Bob A Accomplishments

Bob A has been a member of the club since October 2013. His biography can be found in the March 2018 newsletter.

Newsletter October 2019

Trees Everywhere — Bob A, With assistance from Jared and Dave F has been building and installing many new trees around the layout. The environment now looks more livable.

September 2019

Some photos of cars and loads scratchbuilt by Bob from plastic sign sheet.

Dave F and Bob A making trees.

Newsletter May 2019

TreeMaker at Work – Bob A demonstrates the method he uses to make nice looking deciduous tree models from furnace filters and skewer sticks. It is a variation of his method for making conifers, which already exist in abundance on our layout

Rob D's Blog 11 November 2018

Bob A was in the back room showing some folks how he makes trees. It seemed like every time I tried to get a picture Bob would yank the subject out of the view finder to do something else.

Here is his finished tree.

Rob D's Blog 11 April 2018

This and a few more photos will be of scratch built cars my friend Bob A has been building. His material of choice is for rent signs made of plastic available at a local farm supply store. He was not going for contest quality as we see in some models but a layout quality car much like the old blue box types of old.

Bob has decided to try some wire grabs after having me add some to his models. His reason was simple, if Rob can do that why can't I do it too, (he actually told me that). His effort looks pretty good to me and the grabs really add something to the model not conveyed by the molded detail of some kits and ready to disassemble models.

The interior does not have rivets but after painting it is likely not to be a big deal. Of note is the seperate floor covering a section of sheet lead for weight between the layers.

Rob D's Blog 14 February 2018

Here we see Bob A and one of several bulkhead flats he scratch built. He was using the drill press to drill pilot holes for the truck screws.

Bob has made several of these cars from a plastic for rent sign!

Newsletter February 2018

Another first — This loud yellow bulkhead flatcar and load is the work of Bob A, and is his first venture into the world of scratchbuilding. Not only is the car itself excellent, but the simulated load of plate steel is outstanding. The tie downs are thin drafting tape.

October 2017

Bob A and Jared P started updating the scenery at the East Onionbreath Museum in October of 2017. For details click here.

Newsletter July 2016

New switches and motors – Bob A and Ron M recently completed the repair/replacement of track elements while the N-gauge layout was still accessible from the back. When the wall is painted sky blue, the layout will be returned to its usual position against the wall.

Newsletter January 2016

Looks different — Bob A’s effort to rebuild the scenery at the east end of the museum peninsula following the track relocation at the low level was progressing nicely. The access panel to the switch machine was fitted, without having torelocate the machine.

Newsletter December 2015

Working on the Railroad – Contrary to how it looks, Bob A was NOT practicing pink foam twirling, but he is busily reworking the scenery on the southeast corner of the museum peninsula to reconcile recent track changes with the original scenery. He still has a way to go. Note that the former deep rock cut on the narrow gauge line to the bridge and tunnel is gone.

Newsletter August 2015

Upgrading the N-gauge layout – Bob A and Ron M rework the track arrangement at thesouth end of the N-gauge layout. The intent was to improve the track in three dimensions to improve operations.The track leading across the truss bridge and into the tunnel has long been a problem.

Rob D's Blog 20 July 2015

As to the original post in the thread Bob A has become interested in scratch building. I will have some photos following but first some info about the materials employed. a bit of scale lumber was employed some of which needed to be cut into smaller dimensional lumber. Some of the wood was milled from a real 2x4. Bob also put in some interior furniture and lights, in this case LEDs.

George is behind Bob a's model.

Now this particular structure will be on Bob's home layout. But the lighting and people really make this structure look good. When it is placed on a layout it really adds to the scene it is in.

And here we have that intrepid scratch builder Bob A who says "real houses are built with 2x4s why not our models?"

Newsletter January 2015

Out of hiding – Ron M and Bob A continue tinkering with track on the exhumed N-gauge layout, trying to enhance the operational reliability. The scale-length observation car on the curve cleared all the bridge and tunnel portals, but just barely. Bob E photo.