Weekend Update 11/4/18

[up1950s]

[Mark W]

Along with the prints for the MTL DODX Abrams build, I received some new shells for T Gauge projects.  Gonna be a fun weekend!


https://i.imgur.com/rW6e5Fe.jpg

[mark dance]

https://i.imgur.com/rW6e5Fe.jpg

unbelievable!  how well do the mechanisms run/stay on the track?

md

[mark dance]

The last bit of scratchbuilding for the diesel shop was finished: the vestibule! On the prototype this feature was added when the entrance door to the heavy shop track was damaged.  Lots of fiddly styrene cutting...



And so on to final assembly and the last big risk: how to removably attach the 3 roof segments so they can be quickly opened in an ops session.  I also want attaching the roofs to pass power to interior ceiling lighting, but this may have to be sacrificed if I can't make it reliable.  The biggest issue - as Tim pointed out a few weeks ago - is the roofs are big, flat pieces subject to bending and warping.  Luckily they are also relatively flimsy being 40 thou thick (before sand paper "asphalt" cover).  The mechanisms need to "pull" the roof edges down flush with the wall tops.

Of the few ideas I came up with the one I am running with is to use copper tubing glued parallel to the roof edges which "snap" into brass channels glued to the inside top edges of the long walls forming a series of 20 latches. 





Alignment is of course important so gluing jigs were made up.



Bench testing under finger pressure is promising so far.





I hope to assemble the large running shop section this weekend and, if that one works, the heavy shop and stores buildings next week.

Have a great weekend!

md

[C855B]

Working on sky:

[up1950s]

Makes you Sky King Mike .

[C855B]

Makes you Sky King Mike .

Not a valid vimeo URL
"Out of the blue of the Western sky..."

[chuck geiger]

Rob Spanglers rock coloring tutorial is awesome and it works. Black acrylic wash thinned with water, then darker to lighter shades of acrylic paint: beige's, light browns, grey and white.
https://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/7324?page=4#comment-60331

[SP-Wolf]

My newest project: Baldwin DS-4-4-1000. She will be SP Tiger stripe (I have yet to decide on her road number -- 1393 - 1402)




Thanks,
Wolf

[Kentuckian]

And so on to final assembly and the last big risk: how to removably attach the 3 roof segments so they can be quickly opened in an ops session.  I also want attaching the roofs to pass power to interior ceiling lighting, but this may have to be sacrificed if I can't make it reliable.  The biggest issue - as Tim pointed out a few weeks ago - is the roofs are big, flat pieces subject to bending and warping.  Luckily they are also relatively flimsy being 40 thou thick (before sand paper "asphalt" cover).  The mechanisms need to "pull" the roof edges down flush with the wall tops.

Of the few ideas I came up with the one I am running with is to use copper tubing glued parallel to the roof edges which "snap" into brass channels glued to the inside top edges of the long walls forming a series of 20 latches. 

Mark,

Thank you! One of the reasons I set aside my Kentucky Electric Steel industrial challenge was the issue of how to attach the roof to the walls to be both structurally strong and removable. How did you attached the metal tubing to the styrene? I mean, what type of glue did you use?

[Maletrain]

Mark, did you consider magnets for the roof attachment?  I have been considering attachment techniques, and am thinking that mechanical snaps might corrode over time enough to substantially increase the force needed for removal.  Magnets would tend to keep the same force.

[mark dance]

Mark, did you consider magnets for the roof attachment?  I have been considering attachment techniques, and am thinking that mechanical snaps might corrode over time enough to substantially increase the force needed for removal.  Magnets would tend to keep the same force.

Now there's a good idea!  If the snaps don't work I will try those as that should work for sure.  Thanks! 

I do like the planar alignment the cylindrical tube should give when engaged in the channel but it does require adequate force.  The magnets would be a bunch friendlier alignment wise and not require adequate "hoop strength" in the assembled walls.  We shall see soon I hope. I will let the forum know how it works out.

md

[Lemosteam]

A caution about magnets.  If you use them, keep a small gap between, 1/16-1/8", the magnet and the ferrous attractant you use. This will provide an effortless removal. Otherwise if you let them touch, you will find the roof twisting with each release, and if you don't remove the roof in one fell swoop, some could become reattached as you work your way along the roof.

Yes I have been working with them a lot lately on some other new projects.

[nthusiast]

Working on sky:

Beautiful

[skytop35]

Cut up three Fox Valley Models Milw Rd 50 ft Rib Sides to make my own "kit" for one of their Box Merchandise cars 50475-50499. There were 25 of these cars and basically were 2 feet shorter than a standard rib side car and used in passenger service surviving into the 1960's.