Atlantic Scale Modelers - HO Scale Bell Buoy

ReadingBob · January 18, 2019, 08:50:37 AM

Here's a little side project, or amuse-gueule, between a couple of larger builds I tackled last month. (I want Tom and Greg to have to scramble and look up amuse-gueule.) I picked this up at Hal Reynolds table at the EXPO in Altoona and recently stumbled across it.

Here's the package.

It's a small kit so there's not a lot of parts in the bag. That doesn't mean it isn't a little bit challenging though.

The instructions and drawings are pretty well written and clearly describe the build process. Not that I didn't mess up in one or two places but those mistakes were on me.

More illustrations. Not bad for such a small kit.

I started out by gluing together the two pieces that make up the base.

Then the top of the base was sanded into a rounded shape. I started with a coarse sanding stick and finished with a fine sanding stick. I just sanded until it looked good to me and was a close match to the shape in the drawings/pictures.

More in a moment...

ACL1504 · January 18, 2019, 08:59:36 AM

Bob,

I worked for Miner's Catering Service for three years when I got out of college. So, it happens that I know what this one means.

Usually though, I only heard it around the "mucky mucks" in high society. It is truly amazing how many people think their chit don't stink just cause they gots lots of moola!

I'm sure this Bell Buoy will be fantastic when finished.

Tom

ReadingBob · January 18, 2019, 09:07:26 AM

There's a little 'cage' that is made up of five parts. It gets assembled first and then installed at the top of the tower.

Here's the cage in place. You may also notice two lift rings were glued to the base. There's plenty of these on the carrier sheet. Thankfully. I lost one somewhere along the way.

Here's what NOT to do. Next up I assembled the holder for the bell. I should have been paying more attention to the pictures/drawings. Had I don't that I would have realized this ring goes a little more than halfway up the wire supports. Not at the base like I did here. I had to fix this later on when I realized my mistake.

I made up a holder for the lighting circuit which is nothing more than a current limiter and a single red, flashing, LED.

I drilled a hole in the top of the LED to insert the fiber optic. I won't glue it in place until it's installed on a layout or diorama.

After pushing the legs of the current limiter (and LED) through my mounting board I bend them to a 90 degree angle.

More in a moment...

ReadingBob · January 18, 2019, 09:08:13 AM

Quote from: ACL1504 on January 18, 2019, 08:59:36 AM
Bob,

I worked for Miner's Catering Service for three years when I got out of college. So, it happens that I know what this one means.

Usually though, I only heard it around the "mucky mucks" in high society. It is truly amazing how many people think their chit don't stink just cause they gots lots of moola!

I'm sure this Bell Buoy will be fantastic when finished.

Tom

Dang! I should no better than to mess with a wordsmith like you.

ReadingBob · January 18, 2019, 09:14:27 AM

After bending the legs I trim them to shorter length with an old pair of rail nippers I keep on my workbench.

Then they get soldered to the copper tape I had applied to the mounting board.

Finally I removed the copper tape between the legs of the current limiter (very important) and the LED. If you forget to do it for the LED, no big deal. It just won't light. If you forget to do with the current limiter, bit deal. The LED will light. Briefly. Then never again.

I had to lightly sand the top 1/8" or so of the fiber optic to allow the light so shine through the side.

Then I drilled a hole through the bell. The fiber optic will feed up through the bell to the top of the tower.

I painted the bell a brass color and then dry brushed it with a little Penn Central Green. You can see the rest of the buoy has already been through the paint shop where it got sprayed with Floquil Caboose Red.

More later! Break time is over. Thanks for checking it out!

vinceg · January 18, 2019, 09:30:12 AM

You're amazing to watch, Bob. Thanks for all the sharing. The fiber optic thing looks very interesting. Looking forward to see how that works out.

PRR Modeler · January 18, 2019, 09:51:24 AM

You are a craftsman. There is no way with all those very thin fragile pieces that I could make that.

jimmillho · January 18, 2019, 11:20:32 AM

Awesome Job Bob, and it looked great.

Jim

GPdemayo · January 18, 2019, 02:02:42 PM

Does it have something to do with horse devoures?.....neat build Bob.

postalkarl · January 18, 2019, 02:40:27 PM

Hey Bob:

Looking good so far.

Karl

cuse · January 19, 2019, 05:54:41 AM

I almost missed this little gem of a build! Wow...great kit, great execution. I appreciate the detailed play by play, as always...I'm going to go see if I've got a spot in my harbor for one of those

John

Lynnb · January 19, 2019, 07:31:45 AM

Always enjoy following your ventures, makes me want to barrel forward.

ReadingBob · January 19, 2019, 07:34:01 AM

Quote from: vinceg on January 18, 2019, 09:30:12 AM
You're amazing to watch, Bob. Thanks for all the sharing. The fiber optic thing looks very interesting. Looking forward to see how that works out.

Thanks Vince! I saw it a the EXPO and had to have one (plus it didn't blow the budget). Over the years I've accumulated a dozen or more waterfront kits even though there's no way they fit in with the Reading Railroad theme. Oh well. It'll be my alternate timeline Reading Railroad.

ReadingBob · January 19, 2019, 07:35:32 AM

Quote from: PRR Modeler on January 18, 2019, 09:51:24 AM
You are a craftsman. There is no way with all those very thin fragile pieces that I could make that.

Thanks Curt! Actually they're not quite as fragile as they look. Some of them are tiny though. It's a fun little kit.

Atlantic Scale Modelers - HO Scale Bell Buoy

jimmillho