N scale "What's on your workbench?"

These were on my workbench Sunday.



ATSF 86L E8Am (Kato 176-5304), ATSF 84A E8Bm (Kato 160-2402-B), and ATSF 82L E8Am (Kato 160-2401-A). They are the power for my version of the 1963 Texas Chief.

I put decoders in all three of them.

That’s the first time I have installed decoders in Kato E8’s. Wasn’t really a difficult install, but I do have to say that those contact strips are “fiddly.”

 

Four late model Life-Like E units, solid frame, that I bought as parts/projects for $10 apiece. Three were Illinois Central units.

None of them run due to being over lubricated and messed with by someone who couldn’t find a clue with a clue rake.

Tearing them down and cleaning them in the ultrasonic cleaner for the big parts and QD Electronic Cleaner for the motors.

I’m going to see how many working units that I can get out of them.

 

Finally starting a etched brass bridge kit that I've had stored for several years. Was a bit intimidating at first but it's now going together well and I am enjoying it.

 

I watched a video by Stephen Bennett about scratchbuilding by taking blocks of wood and cutting them to shape, and then putting the sheet siding on over and cutting windows. My dad and I put together what will be OB Tower on the B&O in Parkersburg, WV. I visited the prototype (which I'm glad still exists) and did some measurements to get it close to scale.

The roof ended up too tall (and I might try something else for it later, but all those angles scare me!), but I'm excited to continue working on it! We cut an area for a little interior for the operator, and drilled a hole for possible lighting down the road. Doesn't look like much as blocks of wood, but I think it'll look good soon!

 

Well, the manure finally hit the fan big time in El Paso with 106* today, 109* for tomorrow. I know that pales to the temps you folks further West are seeing. How to beat it? Stay in the refrig. air and do something fun, so I put together a special section of cars. I have trains of generator blades and trains with Boeing fuselages on flats, so why not chile cars for my general merchandisers.

My effort, so far, :









Made good use of 3 Atlas cars that did not get run very often, but will now. Of all things to work on in this ambiant heat.

Be well,
Carl

 

Hatch Green Chiles...MMmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...


Of course...I get heartburn just looking at those 3 cars....

 

pobre bebe ! !

 

Hatch Chiles !!
I swear that it wasn't much over an hour ago that I thought of you, then Hatch chiles.

I'm relocating this winter so "what's on my workbench" is that I need to start thinking of thinning out my train & plane collections.
I thought about my New Mexico Rail Runner and how I've given up on ever having more than the 2 coaches I have now. I thought "that Carl guy" would take my coaches in a heartbeat ... but he ain't getting them as the Rail Runner is one of my favorite trains.

Another train to consider was Athearn's Trinity Rail Express. But I also like that train and am a native of Dallas. Per Spookshow, the only TRE loco was Athearn's 1st generation, not DCC friendly and hard to swap shells with a 2nd generation. So I never bought a TRE loco. I've let my Rail Runner pull the TRE coaches with the backstory that they bought them, but never bothered with a repaint.

So today I was thinking what a boring backstory. Let's get creative and blow Rule #1 way out of proportion !!
While both Rail Runner & TRE stick to their niche of serving daily commuters, they have also both started extending a few trains into intercity services. Rail Runner extending south to Deming, Las Cruces and El Paso. TRE extending west thru Abilene, Big Spring, Midland and .... El Paso. The 2 railroads meet in El Paso and on 1 daily train each direction, they run thru cars. Yes boys & girls .. Dallas to Santa Fe All the Way !!

Then I thought that if Rail Runner was gonna go that far south, why not stop at Hatch, NM. Not so much to exchange a few passengers but to hitch on (or drop off an empty) Express Reefer. Gotta get those chiles to major distribution centers in Albuquerque, El Paso and Dallas.
And I like billboard cars so need to find one for Hatch. As if that would ever happen ... and an hour later, there it is. From "that Carl guy".

 

Wow, you do not want to see my workbench, but I'll show a project that I have been working on.

Back in November 2020 I posted the following still image and then a short video showing my freshly lit flare:


Well here it is June 28,2021 and the scene is still not on layout. I have added another building and small storage tank and have made additional light poles, to be installed tomorrow. Big deal more lights. The main reason for the delay in getting this thing wrapped up is because a person said to me "too bad it doesn't sound like a flare". Well, challenge me not, for now I have put together a series of sound clips from "Pond 5" and it will be noisy when prompted to be.

Here is the new scene:


The new metal building holds the MP3 board and the tank has the speaker. The scene is wired so that all pole lights come on with the rest of the refinery and when a fab is turned on the flare erupts with lights and noise for only 2 minutes at a time.

Be well,
Carl

 

That is a super cool project Pie39! Glad to know that OB still stands. I took this Kodachrome of it 09/26/1997.

 

The brass bridge kit I was working on about a month ago has been completed. It is nice a square which was something I was concerned about but am really happy with the finished model. It is now ready for the next layout expansion.

 

Your work resulted in a fine looking model Brad, really nice. I like the 154 FT extra long length of the Micron Art bridge too, which may work well on my layout. Kato's is 130 FT and its piers are likely to interfere with the layout of my yard tracks below.

The longest N Scale truss bridge I know of is BLMA's at 200 FT, a gorgeous model prebuilt in brass at a princely price. Central Valley's 150 FT, Tomix's is about 147 FT (but it's design doesn't appeal to me).

 

Thanks, I have worked with all of those. I have examples of both BLMA bridges on my layout and several modified Central Valley models. I know lots of people use the Kato and Tomix bridges but they are definitely a Japanese design / look. I have both and had tried to use them on my Japanese modules but they were too long for the application and I found them difficult to modify.

 

A couple of days ago, I posted a progress thread of my refinery gas flare. Well after starting it back in 11/2020 I have competed and am ready to place on layout in "Ewing Oil" refinery.
Quick 2 minute video :



I am pretty pleased with it but may tweak the sound clip a tad. Excuse the earthquake.

Thanks for looking and be well,

Carl

 

I've been working on assembling, painting and lighting some buildings for my upcoming layout.


Walther's Sante Fe Depot




Walther's Merchant Row:







Lunde Studios Blair Trust

 

Hey guys. Sorry I have not been around much. I got a new job which doesn’t give me the downtime I used to have, so not much time to post here… and since my job is working with computers, it’s the last thing I wanna see when I get off. But I have been busy when not working… just not busy with trains. Right now we have a really slow show schedule so no rush to finish my modules, and I have a new to me toy that has been taking a fair amount of my time. It’s almost ready to sail! I bought it pretty much as junk (like I do many things) and have cleaned her up, and gotten her ready to sail again.






I have also been working on getting the oxidize off the hull. It’s been going pretty good. If all goes well I will have her (Water Lilly) in the water this weekend.

 

And what waterways will you be commanding good captain?