The Canal Line

[peteski]

I like the current look with fewer chimneys, and I also like the elevator shaft detail.  Like George, I think that adding a separate boiler house with large stack would add even more visual interest. Maybe even near the end of the building that is closer to the edge of the layout (the one without the elevator shaft). 

There is an old mill (still actively used) in Manchester NH with an old boiler house and stack. One of my favorite, and still remaining decrepit (but still used) buildings in the area.  Here is a link to its map location:  https://goo.gl/maps/qCHmzmYgEN12  Then go and choose street view from Queen City Ave. Or find a bird's eye view to see the boiler house in all its glory.

[coosvalley]

Some projects....

I decided to gather all of the shells I have and challenge myself to get all of these done by the end of summer. I will be keeping a few, and will probably sell the rest, I purposely had to pick projects I don't have a need for so I wouldn't be tempted to keep them!

So, Left to right we have an undecided RS1 project, a B&M blue RS3, and a D&H RS3 in P&W paint. These three will be simple repaints. Continuing on, the rest have had their grabs and pilot details removed and holes drilled...The bits I used were smaller than #80, a the first time I worked with these(.02M)..I only broke 2 bits for the 9 units I did this to (the other two were done previously). SO, continuing left to right we have D&H ex LIRR C420, D&H exLH&R C420, MEC GP38, MEC U18B, 2 MEC yellow GP7s, MEC U25B, CLP GP38, CR GP38(black), Guilford GP38, Guilford ex CR GP40.  Whew!(can you tell what part of the hobby I enjoy most?)




Check out the steam gen. details on the GP7s from our very own @Wutter  ...with the addition of fine screen, they are see-through . Unfortunately I didn't snap pics before I put the MEC only shield on and in the way of half of it..



I also converted these cars to Accumates..I've probably swapped 30+/- sets of MT/clones so far, I've got a baggie full, and I'm hoping to someday find someone to trade for more Accumates..





And the layout is not being ignored, I picked up a handheld throttle that I'm very happy with(finally!), and worked on some Walthers roof details, and some other details..







And lastly, I weathered this caboose after fixing the orange ends by painting them red...




Thanks for looking!

[peteski]

The caboose looks great, and so does the photo's background!

I'm curious (and apologize if you mentioned that earlier in the thread): why do you prefer Accumate couplers to MTL?  Majority of modelers call Accumates "exploding couplers", and to me they look less realistic than MTLs.  Is it the "slinky effect"?

[davefoxx]

The caboose looks great, and so does the photo's background!

I'm curious (and apologize if you mentioned that earlier in the thread): why do you prefer Accumate couplers to MTL?  Majority of modelers call Accumates "exploding couplers", and to me they look less realistic than MTLs.  Is it the "slinky effect"?

@peteski,

I can't answer for @coosvalley, but I'll add that I also preferred Accumates when I was in N scale, because (1) no slinky effect, and (2) on small layouts like ours, there's minimal forces applied to the couplers that would cause an Accumate coupler to explode.  In fact, I never had that problem.  Admittedly, I wasn't running 100-car trains on the Seaboard Central, and that must be the saving grace for an Accumate.  As for looks, Accumates may not be pretty, but MTLs aren't to scale, either.  I chose to take function before form, and the lack of the slinky effect was a much bigger priority on my layout.  In short, Accumates work well on smaller layouts with shorter trains.

DFF

Oh, and now that I'm a HOer, all of your N scale couplers look like garbage as compared to my Sergent Engineering couplers.    <ducks for cover>

[peteski]

@peteski,

Oh, and now that I'm a HOer, all of your N scale couplers look like garbage as compared to my Sergent Engineering couplers.    <ducks for cover>

LOL!  Whatever pulls your train Dave! 

But from personal experience you know well that in N scale you can get much more modeling done in smaller space (and without looking like toy train with very tight curves), plus the larger trains are nowhere as darn cute as the l'li N scale ones!      And your daughter is the one with the brains - she knows a good thing when she sees it!   

[coosvalley]

I can't stand the slinky. I grew up with a large HO layout in my basement, which used mostly Atlas/Kato diesels and cars with Kadee couplers. So, after that, the slinky was on the top of the list of things I want to eliminate if I was going to jump ship for N scale. I don't think the Accumates look like a coupler, but I think the MTs look even less like a coupler. I actually like the looks of the Accumates. And 100 car trains are not on my horizon, at least not anytime soon. I have had a few failed/problem couplers, but overall, I have been VERY happy with them. I like the looks of the TSC, but they don't seem to be great for switching layouts..

And yes @davefoxx I am super jealous of those Sergents

[peteski]

Ok, so it is the slinky.
But you will never convince me that te more curvaceous MTL couplers, with they vague, but undeniable resemblance to the real AAR couplers, look less realistic than the very angular-looking Accumates (to me they look like some SciFi item designed by an industrial robot).

