Post up your pics, let's see what's on your bench!
The mailman brought an SDL39 in MILW original flavor to go with my Rio Grande-imaginary SDL39.
Love the detail, not so crazy about the whiney ESU decoder. Unlike a Tsunami, a quick peek via JMRI didn't reveal an equalizer or any easy direct way to calm that turbo (or whatever it is) a little to make it bearable.
Note that the Rio Grande SDL39 has dynamic brakes and a low nose-mounted warning light, like a proper Rio Grande SD should. Built it from a Kaslo Shops kit.
Meanwhile in the garage, I put together my modular 4x8 HOn3 display layout.
It was to make it's debut at the 2020 train show. Stuff happens. Now this year's show (at Lincoln Square in downtown Urbana on March 26 and 27) will be its debut. It links via a bridge to the late Bob Miller's Hon3 layout with its exquisite hand laid track.
I updated the benchwork with the head and foot boards from a hospital bed. This let's you crank the bed up and down and to roll it around.
The layout is composed of 4 pieces of Genesis board, a PVC-based suspended ceiling panel made for damp locations. I attached Blackstone Protraxx as the main track, plus glued down some cork and ME track for the rest. These panels slide into the framework that breaks down for easy transport.
The thing is a bit rigged underneath, but works and rolls around easily. I'll give it a skirt of landscape cloth to make it look tidy.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Thanks for the opener, Mike. Nice looking SDL. I hope you get the whine fixed.
The railroadiest thing I have done in a couple weeks is buy this 1/1 scale, and I didn't realize it had been owned by BN until after I got it home, got a good look at the peely paper label...
...and even then it was for air freight! Still BN, a railroad company.
The 4 lb hammer zero's it, I wonder if it had a pan of some sort. It operates smoothly and consistently. It has an incandescent light bulb inside that works too.
Is that a bit of a reach for WPF? It's all I got. Dan
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Good morning
Like the SDL39's Mike. They sure look at home on that fine looking layout of yours. The modular garage layout looks fun. Quite Innovative with the hospital bed stand.
Makes me wonder how many thousands of packages were weighed on that Burlington Northern scale Dan and some more of that good tongue-in-cheek humor Bear.
Well, as many of you know John has torn down is old layout and started a new one. He asked me to post some bridge pictures for referance for his first scratch build.
I took his request as a kind compliment and am only too happy to help
Bridge # 1 Warren truss
Bridge #1 was a little screwy as I was recovering from knee surgery on pain meds. I didn't know I was looking at a picture of a double bridge with a center truss. So I really didn't have a clue what I was doing.
#2 Warren poney truss
#3 Girder
#4 Gator truss
#5 Viaduct
#6 Culvert Viaduct
#7 Timber Trestle
Built for 2% grade.
#8 Multi pier girder (under construction)
Well, It was quite the homework assignment looking through almost 3,500 pictures on Imgur last night locating the bridge ones. I will have to apologize in advance if that's to many pics for one post in WPF. I've been working on these things on and off for over four years and there was way more photos to pick through to say the least.
Thank you for looking Gentelman. I always look forward to seeing all your pictures every weekend. Love to see what everyone is doing and all your beautiful craftsmanship
TF
TF, great bridges. On your viaduct, I remember you using something like brick sheet for the sides, but how did you do the arches & keystones?
Mike
Thanks for starting WPF, Mike. Interesting idea with the hospital bed.
Dan. Always interesting to see 1-1 stuff.
With a Beartoon as well.TF Bridgebuilder extraordinaire.
Not much from me that is new. I just enjoy running trains when I can.
My Son on the quad bike rounding up the sheep.
IMG_2094 by David Harrison, on Flickr
The crane and (now fitted) matchtruck at Clarence Dock. The matchtruck has fittings to hold the crane hook.
IMG_2109 by David Harrison, on Flickr
The Wetherby to Leeds Central Class 142 DMU about to arrive at Roseville Station (around the corner). The destination board shows Wetherby one side and Leeds Central the other. Therefore the direction it travels shows the correct destination.
