Weekend Update 11/1/15

[peteski]

Walther's Solvaset seems to react with Sharpies as well.  I've tried them for small painted areas for service stencils, and they seem to run a little when the decals were applied.  I gave up and went back to paint and a very small brush.

I believe that Solvaset (and several other decal setting solutions) contain some sort of alcohol.

[randgust]

On the Kato motors....

Lately I've been pulling the majority of the 12V kato motors out of the 11-105 chassis for my custom Climax Class A builds and replacing them with the tiny Robotshop gearheads to get scale speed.   So I have a surplus of the Kato 12V motors now.

But even so, when you look at the price, if you had to pay $25 for a motor of that size and quality, you shouldn't yell too loud.   It's also the same basic design as the one in the Bachmann 44-tonner and 70-tonner; those are double-ended.   There may be others.    (My rationalization becomes 'look, a $25 motor with some tiny wheels and gears!)

The Gizmozone 3.5v. motors they put on their planetary gearheads are IDENTICAL to the Kato motors, drilled the same, the only difference is that they "D" the end of the shaft to mount the planetary gearheads on it.   I have to mark the cases so I can tell them apart (you'll even see the '12" scratched on the side of the case so I am sure which one is which).  Remember that I've been mounting those 5.14:1 gearheads to Kato 12V motors as well.

That TU7T works better than I thought it would, although grafting the motor to it was a challenge.  If I made a mistake, it was not drilling the 'worm hole' through the chassis slightly larger.  If the motor gets the least bit misaligned on the frame, the worm rubs into the chassis.

You'll also notice, if you look for it, that the wheelbase is 'short' compared to the journal boxes.  My Kato rebuild is closer on that than this is, but this one doesn't have that ongoing problem with the vertical drive pushing the cab 'up' when running in reverse, this has tighter tolerances on the axle bearings without any apparent loss of electrical contact.

[BCR751]

One great thing is you can water it down a long way so it flows really easily and thinly but will still set up.  I even used alcohol to break the surface tension and get it to flow around trestle pilings.

md

Mark/Scott,

Could you provide a brand name for the leveling cement?  Also, where it can be obtained.  We have Home Hardware and Canadian Tire here.

Doug

[Scottl]

Every hardware supply store here had a brand although Cdn Tire did not stock it.  I'm pretty sure they are all the same.  I bought Sika 125 from Rona ($39 for 50 lb).  Wear old clothes to buy it- I still have cement on my shoes and jacket

[mark dance]

I actually used Rockite around the trestle piles.  Rockite is an anchor cement which is a form of expansion cement (like Hydrocal) but it has other stuff in it.  It flows well when thinned enough and sets up well.  The expansion effect is unnoticeable...I believe it is called that because it expands slightly to create compressive force in a tight hole when it is cured and to differentiate it from other cements/plasters which shrink.

I got a 1 lb box from Home Hardware (Canadian local HW chain) for 6$C.

For larger areas like Scott's I would trust leveling cement.

md

[VonRyan]

I guess it's a little too late to be considered as being done during the weekend, but I joined the 2mm Scale Association today.

[Catt]

Well,the Cancer unit is now pink.I should have bought a darker colour though this Krylon "Ballet Slipper" is to light but I will stay with it now.

[ryan_wilkerson]

Reese, the C39-8 looks really good. Nice work!
-Ryan

C39-8 progress:

[ryan_wilkerson]

I was very fortunate to be invited to ride up the California Coast line from LA to Oakland aboard the private car Yerba Buena on Halloween. My wife and both my sons (9 and 10) were aboard to enjoy the full 12 hour experience.
Here are a few photos.

Photo #1 was taken before we left LA. My wife, sons and friends were aboard.
Photo #2 was taken by a fellow railfan Brian who chased our train for 200 rail miles and captured some quadcopter material along with some long lens goodies.
http://fotos.walstib.com/
Photo #3 Brian's view from the quadcopter.

[Iain]

Iain,

When you did it, you said it was a terrible job and you'd never do it again

I did say that.

@ryan_wilkerson those shots are wicked cool

[nkalanaga]

Peteski:  I wouldn't be a bit surprised if Solvaset had alcohol in it, and probably other stuff as well.  There's no ingredients list on the bottle, but no hazard warnings either, and it doesn't harm plastics, so whatever it has couldn't be too dangerous.

[Mark W]

Running trains with Free-moNebraska is always a great weekend!

Next show is Sioux Falls, SD November 21st and 22nd.  We're planning to join up with Minnesota Free-moN as well!

[Jim Costello]

Solvaset must have something in its mixture. Walters has not shipped it to us down under for years as being "Hazardous". No sea mail either to get it here
unless we use a "LCL " container  for many $$$$.  AS a dealer I have tried many times.

Jim

[ryan_wilkerson]

Great scenes Mark! All of these modules have really developed since I last saw photos. The rural settings with the rolls of hay, livestock truck fencing really stand out.
-Ryan

Running trains with Free-moNebraska is always a great weekend!

Next show is Sioux Falls, SD November 21st and 22nd.  We're planning to join up with Minnesota Free-moN as well!