Modeling topic
What's in a structure kit
A couple of years ago, I asked a question: What's in a kit. We took a look at rolling stock and locos.
http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/1984
I thought it would be a good idea to see what is in some of the different types of structure kits. I know that I don't like surprises when I open the box. But, of course, things we wouldn't choose end up being very satisfying when we tackle them and and have a successful conclusion.
So, how about some examples:
Newly Painted RS-1's
To All: I painted. lettered, weathered and dullcoated an RS-1 in the Illinois Terminal RR green & yellow scheme and painted and lettered an RS-1 in the Chicago & Eastern Illinois RR blue & orange scheme,this week for use on the E. St. Louis Rail Group Layout. On the C&EI loco I need to find or make the logo that goes on the cab. Check out the attached photos.
Yours, Elvin Howland/E. St. Louis Rail Group
PS: Excuse the color renditions as I did not correct for color. The C&EI unit looks yellow bit it is orange!
lifespan of a pickup
What is the life expectancy of the small wipers used to pick up current from insulated wheels? I have several geared HO steamers that have all-wheel pick up and their contact points don’t look all that substantial. I am looking for an estimate of time before I’ll have to deal with what looks like a daunting job. I doubt they last forever and am curious if there is a reliable way to prevent/reduce wear (other than not running them).
Roy
Milwaukee Road Trackplan
Please take a look at my track plan and offer suggestions to improve the design.
New GE Locomotive plant in Texas
I guess the rail industry is doing OK! GE is building a new Locomotive plant In Ft Worth Texas.
http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/05/12/3070621/ge-to-build-locomotives-in-north.html
NMRA WEB PAGE DIRECTORY
This link will take you to the page on the NMRA web site that down the right side has individual web pages, clubs through out US and much more.
Good way to find someone in your area that is into model trains.
http://www.nmra.org/directory/
Port Road Track Plan
Just thought I'd share the track plan of my Port Road layout. Minimum radius is fairly tight at 26", but most curves are more generous. The grade from Perrryville to Columbia is < 1% - just like the prototype. Passing sidings and staging tracks will hold about 17 50' cars with 2 six axle diesels on the point.
Considering "Human Factors Engineering" in Model Railroad Yard Design... (Sound's like a PhD project, doesn't it?)
There are a number of great resources about designing yards (particularly yard throats) that discuss the best ways to move motive power and cars around, but I've never seen a book, magazine article or online resource that that discusses anything to do with moving the model railroad train crews around....
"Turning" Turnouts into Crossovers . . .
It doesn't seem too well known by modelers that turnouts and crossovers are typically laid differently on the prototype. Possibly because most of us grew up with RTR sectional track, which usually only has "shorty" turnouts in the limited track range. And those shorty turnouts were so handily designed to fit "heel to heel" to make sectional track crossovers without any further thought.
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