Progress report #2

[ginzokid]

I locked the other thread. There is some good stuff in there that probably has been reposted in other threads. I'll check. In the meantime, here's another place to write. B-)

[ginzokid]

Building "Granda's House" from Campbell. Again for the tree layout. Went to George's yesterday and we programmed three of his locos and made up two consists. He's hooked on multiple lash-ups.

So much to do on his and mine that we just get tired thinking about it.

:_|

[dl85vette]

been bad and not making progress or runnning trains. Been using spare time on working on bike model for contest still.

I think I'll clean up some of my mess and clear the tracks and run some trains tomorrow evening. getting withdrawals. plus I am not working on saturday so if it isn't a railfanning day then I will play with trains and maybe get back into structure building, etc.

I have a Mad Max 2 Road Warrior car kit that I want to build (for contest) but I gotta put all the eggs in one basket and finish the dakar rally bike first or other wise I'll be going to show with 2 unfinished kits.

[barrysfp45]

I recently watched an interesting DVD about the triple tracking of Cajon and saw a very interesting well car set, a Thrall five unit that had been shortened to 40 foot units, I liked the look of it way more than the APL set on my layout so I decided I would play, it is now a shortened 40 foot five car set in TTX colors and decals, I think I succeeded with the experiment and will post a pic soon.

]:)

Hmmm. Kinda confused. Why would they shorten the units to 40' when they can buy them like that.

-- Edited by dl85vette at 03/26/2012 1:59 PM PDT

[barrysfp45]

Who is they Dave, the real ones may be able to be built shorter but from what I have found on google TTX has been shortening the 48 footers for several years now as they carry more 20 and 40 foot containers now than the domestic 48 foot boxes and they either shorten the length of the train or can add a couple units to bring the total length back to the max allowable, and they can still carry 48 footers on top of the 40 foot box, makes logic to me, as for model thrall cars only 48 foot in N scale is made, I like the look anyway.

]:)

"They" as in car manufacturer.  I just never saw these or read about TTX shortening them. that's all. I understand intermodal TEU  logic, but seems like a lot of work when there' should be a lot of 40' units out there still.

Remember. I live in the praries where CP rail is extending siding lengths to accomodate longer  and longer stack trains.

-- Edited by dl85vette at 03/29/2012 6:33 PM PDT

[barrysfp45]

From what I can gather TTX has about a gazillion 48 foot cars that are mostly going to waste so they decided to shorten them rather than replace them, replacing would mean scrapping what they already had and spending heaps, so they rebuild in their shops for wages instead of outlay, sounds like they save heaps and get the units they want, they have been doing the same with Gunderson cars for several years also, Deluxe did what they called lopacs in kit for a very short time and were going to release RTR years ago but never continued with the project, that would have given us 40 foot wells but alas not to be, as I said I like the look of the 40 foot cars.

]:)

Thanks for the info Barry. ya learn something everyday. What  CP & CN do here is stack 48' & 53' containers on top of 40' container (on 40' container cars) and stagger the longer top containers with a 40' in between so the longer containers don't bump the end of the other long container through curved track section.

-- Edited by dl85vette at 03/30/2012 6:08 PM PDT

[ginzokid]

And they don't have tunnels to worry about on the flat plains either so double stacks are the norm.

😄

[dl85vette]

Actually Pete, Once I get new system, I will sell  (more like try to) the MRC system.  It's not worth keeping. Can't the NCE program?   (MRC porgrams address 2 digit (yuck)  start voltage and top speed. fairly basic.

I want 4 digit addressing so address# can match loco's road

number.

Some lucky person will buy it from ebay if you list it.

]:)

-- Edited by ginzokid at 04/10/2012 3:22 AM PDT

[ginzokid]

I seem to be in a collecting mood again. Just got my hands on another G&D MT boxcar. That will make 4 of them. They will go well with the Bachmann 4-6-0 Baldwin that used to be CN and now is wearing G&D lettering, thanks to me. I guess I'll have to start that N scale layout I have been planning for so long.

