Episode 41

 Episode 41 Topics

• 2023 Cartel Challenge Winner
• Project updates 
• The Christmas Putz
• Christmas Challenge Recap
• New Year's Modeling Resolutions
• Merry Christmas Wishes

Cast:
Hosts: Ian Holmes & Tom Conboy  
Announcer: Shawn Branstetter

Click here for the listen link (podcast player will open in a new tab).

Episode Links for e41:

History of the Christmas Putz

https://padutchcompanion.com/2020/12/18/history-of-the-christmas-putz/

Collecting Cardboard Putz Houses

http://www.cardboardputzhouses.com/

Papa Ted's Place

https://cardboardchristmas.com/papateds/categories.html

 

Tom's Micro Layout Blog...

https://microsbytom.wordpress.com/

Micro Model Railroad Cartel Blog

https://mmrrc.blogspot.com/

Micro Model Railway Dispatch e-zine  

https://micromodelrailwaydispatch.com/

Micro Model Railway Dispatch Editor 

 Send comments, questions, and/or article submissions to Ian

 at mmrdeditor@gmail.com

 

 Facebook Pizza Layout Group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/191063817370670

 

Links Page for Inspiration...

https://microcartel.blogspot.com/p/links-for-inspiration.htm

 

........................................................ 

Music for Cartel Conversations...

"Jingle Bells" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

"Aces High" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Episode 39

Episode 39 Topics

• Project updates 
• IKEA Products To Use for Micro Layouts
• The 2023 Christmas Micro Layout Challenge Information
• Practice Makes Perfect

Cast:

Hosts: Ian Holmes & Tom Conboy  

Announcer: Shawn Branstetter

Click here for the listen link (podcast player will open in a new tab).

Episode Links for e39:

Ian's Sixteen Millimeter Footsteps Blog...

https://sixteenmillimeterfootsteps.blogspot.com/

Tom's Micro Layout Blog...

https://microsbytom.wordpress.com/

IKEA Hackers

www.ikeahackers.net

Official Micro Challenge 2023 Rules at the Cartel Facebook Group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/446880498758158

Micro Model Railroad Cartel Blog

https://mmrrc.blogspot.com/

Micro Model Railway Dispatch e-zine  

https://micromodelrailwaydispatch.com/

Micro Model Railway Dispatch Editor 

 Send comments, questions, and/or article submissions to Ian

 at mmrdeditor@gmail.com

 

Links Page for Inspiration...

https://microcartel.blogspot.com/p/links-for-inspiration.htm

 

........................................................ 

Music for Cartel Conversations...

"Newer Wave" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

"Aces High" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attri bution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Owensville Terminal Micro - Completed

 

The completed layout 

I am happy to report that the Owensville Terminal Micro Layout is now completed. Well, at least 99% completed since I will be adding additional figures and details in the future. I really enjoyed building this micro!

Now I need to get started on my entry to the 2023 Christmas Micro Layout Challenge! 

Tom

Owensville Terminal Micro - Update 4

I decided to add a backdrop panel to help hide the access to the sector plate. The oil paints will take a couple of weeks to dry.

Primed with white gesso 

Access panel completed 

I'm also adding final scenic details to the layout. Static grass applied, and I will be adding a few additional bushes and weed clumps as well. 

Tom 

Owensville Terminal Micro - Update 3

The third backdrop panel is finally dry and installed on the Owensville Terminal Micro. I'm giving serious thought to creating one more panel to cover the opening at the sector plate. That means another two weeks or so of watching oil paints dry! I still need to add additional scenery details anyway, so no big deal. 🙂

Tom

Episode 38

 Episode 38 Topics

• The Micro Model Railway Dispatch gets a facelift
• Project updates 
• The 2023 Christmas Micro Layout Challenge Information
• Thoughts about using Blogs, Forums, and Social Media

Cast:

Hosts: Ian Holmes & Tom Conboy  
Announcer: Shawn Branstetter 

Click here for the listen link (podcast player will open in a new tab).

