As long as they fit on the layout... The only thing worse that trains falling off tracks, is tracks falling off layouts.
You are so right! Trains launched by kitty cat paws down to the floor is my horror story to tell. Wider curves are the best curves, I said. George, you didn't see that coming. Hummm!!!???
A quick update: Ok....So THERR RV has been sitting on the side of my house since 2012. In that time the tires have slowly sunk into the dirt/cinder driveway on that side of the house. It was fine for the rain and melted snow to run off the front left corner of the RV roof. However...I knew it affected the layout levelness. I also knew that it affected the inclines on both sides of the aisle. How much ? The trains used to stall near the top of the inclines with just 8 cars in tow ! I set a 2' level on the layout yesterday. It was near 1/2 inch off center in 2' !!! Figuring the inclines are 10' long that makes it around 2 1/2 inches more added on the inclines. If my math is correct that makes my original 2% inclines more then 4% now ! My son had bought a 3 ton floor jack and 4 jack stands when we where fixing his Jeep. I went out and jacked the front of the RV up until the level bubble was near center. The RV still leans a bit to the front left corner which is fine for water runoff and not pooling on the roof...looking for a way inside. I put jack stands under the front frame on both sides. It felt wierd walking inside the RV now that its level...lol. The trains now take the original 2% inclines with ease. I was able to add 4 more cars back to both the trains..for a total of 12 cars each...and they both climb up and down the inclines just fine with single 4 axle diesels on each train. There is a big weather change coming starting tomorrow. Rain and snow for at least a week. I will hold my breath hoping the roof repairs I made over last summer hold and there are no more roof leaks insdie. .
That's interesting George. Cool that you got everything leveled back up somewhat. Hopefully all will be well with the weather heading your way. No real snow here at the house but I did see a few flurries Saturday morning
Finally ordered various packages of 7" x 12" Plastcruct White Styrene Model Scratch Building Plastic Sheets in differing thicknesses for some projects I still need to do...if I want to....lol
....maybe I DO have one project that is pretty much topping the list. I want some concrete slabbing around my engine shop. The only major problem is...painting white plastic a light gray to simulate concrete. It's winter...painting is a no-go till spring. . I feel I could cut the pieces and just lay them where they need to go...for now. Painting weather here is mid March....just around the corner.
Spread newspapers on the kitchen table, rattle can of primer, spray! Then run out of the house, quick before the CFO gets wind of it!! Or, wait until 'safer' weather.
I did that not that long ago but in the storage room instead of the kitchen. It almost worked but the wife caught wind of it before I could get away and that has put an end to it until warmer weather. Probably a well known tip but always worth repeating, for just smooth thin sheets of styrene, you can get those for sale type signs at wally world or the big box hardware type stores for usually way cheaper than buying it in packages as sheet styrene. Of course that doesn't work for pattern type sheets.
The ultimare plans for the plastic sheets: Concrete slab around the engine shop. Plastic must be the height of the Unitrack rail. New roof on most buildings. The great flood of 2021 made a mess of the cardboard roofs. New sidewalks everywhere ! Temp changes and flooding has made everything used so far warp !!! The roofing paper parking lots and basswood strip sidewalks will all be torn out and the parking lots will be painted with chalkboard paint and stripped. A few other minor projects.
Or...wait until she goes to her BFF's house to visit...spray them...and when she gets back home and smells the paint...remember >>> “It’s easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission”
Ok all you guys east of Arizona...It's all headed your way !!!! The 1st winter storm just came through here. The next is tonight and tomorrow. 6 inches so far...6"+ more coming. I aint even going out to THERR RV until I can see ground again on the pathway !!...LOL .
We got two to three inches here at around 1800ft just north of Yosemite. I've heard of a lot more snow coming down further up the hill..
They are predicting some tomorrow and some this coming weekend in the metro NYC area. Must be the stuff you are experiencing now.
NICE, I'd love some of that snow but it's not to be. It was 68 degrees at 2am this morning in Atlanta along with some massive thunder storms and the tornado sirens going off. No tornado at my house and I see beautiful blue sky out the window this morning. Supposed to be 70 today and only in the low 50's tomorrow.
An RV as a model train enclosure would never have thought of that and if I did I would have a hell of a time with the local bylaw officer. Always amazes me the lengths we will go to support "This Hobby" Well done.
Received my 6'x12' White Styrene sheets in .020, .030, and .040. I thought I had ordered some .080. I guess not. So I am going to have to double up the .040 on the ties to make all the concrete slab around the 'Engine Shop' level with the track. On a side note: The dogs made a path over to THERR RV. Supposed to be 58 tomorrow. I MAY turn the heater on in there and warm the place up. I feel a need to pour some concrete slab...
I made a quick & dirty spray booth once with a cardboard box, furnace filters and a used bathroom fan. I used some 4" dryer vent hose and a blank fo plywood to plug the gap in the window. That way you can spray indoors to a certain extent without too many fumes.
