I recently picked up the Western Pacific RDC-2 at Chuck's: I also collect Japanese prototype trains and have a JNR EF57 electric passenger loco on order.
My JNR EF57 arrived Saturday afternoon. I really like it! All I need now is a JNR EF58 and I'll be happy.
I've reached the point where I have to balance buying from the US v buying from UK sellers due to HMRC import duty changes. In the past I used to get hit for import duties on 1 in 4 packages; now it is every package, so it's now cheaper to buy from a UK seller - if available. With that mind I have just blown my train budget on the following items bought in the UK: - KATO 106-6281 GE42 Amfleet Viewliner Intercity Express Phase VI 4-Car Set KATO 106-6282 Amfleet II, Viewliner Intercity Express Phase VI 3-Car Set KATO 156-0953 Amtrak Baggage Phase VI #1221 KATO 156-0951-2 Amfleet II Coach Phase VI #25003 KATO 176-8423 EMD SD70ACe CSX #4838 - with the intention of swapping the bodyshell for an undec one I'm going to get painted up as a CN SD70M-2 (I know there are differences between an ACe and an M-2; but who on this side of the pond is going to know what they are? "Close enough is Good enough") And from the US: KATO 176-9006 EMD F40PH Amtrak Phase III with Ditch Lights #334 KATO 176-9007 EMD F40PH Amtrak Phase III with Ditch Lights #396
I got some of the final pieces for my AMTRAK empire. 4 ABA sets of Phase 1 E units in all different numbers 2 ABBA sets of Phase II E units in different numbers 2 B units converted into HEP cars that still have the drive units and will be outfitted with sound boards. The 2 new F40PH's with the Ditchlights and AC along with new set of cars. All that is left is a few Pepsi Can Dash units and one more MP15 and it will be done. After that, it is off to convert about 100 SD40's to ATSF paint and numbers.
Well, today I went to a local train show. I didn't really expect much as it's combined with a home show. Fortunately, I decided to bring some cash with me anyway, a kind of damned if I do, damned if I don't thing. Lucky me, I found someone with a Kato Burlington E8a for sale!
No, mostly CR, AC, UP and others. I keep all ATSF, NS and CSX since my current layout is a CSX/NS hybrid, while my retirement layout will be ATSF. I have acquired many, many duplicates in many roads to make up the total pool of ATSF I want.
Miller Engineering's experimenter pack to make my own electroluminescent "neon" signs. After looking at the kit and instructions and seeing how the things work, I think I will have to revise my plan for the sign for Paradise Palms pier nightclub, shown here with a mockup roof and printed-out mockup sign. I think the sign will work better with letter all in one row rather than one word atop the other.
Can't very well have cholocates without corn syrup! This railcar will be parked on the layout as in the picture. I know it's a UTLX tanker in the pic and not a GATX, but I'm pretty sure it's a corn syrup car.
I did an "acid test" of my Miller Engineering electroluminscent sign experimenter pack. I imagined a small sign inside the show window of an N scale liquor and gun shop, a neon sign at the top of the window, small enough to leave the bottom half open for display of merchandise and advertisements. A foot and a half high? That turned out to be awfully small for laying out the lettering in Photoshop- and my computer does not seem to make the font I imagine for neon lettering.. generally sans serif, with the ends of lines more rounded than square. (round neon tube curves away from the front surface of the sign) Miller Engineering recommends strips of lettering no smaller than 1/30 of an inch. I laid out lettering on a grid with 18 pixel squares, made each stroke of the letter go across the width of the square but with rounded ends. The smallest I could figure the letters was 5 squares high by 4 square long. Printing this out at 300 ppi gave me letters 3/16" tall or 2 1/2 feet H scale. A bit large for the minimu msize I wanted, but terribly small to cut out with a new Xacto blade. I cut too much of the material, and could not cut rounded corners that small, and I do not think I will be able to use my test sign. I did NOT paint out the portions of the sign I wanted unlighted to finish it for my "lighted" test. However, this was an experiment and I learned from it what works and what will be a problem. As Dr. Werner Von Bruan said when asked about unsuccessful rocket launch experiments: "There are no failures. The object of an experiment is to learn. Sometimes we learn what does not work." The pier nightclub sign for which I really wanted the Miller neon light will be somewhat larger and I am confident I can make it work. I may simplify the lettering from "Paradise Palms" to just "Palms" or "Bali Palms."
Received shipping notice for my latest: 1 Kato GS-4 - American Freedom Train 1 Kato GG-1 - Conrail Bicentennial Should go pretty nicely with the AFT train being produced by Lowell Smith.
Had a loco painted for my wife's birthday. Copied Philippine flag (her homeland) and used our railroad name, J & M H. Try to get her interest and gets me a new loco.
James Hetzel - WOW - what a great gift! My next purchase will likely be 40 pieces of Kato 9.5" straights new or used.
One more MP36 for the layout, some Sounder bombardiers (finally) to go with the F59s, and some vehicles that I managed to get for a good price.
