Re: Weekend Update 5/24/26

[up1950s]

https://www.chowhound.com/1713284/historic-washington-restaurant-fdr-train-car/

https://www.gbrx.com/railcars/tilt-flatcar/

https://www.americansteamrailroad.org/news-4-20-2015

https://www.railwayage.com/mw/metrolinx-takes-delivery-on-plasser-american-m-w-machines/

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https://pabucketlist.com/riding-the-northern-central-railway-in-york-county-pa/

https://lbfoster.com/rail/rail-products/transit-products/third-rail

https://www.trainworld.com/train-track-101?srsltid=AfmBOopu_LjV8h5JahlZHKXcErBGZvUtcF_s563NEDXbYnuxj5OA_R_t

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RIP_track

https://www.dreamstime.com/photos-images/railroad-side-track.html

https://www.facebook.com/groups/3268706020071192/posts/4123069041301548/

[bbussey]

Continuing to push forward on the B&NL.  I've got the fully digital New London control panel working to satisfaction.  Five Elegoo Mega 2560 controllers manage various functionality.  This was the testing of the panel controls.  The toggles control the turnouts, the buttons set the routes.  Either method can be used.  A button blinks when selected.  Two buttons light solid if a valid combination and all the turnouts are thrown properly between them.  The buttons blink rapidly if an invalid route is chosen.  The exception is the service track, where only the one button is required.  a Tam Valley Octopus III powers the turnout servos based on the signals received from the Mega 2560.  Three other Mega 2560s read all of the hidden proximity sensors in the helix and the Boston reverse loop.  The fifth Mega 2560 will handle the sound and automation at the station.

I've also been working on and off on the final track arrangements for Bridgeport and the hidden New York loop.  I've finally figured out how to add a small industrial spur so that I can have some switching.  Five small industries that collectively will utilize nearly every freight car type.  I have the arrangement designed for the first four. 





One of them is a cold storage facility that will be served by meat reefers.  While waiting for some components to arrive, I designed the building in SolidWorks.  Originally I was going to kitbash, but there is nothing suitable.  It's based on a mashup of the Walthers furniture company and printing company, with details altered specifically for cold storage.  It's ready for printing.

[BCR 570]

Op Session 41 was held today as part of our annual Railway Modellers Meet of BC this weekend.  I entertained guests from New Westminster BC, North Saanich BC and Ottawa ON as well as two home crew assisting with dispatching, hostling and facilitating where needed.

The Dawson Creek Switcher passing through Sundance en route to Dawson Creek:




RS-3 570 switching cars in Chetwynd Yard as it makes up the Septimus Turn:




Setting out trailers at Dawson Creek:




Boxcar BCOL 4214 is destined for Top Shelf Feeds at Duncan on Michael's layout.  He is hosting a session tomorrow:




Crossing the East Pine River bridge en route back to Chetwynd:




The Peace-Vancouver freight stands ready to depart Chetwynd for Prince George:




Tim

[Sumner]

Finishing the Spackling in the last section of the layout needing it.

 

I do still work on the railroad most of the day in one way or the other or lately trying to finish the gates for the new deer fence.

 

I keep the Spackle watered down way more than if I was patching drywall. I only want it to seal the extruded foam for the paint step coming up next. Also need it to fill most of the extruded foam seams between the layers and other small cracks and holes. I don't want it to bury most of the detail I've carved into the foam. I'm not putting it on like one would who is using a product like Sculptamold, where you put it on thick and then carve into it.

Saying that there are a few rock faces on the layout where I did put it on heavier and then carved strata lines/cracks into the Spackle.

 

.

 

There are a lot of removable sections of scenery on the layout where I might need to get to the track or turnout servos on the upper level. I've found that it isn't too hard to hide those seams (most never see them) with the final painting of the rock faces.

 

When the removable sections are about finished getting covered with Spackle they are put back in place and the seams on either side of them are Spackled over with a very thin layer. The next day I'll break them free, might have to cut the seam with a knife in a few places. This results in a very thin seam that can be paint in a way that it is hardly noticeable.



Information on building the turntable and print file links ( HERE).

Information on building the roundhouse and print file links ( HERE ).


