A short series for the bridge install. Here it is in place for perusal BEFORE cutting anything. It was a good idea to think about it, (even though the thinking HURT!) as I moved it to the right about an inch for scenery sake! I then spent time leveling the grade so it wouldn't go uphill as much, Her I have marked it for cutting. I cut the rail inside of the marks so it could be trimmed in after cutting out the roadbed setting it in place, CArefully removing the track, Roadbed removed, And final fit and leveling with foam piers.
Your layout is coming along nicely You modeling is EXCEPTIONAL...and I love the NP as your RR choice. Also a NP guy plus 3 other RR's that met in Spokane That makes it really nice to follow your efforts
Thanks guys! Marty - Is that one of the caboose kits? It looks good! I had always liked the NP, then when I ended up in Livingston for a few years, well that sealed it up! I got to help out with the new displays at the Depot and was a part of the Model RR club there, too. Met Warren McGee and other NP nuts, kind of made it permanent!
Errrr....No. Not a kit. This started a standard 30' offset cupola. I cut it to 24', sanded and scribed it, increased the cupola arch and cut and frmaed new windows, I've built over 20 of these. Gold Medal part 160-18 is perfedt to add the ladders to the left side. Pics of other cabooses are in my gallery.
Thanks. Been doing this for a while. I build cars that are not offered commercially. Then....I sell them
Was out of town or working last weekend through Tuesday. But, today I got the urge to do some final fit and soldering on that Hiawatha by GHQ. It is now the 107, the CB&M "acquired" it on loan from the Milwaukee, promptly re-numbered it and told the Milwaukee it was lost!
Merry Christmas! The shop forces quick timed a Christmas special car, and the local reception of it was good. That kind of PR doesn't go unappreciated by the Management, so we will be looking forward to an even more elaborate car next year! (And when utub gets done being stoopid, the video will go up!)
Only got a few hours this weekend to play, but did get a couple of things fixed. These guard rails kept popping up and catching coupler trip pins. Not any more! And then got busy putting in more mainline going up to the second level. Am not certain what I am going to do across the window. To the right of the glue and pictures will be a siding for ag and oil customers. A small town, un-named at the moment, but maybe Cabin Creek.
Now that this project loco has run amuck around the layout for a week, and it has been satisfying to the backshop forces to see it! It will get set up for shipping to it's home. One thing it has been good for, there are a few spots where trackage need adjusting. This loco showed me some of the little dips and tight squeezes of guard rails very obviously! And so now the backshop is working on the newest loco,proper headlight and front steps, Firebox "door" and distribution for the ashpan light, which looks really good when lit up! New generator and cab roof. The tender is going to be getting a smaller speaker next.
Upon running this loco around, applying bullfrog snot and getting better traction, I noticed it was crawling up the guardrails or frogs. So, duh, check the wheel gauge. Ooops. It needs a lot of adjusting. All the wheels on the loco are narrow! The trailing truck only gave me a little rouble, the frame needed filing out to make room. But tnen an ugly problem reared it's ugly head. The front driver pin is getting hung up on the crosshead. This is going to be a difficult fix. I may be able to shave down the pin boss some, but that may raise other issues. Moving out the crosshead by either splitting the cylinders or redrilling the piston and bracket holes is an option, too. Hmmm. Thinking to do. Any input is welcome on this one.
During testing before the re-gauging, you can see it 'hop; over the first switch frog. It does go nice tho!
Figured out a way to limit the sideplay on the lead drivers. There is a lot on all drivers, so limiting it should be no issue. Here is a crude beginning for making these 'shims.' They are phosphor-bronze.
So, themore elegant version of centering wiper, An here is where they go, just forward of the axle on the lead/problem driver, Centered! And the plate doesn't even warp! But, in my ham fisted, "get a bigger hammer!" adjusting of the reversing link, I managed to snap the rivet head off this eccentric, So, I filed it down and drilled a hole to build a new one, of sorts, Will mount a bent brass wire to the link here, and then bend it over on the back side of the link, Sunday??
