I'm in the process of modifying two Atlas cabooses to become Maine Eastern/Morristown & Erie #5 and Morristown & Erie #100. The cabooses are former SOO Line, so are very close to the Atlas model, just need to rearrange the windows. This is the progress so far. Cheers Steve
Not on my workbench but..... One of my main goals for this past Winter's Layout Party was to make a space in the shop for the main layout. I did a little bit of work on that but we were in and out of town helping the in-laws move to assisted living. So pretty much gave up on that goal and worked on projects (the coal mine mainly) that I could do on the computer. Just wanted to update that and say 'mission accomplished'..... Hopefully soon I'll be back with some layout framing pictures but have to finish another thing or two first ..... but at least it is related to the framework, Sumner P.S. Anyone interested in buying an unfinished race care? Go ( HERE ). .
I have a large stack of IM locomotives to test. I reckon I have about 300 more to look into for frame issues or swelling.
I shared your car on my FB page and tagged the two guys I know who race (one stock, one drag). Maybe not them, but maybe *they* know somebody... Sent from my SM-A716U using Tapatalk
More decoder installations. The IC 3105 is a Kendall Johnen Blue Caboose Custom. I also assembled and decoderized a few Frankenstein locomotives. I had bought an MP 4649 B23-7 Shell, trucks, tank, and box. I mated that with a Decoder Ready chassis from an Undecorated B23-7. The MP 2138 GP38-2 in the photo above was a non DCC Ready Walthers/Life-Like. I had picked up a DCC Ready Walthers/Life-Like Gp 38 chassis with no shell. I swapped the trucks, tank, and mounted the shell. I took an old Life-Like IC 9400 GP18 shell and mounted it onto a Walthers/Life-Like DCC Ready GP18 chassis. I still have to mount and paint the MT 1166 Pilot Conversion kit. I have an old Bev-Bel MP 2010 GP38 that is really a complete foobie, but it was my second ever N scale locomotive. I figure that I might as well use it. Most folks probably won't even notice if it is not the lead unit in the consist. I'm sure that a lot won't even then. I mounted the shell onto an Atlas GP38 DCC Ready chassis that didn't have a shell. I still have to do the pilot conversion on it, too. I am trying to get most, if not all, of my drop-in decoders installations done. Then I am going to have to do a bunch of CN-GP's.
Updating the lighting in my Kato Milwaukee road passenger car set with some ESU DCC controlled light boards. I got these cars with the incandescent lights already installed so all of those parts will be removed and thrown in the spare parts bin unless anyone on this board wants them.
Well I am still working on my small fleet of two axle cars. Turtle Creek Central, the far western branch is an island railroad so a number of cars are used just on the Island and not in interchange service. So some Japanese 2 axle type are in use along with some home built ones. I recently discovered that Peco makes both underframes and whole car kits of the two axle variety. So I ordered three kits from an Ebay dealer in England. Two are just underframe kits and the 3rd one is a caboose. To the caboose I added a cupola. A T shank coupler can fit in the provided pocket I used Kato couplers. A shot below of an almost completed caboose and two underframe kits. 100_1696-3 by John Moore posted Apr 10, 2022 at 12:52 PM
I'm testing out my recently acquired ESU switch pilot 3 servos mostly to familiarize myself with how they work when it comes time to install them on my layout. Initially I was going to mount them underneath where they couldn't be seen but central to turnout locations to minimize the need for servo extensions. I've changed my mind though and instead will fabricate a shelf to mount them and allow for easy physical and visual access to the OLED and programming buttons. I've close to 100 feet of servo wire from my RC hobby so extensions although tedious to fabricate will allow precise length runs with a service loop guaranteed for each servo. Anyways setup using the onboard programming was a snap going strictly off recall when I read the manual a few days prior. Setup below with a single servo. The two banks of unoccupied pins are for switch module interface and external switches to control servo position. Pic of the OLED when set to display turnout position below. Top line "CMD" shows what position is requested via the unit and the bottom row "end" shows actual position.
I have been kicking around some ideas on how to make set up of an Ntrak layout easier and faster. All of the mental work is done now on to the practical application of the ideas. I expect all will not be smooth sailing as there is always some tweaking to be done. Just hoping that is all that will be necessary.
jlundy46 - very nice station scene, well done ! Waiting for a decoder, due in next week, so I have set this workbench aside. It has been sitting idle so long that it has grown whiskers.
Right doing stripes on Northern Pacific Butterknife Scheme. B unit 6500b Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Very nice! I wet shave daily. While I do own a couple straight razors I've never used one. I have several Gillette Tech double edge safety razors dating back to 1938. I really enjoy a nice warm wet shave on a winter morning. I find it very relaxing.
EVERYTHING !!! Finally painting all M/T trip pins flat black to represent brake hoses. Should have been doing this forever because now I AM doing this forever !!! Very cool to see some "old friends". Some date back to early '70s. There has been alot of "I have this ??? COOL !!!" and some "Why do I have this ???". Only 358 cars done, about 1/4 of total. Only three simple repairs, so far. It's very tedious, but I'm LOVIN' it !!!