Superior & Seattle Railroad Build

[S&S RR]

Here is a picture as you turn the corner again. This tunnel runs 30 feet before making another turn.





As you can see, I have a lot of stuff stored in this section.  The boxes contain 100's of rock molds used to make the mountains, and I also have a stash of Caspia for my pine trees.

[martin.ojaste]

John,


The release agent "might" help, but you have already lost much of the detail in the first cast. I find that the silicone is not tough enough for fine cracks and undercuts. The Smooth-On Mold Star 30 silicone is extremely tough and has longer life, plus the fine crack casting will works well with it.

[ACL1504]

John,

I agree with Marty on the Star 30 silicone for molds. It is tougher than what MM sells. I've work with both.
With the Micro Mark RTV, I use some Johnson's Baby Powder on the mold and this helps to release the mold in the fine cracks and tiny details.

Tom

[GPdemayo]

You have been one busy guy.....looking good John. 


With all the work under the mountain, we'll have to rename you "The Tunnel Rat". 

[S&S RR]

John,


The release agent "might" help, but you have already lost much of the detail in the first cast. I find that the silicone is not tough enough for fine cracks and undercuts. The Smooth-On Mold Star 30 silicone is extremely tough and has longer life, plus the fine crack casting will works well with it.

Marty


Thanks for stopping by the thread and for the advice.


I have tried a number of mold materials over the years, but not this one , so I just ordered some to give it a try.  I'm going to try Micro Marts 10:1 next to see if it will hold the small features in this casting better.  And when my Mold Star 30 arrives we will give it a try.  I will post my results.


The deep mortar lines in this casting is what gives it the character so I want to reproduce them with every casting.

[S&S RR]

John,

I agree with Marty on the Star 30 silicone for molds. It is tougher than what MM sells. I've work with both.
With the Micro Mark RTV, I use some Johnson's Baby Powder on the mold and this helps to release the mold in the fine cracks and tiny details.

Tom

Thanks Tom - as I said in the response to Marty's post I just ordered some Star 30 and will give it a try.  I have had good luck with the MicroMart product for rock moldings but this casting has some very unique mortar lines that are going to be a challenge.  As always, thanks for the advice.

[S&S RR]

You have been one busy guy.....looking good John. 


With all the work under the mountain, we'll have to rename you "The Tunnel Rat". 

Thanks Greg


Just what I need is another nick name. Thanks for stopping by the thread. This week I will be spending most of my time on the visible track work.

[S&S RR]

Here are a couple pictures of the trees we made yesterday.  Wayne Olson came over and we went into tree production mode - all but the ground foam and drying was done in my gazebo in the back yard.  Total count for the day 193 aspen trees about 50/50 between the green and yellow foliage. And 27 pine trees.  I ordered another case of super trees so we can do it again next weekend. 





This is the first half of the green aspen trees.





101 aspen and 27 pine trees in this picture.  We sure need a lot of them to forest this layout.

[Rail and Tie]

Those tunneling pictures remind be of the "Great Escape". I would install a creeper and a rope on a set of rails....

great job on the trees.  Do you have a special formula for soaking the trunks before hanging so they stay straight?

Happy tree planting. You should get HO Scale credits for reducing green house gas emissions!

[S&S RR]

Those tunneling pictures remind be of the "Great Escape". I would install a creeper and a rope on a set of rails....

great job on the trees.  Do you have a special formula for soaking the trunks before hanging so they stay straight?

Happy tree planting. You should get HO Scale credits for reducing green house gas emissions!

Darryl


As for the creeper, see page 1 of this thread.   My knees can't take crawling through there anymore.


I soak the trees in the matte medium and add a clamp to the curved ones while they dry.  I also have a mountain layout so I'm always planting on a hill so I like having some curve to them.


As soon as I get the track work done, there will be lots of planting to do. I'm really looking forward to seeing what the mountains look like with all those aspen and pine trees. I sure need a lot of them to make it look the way I want it to.


As for the credits - I wonder if I can get away with paying HO scale taxes.


Thanks for stopping by the thread.

[S&S RR]

Here is a picture of the tree cue after I added the green trees.





The area they are sitting in will someday be a harbor seen with a ocean side town on the mountain side. I have plans for a few of Doug's kits in this area.

[S&S RR]

I feel another project coming on.  Workbench number 2 is ready.





I have  the Jacob's Coal build on my main workbench.  The castings are curing on workbench number 3.


Tomorrow, I'm planing on getting back to the track work. I want to meet my goal of trains running this year.

[cuse]

That is quite an operation you've got there John!!


(someday...)


John

[S&S RR]

That is quite an operation you've got there John!!


(someday...)


John

John

I know what you mean about someday - I spent 38 years, 6 days a week, 10-12 hours a day, waiting for the opportunity to work on my layout the way I wanted to. I'm enjoying every minute of it now. My modeling during my working years was a way to relax and unwind.  Now that I'm retired, it amazing to me that a day can go by so fast when I'm working on the layout. Time really does fly when your having fun. I feel very blessed to have the time to do what I enjoy. Thanks for stopping by the thread, and enjoy the Narrow Gauge Convention.  I'm looking forward to a full report.  I don't plan on missing very many NG Conventions,  but I just could not swing it this year with all that is going on.

[S&S RR]

I have good news to report on my casting project.  The MicroMart 10:1 worked great. The detail mortar joints reproduced without the mold failing and pulling the detail. I have completed the mold and made one hydrocal and one resign casting without degradation of the mold. I also received the Star 30 mold material today - as soon as my master casting is ready to come out of the second MicroMart 10:1 mold (24 hour cure time) I will give it a try. I sure like the price of this better than the MicroMart material.  I hope it works good. Here is a picture of the mold and resin casting.  The resign material in this case is the MicroMart 600.