Weekend Update 6/10/12

[wazzou]

MC, that is starting to look really great.  I wonder, though if the Machine Shop could be flipped so that the smokestack and annex is to the outside?
I think that would look more plausible IMO.

Great work and your speed is enviable.

Started installing the diesel service area and the machine shop on the Free-moN staging yard:

[John]

The new WESTVACO paper plant @  Chillicothe Oh- tracks are in .. just need to  repaint the craft mill and start the detailing now ..

[bbussey]

Finally arrived at a good ride height for the TLT newsprint boxcars, and it ended up not taking a lot of effort or extra parts.  I used BLMA 70-ton trucks and shaved off the embossed ring on top of the trucks around the bolster hole.  That brought the height down considerably.  Then, standard MTL #1015 couplers screwed to the floor without needing shims or modifications to the floor.

[mecgp7]

First pics of my work posted here. I took three undec. MTL 40 footers and swapped out the 6 foot doors for 8 footers and painted/decaled per the prototype. I didn't bother to make it so that the doors would actually open to 8 feet though! One car still needs the roof painted silver.

[Packer]

However Vincent models in Horribly Oversized, so he doesn't have the simple removal of the end doors like we do in N with the RC cars, well not with his Walther's models.

I find his sig funny, being we have excellent models of all the models he mentioned except the SW1000 in N.

I have a razor saw and a file and the autorack I have is a DRGW. So I could do it. I'd need to get some panels though because most of mine broke off because I was planning on painting it BN.

As for my sig, my main issue is the lack of scale-width hoods on those units.

[eja]

  I used BLMA 70-ton trucks and shaved off the embossed ring on top of the trucks around the bolster hole.   .

Wow... I like your results, but should that car have 100 ton trucks?

[jmlaboda - RIP]

"Wow... I like your results, but should that car have 100 ton trucks?"

While it is his choice the prototype cars did have the 100T trucks with 33" wheels...

[Puddington]

.... and the prototype had door tracks that allowed the door to open as opposed to the model with it's "oops, we messed up the top door track" issue.....that said, and they fixed it on the subsequent run, I really like the lowered look and will be putting that job on my list for my TLT fleet.....

[bbussey]

"Wow... I like your results, but should that car have 100 ton trucks?"

While it is his choice the prototype cars did have the 100T trucks with 33" wheels...

That will make it a little tricky, as the scale three-inch difference in wheel diameter will have to be accounted for.  But maybe the roughly .018" thick embossed ring (if it's on the BLMA 100-ton trucks) will be enough to compensate.  I'll check and advise.

[bbussey]

Okay, I had a pair of BLMA 100-ton trucks on hand, and swapped out the 36" wheels for 33" wheels.  Same procedure was needed on the truck frames.  So you will have to buy a pair of 100-ton trucks and a package of 33" wheels to convert the car.

.... and the prototype had door tracks that allowed the door to open as opposed to the model with it's "oops, we messed up the top door track" issue.....that said, and they fixed it on the subsequent run, I really like the lowered look and will be putting that job on my list for my TLT fleet.....

Yeah, but I don't like the "fix" that was done, especially how the excess door track to the left was eliminated.  This is an original-run car, since this scheme wasn't reissued after the body was modified.  I may add the missing track on the right, but it's not noticeable when the car is moving so I may just leave it alone.

[VonRyan]

Cody, That trackwork is all handlaid on a little mini layout I built:

/>I just drew centerlines (curved) and built the turnouts to fit. It is C40 rail with PC ties every inch:
https://picasaweb.google.com/ErieChris333/Nn3#5562896382521496802

Ah, so now i meet the man behind the magic. I recognize the layout from the video highlighting your boxcabs.
I forget, but what do you use for a motor, plus do you just use straight 1.5v current or did you make a variable speed controller?
I'm looking to buy a marklin 0-6-0 chassis and remotor it with either a pager motor or a tiny 1.5v animation-motor and i'm trying to decide if at such a small voltage if it is worth using a Potentiometer or just a DPDT center-off toggle switch and a C battery inside a Radio Shack project-box as a "throttle" as the power source for an Nn3, Welsh narrow gauge line between two villages and a Slate Quarry.

-Cody F.

[BCRail_FSJ]

Got a bit tired of track laying at Fort St John so played around with the camera for a bit.  Got this rather good ditch level shot.  Low profile wheels are clearly needed on the tank cars.

[Jeff AKA St0rm]

Had some time today to work on my McDonalds Kit.



More Pic's can be seen on my blog

http://jeffscpline.blogspot.ca/

Jeff

[M.C. Fujiwara]

I wonder, though if the Machine Shop could be flipped so that the smokestack and annex is to the outside?

Well, the base is fixed to the ground, and the track laid, so...   
I played around with it the way you suggested, but it would angle the track too much & take it too close to the edge.
Practical overpowers prototypical in this case (happens a lot on this yard  )

Today we had a nice day of running trains during the NMRA Coast Division Meet:

The only space available was this funky-angled atrium around a rock-climbing wall (now THAT was floor-to-ceiling scenery!), but Free-moN is all about the fluid flow through funky spaces, so it worked out great.

Lots of great work on display this week: cheers for sharing!

[coosvalley]

First pics of my work posted here. I took three undec. MTL 40 footers and swapped out the 6 foot doors for 8 footers and painted/decaled per the prototype. I didn't bother to make it so that the doors would actually open to 8 feet though! One car still needs the roof painted silver.

Nice....where did the decals for the center car come from?


I don't have any pics of this weeks projects, however I have these pics that I rescued from my "seconds" folder.....









Have a great week........