IMG_2122 by David Harrison, on Flickr
Keep the pictures coming.
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
Good morning from sunny and mild Northeast Ohio turning to cold and snowy tonight!
Mike thanks for starting us out with your fine modeling, there have been a lot of bad reviews of the SDL39, many were sent out with damaged ends and many parts falling off.
Dan, nice looking scale we were very unhappy when Toledo Scale moved out of Toledo to Westerville, OH still wonder if they are still in business.
TF, those are some great looking bridges, can't wait to see the final layout!
Bear, I think you should get back to modeling, but I still enjoy your Beartoons.
David, great looking pictures, nothing wrong with running trains, I love it too.
Did not get much completed this week, but I did get one car done!
Red Caboose 1937 AAR Boxcar kit, substituted a Viking roof from Des Plaines Hobbies and Yarmouth Models sill steps. Car was painted with Scalecoat II Tuscan Red and Black Paints then lettered with K4 decals. Car was in general service on the NKP, the Van Swearigin railroads C&O, Erie and NKP were the primary users of the Viking roof on their 1937 AAR Boxcars.
This car would have been done if the decals had arrived like they should have, still don't have them. Walthers 89' Piggyback Flat, real pain to assemble as when they cut the sprues to get them in the box, the number of the sprue did not match properly anymore and they have to be in a specific order for the brake gear to be installed properly.
Also finished the Tichy pseudo covered hopper kit, ready to be painted.
Went to the club last week with a pair of Kato PC SD45's and 13 Scaletrains PS4785 CF Covered hoppers, a pair of Tangent PS4750 CF Covered hoppers and some other cars.
Thanks for looking!
Rick Jesionowski
Rule 1: This is my railroad.
Rule 2: I make the rules.
Rule 3: Illuminating discussion of prototype history, equipment and operating practices is always welcome, but in the event of visitor-perceived anacronisms, detail descrepancies or operating errors, consult RULE 1!
Water Level Route TF, great bridges. On your viaduct, I remember you using something like brick sheet for the sides, but how did you do the arches & keystones?
I enjoy looking at your freight cars Rick as you always do such a fine job on them. And admire your clubs layout as I'm sure you' have a part in that as well.
And as I've said before David, I never grow tired of looking at your unique style of model railroading. Love that black crane scene. Reminds me of a black dragon in a medieval knight movie is just one example why your work is appreciated.
Mike, thanks for opening this week's Weekend Photo Fun. Your use of Genesis panels may be a new process for modular building -- lightweight but strong.
Dan, that's a neat scale. Where did you find something like that?
Bear, funny cartoon. You must have a huge file of your beartoons.
TF, thanks for the photos. You have inspired me to try building some bridges myself. The whole time I was planning a new layout, I thought I would be buying the bridges, but after seeing your examples, I decided that I would try it. Your bridges look like professionally done models.
David, more nice scenes from your layout. I really admire your attention to detail.
Rick, nice work on the boxcar. You make cars that look amazingly real. That boxcar could be set on a track, and it would be difficult to tell that it was a model.
I have not done much the past week as we prepare for a trip. I did start actually laying track, but I am going slow this time around, trying to see problems before they start. Right now I will lay track over the wood bridge platform just so I can run trains while I work on building my first bridge.
Thanks, everyone, for continuing to show great examples of your layouts.
York1 John
Dennis, I'm not sure why, but I am unable to see your photos. Does anyone know how I can see them?
TF, amazing work!! How long have you spent on these bridges?
Jerry
That’s a nice scene, Dennis, hope we get to see more, please.
dti406Bear, I think you should get back to modeling...
York1 Dennis, I'm not sure why, but I am unable to see your photos. Does anyone know how I can see them?
Same here
Southgate 2Thanks for the opener, Mike. Nice looking SDL. I hope you get the whine fixed.
