Weekend Update 4/23/17

[chuck geiger]

40' ATSF Flats with light lumber loads.

[Cajonpassfan]

Traveling in Europe, I discovered this ginormous "Railway Kingdom" layout in Prague of all places. It's in HO, and the layout concept covers the entire Czech Republic railway system (obviously much constrained) with iconic locations modeled pretty well. My favorite is the Plzen depot, first two pics below (where Pilsner beer comes from). Certainly worth a visit while visiting the beautiful old city.
Otto K.

[ncbqguy]

Otto,
A number of years ago we travelled the Czech Republic and Slovakia on a genealogical tour.  We stayed in a hotel directly opposite the Pilsen station and I enjoyed watching the electrics raising and lowering their pantographs as power as being changed there.  Found a hobby shop in Praha that had some N Scale....Picked up a resin body for a small Czech gas electric.
Charlie Vlk

[strummer]

Otto and Charlie, et al

Typical European layout...beautiful.

Did you know: today (the 23rd) is "German Beer Day"?

Mark in Oregon

[C855B]

Traveling in Europe, I discovered this ginormous "Railway Kingdom" layout in Prague of all places. It's in HO, and the layout concept covers the entire Czech Republic railway system (obviously much constrained) with iconic locations modeled pretty well. My favorite is the Plzen depot, first two pics below (where Pilsner beer comes from). Certainly worth a visit while visiting the beautiful old city.
Otto K.

There must be access ports hidden in all that lush scenery. Or, maybe, the 24" rule doesn't apply there because they use the metric system.   

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Last weekend I got up to the Lehigh Valley to do some railfanning and investigate a number of "Big Mike Approved" spots.


http://railfanning.kapuscinski.net/2017/04/april-2017-trip-to-the-lehigh-valley/


Here are some highlights.

[ncbqguy]

Did you know: today (the 23rd) is "German Beer Day?

I did not!   
Upon graduation from high school I opted to go to a Beer Blast in Milwaukee rather than go home wth my parents and girlfriend/future wife.  Suffice it to say that on the ride home somebody opened up a beer 85 feet away from me on the other end of the Superdome and I almost got sick again!
Knowing we were going to Pilsen thirty years later I had to learn how to drink beer again.   Actually didn't care for pilsner but found some really nice dark beers in Prague.
I will have to get one of the Centralia cars to remind me of the adventure!!
Charlie Vlk

[johnjpeebles]

Spent about 6 hours working on a code 55 N Scale Double Slip.  I had mentally prepared myself that I'll probably screw the first one up, but things were going really well until the very last step (cutting rails, installing hinges).

Observations:

• I've build probably 30 code 55 turnouts and a few crossings, and this is by far the most challenging.
• I screwed up the hinges in two ways - I cut them too close to the guard rails, and I soldered them too much so they didn't bend enough.
• I really hate the entire hinge concept, I wish FT would make a larger jig.  Only one available in n scale is a #6

[jagged ben]

Spent about 6 hours working on a code 55 N Scale Double Slip.  I had mentally prepared myself that I'll probably screw the first one up, but things were going really well until the very last step (cutting rails, installing hinges).

Observations:

• I've build probably 30 code 55 turnouts and a few crossings, and this is by far the most challenging.
• I screwed up the hinges in two ways - I cut them too close to the guard rails, and I soldered them too much so they didn't bend enough.
• I really hate the entire hinge concept, I wish FT would make a larger jig.  Only one available in n scale is a #6

Still impressive. 

A possible alternative to the rail joiner hinge concept, would be to notch the rail head and web on both sides.  See here.   I can't vouch from experience on a double-slip, it would be an experiment to try.  But if you try it I'd love to hear feedback.  There's a #6 single slip on the club layout that is likely to need replacing at some point or another and the task will probably fall to me.   

The Proto87 closure point hinges that Bob mentions a bit further down in that thread might also be worth considering.  But again, I can't speak from experience with them.

[johnjpeebles]

Wow, thanks for that link - I think I might try the notched approach.  I was already tempted to dispense with hinges, and the slip was PERFECT before I went through the total nightmare of sawing off all the points and building rail joiner hinges.

I'm pretty sure on an N scale slip the hinges need to be farther forward too.  Mine were too far back I think.

Might try the Proto87 approach as well.  Looked interesting.

Thanks for the tips!

[Rich_S]

Last weekend I got up to the Lehigh Valley to do some railfanning and investigate a number of "Big Mike Approved" spots.

Here are some highlights.

Ed, In response to your 3 man crew comment, Orange Hat = Trainee

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Ahhhh. That makes sense.

He was taught some proper railroading that day.

[altohorn25]

Spent quite a bit of time working on wagons and vehicles for my Royal American Shows carnival train.  Some of these are complete while others are in progress.  Getting there...... [ Guests cannot view attachments ]

Also worked on some of the flats.  MT wouldn't sell me undecorated versions (contacted the factory directly), so I bought a bunch of single RBBB ones off Ebay and stripped the lettering and re-painted.  Also changed out the roller bearing trucks that were incorrect for Bettendorf ones and put FVM metal wheels in them.  A buddy of mine is making me decals to match the MT factory cars. [ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[unittraincoal]

There must be access ports hidden in all that lush scenery. Or, maybe, the 24" rule doesn't apply there because they use the metric system.   

Is the 24" rule something like dont super detail anything  over 24" away?

[C855B]

Is the 24" rule something like dont super detail anything  over 24" away?

The 24" rule is reach distance for construction and maintenance. Not to mention rerailing the inevitable mishaps.

Maybe they have a skyhook system for access from above.