Weekend Update 5/5/19

[narrowminded]

What a cool tool . I bet you are thinking of different rollers for other things like tubes . Or run the rail in 90 degrees and make roller coaster parts .

Thanks, Richie.  It really does work slick.

A ring around the bearing to guide the top could be done but for rail, as it is, the lower flange just fits into the groove that exists where the roller transitions from vertical to horizontal, holding it down and rolling it square bottomed. 

I guess I should mention, anything I'm making is going to be available for purchase. I just haven't gotten to that point where anything is formalized yet.  If there is any interest in any of the things folks have seen, or maybe not seen but seem a logical extension (like code 40 Z flex tie bed or dual gauge tie bed), just send me a note and we can get it together for you.  Example: Code 40 tie bed, rail, and the 55mm Rokuhan switch adapters would be available from stock right now in reasonable quantity.     

This roller tool is one of the more expensive things I've made this far but with all of the pieces and machining they'll be about $45 as shown and would take maybe a few weeks to put one together.  At some point, as with most things I'm making, I would expect to have them as a stock piece.

Meanwhile, anybody interested in anything send a PM. 

[bbussey]

Worked on a systems conversion Friday night to sunrise Saturday, remotely from home thankfully. Much of it was babysitting, watching data migrate. So I built a wreck train wheels car at the kitchen table while I was waiting.

[diezmon]

The arctic finally decided to leave Minnesota, so getting this guy in.   No train work for me. 

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[mark dance]

@thomasjmdavis : might I ask what is your specific application for your Arduino build?  How much of a throttle function and/or command station function will it provide?

From my end I spent the week finishing my clinics for this weekend's 7th Div PNR Meet





and rushing to install a bit of structure lighting before yesterday's ops session









Oh, and still messing around with my Samsung's camera...



Have a great weekend!

md

[up1950s]

The arctic finally decided to leave Minnesota, so getting this guy in.   No train work for me. 

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Is that a watchmans RR crossing shack that is a mailbox ?

[up1950s]

Roof roof roof roof roof roof

[mark dance]

I don't know Richie.  I will ask the audience tomorrow. Someone is likely to know. Failing that I can email the photo, Doug Wingfield.

more tomorrow...

md

update: @up1950s , The consensus in the room was the brakeman was on the XM roofwalk to tie down the hand brake.

[Iain]

Not much modeling per se this week, but I did make one of these:


In testing phase, but have succeeded in re-programming loco decoder address, reading CVs, turning headlights on and off and controlling speeds forward and reverse.
Now I need more decoders and need to lay more track.

What is it?

[nkalanaga]

The ban on walking on roofs was a US regulation, so Canadians could ignore it if they wished.

[Cajonpassfan]

Great op session today with fifteen other guys  on Tim Dickinson's colorful BN HO layout set in the mid-seventies. At the time, I thought Amtrak "pointless arrow" scheme was ugly, but today, well, it was quite enjoyable to run the "rainbow express" and other trains,  a collection of multiple schemes and prototypes, through beautifully done Pacific Northwest scenery.
Very nice.
Otto K.
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[Sharky_McSharknose]

Well, I suffered a big fail when trying to install a Loksound Select Direct into an Atlas B23-7. One that may cost me an expensive decoder. 

I am following the instructions from here: https://www.trainboard.com/highball/index.php?threads/my-first-esu-loksound-install.120015/. It looks like this gentleman was able to install the decoder without having to do any cutting of the frame. However, when I tried...




There is a tiny cylindrical component (resistor?) that is supposed to go on the solder pads that I circled. I think it got knocked loose when I tightened the frame halves. Unfortunately, I did not notice it came loose until I tried using my LokProgrammer to check for new firmware. I heard about two or three irregular beep noises coming from the before I could cancel it.  I did not see or smell any smoke and I was able to recover the resistor. My hope is that I can solder it back in place and the decoder will still be salvageable. In any case, I will need to break out the Dremel and do a little trimming.

[ednadolski]

There is a tiny cylindrical component (resistor?)

Diode?   (SMT resistors are usually rectangular).   Diodes are polarized so you have to put it back in the right direction.  But if you send it back to the factory they can probably repair it correctly for you.

Ed

Edit: from what I can see in the pic on that 'other' forum, it looks like a diode to me.

Ed

[SP-Wolf]

Worked a bit on my horse barn. A little weathering and added a ranch hand -- holding the horse by the nose.

I plan on adding "road apples" in the corral at some point. And water and feed troughs.



Thanks,
Wolf

[diezmon]

Is that a watchmans RR crossing shack that is a mailbox ?

Ha, no. It’s one of those share library boxes

[nkalanaga]

Cajonpassfan:  Those pictures look like the trains in Pasco in the mid-70s.  That's one of the reasons I model 1974.

Part of it is practical.  In the early 70s N scale models of Northwest prototypes were fairly rare.  By modeling the BN and Amtrak, I could use a much wider variety of equipment than if I modeled the GN or NP.