On the Layout: Hockey Night in Canada

     If you've ever been to Toronto, you know the CN Tower's neighbor is the Rogers Centre.  It's a massive concrete structure that is home to the Toronto Blue Jays and a hotel.  I haven't really figured out how to build this structure yet (I'm thinking it'll involve a 3D printer).  In the interim, I've put a Busch sports hall in its location.  The kit is designed to be used for basketball and indoor soccer, but I wanted to make it a little more Canadian.  This hockey rink is a true example of selective compression.  The ice is very much not to scale, but I've had this building sitting on a shelf, and it's temporary (I hope).

I printed the hockey rink and glued a plastic transparency on top of it using Super 77.  The transparency gives the page a shine.  I added the boards, and a Zamboni I brought from Miniprints.

The project isn't finished.  I need to add safety glass to the perimeter of the rink and the penalty box.  It would also be great if someone would make hockey players and nets (hint hint Miniprints).

Workbench Wednesday: AMT 1325

     I came across this AMT locomotive that had been sitting in its box for several years.  It was something I picked up at the Springfield show many many years ago.  

Sitting on a shelf by my workbench was a GO Transit locomotive with DCC and sound that I haven't used since all of the Rapido F59PH locomotives arrived.  GO Transit 662 is an Athearn RTR F59-PHI.  GO Transit doesn't use the F59-PHI however, Montreal's AMT does.  I decided to swap the shell so the I could actually use the AMT 1325 instead of having two locomotives go unused.

The process was pretty simple.  I needed to get the bulbs from their housing on the GO shell and glue them into the AMT shell.  The openings on the AMT shell were much wider the bulbs, but the canopy glue held then in place nicely.

After installing Kadee couplers and reprogramming the DCC decoder with its new 1325 address, the locomotive was put into service with its Soundtraxx Economi sound and simple, but effective lighting.

Fleet Friday: Dash 8

 I forgot to post the arrival of my Rapido Dash 8-40CM.  This is an upgraded model from their first fun of Dash 8s (which I have two of).  

The details are much better and I'm happy to see that the BC Rail model I bought is from after CN acquired to railway (you can tell by the yellow strip along the walkway and steps).  

My Dash 8 is a special run for Otter Valley Railroad, a model railroad shop in Tillsonburg, Ontario.  This locomotive has faded colors to show the older age and passage of time of this locomotive.  It also has a CN door on the front and one of the number boards has been replaced one that has been handwritten.  If you're a frequent reader of this blog, you know I love oddball schemes.  

The locomotive looks and sounds great.  I appreciate that Otter Valley did this special run.

On the Layout: Royal York Lighting

    I keep working to get noteworthy structures in Toronto to have interior lighting.  I've finally completed my work on the lights inside of the Royal York Hotel.  The Royal York is a kitbash project using two or three Bachman Ambassador hotel kits.  The structure has well over a hundred windows, and I wanted to make sure that viewers couldn't see into a hollow building.  

I found a few patterns of curtains on Ikea's website that I thought would match what may be seen at the Royal York.  I printed these patterns onto transparencies.  I began gluing Woodland Scenics Light Diffusion Film on several windows but ran out.  I wanted to avoid buying more so changed my process.  Instead of the film, I sprayed each transparency with a few coats of Dullcoat after I was sure the ink was fully dried.  The Dullcoat fogged the windows so they wouldn't be so transparent. I actually think the process was much easier and gave the same result.  I also blacked out several random windows to give the appearance of the lights being off in the room.  I just used a glue stick and black cardstock to achieve this.  

Along the way, I also added flags to the York Street just like the prototype.  In this picture, you can also see some of the curtains glued to the plastic windows.  The larger windows don't have curtains, I used the diffusing film on these.

The lights are four LEDs from the Woodland Scenics Just Plug system (just like all the other structures).  Three LEDs were secured to the base, and one is secure about halfway up the center of the building to provide light to the upper floors.  I really like the Just Plug system for ease of wiring and it has the ability to dim or brighten LEDs. 

    The next lighting project will focus on the Old Dominion Building.    ...More to come.

Fleet Friday: 2816

 It finally arrived!  Rapido's Hudson H1b 4-6-4 steam locomotive appeared at my front door last week.  Canadian Pacific 2816 is still in use as an excursion steam locomotive.  It toured the CPKC network from Canada to Mexico this past summer.  I first learned about 2816 from the IMAX movie Rocky Mountain Express.  I don't know much about steam locomotives, and don't foresee myself purchasing another.  This Rapido model is one I have been waiting to have for a very long time.