Weekend Update 2/2/14

[jagged ben]

So, I finished replacing my 'ancient' Bachmann signal bridge at East Winslow equipped with old NJI signal heads with etched brass BLMA bridge with the new Tomar 3-indication single LED heads (special order). 

Tell us more about getting up the special order.   And how is the green?    Is it a good 'signal green' or is it 'green LED green'?     The BeNscale signals have a good 'signal green' but I think the targets are obviously out of scale, and that bothers me.

[Alwyn Cutmore]

Hi SAH,
Those are nice looking B&O Wagon Top Box Cars. FNS really has done a great job with them. I hope he does not take them off the market.

Regards
Al

[peteski]

The chlorine tanks:  I have a photo somewhere.  Must be on another computer.  I'll look tomorrow.  Briefly though, cut the brass tube outer shell with a tubing cutter to get the rolled edge.  The covers are round pin heads.  Cut the plastic rod supplied with the kit to size.  Drill a hole at the center of the rod diameter to accept the pin shaft and countersink a hole for the pin head deep enough such that only half the pin head is visible when it's inserted into the hole.  Insert the rod / pin head assembly into the tube shell and use CA cement to fill gaps.  Do it all again for the other end of the shell.  Make about 25% more rod/pin assemblies than required.  Oh, and don't be in a hurry.  It's a loooong process.  There is probably a quicker way using some form of technological wizardry.

Thanks for the info!  My idea was to resin-cast the ends (which I already started this weekend), build few complete master patterns using those cast ends and brass tubing, then cast the entire tanks out of resin. I like the simplicity of your tanks, and they look really good.  Now I'm on the fence about which method to use. 

[peteski]

Tell us more about getting up the special order.   And how is the green?    Is it a good 'signal green' or is it 'green LED green'?     The BeNscale signals have a good 'signal green' but I think the targets are obviously out of scale, and that bothers me.

You can roll your own signals with the LEDs mentioned in https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=31783.msg354614#msg354614

[randgust]

These are certainly the tiniest tri-color LED's I've ever seen, and it's a 'greener-green' than say, a Miniatronics LED green, which is the only comparison I can give you.  More up on the blue scale than yellow by comparison.   The combination amber indication is OK, looks good dead-on, from the side you can tell it's a combination indication of some kind.

After seeing and testing the premade mast signals I just contacted them and asked if I could just buy the heads, they seemed surprised, but I got a bag of prewired, premounted heads in targets for $20 each.   I'm pretty good with a soldering iron (I do all brass handrails and solder brass kits together including this one)  but I still don't think I could match it.   

If anything the targets are SMALLER than they should be, the outside measures to 30".  My H-5 searchlight drawings in ATSF system standards show targets 2' 11".  The backs of the heads fit inside the BLMA etched signal housings, so the 'wire ball' is concealed, everything comes out one punched hole in the back.   I design these so the brass bridges are the common in the circuit, one less wire.

I'm redoing every bridge and mast signal on the railroad with these over time.

[JMaurer1]

Thanks for the info!  My idea was to resin-cast the ends (which I already started this weekend), build few complete master patterns using those cast ends and brass tubing, then cast the entire tanks out of resin. I like the simplicity of your tanks, and they look really good.  Now I'm on the fence about which method to use. 

Ditto here. That's what I was planning on doing...but just because I didn't want to start another project that I knew I wasn't going to quickly finish, I didn't start. LMK if you ever do cast these, I'll buy some from you.

[C855B]

Our N-Trak club setup at a local Great Train Expo this weekend. Layout ran a bit better than usual, normally we are chasing a problem or two induced by dimensional changes in some of the older modules.

Funny (not funny for the visitor) moment - fella walks up to a member with an Atlas GP15 in-hand, telling him that he bought it used but not at the show, and that it lights up but refuses to run. No buzz, no noise, just doesn't do anything. Member puts it down on the rails and yes, lights are on but nobody's home. "Mike, come take a look at this!" So they explain the situation, demonstrate it on the track, then hand it to me. First thing I check is the wheels... OK, it's been run... flick the wheels to check for missing gears... both trucks are free-wheeling. Uh oh. Peel back the body a little. No f'in' motor! Oops.

