Weekend Update 9/11/22

[nkalanaga]

"At what point does misguided model railroading become dollhouse building?"

Since it's all structure modeling, is there really a difference?  If one builds a dollhouse, then places it on a model railroad, does it suddenly change its nature?

[DKS]

Looks great, is there a specific one that you use?   I’ve searched online and there seems to be a lot of variety, but without actually seeing it is hard to tell how it will look as a scale model.

I go to fabric stores (I believe Michael's sells fabric) and rummage through their stock. As you say, it's hard to tell what works without actually seeing it.

[MK]

You might be thinking about JoAnn's.  I don't think Michael's sell fabric, at least the ones near me.

[DKS]

You might be thinking about JoAnn's.  I don't think Michael's sell fabric, at least the ones near me.

[Jesse6669]

Reading over the updates this week and having had various knee and back ailments over the years,  I'll have a beer and 500mg of ibuprophen in your honor/sympathy.  Just remember the upside:  you can predict the weather!

I worked a lot this week refining the T-scale FP7 design.  It now has a headlight adapter for an 0402 LED, a coupler insert to allow for both stock coupler and closer-to-scale CCE MkIV knuckle.  Blomberg trucks that fit the stock mechanism are almost done (iteration.. 15? ...  I lost count), which will come in handy for the hood units as well.  The headlight took a bit of fiddling to get a combination of the proper illumination and ease of installation.  This design is basically a cartridge that inserts from the bottom with the flat part of the LED facing front.  I have a few versions--Milwaukee Road, CN, C&O/B&O, and PRR, and going to try get one painted this week.
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Anyway, here's a video of one of the prototypes running with a AAA battery for scale.  Decent slow-speed running.   

Yesterday I also got to drive a 1:1 scale ex-Cincinnati Union Terminal switcher, a Lima-Hamilton S750.  That was a treat!   - Jesse
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[DKS]

@Jesse6669 , that F unit sure looks great. Really puts my scratchbuilt effort to shame.

[MK]

Ah, you're talking about Tulle and not real fabric, per se.     Real fabric is no where to be found in any of the Michael's (20 mile radius) near me.

[flight2000]

Ah, you're talking about Tulle and not real fabric, per se.     Real fabric is no where to be found in any of the Michael's (20 mile radius) near me.

They do sell regular fabric in store, but it is limited as you noted.  My local Michael's doesn't have fabric at the store either, but Hobby Lobby does.  Here's the list of the stores that do sell fabric:  https://www.michaels.com/fabricishere

I just bought 32 yards of black cotton fabric for the skirting around the layout from them via their webstore.  I finally caught it on sale at 40% off and it'll be here on Monday. 

The skirting install might make the weekend update next week. 

Cheers,
Brian

 

[MK]

Thanks for that link.  Too bad none in my state.    Else I could use that 20% off coupon they email me every week.

[Sumner]

A couple weeks ago we went to Phoenix to visit family and help a friend with a health related situation for a week. The week turned into almost 2 weeks as the situation changed. I got to thinking about which of the switch machines that I've made and that can be 3D printed that I wanted to use above the hidden staging area on the layout. There is about 10 inches between the bottom of the upper level and the hidden staging tracks.
My servo switch machine with the ….



….. 3D printed mount  ( HERE )  and …....



…. my 'Gravity Switcher' ( HERE ) both mount to the bottom of the layout with screws. Normally this is fine but to install them with only 10 inches of work space would prove to be difficult. To overcome this I thought …..



….. I could install a mount under the layout that could be easily positioned and glued/caulked into place.



Next I could put either the Servo Switch Machine or the Gravity Switch Machine into the mount and ….



…. slide the securing clamps over that hold it in place and the switch machine would be in place.



It is easy to locate the mount with the tool shown above.



Insert it into the mount after applying a little caulk to the mount (keep it away from the hole for the piano wire). Pull it up against the bottom of the layout after rotating it into position using the directional wedge at the top of the tool. With it in position the caulk should hold well enough that you can remove the tool and put a 1/4” bolt in its place. Tighten the bolt and pull the mount hard against the bottom of the layout and let the caulk set up and then remove the bolt.

