A first cab ride around Papphausen / Führerstandsmitfahrt rund um Papphausen in both directions. Note, speeds not always prototypical for a BR94. So, pretend it's whatever engine runs at that speed. ;-)
Camera (cheap "spycam" off of Amazon). Close focus not great, interface and instructions ok, but lots of fun to watch.
Papphausen has been tote Hose for years now, really, but after a very busy summer and early fall, I decided to take a break from the bookbinding and related writing and service commitments to instead decompress with some training. Long neglected, the trains were in need of a deep dusting and cleaning, and most of all just wanted to be run again. In need of some right-sized help, I asked Fritz Otto, and he agreed, getting in on the fun. In some respects, it was a very "meta" experience. There are a lot of bookbinding skills applied throughout the layout, particularly box making, as most of the structures are made of card, some kits, but most built from scratch using photos as a basis with photo-realistic pattern sheets, so we all felt at home.
Just a quick DR commuter train run-by while dusting.
A DR 118 (the Reichsbahn equivalent to the DB's V200/220/221) next to my vintage tin-plate TEE with the S-Bahn above.
Another view of the S-Bahn pulled by a 111.
A classic E10 express engine with a D-Zug of mixed rolling stock.
Fritz Otto surveying Pappeck in search of cobwebs and dust monsters.
Been experimenting with the GoPro and some different vantage points. Need to get better with the editing. I also use the GoPro like CTV on my phone for the far end of my switching yard. I can actually now see where the engine... is in relation to the uncoupler tracks. Game changing.
These past few weekends have been very enjoyable, I've been finding a nice balance between the bookbinding and the trains, and am getting ready to work on some scenes and structures in need of updating...
The laser-cut card kit is by Joswood. Instructions are clear and materials are first rate. If you want to model northern, industrial, gritty, honest Germany, this is where you want to get your structures. Not an alpine hut in sight.
Will weather a bit before permanently placing on the layout, but I like where it is now.
Let's get started...
Roughly framed in and ready to start adding the exterior trim
Exterior mostly on, now lots of details and more layers
Done except for some weather. Joswood made that easy because the laser cutting left artifacts, and the materials look very natural. Instructions also say to avoid perfect and right angles – make it look ramshackle...
Provisionally placed on the layout
Now to assemble the 1:87 pigeons - separate wings, legs, and beaks! Better have a Pils und n' Korn first to steady the hands.
You didn't seriously think I'd assemble pigeons from kits/scratch, did you?!?!
Weathered and populated. One of the pigeons is not like the others - inspiration from a colleague whose uncle would use a slingshot to get rid of birds not his...
Now, play the video below while looking at images for the full effect... ;-)
Pulled out a bunch of my old classic Märklin to run for a change – back to the basics for a while. 😃
The E03 with the TEE (the classic tinplate) was my childhood pride and joy.
An hour ago the E03 wouldn't run or gears move. For the first time EVER totally took apart motor, cleaned gears and brushes, AND even managed to put it back together...
SIE LÄUFT, DIE E03 mit TEE am Hacken.
My first Märklin train.
Running the switching puzzle. I've taken this to numerous trains shows — the kids love it.
Still more to do, but it's a start and most importantly, I'm having fun and really enjoying it. I've missed that feeling.
My father's childhood SE800 also got put on, but without traction tires (never had them) wasn't going anywhere. I have a version with though, too, so will run in spirit.
Due to bookish (bookbinding and writing) projects my layouts have languished and Shelob and her offspring have run amok, dust built up, and trains stopped running smoothly. Contributing to this were also ongoing accessibility/mobility issues on my part that made areas unreachable. Thanks to lots of quality time at home (almost 2 weeks) and familial help, Shelob succumbed to "Sting" and trains are now running again. I even enjoyed the experience and am looking forward to more and ongoing modeling projects. At one point I had toyed with "flattening" the layout, metaphorically and in reality to make it easier to reach. That thought was banished when I realized that rebuilding would be much harder than begging more regular "donations" of time for dusting...
While cleaning, took some time to explore areas I detailed but that normally are hidden due to facing the (removable) backdrop. Yes, there was "road work" to be done, in part to help the trolley run smoothly.
After almost 2 years of waiting, got my BR 290 from Brawa. Model is their Digital Basic (no sound) 41507 that I am running in analog operation. Just put it on the switching puzzle, and purrs like a kitten. Can't wait to run it on the big layout.
Deutsche Reichsbahn (DR) Brawa BR 65.1 tank engine pulling a Sachsenmodelle gliederzug. The 65.1 was a new construction built for pulling commuter trains and bringing workers to the factories. A total of 95 units were built between 1954-57. The consist was built starting in 1952 by the VEB Waggonbau Görlitz based on pre-war designs of the LBE. More info can also be found in the Wiki.
The basic unit was a 4-car bi-level, designated DB13. The axle
configuration was 2 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 2, total length 73 400 mm, whereby 2
cars shared a 3-axle bogie. Go here for more on the consist.
The layouts have lain dormant for a while (2+ years? Yikes!) as I have pursued other projects, we had some water leak down from above, and I realized that I had too many scales. So... Where was I when last actively engaged with everything... Oh, here!
I've started making a new backdrop and background scene for the switching puzzle that I will take to shows again – Really love showing and interacting with visitors. Overall layout, scenery, presentation important, so something for serious modelers, kids, and all in-between.
On the H0 layout I moved the on/off switch and power controls to the front of the layout, dusted, cleaned, and repaired most of the water related damage. Unfortunately my mountain-top abbey will need to be razed due to too much damage, but I'll replace it with a nice little castle I have handy. Will try to reconstruct the small z-scale loop on that level as well.
Abbey in back to be razed...
Finally, it's nice when the project that has kept me from the trains intersects with them. Below a bookplate in a book recently received that was bound by the bindery of W. Collin in Berlin during the mid-late 19th century.
It was once in the collection of the Henschel family library in Kassel, Germany. Henschel made locomotives small,
and anything in between. Also buses, trucks, aircraft, tanks, the latter two especially during WW II. In 1996, Henschel became ABB Daimler Benz Transportation Adtranz. The company was subsequently acquired by Bombardier (Canada) around 2002.
So, hopefully I can build some sustained momentum and get back to enjoying the trains on all levels, not just pondering and dusting.
at the Boothbay Railway Village Steam Course. See the main website by clicking on the image above.
About This Blog
This is where I share my projects such as (card)modeling, weathering, railfanning activities, show reports, and other thoughts. Having a German focus to my model railroading interests and living in the US, I'll also translate occasional threads I think could be of interest here or in Germany.