Episode Links for e38:

Ian's Sixteen Millimeter Footsteps Blog...

https://sixteenmillimeterfootsteps.blogspot.com/

Tom's Micro Layout Blog...

https://microsbytom.wordpress.com/

Official Micro Challenge 2023 Rules at the Cartel Facebook Group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/446880498758158

Micro Model Railroad Cartel Blog

https://mmrrc.blogspot.com/

Micro Model Railway Dispatch e-zine  

https://micromodelrailwaydispatch.com/

Micro Model Railway Dispatch Editor 

 Send comments, questions, and/or article submissions to Ian

  at mmrdeditor@gmail.com

Music for Cartel Conversations...

"Newer Wave" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

"Aces High" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

........................................................ 

Links Page for Inspiration...

https://microcartel.blogspot.com/p/links-for-inspiration.htm

Owensville Terminal Micro Layout - Update 2

I'm creating backdrops for the Owensville Terminal Micro using 1/8" hardboard (Masonite) panel and oil paints to create an autumn scene. Nothing fancy or a lot of details needed to create depth in the scene. There are three panels for the OT Micro. The rear panel is dry, but the other two will need another seven to ten days to dry to the touch. 

Rear panel 

Left panel 

Right panel 

Rear panel mounted to baseboard
(paint is dry to the touch) 

Rear and left panel propped up against the baseboard
(paint still wet at this stage) 

I still need to add additional scenery details, but the layout is almost finished. 

Tom

Owensville Terminal Micro - Update 1

Well, I didn't even come close to finishing this in time for the 2022 Cartel Group Facebook Challenge, but I decided to complete it anyway. Some progress photos of the Owensville Terminal Micro...

I still have a lot to do before this one is completed. I better hurry if I want to be able to start building this year's Christmas Challenge --- Build a Pizza Layout

Tom

Episode 37

 🎉 Our 3rd Anniversary Show! 🎉

Cast:

Hosts: Ian Holmes & Tom Conboy 

Special Guest: Ken Hutnik 

Announcer: Shawn Branstetter

Click here for the listen link (podcast player will open in a new tab).

Episode Links for e37:

Official Micro Challenge 2023 Rules at the Cartel Facebook Group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/446880498758158

Micro Model Railroad Cartel Blog

https://mmrrc.blogspot.com/

Micro Model Railway Dispatch e-zine  

https://micromodelrailwaydispatch.com/

Micro Model Railway Dispatch Editor 

 Send comments, questions, and/or article submissions to Ian

  at mmrdeditor@gmail.com

Music for Cartel Conversations...

"Hillbilly Swing" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 

"Aces High" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

........................................................ 

Links Page for Inspiration...

https://microcartel.blogspot.com/p/links-for-inspiration.htm

Episode 36

 Episode 36 Topics

• Project Updates
• The Dispatch e-Zine Issue 8 Recap
• 2023 Christmas Micro Layout Challenge Information

Click here for the listen link (podcast player will open in a new tab).

Episode Links for e36:

Official Micro Challenge 2023 Rules at the Cartel Facebook Group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/446880498758158

Micro Model Railroad Cartel Blog

https://mmrrc.blogspot.com/

Micro Model Railway Dispatch e-zine  

https://micromodelrailwaydispatch.com/

Micro Model Railway Dispatch Editor 

 Send comments, questions, and/or article submissions to Ian

  at mmrdeditor@gmail.com

Music for Cartel Conversations...

"Newer Wave" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

"Space Fighter Loop" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

........................................................ 

Links Page for Inspiration...

https://microcartel.blogspot.com/p/links-for-inspiration.htm

Gn15 Wescott Mine and Mill Update 06

The Fix

The first thing I did was to chisel away the areas where the rock outcroppings were protruding into the rock cut. I did this until the loco was able to pass through the cut with no issues.

