Good morning, all. I'll have some coffee, and a bagel with cream cheese. Thanks.
Good news on the job, Mike. Sounds like you've got a winner so far.
Sue, you could get some of those "nude sunbathers" and add cowboy hats to them. A strategically placed horse or cow would keep the scene PG.
JB, I'm having a heck of a time getting the bridge to line up right on the turntable deck. It looks right, but when I put it on the layout and rotate the turntable 180 degrees, I find that I'm off by some tiny fraction of an inch along the direction of travel. So, while things all line up fine when I put the turntable down, they don't work once I turn it. I've thought of designing some kind of adjustable mount with a screw adjustment and a set-screw to clamp it in place, or maybe putting in rails that are a bit too long and then trimming the rails to the right size on each end. How are you dealing with this? (Come to think of it, the deck rails will slide along the ties, since that's how Atlas designed the mounting. Maybe that's the answer. And I always thought it was the beer that made me smarter when I came in here.)
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Mike, I have no idea how you can put butter in your oatmeal. I will just have huckleberries on mine.
MrB, I am having trouble finding nude sunbathers. They all have swimsuits on. I was actually thinking of a view of a bare backside when looking through a 3 foot tunnel. That should cause a chuckle.
Sue
Anything is possible if you do not know what you are talking about.
Good afternoon...I'll have a tap Joe, but could you do some fresh popcorn too...Thanks!
Mr. Beasley, regarding the TT problem...Trouble shooting across cyberspace...Let us see just how good I can be with words. First off, I have to say that I've just gotten to the point of that 180 check-out, with just gluing my bridge in place the other day. After work tonight, providing it's not too late and I play with trains, may tell that tale! I may end up with the same problem as you have. But...
I'm thinking that the first thing to look at is to be sure that the TT is level and plumb. If this all checks out good, then...
The way I see your situation is perhaps two fold, or at the very least one or the other. The first scenario could be that your bridge is just slightly off center, a little off can make a big difference here. In your case (and I assume here, with a false pit bottom above the Atlas mechanism) that you have the bridge supported in the center of the Atlas table deck. It would / could be difficult to have the bridge perfectly centered, with three separate pieces (deck, sub-structure & bridge) all having to line up properly. To test this theory; check to be sure the bridge goes around in a true circle. If it doesn't, it will be case of tweaking the assembles toward true center. This may be able to be accomplished with enlarging or changing holes (in the case of parts being screwed or bolted together), shimming or wedging.
The second scenario could simply be that the bridge is just miss-allied with the deck or the bridge itself has a slight deviances to it. In either of these cases a slight adjust in the rotation of the bridge with it's attachment to the deck and / or a straightening of the bridge should do the trick.
Not really knowing how you assembled the structures with one another...Of course I'm just making a guess here, but I'm really thinking that it isn't a major problem and only needs a bit of aliening the assembly parts.
Keep me posted, and I'll keep you posted. This makes me want to get out to the Trainroom now to check out my TT....But it will have to wait for tonight or tomorrow! Duty calls.
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
Hey gang! I'll have a tap Joe, and what's the lunch special today?
Just got done with swim lessons and spending a little time in the Trainroom...So I thought I would check in.
After getting home pretty late last evening, I did head to the Trainroom thinking I would check out the TT rotation thing (I had some bad thoughts, but more on that latter), but I discovered that I would have to attach the mechanism first, to do a really good check and felt I just didn't have the where-with-all to pull it off, be so late and being so tired too. So I put it off until today. After spending some time getting the Atlas secured to it's plywood base, I powered it up and did the 180....Rejoice, it is right on!
In a nut-shell...My major worries really began after addressing Mr. Beasley's questions regarding his TT installation and sharing my ideas on how to correct the problems he was incountering. I had realized that I had really messed up!
Even though I had measured and re-measured, and re-measured again regarding the attachment of my bridge to the wheelsets and table deck...I really blew it when I glued it together. In a last minute effort to adjust the height, I had re-cut the "logs" that the bridge rests on. After doing so, I didn't re-measure and mostly just eyeballed and used my fingers (feeling my way, so to speak) to center the bridge on the logs!
