Weekend Update 12/1/24

[up1950s]

https://www.historynet.com/electric-railroads/

https://www.brookvillecorp.com/products/locomotive/

https://handcar.com/mht/standard-handcar-manufacturing/

/>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=-RU649lkr9w

/>
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railroad_switch

https://www.fra.dot.gov/TrackSafetySymposium/pdf/presentations/39C%20Kerchof,%20Frogs%20-%20Design%20Features,%20Revenue%20Service%20Test%20Results%20_%20Maintenance%20Advice%20-%20Brad%20Kerchof.pdf

https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=83999aa1614fc9a9&hl=en&q=railroad+turnout+frog+casting+numbers&source=lnms&fbs=AEQNm0BRbrA8b3J1Cq1UM3gcLH4CZfo0DJmjE1astM2EagB2GKfS_yEM1sNi6kSF0l3OUhewYmpjDLKwaMSZoa6c4ZruZ59FuCcliGEds79eS2yCBU_XMtNc6lRecMZBCqiLk-Yt8iX3dQTH5Z3Y0a2cNWCVKNWrWs_0CpakpvBDbDJr-akilCNjdbDQCZj6Z2Ap2omLl0iCm7kIpuqokFVBiS_c44UjIw&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjkroPXp-eJAxXcFVkFHQN6ONoQ0pQJegQIFBAB&biw=1920&bih=911&dpr=1#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:f942e33b,vid:tOJQBoQXqPc,st:0

/>
https://www.rocketcitymom.com/blog/2024/11/01/north-alabama-railroad-museum-winter-christmas-train-rides/

https://www.todocanada.ca/polar-express-and-santa-trains-in-ontario/

https://www.visitmaine.net/polar-express-christmas-train-rides-in-maine/

https://offmetro.com/ca/9795/holiday-train-rides-california/

[jpwisc]

I finished off some Wisconsin Central mow flatcars. These were second hand 89’ flats. I painted and detailed them to resemble the prototypes.
[ Guests cannot view attachments ]
[ Guests cannot view attachments ]
[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[PiperguyUMD]

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! I was tasked with frying the turkey, which really meant I got an undisturbed hour to play with trains in the garage!

Oh man this is fun! Why did I start this project when my next day off is Christmas Day

[rickb773]

Our club (New Jersey Southern) participated in the Atlantic County 4H train show this weekend with our N-Trak layout (while our T-Trak layout was at another show).
Here are some photos I think you will find interesting.

I had never seen the new T Scale before and am amazed they can fit a motor in them. This photo shows T Scale (1:450 or 480), Z scale (1:220) and the "huge" track at the bottom is N Scale    (1:160).


Here is a blast from the past. Those of you who are ancient (like me) should recognize this bridge from, I believe, the very first N-Trak Newsletter issue put out by Jim Fitzgerald. Evidently it has passed through several owners and no one in the club seems to remember how we came to possess it. It has required rebuilding several times to replace pieces falling off or decaying pieces and the surrounding structure.




Here is some railfanning on our N-Trak layout followed by shots of several modules:

And finally a shot from the host club"s HO layout:


Keep 'em rollin',
Rick

[jpwisc]

Wrapped up a long overdue flanger project. This started life as a kit from @Baldylox
[ Guests cannot view attachments ]
[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[chuck geiger]

Thickening up the dry creek in the high Mojave Desert.

The second pass after hand-picked and pushed 7 mm. of wheat grass.



Added Welberg sage and trimmed long wheat grass with mini-scissors.


The last pass picked out long strands and odd stand-out features.

[Olivani]

Chuck, that scrub looks very realistic, nice job 

Oliver

[chuck geiger]

Thanks, Oliver, been looking at pictures I took of the area I am modeling and there is way more scrub and grasses than just sage and sand.

[Jesse6669]

This week I got the East Norwood shelf brackets installed and test fit with the modules connected.  I'm liking how it's coming along.  There'll be a backdrop of about 8" height, plus a lighting "board" with LED strip lights, that will most likely just clip onto the coat hanger railing.  Gatorboard will be used for sub-base, and 1/16 cork for the roadbed.  Track is in hand and I started testing some rail paint color/ballast/weathering combos on test track. 

 

I received and set up my new 3D printer (Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K) and started testing it.  After the test I did some Z-scale "proto track" but it really pushed the limits of the resin, Phrozen RPG.  It can't really handle the light details.  I'm going to bump up the layer thickness for another go-round.  If all else fails back to the 80-20 mix of Aqua 8K and Onyx.  This is Atlas Z, next to two pieces of the proto track (iirc it's 115 lb. rail). 



Oh I ordered a new AZL Chessie SD50 for "cyber monday" as well!  Just released today. 

[Sumner]

......  If all else fails back to the 80-20 mix of Aqua 8K and Onyx.  ....

Consider trying Siraya Tech's 'Build' Sonic Grey. 



It does great detail, is strong yet flexible and can be drilled and tapped.  I do everything with it using Siraya Tech's printer settings for my printer and haven't changed a thing about them.

Sumner

[Jesse6669]

Consider trying Siraya Tech's 'Build' Sonic Grey. 

It does great detail, is strong yet flexible and can be drilled and tapped.  I do everything with it using Siraya Tech's printer settings for my printer and haven't changed a thing about them.

Sumner

Indeed, I might try that if I can't dial this stuff in.  Mixing that 80/20 was a PITA.  What layer thickness are you using? 

[Sumner]

Indeed, I might try that if I can't dial this stuff in.  Mixing that 80/20 was a PITA.  What layer thickness are you using?

Here is how they show up in Chitubox...



I downloaded the settings from Siraya Tech for my M3 and have never changed them.  In fact this is the first I've looked at them.  I've done tons of prints with them like that and happy with about everyone.  Only problem was on a few I should of added to the supports Chitubox put in.  Try and do that now. 



Other than the support failure (not enough in some places) the prints have come out like the one above.  It is the only resin I use and since I get consistent prints with it I won't be experimenting around.

Sumner

[OldEastRR]

Shouldn't all this 3D printing stuff be in the 3D Printing forum?

[davefoxx]

Shouldn't all this 3D printing stuff be in the 3D Printing forum?

Nah, it’s Weekend Update.  Anything goes in these threads, even HO scale, despite this being in the N & Z scales forum. 😀

DFF

[davefoxx]

To put my money where my mouth is, here’s some HO scale for the Weekend Update.  This is an Intermountain U18B that I recently bought and gutted. I had to redo the mount over the motor to fit in a Decoder Buddy, LokSound V5.0 decoder, and Scale Sound Systems speaker.  This Baby Boat sounds sweet!

Now, I’m working on the lights.  The SCL, on GE units, had headlights above the cab and a Gyra Light and a red emergency light on the nose.  The Gyra Light is in the lens on the engineer’s side, and the red emergency light is in the lens on the fireman’s side.  My first attempt went okay, but I do want to go back in and try to get between the LEDs with some thin styrene to block light from bleeding through the other lens on the nose.  Until then, I’m still really happy with this.  The red emergency light is more red in person than on video.

Now, I get to do this again on the rear, because, yep, you guessed it, headlights, a Gyra Light, and a red emergency light on the long hood, too!  Actually, does a Baby Boat really have a long hood? 🤣

DFF