Large Scale Central

Sutro Tunnel Model

Modeling
#141

Hi Bruce, thanks for your interest!

Yeah, I’ve spent many evenings on numerous design approaches, using lots of different hardware. I’ve purchased samples of various joiners, most of which I can’t use and can’t return.

McMaster is generally my first place to go; and about 90% of the hardware on this model will come from there. But they didn’t have what I needed. These chrome ones are the best I can find: small, nice & roundy, inexpensive.

Since I only need 16 fittings, that’s about $30. I’ll probably just grind off the chrome; maybe 5 minutes per should do it. I got a quote for ~$200 to powder coat the lot.

#142

Heh…sure looks like you have used all of my cheap ideas… :innocent:

Hope it all works out for you - so sorry you can’t just buy what you want!

#143

Thanks Buddy! We muddle through, right? :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:

On to the track. I sprayed a test piece brown (for the ties), let it dry, then sprayed some clear to act as glue. Then brushed on fine tan sand, brushed off, then clear satin spray. Finally wiped the railheads with silver sharpie.

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It went ok enough, but the sand is too coarse and hides the ties. So I ordered the fine buff ballast from Woodland Scenics… along with varieties of other gravel, fiber and foam for the rest of the model.

I’m tempted to blow a few more hours and redo all the track prints with taller ties, to be visible above the sand. But I’ll wait for the WS fine ballast, it might work with the ties as-is.

#144

That really came out nice!

I wouldn’t bother changing anything, but what do I know? :innocent:

#145

Cliff,
Sent you an email

#146

Rooster…a THING of many talents! :innocent:

#147

Oh; you like it?? That’s great to hear!

#148

What’s NOT to like. It sure looks wonderful.

1 Like
#149

Bruce, you’d given me a jar of white fine sand, called “decorative sand,” so I had to look it up. Used in weddings? They’re throwing sand now, not rice? Also therapy… what kind of therapy??

Anyway I just ordered a bunch of scenic (and non-wedding) colors. So thanks again!

:grin:

#150

Sand Therapy??? Who knew? :innocent:

Glad I helped some, but NOT enough, since you had to order more. :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:

#151

https://www.gordonglassusa.com/item/ZLC2BR/CRL-Brass-Finish-Two-Way-90-Degree-Display-Connector-for-1-8-3-16-and-7-32-Glass-ZLC2BR.html

https://www.gordonglassusa.com/item/E214GA/CRL-Gold-Anodized-Aluminum-Two-Way-90-Degree-Glass-Connector-E214GA.html

More expensive but throwing this out there as a thought or option as well.

#152

Wow. Such warnings: Good thing we don’t live in California! :innocent:

#153

I didn’t think it looked too coarse. Here in N Idaho they use a very chunky basalt to ballast track. Its like a 4" cobble. And it also does a fair job of covering the ties. In all honestly I think most people use stuff that is too fine. You have to remember what ballast is for. Its primary purpose is drainage and coarse materiel does not capture fines as easily to “plug up” the ballast.

#154

On the glass connectors; Do you really need them to be black? I don’t think you would get any complaints if they are chrome or brass.

I do know how it is to get an idea of how things should be in your head and then be unable to make it happen. Good luck!

#155

Good point Jon, but yeah, they need to be black.

Devon, understood. But I want the ties to stand out, because they were (as you can now understand) a cast-iron-B-word to CAD in. And finer sand might do that, without adjusting the model and reprinting all those pieces.

And… Bruce, the “wedding sand” tans and browns are super fine, like your white stuff. Maybe half the granule size as my test piece (which used the finest stuff I’d found available).

So, all good.

Going under the knife tomorrow AM, for a nice bit of rotator cuff surgery on my left arm. And I’m left handed. Woohoo!! So, progress might be slow on this project for awhile.

:grin: :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes: :laughing: :sweat_smile:

#156

Good luck with the surgery, Cliff. Hope all goes well.

#157

I’ll second Dan on this

1 Like
#158

Good luck Cliff and I wish you a speedy recovery.

#159

Thanks my friends!

:+1: :+1: :+1: :+1: :+1: :+1: :+1: :+1: :+1:

#160

all went great, thanks guys!

i just got the woodland scenics order in, was fun checking it out

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