Post #6

 Wow Post Number 6 already and not a new track laid yet. It is all about the planning that needs to be done.

I have previously posted photos of my two freight cars. They are the two unpainted models that will need painting one day. I have been planning to start posting the photos of the painted models next. Now I have to admit that I am certainly no expert on the history of the prototypes of these models. There was no choice when I picked out the painted models in the sellers collection. But what I can gather is that most of these painted models are from the Chicago Surface Lines. So I am not fussed what system they came from, my first models were all from different operators (see video on previous Post #5) The models were tested on a set track circle on the dining room table and two are no goers at the moment, hopefully just a loose wire. I have left this issue till another day.

Another day two mates and I did a hobby shop crawl. We started off at Bergs Hobbies at Parramatta, then moved onto Woodpecker Hobbies at Pendle Hill. This is the hobby shop Rod Stewart dropped into on his last tour of Australia. And they have  photos on the wall to prove it. After this we moved onto Blacktown where we visited Model Railroad Craftsman. I purchased some Walthers Town series building kits and they are safely in the 'trolley' draw waiting to be assembled.

No overhead yet but looking happy amongst the scenery

 

Now according to the box the green trolley is a PTC 'Nearside' car and made by KMT in Japan. The first thing you notice with most of these trolleys is that they have no glazing in place. Must have been very draughty in there. I hope this will be a quick fix later on. You can see how thins with models have now improved - underfloor power truck instead of a big motor visible and they now come with seats. I have plenty of work ahead building the layout before I worry about providing seats for passengers.

The red and cream car box shows the model was used on the Chicago Surface Lines. Also from the same manufacturer as the green model above. You can see that the model was fitted with glazing from the factory but you can't see in. Don't know what's better, being able to see in or not?

The photos have been taken on my current O scale layout so please forgive the lack of overhead wiring at the moment. Another four cars to show on another blog.

Post #5

 I wrote on Post #4 that I had taken some 8mm footage of my HO tramway when I was constructing it probably in the late 70's. So the project today was how to digitise the movie.

A second 8mm projector was sourced as a spare backup and after testing with the seller and all OK it was brought home. It was an Eumig Model 610D, the D standing for dual usage meaning it will show both regular 8mm and Super 8 film by merely moving a slide switch. Eumig are Austrian and it is the same brand as one I previously owned. The crazy thing is that it is cheaper to source second hand projectors just for the lamp and are often sold at a price less than the cost of a new lamp.

I was given a gizmo from a friend long ago which is basically a box where the projector is shone onto screen and then the image is reflected at a 45 degree angle to another screen at the front. This is where you are supposed to capture the image onto another format.

A random pile of 8mm film was selected from many to look at and almost unbelievable a film of some of my HO tramway was found. In todays world with the internet everything has to be digitised, so my first attempt was made to transfer by using the projector showing into the 'gizmo box' and then setting my phone up on a tripod. The projector was turned on along with the phone but for some reason there seemed to be a flickering issue which transferred over to the recorded video on the phone. A fail, so then I shone the projector onto the nearby door but there was a reflection due to the gloss paint on the door but the flickering was absent. I eventually found a spot to reset the projector and with the tripod and phone I was able to record the film taken over forty years ago. The end result may be taken crooked, in and out of focus and not as crisp as a 4K video these days but to view again this footage was a magic moment.

 Back then to lay my track I cut cut up shim brass and glued it down to the baseboard which from memory was Pliobond that I was told the bond got stronger from heat applied, not sure if that was true. Although this video doesn't show any movement of the trams it eventually came at a later stage, I hope I can find footage of that moment. Most of the track appears to be completed even if it looks a bit flimsy. The baseboard looks like it was made on a normal door. This was actually the second portable tramway layout built on a door as space was not really available for a permanent layout. Brass trams at the time were considered a step above any plastic tram around but one annoying thing it why didn't they supply any glazing in their trams?? Would have been on drafty trip for any passengers. So top prices but no glazing, was it too hard to do? Or did the manufacturer state that the models need painting so we won't put glazing in as you would only need to take it out to paint?

I was also able to receeive a few more packets of overhead wiring hangers courtesy of Brian Weisman (Jason's Brass Poles) when he attended the recent West Penn meeting. I presumed he sourced them from that meet. They are now safe in the draw waiting for the time to be hung up. But that's still a little way off.

So enjoy the video a big nostalgia hit for me.