Weekend Update 10/30/16

[BCR 570]

Nice to see some CN modelling in N scale - well done.

My mainline turnouts are now fully operational and controllable from the fascia, which is a huge step forward for me.  After installing the upper deck panels on the fascia last week, this week saw the lower deck panels installed on angled mounts.

Once again, there are central schematic panels for the sidings to label tracks, indicate direction, and industries, and turnout control panels at each end of the sidings.  On this part of the layout, Sundance siding on the Dawson Creek Subdivision is in front and Septimus sidings on the Fort St. John Subdivisions are at the rear, so there is some overlap of the panels with each other.  The following photographs were taken with the camera at the height of my head to show how the angled mounts work.

West Switch for Sundance and South Switches for Septimus:




Central schematic panels for Septimus and Sundance:




East Switch Sundance and North Switches for Septimus:




The auxiliary power panel comprising the 12 volt power supplies and DCC booster boards has now been hung under the layout and connected to the aux 'B' bus feeding the mainline turnouts, and a temporary DCC feed into the booster for aux 'B' has been connected:




After that, it was time to connect the toggle leads, the feeders from the aux 'B' bus, and the leads from the servos to the Singlet drivers.  After powering up the aux power bus, the Singlets were switched to Align mode for automatic endpoint alignment.  Here is the resulting arrangement underneath one of the turnouts:




I am very pleased to have reached this stage in time for layout tours next weekend, including a visit from our PGE-BCR N Scale Modellers Group in town for the annual Vancouver Train Expo show, and a layout tour as part of the associated Railway Modellers Meet.


Tim

[skytop35]

Working on this C&NW "Hammerhead" RSD5. The master was built by Vince Kotnik and he allowed me to make castings from it which will be available soon. Of interest is that the hammerhead end is actually the rear of the unit. I guess "hammerbutt" doesn't conjure up many positive images 

[Cajonpassfan]

Bill, lol, hammerbutt would be more descriptive of its esthetic qualities, but beautiful modeling, as usual!
Tim, nice and neat, top and below. The fascia panels are very cool.
Otto K.

[jmlaboda - RIP]

The master was built by Vince Kotnik and he allowed me to make castings from it which will be available soon.

That is one beautiful ALCO... will bet some will get the shell for the hi-nose while others will get it for the Phase III detail...

[BCR 570]

Working on this C&NW "Hammerhead" RSD5. The master was built by Vince Kotnik and he allowed me to make castings from it which will be available soon. Of interest is that the hammerhead end is actually the rear of the unit.

Bill:

The Pacific Great Eastern had a similar RS-3, No. 569, which was damaged in a collision with a logging truck and rebuilt with an RS-10  short hood supplied from MLW.  The short high hood was also the rear of the unit.  The 1970 rebuild did not last long; the short hood was cut down in 1973 to improve visibility during switching.

Tim

[dougnelson]

I've had this MTL PRR X32b boxcar sitting in its box for years.  Finally got around to weathering it.  It is now cleared for use on the layout. Replace pizza cutters with BLMA metal wheels.  Ink wash and powders for the weathering.

[mu26aeh]

Today was weathering day.

First up is 6 CSX 2 bay covered hoppers.  From what I see online, these were ex-Monon cars that seemed to stay relatively fresh paint wise.  Most cars in this number series only had small amounts of rust, mostly rust streaks from the walkway supports. 

2016-10-29 13.58.33 by Adam Henry, on Flickr

Next up was a NS 2 bay covered hopper.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2912098

2016-10-29 13.58.06 by Adam Henry, on Flickr

Finally, a Trainworx PD3000 I picked up on a whim at LHS on Friday.  Just happened there was a picture of each side of the car online.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1157022

2016-10-29 10.46.12 by Adam Henry, on Flickr

[craigolio1]

Today was weathering day.

First up is 6 CSX 2 bay covered hoppers.  From what I see online, these were ex-Monon cars that seemed to stay relatively fresh paint wise.  Most cars in this number series only had small amounts of rust, mostly rust streaks from the walkway supports. 

2016-10-29 13.58.33 by Adam Henry, on Flickr

Next up was a NS 2 bay covered hopper.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2912098

2016-10-29 13.58.06 by Adam Henry, on Flickr

Finally, a Trainworx PD3000 I picked up on a whim at LHS on Friday.  Just happened there was a picture of each side of the car online.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1157022

2016-10-29 10.46.12 by Adam Henry, on Flickr

Wow! 

[Cajonpassfan]

I've had this MTL PRR X32b boxcar sitting in its box for years.  Finally got around to weathering it.  It is now cleared for use on the layout. Replace pizza cutters with BLMA metal wheels.  Ink wash and powders for the weathering.

Doug, nicely done!
I may use yours as a model for mine
Otto

[chicken45]

Some changes to the M1a!

[wazzou]

@chicken45 - that looks really nice.  Great job.
Question though...was it common for the Pennsy locomotives to have a sheen like that?

[DeltaBravo]

I spent several hours making a Kato truss bridge in black look more like the real thing for @seusscaboose 's basement empire.
Prototype photo:



Final outcome:

[chicken45]

@chicken45 - that looks really nice.  Great job.
Question though...was it common for the Pennsy locomotives to have a sheen like that?

Hey @wazzou, Thanks! I think it's just the my picture and lighting that makes the firebox look a little glossy. It's a rounded off corner too, so I'm sure that amplifies the light, too.

But your question on other locos having a sheen to them...I've seen them all over the place.
This K4 looks pretty glossy, but it was in 1987.


Glossy cylinders, lower half of the boiler has a little shine:


Shine on the entire side of the boiler:


Completely flat:


PRR locos all started off glossy. You can still see a little shine and sunlight on the round parts of the domes, even when filthy.

So, i'm sure it also depends on the class, too.

[up1950s]

author=BCR 570 link=topic=40320.msg497562#msg497562 date=1477726832]

West Switch for Sundance and South Switches for Septimus:




Central schematic panels for Septimus and Sundance:

A map of the world , never saw that on a layout before .   

[C855B]

A map of the world , never saw that on a layout before .   

Expansion plans.