Weekend Update 1/19/20

[ChristianJDavis1]

However, you really only need to make a new drawbar and pull the tender closer if there really is a problem.  It's just a piece of brass with two holes.  Make a new one with the holes 2mm closer.


As for the tender wobbling, try 4 things.
1.  Add a washer to the drawbar screw in the tender and lock the drawbar down so it does not pivot.  The pivot will now all be at the coal bunker.

2.  Add a washer to the tender truck retaining screw.  I have 2 Shays and did it 2 ways.  The first has a metal washer "Goldilocks just right" so there is very very little wobble in the truck but it still freely pivots.

3.  But the other Shay (my best one), I added an extra washer to the screw to take OUT the pivot of the truck.  The truck is now rigid and when a pivot is needed in curves, the entire tender pivots (after all, it's only one truck).

4.  Lastly, you can bend the drawbar to move the rear tender pilot higher and the front lower.

These changes should help.

Honestly, making a new drawbar should have been my first idea, but for some reason wasn't; back when I first ran it, I hadn't done anything like that so I guess it just slipped my mind and went straight to "fix the driveshaft, since that's the problem." Thinking about it now, that is the simple solution, so thank you for that.

Will also see which tender modification works best for me; it's a beautiful locomotive, and runs great, but those issues made it a "someday" project, but I think she's been bumped up the list a bit. Thank you again.

[Angus Shops]

I spent the entire day working on trackwork. Very satisfying. Today’s project was the east end of Field, BC. I had spent the previous few days building a fistful of switches , so today was was install day. A total of 14 switches were installed along with various other bits of connecting trackage. I’m sure I’ve never come close to this level of productivity in my layout constructing lifetime, so hooray for me. It appears that I still need two more #7’s for Field and probably 6 more #6’s for a local industrial area in Golden and I’ll be finished with switch building for this layout.
On the downside, I’m down to only 4 code 55 joiners and 15 feet of ME flex. The local hobby shop is out and doesn’t seem to be in any hurry to restock (I’ve been asking them for months to bring some in, but no result). Looks like I’ll be ordering online. I like to support local businesses whenever possible, but what else can I do?
Geoff

[Lemosteam]

Adding a substation to the Long Island RR Industrial Service layout see more info here:

This is the substation I am emulating:



Here is a shot of the structure on my practice diorama:


Substation off the layout:


Substation location on the layout:


Electrical components for the substation:


Substation, cat poles, tower, signal bridge and wire transfer structure (uo on the main):


Here are all the parts for the electrification, counter-clockwise from bottom right, substation superstructure, wire transfer structure, signal bridge, and K brace cat poles, there are eight total.

[BCR 570]

Today was dedicated to finishing off my fast clock installation and more locomotive testing.

The new fast clock system runs on software created by local modeller Victor Gilbert.  It runs on my laptop dedicated to the layout and communicates wirelessly via MQTT protocol with three Arduino-based repeaters mounted in the lighting valance fascia.  Here is the program running on my laptop:




I had some lamicoid surround plates made to fit around the clock repeaters and hold them in place:




The repeaters require a 5 volt power supply so I plugged it into the power bar for my aux bus and ran a power bus to the repeaters (so much for being done with layout wiring  ):




I used 2.1mm jacks and plugs to connect the repeaters to the bus, so that they could be removed for servicing if needed:




This photo shows one of three repeaters installed in the lighting valance fascia and operational as Work Extra 570 passes below:





I have also created a Bad Order Cars system for equipment sent to the repair track at Chetwynd, based on a prototype card:




and a Locomotive Operating Manual based on the ALCO/MLW pocket manuals which details locomotive functions and consisting instructions:




After all that it was time to enjoy running and watching some trains.  Work Extra 812 was passing through Progress with a test train of new cars led by C-425 812, C-420 632 and C-425 804:

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Tim

[dem34]

Brought an old Kato C30-7 up to snuff for next week. First time successfully performing a non drop in decoder install. Then took the time and shamelessly copied Ed K's detailing job sans signal box and antenna since I had an SD70 I'm not using at the moment.

[nkalanaga]

"3.  But the other Shay (my best one), I added an extra washer to the screw to take OUT the pivot of the truck.  The truck is now rigid and when a pivot is needed in curves, the entire tender pivots (after all, it's only one truck)."