I'm not getting much from the instructions and documentation. I'd have to learn an entirely different operating system, I suppose, sure makes me appreciate the straightforward nature of the Tsunamis I usually use. Was able to turn the volume down, which helped a lot with the overenthusiastic whine. It sounds like a uniut with a bearing failure, but I can't seem to locate any control that applies to it directly and not sure I'd recognize it if I did.
Nice find on the BN scale. I'd bet the extra 4 pounds has something to do with a missing bowl or tray.
Track fiddlerLike the SDL39's Mike. They sure look at home on that fine looking layout of yours. The modular garage layout looks fun. Quite Innovative with the hospital bed stand.
Thanks, TF. I had some plain old legs that were clumsy, but once I managed to get rid of the center section that has the drive motors and mechanism, thingts are much better.
Nice bridges, BTW.
dti406Mike thanks for starting us out with your fine modeling, there have been a lot of bad reviews of the SDL39, many were sent out with damaged ends and many parts falling off.
Other than the whine and the bafflement ESU causes me, my SDL39 is pretty darn perfect. I did get the email about the drooping ends and it doesn't apply. The recommended fix sounds OK, but the detail make it intimidating to handle this for some, I suppose.
Nice looking cars!
York1Mike, thanks for opening this week's Weekend Photo Fun. Your use of Genesis panels may be a new process for modular building -- lightweight but strong.
For this project, I drew inspiration from the T-trak modules that are becoming popular in N scale. We're going to have a T-trak layout at the show, so am looking forward to comparing how the two standard designs are implemented, both of which depend on the Kato track connectors for power and alignment.
Gidday Mike, I’ll try to drop in Thursday to see that new locomotive running on your layout, it looks good.
I'll be happy to give it a thorough demo for you, Bear. The renovations at home look great! Plus provide a solid basis to support building some models now that the kitchen is checked off the to-do list.
Mike, Thanks for opening the WPF with a unique repurposing.
Extra fun this week, so many skillful projects and items of varied interest, even a look inside the Bear's cave.
Thanks to all the contributors and viewers. Have a good weekend. Regards, Peter
mlehmanLove the detail, not so crazy about the whiney ESU decoder. Unlike a Tsunami, a quick peek via JMRI didn't reveal an equalizer or any easy direct way to calm that turbo (or whatever it is) a little to make it bearable.
I thought the same, Mike. I have a couple of ST gevos, and on those, it's a compressor. F7 turns it off, not sure about the SDL39's
There is a sheet that comes with the locos, that gives a list of the controls.
Mike.
My You Tube
mbinsewiI thought the same, Mike. I have a couple of ST gevos, and on those, it's a compressor. F7 turns it off, not sure about the SDL39's
Yeah, compressor was one of my first thoughts, given the prominence of the sound. The sheet lists it as F20. Tried that and several others that sounded suggestive to no avail. F7 didn't work either.
I'm sure it's a sound that is supposed to be there, but was hoping to avoid ear plugs in the train room.
Also trying to figure out if there is any control over the cab lights except the start-up sequence and a way to either dim the class lights or brighten the headlight or both.
Fun stuff from everyone this week. Mike I got to see the the SDL39's in WC paint as they went through the area. Love that they look like a 6 axel GP-38's.
Worked on renumbering, adding diaphrams and painting trucks on my CNW streamline cars for a couple of weeks. Put a couple together to look like CNW train 120 which was an afternoon mail train that carried 1 coach for passengers and mail storage cars tacked onto the end.
Scott Sonntag
Lots of great pics posted here !
Lots of creative people here !
CHARTER MEMBER OF THE MILWAUKEE FALLEN FLAG MODEL TRAIN CLUB . I COLLECT HO, N , O-3rail & On30 Trains & run them ! I Use KATO HO & N scale Track . I also Use Lionel Fast Track ! I change track layouts Often !
Three more beer reefers to add to the train