Weekend Update 10/23/16

[jereising]

The McGratten Memorial Train has reached Oakville and is waiting for the power to back down.  Stay tuned...

[Cajonpassfan]

I think it's prototypical.

And so it is, I looked up the plans I have in an old Kalmbach steam book. Learn something every day
Amazing that a monster like that would stay on the rails with just four flanges holding it in place...
Very nice finish, by the way.
Otto K.

[Erik W]

While not newly completed models, these are newly photographed.  When I started building my N scale layout back in 2003, and started building HOn3 rolling stock on the side, I didn't take many photos.  What photos I did take were small and low resolution.  So, in the spirit of having better photo documentation of my builds, here are some photos my HOn3 endeavors.  I've added a few of the older, smaller photos as well.

HOn3 D&RGW Precision Scale Company long caboose kit.  Modeled as seen in 1955 with ladder extensions and boarded up windows.  http://www.sergentengineering.com/ couplers.  Custom Northwest Short Line scale wheels in Precision Scale trucks.












HOn3 D&RGW 6200 series steel sided wood framed flatcar.  Scratch built out of wood and styrene using Grandt Line details and trucks with custom Northwest Short Line scale wheels.  These earlier builds have Kadee couplers.  I hadn't discovered the Seargent couplers yet! 














While I'm at it.  These old photos are my first HOn3 build (around 2004).  HOn3 D&RGW flanger OH.  Rio Grande Models multi media kit, super detailed with styrene, brass, and paper, Grandt Line trucks with custom Northwest Short Line scale wheels.  The weathering job could have been better.  I'd like to think my skills have improved since then. 






Erik

[svedblen]

Very nice Erik! 

[Rich_S]

Amazing that a monster like that would stay on the rails with just four flanges holding it in place...
Otto K.

Otto, when a train is traveling on a straight section of track, none of the wheel flange are touching the inside head of the rails. Flanges only come into play on curves and turnouts. It has to do with the taper of the wheel tread. Since that locomotive had two axles with blind drivers, they could use it to negotiate sharp radius curves and small numbered frogs often found on mine branches.   

[Cajonpassfan]

Rich, I get that; it's the curves I'd worry about. But obviously it must have worked. I just don't recall seeing another four-coupled heavy mainline loco with more than one blind driver set. Unfortunately, it's much more prominent on the model then the real thing because of our oversized flanges.
Otto

[ai5629]

I finished the decals on a couple of ESM Conrail X58A's I painted last Fall this past week.  Five different decal sets were used on CR208408 and four on CR208316.  I am quite pleased with the results.  Thanks.

Jeff

[eja]

ai5629

My eyes said you got the "I" and the "L" too close together, put a little searching for photos said you nail it.  Very nice.

[chicken45]

Rich, I get that; it's the curves I'd worry about. But obviously it must have worked. I just don't recall seeing another four-coupled heavy mainline loco with more than one blind driver set. Unfortunately, it's much more prominent on the model then the real thing because of our oversized flanges.
Otto

As built Pennsylvania decapods (the I1) ... the 2-10-0 had THREE sets of blind drivers.
It sounds like then they got super heaters (I1sa) there was a need for additional flanges so they went from 2,3,4 blind to just 2 and 4 blind.

[cbroughton67]

It's all coming together, @rickb773! The center cab is now complete - a light weathering and cab windows have been added. I also finished-up a trio of PRSL P70's using @Lemosteam's 2D-P5 trucks and P70 steps. Once the PBM70 is done, I'll have them in the mail to you, Rick. Hope you like them!

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[bbussey]

Getting closer to completing the diners. In the process of adding various roof hardware.

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[mu26aeh]

I got the AR1 hooked up for the wye at Porters Sideling.  Tested things out with WM #501 returning from Spring Grove with a string of boxcars from the paper mill.

20161022_204320 by Adam Henry, on Flickr

[chicken45]

It's all coming together, @rickb773! The center cab is now complete - a light weathering and cab windows have been added. I also finished-up a trio of PRSL P70's using @Lemosteam's 2D-P5 trucks and P70 steps. Once the PBM70 is done, I'll have them in the mail to you, Rick. Hope you like them!

I think you may need to remove that "trip bar" from under the doors. I don't think the PRSL want that kind of liability.   

It looks great, though!

[Dave V]

Did more track weathering and ballast work:



Also added depth and highlight to the rock faces using a variety of acrylic washes and drybrushed colors:

[BCR 570]

Working toward fascia control of turnouts.  The upper deck panels at Tremblay are now in place, along with toggles and leads for the two turnouts.  After much consultation and thought, I went with a location and direction panel in the middle of the siding, patterned on the BCR Condensed Profiles, which provides track schematic, direction, and industries:




At each end of the siding, I have installed a simple panel with toggle switch in line with the turnout:




The goal was to keep things as simple and as intuitive for guest operators as possible, yet achieve something which looks sharp.  The fonts match my earlier helix occupancy and power management panels.


For the lower deck, I wanted to install the panels on angled mounts, as I have noticed on other people's multi-deck layouts that operators often have to back up and look down to see the lower deck panels.  With mine I am hoping that operators will simply have to look down and not back up.  Here are the angled mounts after painting to match the fascia, with the panels sitting roughly in place:




The next step is to get the angled mounts installed on hte fascia, and then connect the servos, drivers, and toggles all together.


Tim