Weekend Update 12/25/15

[up1950s]

[C855B]

Made me laugh out loud, Richie. Very Monty Python-esque.

[Iain]

At first I thought that said No Train Porn.   

[C855B]

OK, I'll go. Posted in the engineering thread, the genuine, honest-to-gosh start of my actual model railroad layout. It would be further along, but I ran out of rivets after the hardware store closed early yesterday. Benchwork framing:

[basementcalling]

OK, I'll go. Posted in the engineering thread, the genuine, honest-to-gosh start of my actual model railroad layout. It would be further along, but I ran out of rivets after the hardware store closed early yesterday. Benchwork framing:

Well, you also bought and refurbished a large building, crew quarters, and demolished a crack house. Those did take a few hours of your time that could have been spent on layout construction, but running out of rivets? Poor planning. 

[John]

OK, I'll go. Posted in the engineering thread, the genuine, honest-to-gosh start of my actual model railroad layout. It would be further along, but I ran out of rivets after the hardware store closed early yesterday. Benchwork framing:

that's why you should always count your rivets .. . I couldn't resist

[C855B]

Nyuk nyuk. Oh, I thought there were enough (a mostly-full previously opened box of 100) to make it through Christmas Eve, etc., but it moved along much faster than I figured. Which is a good thing. The "poor planning" aspect was underestimating just how many I would use per crossmember, or that in subsequent overengineering I was vastly increasing rivet count. In that view are 66 rivets, and I know I wasted at least 10-15 in a couple of failed experiments. Trust me, two more boxes in the morning, then replenishment thereafter when the first box is emptied.

that's why you should always count your rivets .. . I couldn't resist

[...sigh...]

[Catt]

Sometimes being a rivet counter is a good thing. 

[up1950s]

So say you need to mount a switch machine right where a cross beam is . That has happened to me many times on my old L girder HO layout . With sheet metal screws the cross bracket can be de-screwed , with rivets you're screwed .

[Iain]

Ready for the paint shop:




So, I started another:



Two foot fever's hitting me real hard!

[C855B]

So say you need to mount a switch machine right where a cross beam is . That has happened to me many times on my old L girder HO layout . With sheet metal screws the cross bracket can be de-screwed , with rivets you're screwed .

Not really. It's very easy to remove a rivet, just drill it out. Do it all the time. If the top of the rivet is concealed by table top material, then take a Dremel to the bottom of it. We're talking so-called "pop" rivets here. I don't like sheet metal screws - although I do use them in select locations - because they result in "sharp little pointy things" in places you will, someday, go to grab. Ouch.

As far as switch machines go - and mindful that some of my crossbeams cannot be moved because they are gusseted to a wall stud - I have designed a top-mounted switch machine solution. Or, rather, a mounting clip for a micro-servo attached directly under the turnout. Prototype should be back from Shapeways in a couple of days, so I'll know more then.

[M.C. Fujiwara]

Finished replacing all the Caboose Industries ground throws with SparkFun (& 1 AdaFruit) slide switch.
All frogs are POWERED!!



Just some ground cover scenicking, & we'll have some lovely switching to shoot in the sunshine:



More in the Layout Engineering thread.

Happy Holidays, everyone!

[Chris333]

I'm sure you know real 2 foot stake pockets will fit inside of those Grandt Line ones. You can get correct sized ones here:
https://www.shapeways.com/designer/hon2jeff

[tehachapifan]

Installed another MRC 1909 diesel "Sounder" in a second SP Bay Window caboose. This time a Rivarossi bay window yet to be detailed and repainted....


The huge speaker supplied with the MRC sounder was replaced with a smaller, oval speaker and a baffle was scratch-built out of styrene.


SBS4DCC wheel wipers were used with BLMA wheels and MT trucks.



The SP seemed to drag a caboose around on a lot of locals and often attached to the engine ahead of cars, so this is a pretty good sound option for me. The MRC decoder has a very decent sounding EMD 645 non-turbo file selection and great sounding and loud horn options. My only (minor) complaint with this sound decoder is the periodic compressor sound preempts the ring-out/echo of the horn.

[Chris333]

I used my lathe and mill today     Made steam and sand domes. First I used an end mill to round the bottom of the domes. Then chucked it in the lathe. Spot drilled and threaded a hole for mounting. To turn the sides I used one of Max's ideas and cut the profile in the tool. So both domes are a different dia., but have the same profile.

They ARE NOT mounted to the correct sized tube. They fit the correct tube.

Then I needed a whistle and pop valves. I have a brass kit with perfect sized ones, but didn't want to robb the kit of them. So I tried to copy on the lathe. Have to use a magnifying glass to see the edge of the cutter    After I noticed I need 2 pop valves and remade those as seen above.

The brighter parts are mine. Took about 3-4 hours for all this and my mistakes