Weekend Update 2/14/21

[BCR 570]

Tim, any shots of the prototype plow? When I scratch-built my Conrail flanger, the plow profiles were impossible to do by hand.

Daniel:

Yes, I was able to get close-up photographs of the plows on the unit I am modelling prior to it being scrapped.  It had two plows facing in opposite directions.  They were attached to brackets coming off the inside ends of the truck sideframes.  Thanks to the generosity of a Railwire member I have a pair of Roundhouse archbar trucks which are closest in profile to what I am seeing on the prototype.  I also have a pair of Sunrise Enterprises weed cutter plows which I am hoping can be made to look something like what is in the photographs:










I dont know about trying to attach something that substantial to Delrin trucks and possibly interfering with their operation, so I suspect I may likely mount the plows directly to the underframe further inside, and perhaps add a bracket with no attachment to the trucks.  I am not yet that far along; today's job is to try and build the inner window frames with a .020" recess behind them for the panes. 

Tim

[GhengisKong]

Raided the train closet and dug out a few previously started projects to see if I can make anymore headway on them.



Successfully transplanted a freight pilot onto the Kato FP-7.  I had a winterization hatch on there but didn't like the way it was sitting.  Second is the CNW VO1000m.  spent a ton of time sanding and test fitting the shell pieces onto the chassis, but I think I got it now.  Need to decide what to do with the fuel tanks.   The stock tank has no detail but but making space for the air tanks will effect the wipers.  The biggest challenge left if the handrails.

Whats the plan for the FP7?

[wcfn100]

Whats the plan for the FP7?

Chicago Great Western 116A or C in the Red/Black scheme.



Jason

[Ed Kapuscinski]

After wrestling with the best way to kitbash "The Big Bridge" that I need for my DL&W mainline, I determined that a rather straight-forward bashing of the Walthers double-track bridge would not provide the results I am looking for. So rather than spend the next weeks (months?) building a more accurate bridge, I decided to punt. I installed a Kato bridge in the space, so that I could continue westward mainline construction. DL&W tracks are now operational to Cohocton NY, and the mainline loop is now about 2/3 complete. Now, on to Wayland!!

JFRTM!!!

[Angus Shops]

Nice work on the FP7. I’ve added freight pilots to mine on the way to creating CP units, but I had trouble accommodating the stock coupler assembly. In the end I body mounted a Z scale coupler onto a ‘block’ of styrene glued into the nose of the body. It took a bit of fiddling to get the height right, but I like the the closer to scale coupler.

After several intense weeks of scenery building I cleaned the tracks and ran some trains. I’m very satisfied...

This layout is built for DCC, but is currently operating in DC. I have a mixed fleet of DCC and DC locomotives with the DCC units stashed away until I take the plunge. I have 5 new DCC Atlas GP9’s that have been repainted and detailed and stored. I also chose 5 of my DC GP7’s for detailing and painting; I selected 2 newer (marked “Atlas 2006” on the frame with one piece circuit boards and, as it turns out, ‘slow speed’ motors) and 3 older models (“Atlas 1995” with 2 piece boards). The idea was to convert these to DCC when the time comes but in the mean time I struggling with the incompatibility in speeds of the two varieties. I should probably just get of the fence and go DCC, assuming that some magical ‘speed matching’ will solve these problems. On the other hand I could (temporarily?) put the detailed shells from the 2 slow speed motored GP7’s onto some spare “Atlas 1995” GP7 mechanisms I have in reserve (I’m contemplating what to do with these 4 GP7’s: detail them as more GP7’s, cheat and renumber as GP9’s with only a 48” DB fan added, or go full in and do a full on GP9 detail job...)

[Mark5]

Not much to report for me - mostly working on house and yard lately.

Slow progress on the G41a - the trucks are Atlas 100 tonners but those are just placeholders at this point.

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Next up is drilling for, and cutting, and bending the 22 or so grab irons and stirrups from .010" wire  (that will the toughest part of this model to me).