Now, I have to say that my "pit-bash" is different than Mr. B's in as much as I can see the deck and the new bridge assembly is attached directly to it...But, none the less, after realizing that I hadn't re-checked / re-measured before the gluing, I really lucked out!
With that: Mr. Beasley, how is the tweaking of you bridge alignment going?
More latter.
No work on the trains this weekend, I'm afraid. Instead, we are up at Sunday River in Maine skiing. Kind of cloudy and drizzly this morning, but it cleared up for most of the day. I felt a few raindrops at the top of my last chair ride up, and now, about a half-hour later, it's just pouring rain again. Despite the rain and warm weather, we've had a number of good days on the slopes. We drive home tomorrow, but I'll probably be too wasted to attack any serious problems. When I get home, chances are I'll just want to run trains.
To my great surprise, they dumped the $10 a day hotel internet and just made it free. If you think I'm gonna spend 10 bucks "cover charge" for the Beer Barn, think again.
MisterBeasley wrote:No work on the trains this weekend, I'm afraid. Instead, we are up at Sunday River in Maine skiing. Kind of cloudy and drizzly this morning, but it cleared up for most of the day. I felt a few raindrops at the top of my last chair ride up, and now, about a half-hour later, it's just pouring rain again. Despite the rain and warm weather, we've had a number of good days on the slopes. We drive home tomorrow, but I'll probably be too wasted to attack any serious problems. When I get home, chances are I'll just want to run trains.To my great surprise, they dumped the $10 a day hotel internet and just made it free. If you think I'm gonna spend 10 bucks "cover charge" for the Beer Barn, think again.
Thanks, Mister Beasley! I haven't laughed so hard in such a long time!
"Evening, everybody. Singha for me, Joe, and see what the others are havin'.
Mister B, don't know if you need another subway train, but I just got a monthly sale notice and the four car train is under $100. Don't want to mention which Milwaukee institution sent it - Bergie might get mad at me.
In the thread on caulk, somebody said, "No fumes." The stuff I used today did emit fumes - a nice minty smell. I can live with that.
Fun tomorrow - EKG, followed by a run on a treadmill, presumably to see if my system is functional. I think the heart, lungs and muscles are fine. Its the arthritic hip joints that have me concerned .
Have to hobble along - time to see a lady about some salad, roast ham and new potatoes.
Chuck modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Howdy Joe...Looks like it's just you mad me tonight. Oh well...I'll take a tall tap.
Squeaky, good to hear from! How are you doing? Hope that all is right in your world.
Jeffrey, it sounds like you got two good deals! I run some Athens too and for the money, they are a pretty good investment. As a matter of fact I've even done (am still doing) a bash of two of their Hustlers. With some added detail, they make a great little "critter". In all honesty I have a few too many new BB, kept as spares, that I really should try to sell.
Mr. Beasley, hope you had a good time skiing. We started our Nordic lessons today (I teach, out at Mount Itasca) and it went real well...Thank God for "man made" snow though!
And what's this....You wouldn't pay a cover at the Barn?? I'll give you we don't any live entertainment, but remember, you can always get anything you want.
Gotta' run, but I'll check in tomorrow...After playing in the Trainroom!
Chuck...Sorry I missed you! You must have come in while I was "away". I'll get the next round, you may need more than one, to buck up for tomorrow.
And, BTW, good luck tomorrow with all the tests! I failed my first stress test because my blood pressure hit 260/130 when I got to level five on the mill....My Dr. said "well, I've seen enough". I did do it all over again, once they got the BP under control and everything checked out fine. But now, I'm doing drugs because I have to..Not because I want to. Ha!
Anyway, good luck and give us the report.
tomikawaTT wrote: Mister B, don't know if you need another subway train, but I just got a monthly sale notice and the four car train is under $100. Don't want to mention which Milwaukee institution sent it - Bergie might get mad at me.
Thanks, Chuck. I wish I had the space to need more subway trains, but alas, such is not the case. Trainworld is selling those for $80 right now. That's such a steal that I almost considered buying a set just for a spare. But, I'm still thinking about that BLI Hudson, and I know the wife doesn't want to buy me two trains for my birthday.