But we all have different needs and acceptable standards.  If slinky is your peeve, then the only games in town are Accumates (Mr. Roboto), Boxing Glove Jr. (McHenry) and its clone (True Scale Coupler), and the Boxing Glove Sr. (Bachmann).  With those selections, your choice is clear.   

[davefoxx]

Ok, so it is the slinky.
But you will never convince me that te more curvaceous MTL couplers, with they vague, but undeniable resemblance to the real AAR couplers, look less realistic than the very angular-looking Accumates (to me they look like some SciFi item designed by an industrial robot).

But we all have different needs and acceptable standards.  If slinky is your peeve, then the only games in town are Accumates (Mr. Roboto), Boxing Glove Jr. (McHenry) and its clone (True Scale Coupler), and the Boxing Glove Sr. (Bachmann).  With those selections, your choice is clear.   

But, from a few feet away or during ops sessions when you're not analyzing the fine details on a model, it's that slinky effect that is so obvious and annoying, not the coupler profile.

DFF

[coosvalley]

But you will never convince me that te more curvaceous MTL couplers, with they vague, but undeniable resemblance to the real AAR couplers, look less realistic than the very angular-looking Accumates (to me they look like some SciFi item designed by an industrial robot).

I think you're crazy, but, thankfully I don't have to convince you!...Now go find some board gaps to measure and leave my Accumates alone!

I am kidding,btw, and to each their own!

But, from a few feet away or during ops sessions when you're not analyzing the fine details on a model, it's that slinky effect that is so obvious and annoying, not the coupler profile.

DFF

Truth.  Between the slinky effect and Ntrak it's no wonder our scale is viewed as toy-like by many HOers....

[Jbub]

I'm not a fan off accumates. I've always had trouble with them not coupling to the point where the hands of god have to force two cars together. I love the look of the mtl ts couplers but even if they coupled with less force it would be hard to get any uncoupling device between the cars.

[central.vermont]

Very nice job Joe but now you need a challenge.

That buggy needs Getto screens ya know!!  Also you should try your hand at putting a railing around the top of the cupola as well.

Jon

[coosvalley]

I'm not a fan off accumates. I've always had trouble with them not coupling to the point where the hands of god have to force two cars together. I love the look of the mtl ts couplers but even if they coupled with less force it would be hard to get any uncoupling device between the cars.

There's a fix for that, I use fine sandpaper to sand the centering nub down, sometimes it's too tall for easy opening. In fact, I try to give all the ones I get as separate kits this treatment, the sanded edge is rounder and makes it easier to open. Actually, it seems they updated/changed the mold for these, as some of the very recent ones I've gotten are more rounded, but dont center in the middle as well, they sit naturally to one side a little bit. I'm not a fan of these as much. But I have plenty of the more square ones that I can swap them for on older less used cars, which is actually what I did with the cars shown. The NE5 caboose came with these newer ones,  if you're curious to see what I'm talking about.

Very nice job Joe but now you need a challenge.

That buggy needs Getto screens ya know!!  Also you should try your hand at putting a railing around the top of the cupola as well.

Jon

You know, originally I thought no etching could be fine enough for me to consider adding the vandal screens, but in looking at the GMM shopping carts, I think it could be done. But I have yet to find anything commercially available that seems fine enough for my tastes..Any ideas?

And railings...hmm..If I can find some good eye bolts for the corners maybe...I do enjoy a good challenge!...

Although, if I didn't give my Laconia rebuilds this treatment, there's not much hope for the NE5s!..Although those need these things too......

[central.vermont]

Although, if I didn't give my Laconia rebuilds this treatment, there's not much hope for the NE5s!..Although those need these things too......

Gotta start somewhere. 
I think we need to think outside the box for those screens. The mdical field has some really small and promising stuff. Just did a quick Google search and came up with this site. Haven't read through it yet myself but thought you would like to check it out.

Jon

http://e-fab.com/products/mesh-screens/

[mu26aeh]

Gotta start somewhere. 
I think we need to think outside the box for those screens. The mdical field has some really small and promising stuff. Just did a quick Google search and came up with this site. Haven't read through it yet myself but thought you would like to check it out.

Jon

http://e-fab.com/products/mesh-screens/

What did Josh use on @Ed Kapuscinski Conrail caboose for the vandal screens ?

[jpec]

Gotta start somewhere. 
I think we need to think outside the box for those screens. The mdical field has some really small and promising stuff. Just did a quick Google search and came up with this site. Haven't read through it yet myself but thought you would like to check it out.

Jon

http://e-fab.com/products/mesh-screens/
[/quote

Try a "smoke shop". They sell fine mesh screens in brass and steel....

Jeff]