Whats on your workbench?

Lots of ontraktwo projects in the works!

I've been working on girder bridge sides.

Alex

These "What's on Your Workbench?" posts are really great.  Perhaps an unintended side effect is that it shows off how our workspaces are organized (or not).  I have found some really useful hints on how to utilize space just from looking at these pictures.  For example, I never would have thought of using the back side of a door for shelving.  Very clever.

What's on my workbench?

1. Swapping shells between my unpowered and one of my powered Ann Arbor GP-35s.  The road number on one of the AA engines conflicts with the number of my UP GP-38 and that makes for a hassle with the command IDs.

2. I'm making power wires so I can get another half dozen feeds for my layout.

Trains are taking a back seat for now while I complete a year-long course (Air Command and Staff College) to make myself competitive for promotion at work (Wright-Patterson Air Force Base).  Here are two things sitting on the workbench today in some phase of overhaul.

This project gets a little bit of work here and there around the schoolwork, namely another flatcar project, but this one with a pipe load.  Following a suggestion from several forumites, I found some great looking chain at Michael's Crafts to "tie down" the pipe load.  Now all I need to do is cut some dunnage (the wood to hold the load in place), "paint it" with a furniture touch-up marker and install the dunnage.

Yes, this flatcar is another one of those cast off "runners" on a train meet table that screamed silently at me", "Hey, I've got a lot of layout running left in me!"  It's such a lowly Lionel model, it does not even have a number stamped on the side, only a Lionel annotation on the underside of the flatcar.  It runs well on the track, too; it's just a bit on the light side.  I'll probably add some fishing weights to the underside when I'm through if it's still a bit underweight.

This next project is a sort of whimsical project, making a plastic RV/private bus look like someone actually would own it.  I found this one at a train meet for three bucks.  I plan to eventually repaint it and stripe it.  The bus has a nearly solid black plastic insert for the "glass".  Taking it apart was easy; finding the time for the next steps...that's a different story.

Heck I can't even see my work bench.  The bench & whole shop floor is piled high with packed boxes for our move in Sept.  Can't wait to move and get settled....this is getting old.

The photo above shows the latest addition to the train room work bench.  Just a side note, my father built the bench for me when I was 9 years old and I have kept it and taken it with me wherever I have lived.  On the left is the new arbor press and dies that the members of the forum helped me decide on.  It works great and I'm always learning how to use it.  Right next to it is another recent acquisition, a mini variable speed drill press.  I find that I just can't hold a hand drill as steady as I used to.  The drill press is pretty cool, ingeniously simple and plenty for what I need.  Next to the drill press is a variable axis vise I picked up at a garage sale for $2.  All these tools together with the flex-arm lighted magifying glass and I'm set to go.  As always, eye protection too.  Too many times I've had something spin off or chip off...remember the story about another forumite that had a piece of dremel cutting wheel break off and embed in his glasses?  Not gonna be me!

And right next to the "machine shop" in the normal bench, a converted computer desk.

The drawer has utensil trays from the dollar store, and in the trays are the micro tools.

Hey!!!! it's raining outside.......we need it.  Everybody have a great day.

Oh if you look carefully in the top picture, you'll see Veranda Turbine!

Dont have a pic of it but right now I am repainting some Kline passenger cars.

What paint scheme you doing your K-line cars in?

Jeff

My one sceme.  Pullman green and lettered for the Michigan and Great Lakes.  They will go with my new Legacy 10 wheeler i just purchased.

Sounds good, be sure to post some pic's when you get them done.

Jeff

Will do!

Pullman Car repair. Required casting a new step.

Before:

After:

Pete

Nothing for the first time in a while!

Our 1986 Kirby Heritage II vacuum cleaner, passed down from my parents who bought it new, when they replaced it.

It threw the front bearing, but I am completely rebuilding it with new parts -- armature, field coil, brushes, switch, etc.  If it dies again in another 26 years I will buy a new one.  LOL.

Last night I had to push the Kirby aside to lube up a mail delivery car that wasn't throwing the package out.  A bit of silicone lube seems to have picked it up nicely.

Jeff,

I am finally putting a roller in my rolling mill.

Dave

Just cleaned and serviced a 238E loco and 265 whistle tender, recent acquisition from Barry's Train Shop. Runs as nice as it looks now.

