While looking for turnouts I found the timer that I made from Masonite for the main structure and cams, four pieces of all thread with nuts, a one RPM motor, six roller switches and four R/C car gears. I'll have to test it to see how long it takes to repeat the cycle. The timer is used for the lights in my buildings, there are six channels that turns on and off the lights. Joe
I would love to see a video of that in action, and I'm not talking about it spinning around but rather activating the lights.
MK, I'll have to set up a demonstration. There are some grain of wheat light bulbs somewhere in my collection that I can use in a couple of buildings. I'm not sure how to load a video so will search for how to threads on this website. It may take a few days but I'll start working on it later this morning. Joe
You upload the video on to YouTube and then post the YouTube link here. No rush Joe, looking forward to it.
It's been awhile since I have given an update. Over the last week I have laid out the mainline, passing track and yard on modules 02, 03 and 04. I still have to add roadbed to marry each track line together. Will probably just install the mainline and passing track for now and install the yard at a later date. Want to finish the mainline and passing tracks on the entire layout first then go back and to the yard and other spurs. Also installed roadbed on modules 06, 07 and 08. I'm in the process of installing track on the above modules. Joe
Last night I installed a piece of track on module 07 passing track. Will install the mainline trackage tonight and the turnout on module 08. There is a slight mismatch between modules 07 and 08, so I put some tooling shims between roadbed and track to compensate for the mismatch. Joe
That's an old-skool analog solution that will never be obsolete -- very cool. Lighting technology provided by Maytag.
I received a Frisco passenger train and a E-8 last Saturday from a guy from frisco.org. It is the original release that is all Silver with no Red stripes, I've been looking for one for a long time. Joe
This afternoon I installed the mainline trackage on modules 06 and 07. Next is installing track and turnout on module 08 South. Sometime in the near future I'll start working on the valence, it will be 16 inches wide and will go around the room with lights to shine on the layout. The background panels are going to be 16 inches tall, my wife, Cynthia, is going to paint the background. A friend of mine, Doug, is going to make trees for me using Nandina seed stems for the armatures and Woodland Scenes foliage. Joe
I got the mainline and passing track on modules 07 and 08 done along with a turnout on module 08. Next is to go to modules 02, 03 and 04 to install mainline and passing track along with three turnouts. Also will install a spur for the MFA grain mill on module 03 and 04. When finished the mainline trackage will be half way done and I guess it will be time to start adding ballast, a job that I don't like to do but it has to be done. Joe
I haven't been able to work on my layout lately because my wife and I were involved in a three car wreck on August 03. Cynthia, my wife, had heavy bruising across her chest and left forearm and I am recuperating from three broken ribs. We were able to walk away from the wreck so we were lucky. The Ford Escape we were driving was totaled. Since then we bought a Honda Pilot last Friday afternoon. Joe
Thank you guys!!! I guess I have been working on my layout somewhat, have been installing insulated rail joiners on the turnouts. The joiners are clear plastic and are hard to install so I put a couple in the microwave oven for 40 seconds. That did the trick, they are a lot easier to install. Also have some yellow joiners that don't have the same problem as the clear plastic ones. The yellow ones seem to be made from rubber. Need to buy some more yellow. Joe
Wow!!! Speedy recovery to you and your wife! Do little MRR things that you can handle to take you mind off the recovery. Glad everyone got out ok.
Thank you MK!!! I have trees and bushes to do, also could work on my Ft. Smith Depot. Just need to find my nibbler to cut out the windows and doors. Joe
Here's a short video of 2-8-0 Frisco 1332 locomotive running on a section of track. This is the first time I have taken a video so please excuse the poor quality. Joe
A lot has happened since my last post, not all of it good. On August 3rd my wife and I were in a three car wreck, Cynthia had heavy bruising across her chest and left forearm and broke her index finger. I had three broken ribs on my left side, pretty much healed up with the ribs. The Ford Escape we were driving was totaled and bought a Honda Pilot to replace the Escape. Then last Monday, September 10th I had surgery on my back. Started the process on the back last January and scheduled for surgery at the end of August. This is why I haven't been working on the layout to much, just piddling around with it, no heavy lifting for a month. As I feel better will transition into full work time. Joe