Well the last weekend in April is done, how did you do with getting projects on your list done? I would have loved to report more but the cold I got last Monday, developed into a sinus infection, so Saturday I slept in and continued to sleep a lot. Still, I was able to salvage an old Micro Trains 40-foot boxcar that had been painted many years ago into an incorrect scheme. Some parts were missing or broken but I was able to replace everything but the brake wheel. An afternoon in the alcohol tank and 90% of the offending paint was off. This may become a Maine Central boxcar, if not CB&Q for the layout. Later that night, I went ahead and started my project that is still hush hush but lets just say it involves a laser cutter. Sunday Jared had soccer games so I started the construction of the double length T-Trak module kit and was able to finish the primary construction. Unfortunately the GP38's have to wait. So how about you? What did you accomplish this weekend? Let us know. We'll come back on Friday, May 1st and do it again. Until then, have a great week and... High Greens!
Well, as I had hoped, my dad and I finished the legs for the layout, so no more saw horses. I need to add some cross braces to the leg this week. Will likely also put a shelf over the two cross pieces near the bottom for some more storage. Since I have the joists installed, I decided to start hooking up the feeders, so I ran the bus. I have to finish the other side sometime this week. I love these suitcase connectors. (Note this picture appears to be rotated, but I can't fix it at the moment)
Well, I actually did get back to the crossing gates. I've been trying to make them work with IR phototransistors mounted across multiple tracks, but that just hasn't been working. So, I went back to the between-the-rails visible/IR light ones that came with the circuits. I got the system working from one side, anyway. It looks like I'll need to add some IR LEDs anyway, because that corner of the layout is kind of dark, but that should be easy. I bought some Bar Mills signs to use as supports for the IR LEDs, adding scenery and function at the same time. We are having the house painted, and one of the painters brought over an old box of trains. It's all ancient Life-Like stuff. The engine is an Alco C628 in Santa Fe colors. The wheels were covered with corrosion like a leaky battery. I cleaned them up, and I can get the motor to kick and jerk a bit, but it won't move. It's a DC engine, so I have to run it as Engine Zero on my Lenz DCC layout, which isn't making the job easier. Maybe I'll pull the shell off and go with clip leads. As for the box, I think it was used by a cat, or maybe mice made their home in it. Anyway, the cardboard went out with this morning's trash.
I completed my projects, first I made some signs for a few of my locations and installed them: I assembled the mail crane and put that in Grizzly Flats: I also finished a small passenger platform: Spent a few hours on the train, managed to get a nap in as well. It was a nice weekend in Northern Minnesota.
Greetings all. Haven't posted lately, been busy as it were. However, I'm still active. Weekend accomplishments were huge. I FINALLY finished all insulation in my attic and Friday had inspection from code officials. Passed... and actually got a compliment from the building official on the installation. He cleared me Friday to go ahead and close in (already passed electrical rough-in). I have a sheetrock contractor lined up to hang dry-wall in the attic... errr train room late next week. So in about 2 to 3 weeks, I'll be ready to paint. Then its on to the floors. The only New Year's resolution I shared w/ the family this year was I WOULD run trains before this year is over. We're on the way.
I kept having little interruptions all weekend. Saturday I was repairing some jewelry. (Skills learned from my father coming in handy, having a wife who frequently breaks things.) I made a couple of signs for the depot I finished last weekend. Cleaned the work bench and am ready to proceed further on the DPM Gripp's kit also begun last weekend.
Didn't accomplish near as much as I wanted to. I painted 4 boxcars, and lettered 1-1/2 of them. A friend of mine who has a degenerative disease, and can no longer model, recently has been find YouTube modeling videos as a way to get his modeling fix. He has been on to me for a while about making a video of my layout. Hopefully I can clean up and video document my layout in the next few weeks.
I had a good trip to the Ottawa Train Expo last Saturday. Nothing substantial found, but I did pick up some books, decals, details, saw some friends, and it was a nice drive there and back. With the decals, I can get back to the GTW GP18 that has been sitting on the back burner for a while.