Dave,

  Your rolling mill looks great, although I think I need a up close look at it with a visit!!

Jeff

A pre war 1688, waiting to be able to press a wheel onto the axle.   Thought I could fabricate something simple but it's not that easy!  Now I want an arbor press!  

Engineer is waiting for tow back to engine shed for new wheel

Taking a break from cutting windows, here I am testing the fit of all the walls of the larger building for "Lionel Steel".  The smaller building was just glued...

...openings will be enlarged for forklifts...

Speaking of forklifts.  I picked up a set of K-Line forklifts...you get three plus three loads.  Today, I decided to make my own wood pallets.  This forklift needs to be able to hold four O gauge wheels.  Well three are to heavy for this lightweight forklift...

...so, I took it apart (one screw holds the bottom on) and inserted a stack of five pennies...

...and now it can easily hold the load of four wheels (1 oz.)  without tipping...

1) Front and center: A "revolving zoo" - sort of a merry-go round with zoo-like cages for toy animals - being made for my grandkids' wooden (Thomas) toy train set.  Top priority, as are the other toys for the layout to follow.  Taking 100% of my time now.

2) A partially completed,  scratch built 1:350 model of HMS Agincourt (1910) -  (okay, its not a loco, but it was big, heavy, all metal, and steam powered!).  Pushed to the side.  Next to highest priority.

3) The new Legacy Berkshire on the "next to do shelf" --  its not a model of a SF 4101 class and its not entirely scale - in fact it is a pretty mediocre loco for the price, but I could live with it if it were closer to scale in height and look of the 4101 class.  - I'm going to replace the not scale cab with a scale cab and fix a few other details and it will be close enough for my tastes - I will get to it this summer. 

4) At the back of the bench: an old, really worn Lionmaster Bog Boy I might be able to fix, or not.  Low priority - doubt I will get to it before Lionel comes out with the LM BB again and i can buy a new one.

5) In a box under the bench: A seven-car Madison Lionel set I plan to repaint and add interior to for my version of the Blue Comet.  Probably not take it up until winter.

A G gauge Bachmann Circus Set "sow's ear" that I am trying to turn into a "silk purse(?)" for next week's Circus Week at the SD Model RR Museum. It has been a learning experience though since most of the trim parts and Cicus Wagon wheels aren't stocked and required casting. Now to find some Plastruct pieces to make axle housings for the wagons. 

My second attempt at using an air brush turned this

into this several years ago.

I've recently added a snowplow and winterization hatch.  Next is this 8154, I've added a cab interior, window glazing, engineer figures, hand rails and pilots with foot boards.  The safety stripes are hand applied pin striping tape.

I need to replace the fuel tank and add LED lighting.  This one is in it's infancy, adding a cupola, planning a tender, and probable re-paint.  The cupola needs lots of work.

I gave up waiting for a Milwaukee Steeple Cab. I'm building my own. It will have K-line trucks and motors (two) but not sure of the reversing board. Not much room in the cab. Any suggestions? Don

My workbench is surprisingly clean right now. Other than a couple Atlas F units which I stripped down there has not been much activity this summer. I did however clean up the shelves so I could display some of my 3RS DT&I equipment. I have 2 more GP9s and an NW2 which I couldn't fit, Il figure out a place to put them eventually... 

Marx 333 with an e-unit issue. Think it's fixed now. Time to sell it before it proves me wrong!

Rivarossi 0-4-0 Dockside being detailed with Cal-Scale parts, Kadee couplers, home made decals, and an airbrushed paint job. 

Cap gun of unknown origin. One of my sons broke it, the other one wants it fixed...

1/35 scale M4 tank needs its running gear put back after some rough handling by one or both of the boys mentioned above.

- a wooden 'barn' half-way converted to a single stall engine house.
- a few different plans for converting a Lionel 'Percy' to 'Ivor the Engine'
- a few different written layout reconfiguration plans
- repairing a few 'Scotchbrite pad' pine trees. 

A K-Line Mikado repaint.  Since I missed the Lionel Legacy GN, I'm making my own.

This is the 2nd attempt due to paint adhesion issues.

Rewiring my Ross double crossover switch. This time I will actually follow the instructions.