Weekend Update 12/30/18

[mighalpern]

Well got the second BLI F7 modified and it actually ran better than before.  So adding the washers seemed to help. ( repeatable results)
then i went to the original problem child and and coupled it to a 7 car pax set, tried to pull and  it was jumping all over the place, seemed like the worm was jumping out of contact with the first gear.  I double check all my connection and took the loco apart to see if the worm bearing were seated, and they were.  So I began to examine where to added some weight.
In the end i managed to add over 3 grams to the body and then it started pulling very well, all 7 cars and no tower jumping.
So the problem is semi fixed on this one. 


 I still don't like the way the trucks are spread out due to the washers,
So Narrowminded i will be sending you a PM

[altohorn25]

I added an engineer and fireman figure to the cab of my T1.  Not much, but it adds a nice touch of detail to an already fine engine.

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[sirenwerks]

I used a very old Silhouette cutter by QuicKutz.  Michael got this thing used from a coworker years ago and it has been sitting in a box for a long time.  We had to dig out his old computer with an outdated operating system to run it.  After struggling with software and hardware issues we got it going.  I used the the deepest cutting setting and it scored the styrene perfectly but would not cut through.  It was easy enough to punch out the openings but I will be looking for a new blade that will complete the job or possibly just get a more modern cutter.  Like I said, this was a feasibility study and if I feel it is worth it to get a new system I will.

Andrew, check out the old Silhouette thread - https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=23354.0. Somewhere in it there's a blade mod for cutting. I have a second gen Silhouette still NIB in my garage. Picked it up cheap and still have intent on using it.

[cbroughton67]

I wanted to make some "tweaks" to a Free-MoN module that has been part of my layout for several years, now. Well... the "tweaks" became a complete reboot. I took the module all the way down to the frame, added a fresh sheet of luan to the frame, and now I'm starting completely fresh. Seems like a good way to start off the new year...


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[altohorn25]

I took some photos today of my 1937 Super Chief on Marshall Skibbe's Chicago Great Western layout.  Not the correct railroad for the train, but it looks nice none the less. 
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[mandealco]

After many years of no decals on my Morristown & Erie units, I finally have some.  The 2 Alcos sandwiching the SW have been "nude" for 4 house shifts.  I'm just tidying up the artwork for the next batch.

The origins of the prototype units:  RS-11 7215, former Erie Mining nee NP, sadly scrapped.  SW-1200 563, former Amtrak, nee ATSF SSB-1200, owned by RRPX and still on the M&E.  C-425 4264, came from Pook Valley, originally SP&S 326, now on the Western New York & Pennsylvania.  C-430 17 is still "nude" so is hiding in the shed.

Have a fabulous 2019.
Cheers from down under
Steve

[nkalanaga]

Nate:  The Super Chief on the CGW doesn't look out of place.  The train ran in the Midwest, and the scenery is typical of the area.  The only out-of-place thing I could see was the CB&Q Center Flow, and that could just as easily have been on the ATSF itself.

[Cajonpassfan]

To wrap up the year, I'm working on additional backdrops, this time at Devore. Here, I'm doing backdrops first, with scenery and Cajon Creek just roughed in. Hopefully this will help with the 2D to 3D transition and with color matching.
I'm pretty happy with how it's turning out, progress pics below. The big hole in the small pics is the bypassed and abandoned helix; no point in ripping it out
Happy New Year everyone!
Otto K.
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[Santa Fe Guy]

Looking super Otto, backdrops are blending in very nicely.
Rod.

[garethashenden]

I've decided to jump on the Anycubic Photon bandwagon, it should arrive tomorrow. In the meantime I've been working on some drawings. It's taken a bit longer than I expected, but I now have two versions of a small brick wall for a boiler house I'm working on. One has two windows, the other has had one of the windows blocked up with cement blocks. Most importantly, to me anyway, are all the brick arches. They're far better than anything I can make by hand. Just hope they print...

[narrowminded]

You'll be good, even amazed!  And that will be cool as could be.  

What wall thickness did you draw?

[garethashenden]

You'll be good, even amazed!  And that will be cool as could be.  

What wall thickness did you draw?

I think it’s 1mm for the main sections. The mulions are the thinnest part, only .16 x .20mm. One scale inch is .16mm.

[jpwisc]

I finished up a new Scale Car. I’ll just say the 3D print was lacking. This took a fair amount of work.
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[mmagliaro]

Hegstad:
I would really like to see what you come out with , since I model the NP
And as I wait for my bridge barrel platforms to arrive so that i can finish my double track Green River Viaduct module, I turned my attention to a matter that has gotten under my skin.  I bought 3 sets of BLI F7 A/B sets and 2 of them run ok,  little sputters now and then but ok.  The third was a basket case from day one and Tech support tried to help me out, but in the end I sent it in on Warranty  and after 30 + days i got it back.  So it ran good for the first 5 minutes and then started its sputtering, jerking like before.  Couldn't even go 2 inches without rebooting
So i e-mailed back and they asked me to try some things and neither worked, but after looking at the trucks, it seemed that the pickup plates had to much play and I wondered if that could be reduced and then maybe create a better pick up.  Well the answer is yes !!

I bought the smallest brass washers at the LHS and tried putting one washer on each side of the first wheel on the front truck

 
snapped that back onto the frame and had it crawling over areas that it previously could not run.
So removed the rear truck and installed on opposite axles for a different approach and snapped that on.


Let me say the difference is incredible.  Now i look at the 2 good runners and they anti s**t compared.
I would also like to give a positive shout out to BLI tech staff.  I never had issues and they replied pretty quick

the one thing I would like to try is find thinner washers.  These are walthers stuff and are .100" wide x .015" thick and hole dia. of .045"
Anyone know of maybe .005" or .010 " thicknesses
BTW
Happy New Year to all.
Miguel

Northwest Shortline (NWSL) sells packages of phosphor bronze washers in .010" and some in .005" thickness with a lot of different diameters and bores.  Give their online catalog a look.
Here's the relevant page:
http://nebula.wsimg.com/e31377438426657f90928f6f79a28688?AccessKeyId=08BEE66B97B387F20C0D&disposition=0&alloworigin=1

[wazzou]

I finished up a new Scale Car. I’ll just say the 3D print was lacking. This took a fair amount of work.
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Very nice job on it.