HOn3-mo

[railnerd]

Mark, what track are you using? Code 70 MicroEngineering?

-Dave

P.S.: Glad the name stuck— Hon3-mo has a nice ring to it.

[Mark W]

Had a fun day in central Nebraska!  Woke up early and went for a drive with the windows down and enjoyed the crisp autumn air and fall colors!
Taking some new roads, I made my way to Spring Creek Model Trains and picked out my first HOn3 freight car! 


https://i.imgur.com/30kdjzM.jpg

I made it home in time to hit the lumber yard for a 4x8 sheet of raw endplates!  After a few cuts on the table saw, here's the pile of Free-mo gold ready for assembly tomorrow!


https://i.imgur.com/e0ccnOi.jpg

Looking forward to following along with this build.  Who is the Manufacturer of the Green Boiler K-27 you're showing off??
~ Dennis

Thanks Dennis.  It's a Blackstone K-27.  Supposedly factory weathered.    

Mark, what track are you using? Code 70 MicroEngineering?

-Dave

P.S.: Glad the name stuck— Hon3-mo has a nice ring to it.

Yes, the second you said HOn3-mo, I knew that was going to stick! 
I'm going to use Code 55. 

[davefoxx]

Good stuff.  Makes me wonder if the HOA will allow me to build a snowshed over my driveway, so I’ll never have to shovel snow again. 

DFF

[Summit]

I have to be honest - when I first saw the title of this thread I overlooked it thinking it was some virtual thing.  So forgive me for being old school and not knowing the term "HOn3 mo", I still run DC locomotives with no sound.
But Im glad I did eventually did take a look as Im very impressed.  This system is something everyone can build even if living in the smalllest place.

The K-27 short freight looks great crossing the bridge, keep up the great work and posting!

[Mark W]

Good stuff.  Makes me wonder if the HOA will allow me to build a snowshed over my driveway, so I’ll never have to shovel snow again. 

DFF

Worth a try!  An operational 1" scale (tire equipped  ) rotary would be a neat backup. 
We just had our first measurable snowfall of the season last night.  Little more than a dusting, but I fear we might be in for a big one (or two or three) later this year. 

I have to be honest - when I first saw the title of this thread I overlooked it thinking it was some virtual thing.  So forgive me for being old school and not knowing the term "HOn3 mo", I still run DC locomotives with no sound.
But Im glad I did eventually did take a look as Im very impressed.  This system is something everyone can build even if living in the smalllest place.

The K-27 short freight looks great crossing the bridge, keep up the great work and posting!

Thanks Summit.  I'm glad you checked it out too.  Yes, Free-mo is so versatile!  I think it would be tough to find something that can't be done this way. 


With how many Free-moN modules I've built, it's a surprise I haven't built an endplate jig yet!  Nonetheless, I cranked out 22 reinforced endplates in under an hour with the new jig! 


https://i.imgur.com/qIBdq06.jpg


https://i.imgur.com/0jMip76.jpg


I now have the first HOn3-mo module free standing!  Picking up foam later today, and then I'll get some bus installed while still waiting for track. 


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

[Mark W]

The track for Dunwell has been plotted!  Starting to get a real sense of how this module will operate and I'm loving it!


https://i.imgur.com/Pq7J3Gq.jpg

[Summit]

Are you building the support legs also and how do they attach or mount?

[CNR5529]

@Mark W, its been interesting to follow the evolution of your module construction techniques over time, with the impressive number of modules you have built. You seem to be able to crank out new modules at a spectacular rate. Would you be open to putting together a quick tutorial or construction guide to show what your current methodology is? (Materials, general structural design, assembly tips and tricks you have picked up, etc.)

Something like this might be just the ticket to get more folks building modules, and I can vouch for those of us already building modules that we will also benefit by learning something new!

[dcarrell8]

@Mark W, its been interesting to follow the evolution of your module construction techniques over time, with the impressive number of modules you have built. You seem to be able to crank out new modules at a spectacular rate. Would you be open to putting together a quick tutorial or construction guide to show what your current methodology is? (Materials, general structural design, assembly tips and tricks you have picked up, etc.)

Something like this might be just the ticket to get more folks building modules, and I can vouch for those of us already building modules that we will also benefit by learning something new!

^^^^^ Yes please.

I wish I had stumbled on to your techniques much earlier.
~Dennis

[Mark W]

...Would you be open to putting together a quick tutorial or construction guide to show what your current methodology is? (Materials, general structural design, assembly tips and tricks you have picked up, etc.)

Something like this might be just the ticket to get more folks building modules, and I can vouch for those of us already building modules that we will also benefit by learning something new!

Sure!  I'm actually working on a power point for one of the bi-weekly Free-moN zoom calls we've been having lately.  Once I present and get feedback, I'll share it here.  I can get you an invite if you want to join the call Saturday night.

Are you building the support legs also and how do they attach or mount?

Yes, 3D printed pockets, knobs, inserts, and feet.  Just requires a few pan head screws a half inch 1/4-20 bolt for the lock knob, a 5/16 nut, 3" full thread bolt for height adjustment, and a bit of 1/2" EMT conduit.


https://i.imgur.com/pbg1qAd.jpg


Final design uses black feet so flashes of orange don't play peek-a-boo under the module skirts.  The insert and pocket are color coded to different leg lengths as necessary. 


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

[Bulbous]

Hi Mark,

Count me in for the module building guide, as I am picking up my table saw tonight and am ready to start with some construction.

Cheers,

Matt

[Mark W]

Just took delivery of a used pair of boxcars!  They're in decent shape overall, but heading to the car shops for a few upgrades and some new paint.


https://i.imgur.com/W42oegt.jpg

[Erock482]

Makes me a little bummed I moved from NE to the PNW, modular railroading always seemed like the best way to go about it but not having any fellow HOn3 guys local seemed like a nix on that one.
I might have to adopt your standard for my next project

[Mark W]

Progress has been slow and spotty, but I have finally begun track work! 


https://i.imgur.com/1mxWWgd.jpg



After first gluing the foam top in place, level with the top edge of the endplates, I decided I wanted ground level track.  So I cut the tops back out, shimmed the inside shelf/brace 1/4 inch and re-glued the tops. 
With 'ground level' now sitting about 'rail height' on the endplate profile, I used a router to carve out a trench for the cork roadbed. 


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


Now with cork in place, the roadbed remains just below ground level.  Here it is after filling major gaps with lightweight spackle. 


https://i.imgur.com/s2OjfnI.jpg


The biggest challenge so far, this Rail Craft/Micro Engineering track is a lot more tedious to work with than Atlas C55!  I suppose I could get used to shaping it as I get more experience.  But I definitely echo other reports of soldering this pre-weathered rail.  Even after filing/scraping to expose bare rail around the whole rail profile, it still puts up a bit of resistance to taking solder.  I was gifted all this per-weatherd track though, so I can't complain too much!


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

[dcarrell8]

This all looks amazing! 

I'm curious about in-laying the cork roadbed into the foam,  I see most people just lay the track directly on the board.  What is your rationale for the extra effort in counter sinking?

~Dennis