What Have You Done Recently?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

With all the flaming nonsense going on this morning, I figure I’d start a new MRR related topic. So what has everyone been up to lately? Show (or explain) some of your recent work here.

I’ve been weathering some cars.

I beat up this GN boxcar:

A more lightly weather Cylindrical hopper:

2

I just took delivery of a new 12000-btu heat pump/air conditioner combo unit, which will provide the necessary climate control for my garage, so I can finally start building my layout (4 yrs behind schedule). But I need to wait for my electrician friend to add a 240-volt circuit before I can install it - that’ll be a week from Saturday.

3

I have been building roadbed and getting ready to lay more track. Hoping to have enough time this weekend to lay track and start running the permanent wiring.

John

4

I haven’t done much layout work–too busy with school–but since it’s a history class and the professor is letting us choose a subject of research, I’m studying the early days of the Central Pacific/SP and Union Pacific! And getting lots of modeling ideas in the process of my research…

5

I fianally got glass block windows from John’s Depot. I’m scratch building a N&W lube house or Lubeatorium (don’t hold me to the spelling please) and I’m in the process of installing the glass block windows I also got a bit of benchwork up, but first I put up a backdrop. I’m working on building a removable micro layout to fit into a corner. It’s a lift out to get to the hidden tracks. Progress is slow but at least I’m moving forward. Time is at a premium when you work 50 hours a week and do volunteer wor on the week ends.
I can’t wait to retire.

6

I just completed 4 more Amfleet I phase IVb re-paint projects as well as a phase V Acela regional re-paint project as well. I’m still waiting to apply the red stripe to my Amfleet II phase IVb re-paints but the weather is not working with me here and I am under time preassure to get this stuf done before I have to go back to school.

Oh yeah, I finally got a compressor. A Pasche compressor for about 100 plus tax. the total came to about 112 and that is including an adaptor for my Airbrush. I picked up the compressor Wednesday. I tried it out but the weather was too cold for me to deal with trying to get used to it.

7

I’ve mainly been wiring and tweaking DCC decoders. Bought three of the cheap Bachmann ones when I first went DCC a few weeks back, was not impressed at first though as they seem to have little or no mid-range throttle - it’s either not enough power to move the loco or it roars off at 30mph or so - not much use for switching! I’ve found the following values to be useful ones, in case anyone else has similar problems. The decoders are in a pair of Proto units and an E R Models Sharknose. Values were “copied” from Lenz decoders which seem far better for low-speed work:

CV2 (start voltage) 0.0
CV3 (acceleration delay) 4
CV4 (braking delay) 1

This seems to go some way towards taming their behaviour, though in future I’ll be buying better decoders (Lenz, as these are what I can get easily, have 4 locos fitted with these and they’re much better). Hope this is of use to someone!

8

i wanted to know if there is a way to make amtrak cars look like they are stainless steal without an airbrush

9

Thanks for asking MA. Progress on the home layout has been stalled a bit the last couple of weeks, as I was preparing for a public show with the portable layout. I did one back in the end of January, and one last weekend. I have one more coming up in April, but that one won’t be as difficult.

Here are a couple of photos and the track plan from last week’s event.

The layout was 32’ long in both directions, and wrapped around the corner. It took more than 8 hours to set up last Friday. By noon on Saturday, we had 4 trains running, 2 on the red path, and 2 on the blue. The trains were controlled by relay logic, and would stop and start automaticly.

10

I’m in the midst of re doing my layout . I have chosen the HO-25 Atlas Layout because to me, it looks like the best use of space on a 4x8 plywood layout that models everything that I think my Grandson may like as well as what I’ve wanted.

I also learned this week that there is a vast difference in Atlas Turnouts, and what I thought I had that would work, needs to be replaced. Oh well, that’s what a hobby is all about!

I also picked up a new to me P2K SW-1200 Switcher for the layout over the weekend. (Twas my Birthday, 49 years young) This was Old Dealer Stock and they cut me a nice deal. Ran well out of the box and seems to be breaking in nice. It’s an OLD one, because it had the old style hook horn(?) couplers. Fresh new Kadee #5’s were the first mod to it.

