Vic, do you mind if I save some of the pics from your projects to my computer? That way I will have them if you delete them from the forums, etc. They provide a lot of inspiration!
Have fun with your trains
IRB Souther Engineer Do you have a picture of HLW Whadahellizit #3 (before the crash)?
Do you have a picture of HLW Whadahellizit #3 (before the crash)?
here it is, you can see how the coupler is mounted, its just a 1/2" square block od wood glued just above the coupler hole on the inside, the Ozark coupler is just screwed into the block, a Bachmann knuckle can be screw mounted into the same block.
The link/pins might not uncouple, but at some point they might break. Have you ever done a link/pin installation on an un-bashed Mack?
Had a bit of a disaster the other day, was testing the (badly) rewired track power with HLW Whadahellizit #3 on point pulling the drovers caboose, with the HLW Sparky pulling a short string behind, well the Whada stalled on the switch on the left side and the Sparky rammed it from behind and before I could cut the power the Drovers fell off the side and dragged the Whada over with it, like I said, those link/pins NEVER uncouple....welll after I picked up all the pieces I assessed the damage, overall not too bad, the Whada broke into 3 large chunks plus the bell on the roof and was soon glued back togther with no ill effects, in fact I have to look hard to where it came apart (tough bugger), the drovers was a bit rougher, nothing that cant be ACed back together but the worst part was the the handrails on one of the end platforms broke off completely and will need complete replacement, luckily I have an unused coach kit but I might try sbending some brass ones together instead.Lesson learned? I have to rework the track power with two 2-pole switches to allow me to switch between one powerpack to control the loop portion and one to control the auto reverser section, currently there is an overlap in power track control, which the switches will allow me to isolate each into specific control areas , got all the switches, just need to find the extra wire now.
IRB Souther Engineer Vic, when you bash a Mack do you buy the Mack "whole" or is there somewhere you buy just the parts you need?
Vic, when you bash a Mack do you buy the Mack "whole" or is there somewhere you buy just the parts you need?
Buy em whole always have, leaves me with lots of "Bits" left over, they eventually find their way into other projects
Time for an update, well the fold downs turn out to be a real hastle in actual operations, way too much fiddling around with took too long just to get one side set up, so I just left them up, then the misses started fussing about how much room the layout took up and it did take up quite a bit of room so I did some pondering and reevaluation and eventually came up with this reworking
Revised right side with fold downs removed, back to original configuration:
Reworked front
Revised left side, fold down reduced in size and fixed in place:
Revised left side new tunnel face
Still have a nice outside loop to run bigger equipment on but now have a fixed platform without the hastles of the folddowns or the space problems of the former layout. Plus I can use the outside track as a point to point for the LGB Auto reverser I have and have been trying to intigrate for a while now. This will be getting scenery very soon now.
ttriggIRB Souther Engineeryou sure seem to like those Macks. Yep, he thrives on the "Mack". Only two axles, and the tight curves he pulls pretty well limit what he can drive. Vic has mastered the "kitbash" of the Mack and produces many "one of a kind" treasures.
IRB Souther Engineeryou sure seem to like those Macks.
Yep, he thrives on the "Mack". Only two axles, and the tight curves he pulls pretty well limit what he can drive. Vic has mastered the "kitbash" of the Mack and produces many "one of a kind" treasures.
The curves on my RR can accommodate SD-45's (they don't look that good going around my curves but they can do it-but hey, my RR is more narrow gauge anyway) I almost like two axle loco's more than other larger one's, though. I'm big on the LGB Porter and other small critter-type loco's.
Look at page 46 of the June 2010 mag. This layout will be like that one soon.
I prefer the "King of Macking"
Brits and younger forum memebrs will get a chuckle out of that one
He's the "King of Macks"
Tom Trigg
Ya, it's too bad- only two pics show. Thanks anyway.
Maybe you can help me here: http://cs.trains.com/trccs/forums/t/173465.aspx
you sure seem to like those Macks.
http://cs.trains.com/trccs/forums/p/145216/1611909.aspx#1611909
Please go to the above link. Sorry but I deleted alot of pics from my files, but the text gives a good enough description to get the idea how it went together, this has since been sold
Can you tell me how you built that loco from the two Macks and the Aristo power trucks?
I saw it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkhX1XDMVXw
I like it
Dave
The head is gray, hands don't work , back is weak, legs give out, eyes are gone, money go's and my wife still love's Me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Py7RejJ1ZPM
Progress video showing layout to date
You're out of control (in a good way, of course)... I love what you' ve done with such a simple trackplan, or what was a simple trackplan!
Nope not one of mine
I remember seeing a 2-4-4-2 was that yours Vic??
R1! You actually have the room for R1! That means running something with more than two axles! Next thing we know you will be trying to run a Mallet.
Few update pictures
I extended the fold down wings on each side to accomodate R1 curves, still folds down and stores in the same space as before, but those 21" dia curves were just way too limiting. Now I can at the least run just about everything still left on my roster.
OK message sent
vsmith Yes Tom, the trolley line is back
Sounds like you are having fun. I should have time to have fun starting next month. You know how Christmas is in retail, busy x 3. Six 10 hour days per week.
More progress pics, foam at left side done need it to warm up a bit before I can paint. 35F here tonight.
Added the other fold down section on the right hand side, I'm back up to 6'-6" wide once again, but I can trim off almost 2 feet to store the layout
I will be doing some wiring it up like a Christmas tree that Trek's Scotty would be proud of. It will able to run like another part of the layout but I can also isolate the rear line on its own power and will add an LGB auto-reversing unit. Yes Tom, the trolley line is back
Some progress pics, finishing up the carved and textured foam on the right hand sideneed to add a couple more bits and caulking before I hit it with the paint.
Along the front added carved and textured foam to the front side as well
Next is to do the left side foam scenery, I like the left hand fold down section and am considering adding another on the right hand side that will fold under the tabletop for storage
The biggest problem I'm having are the darn low tempuratures, I glue down stuff then have to wait 2 or three days for it to dry completely, makes progress terribly slow. Why do I only seam to be doing this stuff in the middle of winter.
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