What Projects Have You Been Busy With?

The next addition along Hwy 23 in Levington,MN… “Murt’s Market”


. Adapted from a how-to article in the Nov 2020 RMC by Tom Johnson

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Nice addition!

Rich

Thanks Rich. Lots of fun adding this one. I realized once the building was in place that parking would be an issue, so the sidewalk is coming out and the dirt areas in front will be blacktopped.

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I like that.

Rich

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I know but right now one of the main issues that I have to take care of is I have a rat’s nest wiring and I have to secure two of my signal control boards and relays to the bottom. Two of my modules will have just intermediate signals on them but the problem here is since they are short I need to use Atlas code 65 true track to stay in the t-track standard.

The problem here is I need to find out which of the wires used in a bungalow is the common wire and which one is the hot. The hot wire needs to be insulated from the rest of the layout so it could be divided in the box so I can turn both signals at each end yellow.

So far because I have it wired wrong it’s keep staying green. On the interlocking control module I have these ones wired correctly but the snapper keeps sending the wrong signal and the detector lead is incorrect. Fortunately for me I just bought a bus bar at Lowe’s which should take care of the detective leads coming from each rail.

Next thing that I need to do is I need to place a red wire because red is the only wire that is used for track for the hot side and these need to be connected to the terminal strip and then they need to be connected to the switch terminal and then to the power pack. The final thing that I have to do is I need to get another power pack one that is a good one not an old Bachmann one accessories can take a lot of amps and the Bachmann power pack is on its last legs. And it could sort out the MRC power pack if switches are not set correctly.

Later on when I save up I’m going to switch these over to DCC and use nce but that is for later but right now my goal is to get some DCC ready locomotives for the ones that I got in my fleet so the engines I have are old analogs I’m trying to find out if they have the model of these in the current run and if they are compatible with ESU so far I found no luck with those.

Can’t even find a replacement board for a Bachmann locomotive that I bought or my brother gifted to me. I don’t want to end up destroying a board or putting in a decoder that won’t even work. Spooknet is gone and he had a good guide. Looks like I’ll have to see if they have a DCC ready locomotive on eBay and I might have to go with Atlas or with one of the other brands. Scale trains and Rapido or not an option they have a bad reputation and the other models are expensive.

The only ones that are in the range are Bachmann and Atlas. My main goal is to finish wiring the bottom of the layout and getting the signals operational that way I can do scenery work on the top and start building the model that will go on top.

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First Steps: Custom Paint and Decals for DT&/ Tri-level Portec Rack


Fresh out of the factory at Bessemer, Alabama in 1977, ETTX flat car 852394 features a DT&/ Tri-level Portec Rack. Photo by Lens Art, Jim Panza collection.

I just ordered some decals from Precision Design Co. I’m trying to track down a few Walthers undecorated 89’ autoracks, if I can’t I will strip a few cars down and repaint them.

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Turns out that Walthers has the whole axle assembly, wheels and all, for the Proto 4 axle locos. I have already fixed 2 diesels with 2 more to go. Not trying to figure out which axles are cracked. Just replacing them all.

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It’s something that’s gotta be done and I respect people people that keep up with the maintenance on their locomotives. It’s one of those jobs that you don’t see

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Seeing how low a ranking I can achieve on the Leaderboard. :wink: Unfortunately, posting this will adversely raise it. :disappointed:

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Been adding details to a down town section of my layout which is situated on a pop out.

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Welcome back on board reasearchhound.
Excellent scenes

David

Just finished up the roof of the West Elk Anthracite Crusher and got it “planted” on the layout. The model is my first real scratchbuilt structure and I am happy with how it turned out. It is based on the the anthracite crusher at Floresta, Colorado just up the narrow gauge D&RGW Crested Butte branch. I still need to install some people and details, but it looks much better with a roof :slight_smile:

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A lovey looking model. Well done.

David

Very nice!

That looks great!

Making industrial fences out of wire while waiting on syncing up with mentor to fix more of the layout.

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amazing! everyone who posted you all are amazing can’t get over what you do. please keep posting.

Got a new project just starting up now - was gifted a T-trak Double Module kit from the owner of Klawndyke modules and an awesome N scale 60’x40’ warehouse kit from Joey at Late Night Hobbies (HUGE thank you to both of them by the way!!!) and am starting to work out how I want to build a scene using both as a sort of “appreciation module.” I’m doing some research, as I want to at least nominally base the scene on a prototype, so this may be a bit of a slow burn project, but I’m very excited to get working on it.

PS, if anyone has any good ideas for a scene based on the New Haven (or really anywhere in New England/Eastern NY) with a 2 track main and preferably a siding with a small warehouse, I’d love to hear them!

Younger granddaughter on a visit wanted some lights erected on the layout. Not what I really want to do, but I let her have her way.

Anyway the order came, “Switch off the room lights, Papa.”
She then turned the switch for the lights she had put up.

One happy girl.

David

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:+1:
the thing we did for the grandkids .

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