Weekend Update 4/7/24

[philippe.whyte]

After being largely absent from the model railroad scene since November I’m finally back!  I was studying for an exam which I wrote last week and to celebrate I connected with some old friends at the Double Headers Model Railway Show in Cambridge Ontario today.

 It was great to be back. We set up some of our Free-mo-N modules and ended up with about 60 ft of track with a 6ft passing siding at each end. We handed out some fliers to several interested parties and had some great chats with fellow patrons and exhibitors. The funniest thing about hat happened to me was chatting with a guy about some projects and thinking, man this dude is really in line with what I’m into and I feel like he’s doing similar things to another guy I know…. I should introduce them!  Well as it turns out this follow IS the guy I know!  We’d just never met in person. So Rick, it was really swell to meet you in person!  Hahahha.

Here are some picks if my equipment running on the layout. There are a couple of other fellows from TRW who were there with modules, trains, or just good company….  So please post your pics as well! 

It’s great to be back.

Some set up pics.

This is my model of the “Credit Valley Explorer”, which was an excursion train run by the Orangeville to Brampton Railway (Cando Contracting) until a few years ago.  Thanks to @philippe.whyte for the consist decals! And thanks to Fusionscale Graphics for the Cando loco decals!

It was really great to back with the group operating again.

Craig

Thanks for the shout-out @craigolio1.  The finished models look really nice, well done!  Cool to see the Rutherford Creek module there too!

Also, congratulations on writing the exams... I hope you passed with flying colours!

Cheers,
Philippe

[DMU-Fan]

That looks amazing! Think he has any interest in replicating a Modern Cantilever Signal Bridge in N scale? (https://shop.atlasrr.com/p-53929-ho-scale-signal-modern-cantilever-bridge-2-track-4-head-right.aspx) I kept waiting for an N scale version of this, but it never materialized…

I have built an association with Tom Garza who runs scalesigns.com and he is branching out and developing products that N scalers don't have. See his https://scalesigns.com/collections/n-scale-1-160 or FB page. https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=scalesigns%20com Whenever someone comes up with something that there isn't - He makes it. He can make station siding signs, custom signs, gas station signs which are insane,  now Jersey barriers, you name it. I told him about this new entry into N Scale Crossing Signals that wants 44.00 for (2) non-operating signals and the guy on Etsy who sells the ones I bought that have spider web strands of supports from the mold making it look like a dinosaur's back even when sanded. I sent him the Etsy ones I bought and this is what his Beta test looks like:




He is working on modern billboards we haven't had since BLMA or scratch. The signs are interchangeable for new clients on the board:

[johnb]

dug out my old Western Railcraft whaleback solid resin tender.....

[freedj]

I’m very intrigued by this no glue snow plow. Would be able to share a bit more about that?

For sure!  I modeled the plow with a ledge that sits on top of the sill step? and a barb that goes under the coupler.

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

The barb is only .4mm wider than the slot in the sill for the coupler, so the frame flexes slightly and then the ledge sits onto the sill and locks it in.  The plow can be installed / removed from a fully assembled loco.

In this photo you can see the plow half way installed.  The barb is flexing the sill and the ledge hasn't landed in its home yet.

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

In this photo you can see the plow fully installed from the bottom.  The barb has locked it into the sill, the flats on the back of the plow are hard against the pilot face, and the ledge is sitting on the sill step.

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

I went down this path because the pilot handrails would be almost impossible to install/remove if the plow was glued on, and I think it turned out really nicely.  The plow is held on securely, but if it gets bumped hard it can move and just be reset without breaking.

[craigolio1]

For sure!  I modeled the plow with a ledge that sits on top of the sill step? and a barb that goes under the coupler.

(Attachment Link)

The barb is only .4mm wider than the slot in the sill for the coupler, so the frame flexes slightly and then the ledge sits onto the sill and locks it in.  The plow can be installed / removed from a fully assembled loco.

In this photo you can see the plow half way installed.  The barb is flexing the sill and the ledge hasn't landed in its home yet.

(Attachment Link)

In this photo you can see the plow fully installed from the bottom.  The barb has locked it into the sill, the flats on the back of the plow are hard against the pilot face, and the ledge is sitting on the sill step.

(Attachment Link)

I went down this path because the pilot handrails would be almost impossible to install/remove if the plow was glued on, and I think it turned out really nicely.  The plow is held on securely, but if it gets bumped hard it can move and just be reset without breaking.

Thanks for sharing that detail!  What a great idea. I hate gluing on plows.

Craig