Weekend Update 4/19/26

[cjm413]

Nice. I need to do this to the five NH PS2s that Atlas has released over the years.

I assume for the purpose of getting the correct type of trucks vs ride height?  Based on the relative positions of the bottom of the stirrup and the journal box, the BLMA trucks look like they need some shims to raise the ride height a bit [ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[mu26aeh]

Testing my new Pixel 10 pro

[InterurbanModels]

Modelers invest normally considerable time in lettering cars. I did the inverse: de-lettering.
I got my hands on a Kato Smooth Side set, painted in UP streamliner yellow and lettered for the Milwaukee Road. Milwaukee well used UP yellow, but had not those cars. I decided to just remove the roadname on most of the cars.
I know it's controversial, but I like the purity of a livery without inscriptions.
Technically, Isopropanol and ear sticks did the job

[Sumner]

A couple years ago I had designed a truck stop that I hoped to use on the layout. Once there was a place for one it turned out to be too large to use. You can find more info and print file links to it ( HERE ).

 

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You can find the print files for these buildings on my thingiverse account ( HERE ).

You can find a couple hundred other items that you can print on my website ( HERE ).

Sumner

[chessie system fan]

I had way too much fun constructing, painting, and then weathering this building kit last night and this afternoon. Once on the layout, it will get tucked in a corner and covered in kudzu.

[nickelplate759]

I assume for the purpose of getting the correct type of trucks vs ride height?  Based on the relative positions of the bottom of the stirrup and the journal box, the BLMA trucks look like they need some shims to raise the ride height a bit (Attachment Link) (Attachment Link)

Hmm...
I admit that I didn't actually check the prototype car height.
I suppose it could be too low, but that's easily fixed.
Gotta go investigate.

Anyone know where I can find the dimensions of a 2 bay PS 2 without measuring a real one?

[Lemosteam]

I assume for the purpose of getting the correct type of trucks vs ride height?  Based on the relative positions of the bottom of the stirrup and the journal box, the BLMA trucks look like they need some shims to raise the ride height a bit (Attachment Link) (Attachment Link)

Unfortunately this viewpoint assumes that the stirrups are correctly modeled on the car.  A proper review is required, IMHO.

[nickelplate759]

Not proper research by any means, but does anyone have both a MicroTrains (I don't) and Atlas 2-bay PS-2 to compare height?
I vaguely recall hearing that the MicroTrains car was "correct".

[Jesse6669]

The decal works very well, but the body of the model seems to have uniform yellow color (as if the knots were on the painted surface), where on the prototype the raw plywood areas with the knots and blemishes also have distinctly different color.   Maybe that is just not captured well by your model photo?

I like the plywood decal effect (maybe a few too many knots?) but the different color could be done with a very thin fade on those panels; just masking off the ones with fresh paint.

[Jesse6669]

I worked on the Midland Sub scenery, mostly doing fill around the bridge abutments with Celluclay and painting the "dirt" with AK Interactive terrain and Tamiya Flat Earth.  I tested out some of the foliage and static grass to see how it looks and practicing before working on the layout.  Oh and I picked up some florist wire.. I'm going to try make some Honeysuckle a la Jos' technique (this will be a first for me).   I also did some decal design work for the gas station and some other projects. 

[cjm413]

Hmm...
I admit that I didn't actually check the prototype car height.
I suppose it could be too low, but that's easily fixed.
Gotta go investigate.

Anyone know where I can find the dimensions of a 2 bay PS 2 without measuring a real one?

From IC freight car diagram book - I'll have to measure my Atlas cars to see how they compare [ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[cjm413]

Unfortunately this viewpoint assumes that the stirrups are correctly modeled on the car.  A proper review is required, IMHO.

It's more of a "which car looks right vs which car doesn't look right" test.  If I measured every N scale freight car I had, I'd just give up and switch back to HO 

[peteski]

It's more of a "which car looks right vs which car doesn't look right" test.  If I measured every N scale freight car I had, I'd just give up and switch back to HO 

Or give up model railroading altogether, because H0 is also far from perfect. 

[nickelplate759]

Making the assumption that the IC diagram posted by @cjm413 is representative of similar cars, and working my scale rule on the Atlas car, I note a few things.

First - the top of the roofwalk is the highest point of the Atlas car, but is NOT the highest point of the prototype, although it's close.   As I already knew, the Atlas roofwalk is too thick - so the "TOP OF RUNN. BDS" measurement is not too useful.

However, the diagram also includes a TOP OF SIDE PLT. dimension of 12' 2 9/16" from the top of the railhead.
On the Atlas car, lowered with the BLMA trucks, that dimension is approx.
5" less (assuming that TOP OF SIDE PLT is measured under the roof eave and not to the roof surface)- which suggest that I have indeed lowered the car too much.   

So - here's the car with MT washers added to raise it about 4" (and couplers changed to MT 1015)


I think it's better - thanks Railwire!

[cjm413]

Making the assumption that the IC diagram posted by @cjm413 is representative of similar cars, and working my scale rule on the Atlas car, I note a few things.

First - the top of the roofwalk is the highest point of the Atlas car, but is NOT the highest point of the prototype, although it's close.   As I already knew, the Atlas roofwalk is too thick - so the "TOP OF RUNN. BDS" measurement is not too useful.

However, the diagram also includes a TOP OF SIDE PLT. dimension of 12' 2 9/16" from the top of the railhead.
On the Atlas car, lowered with the BLMA trucks, that dimension is approx.
5" less (assuming that TOP OF SIDE PLT is measured under the roof eave and not to the roof surface)- which suggest that I have indeed lowered the car too much.   

So - here's the car with MT washers added to raise it about 4" (and couplers changed to MT 1015)


I think it's better - thanks Railwire!

The diagram is for a PS 2003.  Here's a builder's photo from the same series

http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/photos/otherrail/ic/ic055050_jim_kinkaid_collection.jpg