290 on the rails

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.

Märklin in Stamps - For Philatelists Only

For the philatelists among you...
Order at https://www.briefmarken-sieger.de/1-marklin-eisenbahn-kleinbogen-briefmarkenkleinbogen-postfrisch-osterreich.html.

They take PayPal...

Building the SVT137 Fliegender Hamburger

Nice video about the building of the SVT 137 Fliegender Hamburger of the Deutsche Reichsbahn. Construction started in 1935, and 33 units were produced.

And on my layout, model by Kato

Switching Puzzle Reboot 2

Frei nach Reinhard Mey, "genug getan für heute, blinder Eifer schadet nur..."

Reconstructed the back of the puzzle, still need to get the new background printed and mounted, as well as re-adhering people, station platform stuff,  cleaning the yard and deciding what to do with the power line towers...

On to other things for a brief while, things like packing prezies...

Switching Puzzle Reboot

This switching puzzle was the first "layout" I created specifically to take to train shows... You can read more about building and showing it here. I was an ETE member back then and the trackplan is the same as created by Peter Barnes. We even wrote an article about taking these kinds of things to shows.

At EuroEast back in 2005

After ages of neglect and procrastination work is underway to replace the background flats, backdrop panels, and in general clean out the cobwebs, refresh scenery, ... Here's what the street scene with flats looked like when first built.

Note street curving to right.

After this switching puzzle, I dove headfirst into building n-scale modules with the ETE Chapter, continuing to show them independently as well. After a lot of reflection, the whole lot of our foray into N found a new hope with friend Tom Lynch and his Bundesbahndirektion Kaiserslautern. Two summers ago we had a flood above that leaked onto our main H0 layout and the puzzle. Damage to the puzzle was compounded by a leaky front step with flakes of rust from the steel I-beam above dropping down... All those have been fixed, but the puzzle is looking the worse for wear.

Still want to go and show, loved interacting with the kiddies, so time for a reboot.

Puzzle backside showing damage from water/rust. I removed the buildings, but those were discolored/distorted by water. The background flates, water tower, and chapel are all paper.

Old panel with proposed new flats taped over...

New backdrop with the flats at right. The yellow line is to the intersection, the green to the end of the street... The gap between the flats on the backdrop will be filled in...

So, off to work to start building flats. I will be layering the facade to recess windows and bring trim forward to increase depth.

BR 65.1 of the DR

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.

Random Pictures

Random pictures from the railroad taken over the years... 

Comings and Goings - I'm Back...

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!

"Schreber-/Kleingarten"

"Pappeck"

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So, where to start...

My n-scale modules and everything related to them have gone on to a better home at a friend's layout, Bundesbahndirektion Kaiserslautern, where they will see use, be loved, and called George...

Well maybe not the latter.

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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.

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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...

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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,

Narrow gauge feldbahn locomotive at Boothbay Railway Village

fast,

BR 103

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.

A day in the life of a Lokführer on E10 306, 1962

A day in the life of a Lokführer on E10 306. Back then E10 306 would looked like this. Image from Drehscheibe Online. Video in German.

Card Models in Video Games

Wow! Love the fact that they made real models rather than using CGI for all. Images look like they could be sets for the Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.

Lumino City - Official Trailer from State of Play on Vimeo.

More at http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2014/12/lumino-city/

What's Normal?

Clipping found while cleaning up... Probably from MRR.

We Build From Cardboard

Haven't spent any time on the layout in ages, came out of a malaise and headed into over-commitmentland, but need to get back to it. Biggest reason is fixing some water damage from a flood that came from above. Nothing too serious, but the abbey on the hill is gone (I have a small castle ready) and some trees to fix along with some other things.

One of the lofty goals of Communist Party and education officials was to create “harmonious human beings” by instilling Soviet morals and work habits into the minds of young children. While literacy rates in the first decade after the October Revolution were remarkably low, reading was soon to become the single most important way of socializing and educating children in the Soviet Union. An important but lesser-known aspect of Soviet 1930s education involved do-it-yourself books. These were conceived as an interactive medium that invited children not only to enjoy reading, absorb information and reflect, but also to develop practical skills needed for the construction of a Communist society.

I have similar book of what we now call "DIY" projects, things like building radio controlled ships, models of structures for train layouts, art projects. many of them used card - an inexpensive, readily available material that is easy to work with. My book is less political and published in the late 60s in Germany. Still, should dig it out. Easy to find though, and with my MRR books.

Full post with more pictures on the The Charnel-House - From Bauhaus to Beinhaus blog.

Then for that post-communist look there is EASTERN BLOCK by Zupagrafika.

Blok Wschodni / Eastern Block is a collection of paper cut-out models representing various modernist buildings in Warsaw, Poland.

The series, created and distributed by the polish graphic design studio Zupagrafika, is made up of iconic examples of modernist architecture (Rotunda PKO), some less classic buildings, however, familiar to the city dwellers (Za Żelazną Bramą, Smolna 8, Mokotów), as well as "Wielka Płyta" prefab blocks from the outskirts (Tarchomin).

The whole set is eco-friendly as it is made from 100% recycled paper and carton. Each building is hand-drawn and includes a short technical note on its architects, year of construction and exact location.

The complete collection can be ordered online from Zupagrafika´s website and bought in bookshops and concept stores around Poland and Germany.

Good article with more images on the Packaging of the World blog.

From the same company in Poland... BLOKOGRAFIA, a Modernist Alphabet by Zupagrafika

Blokografia is a collection of paper cut-out typographies designed by polish studio Zupagrafika and inspired by Polish modernist architecture: from the prefab blocks in the districts to the ones in the city centers.

The collection consists of several buildings in different Polish cities, like Poznan (Os. Orła Białego, Dom Towarowy Alfa, Budynek Telewizory, Hotel Polonez, Collegium Novum...) and Warsaw (Ża Żelazną Bramą, Smolna 8...).

The whole set is eco-friendly as it is made from 100% recycled paper and cardboard.
Each building is hand-drawn and includes a short technical note on its architects, year of construction and exact location.

The complete collection can be ordered online from Zupagrafika´s online shop and bought in bookshops and concept stores around Poland.

More pictures at Packaging of the World and here.