What's neat - Jan 2017 column | Model railroad tips | Model Railroad Hobbyist | MRH
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- mrhmag.com - MRH What's Neat columnist Ken Patterson's January 2017 What's Neat column: 1) Modeling on the road with Michael Gross; 2) The ultimate track cleaning tool; 3) Airbrushing tools; 4) Removing dust from scenery; 5) Indoor model railroad photography; and 6) More tips, photos, runbys, and even some bloopers! Part of the January 2017 issue of Model Railroad Hobbyist magazine.
Ha ha... did anyone else notice the cat hiding in the trees watching the NP Challenger run by in the first shot? It was camouflaged so well, just chilling out watching ken do his thing 😀
Great show this month Ken, keep up the great work 👍
lol i was cracking up when i seen that cat
Ken's cat must like trains and he keeps an eye on Ken. A cat was also seen on the G gauge trestle a month or so back.
Only a great scenery artist would notice that ;-) I watch your videos :-)
The track cleaning ideas were really interesting and very cool! Hey, that was THE Michael Gross! One of my favorite actors! Family Ties!
I enjoyed the whole thing, from the hidden cat to the bloopers. Great job Ken!
Ken, thank you for sharing how MG models in his hotel room. I travel for work heavily during the work week and will give his techniques a try. Happy New Year.
The Bloopers need to be a part of the show, maybe once a month run a "gaggle of crap" that hit the cutting room floor. Great stuff and look forward to much more.
Besides a pro photographer I was a tech journalist for several years. I'm a little rusty but let's see if I can come up with a good tip for some of you:
To get the best final images possible it's important to create the best digital image file possible right from the start. In order to do that you have to capture as much information of the scene as possible. Here's some ways to do that.
Some digital cameras will offer a few different Color Modes like Standard, Portrait, Landscape, etc. and some will let you make small adjustments to those settings and save them as a new default for the setting. When I'm shooting I'll change settings to make sure I capture as much information to the digital file as possible. This means I'll lower the contrast settings, shoot using the lowest ISO to keep grain/noise level down, use a tripod and wireless remote shutter release (and either use the mirror lock up control or self timer on DSLR's that use a mirror, instead of an electronic viewfinder (EVF), in order to reduce camera vibration). This is especially important when using a telephoto lens which magnifies any camera movement/vibration.
Also, I'll use the old Rule of Thumb from the days of slide film and 'Expose for the Highlights. Print for the Shadows', which means I'll adjust my aperture, shutter speed, and/or my ISO and use the Histogram feature that many digital cameras have to the point where I just avoid overexposing the brightest areas of your image. A new feature on some cameras, like my Sony A6000, will show on the LCD and EVF displays in a contrasting red, yellow or some other color, areas in the images that are over exposed. This later feature is one I've come to really depend on.
So, why do you want to set your camera for lower contrast, all that does is make for images that are flat and 'BLAH' looking; and why do you want to 'Expose for the Highlights'?
The tiny 'light buckets' on your camera's digital sensor read the intensity of the light falling on them and records that level as a number. Say it records the darkest part of a scene, a pure black with no detail whatsoever, and calls that '0'. Then it measures the brightest light level as '99', or 100 steps between pure black and white. You would think that every step inbetween would be equal right? But you'd be wrong. It's not linear, more steps are recorded as you move towards the bright end of the scale so that, say, there are 25 steps between black and middle grey and 75 steps between middle grey and absolute white. Since the brighter end of the scale has the most information that's the end you want to make sure you capture in its entirety. So adjust your camera to record as much data as possible, without over exposing the brightest areas important to you. (It's okay if some things, like the sun or its reflection on glass or water, go off the scale in most circumstances) Adjust your camera like this will help to record data in the darkest parts of the scene without losing detail and help avoid digital noise in those darker areas too.
Once you have as much detail and information as possible in your image file it makes it easier to manipulate the image data to produce the best image possible. Add contrast or adjustment curve, color temperature, highlights, shadow detail and more, all with less of a chance that you'll end up with bad looking side effects like banding, grain, weird colors, etc.
There are plenty of video tutorials on CZcams on the subject. Just search for 'Exposing for the Highlights'.
Love the outtakes/bloopers
The production quality of your videos is outstanding!!
Another great video Ken. Like the bloopers as well. Just shows that sometimes, things just don't go right !
What a great series. Thanks you.
Ken, I always look forward to your monthly "What's Neat" videos. Great work. Have a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year!
Nice Air Compressor Setup! (For those who don't have a neighbor happening to be getting rid of such a setup, you could buy just an air tank that you could fill up during waking hours and use it at night. (I once needed compressed air in a quite office environment for a few days - so I filled up the air tank then took it into the office for the day...)
Outstanding videos. I am serious about the hobby and you reinforced my passion for it. Thanks for all of your great experience and information.
Hi Ken, Thanks for sharing the bloopers, it is nice to see that not everything goes as planned. I know the feeling all too well. Happy New Year and I look forward to your What's Neat videos next year. -Tom
Envy? Ya! Came across your channel today and am a fan. Great layout and as a wood worker, I am impressed. As a hobby and vocation why not make it ascetically comfortable. Like any office it needs the look. Thanks for posting.
