Weekend Update 6/5/22

[TiogaTracks]

Got a neat new toy today: the sorta rare 1:29 brass N5C built by San Cheng and sold by Aristocraft.  It may be secondhand, lightly damaged, and in the wrong paint scheme, but it’s still a way better start.  And the details are exquisite.  Now to fix some parts and backdate it to 1944!

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-Steven

[Ed Kapuscinski]

That N5C is awesome.

[SAH]

This one’s pretty old.   

I think I got ya by a few years.  The bottle was my Dads.  It's at least 60 years old.  It used to have the same label graphics as your version.  The address at the end of the last line is "Milw 11, Wisc".  I still refill it 'cause I like the glass knob at the end of the applicator.  My imagination perhaps but the decals seem less likely to shift or tear.

[Sokramiketes]

That bottle with the glass applicator is a trip. 

So what exactly is Solvaset from a mixture perspective? 

[wazzou]

That bottle with the glass applicator is a trip. 

So what exactly is Solvaset from a mixture perspective?

Hard to say w/o being a chemist.  Not a word on the bottle about ingredients.

[peteski]

Decal solutions are often a bit of a mystery.  Well, some (judging by the vinegar smell) are likely acetic acid solutions.  Walthers Solvaset has no ingredients listed on the label.  There might be MSDS available for it.

Some other brands of decal setting solutions do give a clue as to their contents.

The old Polly S Decal Softening Solution is a 1/2 oz. glass bottle lists Butoxyethanol.
Tamiya Mark Fit solution lists: Butanol, 3-Methoxy Methyl, and Propylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether.
Tamiya Mark Fit Strong solution lists: Isopropyl ALcohol Butanol, 3-Methoxy 3-Methyl, and Propylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether.

Maybe our resident paint chemist, @muktown128 can provide us with a more layman terms explanation of those chemicals.

[chuck geiger]

Finally broke down and bought the digital WARBONNET from Santa Fe historical Society with the article and pics from John Signor called HEMET: TOWN ON A CURVE. So many questions answered on what went where over time.

[nkalanaga]

I remember the glass tips on Solvaset applicators, but, as far as I know, don't have any of them.  If I do have an empty bottle, it's probably still in the junk in the old house.

My "current label" bottle, with the blue and yellow printing, says "Contents:  Methoxy-2-propanol, methoxy-1-propanol", so it sounds like some kind of alcohol.

[Pomperaugrr]

I'm a bit late posting my weekend progress.  The first project was to paint and ballast the spur track leading into Specialty Minerals.  I added some limestone spillage and weeds too.  The second project was painting and ballasting the track and scratchbuilding the unloading area for Stratas Foods.  They take in vegetable oil and corn syrups, then repackage them for consumer retail sale.  That was Sunday night, thanks to a few hours of unexpected free time.  I still need to add unloading hoses, spillage containment equipment, etc.  There is no anti-fall protection at the proto location, so that is one less thing to have to model.
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[bbussey]

I’m a little late to the party this week, because it took some time to work out an occupancy detector for hidden trackage. I used the Arduino infrared proximity sensors for their electronic kit cars for detection. They use the reflective method and trigger when the beam bounces off an object and hits the IR receiver. I needed the reverse scenario to signal when the beam is broken, so I removed the IR sensors and will arrange them at an angle to catch rolling stock passing in between without capturing the gaps between cars. Next, I added a set of IR sensors in parallel so I can report on when any part of the block is occupied. Finally, since I need to know when the beam is broken rather than when it’s established, I used an Elegoo Uno controller board to activate the LED when the signal from the IR sensor is off.

This is the test circuit. The next step is to install on a small section of track to test. The beauty of these components is that they are inexpensive. The Uno cost $17 and the IR sensor cost $1. The extra IR sensors cost pennies. An added bonus is that one UNO can control six of these circuits. And, the Uno has built-in power buses (3½v and 5v) so no need for power reduction circuits or resistors. I’m very happy on how this worked out, much much cheaper and more efficient than using relays and power reducers.

[ai5629]

While I have not contributed in a good while, I have been continually adding freight cars to my N scale Conrail freight car fleet.  Here are a few additions of modified ESM models.

CR 208444 X58A: I removed the ESM X58A CR road number and back dated it to its original CR road number most likely applied by the Conrail ex PC nee PRR Fort Wayne Car Shop (P441).

