Summer Shunting Shelf Project

[M.C. Fujiwara]

Apparently spray tacky doesn't hold up over 4 years:



So I re-glued that.

Back to the slide switches!
Here's a size comparison between the larger Radio Shack ones (with flanges) & the SparkFun slide switches I used for this project:



I think they're too big for N scale, but many people have used them successfully, and with quality scenicking they're not as intrusive as the Caboose Catapults I'm replacing.
I'm using the small SparkFun due to the pre-existing slim spaces between already installed turnouts & track.
I would rather use the AdaFruit ones (on left, SparkFun on right):



So I installed one at the back to try it out:



[Haven't connected brass rods to throwbars yet--that will be after family lunch while watching GSWarriors beat the Cavs again]

Here's a close up for size comparison:



Like I've said before, the AdaFruit are a big larger, but very well constructed, have longer terminals, & have a "click" at end of each travel to hold toggle (& thus points) more firmly in place.
Will be using AdaFruit on my next projects!

Alrighty: kids have finished opening presents, so it's off to lunch at parents' place!
Mother-in-law showed up from Japan a couple days ago (surprise!) & staying with us for 6 weeks (surprise!), & my brother appeared from L.A. yesterday, so will be a crowded table 
(Especially with good food!)
Then it's back to work off the meal by workin' on the railroad:



Have a groovy day, everyone.
I'll try to raise a glass to each & every one of you 

[MVW]

"Apparently spray tacky doesn't hold up over 4 years:"

Wait a minute ... it's been four years since you started work on that little beauty? Time flies.

As always, beautiful work that's also extremely helpful. Thanks, M.C., and happy holidays to you and your family.

Jim

[M.C. Fujiwara]

"Apparently spray tacky doesn't hold up over 4 years:"

Wait a minute ... it's been four years since you started work on that little beauty? Time flies.

Tell me about it.
My daughter & I built it the summer of NMRA X2011 convention.
She was 9 then, & talked with me a lot.
She turns 14 in a few weeks, & today said the most to me in about a year: "Thanks for the presents" 
(Ok, that was a little hyperbole but same feeling).

My son just turned 10, so perhaps he & I will build whatever he wants this summer.
Cause I have a great 2'x4' already designed for me HIM. 

Just got back from linner/dunch, so off to the workbench to finish hooking up the slide switches!

[M.C. Fujiwara]

PROTIP: Don't keep the iron long on the brass wire while soldering to PC board throwbar--it melts the slide switch toggle on the other side of the wire! 

Thought I was going to have to excavate a larger hole to accommodate another AdaFruit slide switch, but it "turned out"  I had ONE more SparkFun left over (and with hole already drilled through toggle!).

So ripped out melted slide switch & soldered in new.

Here are all the newly installed slide switches, with NW2 for reference:





Compare with an earlier photo with the Caboose Catapults:



Can still see those Caboose Catapults from scale Space:



So a little bit of ground cover (tomorrow) & those small slide switches will disappear:



World Champ & MVP Steph Curry (who just moved into my town a few feet away from the old SP line) sez after the win over the Cavs: "Powered frogs & smooth slide switches make for a Warrior of a small switching layout!"



Hope everyone had a lovely holiday today.
Now on to Boxing Day, with FOUR Premier League matches back-to-back-to-back-to-back!
http://www.livesoccertv.com/schedules/2015-12-26/
All starting at 4:45 PDT, so Merry Christmas to all, & to all a good night!

[M.C. Fujiwara]

Took the "finished" Alameda Belt-in-a-Box to the Great Train Show at Craneway Pavilion in Richmond, CA this past weekend, and set it up on a table that acted as the gate to our Silicon Valley Free-moN layout:



Some lovely sunlight Sunday morning:









With the table being about 36" high, the layout was a big hit with kids (& parents, who could finally take a break from lifting them up to see our 50"-tall Free-moN modules).

A short video of the NW2 in action (in faux 4K!):

Thanks for looking.

[jagged ben]

I don't think I appreciated that loading platform enough when I was there.

[basementcalling]

Who made the the loading platform? I am correct assuming it was Traincat?  Damn I wish him the best so he can get back to making his stuff. Bashing one of those will suck.

[M.C. Fujiwara]

The oil tanker loading platform is indeed a TrainCat work of art.
For this project, my daughter & I tried to use as many "found" items as possible (including kits purchased on fab future fantasy layouts), but a few brass details like the loading platform, gantry walkways, railings, & ladders really sold the scene, so we bit the bullet & bought those.
At least the ABS caps cost less than a Big Mac 

@jagged ben Did you make the show this weekend?
Did you introduce yrself as a fellow  ?
I'm so bad with names & faces (I wanted to name my kids "Hei" & "Yu" to make things easy).
Would be lovely to chat someday (if we haven't already  )

[GaryHinshaw]

I'm so bad with names & faces (I wanted to name my kids "Hei" & "Yu" to make things easy).

   

[basementcalling]

I'm so bad with names & faces (I wanted to name my kids "Hei" & "Yu" to make things easy).

Beats Dammit and Getoffmylawn.

[jagged ben]

@jagged ben Did you make the show this weekend?

Yeah.

Did you introduce yrself as a fellow  ?

Uh, no.

I'm so bad with names & faces (I wanted to name my kids "Hei" & "Yu" to make things easy).
Would be lovely to chat someday (if we haven't already  )

No worries.  If my wife and I manage to buy a house maybe I'll manage to build a module and then we'll have an undeniable reason to meet.

[Trainmaster247]

I thought this layout looked familliar no wonder I saw it on Model Railroad Hobbyist