Weekend Update 11/17/13

[up1950s]

[Kisatchie]

I'm getting an early start to the weekend. I'm busy right now assembling Micro-Trains 1027 couplers and putting them on 16 of my MTL 50' flat cars that were overlooked when I was on a body-mounting binge years ago. I find it's more tedious to assemble the couplers nowadays. And any time I use an X-Acto knife (for picking up the springs), there's a good chance of bloodshed.


Hmm... I've got several
tourniquets ready...

[kelticsylk]

Working on a B unit for the shark set...


I'm using a modified  frame from a dummy PA B unit. The trucks use an offset bolster like the PA A. You can spin them to make the longer shark wheelbase.

I'll probably redo the two A units based on the construction of the B. Don't like the spliced shells...

[Puddington]

Spent some time body mounting couplers on a few Intermountain/Centrailia Shops 4-4-2 sleepers and a Kato 10-6 ATSF car. Moving on to some older Con Cor stuff and that WOT baggage car I've been complaining about..... Boring work but important.....

[peteski]

I'm playing doctor with couple of SD-35s. 
https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=31207.msg345389

[Chris333]

Nn3 track done. Shes a runner.

And I started building a 8" tall curved backdrop:


With the phone handy I took many more pics if anyone is interested:
https://picasaweb.google.com/ErieChris333/Nn3CarbonLimestoneCo

[Puddington]

IT'S A RED LETTER DAY...............

IT'S NEW YEARS EVE......!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THE PUD IS ROCKIN THE HOUSE........!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Ok, now that I have your attention.........

Sammy and I went to the Pine Ridge Modellers train show in Whitby, Ontario today.... always a good show, 8 of 17 layouts are N scale, one awesome O scale 3 rail effort and a "somewhere beyond "wow" traction layout that runs off cantenary......... I could watch this thing for hours... but I digress......

I was scopin out the vendors..... same old guys... same od books, models... parts... decals.... "yada, yada, ya.... WAIT A MINUTE.... WHO THE H  E  DOUBLE HOCKEY STICKS ARE THESE GUYS ??????????????????"

A book/parts/cars vendor I'd never seen at an Ontario show was there; and he (actually she, the "he" was the helper) had an eclectic colection of used books.... well; we better have a look... hmmm... yes.... interesting.... well... WAIT A MINUTE...........

IS THAT WHAT I THINK IT IS ?

............ Yep.............

........... It was......... 

.......... It IS ! ......... 

.......... and NOW I OWN IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(WITH DUE RESPECT TO THOSE THAT BEAT ON ME FOR TALKING ABOUT THE CANADIAN NATIONAL RAILWAY, THE RAILWAY I HATE; I ADMIT THAT I MODEL THEIR PASSENGER STUFF BECAUSE... WELL.... IT EXISTED........)

I got a hard cover copy of the IMPOSSIBLE; YOU CAN'T EVEN HOPE TO GET; THEY ONLY MADE 2000 COPIES IN 1989 SO YOU'RE SCREWED...

CANADIAN NATIONAL RAILWAYS PASSENGER EQUIPMENT 1867 - 1992 (Original print) Edited by Gay Lepkey and Brian West.

These puppies are impossible to get... when they appear on E Bay they go for between $ 400.00 - $ 600.00.... I have the 1995 Companion and it is awesome..... you want to model CN passenger... you neeed these TWO books.....

I got the original for $ 160.00.... no tax.... signed by the authors...........................

(Pud does the happy dance....... No, you don't want to see this)

This will advance my modelling by 1000%; It's a tomb that is almost impossible to get and I just lucked out............

Puddy happy..............

[avel]

NICE!!! Chris333

[RWCJr]

Congrats on the book find Mike!! I count some of my ATSF prototype info books as my most valuable tools.
Robert

[davefoxx]

I'm still working on the buildings, roads, and sidewalks in Aberdeen, North Carolina:


A scratchbuilt station based on the former SAL's passenger station in Aberdeen will go in the open spot between the tracks.

DFF

[jmlaboda - RIP]

Puddy modeling the Canadian National???



Impossible!!!



No... actually I know that he has done a few models already so the acquisition of the CN book is great news!!!  I have the later book and it is greatly of value in covering many of the Canadian National's steel cars... doubt I would swing for such an expensive addition but who knows... even with a limited income (and a specific amount to spend on the 'bay every month for negatives, photos, post cards and slides of passenger cars) I have been blessed by the opportunity to buy such references of equally great value... and hope to continue to do the same!!!

[Jeff AKA St0rm]

Well still no Atlas track so just more bench work. Almost done. Only 3 feet and a drop in to build.







I am starting to draw the center lines on the layout. At least I can lay some cork until I get track.

[bbussey]

Finally, after three weeks of trials and errors, got my first double crossover installed and functional.  Five more to go, but the good news is that I think I can install one a night at this point.



The points are being controlled with a pair of Tam Valley Singlet controllers wired to a 4PDT momentary toggle, with LEDs on the control board to indicate the route.





Also discovered that TV makes a remote DPDT relay plug-in board that was designed to drive signals, and I confirmed with TV today that it can be used to change frog polarity.  I was going to use the Fast Tracks Frog Juicers, but the relay boards do the same job at 1/10th the cost.  Sweet.

[peteski]

Looking good Bryan!

[pjm20]

I didn't do any modeling this week (again), but I did go to Todd Treaster's open house. While I was there, I met a Scott Brown, a SPF from Altoona. He showed me some pictures of his M1 and long distance tender castings he made. Those photos were worth driving a half hour for. My dad and I also spent some time in Lewistown:



Amtrak Train #43:



One of the numerous stack trains:



And half a dead deer on the tracks:



I guess the rack is still mounted on the engine.