BarstowRick's H&P Layout Restoration

BarstowRick Sep 15, 2020

  1. Massey

    Massey TrainBoard Member

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    I could cut off a panel and weld the new one back on with the best of them... but straighten modern metal... fuggeddaboutit. I was much better with 60s and 70s metal. Now put a spray gun in my hand and I can lay the paint down better than most... but it’s the paint that is the reasons I’m not in auto body any more there is a chemical in it that attacks my nervous system and exposure to it will eventually kill me. This is the main reason I sent my Trail 90 to my old AB teacher for his students to paint it, and not do it myself. So now I do IT and I go stir crazy sitting behind a desk!
     
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  2. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    My son has been into Electronics most of his life. He went to trade school to fine tune his electronic skills. He worked IT with Barrick Gold Corporation in Nevada for a long time. His soldering skills are top notch...until...

    My LED light strip that runs around the top edge of THERR began to develope problems. When I bought them I was told it was a 50 foot 'CONTINUOUS' roll. Years later when sections of the strip would quit working...I found out it is 3 foot lengths soldered together to make whatever length they where selling. My son comes to visit and I explain the problem. He goes out to THERR RV and solders the strips again...this time with jumper wire to stop them from seperating with temperature changes. All good right ? NOT !!

    He is here now for Thanksgiving dinner...and to work on his 1978 Jeep thats been setting in my second driveway for 8 years. I just tonight was giving him a hard time about how his soldering skills have deminished over the years because that last section of the strip has quit working again...after he 'fixed' it 3 times ! He grumbled and said he is gonna 'fix' it...again while he is here !

    Ahhhh father and son bonding time...;):whistle:
     
  3. Massey

    Massey TrainBoard Member

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    Back when I was in the us navy I had a piece of gear that had a bad backplane. It was torn and cause of the unit’s failure. We still needed to test the other pieces of the unit to know if it was just the backplane that was bad. So the civilian contractor we had in our shop tried to solder it the “naval” way and he kept burning the ribbon. I told him I can solder it but I needed to go back to my room and get something first. He didn’t believe that an E4 could possibly solder something. I took my argument to the LPO and he said sure give it a shot. I went and got my flux and returned. The civilian mocked me and said fine go for it, I’m gonna laugh when you fail. If I can’t solder it no one here can.

    I replied you haven’t seen me work yet. I had a jumper soldered to the ribbon in less than a minute. The paste flux cleaned the copper in the ribbon and allowed the solder to stick at a much lower temp than just using the flux in the core of the solder. After the temp repair I said to him it looks like you under estimate this sailor. I told him to remember rank doesn’t always equal skills, I am older than most E4s, and can do things that no one else in this shop can. Turned out the backplane was the only damaged part we got a new one a few weeks later and send the unit back to the F14D is belonged in.

    After this he treated me much better and even taught me all I needed to know to fix the antenna array for the F14D which was one of the parts I was a pro at repairing. The HUD was my next best device... I have a story on that too, but that’s for a different time.
     
  4. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    Solder, paint, metal, and the list goes on.

    I appreciate this subject coming up and I'm going to walk through this open door to discuss the following.

    I've watched as the Enamel Paints we model railroaders used slowly disappeared off the hobby shop shelves. I've also noticed that the enamels we used for household and automotive use, as well as appliances slowly disappeared off the hardware store shelves. The green minded ones seemed to be bent on messing everything up and accomplishing their purposes through litigation. Removing from our favorite paints the very fixatives/chemicals that make it work. What we've ended up with, either does not go on well or is more dangerous to use then what we've had in the past. Now we are faced with various versions of water based paints that don't get the job done, don't last and don't hold up. Ex: BNSF and UP locomotives. They fade terribly. So do our models.

    The same thing happened in the funeral business. Those green minded ones begin to jump up and down about the embalming fluids and cosmetics we used and again through litigation, demanded we remove the things that work. The things that make it possible to get the job done. We ended up with less than quality products. To include fluids that are more dangerous then before to work with.

