Weekend Update 3/17/13

[eja]

I'll be impressed when someone can show me a working z scale barber pole or running n scale layout for a z scale hobby shop. 

Close enough ?

[eric220]

Exactly like that.  OK, so I got the scales wrong. I also meant N scale HO layout.

[Zox]

OK, so I got the scales wrong. I also meant N scale HO layout.

No, you had it right the first time... 

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[Smike]

I was thinking the opposite to all this oversize coin talk is that trick those seedy film makers used by hiring  women with small hands?

[CodyO]

Over the weekend both mainlines where restored to fully operational status

Feeders still have to be attached and track work double checked along with adding in a few switches where waiting on but its nice to just let the engines run and do laps and climb the grades all of it is soldered except the pieces we will remove to lay in switches for the upper helix










HELIX CONNECTED



PRR L1 110 passes over the Helix Diamond

 
PRR GG1 4929 Heads across the diamond towards the helix and staging



Bought a 36" Bi-fold door for use as the 18" staging deck

switches where laid out and it looks like there will be about 1100" of storage or about 92' worth plus reversing loop
we have the switches just waiting to get the track friday/payday from the LHS



also drilled a bunch of holes for feeders and dealt with a ringing ear for a bit , bought and installed a UR92 and am sending out the other throttle to be upgraded to duplex luckily sold the old UR91 for the cost of that!
Nice to be this close to being done and hope next weekend will lead to staging being done and just general train running!
also found that the fleet has grown to 382 Freight cars, 47 Passenger cars and 59 engines....plus some that aren`t in the database or just not running
 

[flight2000]

So here are the "Bluebirds" I mentioned back on page one....    Finally got a chance to photograph them last night even though they were finished on Sunday.





Brian

[flight2000]

Also finished this in the oversized scale... 



This is a Kato unit that received some upgrades (Canon and Company Radiator Grills, BLMA RV A/C Units, etc) and operational ditch lights.   Also hardwired the trucks since Kato tried (and failed) to mimic the N Scale pick-up systems on the original SD40-2's.

Brian

[lock4244]

Great job on the bluebirds, Brian. One of the few leaser schemes that'd actually work well for an actual railroad.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Brian, when are you doing the Red and Yellow SD? That thing is beautiful. I like it MUCH better than the 2000.

[flight2000]

Brian, when are you doing the Red and Yellow SD? That thing is beautiful. I like it MUCH better than the 2000.

Starting the HO version this coming weekend, followed by the N scale version as soon as the engine shows up.

Brian

[PGE-N°2]

Before this week's ops session I found some time to do a preliminary paint job on the Kettle River Bridge.  Still need to fix some stuff up (like the diagonal member that is distorted), some more weathering and of course the piers.  This plus "planting" will need to be April now.

Wouldn't have noticed the distorted girder if you haldn't mentioned it. This scene looks just like the real spot.