Weekend Update 2/5/23

[PiperguyUMD]

Fireballs and Black Diamonds. I’ve been piddling with the motor control on the J-1. Really pleased with what I’ve been able to get out of this Bachmann 4-8-4. It’ll creep with the best of them, and I’ve got it to where it will pull 30 55 ton hoppers in the flat lands!

[davefoxx]

I scratchbuilt a rooftop sign!  Dedicated to our surly Sir Leland Weldon. 





More on The Carolina Sandhills Lines thread in the Layout Engineering forum.

DFF

[SP-Wolf]

My UP FA/FB's are done and in service





Thanks,
Wolf

[davefoxx]

I’m too lazy to write the detailed description in my Layout Engineering thread, so here’s the short version of the story.  On Friday, I gutted and redecoderized a twenty-one-year-old Atlas HO scale SDP35, adding sound and LED lights.  The headlights are about 100 times brighter than before.  The upper lights will become a Gyra Light and emergency light at a later date.

BEFORE:



AFTER (Decoder Buddy Mini, LokSound V5.0 decoder, and speaker now onboard):



DFF

[dougnelson]

Completed the N scale PRR Russell snow plow project.

[Mike Madonna]

I’m too lazy to write the detailed description in my Layout Engineering thread, so here’s the short version of the story.  On Friday, I gutted and redecoderized a twenty-one-year-old Atlas HO scale SDP35, adding sound and LED lights.  The headlights are about 100 times brighter than before.  The upper lights will become a Gyra Light and emergency light at a later date.

BEFORE:



AFTER (Decoder Buddy Mini, LokSound V5.0 decoder, and speaker now onboard):



DFF

Dave,
Nice Install! Is that the regular V5 decoder, the Micro or Nano? Also, the Decoder Buddy Mini, where did you mount that? I presume you used the resistors on it for the LEDs?? Thanks in advance!

[eja]

What is a Decoder Buddy ?

[Bendtracker1]

What is a Decoder Buddy ?

https://nicknixtrainz.com/

[davefoxx]

Dave,
Nice Install! Is that the regular V5 decoder, the Micro or Nano? Also, the Decoder Buddy Mini, where did you mount that? I presume you used the resistors on it for the LEDs?? Thanks in advance!

Thanks, Mike.  I used a 21-pin regular decoder (like an ESU #58429).  I cut a scrap piece of 0.060” styrene to the size of the old decoder and double-stick taped it to the top of the motor.  I cut holes in the styrene to match the holes in the old decoder to snug onto the two tabs on top of the motor.  I cut the tabs down, so they did not stick through the top of the styrene.  Remember, the double-sided tape was holding that styrene down, so I don’t need the clips on those tabs.  The Decoder Buddy Mini and an ESU speaker were double-stick taped to the styrene.  This fit without cutting the weights down.  Yes, I use Decoder Buddies that have the resistors for LEDs.

DFF

[eja]

https://nicknixtrainz.com/

Thanks .....

[jmarley76]

Glad to have time to get back into the hobby lately. I inherited some modules that need some help. Not really T-Track or any other standard, but nice enough to play around with. Here's two in progress this weekend. I'll be adding some more details to both next weekend.

[Dayliner]

Another productive week on the E&N--with the added satisfaction of helping my friend Tim take some major steps forward in re-commissioning his BCR Dawson Creek sub layout, already posted by him.

At Lake Cowichan, the last piece of track was installed on the evening of January 31, meeting my goal of completing track laying by the end of January.  Here we see an E&N foreman inspecting the newly-laid track.



Then it was time to (gently) remove the completed section to the workbench to begin wiring.



The section was flipped over, revealing the jungle of feeder wires underneath.  A towel was placed on the workbench to help protect the newly-installed track from possible damage.



Then it was time to start taming the jungle.  This was the state of play by the end of Sunday afternoon.

[mu26aeh]

Foreign power on @Ed Kapuscinski Northern Central



And finally met @davefoxx in person

[crrcoal]

So whats the verdict, are they good runners?

Foreign power on @Ed Kapuscinski Northern Central



And finally met @davefoxx in person

[Spades]

Individual grab irons in 1:300 scale. Jesse that is amazing.

I also wrapped up two hopper car builds:  An ex-EBT 3 bay hopper and an ex-CN longitudinal hopper, both used in rock/ballast service on the White Pass Route.  After the pic I noticed that I forgot to add the horizontal brake wheel and staff on the hopper.  I have it though.  I also made some EBT decals, so hmmmm now must start making more EBT stuff I guess!
(Attachment Link)
Jesse