I'll have a coffee and some eggs this morning, Joe. Thanks. Oh, and have you got any of that fresh-squeezed OJ left? Yeah!
Good morning and top 'o' the day to all of ye.
I'll just have a Coke today.
Hey, Jeffrey, nice find on all those engines. Are you going to repaint them, or leave them as they are? Are they all still running pretty well?
colvinbackshop wrote:Howdy Joe...Looks like it's just you mad me tonight. Oh well...I'll take a tall tap.Squeaky, good to hear from! How are you doing? Hope that all is right in your world.Jeffrey, it sounds like you got two good deals! I run some Athens too and for the money, they are a pretty good investment. As a matter of fact I've even done (am still doing) a bash of two of their Hustlers. With some added detail, they make a great little "critter". In all honesty I have a few too many new BB, kept as spares, that I really should try to sell.Mr. Beasley, hope you had a good time skiing. We started our Nordic lessons today (I teach, out at Mount Itasca) and it went real well...Thank God for "man made" snow though!And what's this....You wouldn't pay a cover at the Barn?? I'll give you we don't any live entertainment, but remember, you can always get anything you want.Gotta' run, but I'll check in tomorrow...After playing in the Trainroom!
Colvinbackshop,
Myself am doing ok- having a couple of brewskies this afternoon.
I snuck in and comandeered this 'ol puter from my most loving other half, ha. No; really I had to ask her first. I don't want any ruffled feathers flying around as they can be hard to sweep up.
Was going to respond to a message posted by Mister Beasley a few days ago, but the puter died and I had to buy a new case, transfer all the junk over to it, and by the time I got everything configured, along with putting up with dial-up going through an old GTE terminal box with 700 phone lines attached to it (when it rains, the thing goes bonkers)- several days hadgone by.
My wife uses this machine most of the time, and it is usally either very early in the morning when I can respond, or wait for her to get done. She writes stories to the forum she visits- or hangs out on I should say.
I went through the trouble of hanging ditch lights onto the front (of course) of an Atlas EMD SD24. I installed a Loksound decoder, and didn't want the function to go to waste. Lo and behold, the ditchlights do work when the horns are sounded, but then go off. The ditchlights are normally off. Bummer. Oh well. They say you can't have everything.
Still have to spread out some more joint compound, and sand it in order to get the tracks laid back down. Actually, I have been using what body repairmen on cars call a cheese grater- works swell. It has been a very slow process- well because it's cold down here, and the compound takes days to dry. Heater? What heater?
Off and running.....................................
Gotta run- here comes a broom!!!!!
Howdy, Joe. I'll have a Miller, and a hot pastrami sandwich. Still a lot of day left.
Colvin, I read your post this fine (early) AM and it had me concerned. Then I took the test...
I put myself under more stress, longer, walking up the hill from the V&T station to beautiful downtown Virginia City a couple of months ago! The test was about equivalent to walking the old right-of-way between Boulder City and Hoover Dam. As for the EKG, after it was over, the technician asked me, "Are you sure you're sixty-nine?" BIG ego boost!
Well, I went into the garage and checked the track shims I'd caulked to the foam yesterday. I thought I'd put the caulk down thin enough, but quite a bit oozed out the edges. I guess that three Las Vegas yellow pages phone books and 25# of steel rail was enough weight. The good news is that I'm just about ready to start laying rail. (Did I hear, "It's about time!" from the next room?)
Great sandwich, Joe. Time to grab my spike maul and get to work.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - slowly)
Ok now; my wife has left and I have all this power to baby sit.
Here is my :
It was a shame to see the "Coffee Shop" go away. Couldn't they have hacked off the first 2000 pages instead?
At that rate, the "BEER BARN," and "THE WHISTLE STOP" will probably be around for a long long time. Especailly the way I get to reply, ha, ha!!!
By the way; Mister Beasly; Did you take the ski trip to get away from the troubles of your turntable, or was it for other reasons? (exercise is not an option for excuses this time, sorry.
Thankyou, and please come again?
Time for a beer, Joe. Make it a Shipyard Export from Portland, Maine. And a plate of fried clams to pass around, too. Thanks.
