Reserecting a Starret #257A Surface Gauge

 It's been - well a long time since I have posted anything to the blog.  In that time not much modelling was done either.  For various reason's I haven't been able to spend much time doing my hobbies. The biggest reason is due to a nagging wrist injury. Any type of work involving my dominant hand caused too much pain to have any fun.  Through a bunch of physio, exercises and strength training - along with switching to my non dominant hand for mouse work, I am finally back to a place where I am not in pain and can start doing some modelling again.  My work bench was in a bit of a state of chaos.  So I started with a big clean up.  While organizing things I came across an old friend.  This Starret #257A tool steel Surface gauge which I inherited from my former employee and Leadhand at work when he unfortunately passed away.  

It was in pretty rough shape as he hadn't used it in years.  I decided it would be a good idea to spend a couple evenings cleaning it up and getting it back in service.  I started out by disassembling it and cleaning it with alcohol.  I followed up with  polishing out any surface rust using a purple Scotch Brite pad. It was missing the snug and scriber.  So I ordered a replacement snug from McMaster Carr - I fortunately had an extra scriber in my machinist tool box.

After another cleaning with Acetone the base was ready for bluing to protect it from rusting again.  I decided to hot blue it with a propane torch.  I did this out in my garage work shop, on top of a couple of thin steel flat bars.  I think it came out great.  I did have couple of oil spots show up on the surface when I heated it, some oil or grease was down in one of the threaded holes which I failed to clean out. It spurted on the surface when it got hot and left some spotting.  Oh well, it's a reminder to make sure to clean out every nook and cranny on the next project.  

This great old tool now has a new lease on life. It will easily last my lifetime and probably a few more. Next to it is my Starret #56c tool steel surface gauge (the smaller version). Starret also makes a cast steel version of the #257 which is less expensive.  If you interested in getting one of these for yourself, heres a link to the Starret online Catalogue.

https://www.starrett.com/products/precision-shop-tools/surface-gages

Hindsight 20/20 17.0 Virtual RPM

 

SP Auto Car

 The Southern Pacific had Standard Steel car company build 500 single sheathed automobile cars for them in 1921. Built with 10'5" door openings, they were widened to either 12'0" or 12'6" in 1934.  Some went to the  T&NO while the rest stayed with the SP.  The model is built from the excellent Speedwitch Media resin kit.  The car is mostly stock, apart from a few brake component etchings, although I did scratch built new end ladders.  Paint is Scalecoat Boxcar Red #2. Weathering is washes, dry brushing, acrylics and Pan Pastels. This car was delight to build.

Semet Solvay Tank Car

 I started this Yarmouth Model Works Kit when I learned of my friend and fellow modeller Bill Welch's cancer diagnosis. Bill did a bunch of the Pattern work on this kit.  While he was undergoing treatment in the hospital he asked for pictures of what others were working on to help pass the time.  I sent a long a few progress shots, but Bill left us before I was finished. 

 This was a fun build and my first resin tank car. I spent a significant amount of time doing the brake plumbing on this car to match all the interesting features of the Prototype.  I brought it to the Coco Breach RPM this past January, where another modeller complemented me on my effort by saying it was a really clean build.  I was happy to hear this, as I strived to assemble this as if Bill had built it himself. Bill's work was always top notch. 

GTW Automobile Car Part 3

 Well it's been almost three years since I last updated the progress on my GTW Automobile car.  If you missed the first 2 blog entries, here are the links.  

GTW Automobile Car Part 1

GTW Automobile Car Part 2

I've worked on many other projects over this time, but this car sat painted on the shelf waiting for me to decal and weather it.

Vallejo Fire Red was used for CN Freight Car Red, its a nice Oxide Red.  I used Black Cat Publishing decals and NSC chalk marks.  Weathering started with a Neutral Grey Filter, followed by oils put on with a makeup sponge to simulate rust specks. Then a liberal coating of various shades of Pan Pastels were applied. Between each step a flat coat was used, to seal each layer of weathering.  

I took ten pictures using the focus bracketing feature of my camera and then stacked the images in Photoshop. 

My new years resolution is to finish one project before I start a new one!

Fleet Additions

Over the last two plus years, I've managed to build some rolling stock for my own layout. It's not all Hindsight Virtual RPM planning - as the current state of the blog would attest.  

I was going at a clip of one car per month for a while and then things slowed down after National Scale Car acquired the Speedwitch Media line of decals. The captions give a bit more detail on the cars. The photos were all taken with my new camera and photo booth. Then focus stacked in photoshop. More on the Camera etc later but for now enjoy the photos..

Sunshine Rath Meet Reefer

National Scale Car Rock Island Mini Kit

Speedwitch Media Pere Marquettte Single sheathed Auto Car

Rapido Trains NP double sheathed box car kit,
 started out as an undec with a few changes to better represent a car that
 had the side to end straps added.

Resin Car Works GN 1937 double sheathed boxcar.

Speedwitch Media CN Fowler boxcar 

National Scale Car CMO mini kit.

National Scale Car B&O M55A Boxcar mini kit

National Scale Car B&O M55 Boxcar mini kit

Hindsight Virtual RPM 13.0