Weekend Update 3/30/14

[BCR 570]

I just returned from an amazing N Scale weekend in Portland, Oregon.  I received my three M-630 locomotives back from friend Dave Mac Kinnon with decoders and lights installed, took in the Meet N March show, got to see three superb N Scale layouts, caught up with old friends and made some new ones.

Earler in the week I Colomboized a pair of speakers for a pair of trial sound installations:




I also finished cutting out window panes for three of the work cars currently on my workbench, which was the last step prior to painting.


Tim

[bnsfdash8]

These were test beds for radio control. Originally they had dummy wheels (ie no traction motors) that is why the dynamic brake grids, and all the blower equipment was removed. The actual radio control equipment fits in the nose of the locomotive, they just needed a unit heavy enough to be coupled to another unit so it could be used in yard. It seems they found the better option is the 600 & 700 series road slugs, some of which have radio control. The 600 & 700 series have dynamic brakes and can lead on road trains, but at the same time can be used in radio control mode in yard service. Some of the newer rebuilt GP50 reclassified as RP-M4C and RP-E4C have the Admiral cab which allows enough room for PTC equipment. A very interesting subject for a locomotive kitbash. 

 

You are correct. NS only did 2 of these 1000 & 1001, now 99 & 98.

I decided to do these because I haven't seen anyone try to, and I like having some unusual things on my NS roster.

[Puddington]

I just got back from the Railway Prototype Modelers meet in Valley Forge/Malvern. Lots of good presentations Friday night, yesterday and this morning, an ops session during the day on Friday, and a couple of layouts to visits this afternoon before coming back home,

Phil

Phil: Did you run into "Our Man" Bill Schneider..? If so, was it with a truck, 2-8-2 or Old and Weary FT....? (serious inside jokes...sorry)

[davefoxx]

Thanks to seusscaboose tacking on to his order for a Hex Frog Juicer, I received a single Juicer to hook up the last turnout on the Seaboard Central.  Now all nineteen turnout frogs on my layout are powered.

I would post pics, but my eight-year-old Macbook died this weekend.  It froze up, and it won't turn on beyond a screen that keeps telling me to restart the computer. Now, I can't do my taxes on TurboTax unless I buy a new computer that I can't afford.    

[seusscaboose]

My update includes NOT dropping / dripping hot glue on original Canidagua Southern steam during a work session

[jdcolombo]

Earler in the week I Colomboized a pair of speakers for a pair of trial sound installations:



Tim

Tim, those are mighty fine-looking speakers!
 

I renumbered two NKP PA-1's from Broadway Limited, from 181 and 183 to 190 and 185.  These are excellent models in all respects: great sounding, excellent running, and pretty darn accurate to the prototype.

John C.

[CBQ Fan]

But did you take the behind the scenes tour and see the shops?

Not on this trip.

[pnolan48]

The 560' N Scale Mobil Engineer is nearing completion, with about 80% of the railings installed, and stairways and ladders next. I had to make some seam repairs on the hull, but repainting it will be a snap. While my work table looks like chaos, you can see, in front of the mahogany building plank, that my tool selection is actually fairly small: pliers, scissors, knife, ruler, tweezers, glues, dust brush, angle guides from my Chopper, small flashlight (to detect irregularities), touch-up paint and a few odds and ends. The tube of Testors gooey plastic glue does not belong! All the chaos behind the ship is just stuff that got pushed back there, and will be sorted and put back in order when I get the ship off the plank--i.e., finished. Putting it up on the plank keeps it flat, and also reminds me how much the ship is worth. My best build so far! I think I'm getting up to that "museum-quality" level with this one



Still a bit of straightening and touch-up to go and, of course, the bow to finesse into shape--#$@$$##! Bows! It's why my smaller ships have cast resin bows--spend forever doing them correctly once, then mold and cast. But this is too big to cast.

[Scottl]

Wow, that is amazing. 

[Blazeman]

Did you run into "Our Man" Bill Schneider..?

I was there as well. I saw your man. He brought zero N with him. There was zero N with any of the vendors.

Ralph DeBlasi was doing weathering clinics all day Saturday. He gave props to Tom Mann "of the Railwire."

[Bruce Bird]

Future NS RPC-4 #99.

Need any specific proto shots of that NS 99?  It's been assigned to Decatur for over a year now and I can probably get whatever shots you want.

(98 is here as well)

Bruce

[Bruce Bird]

BTW, my update is trees, trees, and trees for the Western Maryland.  I did one specific steep mountainside using a combination of astroturf, egg cartons, course ground turf, and Elmers spray adhesive.  A believable forest in a fraction of the time.

That and I'm running out of sedum bush armatures, so it must be spring!

Bruce

[High Hood]

You are correct. NS only did 2 of these 1000 & 1001, now 99 & 98.

I decided to do these because I haven't seen anyone try to, and I like having some unusual things on my NS roster.

Cool engine you've picked.  I'd like to do a RP-E4C or M4C.  I'd like to get started on an ex-N&W SD40-2 using the new Triple Clasp Trucks on Shapeways, but I'm not sure if I want to do one in the NS or N&W era.

[bnsfdash8]

Need any specific proto shots of that NS 99?  It's been assigned to Decatur for over a year now and I can probably get whatever shots you want.

(98 is here as well)

Bruce

Other than good overhead shots I think I got pics of most of what I need, but thanks for the offer.

[mightypurdue22]

Nice model as always Pete.

I spent some time getting guard rails, frog points and pc board ties ready for 7 new hand laid #6 turnouts.  I'm finding it does make it quicker to "mass produce" some of the pieces that go into the turnouts.  Looking forward to getting these on the layout in the next couple of weeks.  Pics forthcoming at a future WU.

~Dave