Weekend Update 4/11/2010

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Eric please tell me you plan on adding a safety board around the edge.

Nothing to show this week. I am still building about a half-dozen GHQ vehicles.

[ednadolski]

Looks like what happens when running DPU pushers, with cars that have truck-mounted couplers.....

Ed

[womblenz]

Not much modelling just prep work

I have been bulk cutting balsa for upper bents of the ore dock

Cheers warren

[NorfolkSouthern9708]

Well I got a used Kato USA Conrail SD70MAC. Bringing my n-scale inventory up to one engine, one car. lol

[ednadolski]

I did spend some time working on converting a few Atlas O scale trucks to Proto:48 specs.  The trick is to narrow the truck but keep the rotating bearing caps.   Sorry but I don't have any pics for now.

Ed

[eric220]

Yikes, that looks really close to the edge.   You might want to think about adding a strip of cardboard or Masonite along the edges, to prevent a derailment from turning into a disaster.

I also agree with SkipGear's point about fixing the S-curve, esp if you're planning to run long trains.

Ed

Swapping out the turnout isn't really an option, because this layout is supposed to serve as the starting point for a much bigger one.  (The contractor is coming by tonight to talk about its new home!)  I don't mind messing with the dropleaf, 'cause that's going to get discarded in the long run.  In retrospect, I probably should have gone with a slightly smaller radius curve, which would have eliminated the need for the s-curve, but it hasn't caused any problems yet.  The longest train I run is the Broadway Limited set with an extra car, and it hasn't even hiccuped.

As for the guard along the edges, I never thought about it, because I never had a train derail to the outside of the old curve.  Probably a good idea, though.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Of course it wouldn't derail then. But now that you're temping fate... I mean, look in that pic, that AC12 is looking awfully longingly for the floor. You can see it

[Mark5]

Ritchie,

What are you using to detail these cars? I am aware of the Ultimate N scale detail kits - do they have the side "railings" too?

A have a few that look like this:



Thanks!

Mark

[Mark5]

I also installed the headlight and ditchlight housings on my C-630M, and with all of the heavy work now finished, I reassembled the locomotive to get an idea of what it will look like:

Swanky!

Mark

[Mark5]

Just yard work and jeep work for me.. and just in time on the new pads!

I was doing the pads on Saturday too, as well as analyzing and finally fixing an annoying suspension rattle (New Beetle).

[Philip H]

Between the bamboo that infests my backyard, the "I refuse to work because you pay mor attention to the truck" Jetta, and the toddler with Two-ended Stomach flu I got absolutely zero modeling done.

But I did receive a Chuck Pack on Saturday with a well wrapped FVm GEVO in KCS Belle.  Pics once I get around to it.

[up1950s]

Ritchie,

What are you using to detail these cars? I am aware of the Ultimate N scale detail kits - do they have the side "railings" too?

A have a few that look like this:



Thanks!

Mark

Hitches ... MTL
Bridge Ramps ... MTL when I can get them , if not I make my own ( 50% of the time )
Stakes ... OEM lately , I used to use .020 X .030 Evergreen
Side Rub Rails ... Evergreen .020 x .060
Couplers ... MTL 1015 on built up pads with scrap hard plastic
Wheels ... were Atlas metal , now Fox metal
End Sill ... were filled in somewhat with Evergreen sized as needed
Atlas flats have deck holes filled with Squad Green and re-scored planks as needed
MTL flats have been filed flat and re-scored to make it look like all wood because painting and or taping those metal deck portions is such a pain

[Mark5]

Thanks Ritchie!

Mark

[stuntman]

 Did some painting on the backdrop at the Crale/Hampton area.... I still don't have the colors quite right I think, But I was having trouble recriuting someone to paint it. :-\

[inkaneer]

Looks like what happens when running DPU pushers, with cars that have truck-mounted couplers.....

Ed

The mark of a poor engineer is to blame the equipment.  Just like the guy who rearends you and says the brakes didn't work.   ;D ;D ;D