LOL when bird dropping landed right on the Locomotive, Happy to know i'm not he only one with engines cutting out for no reason. Geat show.
Always look forward to and enjoy your shows Ken, find them very educational, inspirational and entertaining...!
Wish you and your family a Happy New Year and a joyful 2017!
I was a member of a club that used those.. They're a great tool to have but,nothing new under the sun.. We used them for tunnels, bridges and other tight and hard to reach areas. The guy that made them use steel rods.
Excellent episode this month. Keep the blooper segment
I liked the track cleaner segment. You should market it as a product.
great show as always, happy new year to you all!
love the bloopers ,and great work on another video
Jim Moore ywyif
Michael is a great actor.
Happy New Year Ken! As always, great video; love the bloopers!
That compressor is a thing of beauty.
Gary Gresham n
I like your new compressor. My only concern is safety. Has that tank ever been pressure tested since it was date stamped. At some point you have a bomb ready to go off. ( NSA will probably monitor me for this )
It's a 3000psi rated tank 1/4 inch thick walls. a valve will go first. no problems.
This is a great video Ken. My only criticism (and I apologize ahead of time - I, by no means intend the following in an insulting manner because I am well aware that the average person out there speaks this way and kills the english language) is that you use an adjective (e.g.-good) to describe a verb (e.g.- works). For example you always say, something "works good". The correct way of saying it is, "something "works well". Another example is the use of the suffix "ly" to change an adjective to an adverb. For example when you speak about the 1/2 inch breaker bar where you say, "....if I cut the square hole correct..." The verb being described here is "cut" and the correct description (adverb) for this verb is "correctLY" and so the phrase should be , "...if I cut the square hole correctly..." While I realize most folks reaction to all of this might be "who cares" and why the pomposity, I feel that if you are in the business of narrating a show viewed by many, including those outside the U.S. attention to proper use of the language just elevates the production. Just one man's opinion. I'm sure there are others who know that might feel the same way. I hope this criticism is taken in the manner in which it was given ... constructively. It is obvious you are a very talented person and provide a wealth of knowledge to your viewership. Warm regards, Doc
This was a great segment. Would love to see Michael Gross' go thru his undercarriage detail process. Future episode?
Ken, really enjoy and learn from you videos!!! Your time lapse "Sunrise Open" was fantastic ( you should keep that as your open always LOL) The cat lurking behind the trees is priceless, seems he/she is waiting to pounce at any moment. have enjoyed and learned from your video and those from the past. Thank you for all you do and all the knowledge and information that you share, it makes building ours so much better and fun!!! You should move the cat from time to time to see if anyone notice!!! LOL
D. Muse Washington Terminal Co Model RR
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I dearly hope that Michael Gross has a Graboid somewhere on his layout :-)
Nice video Ken! Always glad to see a new What's Neat episode ^u^
Decoders have come so far in just the past few years, but the leaders in my mind are ESU LOKSOUND and TCS WOW. Soundtraxx is making a feeble attempt to get back in the run, but: For example the Tsunami 2 Steam has the load feature, but on the down grade in your video it continued to chuff, which it would not. All you should hear is the rod clatter as with the TCS WOW. Another feature of the TCS is at speed step 1; no chuff, just like the real locomotives and you can initiate cylinder bleed as well. I think I heard the cylinder vents blow on the Tsunami 2, which the TCS has as well. As for the Tsunami 2 on the new Athearn Gas Turbine release, really a sad example of to little if trying to compete with ESU. Tsunami 2 Diesel starts with power on, Turbine starts with movement, Turbine shuts down when motion stops.... ESU; F 8 starts and shuts down Diesel, F 3 starts and shuts down Turbine, F 7 on the latest ESU upgrade 75403 provides wheel squeal. Bottom line, Tsunami does not allow operator to manage power, sounds and falls short of current technology present in other brands. I have installed several LOKSOUND Gas Turbine 75403 Decoders in Athearn Ready To Roll Gas Turbines and posted them on my You Tube Channel. choochoo3985. I think you will be impressed. I purchased two of the new Athearn Genesis Gas Turbines, DCC/Ready and will install the new 21 pin ESU decoders programed for the GE UP Gas Turbines. I don't care for the Genesis Gas Turbine w/Tsunami 2 factory installed and will use it in a video and then off load it on E Bay. Not trying to be critical, but factual. Decoders cost near $100 and we need to get the best bang for our bucks.
Hi, I've just subscibed, and a quick hello from England! great videos Ken, and your basement workshop is fantastic. Not many houses in the UK have basements so we often have to use the attic! (that's where my layout is), so I sure envy you guys in the USA where basements seem to be in all houses!! Look forward to watching more of your videos!
Cheers
Reggie
I was born in England. Love the UK.............KP
So really you're an Englishman!!, maybe you could run some BR Diesels on your layout then!!!
