Thanks Jerry. I've got people to put on the platform, as well, but those will wait until I start populating the whole town. Right now, with all the detail work I am doing there, things will be coming on/off for a while longer. I had hoped to get most of the town done this year, but at the rate I'm going, might be next summer before I'm satisfied. Still have one more building to complete, the Miller Engineering Diner, plus one of TrainCat's signal bridges. Once I get those, I still have lots of detailing on the DPM buildings and final ballasting. Not like I'm in any hurry, though. Slow and careful, with the miniature detail work taken in very small chunks.
Three TrainCat Signal Bridges Been working the last couple weeks on some TrainCat signal bridges, an Early SP 2-track bridge, and two of the SF/SP cantilevered bridges. The 2-track bridge is a highly detailed model, with each individual rivet plate needing to be put on manually. Of course, I did this one first, without getting my "sea-legs". The cantilevers are much simpler, with the rivets etched into the main parts of the bridge. I haven't attached the upper platform of the 2-track bridge yet, waiting for when I get the signal heads made up. Here's a close up of the bridge, painted and weathered The upper platform area. The ladder is not attached, since the platform isn't (also need to adjust the hand rails a bit). You can easily see the rivet details in this photo All in all, the build went very well. My biggest "oops" was assembling the bents with the side "inside out". I kept wondering why I was having so much problem, but it seemed natural to put the etched side in. Oh well... I'll know better for the next one I build Here's a photo with the bridge in place on the layout I will have 4 signals on the bridge. Each signal will be true tri-color (R/Y/G), built with the nano-LEDs from Ngineering (the 1mm x 0.5mm ones). I have one head built, but unfortunately will not have time to do any others until October.
Cantilever Bridges Here are a couple of photos of the SP/SF Cantilever Bridges from TrainCat. As with the 2-track bridge, I will not be mounting the signal heads for another month or so. I made one "left handed" and one "right handed" (turned over the platform) Still some final touches to apply, but I'm very pleased with the weathering effects. These are much easier to build than the 2-track, and can be finished in an evening (sans signals). I still have to work out the exact placement of these on the layout -- one will be over the two tracks leading to my underground station, and will properly signal when it is not clear to pull into the station. The other will be along my dual main, exact location TBD. Both will have true 3-color heads for each track being controlled (I may do dual-heads for the bridge over the main; or 4 heads - one in each direction).
Nice looking signal bridges Rick!:thumbs_up: :thumbs_up: Weathering looks awesome! These are going to look great on your layout. Jerry
WOW! Been a month since I posted anything to the JACALAR thread. What with very busy at work and vacation/taking youngest to school, haven't had any opportunity for major work on the layout. But, the therapeutic nature of watching my trains run through the different scenes has been a sanity saver these past few weeks. Not wanting to restart on the signals (need lots of time to solder all those nano-SMD LEDs), I've been doing a lot of those "when I get around to it" tasks that build up. Today, spent a few hours putting resistors into about 20 passenger cars for block sensing - having the long contact strips in the Kato cars, ready for lighting, is nice, you don't have to worry trying to make the wheels resistive.
Thanks Mike! It's going to be interesting to see how much progress I make over the next 9 months, as we prepare for my older daughter's wedding.
Finally started work on my signal heads for the bridges. Here's a progress thread on building those. Unfortunately, I also managed to get myself rather ill this month, so haven't gotten any other work done on the JACALAR.
Thanks, Dave. They are certainly a pain to work with. Many times I was tempted to either chuck the whole project or take them into my old area (at work), where we develop the manufacturing processes for the magneto-resistive tape heads used in high-end tape storage; these SMDs are HUGE compared to what we work with there. But then, in the line, we have lots of high powered optical systems and the miniature wire bonding tools (and, I didn't actually work on the line; just up-line managed it).
Thanks Mike - yeah a bit better. My seasonal allergies resulted in a sinus infection this year, so just a major nuisance, but you really can't get much done when feeling that bad (work or train wise). Did take lots of naps! I get these every couple of years, now. Ruins October.
Signals on the bridge I got the operational signals attached to the bridge, and all the wiring routed!
Thanks, Jim. This is the only bridge of this type on the layout. I also have two of the ATSF/SP Cantilever signal bridges to install. One will only have one light per track (one direction) leading into the underground station loop (red if a train down there, green if clear). The other will have either 4 or 6 signals, controlling the other major crossover point between the outer and inner portions of the layout. The bridges themselves are done, just need to wire them. Most of the heads are complete, but the final assembly for these may be next year. I still have some other work to do in those areas, and don't want these "delicate" bridges installed until near completion of the area.
The town of Cherylton on the JACALAR is getting an A&P Grocery Store! Here we see the building (still on work bench) all lit up! and closer view The upper story lights are "Micro Yellow White" SMD LEDs; while the lights for the store are the "Micro Super White" SMD LEDs -- from Ngineering. They are all hooked up to an Ngineering LED Power Distribution Jr. I have some finished ModelTech Studio detailed shelving, which I'll put into the store along with some people. The store sits directly across the main road from the Cherylton Station, and is in between a closed cafe (which is undergoing renovation, with a lot of exterior painting occurring -- once the figures get installed), and to the right is the Drive-in Hamburger joint. I may be able to get these installed on the layout this weekend.
