I actually airbrushed the whole brick part roundhouse inside and out with a cheap acrylic paint from Walmart called territorial beige. I didn't like the color it was originally molded in and that toned the brick color down and made it look more sun bleached and weathered. Then I just used chalks to weather it... charcoal, gray, white and yellow and just brushed it on until I got the effect I liked.
Finally getting back into HO after 20+ years away. I'm lucky enough to still have my Dad around and we're working on a new layout. We had a ton of old rolling stock, but wanted to do DCC and Sound, so brought home this Burlington Northern GP35 from Proto 2000, shown pulling the first test train on the under construction layout. Really happy with it so far! Now to decide which of the many SD40-2 options available (except I can't find a scaletrains.com version available anywhere in BN)
Hit the local train show today. It’s the first one of the season. Found a logging truck and needed for a great buy. $10— Also hit the Azatrax table. Four crossings that need lighting up.
Funny you should mention Azatrax Kevin, I’m installing one now on the layout. So far so good. I had it up and running and have dismantled it to put it in its permanent mount under the table. I may have to do a few more, I like how they work. Now if someone could explain in small words how to get a bell sound when crossing....... I’ve missed 2 shows because of family things so far in the last 2 months, Oklahoma City is the first of December, I’m going and spending money! Keep up the good work buddy! Dale
He might have the show listed on their website. That is how I knew he was going to be in Salt Lake this weekend.
You have to attach a very large bell, and then adjust volume by moving it away from your train room. I have heard the sound level during operating sessions is about perfect if the bell is in a sewing, or craft room.
I found instructions on the website. I got the lights working tonight. Now I just have to secure all the wires and hide the Ir leads. The bell comes soon. If you hook it up right, it works like a charm. PM me if you have any questions.
Will do thanks! I am still a couple weeks out from hooking them up. I need to finish my lake area first. Also I only have half the signals, the others I ordered Saturday. Waiting for the delivery man now.
I think I found a solution for the crossing sounds you want. Try this out. There is a sound chip offered here with the crossing bells. https://www.ngineering.com/sound_library.htm#current
As I get ready to get back to work on other unit's picked this up for $60 dcc sound proto GP7. Shells going in the dip next day or 2.
Wasn't a purchase. But, neighbor down the street, who has seen me running the G Scale out front, or racing radio control in the streeet stopped by earlier, before I was up. Asked if I was interested in a large collection of HO trains. Mom said yes, and he proceeded to get a large tub of UNOPENED HO trains! A couple of locomotives, cars, many structures and a couple of Atlas track sets. No power supply. All FREE. I need to go through it, and get items and photos of everything next!Mom even asked if he wanted something for everything. He said No. Wanted to get rid of it. Maybe through Church, Toy Box donation for Christmas, or me, if I wanted it! His young son came by a short time later, with a couple more boxes found. Don't know reason(s) for him disposing of everything. Am grateful he thought of me though! Was definitely NOT expecting this! Not sure if I'm gonna hold onto it, or if I'm gonna try and get rid of things. May very well keep, and put on display eventually.
Great Score! My most recent HO purchase was a Craigslist find of a complete Athearn Train set for $45. I mostly wanted it for the running loco frame (for an Amtrak shell I've got) and the IT gondola (I'm a sucker for Chicago area short lines), but I decided to keep the caboose also which I've since done a bit of detail painting on, mostly window frames adn grabs. To top it off, when I opened it up there was a nice bonus Genesis boxcar as well that was not visible from the outside, though I'll have to get a replacement truck for it.
Photos of the HO trains I recently recieved, free, from neighbor. Still have several structures and a couple of Atlas track packs. All equipment is NIB. Never assembled. I have 4 each of the PBR gondolas and 4 each of the Mathers cattle car. Different road numbers. Also an Atlas 60' 50th Anniversary boxcar, and MRL caboose. And last, 2 Athearn locomotives, 1 SW-7 and an SW-1000, both dummy units.
My local train shop "Zientek" has a ton of NOS kits. I picked these three up this week. An E&C and two Roundhouse. The roundhouse kits were only $6.50 each! My 7 year old boy has done a couple kits with my help and my 5 year old daughter helped me out with the last one, so I think with minimal guidance they should be able to put together the uber-simple Roundhouse kits. I'll do the E&C for myself. Doing a bit of prep on the Roundhouses tonight before I let them at it next week. There's lots of flash on the metal frames and the brake equipment is on a sprue of light grey plastic that I'm going to paint black.
Well the N scale I was thinking of getting into was really short lived. Grandson has a hard time and me also getting them on the track. So I found this on Facebook will pick up next week. It's a 10'X12' L shaped layout. He Has it setup for DCC. So I m good. Have a NEC and Just got ( well It will be here Monday) an ECoS touch screen DCC controller. Now I have to find DCC engines and cars.
It may not be HO but it will help in the long run. Time to organize the train room. I have stuff everywhere and I can’t find anything. This will help. It will be nice having all my modeling tools n one place as well as all my supplies in another for a change. Right now they are all over the place making a mess.
