Weekend Update 1/19/25

[Jesse6669]

I'm torn if I should document the build and put the print, sound and Arduino code up or not. It takes a lot of time to do that and if no one is really interested in the throttle I've got other things I could do with that time. If there is interest I'll do it, let me know.

Sumner

Absolutely ingenious.  I'm definitely interested and I'm sure I'm not the only one.  But I don't think I'm up to the electronics tinkering and assembly-- at least for now.  I know you aren't interested in production of these, but I do think this is a fantastic proof of concept and WISH someone would license your design and make it available ready made.    A certain Iowa-based electronics company?  Is MRC still in business?   Someone could even do a "KickStarter" with your blessing and get pre-orders lined up.   

Anyway, thanks for sharing all that you've done so far!
Jesse

[jjb62556]

Trying to get everything done before Madison Nate ? I still am amazed how you get the stripes so straight on your cars!  Jim

[Slim Rail Mike]

I’ve spent some time this weekend building a new jig to shape turnout points and frogs. I copied the idea from 2mm modelers in the UK. These folk are using bullhead rail and chairs. Their frog points are soldered together staggered. That didn’t work for me. So I’ve been filing a #10 taper into each point (for a #5 frog) and joining them side by side as is common practice here. There is a thinner cross piece to shape points, and bits of hacksaw blade attached to one end is to guide in removing the base of the stock rails at the points.




Then I started to mass produce turnout parts. I like to finish my yard this year, and move on to the industrial districts. These industrial areas will be T-1-Trak ish modules featuring a lot of street running.

Michael

[arbomambo]

A Union Pacific standard turbine and tender lead a block of PFEs through a small Nevada(?) desert town on the combined multi-club/group T-TRAK layout at the Pensacola Museum of Commerce, Sunday, Jan 19, 2025

[Radisson.mcguire]

Currently working on a rapido b-100 boxcar with some weathering and a showcase miniatures low boy trailer. Unfortunately weather has stopped framework construction for the layout

[wm3798]

The Catalpa Falls is making a dead head run down the valley on this snowy afternoon.



Lee

[davefoxx]

The Catalpa Falls is making a dead head run down the valley on this snowy afternoon.

What a coincidence, @wm3798!  The Catalpa Falls was spotted deadheading northbound through the Carolinas on the SAL’s Mail and Express Train No. 4 a while back.

DFF

[Jim Starbuck]

The latest critter build is well underway. This time a Davenport 35 tonner specifically for use at the Heil plant on Keith Kohlmann’s Oklahoma Ave Modutrak module.

The prototype: (Photo credit unknown)
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The model in progress:
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It’s been a total eyeball and guess with lots of modeler’s license but it should be reasonably recognizable.
The cab is a shortened Atlas/ Roco Davenport (thanks @Chris333). The hood and sill are all scratched styrene.
The drive is a Japanese narrow gauge turnback that I remotored with a 7x16 coreless. Since the motor was a double end shaft I made a small flywheel for the rear.
I also replaced the stock wheels using modified ESM 33”.
The couplers are MT 905 Z scale. At 12mm axle spacing it’s a wobbly little bugger but it runs pretty well so far testing on DC. It will get a Lokpilot 5 Micro and a TCS keep alive with LED lighting.
The plan is to have it painted and operational by the Madison show in February.

[vermonter_railfan]

In addition to working on and checking over my Free-moN modules for the Amherst Show next weekend, I spent a few minutes working on one of @samusi01 eventual offerings, the KDH27

I did also continue work on my newest Free-moN module representing Bernal, NM. Here's a few glamore shots of the near completed module.

[delamaize]

Unfortunately, no modeling for me this week, as I am still on the Palisade fire with my counties strike team. Good progress has been made, we finally halted it's forward progress at 23,719 acres a few days ago. Currently 54% contained. Rumor is they are keeping my team until our 2 weeks are up, because of the next santa Ana wind event that is coming though.

Guys, it's bad, like worse than it looks on the news. I'm not suppose to take pictures of the burned structures, but trust me when I say this is the most destruction I have ever seen on a wildfire. Like 95% of the Palisade community is completely gone. Other communities are completely wiped out. All but a handful of the houses on the Pacific coast highway, Highway 1, are gone. Entire areas completely wiped off the map. At least 24 dead, amd at least that many still missing. And this is just for the Palisade fire, not counting the Easton and other fires burning in the area. There is a lot of blame going around right now, even I have some opions after being here for almost 2 weeks. But now is not the time. If you're a praying person, please do so, find ways to support these people. It's so incredibly bad.

[BCR 570]

Aircraft and firefighters from Canada are down there helping out; best wishes.

Tim

[R L Smith]

Delamaize, thank you for the work you are doing and stay safe.


A lot of modeling / trackwork / cleanup for me these last several weeks as I prepared to host an NMRA Division meeting yesterday.  I had two 30-car trains orbiting the DL&W main, and had locals staged for switching if someone wanted to do some ops. No takers, so I'm going to JRTM for the next couple of weeks and then get back to the very lengthy Project List.

Thanksgiving weekend:



Yesterday morning:





Ron

[Scottl]

Finished the Thrall 40' stand alone well car.  Detailed brake plumbing, proper side ribbing, printed ABS trucks, MT 1015 body mounts and proper metric screws for trucks and couplers.  I had to move the couplers out a smidge to lower the car to a proper ride height.  Walkways and railings will be from GMM.  The ABS trucks are beautifully free-rolling.

Overall, I'm pretty happy with the printing process and learned a lot with this first car.  I will complete six of these for my international intermodal trains and proceed to the 5-unit articulated Thrall 40' set next.  The Walthers articulated set (48') has a lot of issues and I look forward to a more realistic 40' version (detail, ride height, wonky articulation tilt). 

Thanks to a few key TRW members for providing detailed photos of the prototype and with suggestions and encouragement with the printing process!

[chuck geiger]

Finished the MSS on my new Free-moN module, just need to finish scenery and the final details before Amherst next weekend

Some Parker Pics:

[philippe.whyte]

Now that trackwork is more or less completed on my shelf layout, I have begun scenery and details starting with a grade crossing through the freight yard at Capilano Road.