Weekend Update 2/5/17

[Mark W]

Took the Free-moNebraska layout down to Wichita and spent the weekend running trains!  Met a LOT of people from the 737 plant and we're all very excited for MT's upcoming fuselage release!

Here's a few photos of the fun.  More pics in the layout thread.

[nscaleSPF2]

If the magnet is a long flat part with lengthwise poles then why are 2 needed?  The MTL between-tracks magnet or the larger Kadee under-track magnet are all single pieces with the magnet centered under the track.

No need to re-invent the wheel, guys:

http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/S-L-Enterprises-N-1-Totally-Hidden-Uncoupler-p/sle-1.htm

These do work, and they work well if you are willing to spend a little time getting the locations of the magnets just right.  Installed about 6 on my layout.  Of course, that was before I decided to convert to True Scale Couplers.

[peteski]

No need to re-invent the wheel, guys:

http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/S-L-Enterprises-N-1-Totally-Hidden-Uncoupler-p/sle-1.htm

These do work, and they work well if you are willing to spend a little time getting the locations of the magnets just right.  Installed about 6 on my layout.  Of course, that was before I decided to convert to True Scale Couplers.

That is the one I remember seeing in the N-Scale magazine ads. I still think that the steel plate makes a difference in the way the unit works. The magnets alone will work, but this version should work better.

[Dave Schneider]

I have made some modest progress on my Walthers HO FM H10-44 in updating it from the factory grey and orange scheme to orange and black. A ways to go yet, but  I post so infrequently I thought a status update would be fine. Working on modifying the cab winterization windows from the ridiculously small (but accurate) original design.  Here are the before and after photos. I used Easy-Lift Off to remove the factory paint. Tamiya grey primer and some old Polyscale Milwaukee Orange and Engine Black thinned 4:1 Paint:Distilled Water. Sprayed at 30 psi. A decent finish, but I know I can do better. 

[Lemosteam]

My understanding is that they will work but they'll need to be mounted sideways. Kadee and Micro-Trains couplers need the poles of the magnet running across the track, to pull the couplers away from each other. There are some British designs of magnetic couplers that need a vertical pull, so putting the magnet face up works for those.

Queue @bbussey ...

[btrain]

That's a great layout Mark! U was wondering what stain or paint did you use for this bridge? I have one just like it that I'll put on my layout.

[seusscaboose]

Hosted an OP's session

[Mark W]

That's a great layout Mark! U was wondering what stain or paint did you use for this bridge? I have one just like it that I'll put on my layout.

Believe it or not, that bridge is unpainted.  I only dusted the road deck with the same sanded grout I used for the country road itself.
I love how it perfectly accents such a simple scene! 

[Chris333]

I painted my coal mine. What do you guys think of the overall coloring? I asked a HOn30 group and just got a bunch of "looks great". Is there anything else it needs?


Since it is styrene and wood I didn't bother staining the wood. Everything was scribed to have more wood grain. First coat was flat tan camo paint. 2 coats of ink/alcohol. a coat of raw umber/washer fluid. last a wash of grey because it looked too brown. Then a bunch of drybrushing.

[mu26aeh]

Maybe some coal dust ?  Looks way too clean

[PRRATSF]

I agree, its much to clean, otherwise it looks great.
Sam

[Chris333]

The Masonite hole to the left is the mine entrance. Figure in 1920 a mule pulls a cart out of the mine and they dump it into the bin. The chute would dump the coal into the hopper car. It is called "run of the mine" coal because there is no processing at the tipple. I could put some coal dust inside the lower area where the hopper would enter. Here is the standard gauge mine it was based on (a reverse image of it)
http://www.whitbywv.com/tip2.html

[wazzou]

Stair treads and walkways should probably be pretty black. 
Definitely should be some spilled coal in the loading area and beneath the walkway/chute.
The actual head house looks freshly painted in the photo.  I'm not sure if that is your intent.
I would add some variation to the siding as not all wood ages the same or at the same rate.
They are individual board and bats, not T-111.

[Chris333]

I gave a few boards a wash of raw sienna. It is hard to get a good photo of it. When on the layout the LED strip plays tricks I think.

[Chris333]

OK gave some variation to the boards. This is a close-up


Overall scene