Weekend Update 7-20-2008

[John]

Post em if you got em ..

For me, lots of electrical work this week .. putting in 2 DS64s, and cat5 cable for signals ..

[Catt]

Well it ain't much,but I did get started on my Zscale empire.

Quarter inch sanded one side 24" x 48" plywood handy panel.


1" X 2" screenstock for the frame work you see.


There will be no legs as the layout is meant to set on a table at shows.
I will be building a frame work that the layout will set on for construction purposes,this will also work for my DCC test track. ;D

[Ryan87]

Well it ain't much,but I did get started on my Zscale empire.
Quarter inch sanded one side 24" x 48" plywood handy panel.

With plywood that thin I would be putting in cross members every 12'' I've seen way too many sagging N trak modules (and thats with 3/8)...

[DKS]

Well it ain't much,but I did get started on my Zscale empire.
Quarter inch sanded one side 24" x 48" plywood handy panel.

With plywood that thin I would be putting in cross members every 12'' I've seen way too many sagging N trak modules (and thats with 3/8)...

I'd be even more worried about twisting than sagging, with only 1x2s for the frame. Unless you're going to bond two inch insulation foam panels to the ply...?

[Catt]

I've been using screen stock for 15 years and have never had any twisting problems with it.

But like I said I did get started on it.The plywood will get covered with at least 1" extruded and possibly 2" it all depends on what I can find.

I am going to Lowe's tomorrow to see what they have in extruded panels.I have seen 24" wide ones there but I don't believe they are the extruded kind.

[atsf_arizona]

Hi, all,

I've put up pictures from NMRA Nationals:

http://www.pbase.com/atsf_arizona/nmranatl2008tues&page=all
http://www.pbase.com/atsf_arizona/nmranatl2008wed&page=all
http://www.pbase.com/atsf_arizona/nmranatl2008thursday&page=all

And the National Train Show new N scale product pictures at :

http://www.pbase.com/atsf_arizona/national_train_show_2008_anaheim_n_scale_products&page=all

There are more pictures, but these are all the major ones.

Kato GG1 - looks like nearly complete model:




Intermountain - had test samples of the AC12 Cab Forward there.  See gallery above for pictures.




Bachmann 44-tonner in N scale:





Wheels of Time:  samples of the baggage car, photos in gallery above.




Walthers / LifeLike:

The 2-8-8-2 DC/DCC/Sound loco was on display, pictures are in the above
gallery.  As shown in the photo in the gallery, the connection between loco and tender is a large
connection of wires, looks similar to the 0-8-0 connection.  Let's hope for everyone's sake, (including Walthers) that this bulkiness and stiffness of those wires does not compromise the appearance or traction of the loco.


The Walthers passenger cars are all on display.  I have photos of those, will add them on Monday. (sorry, can't get to everything all at once  !)   



Dapol - had a good sized display there, from quick glance, looks like British-profile offerings,
from my quick glance, looked like HO?   That's all I know, didn't talk to them or to Hornby America, they had nice display there too. 

Atlas - As Paul Graf has often said, nothing new that hasn't been previously announced or shown at National N Scale Convention in Louisville.

Bachmann (observations on the tenders.... and WHY??? the Jackson & Sharpe
open air excursion car...made for Disneyland China????)  -  Yes, the N scale Jackson & Sharpe open air excursion car was there, I'll add that picture on Monday.  Bachmann N scale 44-tonner detail shots are in the gallery above. I've shots of the DD40AX as well - was a very early looking pre-production model - will add the DD40AX on Monday.


Con-Cor (any hints on N Product???) - Didn't stop and talk to them.   Jim Conway was in the booth and the HO scale Aerotrain was there.

Model Power - didn't see them, if they were there, I missed the booth

Athearn (rolling stock, motive power) - I've couple shots of the improved former MDC Roundhouse
Husky Stack that is being released in above gallery, as well as shot of the 40' trailer.

Bowser - they were there, I didn't stop by the booth.


Check out Harry Wong's NTS pre-show photos as well at: 

http://www.pbase.com/tracktime/nts2008&page=all

----------

Still to come.... a ton of great Layouts there (photos posted most likely tomorrow).   The guys from Japan who had the amazing bridges in Chantilly in 2004, are there with two new bridge modules on the NTrak layout (photos tomorrow), here's teaser:




The 1986 Western Pacific Z scale layout built by Model Railroader was bought recently (off eBay!) by the Western Pacific Musuem in Portola, Calif - they have that layout on display (photos tomorrow).  The huge Gulf and Western Modular HO layout has a modular scene that is literally 30+ feet long, including a intermodal yard and ship.  #1 scale railrading layout.  A superb Colorado HOn3 layout in the Malcom Furlow style, built in only 7 months, starting in Jan 2008, here's teaser:



OK, that's my report for now, have to run to family things for rest of day.  Take care and enjoy, all.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Oh man, the G looks AMAZING.

This weekend (about 20 minutes ago) I started on my "Spirit of Beehole" SD50.

I converted the trucks from HTC to Flexicoils.

Pics later this evening. It's time for dinner at the inlaws.

[MEC_FAN]

Haven't done anything on the layout for three months so got the bug to do something lately and started the framing to get down to the staging yard. The track comes off the mid level into the lower helix which takes it half way down. It then goes down a grade and follows the contour of the whole layout to the staging yard which will probably be ten tracks and into a reverse loop to return back up. Most of it will be visible and sceniced and there will be industries along the way that will be serviced by a local or road freight out of Waterville up on the mid level. Next comes foam and roughing in the lanscaping then trackwork and wiring.
The staging yard goes across the back wall to the left of the vac, you can see part of the framing in place (painted white) that supports the hinged ele. panels.

Plywood on.

Framed and instaled backdrop today.

[dclyde]

Scenery continues:









We started the scenery on two other tables:





More to come...

Dave

[3rdrail]

Well, I thought I posted something here, but it disappeared...

Can't be bothered retyping. Next time I'll copy before I post.

[ai5629]

I finally got around to decalling some Walthers GSC flatcars for Conrail.  I started these cars almost nine years ago.  I filled in the bulkhead holes that Walthers put in these cars when they first released them in the 90's.  I also added Micro Trains stock car stirrups, tank car brake wheel, and 1023's.  I have one side done on each car.  They look pretty good so far.  I did the cars in the scheme with PC style numbers.  The ones from Micro Scale's PC boxcar sheet are the only ones available in N scale, and they look slightly over sized.  But, since nothing else is available, I am learning to like it.  I also continue to pop air bubbles in some Atlas 60' double door ACF boxcars that I used to model some Conrail X59a's.  These are very nice if I must say so myself.  I still haven't figured out how to attach photos, so I cannot share.  I know Sean would like to see them.   

[skytop35]

Just about finished this Milwaukee H16-44. It needs some weathering and I may add the all-weather cab windows. It started as a N&W model, I was able to scrape off the N&W markings, mask off the black areas and sprayed the orange paint. Didn't even have to remove the window glass  ;D

[asciibaron]

Just about finished this Milwaukee H16-44. It needs some weathering and I may add the all-weather cab windows. It started as a N&W model, I was able to scrape off the N&W markings, mask off the black areas and sprayed the orange paint. Didn't even have to remove the window glass  ;D

looks good - i love the X's - those decals?

[tom mann]

looks good - i love the X's - those decals?

Yes, agree looks very nice.  How are the X's made?

[diezmon]

I just started painting my first DPM kit   

painting that trim, oh it sucks a$$. 




It's my first actual experimentation with doing mortar.. I think it turned out pretty well