Weekend Update 1/25/26

[BCR 570]

I have reached the halfway point painting the rails in Chetwynd yard.  It is slow going due to being bent over with my head in between decks and occasionally having to relieve the ensuing back pain.  Next time I will paint the track prior to installation!






I completed the auxiliary and track bus wiring underneath my scratchbuilt turnout and crossover projects in preparation for testing.

Underside of turnout project:




Underside of crossover project:




The auxiliary bus and track bus runs were brought out to connections at the right end of the project boards:




Test run through both routes of the turnout:

The crossover appears to have a short somewhere in the trackwork which I have yet to find, thus preventing a test run.


Tim

[InterurbanModels]

This weekend is dedicated to the Delaware & Hudson. A colorful little D&H consist of second hand rolling stock make some rounds behind a Kato PA:
- Ex-Reading combine, 4 wheel trucks
- D&H Heavyweight coach with porthole window doors, clerestory, 6 wheel trucks
- Ex-EL, née Erie, Thru-Line-Coach, modernized, picture windows, 6 wheel cast steel trucks

[SAH]

I'm finally getting around to the next wave of Goodyear latex tankers:  UTLX version.  The parts fit model and a WIP photo of the etch artwork is shown.  So far so good.

[Jim Starbuck]

I got the decoder and keepalive installed in the new Whitcomb. Initial tests were promising. Even without any added weight it will crawl through Unitrack turnouts.

[jpwisc]

I added a couple more cars to the layout today. The first was a WC ballast hopper. This started life as a Walthers car, and I chopped 10’ out of the middle. Lots of detail upgrades, and of course… NP couplers.
[ Guests cannot view attachments ]
Then a couple of the MicroTrains gons. Coupler upgrades here too.
[ Guests cannot view attachments ]
[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[Lemosteam]

Continuing to work on the B6sb. Chopped off the cast headlight and drilled a loooong passageway for the LED wires. Used a Keystone Details headlight and bracket with a pre wired 0201 LED glued into the housing and mounted the light to the bracket. Had to square up the hole to accept the bracket boss. After threading the fine magnet wire through the bracket and shell, I mounted the assembly to the smokebox front.



I tried to gently drill out the cast smokestack but I destroyed it instead. I replaced it with some flared brass tubing, with a smaller diameter tube soldered inside for the mounting pilot. I tapered the stack in a drill using a file. On the tender, I replaced the walkway railing with phosphor bronze wire, with additional wires for the mid supports, then a touch of solder to both finished it. Added the front corner grabs too. I tried to ream out the original backup light but it ripped off, so I used another KD light housing with another 0201 LED inside.

[bbunge]

Wooden vestibule passenger cars are extremely rare in N scale. 

I've been playing around with 3D inserts for 53ft Overland cars after cutting off the railings:

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Whelp, this sucked:
[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

That's the Springfield train show about an hour after opening. This is the third time I've visited during a major storm and it has never been like this. I only stayed about 90 minutes. There was very little to see. Only about 20% of the vendors were open and almost all the layouts were being dismantled. Didn't bump into anyone I know, which is the first time that has ever happened.

This was my ride home:
[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

As a bonus, I believe I blew my turbo on the way back. About half way back my car went into limp mode with zero PSI showing on the pressure gage. The dumb car only has 32k miles AND had to have the engine replaced. 

[wm3798]

More forwrd progress on my train space.


Built the HVAC bulkhead that will serve as the lighting valance for the island layout that's evolving in my head.



Also found the perfect cabinet at the Hagerstown ReStore.  A 42" tall corner base cabinet. That fits like a glove under the roundhouse module I bought five years ago.  This will set the stage for a more modest roundhouse and a few yard tracks.

This establishes the basic shape and size of the layout.  I can now commence with planning the track.

Pretty excite!

Lee

[peteski]

Whelp, this sucked:

That's the Springfield train show about an hour after opening. This is the third time I've visited during a major storm and it has never been like this. I only stayed about 90 minutes. There was very little to see. Only about 20% of the vendors were open and almost all the layouts were being dismantled. Didn't bump into anyone I know, which is the first time that has ever happened.

This was my ride home:

As a bonus, I believe I blew my turbo on the way back. About half way back my car went into limp mode with zero PSI showing on the pressure gage. The dumb car only has 32k miles AND had to have the engine replaced. 

Wow! Sorry to hear this Daniel (especially about the car trouble).  I was there on Friday and all day Saturday (left Springfield around 10pm, after the Winterfest activities).  Bryan Bussey did show up on Friday and was one of the guest speakers.

On Saturday most show participants were still there, and the crowds were relatively large.  We figured between the Sunday snow and the important Pats game, most people decided to visit on Saturday. I also met Andrew (n-possible couplers) and we had a lengthy and fun conversation.  He is a super nice guy and one smart fellow.

[mu26aeh]

I weathered a cut of Reading coal hoppers



And got a set if MicroTrains FTs ready for decals

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Wow! Sorry to hear this Daniel (especially about the car trouble).  I was there on Friday and all day Saturday (left Springfield around 10pm, after the Winterfest activities).  Bryan Bussey did show up on Friday and was one of the guest speakers.

On Saturday most show participants were still there, and the crowds were relatively large.  We figured between the Sunday snow and the important Pats game, most people decided to visit on Saturday. I also met Andrew (n-possible couplers) and we had a lengthy and fun conversation.  He is a super nice guy and one smart fellow.

Yeah, I was hoping I'd bump into you or Bryan.

The car has me a bit worried as I don't have an extra $5000 laying around for a new turbo. To add insult to injury, it's only about 45 days out of warranty. It could be something as simple as a blocked air flow sensor due to driving in a blizzard at 4 degrees. But knowing this car - always bet on worst case.

How was Saturday? This was when I wanted to go, but my dog was just spayed, so I wanted to make sure someone was home while Joy was working.

[Chris333]

90% of bad turbos are just bearings.

[Spades]

Did anyone attending the Amherst/Springfield show chat to Peco?  I saw on YouTube pictures of what appears to N Scale track.  Any word on the North American code 55?

[delamaize]

Im visiting a old army buddy in Belpre Oh right now and got caught in this winter storm BS also. Kinda put a damper on our plans to take his dodge Viper to the dragons tail.

Side note with your car, if ny money was on anything, depending on how the waste gate is positioned, and the type, Id think something with that might be the issue. There is always the chance you had a charge pipe come off, that would cause a zero boost situation, and cause an engine light also. Both sould be simple fixes.

Whelp, this sucked:
(Attachment Link)

That's the Springfield train show about an hour after opening. This is the third time I've visited during a major storm and it has never been like this. I only stayed about 90 minutes. There was very little to see. Only about 20% of the vendors were open and almost all the layouts were being dismantled. Didn't bump into anyone I know, which is the first time that has ever happened.

This was my ride home:
(Attachment Link)

As a bonus, I believe I blew my turbo on the way back. About half way back my car went into limp mode with zero PSI showing on the pressure gage. The dumb car only has 32k miles AND had to have the engine replaced.