Weekend Update 2/10/13

[kelticsylk]

Tried my hand at building some N scale rolling stock. Miserable results. Can't see what I'm doing so I use a magnifier. Even at that I still cannot make cuts and things fine enough for 1:160 models. I'll have to keep at it till I get it right.

What's supposed to be a PRR class N5e cabin car. It started as a modified brass kit I bought years ago. I wasn't satisfied with the way it came out so I used the brass for a template to build a styrene version. The windows were drilled and then filed to the rectangular shape (they should be rounded at the corners)...


Then there is this attempt to create half of a class BP60 "centipede". I cannibalized the drive trucks from a Bachmann DD40. The trucks have the correct wheel spacing, but wrong sideframes. The leading and trailing trucks are from Bachmann Northerns but I'd rather use the trucks from a Kato GG1. The shell is made up of E, F, and PA shells and styrene...


I used two F unit shells for the cab. To try and replicate the "babyface" look I cut and sectioned the parts to get the taller windshield posts. I filed out the side windows, but went too big. I didn't finish sanding the filler, I'd rather start over...

[jereising]

Been too long since an update.  I've been on the layout regularly, just nothing particularly photoworthy.  Here's some of what I've been doing:



Here are my modified E9s again - there are at the moment only an AB set thanks to a non-standard Digitrax decoder.  I'd bought three new boards when I bought the new E9s and they installed normally.  And when I did the first A unit, seen here, everything was normal and worked just fine.  When I got to the point on the second A unit where I needed to solder to the board, there were no function solder pads and the B unit board was the same.  I emailed Digitrax who essentially told me I was nuts.  And ordered another board.



Here we focus in on the lead unit of the freight that's waiting for the passenger special to get in front.  And what, you may ask, is different?  The MU cable.  Following a suggestion on TRW, as soon as the Atlas store reopened I ordered a bunch of their MU cables and am redoing the fleet - also in the process looking for fallen off details, just a general overall checkup.  The difference between the decoder wire I was using and these is slight but these are better.  It's a good project and one I'm glad I did.

[dnhouston]

Wiring up the lower staging yard

[Ian MacMillan]

I have been working on preping some of my Gooderham Goodies as seen in that thread but I also made time (while not sleeping or breathing.....) for a "little project"....



Jeff Briggs cool little Fairmont speeder... I still need to put on the windshield wipers..... (hello opti visor)

I posed it in front of a old shed I had lying around... It will make a neat "conversation piece" on the layout....

Pud, nice work.

Just a little bit of a suggestion. The color should be more orange. CN and the motorcar groups call them "pumpkin cabs", as they started out orange. CP, which used similar cabs on Woodings CBI and CBL models used yellow. I can get you the section codes if you would like to add "road numbers" as well.

I have few friends that have Fairmont MT-14 and MT-19's with the pumpkin cabs in their original colors.

2 MT-19's



MT-19 along with my QNS&L A4


2 MT-14's. The red light was standard on CN cars.


CN MT-19, Fmr CP Woodings CBL, Fmr UP MT-14, CN MT-14, Fmc MEC MT-14, CP CBI

[VonRyan]

Besides enjoying watching the mother nature (snow storm) from the cozy indoors, I took apart three stem locos (just to see what makes them tick):  Dapol A4 Dwight D. Eisenhower 4-6-2 in blue livery

Excellent Choice!

Dapol makes a great loco (still awaiting my GWR 57xx 0-6-0PT) and the fact that they continuously push the boundaries of the term "DCC Ready" is an excellent step forward for British Railway Modelling, and for the entire industry as a whole.

-Cody F.

[Hornwrecker]

Added a road right through the middle of my yard.  Why, you might ask?  To make the thing look more like the prototype one I'm modelling  What a stupid idea.  Damn thing crossed 11 tracks, in two adjacent yards, on the real PRR/WBCRR in Buttonwood.

Should make switching more interesting.

[atsf_arizona]

That is another cool loco mech conversion John. Can't wait to see the finished product.
And I want ATLAS to jump on this being it's in house guts . Should be a short lead time Atlas , Christmas would be nice , as well as a pre-announcement for us to salivate over . Please .

* SEE MY FOLLOWON POST ON THE NEXT PAGE OF THIS THREAD, CORRECTING THE FOLLOWING.  SUBSEQUENT RESEARCH SHOWED THE
* ATLAS B40-8 MECHANISM WITH ATLAS C628/C630 TRUCKS, DOES YIELD A CORRECT RSD-15 WHEELBASE

New research data indicates that perhaps Atlas should retool a new, slightly longer mechanism, rather than just
fit the C628 trucks to an existing B40-8 mechanism....