Good to finish the last of any major Spackling on the layout but also enjoyed painting the backdrops, carving the extruded foam and then covering it with Spackling. Now on to painting all of the above and then not much reason not to be laying track in these scenes.

I've got a short YouTube up on applying the Spackle ( HERE ).

A few more pictures on Railwire ( HERE ).

Sumner

[ednadolski]

The new AZL AC4400s look right at home on Tehachapi!   



Ed

[PiperguyUMD]

Work has finally slowed down and I really hope to get some quality train time in during the next month or two! I can't take credit for this photo, and unfortunately don't know who to give credit to, but its one of the things that really set the hook on the WM for me, but 15 years ago, I had no idea if I would ever have the skills to even tackle it. This is a helper set of H9 consolidations used on the Black Fork Grade in WV. Monster 2-8-0s with clean lines, huge tenders, and a classy paint job.



This week I recently procured my 3rd Bachmann sound equipped connie. The electronics dropped straight into Hudson tenders - which have the correct trucks and truck spacing for the WM H9s. I'm in the process of tweaking pilots to accept N-possible couplers, and so far have been working well for triple heading! Super excited for this project! Since most of the 3d design is done I'm *hoping* I can crank out these three relatively quickly. Now if only I had decals...

[dandopinski]

Not too much to report, milled these chassis to accept the CN cab, and extended the LEDs into the noses. Lots of capon tape to secure the headlights and to prevent them from shorting out.

[chessie system fan]

Layout construction continues.  I'm almost finished using the brown paper templates for the cookie cutter grade and upper level.



Here's the future upper level.

[James Costello]

Progress in the layout room - had some overhead cabinets installed last week to make use of the space better and increase storage, prior to layout construction. Spent the weekend starting to get the space organized and reminding myself just how much stuff I have had in storage. The cabinets feature a valance for layout lighting and some nifty little display shelves on the end. Standard Ikea Billy bookcases underneath.





 Track and layout planning continues, and hopefully we can think about some timber towards the end of the year.

[garethashenden]

Progress in the layout room - had some overhead cabinets installed last week to make use of the space better and increase storage, prior to layout construction. Spent the weekend starting to get the space organized and reminding myself just how much stuff I have had in storage. The cabinets feature a valance for layout lighting and some nifty little display shelves on the end. Standard Ikea Billy bookcases underneath.

What is the source of the upper cabinets? I like the look of those, especially with the bonus shelf at the bottom.

[peteski]

Progress in the layout room - had some overhead cabinets installed last week to make use of the space better and increase storage, prior to layout construction. Spent the weekend starting to get the space organized and reminding myself just how much stuff I have had in storage. The cabinets feature a valance for layout lighting and some nifty little display shelves on the end. Standard Ikea Billy bookcases underneath.

That is a very impressive looking setup James!

[davefoxx]

Nice work, James!  Very professional looking.

If there’s one thing I miss about N scale, it’s those jewel cases.  HO boxes are much larger, non-standard-sized, usually cardboard, and don’t nest like those N scale jewel cases.  But, that’s the only thing I miss about N scale. 

DFF

[Mark5]

Not much for me, but I can see again (after over six months of fun).

Started going through testing a bunch of "fringe" locos that I have (my main interest is N&W) - all tested fine except for this FP7. I put it on my test track and it refused to move. Therefore I took all apart:
[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

I spun the motor with my fingers, put it back together and stuck on the test track. This time it ran, though a bit reluctant - I'll take it apart again and sparingly lube it up and see how it is then.

[James Costello]

Thanks guys! Very happy with how they've turned out and I think it'll elevate the layout experience. If we decide to sell in the future, I'll turn it into a home office / study so the professionalism compliments that plan as well.

Next up - layout lighting options for the valance and the LED strip lighting rabbit hole!

What is the source of the upper cabinets? I like the look of those, especially with the bonus shelf at the bottom.

They're custom made by a cabinet maker - looked at a prefab option but decided on this route.

[davefoxx]

I didn’t get to work on the layout or any model railroad project this weekend, because I was busy turning this:



into this:



but, to do that, I had to first do this:



It’s all better now, though.  The new UV clear coat on the headlights should be cured, and the Miata has been put back together.

DFF