I just finished up building the last model for the HO Christmas tree layout and got a little burned out. I built 9 structures in a little over three months. Time for a break and just some running of the On30 layout. There is a lot to do on it still, mostly the scenery. And of course the club layout needs work too.

And then there are those ship models and cannons that are sitting on the shelf begging to be built too.

Lawn and garden maintainence are fast approaching too. Who says retirement is easy?

B-)

You can't rush these things, just pace your self, there is always plenty of time, my motto anyway.

]:)

-- Edited by barrysfp45 at 04/15/2012 6:22 AM PDT

[ginzokid]

I was a busy little beaver yesterday. I moved my computer desk and my modeling table out from where they were to make room for a new/old two pedestal, three drawer each side, desk that is a gift from a friend. It's a sturdy old thing with a great solid oak top that will not warp or sag like my folding modeling table is now doing. I'll use that for a parts and plan layout table now. I was using a folding card table before. Maybe I'll get rid of that cheap pasteboard computer desk too in the end and use part of the big table for the confuser. My printers and scanner are on a rolling cart under the model table. I should probably sell the scanner because my new printer does it all. However, it has one advantage and that is the top comes totally off so I can scan things like models and thick books, etc. The new combo printer top is fixed. The old confuser has my drafting program on it which I still use at times so I have to keep it until it dies. Now to get that new desk delivered.......anybody got a truck I can borrow?

😄

I do, but the gas bill will be a killer for ya  😉

-- Edited by dl85vette at 04/29/2012 6:03 AM PDT

[dl85vette]

Interested in building an aussie Kenworth roadtrain, moreso due to size, build the tractor.  and also weather it nice and dusty.

ANy suggestions Barry. have you undertaken one of these?

Many years ago I built and detailed a Kenworth SAR standard cab and a Peterbuilt standard cab, I think now you can get sleeper cabs fairly easily, I prefer the long nose trucks but a nice aerodine would be good too, I know a guy who recently built one of the Italia kenys with two tankers with a dolly that looked great, I like flat beds myself but never got around to building one just the tractors, can't even remember what brand they were now, show us when done

]:)

-- Edited by barrysfp45 at 05/02/2012 4:37 PM PDT

. . . .

Does a road kill kangaroo stuck in the grill count as weathering?  Charles...

-- Edited by taz-of-boyds at 05/10/2012 1:38 PM PDT

[taz-of-boyds]

I have been making progress N Scale-izing my 1897 wooden hopper, here the Google SketchUp person presents some parts of my drawing for comparision (some Google employee simplified drawing shows up in new drawings when you run SketchUp):

https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=e11b13ec6107fb9b&resid=E11B13EC6107FB9B!853&parid=E11B13EC6...

I am reducing some detail and the smallness of some of the details so they print in N Scale at the Shapeways printer.

All the best,

Charles

PS, I also weed wacked a copperhead snake over the weekend, it will not bother anyone any more...

-- Edited by taz-of-boyds at 05/13/2012 1:20 PM PDT

[ginzokid]

I've had rattlesnake for dinner. Does copperhead taste like chicken too?

]:)

[taz-of-boyds]

Pete,

Since you asked, I had to search.  Sounds like chicken, but the only way I would know would be if I could talk with the ants that must be enjoying the hapless snake that wandered too close to a people living place...

No Crocodile Dundee dinner for me,

Charles

[ginzokid]

Barry is it true? Does Goanna need more garlic?

😄

probably, I've been told they are partial to it.

]:)

-- Edited by barrysfp45 at 05/15/2012 5:19 AM PDT

[dl85vette]

Been working on industrial spur. Made a run around track for it also for cutting cars into the plastic plant siding.  Found my bag of spikes. 😄  as can't get any in this city. Shelves are pretty empty for atlas products that shops are waiting for from china. 

Today I finished the spur lead and cut apart straight section to house uncoupling magnet.