Modeling topic
A new SIG
To All: I am starting a new SIG known as 1940-1970 Freight Car SIG. The purpose of this SIG is to feature prototype freight cars and modeling efforts toward the same. Membership is free, but will be an internet site, not printed material. This SIG is on my Facebook page, layout concepts. I encourage posting of your efforts on this page. Check it out. Yours, Elvin Howland/1940-1970 Freight Car SIG
Painting Track
After some months working on revenue projects, I've finally gotten back to the layout. Current task is painting rail. Working on the time honored principle of fire, aim, ready, now that I've made a mess of it I'm seeking advice. Well, not that awful, and that's what chainsaws are for, right? But please share your tips/experiences.
What I've discovered:
BLI GS-4
I Have a BLI Espee GS-4. Shortly after I purchased it, the gears cracked along with the lower gear case and the motor mount. I returned it to BLI, got the engine back 8 weeks later and had to send it back AGAIN; it ran awful.
When I got the engine back the second time, it still ran lousy! At this point, it makes a great paperweight. I also have their N&W "J." Its a lousy runner too.
Anyone else out there have problems with BLI steam?
Using leveling sand for ballast?
After reading Mike Confalone's Allagash story and seeing his scenery techniques I was inspired to try some of his techniques for myself.
Since I already had leveling sand from a previous patio project I decided to mix up some ballast using two different colors that I had to try and model the ballast used on the P&LE.
The mix actually came out very well and resembles the light limestone ballast of the P&LE. I was having a hard time finding a commercially produced ballast that was the right color and scale for HO.
Revamping a track plan that didn't work out!
Well, I finally started tearing up track and bed tonight. Have you ever gotten half way through a project and felt you should have done it different? I did. I started out with a 4 x 8 that grew into a 12 x 12. But the track plan was all wrong, and I put the track right next to the edge of the layout which left me no room for scenery.
In surprising Support of Bachmann
Today I purchased a DCC equiped Bachmann N-scale EMD NW2 switching locomotive, despite my last Bachmann purchase (a British Class 66) being way less than satisfactory. Why you say? Because I have a good relationship with my local hobby store & could take it back if it was not satisfactory.
Curving kerfed homasote roadbed
I have samples of two commercially available HO scale homasote roadbed that are available with kerf cuts to enable laying curves. Given the tendency of homasote to break when curved (kerfs or no kerfs) I'm wondering how tight a curve is practical without cutting curved pieces to begin with?
Digcom Paper trailers and containers
For any one out there Icame across these while searching for HO model containers and trailers. They are paper models and are very well done . Has any one out there used / made these? They look real good on their website. ron netti
Opposites attract?
Can I ask the inevitable stupid question?
I have two Bachmann a and b diesel units and when I put them on a track with DC power, whatever I do they go in the opposite direction to one another, turn them around and its the same thing. Change the power to the other direction, same thing. What did I do wrong? I did have them apart thinking that I might convert them to DCC but decided against that (but, I didn't mess with the wiring).
dp
Valances
I was banging around in the train room the other day and had my yearly flash of thought that made some sense. I thought I would see if any one agrees or has thought of it before.
My idea is to make the valance around my layout from 3/4" foam. It is light enough to require lightweight hangers, easy enough to paint and best of all softer than wood when you hit it with your head. plus if you have a twelve inch valance you get thirty-two running feet out of a 4' x 8' sheet.
Any thoughts?
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