Weekend Update 5/29/11

[Chris333]

Alex,
I haven't really got to test it much for pulling power. It has a traction tire so I should be OK. But there is space up front and in the cab for tungsten. I could easily get it back to the weight it was.

[GaryHinshaw]

Nice to see all that fine Canadian scenery taking shape.   

The Great Purge of 2011 continues in our new place.  Here is a shot of the garage/empire taken today:



to be compared to the same view from ~3 weeks ago:

http://therailwire.net/forum/index.php/topic,23865.msg232364.html#msg232364

Still a ways to go: a few more items to purge; heavy-up the electrical service and install proper lighting; then insulate and paint.  But there is hope.

I've also got XTrackCAD running on my Mac and have sketched up a preliminary 2-deck Tehachapi plan that manages to incorporate several signature scenes without cheating (too much):



I'll post more detailed drawings in the Layout Engineering Blog section when switching and staging sections are drawn in better.  (Not sure why the tunnels are showing up as such big X's in this render...)

Cheers,
Gary

P.S. Lee, that is the shot you should use in your N Scale Approach column.

[SirTainly]

Lots of good stuff here and it's nice to see more Canadian stuff!

Obviously nothing from me as usual but I have moved house this week which has kept me busy and I may now have a little space for a little layout - part of a sectional one or something.

[Ntrainz1]

Stripped an old Lima P70 and building a B60b



Bob.

[DKS]

[Day One]

I've been working on painting and adding resistors to FVM wheels:



and I pulled this out again to see if I could actually get it to work. Unfortunately I believe the BDL168 is bad so it's got to go back to Digitrax for repairs before I can truly know if it will ever work the way I want it to.

[atsf_arizona]

The X2011 West Facebook team just put up a preview of the self-guided layout tours for X2011 West Advanced Section, Sun July 3, 2011.  Included are

3 superb N scale layouts, see here on the X2011 West Facebook page (anyone can see it, you don't have to be a Facebook member): 

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.213171045384562.59835.104852949549706

Here's some examples.

Mike Blumensaadt's N scale layout in San Francisco:



Jim Bainbridge's N scale modern era:



John Petrovitz's incredible N scale SP and NWP in San Francisco Bay and Northern Calif:



If you are attending NMRA Nationals this summer and are into N scale, these layouts are superb.  Even if you won't be there in person, remember that you can watch 2011 NMRA Natls as it happens in real-time at:  http://facebook.com/xw2011west

[up1950s]

[coosvalley]

Hello everyone, lots of nice work this week.

I was looking to take a break from modelling the MEC/LVRC in N scale, so I have been working on some HOn30 models, and toying with the idea of building a small layout as well.
I recently picked up the mining set from BCH, and the little loco actually runs pretty good. I have added running boards(n scale etched roofwalk) and replaced the shell details with free standing ones. Next will be a new pilots and couplers,cab steps and a new stack or maybe spark arrestor.

[GaryHinshaw]

[S Class]

Chris, that loco is looking pretty spiffy. Does it still pull comparatively despite the loss of some weight?

I had my last high school classes last week, so I celebrated with a day train watching.

so stupid question is Pan Am Rail The same company that used to be the airline or did Guildford by the rights? their wiki page doesn't have the information.

The smokestack is the on/off switch, has wire grabirons and correct window-blanks:

sweet looking 'boose if you don't mind me asking how the does the switch work? is it turned 180 like a key or do you push it to activate a momentary push button in the body? or is it something completely different?

[SkipGear]

A little more work on my station..

[atsf_arizona]

Sweet looking 'boose if you don't mind me asking how the does the switch work? is it turned 180 like a key or do you push it to activate a momentary push button in the body? or is it something completely different?

Hi, it's pretty simple.... you push down on the brass wire smokestack and it makes contact with a brass slot which closes the circuit inside for the AA battery and the 1.5 volt wheat bulb.  To turn off, just pull up on the brass smokestack slightly and that opens the circuit, thus turning off the light .

[Guilford Guy]

Guilford bought the airline when it was bankrupt (I believe in the 90s) and flew planes for a few years. In 2006 they changed the name from Guilford Transportation Industries with Guilford Rail Systems as the railroad, to Pan Am Systems with Pan Am Railways as the railroad. They no longer fly commercial planes, and many of the maintenance/fueling vehicles are stored around the railroad property.

[JoeD]

Got some free time to continue filling up my South of the Border fleet.  Working with MIG products washes and tints and having a blast. http://migproductions.com/

First is the bridge for my Border crossing.  Working on some signage and a walkway now.



This is an shortened Central Valley that I was going to use elsewhere...but it was crying out for rust.  Next step is to mask and paint a small portion of it with some guys hanging on platforms painting it.

This is a car we released a few years ago.  Weathered and added a deck.  These were mobile grocery stores that serviced some of the more remote communitites.  The deck is laser cut.



Back to the workbench   Adios!

Joe