The Carolina Sandhills Lines in HO Scale

[davefoxx]

While it is really nice to have closely speed matched locos in a multi-unit lashups, is is not absolutely critical.
The slower loco will pull less (or none) of the load, depending where in the consist it is, there should be no damage to any of the models. After all, for decades, many modelers ran multi-unit lashups of locos pulling long trains on NTRAK layouts using DC for hours at a time. In DC is is pretty much impossible to speed match locos (from different manufacturers,or sometimes even identical models) and we didn't and up with any locos failing or getting damaged.

Agreed, but it is nice when they're not struggling against each other, allowing for silky smooth operation.  These HO locomotives are really heavy, and it's obvious when one is grinding the railheads as it's spinning its wheels while fighting the other unit.  For example, I just finished programming my U30B, so it's also speed-matched.  When I finished, I wanted to verify its match against the two locomotives I programmed last night.  However, in my impatience, I failed to let the Atlas GP40 complete its start-up.  Unlike the Athearn GP38-2, it won't move forward until the start-up is complete (probably ten or fifteen seconds).  I could not only hear the sound of the Athearn GP38-2's sound ramp up, but it was obvious it was spinning its wheels.  Really obvious.  Once I realized what I had done, I closed the throttle, let the GP40 finish its start-up procedure, and then cracked the throttle to see both units smoothly get under way.  Nice.

On another topic, while pouring through the QSI manual, I learned how to use the doppler effect on the horn, as if it were passing by at a grade crossing.  COOL!!!!one

DFF

[peteski]

On another topic, while pouring through the QSI manual, I learned how to use the doppler effect on the horn, as if it were passing by at a grade crossing.  COOL!!!!one

DFF

Yes, the QSI decoders are awesome (and full of all sorts of bells and whistles). I fell in love with them when I bought my Walthers N scale 2-8-8-2 with a QSI Revolution decoder.   Too bad that they don't make N scale decoders - the reason I was given is that their custom made chip (the brains of the decoder) is physically too large to make a decoder narrow enough to be suitable for N. Also too bad that that there is some turmoil at the company.  But when it comes to sounds and effects, those decoders are the cat's meow!  They even made a stereo sound decoder (the Titan).

[DKS]

They even made a stereo sound decoder (the Titan).

Sheesh, what's next, 5.1 surround?

[Point353]

Sheesh, what's next, 5.1 surround?

If you combined SoundTraxx's SurroundTraxx with BLI's Rolling Thunder, you could have 6.1 surround sound.
http://www.soundtraxx.com/surround/
http://www.broadway-limited.com/rollingthunder.aspx

[wcfn100]

If you combined SoundTraxx's SurroundTraxx with BLI's Rolling Thunder, you could have 6.1 surround sound.
http://www.soundtraxx.com/surround/
http://www.broadway-limited.com/rollingthunder.aspx

Don't forget Dave's whistle.



Jason

[davefoxx]

Don't forget Dave's whistle.



Jason

My wife actually gave me one of those as a stocking stuffer one Christmas.  I don't know what she was thinking.  Seriously, (A) did she think I would really use it, and (B) did she really want to hear it? 

DFF

[davefoxx]

I just finished speed-matching my Southern Ry. GP38-2, too.  I also adjusted CV29 on this unit, to make the long hood the forward direction and to match the Southern's policy and those cute little Fs on the corner stair wells at that end of the locomotive.  I'm presently running some testing with four units (SCL GP40 No. 1539, L&N GP40-2 No. 6614, C&O U36B No. 8222, and SOU GP38-2 No. 5025) and twenty-nine freight cars.  For you N scale guys (and those of us still used to N scale), this friggin' train is heavy!

DFF

[davefoxx]

Here's something that may actually resemble modeling, rather just wiring, trackwork, or decoder programming.  I took a scrap piece of 1" foam and hacked it up to fit into an open hopper car to make a coal load.  A shot of black enamel paint, a layer of white glue, a sprinkling of black sand from the arts and crafts store, and voila!  I was going for a car that's travelled some distance from the loader, so the "heaps" have settled somewhat.



Here's how it looks out of the car.  Not pretty, but it looks pretty good in the car. 



This car came without any load, so I had to fabricate the "load" out of something.  I've got tons of scrap foam, so why not?  I'm not sure that I would want to do this for an entire fleet of hoppers, but for the lone hopper car in my fleet, it was easy and cheap.

DFF

[DKS]

My wife actually gave me one of those as a stocking stuffer one Christmas.  I don't know what she was thinking.  Seriously, (A) did she think I would really use it, and (B) did she really want to hear it? 

I think I must have acquired three or four of these from well-intentioned friends and family members over the years.

Don't tell anyone, but I don't have any of them any more...

[Chris333]

Think I have a Lionel salt and pepper shaker somewhere... 

[davefoxx]

Seaboard Coast Line No. 1776 has come home to the Seaboard Central 3.0.  This U36B has passed inspection, been speed-matched, and is now ready to go into service:



I finally own a model of an iconic locomotive that I have wanted for many, many years.  Thank you, Atlas! 

DFF

[peteski]

Seaboard Coast Line No. 1776 has come home to the Seaboard Central 3.0. 
I finally own a model of an iconic locomotive that I have wanted for many, many years.  Thank you, Atlas! 

Wasn't that beautiful  and iconic model available in N scale?   

[wm3798]

Yeah but it was a Bachmann Crap Master from the dark ages.  Handrails like sausages, paint a scale foot thick and a drive from a pencil sharpener.

[Lemosteam]

Yeah but it was a Bachmann Crap Master from the dark ages.  Handrails like sausages, paint a scale foot thick and a drive from a pencil sharpener.

G'night folks, after that analogy from TRW's resident poster with the descriptive prowess of an MRR Ray Bradbury, we can all go back to bed.
@wm3798 , I LOL'd.

[davefoxx]

Yeah but it was a Bachmann Crap Master from the dark ages.  Handrails like sausages, paint a scale foot thick and a drive from a pencil sharpener.

Nailed it, Lee.  That Bachmann locomotive was so bad, I didn't even waste time trying to improve one.  Terrible.  F.

DFF