Chris

11

I’m getting caught up in a hobby with-in a hobby,My track work still has a way to go ,but I’ve gotten involved in super detailing some of my older steam engines,repowering and trying to get them to operate as well as possible

12

Since I’ve returned to MR, been averaging about 2-3 hours a night working on the RR.
Last night wrestled putting in a decoder & LED’s Head/Rear/Ditch lights in a Old 70’s Atlas (Austria) GP-38 CN. So far installed Digitrax decoders in:
Athearn GP-35
" " F-7

I may not post much, but thanks to everyone who does post, Great info I’ve read here about this hobby. I am having fun.

13

I’ve been working on some locomotive projects.
I have posted some photos here.

http://www.the-gauge.com/showthread.php?t=12731&page=4&pp=15

http://www.the-gauge.com/showthread.php?t=12731&page=8&pp=15

http://www.the-gauge.com/showthread.php?t=12731&page=9&pp=15

http://www.the-gauge.com/showthread.php?t=12731&page=10&pp=15

14

I have just wired my turn table and round house. I put some lights in the round house and i managed to derail an F7.

15

Hi everyone!!!

I’m still in the midst of converting from DC to DCC (Super Empire builder). I am also moving tons of stuff I got the privilege to store at my house when my Father passed away in 01 (my Mom is adament about it all being near by in case she needs to come see it - she is in assisted living and has some serious dementia issues). Moving the stuff to build another room in the basement for the new land acquisition being planned by the Board of Directors of the SLO&W. I am 2/3s done with the DCC installation and hooked up the first AR1 reversing controller thingy last night. works great! No DPDT toggle to throw, just a “click” and the loco keeps on going… So far DCC is “Way Cool!” (as my students said way back when).

Thanks for posting a great thread! One that has something to do with the hobby (we need to remember the hobby now and then). [:D]

16

Thanks for asking. In the month of February I laid the first pieces of track on the new layout. I started with my programming track which will represent a parallel UP main that runs beside the BNSF mail that I model. The UP main will have no traffic, but it needed to be represented, so I thought it would make an ideal programming track. Anyway, programming track laid and tested, I began building piers and abutments to install the 9 bridges that will be on my layout. I have most of the bridges laid out and the piers/ abutments are nearly complete for two of them.

Ron

17

Bruce,

I always enjoy your great photos. My work isn’t half as good but last night I did manage to paint my backdrop. I’m going to add some sun rays next. The layout is under construction:

http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=31722

18

I completed two bridges from balsa and cardstock
need to put some finishing touches on them and paint.

19

Finsihed the main building of the electric Coop from walthers cornerstone kits. Loved the corner pegs that assist in finding corners. Built the side crane for it and now starting the office building today. I am slowly building my structural modeling skills.

I have been building, weathering and equiptting my rolling stock with metal wheels.

I am getting ready to decal a BLI Heavy Mike in B&O using micro scale decals this weekend. And then locomotive servicing for the spring time running on other layouts that I may be able to visit.

There is a sense of quiet in my house as I have trainshows on my schedule, Two in Arkansas and one in Maryland.

20

I’ve mainly been working on lighting details on my locos. Lots of soldering.

I installed green classification lights using led’s and fiber optics to some of my Athearn F7As and installed red tail markers and white backup lights on some F7Bs and one F7A, also using fiber optics and leds. When you “mushroom” the ends of the fiber optics, they make great lenses. Haven’t quite had the nerve to try lighting the numberboards on the Athearns yet.

If anybody has tried to light Athearn F7 numberboards, let me know how you did it and how they turned out.

I also installed lenses, numbers and lights in the numberboards on my Stewart F7A along with classification lights and bright white LED headlights. Really looks great. Some new photos are on my Webshots site.

I’ve also painted the interiors of many of my passenger cars. Now I just have to get some more lighting and passengers. ($$$)

Haven’t started demolition on the current layout yet. Saving up some $ for the Kato track I will need on the new one. Looks like about $2400 just in track on the layout I am planning. (layout plan at Webshots at the address in my signature.)

Any input greatly appreciated.

I’ll get some clearer pictures on shortly!!!