N scale "What's on your workbench?"

Mark Watson Oct 28, 2009

  1. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

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    Yep that is a good idea and I'm sure most will follow it. One drawback is that it is thicker if that is a problem.

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    I was able to mill a thinner slot for the Keep-Alive being they weren't on top of each other.

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    For some installs like they show on their site stacked is actually better if the loco already has room for that configuration. The E9 didn't. Maybe they should consider a side-by-side option to go along with the stacked one?

    Sumner
     
  2. freddy_fo

    freddy_fo TrainBoard Member

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    @Sumner: which ESU sound decoder are you using for the E9?
     
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  3. samusi01

    samusi01 TrainBoard Member

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    A while back I uploaded 3d printable turrets on Thingiverse: 1:160 N Scale turrets by samusi01 - Thingiverse which you may find to be of interest.
     
  4. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

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    ESU 58941 LokSound 5 Micro Direct NMRA DCC Sound Decoder - Kato USA Widebody Type -- Sound File Number: S0761

    There is a chance the sound file wasn't loaded on it. Got it from Bryan at SBS and sounds like he got swamped so that might be why I'm not getting sound. I've been studying up on the LokProgrammer that I bought but haven't used to this point. Should be able to set it up and see what is going on tomorrow.

    Sumner
     
  5. Burlington Northern Fan

    Burlington Northern Fan TrainBoard Supporter

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    [​IMG]
    What fantasy SD 70ACe’s am I cooking up?


    EveryWhereWest Model Painting
     
  6. BigJake

    BigJake TrainBoard Member

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    Hmmm, 2 E/F series car-bodies, 2 SD series bodies & cabs, and 4 walkways...

    Double-stacked locos?
     
  7. Burlington Northern Fan

    Burlington Northern Fan TrainBoard Supporter

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    Not so much, but nice guess. CRI&P 70ACe’s


    EveryWhereWest Model Painting
     
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  8. freddy_fo

    freddy_fo TrainBoard Member

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    Thx, I have the older kato 8/9 back when they came in blue packaging. Chassis looks the same as yours and am expecting a B unit from that same era which I was thinking to put the sound in.

    Once you get the lokprogrammer running on your computer the sound installation is a snap. Download the file you want from the ESU sound library and then upload to the loco. Just make sure to give it a while to move all the sound file data up via the rails lol.
     
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  9. BigJake

    BigJake TrainBoard Member

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    Just make sure you don't run those with BLO&OD locos on the same layout at the same time!
     
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  10. freddy_fo

    freddy_fo TrainBoard Member

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    I was able to get the sign in and working for the cafe. I think it's passable so moving on.

    [​IMG]
     
  11. freddy_fo

    freddy_fo TrainBoard Member

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    And now "Fred's one stop" gas station from Showcase Miniatures. Getting it all ready for paint. Currently cleaning up the cast metal window frames which thus far is the only complaint with the kit. They need to be opened up slightly to accommodate the laser cut muntins that go inside them so lots of careful scraping with the hobby knife and test fitting.

    [​IMG]

    The detail on this kit is amazing. Check out the canopy that goes over the pumps (the square piece in the center). It's a shame the girders will likely not be seen once it's flipped over and installed but holy cow that is impressive.

    [​IMG]
     
  12. Massey

    Massey TrainBoard Member

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    Finally got a few extra minutes to work on my train wreck. My first time using sculptamould, it’s a bit different. I tried stirring it to mix, but just ended up using my fingers instead. Yes, I used gloves. Applying it was much the same, fingers again. I was working on smoothing and shaping when it started to kick off so the pond didn’t get as smooth as I wanted. That’s fine, I’m planning on some lake sand in the bottom anyway.

    Question for all of you. I’m going to use Enviro-Tex for the water, but I want to dye it darker than clear, but still be able to see into it, what is a good dye for that stuff?

    Enjoy the pic.
    IMG_5344.jpeg
     
  13. Burlington Northern Fan

    Burlington Northern Fan TrainBoard Supporter

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    For the CRI&P Fans[​IMG]
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    My latest creation.


