Weekend Update 9/2/12

[Bsklarski]

Here's what I have been working on (covered in the NW2 thread).

A kitbashed late phase NW2.  Most recent work was the handrails.


This is what I'm aiming for.
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1930894

Ron Bearden

That would look nice in B&M paint lol

[Wardie]

I like it.... ......Do you think the green pulpwood cars are real?  Except for the one w/ the pine tree, I've never seen this.....have you?

I am not sure the green were real, at least that shade of green, but a few years ago (late 90's) I checked some out that were stored on a siding on the Rumford branch and the way they had faded led me to believe they weren't necessarily black either. I wish I still had the pictures but they are on a hard drive that failed. They may have been a green so dark it was almost black and lightened up a bit over the years. But since Walthers re-ran the MEC pulpwoods I bought some regardless.

[ednadolski]

A kitbashed late phase NW2.  Most recent work was the handrails.

Very impressive Ron!   I'm a huge fan of wire handrails, I think they add a sense of mass that's hard to achieve any other way.   You've done a really nice looking job here, all the more so considering how small a switcher actually is.

Keep up the great work!   Can't wait to see how this one turns out! 

Ed

[BCR 570]

Dave:

Nice looking layout so far!


Mike:

Good work on the bridges.  I hope they will see NAR as well as CN power . . .


With my upper deck track gangs waiting at the Tremblay west switch, and the lower deck track gangs closing fast on the east switch at Sundance, it is time for me to focus on how to lay, actuate and control my turnouts.  I would like to perfect this before committing my handlaid turnouts to the roadbed, so I have decided to build a small turnout test bed on which to learn.  The 24" x 6" base approximates the composition of my benchwork sections and will be long enough for me to be able to drive a locomotive back and forth through the turnout in each direction.  The balsa spline sub-roadbed and WS trackbed duplicate the roadbed on the layout:






I guess I am building a turnout tomorrow . . .


Tim

[robert3985]

Hey Richie...looks great.  I forgot are you painting black or grey hound?  Just a thought...  It may be challenging to install the handrails and painting with smoke lifters installed.

It will be.  I guarantee it (hehe)...with either color scheme.

When you get ready to paint it Richie, paint the smokebox SP Lettering Gray...I guarantee it will look much more realistic than any "graphite" or metallic paint.  The high heat on the smokebox turned the "graphite" that U.P. painted their smokeboxes into the equivalent of SP Lettering Gray in about a hundred miles.

Take a look at my super-detailed Big Boy on Superturbine's steam thread to see the effect.

All of my U.P. steamers will eventually get the SP Lettering Gray trick done to them if nothing else.  It makes a huge difference.

Other than that, I might have to order one of these conversions too!

Cheers!
Bob Gilmore

[robert3985]

Here's what was on my bench Friday and yesterday.  They get installed today on my Emory center siding modules along with three more on the other end, as well as a single curved app. #8 for the trailing point siding there on the East-bound track.

Under construction


Finished except for non-PCB ties


Close-up of closure points


I'm using Andy Reichert's Proto87 Stores "tri-planed" closure points and etched NS closure point hinges for these turnouts to test 'em out.  Gotta say that the good ones worked very well...but...there were two sets that weren't machined properly and I had to do a lot of filing to correct them.  Also, the stock holes Andy drills in them are for HO scale, so I had to drill my own holes for the "throwbars", which was no biggy.  Now, I've got to fill the stock holes with solder before I install them.

Also, Proto87 Stores etched N-scale "throwbars" don't work for me, so I manufactured something similar out of .015" brass wire, which I think will be more durable and hold the tri-planed closure points in a correct position and look just as good or better than Andy's etched parts.

I'm looking forward to cutting these in on the double mainline later today!

Cheers!
Bob Gilmore

[ednadolski]

Close-up of closure points


I'm using Andy Reichert's Proto87 Stores "tri-planed" closure points and etched NS closure point hinges for these turnouts to test 'em out.  Gotta say that the good ones worked very well...but...there were two sets that weren't machined properly and I had to do a lot of filing to correct them.  Also, the stock holes Andy drills in them are for HO scale, so I had to drill my own holes for the "throwbars", which was no biggy.  Now, I've got to fill the stock holes with solder before I install them.

