Hey, how about a Z scale weekend update? 8/12/07

[DKS]

Maybe there's enough chaps "piddling" in Z here for a weekend update of our own... maybe not.

FWIW, most of my daylight hours this weekend were spent painting the condo--a seemingly never-ending chore. Sometimes I think I will die with a paint roller in my hand. Hobby time was not spent on anything exciting--it just seemed like a good weekend for modeling "chores" as well. Finally got around to putting body-mount MTs on all of those freight cars I had sitting around that had either Marklins or truck-mounts. Also inspected/replaced trucks/wheelsets as needed. I found a few broken trucks. Some Z scalers complain about how wheelsets will just fall out of a truck sometimes. Well, I have found that when this happens, it almost always means the truck is broken, and it almost always breaks at the same spot--on the coupler side of the bolster pin hole, where it's the thinnest.



When I went to work on a partially-finished structure project (the Triangle Bar), I found it difficult to locate some of the supplies I needed for it, so the work stopped and I organized all of my works-in-progress into project drawers, and sorted out all of the raw materials so that I can actually find stuff.





That's it for me. Chris? Tom? Anybody?

[Chris333]

I've got my Hallmark car painted and decaled, started installing the "glass" today. If they were done I would post photos, maybe next Sunday... I'll just post it on the N scale side to keep thing simple.


Hey where is the new On30 forum? 


BTW David, I noticed that all newer MT car come with truck mounts. I suspect that is because of the broken trucks. The body mount trucks have that inlet notch for the coupler. If I take a truck with a coupler and cut it off the resulting truck is much stronger, but I won't go wasting couplers that way unless I have to.

[tom mann]

Yeah, no Z for me.  I plan on doing more diorama work this week, though.  I'll probably remove that strata line so skibbe doesn't hyperventilate over it ;D

[Sokramiketes]

Yeah, no Z for me.  I plan on doing more diorama work this week, though.  I'll probably remove that strata line so skibbe doesn't hyperventilate over it ;D

Ah gasp wheeze...

Oh, and Z scale too:

[Pray59]

I did some DCC conversions, and worked on my small end modules getting ready for the show in a few weeks.

Here is a video of this weekends activities... turn on your speakers!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYfjSVtjnrQ

[tom mann]

I did some DCC conversions, and worked on my small end modules getting ready for the show in a few weeks.

Here is a video of this weekends activities... turn on your speakers!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYfjSVtjnrQ

Some of that footage looks like the Pentax DVDs that contain 8mm 70's era video. ;D  If they had a backdrop, a few scenes of the rolling freight cars would look real!

[Chulvis]

Bob, that is cool.

[cv_acr]

Chulvis:

I just about laughed out loud when I saw your animated avatar! That is great.

[RockandRail]

i like that avatar too!   

just found the Z forum here.   what i did this weekend was convert a hallmark PA (freedom train ornament) into a "runner" by putting it on an MTL GP35/9 chassis.   i filed the MTL GP truck side frames smooth and then cut and fit the C (Alco) trucks to fit over it.  i fit an N scale Concor metal wheel on the end axles and it looks good.  Concor N scale metal wheels can easily be regauged, are a thin wheel and have a good flange that is close to Z size.   

i ground the attachement points out of the inside of the PA shell, smoothed the ceiling, and lined it with thin plastic to insulate.  i insulated the sides with thin styene so now the shell now press fits over the chassis.   it will get painted in Rio Grande 4 strip livery.  so now i have a "poor man's" PA1.   

i'll try to get some pictures by friday, but i have really busy day ahead.  anyway, it's doable!!  i think you'll like the result.
dave f.

[Pray59]

Hi Dave, that's a great project. How heavy is it now? I think the GP35 mechanism weighs 35 grams, and when I picked up one of those PA's at the Hallmark store, it felt like it weighs 50 grams or more. I can imagine that your PA now pulls like a mule!

-Robert  ;D

[RockandRail]

hi robert,
i don't know!  i didn't weigh it!  i'll so that when i get the pictures taken. 
dave f.

[RockandRail]

picts of the PA prior to paint.

above shot shows how the nose and sideframes had to be trimmed to allow the trucks to swing.


glued the lower nose and tank sides directly to the shell


thin clear stytrene sheet insulates the top and about .015 styrene glued to the sides.


this above view shows how the alco (PA) sideframes were added to the trucks, and shows the N scale Concor wheel free rolling on the ends.   the trucks work on the MTL small radius track without bind.

next up ... Rio Grande paint!

dave f.

[wm3798]

That's a great conversion.  We've gotten so used to having stuff fed to us, it's great to see someone smashing and bashing again.

Can't wait to see video of that one!  Bob, your videos are also inspiring.
Lee

[Pray59]

Here's my latest project for the end module:


A Triad Gang (We-Honest People) running a lab:


It looks quiet enough by day:


But even at night, general orders are for sentries to be posted at all the windows:


-Robert

[shamoo737]

I am still working on weathering. I dont have much luck with washes, but I have better luck with airbrushing. I started with cars, and now I am working on my engines.