Weekend Update 10/28/18

[Jesse6669]

Last couple of weeks most of my time has been spent on T-scale design/prototype work, including revising the GP40 and E8A models, and a new self sprung/self contained/pivoting coupler.  I did paint and decal a 1:400 SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with Dragon V2 module (still needs some final touches) and the demo roller bearing truck and a display track.
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[Ed Kapuscinski]

I finally got around to addressing the ride height issue on my A&R caboose.  Unlike my previous N scale fleet, I haven’t had to deal with ride height issues with my HO fleet, with one exception.  This caboose has always looked like a low-rider, and a coupler height gauge confirmed that theory.  Tonight, I finally remembered to buy some washers while I was at the home center.  A couple of washers on each bolster, and it’s riding much better.  The couplers are at the correct height now, too. 

Is it weird having to RAISE cars??

I’ve also been messing around with the settings on my locomotives that have ESU decoders.  Speed-matching is complete (speed and momentum), and I’ve tried to change settings, such as the horn and bell, to match the prototype, where possible.  I’ve also made it so features such as Drive Hold and Dynamic Braking work in all locomotives in a consist.  Sound has really opened up a whole new aspect of model railroading for me.

DFF

If you think that's nuts... just wait till you play with a ProtoThrottle and a properly programmed locomotive. It's nuts.

[GhengisKong]

Put together about 12 feet of flex track on the living room floor and used a 5v and 12v power supply to finally run the GS-4.

Also added an LED carport light to an IMEX resin house I bought to be the first structure on our upcoming
Coast line route.

Welcome!

[bbussey]

Continued work on Cedar Street south of the overpass by starting work on House #76. The front half is visible in front of the backdrop. Milled the outer and inner walls, the panes for the window halves, the front door, the door opera window glass and some other details. The porch, a second floor bedroom and first floor side room will be illuminated, which necessitated the black inner walls. The smooth area on the front is where the porch overhang will mount. The door frame, window frames and window pane frames will be strip styrene.

[Philip H]

@bbussey - that front door is HAWT!  When will ESM be opening its line of architectural details?

[peteski]

Last couple of weeks most of my time has been spent on T-scale design/prototype work, including revising the GP40 and E8A models, and a new self sprung/self contained/pivoting coupler.  I did paint and decal a 1:400 SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with Dragon V2 module (still needs some final touches) and the demo roller bearing truck and a display track.

All amazing stuff!
So, those are functional T-gauge knuckle couplers? Those must be tiny!  Looks like a rendering ready for 3-d printing?   When you have them in-hand I would love to see a photo of a coupler next to a head of a pin (you know me, I'm all about size reference for the "wow factor"). 

[bbussey]

@bbussey - that front door is HAWT!  When will ESM be opening its line of architectural details?

I’m having enough trouble getting freight cars out!

This is the house today, still with its original door, which is very cool.

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[peteski]

Continued work on Cedar Street south of the overpass by starting work on House #76. The front half is visible in front of the backdrop. Milled the outer and inner walls, the panes for the window halves, the front door, the door opera window glass and some other details. The porch, a second floor bedroom and first floor side room will be illuminated, which necessitated the black inner walls. The smooth area on the front is where the porch overhang will mount. The door frame, window frames and window pane frames will be strip styrene.

     

The door detail is awesome!  Hopefully yhis will be a foreground building so it can be seen up close.

I also like to give you a piece of advice (while the building is still unassembled).
Black interior is excellent for blocking the light from shining through the walls, but if the inside-facing walls remain black, they will also absorb most of the light from the light source(s) illuminating that space.  The effect (viewed from the outside) will be a  point of bright light shining through the window, with the rest of the "room" being very dark. Imagine a light bulb in a black-painted room.  Very stark ans unnatural effect.

Make the black inside-facing surfaces light color (any color except silver, preferably flat white) and the lit interior will look like a real illuminated room (not a light bulb in blackness).  The light from the light source will be gently reflected and scattered off the light-colored walls, resulting in an evenly illuminated "room".  Much more realistic than a bulb in a black-hole.

Too many times I have seen layouts with buildings illuminated with a "bulb in a black-hole", where it could have looked so much better, simply by making the interior walls light-color.  Don't make that mistake.  Don't be "that guy".

[bbussey]

Yup, the plan is to airbrush the inside face of the inner wall flat white after the sides are assembled and before the trim is added. The exterior siding will be painted a pale gray rather than the current-day tan, with the window frames, roof facia, gutters and door in white.

And yes, a foreground building facing the viewer. The Cedar Street area will be well-detailed as it serves as a partition between scenes and hides the track as it passes through the partition.

[Mike C]

 Picked up a new K27 , these are getting hard to find for a reasonable price !

[peteski]

Yup, the plan is to airbrush the inside face of the inner wall flat white after the sides are assembled and before the trim is added. The exterior siding will be painted a pale gray rather than the current-day tan, with the window frames, roof facia, gutters and door in white.

And yes, a foreground building facing the viewer. The Cedar Street area will be well-derailed as it serves as a partition between scenes and hides the track as it passes through the partition.

Excellent!

[jpwisc]

I finished up a @Rasputen Suburban. This was a pleasure to build. I need to place an order for more vehicles!
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[up1950s]

@bbussey - that front door is HAWT!  When will ESM be opening its line of architectural details?

Yeah Busseys Bits

[davefoxx]

The Cedar Street area will be well-derailed . . .

Let's hope not!   

[Lemosteam]

I got one of @Lemosteam  Keystone Details water fill and basin prints in April.  Filling some time this weekend I finally squirted some paint on it.  The base still needs another coat of primer from sanding the print lines, then final assembled, weathered, and dullcoated, but I'm liking it!  Thanks John for such a nice detail kit.

@narrowminded , Thnaks for the metion, it looks nice!  Were you able to let it swivel?  It's actually amazing that the swing lever survived.  it's very delicate.  Take a nice, well lit photo on the layout for me when you install it so I can add a customer photo to the keystone Details photo gallery.

By the way it is designed to be mostly buried in ballast so the sides really don't matter.  Here are the locating dimensions relative to the railhead: http://prr.railfan.net/standards/standards.cgi?plan=61140-A

Here is my installation: