Weekend Update 10/16/22

[up1950s]

https://hackaday.com/2022/10/11/bringing-a-steam-train-back-from-extinction/

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[Dave V]

This weekend, come on down to Pueblo, Colorado and visit the N scale Colorado Midland Railway at the Train Expo-Colorado (TECO) fall show! We'll be in the livestock pavilion (can't wait to smell that, LOL).



The Midland is loaded and ready to go!

[Jim Starbuck]

I’ve been working on some new projects to take when we set up the Modutrak layout at Trainfest in Milwaukee next month. This is a Shapeways American car top ditcher riding on a modified Red Caboose 42’ flat.

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[tehachapifan]

Great stuff, Dave and Jim!

This week I completed my latest N scale SP SW1500 kitbash (my 6th), but this one is the first to have a Loksound decoder installed in it. The shell construction was inspired by the beautiful N scale CR SW1500 by Daniel Leavitt and was built from Atlas N scale MP15DC shell parts with the exception of a piece of the handrails and the numberboard box, which was taken from an Atlas GP40/40-2 cab and was cut, filed and sanded to size (the numberboards are illuminated). The frame was scratchbuilt from brass and styrene and uses a Bachmann coreless motor, Tomix worms along with LL SW9/1200 truck towers with MTL Flexicoil sideframes and wheels. Grab irons, cut levers, sunshade track, class light blanks and MU hoses from BLMA, cab sunshades from TWX and wipers from BLMA and TWX. Armrests are from DA and the oscillating lights are from DA and SRE. SP appropriate horn is from MBE. See-thru grills made from Eduard Mesh and the radiator detail is scratchbuilt from styrene. Couplers from Atlas and MTL. Grey paint from Modelflex, scarlet from water-based Pollyscale, clearcoats from water-based Model Master and decals from Microscale. The sound decoder is an ESU Loksound 5 “Nano” with sound file #S0828 and a 9x16mm speaker is installed in the fuel tank (the tank, built from shortening an Atlas MP15DC fuel tank, serves as an air-tight speaker enclosure).

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[Jim Starbuck]

Great stuff, Dave and Jim!

This week I completed my latest N scale SP SW1500 kitbash (my 6th), but this one is the first to have a Loksound decoder installed in it. The shell construction was inspired by the beautiful N scale CR SW1500 by Daniel Leavitt and was built from Atlas N scale MP15DC shell parts with the exception of a piece of the handrails and the numberboard box, which was taken from an Atlas GP40/40-2 cab and was cut, filed and sanded to size (the numberboards are illuminated). The frame was scratchbuilt from brass and styrene and uses a Bachmann coreless motor, Tomix worms along with LL SW9/1200 truck towers with MTL Flexicoil sideframes and wheels. Grab irons, cut levers, sunshade track, class light blanks and MU hoses from BLMA, cab sunshades from TWX and wipers from BLMA and TWX. Armrests are from DA and the oscillating lights are from DA and SRE. SP appropriate horn is from MBE. See-thru grills made from Eduard Mesh and the radiator detail is scratchbuilt from styrene. Couplers from Atlas and MTL. Grey paint from Modelflex, scarlet from water-based Pollyscale, clearcoats from water-based Model Master and decals from Microscale. The sound decoder is an ESU Loksound 5 “Nano” with sound file #S0828 and a 9x16mm speaker is installed in the fuel tank (the tank, built from shortening an Atlas MP15DC fuel tank, serves as an air-tight speaker enclosure).

Outstanding!
What an absolute masterpiece!

[cbroughton67]

This week’s project is an early Conrail/ex-Penn Central GP38. It was common for the “quick & dirty” patch-outs to peel away and reveal the predecessor’s  logo. That’s the case with this rendition of #7726. I’ve added the usual details - photo-etched wipers, lift rings, Sinclair antenna, and MU hoses, a 3D-printed signal control box, and wire cut levers and grab irons. Another unique feature of this model is the 2600 gallon fuel tank. The original model came with a 3200 gallon tank, and shortening it to the correct length required modification of the frame/chassis in a delicate area where the motor saddle rests between the frame halves, not to mention the tank itself. It was 100% worth the effort. Custom painted and weathered with an airbrush and Pan Pastel chalks. [ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[samusi01]

My contribution is not nearly the same level as shown by other members have shown this week. Recently I was thumbing through one of my car builder's cyclopedias and ran across a few drawings of an unusual car, built in the late 1950s. It has ended up being my first 3d printed car. On a positive note, the coupler height seems to match my MTL gauge. I need to figure out if I can shorten up MTL coupler screws without damaging the threads.

