Weekend Update - 5/18/2008

[John]

What have you accomplished this week?

For me, I got about 50 feet of track down. Just waiting on Jerry to send me a case of code 55 so I can continue

[Dave V]

Added ACI decals to and weathered an N scale Atlas Conrail class N20 caboose to match its 1980 appearance.

[3rdrail]

Anything interesting that y'all have accomplished in the past week? I finished assembling the Des Plaines-IMRC NC&StL boxcar kit and weathered it and several other cars. it was only after I finished weathering it that I recalled that there was a photo of one of these in the all-color book of 40 foot boxcars! Different weathering entirely. Still working on the NKP car with Viking roof.

The "soupbowl roof" is a minor problem. Glue down one end. Let it dry. Then glue down the other end. If you use Tenax 7R, you should be able to hold it down until it dries. If the running board is also warped. Use a tiny amount of Testor's Plastic Glue on the location pegs to hold it down.

No photos, it's been threatening to rain all day.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I went to the Preakness infield and survived.

I think that's a big accomplishment!

[wm3798]

Been doing battle with one of Bob's SW's.  Finally got all the bits and pieces back together.  I've given up on the light circuits in DZ-125's altogether.  Sorry Bob, no directional lighting, but, I did get an LED into the cab roof to light the rear facing headlight, along with most of the cab weight.  She handily pulls 6 cars up my most difficult grade, roughly 3% on a curve.

I also started sorting all of the rolling stock so I can update the car cards and waybills.  Hopefully some time in June we'll be ready to operate again.

Lee

[Matthew Roberts]

no construction-sort of progress... but...

I went and bought the Mar/Apr 2008 edition of Narrow Gauge and Shortline Gazette yesterday; the Mineral Valley Railway by Jerry Kinney is amazing! A model of a short (12-mile) quarry/tourist line in the northeast in 1930, it's in HO and 36 feet long, with two 0-6-0Ts for power (one's a steam dummy), the scenes remind me of Lance Mindheim's Monon, just detailed enough.

And it made me think of doing a similar kind of model railroad, in N-scale, maybe of a longer, yet still dinky railroad, in pre-1950s Texas. Especially if I could throw in some Texas mountain railroading, and mining operations (mercury was mined in west Texas between the 1880s and 1950s); so if it's okay, I think I may start a thread soon thinking through that scenario...

[Hyperion]

Worked on modifying the track plan to fit the few extra feet I secured.  Last one didn't have a continuous running opportunity.  Now this one has a 3% grade which I'm not thrilled by, so I'll probably end up reworking it some more...

Also started work on the Stampede Pass -- a BN Power Car.  It's not meant to be an exact model, I don't feel like scratchbuilding a complete passenger car in the name of getting exact window placement down to the inch.  So I'm starting with a Kato Empire Builder Smoothside Sleeper which is pretty close to the prototype GN Sleeper and filling in a bunch of the windows.  I think I've settled on doing the large exhaust grill with DI Venetian Blinds.  They're roughly twice the scale size, but the closest reasonable and practical approximation I could find.

Prototype:


Progress:


This is a warm-up project for the next big one, the Glacier View -- a BN Theatre Observation car.

[atsf_arizona]

Foto Fun 2008 05 18

I've been super busy with work (which will continue with some time), so
I'll not be around here as much as in the past.  I will still lurk and check
when I can, though. 

And I am very much looking forward to being in Louisville for the National
N Scale convention.  Hope to see some of you there.

Here's a couple of shots to add for this week.










Have a good week, all.

[Caleb Austin]

Cut some plywood and test fitted some track on the Shenandoah side of the layout.






ME code 40.

[shark_jj]

didn't do any modelling this weekend, but I was part of the organizing committee for the Canadian Association of Railway Modellers Convention in Hamilton this weekend.  Had my layout open on Friday night and she ran very well.  Lots of people impressed by what you can accomplish in N Scale and the operation of 45-50 car freight trains.  Discovered two problems I will have to address.  A lot of people liked my undertable manual switches using DPDT switches and airplane rods.  Impressed enough to try operating them and then not returning them to their original position.  I had three trains operating in the loop (400 feet in length) and I didn't always have a visual of them as they went through the various interlockings and I had a couple of derailments where switches had been misaligned.  In our area we have a couple of annual open houses so I am going to have to find a way to guard those switch throws.  The second problem was with Accumate couplers.  45 car coal trains going up and around the Curve, they made about 25 or 30 transitions and on a couple of them the couplers let go from the drag.  It was kind of exciting watching a caboose and 40 coal cars running away backwards around the Curve, through Slope Interlocking and into Altoona.  What impressed people is that they did it without derailing.  Since these coal trains operate as unit trains I am going to cut of the glad hands and weld the knuckles shut, that should solve the problem.

Yesterday and today I ran a Train Show in conjunction with the Convention.  18,000 square feet, filled with operating layouts.  Our goal was to showcase the hobby.  All kids were free and we had over 1000 people and hopefully a few future modellers.  Some excellent layouts including a 50 by 50 N Trak layout involving the N-Trak Roadshow from here and the Ottawa Valley N Scalers, the guys did a great job showcasing our hobby and our scale.  Yesterday was set up day, which turned into 14 hours when we found half the gymnasium at the University had no power and we had to get electricians in.  Today was only 12 hours, but I am bushed.  Great weekend though and everybody raved that they had a good time.  Got home to find my desktop computer had fried the power supply so am having to use the laptop.  When I get it fixed I'll try to post some pics.

[Sokramiketes]

Worked on modifying the track plan to fit the few extra feet I secured.  Last one didn't have a continuous running opportunity.  Now this one has a 3% grade which I'm not thrilled by, so I'll probably end up reworking it some more...

Also started work on the Stampede Pass -- a BN Power Car.  It's not meant to be an exact model, I don't feel like scratchbuilding a complete passenger car in the name of getting exact window placement down to the inch.  So I'm starting with a Kato Empire Builder Smoothside Sleeper which is pretty close to the prototype GN Sleeper and filling in a bunch of the windows.  I think I've settled on doing the large exhaust grill with DI Venetian Blinds.  They're roughly twice the scale size, but the closest reasonable and practical approximation I could find.

Prototype:


Progress:

Before you get too far, did you notice which end the vestibule is on in comparison to the grillwork?  Did the windows just work out better this way?

[keystonecrossings]

My Sherman's Creek bridge took first place in the N Scale Diorama division of the model contest at the PRRT&HS annual meeting this past week...



Okay, it was the ONLY entrant in the N Scale Diorama division!!!   ;D

(Sorry, server is bogged down with everyone hitting the new Alphabet Route site!)

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Now that it's non-functional, have you thought about cutting the throw bars off of the turnouts?

[TheDude]

Took some photos thats about it.
Two INRD SD40-2's



MRL lease unit doing some switching

[Bob Bufkin]

Went to the PRRT&HS convention over the weekend.  Posted photos for those who want to see the models they had there.  Also finally managed to get a brass I-1 at a decent price and am waiting for it to arrive.