Playa Desnuda 3.0...

[johnb]

Oh boy, where do I start? After operating Playa Desnuda V2.0, I quickly realized that I hated the design, it was too small and a 6 car train overwhelmed it. I also got frustrated with the lack of overall quality of Atlas switches (bought a bunch of Peco Electrafrogs), and some mediocre soldering by your’s truly.

Life also got in the way, I have been putting off a much needed bathroom remodel until I got the funds, and right now, my new tub, greenboard and tile is sitting in the garage. Since I paid to have a delivery, I had them through in a pair of two inch thick 4×8’s of pink foam.

My ex is a realtor and sold a home in town, the husband was an N Scaler and currently has dementia. I was given all of his structures, scenery, locomotives and cars. Unfortunately, most of the rolling stock is train set quality and too modern for me, I am only keeping about a dozen cars, some streetlights and the structures.

Now here comes the “What the hell am I thinking?” moment…there is an Atlas Viaduct kit….I am thinking about incorporating it into the new layout, smoothing it out to be concrete.

[160pennsy]

Oh boy, where do I start? After operating Playa Desnuda V2.0, I quickly realized that I hated the design, it was too small and a 6 car train overwhelmed it. I also got frustrated with the lack of overall quality of Atlas switches (bought a bunch of Peco Electrafrogs), and some mediocre soldering by your’s truly.

Life also got in the way, I have been putting off a much needed bathroom remodel until I got the funds, and right now, my new tub, greenboard and tile is sitting in the garage. Since I paid to have a delivery, I had them through in a pair of two inch thick 4×8’s of pink foam.

My ex is a realtor and sold a home in town, the husband was an N Scaler and currently has dementia. I was given all of his structures, scenery, locomotives and cars. Unfortunately, most of the rolling stock is train set quality and too modern for me, I am only keeping about a dozen cars, some streetlights and the structures.

Now here comes the “What the hell am I thinking?” moment…there is an Atlas Viaduct kit….I am thinking about incorporating it into the new layout, smoothing it out to be concrete.

Hello John...Your PE trolley resin kit reminds me of the Miniatures By Eric 1034 kit I assembled back in 2014...







The build details were documented when I entered it into a contest during Capital Limited N Scale East 2014 Chantilly VA. Also added a diorama base (with battery powering the rails so the headlight works) that sort of resembles one of the prototype photos. The trolley runs fairly well on DC and I might try converting it to DCC later this year. Most of the brass detail castings were attached using CA so handling the small trolley must be done carefully otherwise small parts can get broken off.

[johnb]

Hello John...Your PE trolley resin kit reminds me of the Miniatures By Eric 1034 kit I assembled back in 2014...







The build details were documented when I entered it into a contest during Capital Limited N Scale East 2014 Chantilly VA. Also added a diorama base (with battery powering the rails so the headlight works) that sort of resembles one of the prototype photos. The trolley runs fairly well on DC and I might try converting it to DCC later this year. Most of the brass detail castings were attached using CA so handling the small trolley must be done carefully otherwise small parts can get broken off.

I have 5 of them

[JoeD]

cool beans....

Joe

[160pennsy]

I have 5 of them

Did your MBE kits come with the resin floor that accepts the Tomytec power chassis components?

[johnb]

Did your MBE kits come with the resin floor that accepts the Tomytec power chassis components?

some did, not sure if I want to do it though

[160pennsy]

some did, not sure if I want to do it though

The resin floor works fairly well but you have to disassemble the Tomytec power chassis, snap in the trucks, modify the phosphor bronze pickup strips and also hardwire the DC power to the motor contacts. I used the metal weights from the Tomytec chassis to give the trolley some more heft as well as improving the power pickup from the rails. I added small styrene nubs (inside the trolley shell) that line up with the slots on the sides of the floor - this helps keep the floor stay secured to the shell. There are holes proved at each end that could also be used (with small screws) to hold the floor inside the shell.   

[johnb]

The resin floor works fairly well but you have to disassemble the Tomytec power chassis, snap in the trucks, modify the phosphor bronze pickup strips and also hardwire the DC power to the motor contacts. I used the metal weights from the Tomytec chassis to give the trolley some more heft as well as improving the power pickup from the rails. I added small styrene nubs (inside the trolley shell) that line up with the slots on the sides of the floor - this helps keep the floor stay secured to the shell. There are holes proved at each end that could also be used (with small screws) to hold the floor inside the shell.   

this would also make a DCC conversion a piece of cake

[johnb]

ok, here is a track plan that is meant for actual operation based on a railroad that I have been switching over the last year, and I am thinking that this is going to be the first 9 feet of the 12 foot wall....

[johnb]

my daughter is planning on moving out in August (hopefully), so I am going to start with this section being the same length as the longest wall...I am also thinking about building the city area above a small , thin staging area. I am looking at cheating a bit and making a simple loop with Tomix Wide Tram track that uses 103MM curves....the only issue is finding a 6.5mm sheet that will work for the rest of the street...