Not much new, sworn to secrecy, or what?

[sirenwerks]

Cast out of what?? White metal would be too soft, and I don't have a centrifuge to cast lost wax brass... Talk about expensive!

Micro Mark, at one point, had a casting centrifuge that was quite affordable. You might want to check out their site or email them.

[sirenwerks]

My bad. It wasn't Micro-Mark and it was a centrifuge. It was Alumilite and it was a pressure tank, for under $200. Go to - http://www.alumilite.com/checkout/index.php?cPath=25

[3rdrail]

My bad. It wasn't Micro-Mark and it was a centrifuge. It was Alumilite and it was a pressure tank, for under $200. Go to - http://www.alumilite.com/checkout/index.php?cPath=25

The lost wax process requires far more than a centrifuge. You don't melt brass on a stovetop, either. The amount of money to acquire the necessary machinery could never be recouped selling catenary supports!

[John]

John Glaab from Peachcreekshops posted this on Yahoo

2a. Re: NMRA Detroit Convention Report from Peach Creek Shops
Posted by: "peachcreek@aol.com" peachcreek@aol.com jmagarac
Date: Tue Jul 31, 2007 6:35 am ((PDT))


National Trade Show Report.
This year I didn’t have the time to attend the entire convention so I went
out just for the trade show. As always I’m looking for what’s hot, what’s not
and the general gossip.
The biggest news is that Marklin now owns LGB. That’s about all that is
concrete. When things will go back into production, how will the LGB items be
marketed in the US, pricing structure, manufacturing location, etc? It’s got
to be a lawyer’s paradise.
Bachmann FINALLY showed some new products. NKP, Peer Marquette and C&O 2-8-4
’s. All of these are in the Bachmann standard line and have a MSRP of
$160.00. We will be selling them for $94.50. The C&O Kanawha is numbered 2760,
which is dead wrong for the loco. The model has the external air tanks and C&O
changed the design to internal air tanks by loco #2740. The loco should be
numbered somewhere between #2700 and #2739. Fortunately Bachmann is making an
undecorated version so you will be able to put on your own number.
For N Scale C&O fans there is a J-2 4-8-2 with the 16VC Vanderbilt tender
and the tenders will be available separately. (Kato 2-8-2 + Bachmann 16VC + C&O
K-2) The model is good, very good. When photographed it is hard to tell
it isn’t the HO model.
Baldwin RF-16’s in HO, a very nice Peter Will trolley, E60cp electrics and
the C&O H-5 2-6-6-2 round out the highlights.
BTW Tony Koester gave the Bachmann NKP Berk a hard look and said that in
many respects it was better than the P2K model. Alas, no sound.
Lee Riley demonstrated a new DCC controlled E-Z track turnout for me. He
showed me how to program it, and how to operate it from the controller. My
first impression was, “This is Nuts! Why would anyone go to all the complexity
and expense of controlling turnouts via DCC? All you need is three wires
and a momentary contact SPDT and your home! Then the light came on.
Everything, the DCC controller and the switch machine motor are built into the
roadbed! You will NEVER have to crawl under the layout again to hook up a switch
machine!
But probably the most impressive item at the Bachmann booth was a new “
Dynamis” infrared DCC controller. Liquid crystal readout with text! (No more
cryptic loco identifications, if you are running B&O GP-30 #2756, it shows it on
the display. The unit is light, easy to use and begs for someone to come up
with the shoulder harness arrangement that the prototype uses for his or her
radio-controlled locomotives.
C&O fans will also be pleased to know that the next run of Hornby/Rivarossi
Allegenys will have a different number and sound.
This brings me to a rather negative part of the train show. The place is so
big and noisy that you could not hear anyone’s sound system! Why doesn’t
someone (the NMRA perhaps?) come up with a sound enclosure for testing, and
hearing sound locos? My bet is that about 20 2” x 4’ x8’ Styrofoam sheets
could be quickly formed into an 8’ x 12’ enclosure with a roof that would
be sufficiently soundproof to be useful. Cost of materials, about $300-$350.
(Assuming oil prices don’t go berserk.) Add another $100-$150 for incidentals
and you might even come up with something not too offensive to the eye.
Just a thought.
I’ve typically been unimpressed by modeler’s efforts to get a good forest
canopy. The little round puffballs extolled by some well-known experts leave
me cold. Attempts to model every tree can certainly be effective, but
exceedingly labor intensive. Woodland Scenics will be releasing a forest canopy
kit that has promise.
Walther was showing the Milwaukee Terminal Tower, but alas no “Skydome Obs”
. The Terminal Tower looked like it has some great kit bashing properties.
An “official” leak states that. “Some of the steel mill buildings will be
coming back, and that there will be a new release for the steel mill.” I
heard two possibilities at the show. One is a rolling mill stand and the other a
Huylett. Don’t bet on the Huylett.
Blackstone was showing their Hon3 K-27 in several variations. Outstanding,
simply outstanding. It is indistinguishable from brass at any distance, and
it comes with sound. I didn’t get any photos, they had black locos on a black
background and I just wasn’t prepared to try to get a good picture under
those conditions.
For you guys that are into signals there was a lot of activity from a
variety of vendors. All very nice but the best variety and the nicest looking
signals I saw were from NJ International. Every era, every type was represented
and their display of operating crossing gates worked continuously throughout
the show.
The lack of brass importers was not surprising. Only Overland and Coach
Yard. I may have missed someone, but you get the point.
Rapido had an undecorated Turbo-Train. Very nice. People in the Baltimore
Washington area may remember the “Harley Staggers Special”. An early Amtrak
Turbo was “tested” between Washington, DC and Martinsburg, WV. It seems
Congressman Staggers live in the vicinity of Martinsburg, and what better way to
get to work in the morning?
Probably the most encouraging thing I saw at the show was the large number
of young people in attendance. I don’t mean the ankle-biters, they were there
having fun wit anything that had “Thomas” on it, but young folks between
18-35. They were there as participants in module groups, as parents and as
BUYERS.
Did I miss anything? Sure. There were some spectacular modular layout
(with 16’ radius curves!) and the Lego layout (I wonder if they take that apart
brick by brick… Hmm….. :>), Some extra ordinary vendor food and extraordinary
prices, and lots of concrete floors. The best part was meeting old friends
and getting a chance to sit and talk to them. If you want to see photos from
the trade show got to:
peachcreekshops.com

[Mark5]

John Glaab missed that there are two USRA mountain versions by Bachmann in N (among other things)

[sparky]

The lost wax process requires far more than a centrifuge. You don't melt brass on a stovetop, either. The amount of money to acquire the necessary machinery could never be recouped selling catenary supports!

Sure it could, if you charged $100 apiece!  ;D

[sirenwerks]

The lost wax process requires far more than a centrifuge. You don't melt brass on a stovetop, either. The amount of money to acquire the necessary machinery could never be recouped selling catenary supports!

Considered white metal, which some alloys are meltable on a stovetop, combined with etched brass?

[DKS]

If you can live with a thicker H cross-section, cast resin might work.