nscaler711 wrote:does any one know what decoder will fit in an Kato SD70M?Hey Dave have you been to Whiteman AFB yet?
does any one know what decoder will fit in an Kato SD70M?
Hey Dave have you been to Whiteman AFB yet?
http://www.walthers.com/exec/search?category=&scale=&manu=&item=245-DN163K1B&keywords=&instock=Q&split=30&Submit=Search
Plug n' play decoder for Kato SD70M
I got my very first N scale loco in the mail today. A Kato SD70M in the dark future scheme. I've always wanted to super detail some of my HO scale locos (wipers, grab irons, mu hoses ect.), but now that I see how small N scale really is, it looks like super detailing will be a lot harder than it looks.
Has anyone tried to super detail anything in N scale? If so, how did it go? I'd love to see some pics!
Dave Vollmer wrote: Zandoz wrote: Dave Vollmer wrote:Also, this weekend I added a removable 3-track staging yard in anticipation of expanded operations. Here's how I did it (took just a few hours): http://kc.pennsyrr.com/layouts/dvollmer/Projects/staging.htmlOK....I'm gonna ask what will probably be one of those "Duh questions"...but here goes......With single end staging like that, aren't you pretty much limited to one direction opperation? And wouldn't that tend to get old quick?Well, it does mean some trains will have to back out of the yard. Others will have to run left-hand until they get to the crossover at M Interlocking. All part of the challenge, I guess.Sure, double-ended staging would be ideal. In fact, I plan to have double-ended run-through visible staging on my post-Air Force retirement layout. But for now, truth is, I don't have the room for anything more than what I've built. Even then, based on small housing at my next assignment (Kirtland AFB), I'll probably have to move to the garage with this.My philosophy is some staging is better than none at all. Plus, if nothing else, at shows it will allow me to change out trains quickly without losing spectator interest.
Zandoz wrote: Dave Vollmer wrote:Also, this weekend I added a removable 3-track staging yard in anticipation of expanded operations. Here's how I did it (took just a few hours): http://kc.pennsyrr.com/layouts/dvollmer/Projects/staging.htmlOK....I'm gonna ask what will probably be one of those "Duh questions"...but here goes......With single end staging like that, aren't you pretty much limited to one direction opperation? And wouldn't that tend to get old quick?
Dave Vollmer wrote:Also, this weekend I added a removable 3-track staging yard in anticipation of expanded operations. Here's how I did it (took just a few hours): http://kc.pennsyrr.com/layouts/dvollmer/Projects/staging.html
http://kc.pennsyrr.com/layouts/dvollmer/Projects/staging.html
OK....I'm gonna ask what will probably be one of those "Duh questions"...but here goes......
With single end staging like that, aren't you pretty much limited to one direction opperation? And wouldn't that tend to get old quick?
Well, it does mean some trains will have to back out of the yard. Others will have to run left-hand until they get to the crossover at M Interlocking. All part of the challenge, I guess.
Sure, double-ended staging would be ideal. In fact, I plan to have double-ended run-through visible staging on my post-Air Force retirement layout. But for now, truth is, I don't have the room for anything more than what I've built. Even then, based on small housing at my next assignment (Kirtland AFB), I'll probably have to move to the garage with this.
My philosophy is some staging is better than none at all. Plus, if nothing else, at shows it will allow me to change out trains quickly without losing spectator interest.
I understand the space issues...in fact that is why I asked. My attempts at coming up with a layout for my little diningroom table space, with curves broad enough for passenger cars, and some staging for both directions, have been very frustrating. I thought maybe I was missing some "trick".
Reality...an interesting concept with no successful applications, that should always be accompanied by a "Do not try this at home" warning.
Hundreds of years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove...But the world may be different because I did something so bafflingly crazy that my ruins become a tourist attraction.
"Oooh...ahhhh...that's how this all starts...but then there's running...and screaming..."
I personally do not super-detail any of my stuff, but have seen many fine examples of people adding plows, wipers, hoses. AC and correct horns to many diesels. There also are quite a few examples of scratch built and bashed steam and diesels out there. I would probably be working on this if I could get my layout presentable! Your imagination is the limit.
My current excuse is that I'm waiting on some rail nippers to cut the flex for my 18" and 20" flex track curves.
Bob
Army National Guard E3MOS 91BI have multiple scales nowZ, N, HO, O, and G.
