As a matter of fact I've been working on customizing my own cranes, the Mi-Jack's are to small and their is no docksiders available so I have to build them all and I've got all of the research done and Have most of the materials I just need the time cause the past few months I've been customizing models for customers and I never have time for my own projects. the Docksider is going to take at least 100-to 150 hours to build, all of it is going to be fully automated they'll move back and forth electromagnetic container jibs, their going to be the LBZT's and the ZPMZ's the booms, jibs, overhead jib cranes, Hydraulics are all going to be automated and the same goes for the Mi-Jack's ar the same but I need some micro electronics to make them move as needed but the killer is that I'm going into mass building now for NSK kits and producing some prototypes for a few models to be added in the futuer, so who knows when I'll have time. Cause money comes before play. But I have most the materials and 6 Ships 2 42" 'ers for the ZPMZ's and 31", 29", 22.5" and an 18" for the LBZT'z and a couple of smaller self unloaders, I working in my spare time to fabricate some JLG boom lift with jibs like they use here in the Miami Seaport. The entire thing is going to be a concrete finish and adding on 80 inches longer to the layout for the yard but due to room limitations I can only spare 20 inches wider from Docksidefor the sea side scene. I am in desprate need for tractor trailors and Container chassis and the prices of them I'm making a mold to cast my own cause when finished I'm going to need about 400 of them and a bunch of chassis racks and a whole load of decals and paint. But that's going to be about 2 years from now at the rate I'm going and if this custom work keeps coming than who knows. It's sad but there is only about 35% of the items I need for the yard on the market that has to be made but I like building models so this will be an eventure.
You've got a great setup going there for you, is this all one yard or is this seperate from the other photos?
Nice Photos! Nice looking yard shots!!!! Full of action. Anyone got photos of stacks coming out of a mountain tunnel, or across a huge bridge, or even a long string in a desert or woodland scene!!! You guys got it going on!!! Hobo Tim
Some oldies... Here's some shots of mine from last year.... I should try and grab some more recent photos over the weekend.
Some great new posts since I last checked in. Thanks for the terminal info Jan - that seems like a perfect setup for the FEC group. BNSFtL - keep us posted on your progress, it sounds quite unique. Ok James, do you care to share any tips on container weathering? Those Pacers look great! Specifically I'd love to know how you handled the door hardware (separate parts? a careful paint job?) and what your approach to fading is. Thanks all, Gary P.S. Just got back from a working trip to Chicago and managed to sneak out the last afternoon to see the Rochelle diamond. I saw 15+ trains (lost count) in ~2 hours including several stacks. What a show!
HoboTim - I missed your Z shot until just now. Wow! I'd love to see some close-ups of your handiwork, especially the crane. Stick a dime nearby for scale too. How about making the 40' articulated in N? Best, Gary P.S. I think you mean the MTL depressed center flatcar, not Husky: [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PX6EaGBnDGs"]YouTube - The Train Show - Micro-Trains[/ame] Sorry MTL, couldn't help myself. ]:->
Ok Tim, here is a short video of stacks on the move on my N scale layout. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsLG53JgGP8"]YouTube - N scale layout[/ame]
Catching me off guard! Gary, Thanks for the compliment. That photo is a mock scene of a yard on a piece of gray foam from Hobby Lobby. I have not yet started my Intermodal yard module yet. Well actually I did start, just need to re-start by building a beefier frame. I suppose the yard will be between 16 and 24 feet long. I would like to build the complete BNSF Alliance yard that is near Dallas, Texas. Nearly everything will be scratch built including the newer Mi-Jack's that are there. All Mi-Jack's will be animated, either moving to & from or hoisting/lowering a container. Ottawa Yard Mules will be ferrying empty and full chassis around also. Animation draws attention! As far as putting a dime next to the Mi-Jack and taking a photo, I am afraid it is 9 hours northeast of where I am right now. I am working away from home for the next 10 or so weeks. But, I do have other photos of the Mi-jack's in my Railimages photo folder. Here is one that has SMD LEDs for night operations. Here is close up of my original Mi-Jack I scratch built back in 2004. Since then I have scratchbuilt a styrene master so I can mold and cast as many of this version of Mi-Jack as I want. So far I have produced about 10 kits, 25 RTR, and 10 RTR with LED lighting for Z scalers across the world. Here are two photos of a small enclosed case I built to display the Ztrack Thrall's in for the 2007 NTS. If you happened to walk past the Ztrack booth you would have seen it on display there! Without the clear cover, You can find more photos of my Mi-jacks, the Thrall's I have built and all the other goodies in my Railimages folder. http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php/cat/500/ppuser/3893 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Now, on with the Stacks Show!!!! Keep this Thread-a-going!!!! Hobo Tim p.s. MTL has not made any depressed flat cars in Z yet!!!! Only Gunderson Husky 48'ers!!! But they did try to pass off a FEC 53'er on a 48' Husky body!!! Too Funny!!!!
