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Weekend Update for Jan. 31-Feb. 3, 2025

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    Weekend Update for Jan. 31-Feb. 3, 2025

    Please update us what you've done on your model railroad this week/weekend. This weekly thread is intended for us to post snippets about our layout/project progress, rather than be a substitute for our layout-build or project threads. Think of this topic as a mini update on what you've accomplished during the week/weekend. The administrators/moderators will start a new update thread each Friday.

    You can link from your layout-build thread or project to your posts in this thread as a part of a more extensive post there, or visa-versa (post to your build thread and link to that post when contributing to this thread).

    Click on a post's #number (right-hand end of the post header) to get the URL to that particular post in your browser's address bar. Then just copy and paste.

    So fellow RMRers, what have you been up to this week?
    Southern Railway Slate Fork Branch, March 1978: https://realisticmodelrailroading.ne...-fork-branch-n

    Old magazines can still be fresh sources of hobby information!

    #2
    Mostly been playing with an ESU LokSound 5 installation in an Atlas GP38. Blew up the first decoder, think a loose wire hit the track. ESU sent a new one with no issues. The decoder is programmed and is working really well. Sound is great and control of the engine is more than I am used to seeing.

    Comment


      #3
      In the last week or so I built a few #8 turnouts and added about 16 sections of flex track for the double mainline along the yard. One more turnout and I'll have to build the Colton Crossings in order to continue the mainline.
      Beaumont Hill Subdivision

      Comment


        #4
        I finally finished the 6th street bridge. The approach bridge is a unique plate girder with webs removed. Mine started life as a Walthers through plate girder bridge. The houses on the hill are z-scale and I love the forced perspective. I sill have a lot of tress and details to add but I'm probably going to try to finish the rest of the signals.

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        • SamS
          SamS commented
          Editing a comment
          Nicely done set of models of an interesting set of bridges.

          The N.P. used that type of plate girder bridge as well - they referred to them as "deck plate lattice girder" - and some still exist today. There is a trio of rebuilt ones in Missoula, MT, another in Orofino, ID, and one north of Palouse, WA. Apparently, the thought behind the N.P.'s adoption of this design was to allow high water to flow through the bridge, reducing the load on it. I am less than convinced it worked well, but they certainly look interesting.

          I doubt that high water is why the highway department chose this design for the approach bridge.

        • Allen
          Allen commented
          Editing a comment
          Excellent!

        • Warren K
          Warren K commented
          Editing a comment
          I like the use of the Z scale houses to give perspective. Very nice. I would not have thought of doing that!

        #5
        Nicely done scene composition and modeling.
        Aspire to inspire before I expire

        Common sense, is so rare it should be a Marvel "superpower".

        Comment


          #6
          Thanks for the kind words. I really need to start a thread in "home layouts" but I don't have a good overview or track plan to show. I've mostly made it up as I go though there is a lot of thought and planning before I actually start anything.

          I had been looking for a z-scale church for a long time for up on the hill but wanted it to be brick. I had planned on n-scale houses but when it came to laying everything out there wasn't enough room for n-scale houses. That's when I ran across 3D printed z-scale houses on eBay and bought one. I was blown away by the detail! You can see individual shingles (I even struggled to get a picture of them). When I put it next to the church, it immediately gave it the scale I was looking for for St John's. So I bought a bunch more 3D printed z-scale houses. I still need more and I need to paint them, but yeah, I think the scene really looks good behind the spindly 6th street bridge.

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            #7
            Well, I have nothing new to report; other than the fact my landlord is now putting our house on the market so it's 'packup' time for me.

            Comment


            • Cody
              Cody commented
              Editing a comment
              Well that's annoying. Good luck with the move.

            #8
            Originally posted by Russ C View Post
            Well, I have nothing new to report; other than the fact my landlord is now putting our house on the market so it's 'packup' time for me.
            Aw, no. So sorry to hear that, Russ C .
            Southern Railway Slate Fork Branch, March 1978: https://realisticmodelrailroading.ne...-fork-branch-n

            Old magazines can still be fresh sources of hobby information!

            Comment


              #9
              sorry to hear RussC. I've been there, done that several times. (4+) you have my sympathy.

              no chance of raiding the RR budget to purchase the homesite? 😉😉😉
              Aspire to inspire before I expire

              Common sense, is so rare it should be a Marvel "superpower".

              Comment


              • Russ C
                Russ C commented
                Editing a comment
                Not at present and age doesn't help where the bank's concerned.

              • michael13j
                michael13j commented
                Editing a comment
                oh how well I know THAT... hang in there buddy!

              #10
              Sorry to hear that Russ, no a fun thing to do.
              At least your layout is portable.
              The Little Rock Line Blog

              Rule #1 of model railroading.
              It's probably responsible for the greatest number of shoddy layouts because no one feels compelled to improve themselves. Meh, good enough...

              Comment


              • Russ C
                Russ C commented
                Editing a comment
                Yes Allen, done with this scenario in mind. Still, wasn't planning on this so soon.

              #11
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ID:	36719 Up to no good making new end platforms for the caboose project. First draft on the printer shows a few mistakes that need tweaking so hopefully V2.0 works good. This is also good for future builds. Makes them that much easier and faster.
              ​​​​​​
              Follow along on Facebook as well.
              https://www.facebook.com/groups/424898032713171/

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              • SamS
                SamS commented
                Editing a comment
                Very nice. Are you going to model and print the grating of the steps? Just saw an image of a Z scale caboose with diamond tread plate modeled; it looked nice but in the larger scales it'd be easy to accomplish and with less compromise on size.

              • craigtownsend
                craigtownsend commented
                Editing a comment
                Yes, I'm going the lazy route and just removing material and not making an anti slip texture on top. I've played around with cutting grating for locomotive steps before and the effect is really neat. I'm try to add as many details as I can. I'll likely print the brake assembly as a separate piece and glue/press fit it on. Ive found that I can make press fit parts fairly easy and without much effort. The draft gear already slides in and out a scale 6" or so.
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