Based on this web site data I found for Alco Roadswitcher dimensions: http://www.hosam.com/alco/rsdim.html

I'm believing now that that the above Atlas B40-8 mechanism with C628 trucks actually yields a slightly shorter wheelbase
than a correct RSD-15 wheelbase.  I actually think the Model Power RSD-15 shell length, even though it matches the above
website pilot-pilot length.....  the Model Power RSD-15 shell always looked a little bit compressed and a little bit short to me. 

After examining the above web site, computing wheelbases, and comparing my photo above with HO Broadway Limited and Atlas O RSD-15
and prototype photos, I think the Model Power RSD-15 *is* just a little bit short.

Thus, it is a happy coincidence that this B40-8 mechanism with C628 trucks fits under the slightly short MRC RSD-15 shell.
This is my current thinking, anyway as of 2/9/13.

I'm still going ahead with the two Alco RSD-15 and one Alco RSD-7 build.  There's nothing else on the market like
these Alcos yet.... so it'll be a good modeling experience, and in the process, maybe it'll help cause a truly
accurate modern tooled version of these locos to show up someday.

After all, we never thought we'd see Fox Valley ATSF GP60M's, or Atlas Trainmasters, did we?   The 'curse of building a rare prototype...'   

Would appreciate anyone's comments.

[MichaelWinicki]

I like the road through the yard there Bob.

Here in town we had a small Erie/EL yard that was bisected by one of the main drags.

Nice selection of cars too.  Very era setting.

[Scottl]

Snow clearing took up some train time today, but I managed to make some progress my bridge project.  I finished the arch cross braces and installed the interior walkway which will be hard to get to once the rest of the cross bracing is in place.  The two halves are still just propped up against each other.  I think the next step is the deck plates and tie deck.





I like this next view, it will look really cool with trains on it.

[central.vermont]

Well I had some time this week to finish this New Hampshire North Coast GP9 for a friend.

Jon

[Alwyn Cutmore]

I'm still going ahead with the two Alco RSD-15 and one Alco RSD-7 build.  There's nothing else on the market like
these Alcos yet.... so it'll be a good modeling experience, and in the process, maybe it'll help cause a truly
accurate modern tooled version of these locos to show up someday.

Hi John,

I was going to splice a couple of RS11s to-gether to get the RSD15 and RSD7 bodies. PM Sent.

Regards

Al

[Scottl]

Mark, this is a beautiful bridge, nice work!  I can't wait to see your next project now that you are in the building groove!

Solid progress on the Slocan Bridge this week. Add rivets and finished construction, then made piers and abutments and painted/weathered.  Still need to "plant" it and add guard rails.









and one in natural sunlight!




I think I will get on to the much larger Kettle River bridge before finishing the scenery around the Slocan bridge.  Now I am in bridge building mode I think I will stay there for a while.

Have a great weekend!

md

[atsf_arizona]

Hi John,

I was going to splice a couple of RS11s to-gether to get the RSD15 and RSD7 bodies. PM Sent.

Regards

Al

Thx, Alwyn, sent a PM in reply, thx in advance!

[Hornwrecker]

I like the road through the yard there Bob.

Here in town we had a small Erie/EL yard that was bisected by one of the main drags.

Nice selection of cars too.  Very era setting.

There was a yard near where I grew up in Detroit, where GTW's Nolan Yard crossed 8 Mile Rd, a major east/west thoroughfare.  Up until the mid 1970s it crossed about 10 tracks, then reduced to 4 in the 1990s, and now is only 1 - the yard is gone, on the way up to Port Huron and the St Clair Tunnel.

[wm3798]

The last train down the Thomas Sub arrives at the yard at Thomas, W Va....



At Hinshaw.


After picking up a few cars at Thomas, heading across the high steel bridge.






The caboose clears Maryland Junction for the last time.


Passing through Cumberland on the way to Ridgeley Yard.


Passing Tweedale's Auto Repair...


At the overpass in Greenwood, approaching the yard.


End of the line for the Thomas Sub.

Meanwhile out on the Connellsville line...

The Laurel Valley Extra makes its way east on the final revenue run over this scenic line.


Passing under Thomas Road.


Across Casselman Crossing...


Final shot on a semi famous bridge...


Passing through Cumberland


And a short time later, the scrappers began their grim task.

At some point there will be another project.  But for now, I'll be doing some other things and enjoying seeing several hunks of the layout being incorporated into some friends' layouts.  It was a lot of fun while it lasted.

Lee

I expect there will be another project at some point,