Weekend Update 7/19/20

[Bob]

Grant - that is an incredible video!  Do you have a layout thread with more information, like a track plan and also how you managed to have mid train helpers and pushers without cars being pushed off the tracks all over the place?  Super impressive!

[grant-sar]

Thanks for the kind word Gang.  Good to be back active in the hobby after sitting out for several years.

Grant - that is an incredible video!  Do you have a layout thread with more information, like a track plan and also how you managed to have mid train helpers and pushers without cars being pushed off the tracks all over the place?  Super impressive!

I think there are several keys to keeping stuff on the rails.

-Paying a pile of attention to track work 
-Body Mount couplers on everything 
-BLMA Trucks on everything with 2/3 of a MT coupler centering spring placed over one axle end on the B end each car
-Speed matching locomotives
-Bigger radius curves, 32 inches and up

grant
 

The mid-trains in the vid are MU'ed to the leads but usually a separate crew would run them during an op session.

[Maletrain]

I don't have much experience with mid-train and pusher locos, but what little I have seems compatible with the theory that it will work out OK if you simply join trains that will make the loop around the layout individually at about the same speed with the locos MUed.  Of course speed matching is important for that.

And, that has worked with a lot of truck-mounted couplers in the trains.  Of course, if someplace in the trackwork makes a hiccup in each of the trains as they pass over it, it will make that hiccup in the first part of a combined train when it crosses it while the second part of the combined train is not hiccuping in unison, so things might pile-up. So, I agree that good trackwork is the top priority for getting this to work.

[dougnelson]

Thanks, that clears up a lot. I’ll have to try it soon. Do you do a similar process on the other cars you post here? Your weathering always looks really good.

As noted, I use different methods - weathering powders, airbrush washes, etc., but the one common to all cars is the ink wash brushed onto seams, grabiron and ladder shadows, and other details.  I will soon be trying oil paints (water soluable WN Artisan paints).

[Mike Madonna]

Doug,

Like yourself, I use various methods/mediums as well. Will be adding the "wash" effect in the future.... Nicely done!

[Wolf N Works]

Grant thank you for this info
Filing it away for the upcoming layout

And as others have said, your layout is a world class one and we want to see more
Thank you again

Thanks for the kind word Gang.  Good to be back active in the hobby after sitting out for several years.

I think there are several keys to keeping stuff on the rails.

-Paying a pile of attention to track work 
-Body Mount couplers on everything 
-BLMA Trucks on everything with 2/3 of a MT coupler centering spring placed over one axle end on the B end each car
-Speed matching locomotives
-Bigger radius curves, 32 inches and up

grant
 

The mid-trains in the vid are MU'ed to the leads but usually a separate crew would run them during an op session.

[JanesCustomTrain]

and we want to see more

Some great videos on uTube

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Jane