PTMY in new clothes

Hi All

It seems the whole fleet of PTMYs has been repainted with SABADIN lettering, these all get delivered to the Mobil siding in Alice Springs, now Sabadin petroleum.

Looks like I need new decals......

Scott

new shipper on AD1 DA2

Hi All

Spotted this new container on AD1 DA2. very decorative.

Scott

SCTs PWWYs

Hi All

I was lookign at using a Walthers 56 ft well wagon to mark a PWWY, but the more I look at it I think we might be better using parts from a 206ft Wathers 5 pack well.
Note the flat rack loaded with steel on top of the 48 ft box.

Scott

NR75 looking faded

Hi All

Here is a picture of NR75 looking more the worst for wear. Will have to try and replicate this weathering.

Thanks

Scott

AP8 the Ghan

Hi All

Heres a pic of AP8 with NR75, Its interesting to see that the NR is starting to fade, a little like BNSFs Dash 9 fleet. Hope the paint starts to peal, it will be a great modeling project.
I have alocated 19 IP cars to the ultra modern Ghan set. Looks like I will need at least to Premium Cars, one Overland car, and two old east west cars to round out the set.

Thanks

Scott

Sadliers vans

Hi All

Here are some shots of resently repainted vans. In a block, check out the first wagon has been painted in reverse, great modeling feature. Note these vans were repainted in ADL.

Enjoy

Scott

More Shots of Stewart

Hi All

Please see attached more shots of Stewart.

thanks

Scott

layout Stewart SA

Hi all here is some shots of Stewart at the Adelaide Exhibition 2011.

Enjoy

Scott

Alice Springs railway yard on Google maps

Hi All

I have just been checking out Google maps, and they have updated the maps from Alice Springs.
A couple of things I would like to point out that I missed.......X@#$% it!
Trackage north of the Crane hard stand area is still intact, although only a part of it seems to be in use. more frustrating is the NQX depot ex NTFS STILL has track into it!!, thus could open up another shunting possiblity, the track goes right under one half of the building, thus would enable transhipment direct to the NTFS or NQX trucks.
The steel concern between Adelaide Brighton Cement and Kleen Gas still has a siding, abet currently covered up, these interesting additions are just too much to ignore. I will look to see if I can incorporate into the current design.

See if you can spot the AN class in the yard.....

Thanks

Scott

Tyobic penciled in for Continental modeller

Hi All

Just to let you know that a future due article for Tyobic (Victorian true BG layout) has been penciled in for a future issue of continental Modeller. Will advise when I have more.

Thanks

Scott

Adelaide exhibition 2011

Hi All

I checked out the Adelaide Exhibition, and can offer the following interesting items.
Stewarts, modelled around the first station on the Kingston S.E. line. The guys have realy put in the little details. like grease splotches on the point blades. Train order boxes, equipment boxes in the correct SAR two post fashion. They have put alot of work in around the town, the Ampol Petrol station, CFS station, station, goods shed and the houses. all well detailed. If is a good example of what can be accomplished in a small space. The true passion of the creators seems to be trucks. A Mack Cattle truck with an array of arials, proper bull bar, all realy added to the show. These are details you just don't see on other layouts, even Barcoola. They also created mini scenes. The most notable is the hearding of sheep. They had the truck all decked out. A temroray coral, drover and dogs the lot, and the way they possitoned all the sheep and people, were all at the relax, ie not running, which I think realy adds to a scene, not need for a double take.
Oh and the red markers on the Bluebird car, very nice guys.

Shopping:
A double deck car carrier brass kit from end of the line hobbies, I am looking at converting to a tripple deck, got to do my research first.
Bull bars for trucks from Orient express.
More people, and kangaroos etc
More grass tuffs, checked out the OB pilot model, nice work. for Barcoola we could use them as Gen sets, Glen has already done the models from scratch.
Stop gap steel trucks circa 1993.

Also did some photography.

Will up load the pix soon.

Enjoy

Scott

More on half packs

Hi All

According to a sharp eyed viewer, a half pack is not quite a halft pack, and yes they are right. A half pack is a little bit more than just a half. Its more of an expression, rather than a mesurement. I will publish the heights that I have come up with, in HO. Obviously there is a difference between a TNT (now CEVA?) 51ft auto half pack and a SPD 1993 era half pack.

