Feather River Canyon in N-scale

[k27463]

 I hope to get 8 to 12 on a regular basis.

If you do Saturday nights I might be able to do that sometime -- my brother goes to school up the road from you (Atchison) and I could always make it a weekend.
Do you still want those Bachmann 4-6-0 drivers we discussed about 5 years ago? 

[rodsup9000]

If you do Saturday nights I might be able to do that sometime -- my brother goes to school up the road from you (Atchison) and I could always make it a weekend.
Do you still want those Bachmann 4-6-0 drivers we discussed about 5 years ago? 

 Robbie,

 Give me a call when you know your going to be around here and we'll set something up.

No I don't need the drivers anymore.

[rodsup9000]

 Well it been awhile and I've have progressed some on the layout and figuring out the laser.

 First the modifications I've done to the laser.

 Took out the stuff so I could install the honeycomb bed I made for it.











 







 
 The new bed installed along with the added air assist nozzle. Got the nozzle here.

http://www.lightobject.com/18mm-Laser-Head-wAir-Assist-Ideal-for-K40-machine-P701.aspx

 All I used was the lower cone that the air blows through. I did have to make a ring to fit the 16mm lens that came with the laser into the 18mm hole the new nozzle uses.












 Here is the honeycomb I use to make the bed. When I make a new bed, I'll be going with 3/8" or 1/4" cause the little parts fall through too easy.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/262374763605?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 Next was to change the power pot to a 10 turn for better control of the laser power. Here is the pot I used. I didn't have a knob that would fit the stem of the new one, so instead of going out and buying one, I ended up turning one out of aluminum.
Also the amp meter on the laser didn't work when I got it, so being I had to replace it, I found a larger one from the local electronics shop.

http://www.mpja.com/1K-Ohm-10-Turn-Variable-Resistor-Linear-Taper/productinfo/30471+VR/














   Before








 With new pot and meter












 Next post will be how I use it from doing the drawing to making the part.
 
 

[rodsup9000]

I need some opinions on whether to repost this along with how to use it, in the "Scratchbuilding" section 

[wazzou]

I need some opinions on whether to repost this along with how to use it, in the "Scratchbuilding" section

Yep.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Seconded. This is really cool, like all of what you're doing.

[rodsup9000]

 OK it'll be done.

[rodsup9000]

  Here is the thread I've done on the laser.

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=40117.0



I'll be using Sketchup Pro 2013 (2016 has a free trial for like 30 days) and Inkscape (free) to get what I draw to the laser.
 So if you don't want to buy the "pro" version, you can use Shetchup Make (free) with a "pdf" plugin.


   Now, you all will know how computer dumb I really am. I have no idea how to do a "screen shot" and I'll be using photos of the computer screen. In 2006, I converted a benchtop mini mill to CNC and I tried to learn some sort of CAD program. I had autocad 8 (I think that is what is was) and spent many, many hours trying to learn it, and I never did get it figured out. Fast forward to 2011 when I built my first 3D printer and found Sketchup. With what was on youtube then, I learned it well enough that I was able to draw a DRGW C-16 driver to 20.3 scale in less than two hours. I can draw well enough with it now to draw anything I have ever need to so far. In fact, I guess what I saying here is that just about anybody can learn "Sketchup" and that is what I use for the laser along with the 3D stuff for the CNC router, CNC mill and the 3D printers.

 

  I've learned to draw everything in metric, cause that is the only thing the printers will take. So I'll be showing how to take a drawing drawn in metric to what the laser will take.



 I first added some new folders on my desktop.

  Sketchup Drawings
  Sketchup to Inkscape
  Inkscape to Laser DRW
  Laser DRW Files



 My sample, it just two basic little buildings.





Now I need to draw a box around it about 3mm from the work.


 
   


 Now that the box is done You need to remember the size of that box so it will be sized right when we take it to inkscape. I just put in the description when I save so that I'll always have it.   









   Go under "camera" and check "parallel view" and "top view" as shown here.


 



 Then go under "view" and go down to "face style" and check "wire frame"







  Under "file" look for "export" and click on "2 D Graphic"








 In the window that pops up, go the the "Sketchup to Inkscape" folder.
 








Save it as a "pdf". Name the drawing, add the size of the box and then click "export".










 

 

[rodsup9000]

  The rest of the laser info is in this here

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=40117.0

[rodsup9000]

   Getting back to the railroad.

 Here is what the area looks like now at the exit of the helix coming into Oroville. Whith all the changes, I'm adding a lot of industries that will keep a couple of locals busy.





















  Notice the new track alignment for the reverse loop.

[rodsup9000]

  On the other side of the wall   








Still got to rework the yard lead to get it back into alignment back to the main   

[rodsup9000]

  Scenery has been started in the Keddie Wye area

[rodsup9000]

 It been a while since I've updated.


Mostly been working on rewiring from helix at Oroville to Keddie Wye. When I originally built that part, I just used a single buss on a single 10 amp booster. Now I have Oroville yard on a booster of it's own divided into districts. West Oroville, west yard lead, A & D tracks, classification yard, engine yard and east Orovulle. The main line has 2 boosters, one is from bottom helix to Keddie Wye, and the other from Keddie Wye to top helix. The helix and staging yard has it's own booster now and it will be next to get divided into districts.
 

I have also changed my mind about backdating the mergers and now I'm going to 100% Western Pacific power. Over the last few months, I bought 3 more sets of IM ABBA F7's, 3 IM ABBA FT's sets, 2 MT ABBA sets of FT's, a custom painted ABBA set of Kato F7's and 12 Atlas Geep 7's.
 
 Era will still be in the mid to late '50's.

 The last few days, I installed decoders in most of the newly acquired power.  The Kato's had the old style chassis and the frames needed milled. I had another 23 of these chassis that needed milled also. So I set the mill up and did the all of them.

[rodsup9000]

 Here is what I have done in west Oroville now. This is part of the return loop (foreground track) and the outside track will be the interchange with the Sacramento Northern.

 Where the 2 tank cars are will be a gas and oil distributor. The building on the left will get replaced with a scratchbuilt one. The DPM might also get replaced.
 







 



 

[C855B]

Looking good, Rodney. Was wondering how progress was going.