It's Monday, 06-25-07 - Weekend Modeling Accomplishments!

We had a busy weekend even though we had nothing planned. On Saturday we went to New Hope and took a ride on a canal boat. We were disappointed in the shopping. In the past there were several unique shops that we always visited. Now, however, they are all gone and replaced by upscale jewelry and clothing shops. It is a shame because the town is losing its uniqueness as a result. On Sunday we drove out to Lancaster County. We visited the National Christmas Center, and the Amish Farm. We didn’t hit any of the train places since the Strasburg RR was having a Day Out with Thomas and the crowds are outrageous and we wanted to avoid that.

I even got some modeling in. I finished weathering the wheels I was working on. I also began weathering the trucks on the two Walthers gondolas, and six-pack of Athearn 40’ steel reefers. I even began weathering the trucks on a couple of Athearn 50’ flats with trailers.

 

I managed to finish up a mini scene using an old Atlas caboose. See more on Rail Images.
John

 

Test fitted the track for the yard and started laying down the track-bed for the yard. Ran into a little snag and early this morning tried a solution. Will post on my thread in the N Scale forum when I get home from work to see if it is going to work.

Also, assembled supplies for the bus wires etc. and hopefully get them set up this week. Also time for some organization so I can have a clearer picture of where I am in the process and clean up some of the clutter from construction.

 

Began assembly of Layout #5. Building on two hollow-core doors, doors are cut and in position. Getting ready to glue down 2" pink foam, and hang overhead lighting in proper postion.
After foam, we paint the backdrop.

 

Began laying track on an extension to the yard which will include engine facilities, roundhouse etc. Also added a balcony and columns to a scratchbuilt hotel I have been working on.

 

I've installed two ESU sound decoder into my Dash 9's:

At first I worked with the grill. You should nearly look through! I used the way I did with my other engines like RS 1. At first I removed much plastic. But be carefully, with my RS 1 I made a mistake. You see the hole! Hold the grill in front of a lamp. When you see light, STOP!



Also I removed from the shell the appropriate part. I changed the speaker with a less one, 23 mm.





Inside the shell I glued the speaker box. I had to fit it. Now both engines are ready for service:



Wolfgang

 

Worked this weekend on a "test section" for new layout. I already had an 8x16" frame made from 1x4s and topped with 1" blue foam, hole cut for installing Peco switch machine under track, and laid cork roadbed with foam adhesive. And early last week, I assembled the undertrack switch machine and contact device to the bottom of Peco turnout.

This weekend's job was installing Peco turnout with undertrack machine dropped through the roadbed and foam. First of all I soldered on wire drops. I wanted to have several colors of wire on hand before I started, and thought I should get good quality wire. A week or so ago, I went to the building supply store and bought some 12 guage wire. Looks like it is MUCH too heavy to try to solder to switch machine contacts or rails...I will probably use it for bus wire around layout.

Soooo, in preparation for weekend work, I went to Radio Shack to buy wire. Only could get 3 colors in 18 gauge stranded-- red, green, black. I had wanted to red for turnout wiring REVERSE direction, green for NORMAL, black for return, and a different color for each of at least three throttles. (This is going to be a DC cab control layout, so far)

I got the turnout assembled, and "partly finished"-- enough to test that it throws the right way when I energize the leads. Not quite finished. But I have learned several things so far.
The 18 gauge wire is too big to get through the holes in my momentary contact switch throwing bottoms, so the wire is "contact soldered" in place but there is no wraparound "mechanical" connection for the wire. I think I need to get a smaller wire, maybe 22 gauge for individual connections. I can't seem to find any in this city of 300,000 unless I buy in 500 foot spools of each color. Guess I will have to try mail order or e-order.

 

Created loads for a few of my cars. This included "Blue Mystrium" in block (rear) and granular, (front), forms. The middle row has "communications and GPS spheres" and a dino sculpture for the park.

Sky was digitaly added to the picture to see how it would come out.