Weekend Update 1/17/21

[Caleb Austin]

Finally making some progress on my layout over the last couple weeks. A few structures in progress and a bit of new scenery.



Caleb.

[randgust]

A display locomotive rapidly rusts up the treads, and in some places, even gets painted.   So if the treads and flanges are completely dark, that's a lot of extra effort for something that really doesn't show.

Look at the wheels:  http://history.goerie.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/20150726_144301-768x432.jpg

That's in the local museum in Corry.

Not that you can't do it, but I think it's worthwhile to invest effort in areas that produce a little more bang for the buck.

[Mark5]

I haven't been this excited about a freight car since ESM released the X58.

Thanks for subsidizing the good stuff! 

[Mark5]

Finally making some progress on my layout over the last couple weeks. A few structures in progress and a bit of new scenery.

Caleb.

I'm liking that house!

[btrain]

I've been keeping busy in the new year by making a Nickel Plate Road hudson. I've debated on making this before, but a few modelers here gave me good tips and gave me the incentive to take the plunge to start working on this. The frame, motor, and weight are from a Model Power Pacific. This is the part that has taken the longest to do as the body is diecast. A lot of careful work was completed with a Dremel cutoff wheel and a large file. The shell was from a Rivarossi heavy USRA pacific with detail parts from a spare Bachman Berk shell. The airpump shield and smoke deflectors are from a 0.005 brass shim. The trailing truck is from a Bachmann N&W J and needed to be cut down on each side to fit. I have yet to install DCC and a LED headlight.

[nickelplate759]

Nice L1!

[BCR 570]

So with that in mind, a Z scale scale 33” wheels scales to 24” in N scale. If needed, that could make up for an over sized flange but still achieve the right look.

Axle lengths would be a little under scale . . . . . 

Tim

[chuck geiger]

Finally making some progress on my layout over the last couple weeks. A few structures in progress and a bit of new scenery.



Caleb.

Caleb is back YES!

[mu26aeh]

Late to the party this week.  More 1:1 remodeling, and actually some 1:160 as well.

Finished removing the center wall in the basement and relocated 5 outlets.  Everything still standing and power still works !  Win win !  I'm leaving that 1' section on the right side alone until I get the new perimeter walls up.  That has the lighting switches in it, 3-way wiring.  I'm not messing with that until I have to and locate where the switches will be.



And while I was cleaning up, I finally primered some shells that I started on a few weeks ago for @R L Smith  S-2, SW-7, and 2 44 tonners.

[Lemosteam]

Developing an under-turnout mounted magnetic point control using a push-pull switch machine, strictly for use on Atlas Code 80 custom line turnouts for a customer.

The image below shows all potential positions of the snap on switch motor (at a fictitious, centered location). The switch motor clips onto either end of the throw bar. Points are not shown.



This image shows the underside of the switch assembly. The blue centerpiece has two attracted magnets (red) on either side. The tan piece has magnets that attract to either magnet in the center magnet holder.  By pushing on the switch motor in either direction, the respective sides disengage then snap to the other side holding the points in place. The center magnet holder centers and snaps onto on the point pivot casting. The outer magnet holder snaps onto the guide ties, and centers between the rails. A small rectangular pocket under the turnout hides the system below the turnout.



The magnets never make metal to metal contact so I hope the sliding action will allow reasonably easy separation in one direction or the other. Test prints on the way. Patent Pending.

[peteski]

Developing an under-turnout mounted magnetic point control using a push-pull switch machine, strictly for use on Atlas Code 80 custom line turnouts for a customer.
. . .

The magnets never make metal to metal contact so I hope the sliding action will allow reasonably easy separation in one direction or the other. Test prints on the way. Patent Pending.

Clever idea!  Keeping those strong magnets from direct contact is a very good idea, Will this be your or customer's patent?

[CRL]

Seems complex compared to a Peco style over-center spring.

[nkalanaga]

CRL:  Very true, but probably a lot easier than trying to get a Peco-style spring to work consistently on an Atlas turnout.  I know I wouldn't have much luck doing it.

And, with a few tweaks to the mounting bracket, it could be used on any commercial turnout without built-in roadbed..

[narrowminded]

The idea is very inviting and I'll be anxious to see how it works out for you.  Because you've expressed interest in patenting this I should mention that I've already experimented with a very similar device and more, and with magnets in the vicinity of the track, whether vertical or horizontal mounted, there's a potential problem with auto couplers.  I also have experimented with an automatic switch machine version of a similar idea and have recently renewed that effort (and much more) with my new turnout project. 

This work on my part, in various iterations, goes back some years but has been renewed for the new turnouts I've been developing and the desire to have a unit that can be installed and serviced from above the base.  Several years ago I had done the automatic and manual versions of an accurately operating, 90 degree motion switch stand device, with no mechanisms requiring penetration to the underside of the board and with a version that used the switch stand as the manual operator.  BTW, I had no plans to patent any of my devices because this far I hadn't seen them as "concept" patents, therefore not valuable enough for the narrow protection of the claims that might be able to be made. 

I only mention this as I know the process and expenses involved in seeking patents and thought you might want to be aware of my efforts (and those of others) before to start paying for searches and such.

[JMaurer1]

Oh the irony as I'm currently listening to AC/DC while reading the forum. Right now is playing 'It a long way to the top (especially if you don't have any helper units and model the SP in Nor Cal)'.