With N Scale, it's so hard to tell the size of other things around it, without some familiar objects.
Missed posting an update last week but I have been making a little progress. All these updates have been in my layout thread so please excuse the duplication if you already saw them there. Last week, I was able to trim the tops of the silos and make a cardboard template of a top for the silos This makes me feel better about the direction, then this week, I cut some styrene. Not particularly happy with this first try so will probably try cutting a new top this weekend. I also fit in weathering an old ConCor autorack and started decaling some new trucks. I have also made progress on my goal of getting my rolling stock and stuff cataloged.
This afternoon I ordered some windows for the HO Ft. Scott Depot. In the meantime I've been playing 8 ball pool online and winning 3 out of 4 games. It is a lot of fun and you can challenge friends to play. If you are interested the app is on Google play. Joe
I have a large backlog of work that needs to be done on rolling stock and locomotives. I was able to clear 6 pieces out yesterday. Changed couplers and wheels, added paint, made loads. Just need to weather the rail and trucks on these log buggies and they will be complete.
Kevin, those are some sharp looking log buggies! Are they green like the 1st two photos or is that from lighting? What scale are they?
I think they are green, look really cute. Only thing I wonder is if those pins are too low because the couplers are sagging, and are touching the ties?
I have a coupler guage that matched up, however I didn’t have a piece of track with me to test them. I am away from home in a hotel. Note to self, throw a piece of track in the suitcase...
[QUOTE="Kevin Anderson, post: 1168316, member: 3629 I am away from home in a hotel. Note to self, throw a piece of track in the suitcase...[/QUOTE] I built a small fleet of N scale Quality Craft and Gloorcraft log buggies while staying in hotels or campgrounds. They don't look as nice as yours. A lot of logging operations put the last log ontop of the chains to tighten them up. Some used a sapling with the base of the sapling wrapped with one chain. Then the sapling was bent into an arch then the top of the sapling was wrapped with the other chain.
I built a small fleet of N scale Quality Craft and Gloorcraft log buggies while staying in hotels or campgrounds. They don't look as nice as yours. A lot of logging operations put the last log ontop of the chains to tighten them up. Some used a sapling with the base of the sapling wrapped with one chain. Then the sapling was bent into an arch then the top of the sapling was wrapped with the other chain.[/QUOTE] These came with the logs and chains all attached. The logs were loose. I removed the loads and then reattached the chains and glued the logs together. I now have removable loads for the cars. I also have a Bernhardt log loader like in the photo for them as well.
I have been working on the temporary staging yard and return loop on the new east end of the layout. I decided on a stub end yard that feeds through a double crossover. This will allow for a train to enter the yard from the right and go into any of the spurs. After motive power is moved to the other end a train from any stub can leave and exit out on the left. The spurs are just long enough for trains that will fit in the main yard sidings. This is taking longer than I thought it would. Got the track in and am now figuring out the gap and feeders. Then it will be back to installing the bridge and laying the track on the front line of the layout expansion.
Pretty much done now with the rust painted in the rails and chalk on the trucks. Barnhart log Loader looks good on the cars as well. Looks to be a busy day at the logging camp.
You know, at times I really envy everyone who is building using KATO track. It makes it fast to get trains going and doing other more fun stuff. I have a few KATO track sets (enough to fill couple of HCDs) myself that I play with, and often think how far I would've gotten with it. On the other hand, lack of flex or long straight track is a real bummer, especially when you have 120 ft of linear layout to fill, as well as the general cost.
I know of quite a few who have built good looking home layouts with it. It does go together fast and I have used it extensively for temporary setups such as this one. It's nice to be able to experiment with different things and if they don't work out it's relatively easy to change. For me to ever consider using it on a permanent layout they would need to come out with a code 55 version and I would also solder the joints. When you consider cork roadbed, track, ballast, and turnout motors I would not think the cost to be that much different.
That's true about the cost. Track itself is great and I don't really mind the Code 70 of the track at all. Reliability of track and connections is amazing and I do not believe you need to solder anything. The turnout motors are great and unlike Atlas, are more modern design. You can mount a reed switch inside it and use it as a position feedback even. What bugs me is, for example that #6 turnout angle is too wide so tracks end up being too far apart. And #4 being kinda sloppy, yet more expensive than #6, go figure. Also, I don't like the idea that tracks comes with everything (track, roadbed and ballast all in one) yet people go back and ballast over it. To me that feels futile and redunadant. But not doing it leaves the whole thing looking like cheap plastic so you simply have to do it.
HI Guys: Just a real quick checkin before bed tonight -- I got home from the hospital at about 3:30pm or so -- The surgery was a complete success, im really super sore and worn out and pretty much any movement still hurts, so I will not be doing any layout work for a few Days Have a good evening TIM
That's great news, being in good health makes everything else possible. Rest and focus on healing, but keep any other goals in mind with determination to accomplish them. This will speed up your recovery even more. Mind over matter.