Isn't that how the real 3-truck Shays are built?

[davidgray1974]

Its been a while since I've posted anything, but I have been stalking the site for a while keeping up with everyones progress.  I got the bug to try 1/48 plastic military aircraft again about a year or so ago and put all my spare time into it.  Hadn't done aircraft kits since I was a kid so really enjoyed getting back into it for a bit.  Now that I've scratched that itch its time for me to get back into model rail roading.  Before I show what I've completed this week, I've added a few photos of some completed aircraft models in case anyone was interested in looking.

Tamiya A1H Skyraider


Tamiya F14A



And now on to this weeks progress.  Not a ton has changed but I have gone back and redone a few things and finished up others.  First is the wooden bridge.  The old one I built was warped and needed to be replaced.  This one turned out way better than my first efforts.  I also decided to scratch build a small abutment at the base of the bridge to add interest. 



I also completed my church which had been sitting incomplete for a while.  I really like how it turned out. 



Thats all for this week.  As always I appreciate any feedback.  Thanks again for looking!

David

[James Costello]

Great to have you back @davidgray1974 - your talents have been missed. Great to see the layout again and I'm loving the tomcat.

[freedj]

Did some "redneck engineering" to vent my anycubic photon into our old furnace flue ..

I just printed one of these for my friend with a photon:
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2877754

It could make it a bit less redneck

[Bob]

Hey David - great job on the bridge and church.  For the bridge, did you use styrene or strip wood?  Is the church scratchbuilt or does it have kit components?  The siding and roof really look great.

[Sharky_McSharknose]

My first-ever custom painted freight car is complete. Well, except for weathering, but I want to improve my skills some more on less valuable rolling stock. Anywho, it's an Atlas PS2 I turned into a Penn Central MOW H34 covered sand hopper. I converted it to body-mount couplers, replaced the original chunky plastic running board with a Gold Medal Models running board, and replaced the trucks with BLMA 70-ton friction-bearing trucks. The decals are from CMR.

[muktown128]

David,

Great job on the Skyraider and Tomcat.  The F-14 Tomcat is my favorite aircraft.  The church looks really good!  The curled shingles is a nice touch.  The coal mine in background with the open windows and rusty roof panels is also very well done.

John,

I knew a guy who served on the Nimitz when they were filming the Final Countdown movie.  Thanks for mentioning this is on Netflix.  I'll have to watch it again.

Scott

[bman]

Not much modeling for me just yet but hopefully soon. Life's been surprisingly busy with other things and challenges.
I did help Hobbyland, one of our local hobby shops, with their Ttrak class. Day one was building the module frames.
On Saturday we made the monthly trip to Marion Union Station in Marion, OH, for the slide show that night held by the Marion Union Station Association.
And finishing up the weekend we just ran trains at Hobbyland.  I really should take pictures of our run and/or work sessions on Sundays at the shop.
Of course the shop does have a FB page if those of you who do FB are so inclined.

[wazzou]

Is the church scratchbuilt or does it have kit components? 

Blair Line kit.

[davidgray1974]

Great to have you back @davidgray1974 - your talents have been missed. Great to see the layout again and I'm loving the tomcat.

Thanks James!  Great to be back.

Blair Line kit.

Wazzou is correct.  The church is a Blair Line Kit and the bridge is the "Country Road Bridge" from Monroe Models.  Both are great kits and easy to build.

David,

Great job on the Skyraider and Tomcat.  The F-14 Tomcat is my favorite aircraft.  The church looks really good!  The curled shingles is a nice touch.  The coal mine in background with the open windows and rusty roof panels is also very well done.

Scott

Thanks Scott!  Much appreciated.

David .. the F14 is just as I remember it from my tour on USS Nimitz from 1981-1984 ...   Love the bones .. It's sad that the only ones still flying are in the Iranian Air Force.   oh, and don't forget to watch Final Countdown .. It's on netflix

Jolly Rogers is my favorite as well.  When I was in OS "A" School at Dam Neck, VA back in 93, I would love watching them fly over on there way back to NAS Oceana.  Beautiful aircraft and definitely more lethal than the Hornet that replaced it.  Yes, will definitely watch the Final Countdown again.  Love this movie!  It was the first Navy movie I saw that inspired my to join the military.