Mark

[Mark5]

The idea was to convert these to DCC when the time comes but in the mean time I struggling with the incompatibility in speeds of the two varieties. I should probably just get of the fence and go DCC, assuming that some magical ‘speed matching’ will solve these problems.

I haven't converted most of my fleet to DCC yet (hardly any) but I got rid of all of the "fast motors" in my Atlas locos a while back. Maybe it'll pay off in when it comes time to speed match .. we'll see at some point.

[peteski]

I haven't converted most of my fleet to DCC yet (hardly any) but I got rid of all of the "fast motors" in my Atlas locos a while back. Maybe it'll pay off in when it comes time to speed match .. we'll see at some point.

Nice thing about DCC is that speed matching is fairly easy, even between different speed motors, or even different brand locomotives. 

[Lenny53]

  The alley was bridged with the second floor to connect the two buildings.

Old downtowns are always full of interesting buildings with interesting stories behind them.
Lee

Looks like a carriage way to me.

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[BCR 570]

assuming that some magical ‘speed matching’ will solve these problems.

Hi Geoff:

As has been stated, speed matching can standardize your fleet.  i can help you with that when the time comes.

Tim

[DKS]

How about this:



3534 Hickory Avenue, Hampden, Baltimore, MD

[randgust]

Hey Tim - on the 'hang the plow' problem.

Ran into that when scratchbuilding my first 25-ton Shay and using MT Delrin archbar truck sideframes as a base.   What I ended up doing was drilling them #80 (.012) and 'pinning' parts to them with .010 brass wire that looked like bolts.   ACC'ing the wire with the thin stuff secured it in tight and it's never come loose and prevents the usual breakoff from shock loads on ACC.  I did all the add-on driveshaft parts for my Shay in thin brass and wire rather than plastic, it's worked just fine. 

I've used Goo also, which works if you have a part that you know darn well has to take some bending or occasional hit and can be flexible  - ACC works well but has lousy shear strength.   Pinning plus epoxy (like JB Weld) also works, just takes forever to set hard and is a lot 'goopier'.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Finishing first 8 foot section of the Boston line. This will end up being Westborough yard and interchange with the Grafton and Upton.

Layout will be built using pre-fab sections like this because it's quick and easy to level everything out on the kitchen floor.

I will need at least 12 more sections like this to build out the bench work.

I know this is totally counter-intuitive, but the bench work is going up before I have a full track plan down in paper. I plan to draw out the track work on the foam core with an erasable marker.

[BCR 570]

Hey Tim - on the 'hang the plow' problem.

Ran into that when scratchbuilding my first 25-ton Shay and using MT Delrin archbar truck sideframes as a base.   What I ended up doing was drilling them #80 (.012) and 'pinning' parts to them with .010 brass wire that looked like bolts.   ACC'ing the wire with the thin stuff secured it in tight and it's never come loose and prevents the usual breakoff from shock loads on ACC.  I did all the add-on driveshaft parts for my Shay in thin brass and wire rather than plastic, it's worked just fine.

I've used Goo also, which works if you have a part that you know darn well has to take some bending or occasional hit and can be flexible  - ACC works well but has lousy shear strength.   Pinning plus epoxy (like JB Weld) also works, just takes forever to set hard and is a lot 'goopier'.

Hi Randy:

Thanks for that suggestion; I have used that "pinning" technique a few times and yes it might just work for attaching styrene to Delrin.


Tim

[MK]

Finishing first 8 foot section of the Boston line. This will end up being Westborough yard and interchange with the Grafton and Upton.

Layout will be built using pre-fab sections like this because it's quick and easy to level everything out on the kitchen floor.

I will need at least 12 more sections like this to build out the bench work.

I know this is totally counter-intuitive, but the bench work is going up before I have a full track plan down in paper. I plan to draw out the track work on the foam core with an erasable marker.

TWELVE eight foot sections???!!!  That'll be one impressive layout!