40' Articulating Thralls or Gundersons? Would that be Thrall or Gunderson??? Making the 48' Thrall single in Z scale was pretty easy, just takes a bit of time to crank some out. At Z scale size I can get away with less detail as I could in N scale. A close-up of the detail! Brass is .012" thick. Container is cardstock. Best way to make these for N scale would be cast white metal and etched brass. If only I have a CNC Mill, the know how to use it and a spin casting set-up!! Woo Hoo!!!!!! Eat your hearts out Laser Guru's!!!!! Which 40' articulating set are you talking about? Hobo Tim
HoboTim, I'm at a loss for words... You're on top of your game! Now you really need a dime in there to convince us it's Z. Both, of course! Actually there is a nice 40' Gunderson kit from N Scale Kits, but it would be cool to have a some of the newer straight-sided units too, like the BNSF sets in these shots: http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=226755&nseq=43 http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=233455&nseq=25 I love the 2nd shot above - even if it doesn't show the BNSF units so well. The colorful international boxes make this look like a circus train. Can you elaborate on the construction methods for your Thrall units? Are they kits or RTR? Entirely etched metal, or castings too? Very nice. Best, Gary P.S. The MTL clip includes a shot of their president calling the Husky a depressed center flatcar... Just a little jab. Of course I wish they made such a nice model in N!
Cleggie - Nice clip! Your layout looks great. It must be tempting to just stop work and run trains all the time. (That's what I would do...) With my son's tech support I was able to figure out how to focus our camera quasi-manually. Here are a few new shots from last night that show the drawbar-coupled Thralls: With their spacious end porches, these are like the SD40-2's of the stack world. Very inefficient space-wise, but very cool. A few more shots of the stacks heading north, passing a manifest in the hole: Best, Gary
48' Thrall's Gary, The Thrall's started out as a home etch project. I drew up the artwork on a CorelDraw program and then etched the pieces. I made a change or two to the design and etched a second time. The second car was perfect. Rob Kluz of Ztrack liked the car too. In a conversation one thing led to another and before I knew it I was building these Thrall's for Ztrack. Since starting I have built 200+ in either 48' singles or a 3 drawbar version. You can see photos of the different versions at this link, http://ztrackcenter.com/intermodal The Thrall's are 99% etched brass .012" thick and 1% other items. It takes 7 etched pieces to make one Thrall. Those 7 pieces have 40 places that need bends in the brass with 2 of the bends being hammered tight and 6 places where the handrails are twisted 90 degrees out. The brakewheels are all concaved before mounting. All pieces including the 2 machined brass bolsters are silver soldered except the 2 end walkways which are glued. The air tank is made of styrene. The paint is a custom mix of Floquil and the decals were made in CorelDraw and printed on my ALPS MD1000 printer. It takes a week+ of solid work to crank out 20 - 30 Thrall's from start to finish. Waiting to be soldered http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/DSCN4567.JPG Drawbars needing Decals http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/DSCN4816.JPG Painting Next http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/Thrall_Brass.JPG Brass Bending Jig http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/506/DSCN4148.JPG One sheet of 28 Thralls with 9 more under it http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/506/DSCN3742.JPG Applying Decals http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/506/DSCN3815.JPG Ready for packaging http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/506/DSCN3834.JPG Photo of one 3 Drawbar Thrall ready for packaging http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/506/DTTX_25037_Thrall_3X.JPG These are some of the photos I have in my Railimages. I have lots more in my computer but I deem not good enough for posting. These Thrall's are alot more fun to play with on the rails than to build. Lots of time in the shop. So what else can I tell you about the process??? I am always open to questions! Hobo Tim p.s. As far as the smooth/flat side articulating well car you inquired, these are the Gunderson Maxi I's. Take a Deluxe Innovations Twinstack set, cut off the Bulkheads and with a few slight mods you will have a Maxi I set. I have studied the Maxi I and believe it would be fairly easy to draw up the artwork and do a test etch or two to perfect it. Then, with a couple hundred $$$ or so you can get a couple sheets of of these well cars. If you can get 5 or 6 sets per sheet multiplied by 5 sheet minimum (at PEI) the cost per set should be about $25 - 50 dollars per set. You also need machined bolsters and a few other misc items to complete them. Know anyone interested in these besides yourself????
