Modeling topic
Scenery
Having read your recent articles on scenery, I would suggest use use ordinary screen wire to form hills and valleys. I use coat-hanger wire to create the top contour; fasten the screen wire to it with U-shaped bits of wire, and then lay 4" squares of 2-ply paper towels on the screen after dipping in soupy Hydrocal B-11. (This dries to a harder surface than plaster, but takes acrylic colors just as well). Rock molds filled with thicker Hydrocal are applied to the towels-on-screen-wire, after spraying dried towels to assure adhesion.
12 volt accessory buss feeding arduino
I am planning on running a 12 volt accessory buss to power leds and accessories for stuctures, small motors and other animations on my lay out. I will be using arduino pro minis for some of the animations (led and motors). The arduino power in states it will take up to 12 volts. It has onboard regulation to knock it down to 5 volts. This will probably cause the pro mini to get hot. I was thinking that if I built a breakout board with an LM7805, tied into the 12 volt buss. Ground would be common for both 12 and 5 volt supplies. Will this cause any problems?
WVRR operations
The WVRR switching crew spotting the cars for the end of shift. Time to head for the engine house.
Track Spikes
I am looking at these spikes http://www.micromark.com/small-spikes-pkg-of-1000,8607.html from Micromark and was wondering if anyone has used them. They look an awful like Micro Engineering spikes. I have been using the Walthers spikes https://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/948-360 I am having a hard time finding the walthers spikes here in Canada. I found some at Trainworld but was not going to pay $50 us dollars for shipping of 10 packs of spikes so im on hold hand laying my track till i get some more spikes. Good thing theres always something to do on model railroad.
Rare Earth Magnets
Most of my layout wiring is contained in a wooden wiring tray that is covered with masonite fascia that is removable, held on by finishing washers and wood screws. Would like to know if anyone has used circular rare earth magnets (1/2 x 1/4) to keep fascia panels in place. Please share your Pros/Cons, lessons learned. Thanks, Joe
Please help me with my first attempt at consisting
Never having tried it before, I thought I'd try a consist today (taking a break from building to actually run some trains).
Did the Google search to see how it's done - to speed match, most say start with CV5. Turns out 2 of the 3 locos I want to consist don't have a CV5, or at least it doesn't show up in JMRI. (I use JMRI to program my decoders rather than my cab.)
Jordan Spreader, Roundhouse 3-in-1 Craft Kit
Long out of production, but still fun to build. More details and pictures at this link, http://nvrr49.blogspot.com/2016/02/jordan-spreader-kitbash-3-tank-cars.html
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