Next, I rubbed my finger across the ties/sleepers to loosen as much of the coarse ballast as I could. I vacuumed up the loose ballast, then I applied a fine ballast to the roadbed. At this scale, the fine ballast resembles dirt. I then let everything dry overnight.

The last step was to dust on a light coating of non-sanded grout to the center of the track with a soft brush. I sealed it in place with a light mist of 91% isopropyl alcohol and water. After the non-sanded grout dried, I vacuumed the roadbed for a final time

Time for a test run to see how it works now.

The 2023 Micro Model Railroad Cartel Christmas Challenge.

Build a Pizza Layout

There are no big prizes. The challenge is there to stimulate creativity and encourage micro layout building. The winning entry, voted on by the members of the Micro Model Railroad Cartel on Facebook, is featured as the header photograph on the page for the year. Plus, the winning layout will be featured in the pages of The Dispatch at the winners convenience.

Subjects in the past have been to build a layout in one square foot, and building your own take on the original Squarefoot Estate Railway plan. 

This year, the challenge is much simpler. The challenge is to build a Pizza layout. 

The pizza layout was probably the most popular subject on the original carendt.com website, and there were many regular updates devoted to the concept. The term “Pizza Layout’ even has its own Wikipedia entry, and the concept still has many supporters around the world today. As a small space model railway idea. You can’t beat a pizza layout. 

The Rules.

The baseboard can be no larger than four square feet. That’s a maximum of a two feet by two feet square or a 27” diameter circle. 

The baseboard can only be square or circular.

The track plan can be a circle, oval, or squared circle. A figure eight folded on itself is permissible. You can use flex track, sectional track or you can hand lay your track.

The layout must be built between March 1st and November 30th 2023

Turnouts and sidings are acceptable.

A turnout to an external storage track to change trains is permitted but not compulsory. Any storage area DOES NOT count towards the size limit 

The deadline for construction is November 30th 2023.

Photographs will be uploaded to an entry thread on the Facebook page on December 1st

A video proving that the layout works must also be uploaded.

You can upload as many photographs as you like of your entry but only one photo will be used in the entry judging thread.

Above all. Have fun!

Episode 35

Episode 35 Topics

• Project Updates
• The 2023 Christmas Micro Layout Challenge Rollout
• The Dispatch e-Zine Spring Issue News

Click here for the listen link (podcast player will open in a new tab).

Episode Links for e35:

Official Micro Challenge 2023 Rules at the Cartel Facebook Group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/446880498758158

Micro Model Railway Dispatch e-zine  

https://micromodelrailwaydispatch.com/

Micro Model Railway Dispatch Editor 

Send comments, questions, and/or article submissions to Ian

  at mmrdeditor@gmail.com

Music for Cartel Conversations...

"Newer Wave" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

"Space Fighter Loop" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

........................................................ 

Links Page for Inspiration...

https://microcartel.blogspot.com/p/links-for-inspiration.html

Gn15 Wescott Rwy Update 05

It has been only 4 years since my last update post on my Gn15 layout build. So much for the "more updates soon" statement in the last post. 😊

Patching plaster applied and rock faces carved into the plaster

The baseboard has been sitting in the garage for the last four years. I added patching plaster to the old plaster cloth being careful to pre-wet the old plaster with a mist of 91% isopropyl alcohol and water. As the plaster began to set up, I carved out the rock faces. 

Washes ready for application 

I'm coloring the rocks using the "Leopard Spotting" technique Woodland Scenics developed to color rock faces. I dab on the diluted acrylic paints with a 1"foam brush. 

Yellow Ochre wash applied 

Raw and Burnt Umber wash applied 

Black wash applied 

Rock surfaces drying

Earth-colored non-sanded grout dusted onto the ground surfaces 

Ballast applied and testing vegetation placement 

At this point I am pleased with the look; however, the larger coarse ballast did not bond well at all. Also, a careless oversight when applying plaster resulted in the rock cut on the left being too narrow for the tram loco. This means I will have to chip away some of the completed rock surfaces to gain clearance. Ugh! 

Tom