Fella was a big brawny guy who is now very unhappy. More oops to come.

[Kisatchie]

...First thing I check is the wheels... OK, it's been run... flick the wheels to check for missing gears... both trucks are free-wheeling. Uh oh. Peel back the body a little. No f'in' motor! Oops.

Fella was a big brawny guy who is now very unhappy. More oops to come.

Hmm... somebody's gonna
get stuffed into a garbage
can...

[mmagliaro]

THIS is exactly why you dont find deals at shows anymore. The vendors and club members walk around all on Friday and buy anything that is less than full retail. *IF* you find a deal, 95% of the time its the crap nobody wants.

I'm sure there is dealer hogging going on, but I disagree that you don't find deals at shows anymore.
At the big show on the "other" coast (Monroe, WA), I scored some Atlas code 55 turnouts for $8,
and found a vast assortment of MT freight cars for $8 or less (and no, not just the weird pink ones or state cars
that nobody wants).   I could have gobbled up plenty of good Atlas or Kato diesel power for $40 - $60 (but don't
need any), and actually passed on Kato Mikados for $75 (complete, new, in the box, WITH the detail
parts) because I'm cheap.   It all depends on what you're
looking for, but I saw plenty of stuff that wasn't junk for good prices.

[Baronjutter]

Man the show here in Victoria is always my source for cheap stuff.  $10 a piece MT cars,  $60-70 locos with DCC,  and tons of random crap for cheeeeeap.

[randgust]

The BeNscale signals have a good 'signal green' but I think the targets are obviously out of scale, and that bothers me.

After looking at the BeNscale page, I'm not so sure those targets are wrong or oversized.   Santa Fe system standards books have all the dimensions of the signals and targets you could ever want and are at least 2' 11", but I note there's no dimensions there of the model signals.   Tomar manages to get the wire through the mast though rather than on the side of it, and the wire coming out of the target is done quite neatly, yet secure. 

Frankly, I never realized how horribly oversized the NJI stuff with bulbs is until I got those drawings.  Wow.   They are more like HO size in many ways; maybe the best available at the time but that time is passed.

[Iain]

You know what this thread doesn't have enough of?  Baldwins.





Work continues on the NS DRS6-4-1500 fleet, and I've started working on a set of B&O sharks.  The sharks have received several upgrades, such as new roof hatches, exhaust stacks, radiator overflows, lift rings.  They'll also be getting new grabs, trainline air hoses, cut levers, etc. and eventually mu receptacles and rear lights.

Everything you see here has MT Z scale couplers

[peteski]

Ditto here. That's what I was planning on doing...but just because I didn't want to start another project that I knew I wasn't going to quickly finish, I didn't start. LMK if you ever do cast these, I'll buy some from you.

Ok, I'll keep you in mind.   I still have to do the decals too (thanks for the photos you gave me earlier).

[TrainCat2]

After looking at the BeNscale page, I'm not so sure those targets are wrong or oversized.   Santa Fe system standards books have all the dimensions of the signals and targets you could ever want and are at least 2' 11", but I note there's no dimensions there of the model signals.   Tomar manages to get the wire through the mast though rather than on the side of it, and the wire coming out of the target is done quite neatly, yet secure. 

Frankly, I never realized how horribly oversized the NJI stuff with bulbs is until I got those drawings.  Wow.   They are more like HO size in many ways; maybe the best available at the time but that time is passed.

If it will help Randy, you won't have to wait much longer for these heads with color correct tri-color LED's:

[Philip H]

Iain, This wins the Hubba Hubba of the Week Award (Diesel Edition):

If it will help Randy, you won't have to wait much longer for these heads with color correct tri-color LED's:

Bob,
When do we get Type D's?  KCS is over run with them.