I just don't know how hard it would be to install those tiny grab irons. I'll need to somehow file off the molded grabs, drill a few dozen holes with an incredibly small drill bit, pain the details, and then re-decal and paint the shell. Painting also involves matching the existing pain on the shell. I don't know if I want to risk messing up a brand new loco. If you do decide to detail your SD70, please let me know how it goes.
Does anyone know of some sites that show super detailed N scale locos or rolling stock?
CSX Fan,
Your best bet for N scale superdetailing info are these three sources:
N Scale Railroading Magazine
N Scale Magazine
www.Nscale.Net
Csxfan what ever you do do not file the grab irons that are already there......its immpossible to get the correct paint color. if any thing use a no. 11 or chizel tip ex-acto blade. i srcewed up on a CSX gp38-2 trying to super detail it. i filed the molded on grab irons off along with the paint i tried to get as close as possible colors. any ways you must have a steady hand along with some form of vise. try BLMA for detail parts
Dave Vollmer,
I don't know if you've seen this before, but I stumbled onto it and thought you might be interested in it.
http://kc.pennsyrr.com/motiveops/index.html
This was posted to the Yahoo N Group.
A new video has been posted to the Rochelle Subdivision blog at http://www.stpaulrochelle.org/blog
It's well worth a look - a sound equiped Challenger on a very nice layout.
Mike Tennent
MTennent wrote: This was posted to the Yahoo N Group.A new video has been posted to the Rochelle Subdivision blog at http://www.stpaulrochelle.org/blog It's well worth a look - a sound equiped Challenger on a very nice layout.Mike Tennent
Great video and great layout! I remember it being written up in NSR.
I'm not sure I'm sold on onboard sound in N, though.
Modeling the Rio Grande Southern First District circa 1938-1946 in HOn3.
pcarrell wrote:Did ya catch that link I gave at the bottom of the last page Dave? I think you'd find it interesting!
Yeah...
Funny thing about that... Have you noticed my URL?
I think you'll find it's similar.
Ya know, I missed that entirely!
My bad!
Jerry Britton sponsors my site.
His Keystone Crossings site is awesome! You may find some stuff you're after too, since he does Eastern railroading.
Howdy! I'm new here, but really miss MRR. I have lots of garage space now (bought a house) and plan on building a decent size layout.
I really want to build a 2' or 3' by 10' or 12', only I'm having trouble coming up with what I want to do on it. I'd like to model BNSF mostly, but also something to do with where I live (San Antonio), which means UP. I don't mind mixing the roads on the layout, due to them sharing the trackage rights down here, but not sure how I'm going to do it :P Any suggestions?
Interesting little factoid in today's e-mail from a new online Marty McGuirk article...
"Model Railroader magazine, published by Kalmbach, is the oldest and largest magazine in the world devoted exclusively to scale model railroading. Since close to 20 percent of MR's readers are N scalers, you'll always find an article or two specific to N scale in every issue."
Source: "Introduction to N Scale Railroading"
http://www.trains.com/mrr/default.aspx?c=a&id=602
N Scale = 20%
Conemaugh Road & Traction circa 1956
Dave Vollmer wrote:Seems to me then that 20% of their content ought to be N scale, but it sure isn't!
I hope this doesn't turn into a big argument--which it has before here--but I must agree. I know layout articles are dependant upon submissions by readers and blah, blah, blah. I appreciated every article MR does on N scale modeling, but they certainly have not reached that 20% by any means. They could especially improve in N scale model reviews. They seem to be very few and far between. Now I am NOT MR bashing--I love the mag. Just a little constructive opinion from a devoted subscriber.
Ron
Owner and superintendant of the N scale Texas Colorado & Western Railway, a protolanced representaion of the BNSF from Fort Worth, TX through Wichita Falls TX and into Colorado.
Check out the TC&WRy on at https://www.facebook.com/TCWRy
Check out my MRR How-To YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/RonsTrainsNThings
Scott, welcome to the forum!
Ya know, new people to the hobby come onto this forum all the time. Since you obviously know a thing or two about trains (you know about the shared trackage in your area) I'd suggest that the first step for you might be the gathering of info. Find out what the trains in your area actually do. Read the back pages of this forum and just soak in information. When you do that, I'm tellin' ya, your vision for "your" RR becomes much more clear. I'd also pick up a copy of "Track Planning For Realistic Operation", by John Armstrong. It's out of print I think, so you might be going with Amazon or something, but that book is worth every penny of what you pay for it, trust me. And one other thing.....ask questions! You've heard it before I'm sure.....The only stupid question is the one you didn't ask.
