Inkaneer... Which of the new coupler shank size did you use on the FA1/FB1 lashups? Sent from my SM-G530T using Tapatalk
I got the short shanks. But I have not mounted any yet. I assembled one coupler and held it up to the unit with the installed Unimate. It looked good. BUT, I have not installed it yet. Also I generally run on broad curves of 24+inches (think Ntrak) so the short shank may not be appropriate for smaller radii. I plan on testing these on my Unitrack set up once the hustle and bustle of Christmas is over. Too much going on this next week. The Unitrack is the smallest radii I have available.
The ABBA lash ups have to negotiate 13.75" & 15" Unitrack radii to be useful... and some of these are in 'ess' situations too. I have 4 ABBA sets... MoPac, Rock Island & 2 Great Nothern (FA1 & FA2). These are incredible pulling consists... great for NTrak. Unfortunately not DCC compatible without significant modification. This is where Walthers should have stepped in and improved them. Sent from my SM-G530T using Tapatalk
Waiting for Walthers to do anything in N scale is futile. I am resigned to having the A units milled. Both A and B units share the same frame so the B units can probably fit a decoder in the space that would, in the A unit, be reserved for the cab. Sound is another issue which I haven't decided on yet but only one of the units need be so equipped.
Newest purchase arrived today: American Freedom Train Car #110 Conflict and Resolution After this, there are 2 cars remaining in the AFT series. Car 16(Rd #41), the second of 2 showcase cars, due 2nd quarter 2017. Looking forward to completing the series later this year! Only 5 years in the making!
Made it to the Sacramento train show this weekend and picked up a few things.. 1) Geodesic scenery kit/molds from Bragdon Enterprises, mostly picked up this for the molds but it is a pretty neat system and compared to typical hardshell 2) SD60 demonstrator engine w/ Lenz decoder 2) GP9 w/ NCE decoder 3) C-630 engine that claimed it had a DCC decoder but only has DC lightboard (drop in decoder on order) Overall pic of engines and a couple castings that we made at the show to learn how to use the Geodesic system: https://goo.gl/photos/FoFPyLSwFmPtUQry9 Close up of #2: https://goo.gl/photos/j2s97eL9Q4zsEHXx8 Close up of #3: https://goo.gl/photos/DHRmLMZ6ujrkKnZt9 Close up of #4: https://goo.gl/photos/v277pdQM4Rc6qJDP9
The castings are plastic/foam. The rubber mold can be used with either though. Some benefits of the plastic/foam approach that I have observed so far: 1) The plastic layer in the mold cures in about 10min, the foam layer adds about 5min more. So 15min to cast any mold and have it ready to put on the layout. 2) weight, the plastic/foam weights virtually nothing but has very high strength when backfilled with foam (same used for the casting so scraps as filler are useful!) 3) ease to adjust the casting to fit the modeled area. Heat it up with a heat gun and you can flex it and it will hold the new shape once it cools (use canned air to "freeze it"). This is really critical for close clearance areas like tunnel liners or curved trackwork (like I plan on using it for cut rock face on both sides of the track on my helix decks that are exposed)
I just purchased a BLI PRR Centepede A-A unit that I received at a great price. I regauged the drivers and switched out the draw bar to MT #1016 couplers and now it runs like a dream. It doesn't stall going through switches/turnouts. The price I paid was $203 for the BLI PRR A-A pair. Staying cool and having fun with it........ Shades
2 Kato Southern Pacific sd45s / 2 Microtrains TTX Center beam cars / 2 Intermountain Alberta Cylindrical Hoppers / 10 Pack MT 1035 truck sets
Got some Wheels of Time 70' Horse Cars (converted to Express Mail) in the Southern Pacific San Joaquin Daylight colors... they are pricey but really Nice!! Atlas 40' Wood Reefers... and Atlas 11,000 gal Tank Cars. Didn't get many though... prices are all in the ionosphere now for most of these releases. I remember when I could buy the two numbers of Atlas Wood Reefers and Tank Cars for the same price I'm getting only one number now.
I made it through Christmas and New Years with a surplus of hobby funds and then the new year hit. I purchased a new airbrush compressor and a few modeling supplies, adhesive, etc. Then I see the BOGO at Arnold Hornby and got 2 SW1 switchers. Then the dreaded sneaky preorders hit. My Wheels of Time Santa Fe horse express shows up and then my MRC undec 2-6-0 pops in. I have 1 more preorder and I hope it is a few weeks off. The horse car is very nice and the 2-6-0 looks really nice and is running well after a run in. Happy belated Christmas to me. I am happy, but there is a black hole in my wallet. Trey
Got some FVM metal wheels to push me over 80% on conversions for my railcar fleet. Also a friend had this EMD lease SD40-2 in new condition that I couldn't pass up. It was quickly put to work in Effett Yard on the FreeMo-N layout this last weekend at the California Exposition in Sacramento.
I picked up the Trainworx 53' trailers that I had preordered earlier last year. I got at least one of every paint scheme. I really, really need Atlas to rerun the BLMA spine cars.
I also made it to the Sacramento train show this past Sunday. I picked up some goodies. The first is an Atlas Southern Pacific SD9: 001 by WPZephyrFan posted Jan 9, 2017 at 11:29 AM And an Atlas Burlington Northern extended vision caboose: 007 by WPZephyrFan posted Jan 9, 2017 at 11:26 AM An Aztek/Con-Cor SPFE refrigerator: 005 by WPZephyrFan posted Jan 9, 2017 at 11:25 AM And finally, A BLMA Sacramento Northern 50' mill gondola. I need another gon like I need another hole in my head. 004 by WPZephyrFan posted Jan 9, 2017 at 11:22 AM
Nice finds John. I didn't find much at the show...didn't see that SP SD9 on Saturday morning so nice work!
Calzephyr wrote: Inkaneer... Which of the new coupler shank size did you use on the FA1/FB1 lashups? Okay I got the short shank couplers and finally had the chance to mount them on my FA/B1's replacing the Unimate body mount couplers. The units couple only slightly further apart which is a good thing if you have tight radii curves. With the Unimates the molded on diaphragms on the units were almost touching each other. The True Scale couplers added about .04 inches to the coupling distance. The units would negotiate a Kato Unitrack R249 radius which is about 9.75 inches (actually 9 51/64 inches) without the units fowling each other. However they would not couple together on that tight of a curve. We'll set up the Ntrak layout for a train show coming up in mid February so I'll be able to test them on some less than ideal track work.