We are back from another weekend. I hope it was successful for you. Saturday: Fortunately the trip to the hardware store was successful and I was able to get all I needed so Saturday was spent on getting the bus line up on module 1. I was able to get all the switch machines transferred from the DCC bus line to the new DC bus line without any issues. I then spent a bit of time fooling with the grade crossing detector. After a few hours of head scratching, routing wire and trying to understand the instructions (I really wish most manufactures of electronics would just include a schematic). I ended up pulling out the delicate wires of the NJ International signals. I concluded it would be a good time to stop and walk away. Sunday: I got up early and went to the only non-air-conditioned room and started work on the new point of view signs that will be installed through out the layout next weekend. These not only will give the audience a point of reference but will also help distinguish between Burlington and Santa Fe trackage and industries. After about 11:00 it got too hot for me to work on the computer any longer so I went back to the layout. I set the first module back on its feet and started working on the DC bus line. By the end of the day I had finished my bus line and had transferred all switch machines to DC power then I installed a sound generator to one of the Butler buildings. The Ngineering sound module, unlike the crossing device, was an easy affair and I had sound within 20 minutes. I, like Neal, have a long way to go before I leave early Thursday morning. At the end of the day, I was surprised to receive a card from both Anglea and Jared cause it was, yup, Fathers Day! I forgot all about that. Fortunately, they did not and I got a new grill that Angela and I put together to finish the day. A good weekend. So how about you? Did you get a lot done? Let us know. I'll assemble the crew again on Friday the 22nd from Galesburg Illinois. Until then, have a great week, stay cool and as always... High Greens!
Spent most of the time just running trains, but one of out club members was busting my chops because my Norther Pacific combine couldn't be making much revenue without carrying passengers. Managed to get the car apart and installed passengers.
I did a day trip over to Ottawa. There was a model RR garage sale advertised, and I needed a day out of the house and on the road. It was a nice day at that, a great one for a drive. This guy collected for decades, judging by the really old stuff (in great condition at that). I picked up a few freight cars, a spare Model Power shark shell (for parts, like the horns), a CPB16-5 (or 20-5) that weighs a ton (with that weird flexible drive link underneath, and humongous motor that has more in common with a can of tomato juice than an HO loco motor ). The best of the haul was an improvised dynamometer car (you read right) made from a half-pound (250g) Ohaus scale (the vertical kind, looks like a luggage scale or a fish scale) glued to a flat car. Absolute genius. One end of the flat car still had its standard Kadee coupler, and the other coupler was mounted on the load end and is coupled to an engine. I did a few experiments with a few locos (holding one end of the dyno car), and it pretty much confirms that the same rules as the 1:1 guys apply to HO scale - about 20% adhesion. A 400 gram Atlas S2 could pull about 80 grams. The little dinky 44 tonner managed a paltry 25 grams (which explains why it has trouble pulling a 12-car train with correctly weighted cars). A 12-car correctly weighted train has about 25 grams of rolling resistance. And the reputation of Athearns as good pullers holds up. Needless to say, I totally geeked out on my new toy...
I managed to make a nice purchase and have on order the rest of my intermodal train. That is all the modeling for a bit. I am now in paint the house mode. One room half done. Primer only. Next the paint.
I spent Father’s Day working on my N Scale models of 1449 and a 1100 Class. I got my Tomyec chassis from Plaza Japan yesterday, and my daughters had fun trying to figure out the Japanese newspaper….I have not attached any part that needs to be black.
A bit more progress on my control panel, precisely marking and drilling dozens of holes for the LEDs and Toggle switches.
