Who remembers the "flat car loader/unloader" unit? It was available at Dallas Model Works, and they had a video of the device in operation. The write-up admitted that flatcars would not really be loaded and unloaded this way. The whole idea of the unit was that it would be hidden inside a structure, and would allow you to run a loaded flat car into the building and then pull the same car out empty a while later. And everybody thought the whole thing was a pretty cool idea.
My suggestion was basically trying to achieve the same illusion. The idea isn't to watch the logs being dumped, hence the large shed to cover over the mechanism and its operation. Instead, it's loads in / empties out. Coal modellers use removeable hopper loads, or duplicate trains, one full, one empty, to achieve this same kind of visual trickery.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I dunno, it would look pretty good between the Bachmann crossing gates and the warehouse with the whistle in it...
If you want to do a log loader/unloader, go to the West Virginia University website and look through their photo archives. Get about $20 worth of Plastruct and Evergreen stuff, and build something that looks real!
Animation is one of those things that if done well, can be a real show stopper, but if it's cheesy, it detracts from the whole effect of the layout.
Lee
Route of the Alpha Jets www.wmrywesternlines.net
Been Nothing Since Frisco BNSF wrote:I was wanting a cheap way to add an industry to a town that I would add to my layout (I don't have a town yet, and I proly wont get this if I dont end up doing a town) is it realy worth getting this or do I need to get something better? http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/433-21312sorry if it's not clickable, I still haven't figured out to do that.
I was wanting a cheap way to add an industry to a town that I would add to my layout (I don't have a town yet, and I proly wont get this if I dont end up doing a town) is it realy worth getting this or do I need to get something better?
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/433-21312
sorry if it's not clickable, I still haven't figured out to do that.
I would say no. I had one of these when I was a kid. It's not all that. If you want a sawmill for instance that receives logs I would advise getting some log hauling semi-trailer units for the layout and concentrate on the industry they supply.
Alternately, just float the logs downriver...if that works for your layout. Once the logs are lumber ship it via rail!
I think an experienced modeller will say "what industry receives logs via side-dumping flatcars??".
Some mining companies operate side-dump hopper or gondola cars, but I don't there's such a thing as a side-dump flatcar. There are a number of kits and "ready to use" models of industries out there, many at reasonable prices, that would fit in better on a layout.
At that price? I'd suggest buying 3 or 4 of them. (Wait for laughter to die down.)
That way, you'd have 4 cars. They might need some modifications, like replacing the flat car decks, etc., but that would be an interesting upgrade task - some scale wood planking, stain, weathering, etc. But, it would be better with a consist than a single car. You might think about "weathering" the logs, too.
Next, you've got 3 or 4 platforms. Take one apart and study it. All you really want is the mechanism, but you can afford to sacrifice one or two just to figure out how it works, and why it sometimes fails. Tinker with it and improve its performance. Mostly, though, just reduce the mechanism to the basics. Get rid of the tacky little shed, in particular.
Finally, build a large shed for this to go in. Again, scale lumber, or styrene sheets (clapboard, metal siding, whatever.) An interesting project in itself. Make is so that you can see inside, but not too well. Make sure you can get the logs out easily after you dump them.
Now, you've got a "loads in, empties out" industry. And experienced modellers will say, "Wow, you did that with Life-Like toy junk?" And you can just look at them and smile.
It will cost you more in shipping than the price of the item or it's worth. My ...
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Its your layout..If you want the fool thing buy it.
Now my advice? To toy like and therefore not worth having.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
One big word:
NOOO!!!
I have 2 of these. I quit using them because when I got my P2K SD9, the lever kept hitting the locomotive. Also, they only worked half the time, and the car isn't built very good.
Right now they are sitting in a box, waiting on me to decide there fate. Either I'm just going to rip out the guts and make them into roadside shacks, or sell them off at a show.
Vincent
Wants: 1. high-quality, sound equipped, SD40-2s, C636s, C30-7s, and F-units in BN. As for ones that don't cost an arm and a leg, that's out of the question....
2. An end to the limited-production and other crap that makes models harder to get and more expensive.
The real question is how does it strike you? I sense you are ambivalent about having a "toy-like" accessory like this on your layout, or you wouldn't have asked for other's opinions.
IMHO, it tends to harken back to the era of "toy trains", where automated accessories were invented to give layouts extra "play-value" for the younger crowd. This was not necessarily exclusive to our friends in the C&TT group, as I remember years ago one HO manufacturer had a whole train set with several animated accessories that were operated off of the spinning wheels of the locomotive. The motion of the wheels was transmitted through thin wires that connected a length of special track to the accessory itself, and drove the animation. It's not my cup of tea, but it's not my layout either.
I have figured out what is wrong with my brain! On the left side nothing works right, and on the right side there is nothing left!
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
Dave
Just be glad you don't have to press "2" for English.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ_ALEdDUB8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hqFS1GZL4s
http://s73.photobucket.com/user/steemtrayn/media/MovingcoalontheDCM.mp4.html?sort=3&o=27
"Rust, whats not to love?"
Guilford Guy wrote:Nope, not worth it...
I agree.
But FWIW, here's a clickable version of your link: http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/433-21312
-Ken in Maryland (B&O modeler, former CSX modeler)
Been Nothing Since Frisco BNSF wrote: I was wanting a cheap way to add an industry to a town that I would add to my layout (I don't have a town yet, and I proly wont get this if I dont end up doing a town) is it realy worth getting this or do I need to get something better? http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/433-21312 sorry if it's not clickable, I still haven't figured out to do that.
Once you paste the link, hit the spacebar. alternatively, you can put your pointer on the end of the link and hit the spacebar after a link has been posted.
Anyway, no. I enjoyed it when I had one, but you can find better.
-Morgan
Alex