Weekend Update 10/21/18

[up1950s]

[cbroughton67]

I finished up a pair of N-scale Pennsylvania Railroad X31f box cars, thanks to a conversion kit offered by @Lemosteam and Keystone Details. The kit uses the Fine N-Scale X31 box car kit, and adds a 3D-printed "turtle" roof that replaces a portion of the original roof. It's an easy conversion that yields a unique model. The decals are a combination of Tichy N-scale X31f decals and the FNS decals included with the car. X31f's were used to carry Jeeps in WWII.

Chris

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[rickb773]

The thing I hate second most (after ballasting) is making terminal jointers.

I used to try to balance the track joiner and attaching wire using a Black & Decker Hobby Crafter vice with alligator clips which was a touchy mid air balancing act.

This time I pulled out my Micro Mark magnetic assembly jig. (I am sure many folks have done this before but I haven’t run across their suggestions). I have waxed paper on the base to prevent glue attaching to it and in this case solder. I very slightly bent the 4 piece terminal strip and laid them on the wax paper and then trapped the attaching wire to it with a magnet. Solder one terminal, cut it off the strip, and do the next. This made it so easy that I could knock them out in a hurry without the usual frustration.

[mark dance]

I figured it might be smart to test clearances before starting to clad the diesel shop end walls with their styrene "corrugated metal" panels so I put the shop on the layout and ran some locos in and out.  These shots also show how the laminated wall elements are keyed together at the corners.













Have a great weekend...

md   

[nkalanaga]

Rick:  Suggestion to make it even faster:  Since you have more than one magnet, place and solder all four wires at once, then cut the strip apart.  You only have to pick up the iron 1/4 as often.

[jereising]

Still early days but the scene is beginning to come together:

[Mark W]

Five parts away from finishing this modular helix for a friend.  Everything snaps together, then he'll add Unitrack.  More importantly, everything un-snaps and then packs nicely together for traveling to shows.


https://i.imgur.com/mQWbtVv.jpg



https://i.imgur.com/9joOYGh.jpg



https://i.imgur.com/rUosfuq.jpg

[C855B]

Portable modular helix. Astounding. My gosh, what will they think of next? Cameras that fly?

 

[mark dance]

Five parts away from finishing this modular helix for a friend.  Everything snaps together, then he'll add Unitrack.  More importantly, everything un-snaps and then packs nicely together for traveling to shows.



https://i.imgur.com/9joOYGh.jpg

That looks beautifully engineered...is it CNC cut?

md

[Mark W]

Thanks.  No CNC, just table and band saw, with a few hand tools in between. 

[mark dance]

wow. nice work!

md

[DKS]

My only quibble (such as it is) would be that there's so much layout in between the visitor and the station and enginehouse; these magnificent structures really deserve to be right under our noses. Regardless, it's all still breathtaking.

[mark dance]

My only quibble (such as it is) would be that there's so much layout in between the visitor and the station and engine house; these magnificent structures really deserve to be right under our noses. Otherwise, it's all breathtaking.

I truly appreciate your kind words David, but the layout was designed first for operations so that's the way it has to be.  Ops sustains my interest, and the interest of my friends around here, more than a pretty scene which you can only spend so much time appreciating, or slavish dedication to prototype fidelity...I am trying to compromise as little as I can but the priority is ops.

md

[Point353]

When did the ban on using the h-word get lifted?

[narrowminded]

Thanks.  No CNC, just table and band saw, with a few hand tools in between.

Measure twice, cut once.   Then cut a few more times.   Throw it away and start over.

Nice, nice, work.