    Solder. According to a trusted electrician he noted that the contents of solder has changed. It no longer works like it used to. It doesn't conduct electricity like it used to. You have to make sure the wires are actually touching each other before you solder them in place. The same is true when soldering a wire to a solid piece of metal/rails. One of the reasons I use flux paste, (which isn't the same,) to clean the area I want to solder a wire to. Example: Wire to a copper electrical contact in a Life Like diesel. Or wire to track rail irregardless of metal composition.

    George, it's not your son's fault. You can blame those green minded ones. Taking things to far. Did I say that? I sure did. Now I can expect a visit in the middle of the night while they beat me with baseball bats, in my sleep. Sorry that's already happened to me for different reasons but the next time things may be different. Thanks to a gunsmith.

    And yes even the gunsmiths have been negatively affected by such litigation. I didn't think America was supposed to work that way. Hummm. I hope your ready for more of the same. They aren't done.

    I'm not at all Thankful for what the green minded ones have done through litigation. I could say more but identifying the problem is the place to start to resolve said problem.

    Snowing: How about that. I just looked outdoors and it's snowing, 34 F and it's sticking. It will all depend on how long the storm hovers over us as to how much snow we will get for Thanksgiving. Betting it will melt off by mid Thanksgiving Day, or before.

    Enjoy this Holiday.
    And if things taste different this Thanksgiving Day then check the ingredients of the food you are buying. I'll bet you a cooked 24 pound turkey there are missing ingredients.

    Later.
     
    Last edited: Nov 25, 2020
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  5. Massey

    Massey TrainBoard Member

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    Believe it or not, the chemical I’m sensitive to only effects about 10% of those exposed to it, most people don’t even know it exists in the first place. It’s in CA glue, Chip resistant nail polish, and industrial (to include automotive) paints. The chemical is part of the cyanide family, hence attacking my nervous system. If you look at the molecule under an electron microscope it looks like a spiked ball, and it will stick to just about anything. This chemical plus UV stabilizers is why cars from the early 90’s can still have good factory paint 30 years later but cars from the 50’s to 80’s looked like crap in 10-15 years. As for the green people, well they didn’t get in the way of this chemical, it is still used in waterborne paints, so I still can’t paint cars. Oh well. Now back to your regularly scheduled model railroad discussions :LOL:
     
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  6. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    Oh, I believe it. Anything with the root word Cyano in it is most likely from the cyanide family of chemicals.

    Give them time. They will.
     
    Last edited: Nov 25, 2020
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  7. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    One of the problems with any LED is the Bridge rectifier that puts out DC will sometimes start leaking AC. Thought you might want to know.
     
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  8. Massey

    Massey TrainBoard Member

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    Yup you got it.
     
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  9. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    Not a problem. I am so close to buying a couple of these...

    ceiling light socket

    Screw them right to the ceiling....Screw in a couple old fashioned incandescent light bulbs I have laying around....and be done with it !! Functionality over aesthetics any day of the week....:mad::mad::mad:
     
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  10. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    I can see that. I have some track -- like lighting. Not truly track lighting but has the cannon looking fixture and you can put in LED spot lights. I had them over the layout in Big Bear Country along with florescent fixtures that I planned on turning into LED fixtures. The only thing is i find that LED's as they get older chatter. As well as problems already noted.

    Happy Thanksgiving and that's for everyone participating or lurking here. Enjoy the day.
     
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  11. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Wow. $13.45? I can remember when they were under a dollar. :eek::eek::eek::eek:
     
  12. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    I got through this Holiday. The most Un-Thanksgiving, I've ever had. No turkey or cranberry sauce. Well, that's not entirely true. No turkey for sure. At the last minute cranberry sauce arrived on the table.