It has been kinda S L O W lately hasent it ?
i guess every one has been buisy with their layouts?
well same here i guess, i just started making my Kato SD70M look a little closer to the prototype.
Would like to know the thinking on grades in 'N' and steam engines. What is the general feeling of max grade for N scale steam with say a 30 car train?
Tom
Tom, with most NSteamers it appears a 0% grade would be best. Most Nsteamers don't pull much on flat & level ground. You'd end up following the prototype & using some helpers. AFAIK you'd be lucky to pull 30 freight cars around curves. The Athearn Challenger may be the only candidate.
AFAIK the Nscale haulers tend to be a ABBA set of EMD F's or Alco FA's. MTL FT's are also good haulers.
The Kato Mike with the traction upgrade is a good puller on grades, about 20 MTL 40' box cars and runs reliably. The ConCor 4-8-4's and Santa Fe are strong pullers about 30 40' MTL cars, if you can get a good one. The Bachmann Spectrum class J pulls about 40 40' cars but some have had concerns about the wiring from the tender and derailing issues. The Life Like 2-8-8-2 would pull 24 40' cars uphill when double headed; very nice looking, but weak on power. The specified loads were the maximum number started while completely on my 40"x60" helix with 2% grade. I have since taken down the helix in favor of a wye so do not have any grades anymore for further testing on grades. For deisels, my IM FT abba set pulls better than 3 Kato SD 70's, 4 Atlas GP anythings 4 Atlas 8-40bw's or 4 Atlas H15-44's. The only competition is 2 Atlas Trainmasters that pull pretty good too.
On level track, my Athearn Challenger has pulled 63 cars of MTL, and IM 40' cars. I ran out of room so do not have a max number yet. The J pulled 58 cars, I have not tested the rest as I am trying to get the new track work commisioned. These 2 see the most time on the mainlines on my layout. My preferred load is roughly 35 to 40 cars on the mainline, almost all of my steam models can do this.
These are my impressions on models that I have and that I run on a regular basis. Others have had different impressions.
Navygunner,
Are you running metal or plastic wheelsets?
On my railroad, I have switched to metal wheelsets on about 1/4 of my rolling stock. I haven't taken an actual count, but the train lenght of all metal wheelset cars is almost double that of all plastic wheelset cars going up my hills.
I haven't done actual tests to see exactly how many cars I can pull plastic vs. metal wheels. This is just an observation I have made while running trains on the steepest grade of my railroad.
Craig
I have seen many post in various forums about the pulling power of locomotives.
Maybe we should E-Mail all the companies that make loc's and ask them to come up with an industury standard for the rating of pulling power.
Something like "at X volts/mA it can pull X oz., X inchs in 5 sec. on a 2% grade."
Any thoughts?
Bob, Craig and all
Thanks for your thoughts. Somewhat discouraging. I have some Consolidations, Mikes, Hudson and a Mountain. I was thinking that a max train would be around 30 40foot cars, plastic wheelsets, pulled by one engine. I was looking at a helix that would have no more than a 1.1% grade on straight sections (elongated oval) with the corners on the flat. Yes a lot of space for a helix but it would add to the 'empire' I am looking at. I was thinking of an 'around the room' type of helix but find that concept does not suit my vision.
I tried a test track 24foot long, straight, temp flex track nailed in place graded as close to 1.1% or slightly more with a Consolidation and 30 cars set at the bottom started from a stop to climb the grade. The digitrax controller set at 60 the engine pulled up from the standing start. I raised the test track to approx 1.5% and got wheel slippage at full power.
Thought I would build the helix and then test again but have to admit that is a lot of work track, cork and wood for what may not work.
ps Without standards for the 'pulling power' rating I would suggest that the ratings would be suspect.
I seem to recall reading someplace that introducing a curve into an incline, as in a helix, will increase the amount of pulling force necessary to pull a given weight up that incline with a curve in it. A straight incline will take less force to pull the same weigth up it. In doing your tests of pulling power required to get a given weigth up an incline this probably should be taken into consideration.
Just a thought,