CR266253 X58C: I removed the ESM X58A CR road number and replaced with an X58C road number that had the same lettering layout.  Turned out to be very difficult, as this was the only road number I found (my own photo) that had the logo and road number laid out on the same panels on the right side.

PC208818 X65: I painted over the ESM X65 PC road number and changed it to a car that was modified and renumbered by the PC Sam Rae Car Shop (P62).  This is based of a prototype car in my photo collection.
 
CR265969 X58B: I stripped a PC X58 and repainted in this early Hollidaysburg Car Shop (P62) applied livery.  A labor of love as there are quite a lot of decals from multiple decal sets involved.  Took a lot of time to create this beauty.  Photo from my own collection.

Thanks.

Jeff

[Ed Kapuscinski]

While I have not contributed in a good while, I have been continually adding freight cars to my N scale Conrail freight car fleet.  Here are a few additions of modified ESM models.

CR 208444 X58A: I removed the ESM X58A CR road number and back dated it to its original CR road number most likely applied by the Conrail ex PC nee PRR Fort Wayne Car Shop (P441).

CR266253 X58C: I removed the ESM X58A CR road number and replaced with an X58C road number that had the same lettering layout.  Turned out to be very difficult, as this was the only road number I found (my own photo) that had the logo and road number laid out on the same panels on the right side.

PC208818 X65: I painted over the ESM X65 PC road number and changed it to a car that was modified and renumbered by the PC Sam Rae Car Shop (P62).  This is based of a prototype car in my photo collection.
 
CR265969 X58B: I stripped a PC X58 and repainted in this early Hollidaysburg Car Shop (P62) applied livery.  A labor of love as there are quite a lot of decals from multiple decal sets involved.  Took a lot of time to create this beauty.  Photo from my own collection.

Thanks.

Jeff

Man, I never realized there was a way to make ESM boxcars cooler. Beautiful work!

[PRSL66]

Bill R. does great work.

[tehachapifan]

I'm a bit late posting my weekend progress.  The first project was to paint and ballast the spur track leading into Specialty Minerals.  I added some limestone spillage and weeds too.  The second project was painting and ballasting the track and scratchbuilding the unloading area for Stratas Foods.  They take in vegetable oil and corn syrups, then repackage them for consumer retail sale.  That was Sunday night, thanks to a few hours of unexpected free time.  I still need to add unloading hoses, spillage containment equipment, etc.  There is no anti-fall protection at the proto location, so that is one less thing to have to model.
(Attachment Link) (Attachment Link)

(Attachment Link) (Attachment Link)

This whole scene is off-the-charts cool!

[muktown128]

Decal solutions are often a bit of a mystery.  Well, some (judging by the vinegar smell) are likely acetic acid solutions.  Walthers Solvaset has no ingredients listed on the label.  There might be MSDS available for it.

Some other brands of decal setting solutions do give a clue as to their contents.

The old Polly S Decal Softening Solution is a 1/2 oz. glass bottle lists Butoxyethanol.
Tamiya Mark Fit solution lists: Butanol, 3-Methoxy Methyl, and Propylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether.
Tamiya Mark Fit Strong solution lists: Isopropyl ALcohol Butanol, 3-Methoxy 3-Methyl, and Propylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether.

Maybe our resident paint chemist, @muktown128 can provide us with a more layman terms explanation of those chemicals.

I apologize for the delayed reply.  I had something typed up a few days ago and closed the window before I clicked on post.  Anyway...

Most of the organic solvents listed are used in industrial coatings.  They are all fairly polar and of moderate strength relative to other solvents. 

Isopropanol is pretty common and and can purchased fairly easily at 70% or 91% concentration.

Butoxyethanol, also known as butyl cellosolve or EB in the paint industry, is a glycol ether type solvent that is miscible with water and a good coalescing solvent for latex paints.  It is a fairly slow evaporating solvent. 

Propylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether, also known as Dowanol PM or PM in the paint industry, is a glycol ether type solvent that is miscible with water and has a faster evaporation rate that butoxyethanol.

Butanol, 3-Methoxy Methyl is not a solvent that I am familiar with.  I have never formulated any coatings with this solvent and don't have any experience with it. 

If anyone has any more questions about these solvents, feel free to ask or send me a PM.

Scott