Also, Proto87 Stores etched N-scale "throwbars" don't work for me, so I manufactured something similar out of .015" brass wire, which I think will be more durable and hold the tri-planed closure points in a correct position and look just as good or better than Andy's etched parts.

Very interesting Bob!  WRT the last pic, may I ask a few details:

 - What is it about the hole/wire method that you prefer over just soldering the point rails to the throwbars? 

 - Can you elaborate on what aspects of the plastic P:87 throwbars didn't work for you?

 - It looks like in the points area there are several PCB ties that may not be needed and still the area would have robust construction.   Seems all you really need are the headblocks and the one tie under the ends of the closure rails.  Did you have a specific reason for using this many PCB ties?

 - I thought the machined P:87 point rails didn't require notching the stock rails (like the proto).   In this pic it looks to me like the straight route stock rail is notched, and also has one of those 'step' bends in it.   Did you find these necessary to make the P87 points work?

 - Are you using jumper wires or anything else to power the point rails?


Thanks,
Ed

[randgust]

The CF7 kit project is a-flyin' right now.  This square-cab pilot model was shown at Bedford and finish-painted this week.   If you want one - get your name on the contact list I'm building at cf7@randgust.com.  More details on the 'whats on the workbench' on www.randgust.com    Target ship dates start Oct. 15, maybe?



All the etched brass parts and even the BLMA grabs will be in the conversion kit.

[jereising]

As hinted at and promised, here's what I consider to be the "jewel" in the Caliente project, and a first ever for me: electrical power poles with wires.  Here's the upper end of the line at the Caliente cell tower.  Look very closely - the transformer is wired correctly.



Here's the transformer at the crossovers proper.  Got to have some way to power the switches and light the signals!



The poles are 1/16" dowels, the transformer from a scrap sprue, the conduit .025 rod, the transformer wiring stripped from decoder flex, and the power wire EZ Line from Berkshire Junction. 

I love what this brings to the scene!

[Puddington]

Just began weathering an Exactrail NP hopper...might finish it this year....

Went on a "Daddy-Sammy" roadtrip on Monday - went back to Memory Junction in Brighton, Ontario and visited the CNR Connie....







Not sure who's in worse shape, me or the Connie...............great day; they've added a new CN speeder that's in A1 shape...kewl !

[chuck geiger]

As hinted at and promised, here's what I consider to be the "jewel" in the Caliente project, and a first ever for me: electrical power poles with wires.  Here's the upper end of the line at the Caliente cell tower.  Look very closely - the transformer is wired correctly.



Here's the transformer at the crossovers proper.  Got to have some way to power the switches and light the signals!



The poles are 1/16" dowels, the transformer from a scrap sprue, the conduit .025 rod, the transformer wiring stripped from decoder flex, and the power wire EZ Line from Berkshire Junction. 

I love what this brings to the scene!

Jim - MR finally sent me the back issues from Summer and I got June. Kudos to The Sub!

[hunter_alexander]

Here is a shot of the handrails installed. Still a little shaping on the front to do and then trim the bottom through the pilot but I like the look of it so far and especially the grabs by the cab and on the tender.

I know its not up to the quality that others on here do but for me its a start. Ill get better as I do more.



I have decals on order. Almost time for a little paint.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I finished wiring  up the NCR last night at 2:30 and ran a train in both directions on both staging tracks.

This is a MAJOR accomplishment for my soldering averse self.

[central.vermont]

Looks like you both had a great time!!

they've added a new CN speeder that's in A1 shape...kewl !

Only a rumor until we see pics.   

Jon

[conrail98]

I finished wiring  up the NCR last night at 2:30 and ran a train in both directions on both staging tracks.

This is a MAJOR accomplishment for my soldering averse self.

Congrats! Now where's the video or it didn't happen,