N scale "What's on your workbench?"

Mark Watson Oct 28, 2009

  1. DCESharkman

    DCESharkman TrainBoard Member

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    There is a saying, that "Anarky is a self serving monster!" I am embarrassed to actually show all of you how it has taken over this once pristine work and test area devolved into total chaos.

    Here is the cleanest glimpse I can show without losing my dignity
     

    Attached Files:

  2. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    Well the rebuild of the TGW little center cab is finished. Tested the mechanism and it ran flawlessly through the Kato unitrack turnouts due to slightly larger diameter drivers on the new TGW mechanism. Original mechanism had too small of drivers allowing it and the side rods to bottom out on the turnouts. Finished the shell and added additional weight to the loco with strips of thin lead. Placed on the track with the now weighted shell and it ran flawlessly at it max of 4.5 volts.


    Top end is about a N scale 40 mph. Backed the loco down onto the port track which has a 2% grade up to the main. It is good for only 2 covered hoppers up that grade. Brought the loco up to the main and added a third covered hopper and on the flat and level it ran just fine.


    Eventually I added two more cars to it for a total of 5 cars and it ran good but that was it's limit. And that is okay because it is destined to become the brewery yard switcher handling 1 to 3 cars at a time from the main up into the yard and back again.

    Now I am starting on the 2nd one converting it to the new mechanism.
     
  3. SPsteam

    SPsteam TrainBoard Member

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    A new workbench. In the process of moving so trains are on pause for a few weeks.
     
    BNSF FAN, Hardcoaler and MetraMan01 like this.
  4. MK

    MK TrainBoard Member

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    You know if you clean up your work bench you won't be able to find anything! :D
     
  5. SP-Wolf

    SP-Wolf TrainBoard Supporter

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    Absolute truth!!

    Wolf
     
  6. Massey

    Massey TrainBoard Member

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    You say here is what I can show you without losing dignity and respect, and here you drink out of a mason jar…. Good man, we do that here too!
     
  7. DCESharkman

    DCESharkman TrainBoard Member

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    Well I started that when I was in college, because the pasta sauce came in those jars. While I lived in the greater Phoenix area, those were much better at satiating the need for thirst than a standard drinking glass. Plus it seemed a shame to not reuse the jars, also you do not worry about it if you break one, because it is easily replaceable. In the Sacramento area, the summer heat index is similar to Phoenix temperature wise, just more humidity than Phoenix, and usually 4 or 5 degrees cooler than Phoenix. So it does get hot here too.
     
  8. Massey

    Massey TrainBoard Member

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    I bought some to use when I was working in my shed, that way I could put a lid on them and not get dust in my drink. I joked with my wife that I bought new glasses for the house, and she liked the idea. She had random jars to drink out of as a kid because her parents couldn’t afford proper glasses, so she was used to using them. That was 10 years ago, and we still do it today.
     
  9. Shortround

    Shortround TrainBoard Member

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    I like the pint size. Out in the back country we some times added some flavoring to the juice.
     
  10. DCESharkman

    DCESharkman TrainBoard Member

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    In the heat of the summer the extra volume comes in handy! It is the perfect size for any beverage, though that goes within reason. That large a glass of Whiskey or any other alcoholic beverage a very bad idea.
     
  11. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    Well I have finished the other re-motoring and rebuilding the last TGW center cab. With trick learned from the first one I have managed to keep this one a center cab.


    And on a test run before the finishing touches are applied, Same mechanism and the same weights yet this one pulls better handling another covered hopper for a total of five. The other can handle 4 only.


    I have decided to try my hand at bashing a Bmann MDT actually an MWT shell into a true MDT so have a shell on order from them and have a TomyTec TM-TR02 mechanism on hand.