Hi Ken what a fantastic video learning something new every time I watch your videos the track cleaning pads and bars this is fantastic the way you can just look and thinking if I can find out where to buy the same cleaning pads and the maker of the cleaning pads because it's a perfect project and very nice the way you have demonstrated the best way to make the cleaning bar and pad thanks to you and all involved in making this video well done to all involved really enjoyed every minute of the video
Greetings from Ireland
Nice! Loving the track cleaning tool - I see a visit to the local Harbor Freight Tools in my future. I enjoyed the various segments, but I admit that I really enjoyed the "bloopers". No offense, but you make everything look so slick that it's educational for the "regular" modelers out here to see that you hit problems and snags too :-)
Happy New Year Ken!
Ken, PLEASE POST February, 2017 if it is indeed ready to run and out of edit! WE ALL WAIT RATHER IMPATIENTLY FOR EACH MONTH'S SHOW... Thanks, Arthur...
Wow, Ken has a huge Backyard! (OR front yard, can't tell lol)
hi ken
another excellent video
happy new year to you
every one love bloopers!!!!!!!!
THANK YOU...foe sharing.
Part numbers for the Micro Engineering Track Pads...for those that only have access to online shopping...Thanks. btw the trees on your layout look like Australia
Love the videos Ken. But I have a suggestion. Maybe time stamp the descriptions so that we can jump to them?
THANKS FOR VIDEO AS ALLWAY GREAT DETAIL VERY TIME
How did Michael Gross get his Xacto knife and blades past TSA in carry-on baggage? That is what has kept me from modeling on the road.
There are many components to building a railroad layout. One resource I found that succeeds in merging these is the Jareks hobby club (check it out on google) definately the no.1 plan i've heard of. Check out the interesting information .
here's a question did you ever think to use a couple of ho couplers and connect it up to a train and let the trains do the actual cleaning...
I'm a retired pro photographer. I still have my Postwar O Gauge Lionel 217 AB and some misc cars from when I was a kid in the 50's. There have been so many changes in what's available since then that I say I'm new to the hobby.
I wondered if you went to the level of photography where you're using something like an X-Rite Colorchecker and its software for Lightroom/Photoshop, shooting in a RAW format, in order to more faithfully reproduce the colors of what you're photographing?
great vid ....but have you seen the cmx track cleaning wagon for ho scale..? its a usa product......
I have wanted to put my locomotives on a shelf to be seen, but wasn't sure about dust wrecking them. But I see you have all yours just sitting on shelves, does it hurt or wreck the locomotives at all.
cool model train video
Ken, I'm very impressed with the nature and style of your layout. Are the dimensioned plans posted anywhere for viewing?
Gary. there is a video at kenpatterson.com on my layout and how it was built. Some follow up over the 2 years in What's Neat. I plan a new updated layout video in about 4 months. Its 30x60 around the wall in Ho with center islands in HOn3
Woops - my first goof I will call you out on. This is not a "table saw" It is a radial arm saw. Sorry... You really need to clean the disc on the sander...That old compressor is great....Spider was a nice touch, just remember he might be a union spider, sooooo Bird poop is the worst. hahahahahaha..
Another great video. But, I cannot find the Micro Engineering, Inc. cleaning pads. their on line catalog only shows Bright Boys. I even put in the number from the box in your video but no hits. Only a review in 2007 on garden railways. Does Micro Engineering still make these pads?
thanks
Just one kibitz, those BrightBoys aren't cheap, the 2x2 runs $9 each and the 1x6 is $11, you have over $300 worth of pads sitting there. I built 6 track cleaning cars for our G, O and S multi-gauge layout for the cost of one pack of Scotchbright pads. The pads fit up inside existing rolling stock. Or do you have a cheap source for them?
Several comments:
Urgent no 1: can you send some of your winter weather our way - Brisbane, Australia - currently 98f (37.5c) was 101, 90 % humidity.
No 2: re taking a compressor to a motel/hotel. I have an alleged Australian made compressor, 50 psi water trap, pressure gauges, about 12 ins x 12 ins x 6 ins.Sound out-put about 45 -50 db's. Have seen similar at Micro Mart, but here is the Aussie Link : www.hobbytools.com.au/artlogic-ac1318-super-quiet-mini-air-compressor/ .
Luckily here down-under, and especially where I live, if I need to air brush, I move to the rear porch, and sit on the side where there is no back flow. With the above mentioned airbrush most of my house mates don't even notice it is on.
???? What happened to you Bachman/Hornby contract - you sold MILLIONS of products with your videos and still photos.
?? Kathy M from the U.K. hasn't usurped you ??
Love your work.
Greg (aussiegreg@gmail.com) or ( chain52saw@optusnet.com.au.)
super track cleaning tool. A complete system based on such track cleaners including cleaning pads and liquid is commercially available in different sizes for all scales from www.schienenreiniger.de/. Sorry site is in German but the pics are understandable. I use it for years and a number of clubs I know do so too.
That's Neat.. Thanks for sharing that track cleaner.
So does that consist have 4 actual fully functional engines or are 3 of them dummies?
4:53 - what's a qwater?
I saw a cat in the trees
Super-nerd channel.
A Men Brother