Weekend Update 1/5/20

[propmeup1]

I used a Bachmann K4 and converting it to a Reading G1sa using a 3D printed loco shell.  I reworked the tender and did some mods to the loco shell to make a G1sa.  In order to make it a G3 I would have had to come up with a boxpok wheel for the center drivers. There would be a few other details to do.  In fact this one still needs work.  I weighted the inside of the shell for better traction due to the Bachmann shell being metal.

[John]

My helix has rerailers as well .. one on each side per level ..

[mu26aeh]

Applied the way back machine to @mu26aeh Adam's CSX layout during a nice visit this afternoon.


Looking forward to helping him expand the layout room!

Lee

Thanks to Lee, I've begun my journey towards ending my occasional flooding problem due to the driveway design, ending having to park outside after kids are sleeping (garage is under their bedrooms, opener wakes them up), getting my daughter a bigger bedroom and most importantly, getting the garage out of my basement and allowing expansion of the CSX Hanover Subdivision.  This will be version #3.  We didn't get much time to mess around with the layout after getting all the "work" out of the way.  We'll take care of that next time, and hopefully have a couple of the local a$$hats around to play with the current layout and start hashing out version 3.0.

[randgust]

I don't know if these are going to evolve into full threads of not, depends if there's any interest.

But here's what on the workbench - first, taking a pair of Model Power FP7's and doing a pair of them in the new Texas State Railroad livery:
http://rrpicturearchives.net/Locopicture.aspx?id=233490

Yes, in case anybody wonders, that was inspired by the "Texas Special" livery - it's not a coincidence.



And YES, I know it's an FP9, and the Model Power unit is an FP7, but these are for display only, not contest models, so I'll live with the detail discrepancies that I'm quite aware of.  I thought about getting a couple Rapidos and the wallet pulled me away.



Stripping one of these down to bare metal using 91% took several weeks!   The irony is that TSRR 125 is an ex-VIA unit itself. 

On the other side of the workbench is the start of a shop scene - changing out the main generator of a SW9.  Got a scrap Life-Like unit,  resin engine print, Kato cab floor, and lots more to come.....

[R L Smith]

Long time no post. 2019 was challenging in many ways, but I did get back to the layout room over the last few weeks.  I completed all but the last few feet of a combination No-lix and Wedding Cake helix, in order to gain 15" of elevation between decks. This week I installed the upper level backdrop and got two coats of blue paint on it yesterday.

Now, what project to tackle next? (So many to choose from!)

















Ron

[Jim Starbuck]

On the other side of the workbench is the start of a shop scene - changing out the main generator of a SW9.  Got a scrap Life-Like unit,  resin engine print, Kato cab floor, and lots more to come.....

That switcher project is extremely cool Randy!

[jpwisc]

I decided to paint and decal an RDC project I’ve had in the drawer for 9 years. If feels good to have this one almost done now. CN 1501 Track Inspection Vehicle
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[sirenwerks]

Logs: They are small branches from a Jacaranda tree that have the bark stained to look more like the bark of a Douglas fir tree. The coastal firs were massive trees and the NWP liked hauling them in gs gons.

So do you have another gon with the massive trees? Or do you guys grow miniature Dougs down south?


Sincerely,


Your friends in Oregon

[GaryHinshaw]

Wow Gary!  That photo of under your layout caused me to have a double take.  Here is a photo of my fastidious friend, Ernie Poole's layout.  He worked as an IBM field service engineer.

Cool to see @peteski - thanks for posting that.  I'm happy to report that I've never had a failure that I could attribute to a wiring fault.  [:fingers crossed:]

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Damn, MORE great stuff this week. You guys never cease to impress.

Over the past week I soldered up 30 slide switches for turnout control on the Anthracite layout. These will be used in conjunction with the Keystone Details slide switch adapters to control all my hand-throws (and they're ALL hand throws). I'm still waiting on some tubing to extend the switch a bit higher since they're kinda low when mounted in the holder. http://www.keystonedetails.com/keystone-customs/2016/9/12/30pk-dpdt-switch-mnt-for-n-scale-atlas-c55-turnout



And since the topic recently came up, I've been meaning to attach the backdrops to my Vintage Chemical TTRAK modules, so I did. Doing so exposed the overhang of some of the buildings off the back so I got to use my new desktop table saw for the first time in anger. It was really handy!

While I was at it I also painted the frame and started modifying the carrying case ends to bring the two halves closer together. And then, thanks to being dumb, cut them too short, so two steps forward, one step back...

[Tom Todd]

Ed, Remember the old rule: "Measure twice, cut once."

[JMaurer1]

Mike: I knew it was the NWP as soon as I saw it (fellow NWP modeler here) but I've been on vacation until today PLEASE post more pictures of your layout!

[up1950s]

I bought a cheap mini camera and mounted it on a flat car. Not a very impressive camera for layout work, but well worth the $18 just to see the layout from a very different point of view.
https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipPfVy--ur56AnRJMzY6Bd1LXrXW8dYfiNDaRePv

https://youtu.be/QVsnz2JKc3o

Be warned the first camera I ordered only took 5 second clips, but Amazon replaced it in less than a day.

I think your helix is lovely  . If you , which I believe you can , reach all tracks unobstructed from one side , the other side can be a solid wall . I cant remember one being built this way , but I think it is the best way . I little swivel stool possibly made from a computer chair that easily can be raised would save the knees for future abuse . Excellent layout Sir .

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Ed, Remember the old rule: "Measure twice, cut once."

The funny thing is the measurement was good. It was the calculation of what that measurement needed to be that got me. Oh Well!

[peteski]

Ed, I see that you left quite a length of the wire bare at the switch leads.  I hope that this doesn't cause problems later.