    The Bachmann WDT is actually a foobie that there is no proto for. The following might be some interesting info for modelers,
    https://americanindustrialmining.com/plymouth-locomotive-works
     
    Last edited: Mar 17, 2023
  12. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    Last night I Put the finishing touches on both the TGW center cabs rebuilds. Both have had the frame extended to accommodate a new mechanism with larger wheels. Both have had side frames that were bashed to fit. I used the detail parts that came on several sprues with the original TGW locos. Couplers are Kato 11-107 which is my go to coupler that functions very well with connecting to MTs.

    The center cab is lettered for Sabat Stone and Lumber. The offset cab is lettered for Friday Harbor Brewing. I am debating whether to apply some Bragdon powders to both locos one with stone dust and the other with grain dust.


    Bmann has shipped my Plymouth switcher shell so should be in next week my next project.
     
  13. jwaldo

    jwaldo TrainBoard Member

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    Life has me pretty swamped lately, but there's always time for a little light* weathering:

    [​IMG]

    *for certain values of 'light'
     
  14. DCESharkman

    DCESharkman TrainBoard Member

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    New to my workbench is a sign "No more new locomotives"
    With the number that I have there is no reason for more than I have now and in fact I need to reduce the number that I do have to begin with.
    Big dreams have to be tempered with reality and sensibility.
     
  15. ArtinCA

    ArtinCA TrainBoard Member

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    Working on a Micro Engineering Gas Station kit for sale. I don’t have an N scale layout but I do enjoy the building process.

    Getting everything set then I’ll paint and add the details and weather everything up.

    [​IMG]


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  16. BigJake

    BigJake TrainBoard Member

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    "Sign, sign, everywhere a sign
    Blockin' out the scenery, breakin' my mind
    Do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign?"
    -- Refrain from "Signs" written by Les Emmerson, performed by Five Man Electrical Band
     
    badlandnp, ArtinCA, BNSF FAN and 6 others like this.
  17. marty coil

    marty coil TrainBoard Supporter

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    These TWO Milw. Rd. box cars were just completed Friday. My 14th attempt at a 'veneer' car and my 8th spent grain (beer car) box cars. Both from Micro Trains. The ribs are .010 brass rods and the grab irons are Gold Medal.... IMG_3635 (2).JPG IMG_3631 (2).JPG
     
  18. SPsteam

    SPsteam TrainBoard Member

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    8BE8D0A0-AAA3-4D22-BE2E-D6C48CDC7AA1.jpeg The new workbench where more locomotives will be converted for SP use. The pegboard is quite pegless however, need to get the tools moved in.
     
  19. Massey

    Massey TrainBoard Member

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    As I hinted before, I’m making a new control box for my train club. I am almost finished, needing to install the USB port and one more 2x2 port on the rear for the program and test track. But this now gets you the idea of how it’s all going to look and be laid out.

    Here are the guts. The hold down for the command station, and the mounts for the PM42 and DC/DCC switch came off my 3D printer. The box on the right holds the power cable, extension cables and whatever else I need.

    AE626B83-9C04-40B5-9B20-C318D2D7BC26.jpeg


    Here is a shot of the lid.
    1F052191-37F3-4A7E-9844-B10A8C0CE325.jpeg

    This is the DC/DCC switch from RPC Electronics. It’s only tied to the red line this time.
    6FB2E261-55C2-40DB-BEA9-6FDB3822AAD6.jpeg


    outside top of the box, I put a USB port up there for charging a phone. In the original box it was supposed to power a speaker that was going to be used for ambient city sounds, but I couldn’t ever get the Raspberry Pi to do it how I wanted. Oh well, it was popular for charging phones, so I kept it for that purpose.
    CDC63A39-FD11-4D3C-8C08-E8B29475A45B.jpeg DCB074BC-E4A8-43FD-B216-768D06FD402A.jpeg

    And lastly the back with the DC in and the 4 channels for the output. There will be another port back here that’s a 2x2 and it will be next to the 2x4 port.
    E85A1A9B-0E9A-4153-ABA7-B040D955D404.jpeg
     
  20. Massey

    Massey TrainBoard Member

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    I discovered this song from the group Tesla on their 5 man acoustical Jam album.
     

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