse open.  I woke up to frost on the entire yard today (central Florida) so that should help knock the bugs back next summer. It has already warmed up to 50 and nice and sunny.

Today I plan some more work on my bridge project but also need to start looking at taxes so we will see how much of either gets done. The bride is getting a little better day by day from her recent knee revision surgery. She was up to going out and having breakfast as well as meeting up with some of her friends so I took her and enjoyed the morning. Now back home and ready to get at it.

Hope everyone has a great day!

Jim

Good Morning The Clubhouse is Open;

A little chilly outside so the I fired up the stove and have coffee brewing on it as well. A little gray today in Central Florida but should warm up. 

I was able to spend four hours on CAD yesterday designing the next section of the rolling bridge I am 3D printing in HO. It is slow and sometimes painful work but it is really something when what you design actually prints out the way you wanted. Hope to do some more today as well as taking the wife and pups out just to get out.

Hope everyone has a great day!!

Jim

Modeler Forum
Winter Challenge 2025-2026

Purpose - Modelers share their techniques and ideas as they model a railroad themed diorama. It is through the sharing of ideas others can learn both innovative and time proven methods of construction for our great hobby.

Time frame -  All submitted build threads must be completed by April 15 2026. Judging will be completed the following week and winners announced at that time via the Forum. Winners will also receive an e-mail along with instructions on how to receive their winning prize.

Prizes!

1st Place: $200 Gift Card
2nd Place:  $100 Gift Card
3rd Place:  $50 Gift Card

By offering gift cards in place of kits we have eliminated the issue of what gauge people model in so model in the guage of your choice.

NEW THIS YEAR: All participants will receive a selection of rarely seen 3D detail parts. I will be making these myself and will include at a minimum Adirondack Chairs, Windor Chairs and Tudor Chairs. These will be offered in O gauge and HO depending on what the participant would like.

Rules :

• All dioramas must be no more then 12 x 24 inches in size (30.5cm x 61cm). They must be modeled in a standard gauge such as N, HO, or O. Narrow Gauge sizes are of course allowed!li] Put another way the scene can not exceed 288 sq inches. You may built the scene directly on your layout just outline the area used for the contest.
  
  
  • The diorama must be built during the time of the contest by the participant themselves.
  • At least one structure must be part of the diorama scene. It may be built from a kit or scratch built. Extra credit is given for scratch built structures.
  • All build threads are to be posted in the new 2025-2026 Winter Challenge Topic of which this announcement is located in. Extra credit is given to detailed build threads. Further, posting must be limited to only this Forum during the time of the contest to help promote the Modelers Forum during this time. Simply have friends visit the site to show off your work in progress. You can use links as needed to point them to our site.
  
  Judging:
  
  We have certified Master Modeler Railroader's of the NMRA who all previously judged at the national level helping me determine the winners.
  
  The criteria that will be used for judging is a combined version of the 'Structure' and 'Scenery' contest forms used by the NMRA for contests with the addition of a new section called Thread Description. A copy of the form is attached to be used as reference as you build your thread. A total of 175 points will be achievable with the highest point count being declared the winner, second and third place will be the next two highest point counts. The Build Thread Section is worth 50 points to reward clear and helpful building technique sharing.
  
  
  
  As this is a thread contest instead of your typical on site contest we will be reviewing what you write in your thread in place of you filling out the Judging Form.  Use the shown form as a guide to ensure you address all the things to accomplish as you write your building thread.
  
  You can contact the moderator of the contest Jim Donovan at cirrusmisty@gmail.com if you have questions. You can reach him either directly or through the Forum's internal mail system.
  
  Not only participate but recommend the Challenge to your modeling buddies and have them join in the fun!

Happy New Year Everyone

Well into another year. The Boss and I almost made it to midnight last night but not quite. 

I am working with Craig to get everything teed up for this years Winter Challenge so put your thinking caps on for you entry. We should it it all ready to go next week.

So here is to 2026! May it be a great one!

Jim

Good Morning;

Clubhouse open and coffee on the stove. It is a chilly day here in central Florida. Apparently we will get a hard freeze tonight. While our neighbors are covering up their plants I let ours fend for themselves. Florida gets cold sometimes so all our plants are made to weather a freeze. i gave up on tropical plants decades ago.

Amazing how yet another year has blown by, way to fast! Well come inside and enjoy a cup of coffee (diet coke for ACL Tom!)

Jim

While most of the country is cold here in Central Florida I have the windows open. It is a little gray but upper 60's going to 80 today.  My bride is on a tour with her rowing club in Europe so the house is mine and the pups. Each day I try to get something done around the house which makes a mess until cleaned up. With her not here I get to move at my slower pace. Today we will attack the floor trim which is chewed in the corners form when the dogs were just puppies. I have the supplies at hand so no excuse not to get done. Other projects so far done is a pocket door replaced (had help on that one), pool area cleaned up and float hooks installed. I also want to get my train room fixed up and cleaned up. So I will be keeping busy.

Hope everyone has a great day.

Jim