Using the mount and mounting tool means you don't have to do anything under the layout to install either the 'Servo Switch' or the 'Gravity Switcher' and now also the 'Spring Switcher' (if it works). Another nice aspect of using the mount is that if you have a problem with the switch machine down the line you can slide the clips back and remove the switch machine from the mount and install a different one. You could move from a servo operated one to the gravity one or the 'Spring Switcher' that has been shown in the pictures. I've used a mounting system similar to this that makes it easy to mount the 'Servo Switcher' or 'Gravity Switcher' mainly from above the layout, shown ( HERE ). It makes it easy to locate the pilot holes for the screws used to hold the switch machine but you still need to go under the layout to drill those holes and to put the screws in. You also need to have room to get a drill in place to drill the holes. The holes might be able to be drilled from above but if you have foam over plywood above drilling an accurate hole through all of that would be hard.

I'll soon have the print files up on my thingiverse.com account ( HERE )  and to use the 'Gravity Switcher' there will be new print files for it also with the only change being made to the mounting part of the switch machine so that it fits into the new 'Holder'. If you don't want to use the 'Holder' the old files that are up now will work fine.

A link to the info above and a little more on my site ( HERE ).

Sumner

[MK]

Sumner, you should be a documentation writer! 

[mrhedley]

I had hip surgery back on August 25th. Many years ago I was a distance runner (even did a marathon) and--of course--I ran for the Air Force. In those days 5 miles was a short run. Well...by 2011 an MRI showed that I'd torn the labrum in my right hip. Okay, so I throttled back on the non mission-essential running. Moved to Colorado, took up hiking and resumed skiing (been a skier since age 9). Got big-time into spin classes at a local studio, then retired from Air Force and bought a Peloton. This is all good, right? I mean biking is low-impact, isn't it? That ever increasing pain in my right hip and down my right leg must just have been me getting old (I turned 48 last month).

Well, this year's MRI showed the labrum torn all the way through. I was struggling to ski, to hike, and some days to walk. So...the doc who fixed my shoulder a few years ago (he works on the Olympic athletes who train here in Colorado Springs) is also one of the best hip guys on the Front Range. My labrum was entirely too shredded to save, so--after shaving down a bunch of bone spurs--he gave me a new labrum from donor tissue.

I'm already in physical therapy and already driving (and---with doc's permission--10 minutes a day on the Peloton again). I've even lost more weight which is kinda surprising considering how I've reduced my workouts by like 90-95%. But I'll take it!


It's curious that I have several friends who I used to run with who switched to road cycling and three of them now have had or are scheduled for hip replacement surgery.
All are in their late 60's/early 70's.  Meanwhile, I stuck with running and my hips and knees seem to be holding up ok (knocks on wood...).  That's after 35 years of running, 21 marathons, and over 50k miles logged, at 68 years old.  Having seen my friends struggle with the hip issues, I feel for you, but you can be encouraged that it should have you back in the saddle soon.  One of my friends who had a hip replacement completed an Ironman (his 20th, amazingly) and fortunately he's a strong swimmer and cyclist, because he ended up walking nearly all of the run course.  The only concern they all have is that their Ortho cautioned them that too much activity could accelerate wear on the device where they could be looking at another surgery in 7-10 years.  But they all seem to be doing fine.  I wish you the same success for you.  Godspeed your recovery.  PS: Love your pictures and your excellent layout.

[dougnelson]

Recently completed a couple of trucks from Nicely done kits by Royale Models. A Mack and a GMC, both sleepercabs.

[TiogaTracks]

I installed the tower interior, and I’m very pleased with it.  Lighting, steps, roof, and foundation are all that’s left.

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I took what clear weather opportunities I could get over the weekend to extend the layout’s parallel walkway, and improve the grading of the coarse ballast.  This afternoon, I had just removed a very visible low spot, and filled in between the sidewalk and the track, and then it started pouring.  Quick, grab the trolley, (it’s always running around while I work,) throw all the tools in the wheelbarrow, and make a run for the porch!  This photo is the best I could get without getting a cold shower.

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-Steven

[sirenwerks]

The see thru grills are made from Eduard mesh...

Eduard mesh?  Explain, please?  It looks great, I must try. I see an Eduard site with mesh, but which one?