Pre bestine bath

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Post bath:

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[tehachapifan]

Outstanding!
What an absolute masterpiece!

Thanks, Jim!

Chris, that loco is stunning and the patch-out and ghost lettering effects are top notch!

[ednadolski]

This week I completed my latest N scale SP SW1500 kitbash ...

Exceptionally well done indeed!

Ed

[peteski]

My contribution is not nearly the same level as shown by other members have shown this week. Recently I was thumbing through one of my car builder's cyclopedias and ran across a few drawings of an unusual car, built in the late 1950s. It has ended up being my first 3d printed car. On a positive note, the coupler height seems to match my MTL gauge. I need to figure out if I can shorten up MTL coupler screws without damaging the threads.

Very nice!

As for the screw, take the screw and screw on a 00-90 nut or two, or three (if you can fit  them).  They will be used to re-form the threads, and also as a way to hold the screw in a pin vise or some other clamping device (without damaging the threads).  Then shorten the thread that stick out by using a cutoff wheel in a Dremel tool (I do this at slow speed). Next,  use that cutoff wheel as a grinding wheel to level out the end of the screw.  Now remove the nuts.  When they go past the end of the screw, they will re-form the threads.  If I can I also take the Dremel with a reduced diameter cutoff wheel and try to bevel the end of the screw (for easier threading it into a hole).

I  like using the reduced diameter cutoff wheels for precision grinding, because they are made from fine abrasive.  I collect the smaller cutoff wheels as they get used up during normal cutting operations, or if I need to make one, I use dressing stone to "grind" the cutoff wheel down.

[BCR 570]

Decent layout progress again this week.  I got new track for the Fort St. John Subdivision laid across the Highway 97 section:






I also got track bed down along the Fort St. John Subdivision extension:






And the two new sections for Septimus have had their LED lighting installed:





Tracklaying along the Fort St. John extension is next, but not this weekend as I am off to the Sea To Sky Model Train Show in Squamish, and I am playing in a performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony tomorrow evening.


Tim

[mmagliaro]

A Beethoven symphony!  YESSS.... My favorite.
Sorry for the thread drift.  When somebody mentions Beethoven, it's almost like the way peoples' ears prick up when they hear "The Beatles"

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Great stuff, Dave and Jim!

This week I completed my latest N scale SP SW1500 kitbash (my 6th), but this one is the first to have a Loksound decoder installed in it. The shell construction was inspired by the beautiful N scale CR SW1500 by Daniel Leavitt and was built from Atlas N scale MP15DC shell parts with the exception of a piece of the handrails and the numberboard box, which was taken from an Atlas GP40/40-2 cab and was cut, filed and sanded to size (the numberboards are illuminated). The frame was scratchbuilt from brass and styrene and uses a Bachmann coreless motor, Tomix worms along with LL SW9/1200 truck towers with MTL Flexicoil sideframes and wheels. Grab irons, cut levers, sunshade track, class light blanks and MU hoses from BLMA, cab sunshades from TWX and wipers from BLMA and TWX. Armrests are from DA and the oscillating lights are from DA and SRE. SP appropriate horn is from MBE. See-thru grills made from Eduard Mesh and the radiator detail is scratchbuilt from styrene. Couplers from Atlas and MTL. Grey paint from Modelflex, scarlet from water-based Pollyscale, clearcoats from water-based Model Master and decals from Microscale. The sound decoder is an ESU Loksound 5 “Nano” with sound file #S0828 and a 9x16mm speaker is installed in the fuel tank (the tank, built from shortening an Atlas MP15DC fuel tank, serves as an air-tight speaker enclosure).

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I really want to see that chassis!

[John]

The GSMTS is happening this weekend in Baltimore at the Fair Grounds -- BANTRAK is there with three layouts .. I went up yesterday for setup and to get in the way .. took a few pictures - several Railwire members in attendance. Make sure you stop by and say hello.

In addition to the classic Ntrak layout, they have TTrak loop, a FreeMoN loop consisting of modified 1Trak modules and new build FreeMoN ..

[TrainCat2]

I miss the Cow Palace!! I will assume Brad is there from TNR?