SqueakyWheels wrote: By the way; Mister Beasly; Did you take the ski trip to get away from the troubles of your turntable, or was it for other reasons? (exercise is not an option for excuses this time, sorry.
No, we just all like to ski. Besides, I've got a season pass, and I'm a Scotsman. Even in this bad winter, I've already skied enough days to pay for the pass at day-ticket rates, so to my way of looking at it, I'm skiing free for the rest of the season. Hard to beat.
I came right back to the roundhouse Sunday night. Looks like the last adjustment nailed it as far as aligning the bridge with the deck goes. Today I started on the false floor. I even ran an engine on to the bridge last night. It's not powered yet, though, so once it was there I had to activate the auxiliary 5-DCC controller to get it back on the lead track.
The whole mounting does have too much flex in it. I was hoping it would be stiff enough to hold the engines properly without the pit rail and bogies, but that's just not going to be the case. So, it looks like that whole thing will have to be solid and functional, too. I'm going to find out if Atlas flex-track will bend into a 9-inch circle.
MisterBeasley wrote: I'm going to find out if Atlas flex-track will bend into a 9-inch circle.
I'm going to find out if Atlas flex-track will bend into a 9-inch circle.
Thanks. Of course, I'll only be using one of the 2 rails, so first I've got to slice the track in half lengthwise. I figure I'll just brute-force it with the Dremel. I may be able to find a small dinner plate or large salad plate to use as a template.
So, what does a bogey mount on a turntable look like? As you can guess, I'm kind of at the point where I'm winging it right now.
This might give you an idea.
Hello, everybody. Joe, a round for the house - Falstaff (closest I could come to Faller.)
Mister Beasley, use the FIXED rail from that Atlas flex (so the ties won't slide around.) No problemo! (Been there, done that - actually with code 70 Shinohara, which has ties that don't slide all that easily.)
Been working on the hidden yard throat. Got the last little piece of shim down, and the first rail. As Murphy would have it, it was just over one meter long, so I cut a 36 inch Atlas rail (piece of flex missing some ties) short and added a 6" piece cut off the end of another length of flex (pulled out of the Used Materials Storage - aka junk - box.) Right now the sliding rail side of the flex tie strip is empty. Tomorrow I'll start erecting a turnout on the wooden ties that currently support part of the lonesome rail (which is actually the through route stock rail of the mainline to throat crossover.) I don't file flats in my stock rails, so exact place of switch point contact is non-critical.
Well, I hear a big platter of spaghetti calling, so I have to go.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - very slowly)
Spaghetti? You mean geishas make spaghetti for dinner? That wasnt' in the movie.
Thanks for the tip on the flex track.
Wow, that's weird. There's a large bug crawling around my desktop. (Physical, not virtual desktop.) It came up to my beer can, and bent its front legs like it was bowing before an alter. Now it's trying to climb up the wet, cold side of the can and not having much luck.
Evening all, Joe How Dry I Am. Thanks Does anyone here remember me? Seems like a long time ago, I have been checking in a couple of times a day but seems never time to reply, let alone go in the train room.
Mom and Dad moved to Dallas Tx. last Sat. and left the place to me, and I have been busy taking my things from storage and cleaning them, getting everything ready to use again.
Take a look at these pics, I was in my kitchen last night and looked up and imagined I saw a model RR around the room above the cabinets.
What would be wrong with that? Might be kind of a neat conversation piece. I plan on redoing the kitchen when I get done with the living room, and could build a real neat railroad around the walls about a foot wide or so. What do you think?
Pics?
One thing I always notice whenever I climb up on the kitchen counters and look down at the top of the cabinets (yeah, like I do that a lot) is that everything up there is covered with greasy dust, particularly anywhere near the stove. I don't think it's a great environment for trains. I suppose it wouldn't be so bad if I went up and cleaned it once in a while, but, well, it's just one of those things I never get to.
So, did you get any other spaces to build a huge layout in?
OK SO I DROPPED THE BALL
Here are the pics
Mr B. I haven't thougut of the greese, but the dust wouldn't be any worse than anywhere elece that is rairly cleaned. I have got the entire upstairs that could be turned into a nice size trainroom. about 10 times what I have now. Joe set us up again. Mike