Weekend Update 4/25/21

[peteski]

Interesting, it's never been an issue for me with just Firefox, and I don't use add-ons. I didn't even know about WebP until I was working on a website for a friend, and the browser I used for editing, SeaMonkey, didn't understand the .webp images. But Firefox did.

EDIT: Newest SeaMonkey fixed it. Apparently .webp handling is now in the Mozilla core. Goodbye, Safari, it was nice knowing you. 

LOL, you are probably  the 2nd person (besides me) I know admitting to use the Seamonkey suite.  I've used it since Mozilla browser went away, and I was lookign for a similar browser suite.  I have not updated for some time, so that explains my problem with .webp stuff.  Yes, under the hood Seamonkey uses Firefox/Mozilla core.

[peteski]

So where is the speaker? 

In the Radio Shack (not visible in the photo).

[MK]

I just got a camera and the user guide is on a DVD.  Way to go Panasonic, now I have to buy a DVD drive for my laptop so I can read it.  How long will those continue to be sold?

I am pretty sure you can find the PDF manual on their website.  And it might even be a later version of what's in the packaged DVD.

[MarkJ]

@GaryHinshaw
That is really a spectacular part! Really makes a big difference in the overall appearance of the car.
Thanks, Mark

[ncbqguy]

Dave,
How’s this for inspiration!
One of our friends from the Georgia T-TRAK group, Jaime Valdez, just completed this gorgeous scratch built trestle T-TRAK module in time to debut at a train show in Savannah last month!




[/quote
Do I detect some non-Unitrack on the trestle section??? How can this sort of non-conformism be tolerated???!!!  ]
Charlie Vlk

[arbomambo]

Lol...
Charlie, as you already probably know, nowhere does it state, especially in the T-TRAK standards document, that unitrack must be used throughout the module.
The only stipulation, concerning the use of unitrack, is that it must be used on either end of the module, simply because it is the actual physical connection between modules! It is the unitrack alone (because of the remarkable unijoiner) that is the actual module connection.
   Quite a few T-TRAK modelers do use flex track on the bulk of their T-TRAK modules (see Randgust’s work); I’ve used unitrack, throughout, on my modules, simply to illustrate what can be accomplished with unitrack.
That being said, I have plans for an urban switching T-TRAK module(s) that will use Peco code 55 for all but the mainline red and yellow lines.

[reinhardtjh]

Explains it... IIRC you use a different browser. ".webp" is a relatively new image format Google is shoving down everybody's throats. It works on Chrome, obviously, and recent versions of Firefox handle it. Lemme go check something...

...never mind. I was going to try it with my older version of Safari and it now doesn't work with TRW at all. I am getting so sick and tired of the big tech companies obsoleting stuff to force upgrades.    Which is what is going on with .webp.

LOL, you are probably  the 2nd person (besides me) I know admitting to use the Seamonkey suite.  I've used it since Mozilla browser went away, and I was lookign for a similar browser suite.  I have not updated for some time, so that explains my problem with .webp stuff.  Yes, under the hood Seamonkey uses Firefox/Mozilla core.

Worked on my Mac running Mojave and Firefox V87, but not on the same Mac running Safari V14.0.3 (14610.4.3.1.7). Naturally it worked on Chrome (V88.0.4324.96) as well.

[ncbqguy]

Lol...
Charlie, as you already probably know, nowhere does it state, especially in the T-TRAK standards document, that unitrack must be used throughout the module.
The only stipulation, concerning the use of unitrack, is that it must be used on either end of the module, simply because it is the actual physical connection between modules! It is the unitrack alone (because of the remarkable unijoiner) that is the actual module connection.
   Quite a few T-TRAK modelers do use flex track on the bulk of their T-TRAK modules (see Randgust’s work); I’ve used unitrack, throughout, on my modules, simply to illustrate what can be accomplished with unitrack.
That being said, I have plans for an urban switching T-TRAK module(s) that will use Peco code 55 for all but the mainline red and yellow lines.

Bruce-
Yes, just joking.  Nobody can trash the absolute Genius of the Unijoiner, no mater what the commercial shortcomings are of the Unitrack system (North American non-meter gauge track, variety of components vs. Tomix, NTRAK components, etc....).  Unijoiners are perfect for the table top modules where floor variations and module alignment are not as much in play.   NTRAK, not so much unless the telescopic track sections are used which is a more complicated solution than the NTRAK joiner tracks for the intended application.
Charlie Vlk

[nkalanaga]

I tried installing XnConvert for windows (32 bit).  My system said the installer wasn't a valid Windows application...

[JMaurer1]

I just got a camera and the user guide is on a DVD.  Way to go Panasonic, now I have to buy a DVD drive for my laptop so I can read it.  How long will those continue to be sold?

About a year or two ago I bought the NG&SL DVD set so I could get rid of all the old magazines...now try and find a computer that has a DVD/CD player. Well, they are cheap and available and just plug into the USB port...under $25 just about anywhere, and I can still play my old railroad DVDs as well. Get one before they really are gone...

[wazzou]

Bryan, that shot is perfect, the ballast, car, background, bridge....

Thank you very much Chuck.  I appreciate it.

[reinhardtjh]

...under $25 just about anywhere, and I can still play my old railroad DVDs as well. Get one before they really are gone...

If under $25 then get two or three for when it breaks 3 years from now and there are even fewer DVD players.

[craigolio1]

The truck design of the Tomytecs is really good - particularly on the ones with end axle (rather than inner plate) pickups.  The motors, well, not as much.  They are controllable, but when I was doing my Whitcomb switchers I experimented with a Kato 12V 11-105 motor mated to a Gizmoszone 5.14:1 gearhead - that was perfection.  Then Gizmoszone went out of business in China and I have yet to find an equivalent that small.

So I've been using the Solarbotics GM15 motors and gearheads on my Climax A models for true slow speed, and like the original Kato chassis, put a 100-ohm resistor in there to control the 3.5v motor.   That idea was transplanted here for this project.  That's a 25:1 gearhead and a 3.5v motor with a small 100 ohm resistor.  Most times when you put in a resistor on a 3.5v motor the performance is all over, under load it heats up a resistor to melt point.  But with a gearhead, you can sit there on full slip and grind and it doesn't heat - the gearhead torque keeps the motor draw stable.   The GM15's are so inexpensive that I just buy extras in the unlikely event one trashes, I have yet to burn one out though.   I have had three original Tomytec motors wear out due to finger brush wear.

Top speed of this thing is probably 35mph, and she's a screamin' to do that.   But the pickup and performance is really stable.  And if you didn't mind losing about half the tractive effort you could substitute a decoder for the cab weight.

Is this one you used? With the D shaft? It’s the only GM15 Incan find on their site?

https://solarbotics.com/?s=GM15&post_type=product&dgwt_wcas=1

Thanks

Craig

[johnb]

Only took 6 months....but Playa Desnuda is now indoors....

[randgust]

Craig, that's the motor.   To make it useful I drill out the D shaft .030 and put a scrap of brass K&S wire in there and ACC the universal to that. 

That T-trak trestle is freakin' awesome.   I've always been looking at a way to do the Canyon Diablo bridge for my ATSF layout and that just hit a serious, serious concept nerve here.   Bruce, you've got my contact information - if you can put me in touch with that guy I'd appreciate it - mostly on the design of the intergrated frame/backdrop for that.   I did that on Hickory Bridge but this is taking it to a whole 'nother level.

I have to admit I was surprised that Trunkeyville got the T-trak award last year with only the track ends and one Kato switch on it.  Everything else was Peco C55.  And the only reason I used a Kato switch was the points were right on the edge and I needed the connector.