    It reminded me of my Mother's Thanksgiving. She was a die in the wool vegetarian and determined not to cook meat in her home. Being Vegan, isn't a new thing people have been practicing vegetarianism for years. Thankfully the neighbors, my best friend's parents, would invite me over and I would get a traditional Thanksgiving, with Turkey. Taken off the families turkey ranch. You have to know how to lasso a turkey. :sick: Just no turkey this year.:confused:

    Don't get me wrong I enjoyed my time with my family and will put up with their idiosyncrasies and continue to enjoy time with them.

    Okay, with all that behind me I started to focus on the layout. I want to make some changes and thought I'd share the following picture. This is how it was after I finished building it. You can also see the a grade in the interior, middle right four tracks. Two of those are the mainline and they continue on out and in front of the layout to the top. The other two are the coal district tracks. They circle all the way up to the top. Full loads out and empty loads in. i can explain more later. For now focusing on moving some rail out and away from the side of a wedding cake mountain. So, it's been called.

    Rail Pic's HP 001.jpg

    After getting out the measuring tape and checking to see if i have room to make an addition. I discovered, I do. What I want to do and yes, I've already mentioned it. I want to move the track the train is sitting on out two and a half inches. Requiring me to move them all over to the left in this picture. I need room for scenery or I better plan on some type of snow shed. That wouldn't work with the look alike, well sort of, San Bernardino train station just off to the left of this picture.

    Rail Pic's HP 002.jpg

    And one more look at this area.
    Layout 3-8-07 009.jpg

    You can see how difficult it will be to scenic this area unless the track is moved.:cool:
     
    Last edited: Nov 27, 2020
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  13. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    I mentioned snow Wednesday, Thanksgiving Eve. Well, it melted off before noon. Only in the shadows does it linger. Hardly a dusting, hardly worth writing about.

    To the layout:

    Thought you might want another glance at the San Bernardino, Santa Fe Train Station uhh...err look alike. In the pictures in my previous post you can see a switch that is the lead for the train station. Turn around and this is what you saw. The Mini-City and Train station is the work of one Greg McGinnis.

    SB ATSF Train St. 016.jpg
    Dispatch, we have a problem. The SP transfer switcher will move out onto another leg of the Wye and allow the Chipewa Chief to move forward into one leg of the Wye and out onto the Redlands loop. The Chief, can then move into the station. But where did the crew for the switcher go? Beans?

    Below: The results of the move to Nampa, ID

    This is how the station looked on delivery here in Nampa, ID. In the background you can see sections of track that was removed from the layout cut away so we could move it. You can see there is a lot of work ahead to get things back in shape.

    DSCF1716.JPG

    Below: One more look at this junction during it's finer days. Here you can see the San Joaquin Daylight as it heads into the hidden staging yard, the switch that leads to the train station and as a bonus the only picture I have of the Santa Fe Work Train, as I was building it or putting it together.


    IMG_1366.JPG



    The wood in the left hand lower corner of the picture is the last of two remaining pieces from the shipping casket. I will be replacing both of them as they are getting older and if I'm not mistaken there is mold forming up inside it. Not bad for 25 years of service to the H&P.

    Also the Santa Fe bridge in the foreground has been replaced with a Kato bridge. I'll see if I can find pictures of it.

    Now, finally, this most unusual Holiday, Un-Thanksgiving...Aiiyiiyii !! Is over. It's time to get back to work.

    About the traditional Thanksgiving Football game. Is was good to see the Indians beat-up the Cowboys...for once. How about those Washington Red Skins. I know, I know but don't expect me to buy into the name change. Screw that!!

    Do you know how difficult finding all these pictures and grouping them here...is? Not all that bad but I have so many. However, it gives me inspiration to move ahead, continue on and get'r done.

    More later.
     
    Last edited: Nov 27, 2020
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  14. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    It's Sunday and you know what that means. Cold 26 F., when I got up this morning. Thankfully that was outside. I heard from a Big Bear-ite it was down to 8 F., and that is cold.

