Weekend Update 11/15/20

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I spent a bunch of time this weekend working on big *****.



First, a curbside pickup at MBK! I'm stoked this is back.



In my package was a new speaker to replace the crappy MTH one. Here's the tender all done. I think I'm going to use a set of the unused wires for the engine to add another small speaker in the smokebox though. Gotta get that blower sound coming from the right spot!

I didn't add a baffle around this, but nothing I've seen about them indicates you should.



Then it was onto my caboose. The car came with parts for a wooden underframe but I'm not thrilled with that idea. It's going to spend some time running on a large layout with MUCH bigger fish and I don't want it to become kindling. I decided to take a page from the prototype's book and make the frame out of metal.
Of course, the brass channel that was in the right size was too deep, but luckily, I have the technology...



Here it is post fabrication, post terrible solder job, and with the mocked up template for the bolster support (those will also be made from brass).



And lastly I decided I didn't like the smokebox graphite color MTH used so here she is after the first coat of a new one.

[Mark5]

Revisiting this project that has been languishing on the work bench for an embarrassing 18 months.    Two RS-18s using Briggs parts on modified Atlas RS-11 chassis.

The mechanisms are pretty dated at this point so may need to be upgraded to more modern ones.  I have spent a week of evenings trying to get them to run smoothly and the best solution seems to be to hard wire the units together as a permanent pair.  They run great like that - 16 wheels worth of pickup!.

Are those the ancient Atlas/Kato mechs? Yes, they are a challenge - great back in the 80s, not so great now. The sold remaining RS3 that I did back then has been repowered by an Atlas/China mech - runs so much better! (I got rid of my A/K RS11s for newer Atlas China versions).

The RS18s are looking good!

Mark

[Mark5]

First, a curbside pickup at MBK! I'm stoked this is back.

Agreed, but not liking the $50 minimum.

[Maletrain]

Agreed, but not liking the $50 minimum.

Man, a $50 minimum has been no issue for me on MBK orders.  But a 4 hour round trip sure is an issue for me, now that I have moved across the Bay.  And that 4 hours is a minimum, assuming no crashes on the connecting highways, and no problem on the Chesapeake Bay bridge.  Especially assuming that the crazy person who has now closed that bridge for a total of 30 hours, by walking up the suspension cables twice, has not been released from the looney bin again.

We do still have small hobby shops that are closer, at least until COVID bankrupts them.

[Mark5]

Man, a $50 minimum has been no issue for me on MBK orders.  But a 4 hour round trip sure is an issue for me, now that I have moved across the Bay

Ouch on that 4 hrs.

Sometimes I just want a single freight car ...

I'm only 15 min from MBK, but with $10 to ship to me I've been finding out of state options for smaller orders - ends up being much cheaper overall.

[mu26aeh]

Ouch on that 4 hrs.

Sometimes I just want a single freight car ...

I'm only 15 min from MBK, but with $10 to ship to me I've been finding out of state options for smaller orders - ends up being much cheaper overall.

I always am of the mindset " I'd rather make some money than no money".  I'd gladly walk that $15 freight car out the door than allow it to sit on the shelf.  Ridiculous 

[SkipGear]

I always am of the mindset " I'd rather make some money than no money".  I'd gladly walk that $15 freight car out the door than allow it to sit on the shelf.  Ridiculous 

Depends on how busy you are....if that $15 freight car takes you away from filling a $2000 order...is that worth it? There is only so much time in the day, spend that time most effectively. It takes the same amount of time to carry out a $2 piece of track as it does a $500 loco.

[JMaurer1]

MBK is on my 'someday' list to visit. Only one train store within 2+ hours of where I live (Sacramento) and they charge full retail for everything. There used to be 3-4 really good ones. I do believe I could cover that $50 min with very little effort...