I knew I was forgetting something.... It's time for Weekend Modeling Plans and to see what you all have in mind to get done this weekend. Today is my weekend, my only day off until Wednesday of next week. The plan today is to finish up two B&M locomotives in N scale as well as my CB&Q NW-2 switcher. I really want to work on my Galesburg Modules too but time just keeps running out. So how about you? What do you have planned for this weekend? Let us know. We'll come back here on Monday the 31st and see how we all did. Until then, have a safe and fun weekend and... High Greens!
I might do some modeling Saturday. Sunday, I'm going to the Go Pro Grand Prix of Sonoma. I'm going to celebrate Justin Wilson's career and then watch some Nissan GT-Rs in Pirelli World Challenge.
I'll be diagnosing an odd drive sticking issue with an older Atlas GP38 I just finished painting and decaling as GTW 5810 in Burdakin Blue. So far, I've guessed that the problem seems to be in the front truck. As I increase throttle, the lamp comes on but there's no movement. Eventually something comes unstuck and the loco surges forward. Sometimes the torque generated derails the front truck.. Once I do get it running, after about 10 minutes it slows and stops, drawing 1 amp or more just sitting there. It does not seem to occur in reverse. I've already disassembled and lubed it, but to no avail.
I'm planning to cut and install backdrop material on the layout, begin designing the lighting valance, and maybe start working on some structure mock-ups. And keep writing code for the custom LCC modules I'm designing for layout control.
Hmmm. Some sort of weird binding in the motor or gear train. Nothing can be seen in the motor which is jamming the armature?
It's a completely enclosed motor, no way to see inside. I will eventually have to disconnect it from the drive train (or remove it from the chassis) and free-run it to see what happens.
I'm headed out of town for vacation this weekend, so I took pictures of my layout and I'm going to make notes about all the various work, scenery and detailing that needs to happen in each photo. I should return with a long, long to-do list.
I pulled the motor out of the chassis, and ran it freely. It did the same problem, spins OK in reverse, slower in forward. Weird. I lubed the shafts where they come out of the motor case, and reinstalled the motor (with plenty of cussing). There seems to be an improvement while testing on a short (2 foot) piece of test track. It will go on the loop for some more serious testing. I hope it did the trick.
Spent today at the NMRA train show. Tomorrow out to the coast. Takin my friend from the UK on a road trip to the coast.
