Cumberland Station TTrak and Other Adventures

[peteski]

Is that a time-travel wormhole portal that just appeared in the doorway of the building behind the station? 

Really nice modeling Lee - the photos aren't too shabby either. Love the low angle shots!

[wm3798]

Thanks Peteski.  I have to dig through my detritus to see if I can find that tree.  It looks more like the one that stood there for eons before someone decided that was a good place for an elevator tower...
On closer inspection, I should be able to make the repair.  The tricky part will be getting the soldering tip in without melting any of the surrounding styrene, especially the roof surface.

I've also come up with a way to semi permanently install the building using some thin threaded rod.

Lastly, I've installed the bridge securely, so hopefully it will survive it's first road test....

Lee

[wm3798]

Looks like things are really starting to heat up as the challenge 3 deadline approaches...
Two late entries, one officially completed, and lots of progress reports from the various entrants.

We did a lot of work around the house over the long weekend, so not much progress from this end.  However, I did spend some time working on the lighting for the Station module.  It's much closer to completion than the beam bridge double.

As noted, I had concocted a scheme by which I could semi permanently mount the station building to the module.  At first I was going to use long screws installed from the top, but they would need to be 4.5 inches long, and all I could find at Lowe's that long were lag screws 1/4" thick.  I wanted something a little more delicate, so I decided to get a length of 1/8" All Thread and a bag of appropriately sized nuts.



Rather than run a wood screw down from the top, it made sense to position the station, and have the threaded rod permanently installed in the module, allowing the model to be nested down over them and secured with nuts and washers.  This worked really well.



This allows me to snug the nuts down carefully and keeps the building accurately positioned vis a vis the platforms and scenery around it every time.  If I had been thinking just a little bit ahead, I could have left the screws a bit longer to conceal the nut in the roof vent, but alas, in my haste I didn't position the holes in the right place to achieve that.  As such, the roof remains separate, and I'm working out the best way to secure it to the building for transit.

I also have completed all of the background flats for this module, with the addition of some signage and lighting that helps to reinforce the time and place of the modules.





Hutter's Shutters is my tribute to my good friend and native Cumberpatcher, Paul Hutter, who is a prolific photographer, and who works at the Hunter Douglas plant...

A few tiny things to do to finalize the wiring on this module, then I have to get the last bits of heavy lifting on the beam bridge side.  Stay tuned.!

[Point353]

As such, the roof remains separate, and I'm working out the best way to secure it to the building for transit.

Maybe magnets would be a solution.
Search the Lowe's site for magnets, then filter the results for those items in stock at your local store.

[wm3798]

I like that idea...  I actually have some high-strength Earth Magnets laying around somewhere.... probably stuck to something metal, unless I missed my guess!

Lee

[DKS]

You can also do some further work on the modules during the upcoming "DKS T-Trak Meet"...

[wm3798]

Maybe magnets would be a solution.
Search the Lowe's site for magnets, then filter the results for those items in stock at your local store.

@Point353 The magnets are a brilliant solution.  Your name will be inscribed in a platform brick alongside Lord Zox and DKS.

[Point353]

@Point353 The magnets are a brilliant solution.  Your name will be inscribed in a platform brick alongside Lord Zox and DKS.

Glad that you found the solution of using magnets to be attractive.
Looking forward to seeing the N scale commemorative masonry. 

[DKS]

Glad that you found the solution of using magnets to be attractive.

I see what you did there...

[wm3798]

Final little piece of problem solving on the primary station module.  As discussed earlier, I needed a way to conceal the battery for the lighting.  I found the right location, tucked in next to the highway bridge...



Now to camouflage it.  I started by rummaging through my ample supply of cast off bits of other kits, but kept coming up empty for something that needed to be sized pretty precisely and still looked good.  Well last night as I was working on an addition design for client, it dawned on me that I could easily layout exactly what I needed on Chief Architect!  So I did...

First I layed out a small, 3-story building, 15' wide and 9' deep (roughly the N scale dimensions of a 9v battery), and printed it out in N scale.  After a few tweaks, I spray mounted it to some basswood and constructed my facade...





A little paint and detailing, and it fits snug over the battery, pinched in next to the bridge pier.



Now I can commence with the final wiring of the module, and sprinkling details all over it...  And then move on to the Beam Bridge module...

Lee

[peteski]

That is a clever and cute solution Lee, assuming that you have to replace the battery during the show.

I would think that installing a double-A size 6-battery holder under the module would make them last for the duration of the show (and would be cheaper in the long run as AA batteries are less expensive than 9V). If needed, after the show, just flip the module up and replace the batteries.  Or even go larger and use C or D cell holder.

[wm3798]

I wanted to avoid having to flip the module up during a set up.  Too much chance of upsetting something on the neighbor's module...  I wanted to be easy to get to, reliable, and suitable to design of the layout.

I've wired all the LEDs to operate on 9v, (this goes back to my old layout) so it's easily converted from the battery power to an adapter, which I have wired to an RCA jack concealed in the skyboard.  (The window air conditioner switches power from the plug to the battery.)
While a larger holder and more AA batteries would produce the same voltage, I like that a 9v box is more compact, and conforms nicely to the small space allotted to it.  As for cost, is a single 9v really that much more expensive than 6 AA?  Not appreciably if at all. 

Then there's the whole thing about rounding up the batteries that roll out all over the place during the change over... it might not be a problem for some, but for me, having an audience of other modelers and the general public almost guarantee that I'll have two left hands with all thumbs during the procedure should it become necessary.  As it is, I'll just be limited to knocking automobiles off the bridge...

Really, the key success in this entire episode is the rediscovery of my design program, which allows me to make a living, as an excellent modeling tool as well!

Lee

[Point353]

What are the chances he still has a Radio Shack battery card in his wallet?



Are there any stage productions in your area that use wireless mics - and that replace/discard the 9V batteries before they're fully depleted?
https://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-get-FREE-9-Volt-Batteries-legally-1/

[peteski]

I wanted to avoid having to flip the module up during a set up.  Too much chance of upsetting something on the neighbor's module...  I wanted to be easy to get to, reliable, and suitable to design of the layout.

To repeat what I stated earlier:
When using 6 AA or larger battery holder, if needed, after the show, just flip the module up and replace the batteries.  It was just a suggestion.

"After the show" means at home, with no distractions, and not affecting neighboring modules.  I suspect that AA batteries would at least last a weekend show (maybe couple).  And larger batteries might even last  the entire show season.  A 9v battery is internally bade up from 6 cells, slightly smaller than  AAA batteries. 

[wm3798]

It's true, and rechargeable AA batteries seem to be more readily available as well...  I've got one more module to light up, so there's a chance it could still happen...

Lee