    You do know what that means. For some of us it will be time to clean up the house from the unusally small Thanksgiving celebrations we've had. Time to reflect on those who've survived and those we miss. Time to get the trash out. Time to watch some professional football. Time to eat left overs...(from a Un-Thanksgiving day?). In my case thankfully, just not as much as we've had in the past. Time to attend to the kids and their needs. Or in my case the feline, four legged friends that haunt my house. Those stinky kitty litter boxes. And then: Time to get back to work on the layout. All that wiring that needs to be reattached. All the track that needs to be replaced. Fix one leg that some how got on crooked or when flipped bore to much weight. Where's my jacks? Time to think about unpacking my train stuff. Well maybe not today but at some point in the future. Then there's those Christmas Decorations. If I can remember where I stored them from last year. I don't send out Christmas Cards anymore. I don't get any Christmas cards anymore. Sad to say.

    I spend a lot of time reflecting on the past. Not dwelling on it just thinking about things about my family I raised and the directions they've gone. Not a one of them are interested in Model Railroading, Railroads or anything to do with them. Certain Femalia influences in their lives hated such activities and left a decided influence on them. "All that building," all the things I found interesting and fun. "Dad spent more money on his trains then he did me," "Dad spent more time on his trains then he did me." All begrudgingly said. When I look back, is one percent of my overall income and time, to much to spend on a hobby? I don't think so. Oh well. It is what it is.

    So, I move forward. Oh, yes my age and health remind me time is on the shorts. My bucket list is made. The layout is on that list as is a number of things I want to get for it. I want to go out with a Railroad Splash. To enjoy my train time and share that with others in the hobby. To do so, as time and expense will allow.

    Now my question is would you like to see some videos shot of my layout by John Acosta? Would you like to see some video slide shows I made up. That is back when it was up and running???? You know just in case the clock stocks ticking.

    Time to get some breakfast and today get out my frozen turkey Hungry Man Dinner and enjoy what is traditional for me.

    Enjoy.
     
    Last edited: Nov 29, 2020
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  15. Joe Lovett

    Joe Lovett TrainBoard Member

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    Videos and photos would be great Rick.

    Joe
     
  16. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    I recall that as a youth, about sixty years ago, I watched a man in the local garage where I was working, (yes. I was working that young! In a small town, labor laws meant little if you wanted to work), do lead work on a car. That was quite interesting!
     
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  17. BNSF FAN

    BNSF FAN TrainBoard Supporter

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    I'll second that (y)
     
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  18. Massey

    Massey TrainBoard Member

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    Now that was an art. I got to do it once on a 67 Firebird roof to qtr panel. The owner demanded the seam be redone in lead like it was from the factory. So... yea wasn’t the prettiest when done, but it was done. Too hot and it ran like water and made a mess, too cold and it was sticky and blotchy. Just right and it was like spreading butter.
     
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  19. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    If I need something welded I know who to turn to. It's the lead you talked about they've been removing from the solder. You hit the nail on the head with that entry here.

    On another note: The cold is pushing into the house despite my best efforts to keep the place warm. Outside, 21 F when I got up this morning. Plenty cold for me. A wet cold. The train room is an addition poorly done. If it has any insulation in the walls it's not much.

    Worked on the layout during commercials, during the football games. Ran into a problem. Somehow, I used the same color of purple for several wires. Now which one goes to which one? I love challenges like this. Where's my power source and light indicator? That's the present challenge. I will wire nut them to start out this will allow me to change them at some point in the near future.
     
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  20. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    Bridges, I've talked about bridges and the fact I changed-out the Santa Fe and Rio Grande Bridges, on the topside. Kato came along with some really neat bridges and well, I couldn't resist.

    For clarity you'll need to bump the pixels-up to about 360. Unless you don't want to.



    One more time.



    On both of these I was shooting some trains on the layout and happened to catch the new bridges. Consider it a bonus. Or not!

    This wiring project, on going is going to be a (well, I can't say that here). Just not a lot of fun.
    When done, it's the reward of having it all work that is the pay off.
     
    Last edited: Dec 1, 2020
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