Weekend Update 4/29/18

[jereising]

Yes, they ARE that good.

[BCRail_FSJ]

In a stroke of luck managed to obtain what is probably New Zealand's entire supply of Atlas Code 55 turnouts and flex track and started playing with track arrangements at Fort St. John

[BCR 570]

Nice to see your progress Andy!  A little further south on the same railway during the same era:

I have successfully established a computer interface for my layout, with a connection from the XpressNet command bus to the Lenz LI-USB Interface, and a USB connection to a dedicated laptop loaded with JMRI's DecoderPro software:




I built two program tracks using Kato Unitrack:  a short one for reading decoders and minor adjustments, and a longer one for full programming.  They connect to the track bus and the program bus and a DPDT allows me to switch back and forth:




The software includes a server for mobile phone apps so I can now offer operators the option to use their phones for running trains:




This was all very easy to establish and provides me with comprehensive control of decoder programming and the option for mobile phone control.


Tim

[chuck geiger]

FOAM ALONE

 

[chessie system fan]

Evening, all.  This week has been a scratch building week for me. 



This doesn't look like much, but one day it will become a B&O C-15 baggage-express car like one of these:

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/bo1558.jpg

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/bo1567.jpg

http://rr-fallenflags.org/bo/bo-be1557amm.jpg

I designed my own kit for my silhouette cutter and this is most of the pieces.   I also tried something new this time.  To represent the belt rail and upper side sheet I taped a layer of thick packaging tape to the styrene before scribing the lines.  Once scribed, I removed the unwanted areas of tape.  The result is subtle but noticeable (and difficult to photograph well).

The good car side is the bottom one.  And at the top you can see the vertical scribed lines I will use as markers for rivet placement (you can't see the other ones)./



The final step will be Archer rivets and then casting.  I'll need more than one, plus I realize that the tape isn't permanent.

[Joetrain59]

Very unique car. Those trucks are just so unusual.
 Joe D

[dougnelson]

Another riverside Linde gas plant in Braddock, PA, right next to the Edgar Thompson Works.

[bnsfdash8]

My second fantasy NS B40-8W. I decided to go with CR's "can opener" on this one.

[John]

Working on an AMTRAK passenger platform .. not much to see yet

[Philip H]

Working on an AMTRAK passenger platform .. not much to see yet

Well sir your concrete is nearly perfect. Can’t wait for the rest

[SP-Wolf]

My latest project. An E-7B to go with my E-9's





Prepped for detailing:


Thanks,
Wolf

[garethashenden]

I made a bunch of temporary buildings today so that the layout actually feels like something.



More in the layout thread: https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=43020.0

[SAH]

I had a couple of hours free this afternoon.  Setting the horizontal bracing that squares up the ends and sides and provides the platform to which the coupler box is mounted is proving to be the most difficult part of the build.  The part fits, I just need to think on a better assembly technique.

I also discovered I did not etch enough of the spacer parts that hold the hatch off the roof.     I suppose I'll include a fret in the next project.

[johnb]

This is the Southern Pacific speeder shed in Casa Grande, AZ. It is 18×22, the sides, back and roof is metal, and the front is metal and wood. The shed was used for a speeder and repairs.



I drew up a scale plan on 1/4″ square graph paper using Grandt Line #8008 windows. While they are not correct, they are not too far off. They are smaller than the 4×6 prototype windows, and they have more than the prototype 8 panes.



I had a fresh sheet of 0.040″ styrene, some leftovers of metal roofing from the D’Amato Lumber project, and a small piece of freight car siding.



The three sides are plain styrene, the front is a combination of the freight car siding and plain styrene. I am using five Grandt Line windows, and the door is made out of more freight car siding. The siding is horizontal, and the door planks are vertical.



I will be shooting it with Tru Color Southern Pacific Colonial Yellow and brown. I gave up on taking pictures with my cell phone, all pictures of the model were taken with my tablet.

[eja]

Working on an AMTRAK passenger platform .. not much to see yet

Tell us how you did it