Weekend Update 1/25/15

[Kentuckian]

Been doing some soldering, and I have the burn to prove it!
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About 90% of my loco fleet is still DC.  I switched my HCD layout to NCE DCC last year.  Lately I've been wanting to run my DC engines.  Instead of installing a stationary decoder with fuses, I decided switch between DCC and DC.  My inspiration was the latest MR project layout.  In the teaser for the next installment, they mentioned that the layout can be switched between the two.  I am no electrical whiz, but I did figure out how to do this with a DPDT switch.

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Now I need to paint the facia, and install some cool DCC square wave graphic on one side of the toggle, and maybe a lightning bolt with DC on the other side.

[muktown128]

Chris,

Nice job on the bridge.  The piers look outstanding.

Josh,

Nice job weathering the PRR gondola and dry bulk containers.  When I saw the first pic pre-weathering, I almost commented that these really needed to be weathered.  Glad you took care of that!

Scott

[chicken45]

Josh,

Nice job weathering the PRR gondola and dry bulk containers.  When I saw the first pic pre-weathering, I almost commented that these really needed to be weathered.  Glad you took care of that!

Scott

Thanks! I plan to weather everything eventually. Definitely more now that I'm set up.

[Scottl]

Josh, than gondola is amazing!

I finished up ballasting this section and a few other details, and some tests of water color.  Everything is clean again, so out come the trains, led by a factory fresh ES44AC.

[Power Stroke]

I've been working on the lower section.

[Bendtracker1]

I finished up ballasting this section and a few other details, and some tests of water color.  Everything is clean again, so out come the trains, led by a factory fresh ES44AC.[/URL]

Damn Scott!  Even without the water, that scene looks terrific!

[SecretWeapon]

[superturbine]

Southern Pacific GS-1 Painted in Southern Pacific Lines Passenger Colors.





Jason Smith
Tomball Locomotive Works

[davefoxx]

I was able to drag my to the basement long enough to add a sign to the Vulcan Mfg building:

Love it!!!  So, this is where the magic occurs. 

DFF

[arbomambo]

Love it!!!  So, this is where the magic occurs. 

DFF

Like this a lot!!!!
~Bruce

[jmlaboda]

Reminds me of a similar bridge that spanned the Los Angeles River just to the west of North El Monte.  Still have fond memories of a friend of mine and I being on the bridge when some Espee 8-axle diesels were handling a transfer run from San Berdo to L.A., just to the west of the connector for Metrolink...

Definitely a beautiful work of art!!!

[arbomambo]

Pulling out the ATSF heavyweights I've bashed/repainted/relettered to change out the Rivarossi trucks to the, so I've been told, more accurate, dimensionally, Micro-Trains offset-centered-bolster 'Commonwealth' heavyweight trucks and corresponding 36" wheelsets. This will require modifications to the car bolsters and/or trucks to get them right.
A special love-hate "thank you" goes to Bryan Bussey, for pointing out the dimensional inaccuracy of the good looking' Rivarossi  and older Micro-Trains trucks I have been using for these, on another forum!
Because of his info, I'll never be satisfied with the cars as they appear now, knowing that a more accurate part is available and possible, AND within my ability to use!
This will give me the 'opportunity' to address the ride height on these cars-Again, a special 'Thanks' to Bryan for not letting me avoid this issue!
ARRRRRGGGGHHHH!...LOL
Seriously, Bryan, I DO appreciate the heads up on the newer Micro Trains heavyweight trucks...they do look great and will accommodate 36" wheelsets without modifying the brake shoes.
I'm glad I've only bashed a few of these to this point (I have need for, at least, 8 more of the ATSF 70' baggage/express cars), on the Rivarossi 'combine' bodies... I'm anticipating that the new Micro Trains Erie baggage will make a much nicer donor car for these bashes; I can use my existing Rivarossi cars for Horse-Express and more rider cars.
Here are pics of the cars in question, in addition to pics of other "Fast Mail" cars that need some sort of mods to adjust ride height.
Bruce











Although I'm happy with the body of this ATSF RPO conversion, I'm disappointed with the WOT 4 axle trucks (The MDC-Roundhouse-Athearn version of these trucks are much nicer but I have no spares of these), and especially, the ride height-I fear I'm going to have to completely re-work the bolster set-up on this one.





DEFINITELY have to adjust the height of the gray car to the left of this painted aluminum smoothside economy baggage (I think the floor isn't fully seated into the shell...) the pics don't lie!



I think these converted troop sleeper express cars are safe from the Mod Monster this weekend!

[chicken45]

So on the other side of the coin, did the PRR ever see any Santa Fe mail cars?

[arbomambo]

I've wondered the same...the ATSF saw plenty of PRR 'run through' headend AND through sleeper cars (I'm building some beautiful GHQ PRR express reefers, have a couple of the excellent Red Caboose X-29 express box cars, and a couple of Kato PRR sleepers for run through service on various ATSF passenger cars..
I'd love to see pics of ATSF lettered cars, running through on PRR trains.
Bruce

[seusscaboose]

Setting up the N Scale Vehicle Association booth with Deluxe. I dropped a tray of custom built vehicles on the concrete.

Carnage!

Ouch