    EveryWhereWest Model Painting
     
  14. jwaldo

    jwaldo TrainBoard Member

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    IMG_4003.JPG

    No build thread yet, but thanks to @DeaconKC I was able to get the correct dynamic-brake GP18 shell for an SP low-nose GP9. The GP18 hood fits onto a GP20 sill/cab with just a little modification to both.

    There are still a lot of unknowns in this project, from the mechanism to the bizarre side sills the prototype sported. But for now I've started removing the oven-rack radiator grilles so that I can replace them with etched-metal chicken wire ones.
     
  15. DeaconKC

    DeaconKC TrainBoard Member

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    Always enjoy watching your work!
     
  16. samusi01

    samusi01 TrainBoard Member

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    From this morning, through the magnifying glass, annotated... taken whilst working on a pair of MTL 2003 for installation in a Kato SD70M.
    Workbench.jpg
     
  17. freddy_fo

    freddy_fo TrainBoard Member

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    Fred's one stop is almost done.

    [​IMG]

    While tidying up my workspace to start the lighting process I came across a 3D printed challenger I've been meaning to get painted. I was a bit disappointed when I received it as I paid extra for the "smoothest" finish which was still pretty rough so I put it aside then forgot about it. Took a bit of careful filling and sanding to get it ready for paint but I got it done. It needs a few more days to let the enamel paint fully cure before I can finish it off by adding glazing and black hood stripes. The idea is to make it the mini-me version of the 1:1 parked in my garage. Also, the phone booth, which is from Gold Medal Models, is the best I've seen in this scale by a long shot. There is even an actual phone and shelf inside. I had to add my own glazing to complete the look but for the price of a kit which includes two booths these are excellent models.

    [​IMG]


    Part of my lighting plans requires that I wait for the arrival of some teeny tiny brass tubes to create stanchions that I can run magnet wire through for the external lamps. Might not work how I expect but if it does two will light each side of the parking lot of the store and two more will hang over the "GAS" signage to light that and the prices. The shades actually used to be the stand part of pedestal style fence posts from a Walthers chain link fence kit. I cut them off the posts because I thought they looked silly and would be a PITA to hide. As I was removing them it occurred to me they could be repurposed for exterior lamp shades so I saved them and now...

    [​IMG]
     
  18. freddy_fo

    freddy_fo TrainBoard Member

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    Did you ever get sound to work on your decoder? I was thinking that even if a sound file was not uploaded it would still have a default sound-prime mover file and horn that would work with F1 and F2 respectively.

    I wound up getting one of those decoders and just installed on my B unit with the EMD Dual 12-567BC 2EXH NT sound file from the ESU site. I already had a soundtraxx speaker with enclosure so I mounted it wide ways and dremeled off the end of the frame to make room. The sound is fantastic. I think I'll move it to the A unit but debating if I'll take advantage of the two headlight setup and set them to illuminate separately. I do know I'm going to at least have to swap out the TCS Z1 decoder in the non sound unit as it not near as smooth at speed step 1 nor are the speed steps anywhere close to the ESU decoder. I'm sure I could program the latter but with the desktop programmer app and GUI for adjusting motor control it makes more sense for ease of setting up to use an ESU decoder.
     
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  19. jwaldo

    jwaldo TrainBoard Member

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    I finally found the reason my 'new' U50 is so balky: a broken winding in the original Kato motor (in front). That's way beyond my pay grade to fix.
    Luckily I have a similarly-sized Athearn motor that fit right in with a little trimming of the driveshafts. Now I just need to make some new motor contacts. Keeping my fingers crossed that this conversion works!
     
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  20. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

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    If you have info on the Athearn motor I'd be interested. I have a number of U50's (maybe my favorite for some reason). James of James Model Railway has replaced some with a Kato motor ( HERE ). I bought a couple of those but haven't installed them yet. I have two U50's that I'm putting ESU LokSound's in and would like them to run as good as possible. Saying the I have two with the skew wound motor they used at the end and they run well but some of the earlier ones also run pretty quiet and real slow and some don't. I have one now that runs real quite and well in reverse but not so forward.

    So I'd like to hear how it runs with the Atheran.

    Sumner
     
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