Weekend Update 3/25/18

[packers#1]

That entire video made me uneasy. NEVER work on a car that is supported only by a jack.  What ever happened to Safety First?

They probably figured that it was safe and designed the process to be as safe as possible. However, sometimes everything that looks safe on paper is terrifying in real life.

Safety first is always right after money .

Also, while I'd disagree that money is first, it's definitely barely second, so they probably figured it was worth trying.

[tehachapifan]

Interesting operation! Perhaps the wide-angle lens used in the video is be making angles look a little more extreme/precarious than they really are?

[up1950s]

Ahh , blind me , thanks .

[coosvalley]

This week I painted some trucks and wheels, more info in my layout engineering thread. Have a great week!

[BCR 570]

Spring Break has afforded an opportunity to complete a number of projects on the layout.

Chetwynd Yard is another step closer toward completion with installation of the Singlet decoders, connections to the servos, and programming of the end points for all turnouts in the yard.  The next and last step will be installation of control panels and connection of toggles to Singlets.  Here is a pair of Singlets underneath Chetwynd Yard, illustrating the connections to the servos and the power supply from the auxiliary bus wires at the rear:




Another big step forward toward operations was extension of the XpressNet command bus around to the other side of the layout, thus facilitating the use of tethered throttles at Chetwynd and Dawson Creek when desired.  This included the provision of additional LA152 input plates, throttle pockets, and uncoupling stick holders.




Around the upper deck fascia, provision for horizontal storage of uncoupling sticks was provided:




Other projects completed this week included a horizontal shelf to accommodate the station and freight shed at Chetwynd (with two of the recently arrived Ford F-100 pick-up trucks from Atlas in the parking lot):




and new power supplies for my LED layout lighting on a storage shelf underneath Chetwynd Yard:




and LED lighting for inside the helix, now that it is covered (seen with access hatch removed to illustrate interior lighting):




A big thank you to friends Doug Hicks and John Walter for their assistance with various aspects of these projects, and to Mark Dance for the uncoupling stick holder ideas.


Thanks for looking,

Tim

[Cajonpassfan]

Tim, I'm so impressed with the neatness of your work, it looks just great. A clean and pleasant setting goes a long way toward enjoyment of the layout. Neat!
I also like having a place for the uncoupling sticks to "live", otherwise guys leave them all over the place. I solved that problem in a similar fashion, see below. Keep the pics coming, looks like great progress!
Otto K.

[BCR 570]

A clean and pleasant setting goes a long way toward enjoyment of the layout. Neat!

That has been my goal, based on experiences operating on other people's layouts.

Your labeling looks very neat too; well done.


Tim

[PGE_Modeller]

Other projects completed this week included a horizontal shelf to accommodate the station and freight shed at Chetwynd (with two of the recently arrived Ford F-100 pick-up trucks from Atlas in the parking lot):



Thanks for looking,

Tim

Nice to see my 1982 Volvo 245 in the Chetwynd parking lot 5 years before it was built!!!  Oh, the wonders of time travel!  I will have to find an N-scale model of a 1972 Datsun 510 wagon - the car I actually drove to Chetwynd in 1975.

Cheers,

[BCR 570]

Nice to see my 1982 Volvo 245 in the Chetwynd parking lot 5 years before it was built!!!  Oh, the wonders of time travel!  I will have to find an N-scale model of a 1972 Datsun 510 wagon - the car I actually drove to Chetwynd in 1975.

I thought you would appreciate that.  As soon as someone offers a Datsun 510 I am on it.


Tim

[randgust]

I got one of the atsfnscalemodels (.com) N scale ATSF class TK-G tank car kits.

I think I've met my doppleganger kit builder in the Netherlands!   This is as close as I've ever seen to one of my kits that's not one of my kits.

These are a truly unique and weird early 1900's tank car that's unlike anything else I've ever seen.   Between the 'crimped in' frame, and the high side walkways, and the high handrails it's not likely to be mistaken for anything else.  When first built there were over 2000 of them.

I'm modeling 1972 and by that time these were only recommissioned work train cars - domestic water, fuel, even cut up and used as sand cars.  They actually made it into the early 80's.  At least one remains at a museum in Oklahoma.  http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM9Q0P_ATSF_189512_BB_153_tank_car_Shawnee_OK 

You can't appreciate the kit unless you see it pre-paint.  It's an RP-printed tank, acetal tank and FUD frame, brass etchings, and some resin details.   



If this is an example of what he's doing, all I can say is thumbs up.

[draskouasshat]

Wouldn't prying up on coupler shanks be applying stresses in a direction they were not particularly designed for ?

Freightcars have lift points , no ? Drop pits are a safer and stabler ( 6 points of support vs 3 or 5 ) method to change out a wheelset  .

Are either of the freightcars loaded ? Not mentioned .

I thought freightcar trucks were held in place by gravity . And what about stress on the kingpins , are they designed to take that vertical angle ?

MOW equipment fine , but not somebody else's freightcar that goes everywhere IMO .

Richie, drop pits are pretty much only used in car shops abd in major yards. Although the picture above isn't exactly how it's done, everyone just jacks up the car and drops the axle out.
Drop pits aren't exactly available out in the middle of nowhere.

Drasko

[wm3798]

I had a bit of time to goof off last night, so I did a thing!



Installed 4 LEDs in a commercial block on Haven Street.  Still have to do some fine tuning, some touch up paint, and add some HVAC units and stair well heads to the roof to hide the wiring.  But finally, the Hobby Shop is open til 9 p.m.!

Lee

[Cajonpassfan]

I got one of the atsfnscalemodels (.com) N scale ATSF class TK-G tank car kits.

I think I've met my doppleganger kit builder in the Netherlands!   This is as close as I've ever seen to one of my kits that's not one of my kits.

These are a truly unique and weird early 1900's tank car that's unlike anything else I've ever seen.   Between the 'crimped in' frame, and the high side walkways, and the high handrails it's not likely to be mistaken for anything else.  When first built there were over 2000 of them.

I'm modeling 1972 and by that time these were only recommissioned work train cars - domestic water, fuel, even cut up and used as sand cars.  They actually made it into the early 80's.  At least one remains at a museum in Oklahoma.  http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM9Q0P_ATSF_189512_BB_153_tank_car_Shawnee_OK 

You can't appreciate the kit unless you see it pre-paint.  It's an RP-printed tank, acetal tank and FUD frame, brass etchings, and some resin details.   



If this is an example of what he's doing, all I can say is thumbs up.

Ooh, nice. Mine are sitting at the post office, waiting to be picked up. And since I model the transition era, these are what I need. How much time to get one of these kits to paint-ready state, Randy?
Otto K.

[randgust]

I really took my time.    It took as much time to find photos & research online as it did to assemble it, because the instructions have no links or pictures.   I had a couple good shots in "ATSF Color Guide to Passenger & Freight Equipment" to show where stuff went or I would have been a little lost.   I got the tank on the frame crooked the first attempt and had to do that over, but it was pretty much of a 3-evening project; one night to do the frame, mount the couplers, lower half; then an evening messing with the tank bottom and tank assembly, then today finishing it up.

[jmlaboda - RIP]

Tim, don't know why but I can't see your images.  Can find them doing a quote but they are not showing in the message (odd, really, you have them coded correctly in the message).

Never mind... refreshed the page and they showed right up.