thanks

Scott

halfpacks

thanks for that

Hi All I will try to post on a weekly basis a meaty article, such as this. Please let me know your thoughts.
Half Packs
Contrary to poplar opinion, half pack containers are very prevalent in railway transportation. As such I would like to describe a simple process in which to model your own “half pack” containers. There are many different version of these. Most of which are tarp or vinyl sided. Some more popular examples are:
SPD, see photo halfpack1993sml05. This also shows a triple stack with a flat rack on top, complete with neatly folded tarps, a loaded SPD halfpack in the middle and an empty half pack at the bottom.
NTFS, see photo halfpack1193smal03. Stacked double on a AFSY, ex OB type open wagon.
Brambles
TNT, see photo halfpack1993sml01 & 06. While looking slightly top heavy two empty halfpacks support some 40ft boxes. A colourful TNT half pack supports a early Railex container.
Simons
K&S Freighters, see halfpack1993sml04. Looking like a no name brand, a heavy weathered tarp supports a Railex 40f container.
FCL
Railex, see photo halfpack1993sml02.
There are also generic “no name” versions, which are just tarped frames. Even if modelling ultra modern, half packs are still prevalent, most of which include the above. Such examples are:
SCT, also incorporating Coca Cola.
SCT with tautliner sides, refer halfpackultramod01, in typical one and a half fashion on VQCY 63ft flats.
TNT car carrying 51ft, note that this container is a little bit higher than most halfpacks.
TOLL, refer halfpackultramo05 to 07. These photos display the many loading variations that can be achieved.
On DA2 we have a halfpack loaded with empty gas bottles, which just seem to be peak over the height of the blue half pack. Refer halfpackultramo02.
On the CT train is a GEseaco lat rack with a steel load, on one half of an 80ft flat. Refer halfpackultramod03.
The main advantage of the half pack is that it can be heavy loaded, and still have a standard height shipping container placed on top and remain within the loading gauge of a normal height flat wagon. Thus if you are paying per slot you get two for the price of one, Half packs are more prevalent North and West of Adelaide, due to the loading gauge. Half packs are also used in the Eastern states, and can be double stacked and remain in within the smaller loading gauge. For example, stacked into a well wagon or stacked with a flat rack on a standard height flat wagon.
Model construction.
Currently no model manufacture makes a half pack, so we will discuss the easiest way to “scratch build” a satisfactory representation. The concept is basically a milled piece of wood painted black with a photo stuck to the side. Although this may sound crude, when placed in a consist it really makes an impression.
Select a quantity of 19mm by 42mm timber from your favourite source. Try to chose timber that is not twisted or bent, you will get better results. Using a workbench with a circular saw, mill XX mm from the height of your timber. You will find it easier to do this in batches, timber is not that expensive so feel free to cut up more than you need. Next place you workbench into “docking” mode, and cut your timber into 141mm lengths for 40ft half packs. You can knock these out fairly quickly once you have it all set up. See photo halfpack01.
Now you have the basis for your half pack, we need to paint the ends and tops of your pieces of wood. If does not have to be anything special, so a coat of “spray can” matt black will do the trick. The wood will soak up some of the paint initially, so feel free to give it two coats.
Application of the photos.
In these times of great digital cameras and scanners, photos can easily be manipulated using Adobe photoshop to the correct scale. Lance Mindheim did a good article in Model Railroader XXX which outlined the process quite well. If you don’t have access to the containers images you need, drop me a line on this blog. I have a fairly extensive library.
A set of half pack sides will fit quite conveniently on a 6 by 4 print, note that if you are using an external printer, ie from Kmart, Harvey Norman etc, they may use software that slightly resizes your image just prior to printing. When I first tried this method I had to slightly modify the size and contrast to counter act their auto resize and auto contrast settings. See photo halfpack02.
Once you have your selected photo produced, firstly spray paint the photo with a clear matt. You may wish to use in a spray can, just be careful not to let it pool as it may attack the image.
Cut the image to size using either a sharp hobby knife or scissors, make sure you keep the top twist lock housings, these should slightly stick up over the “tarped” part of the image.
Use “kwik grip” glue the images to the side of the block. Ensure that you follow the instructions, and apply a thin layer of adhesive to both the back of the image and the side of the block. Let both applications become “touch dry”. Then from the bottom edge of the block apply the image, to the block. Once applied apply even pressure to the side of the block with the image, this will ensure even adhesion. Be very careful to line the image up correctly the first time as once applied it will not be able to be adjusted. See photo halfpack03.
Run a black permanent ink pen around the edge of the image, to hide the exposed white edges of the photo paper.
Super glue Evergreen strip styrene to each top corner and middle twist locks if fitted. These blocks will hold the top container in place and free of the top of the block. This will give you the “see through” effect between upper and lower container stacks.
Drill locating holes in the tops of the styrene blocks so that the bottom lugs of most manufactures containers can be located on top of the half pack.
For slightly varying weathering patterns, you might like to weather half packs of the same design, using chalks, the slight pattern on the photo paper will hold the chalk quite well.
You may like to secure the top container to the half pack. A very small amount of clear silicone around the twist locks will do the trick, this will hold the top container in place while enabling you to remove the container at a later date without destroying your model. See photo halfpack04.
All that is left to do is start operating...........enjoy!