Weekend Update for April 11-14, 2025

[Paul S.]

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?

[JerryZ]

Visual stuff first:

Resin Car Works Lehigh and New England gondola complete and ready for priming and painting. One of the defining features of this car is that the AB brake equipment is all located on one side of the car. Notice that I did NOT model the brake pipe, as nobody is ever going to see it. The dark grey areas between the center sill and in four of the areas immediately behind the truck bolster is tungsten shot. I also put one layer of tungsten shot under the wood deck. Not a lot of options to add weight given the low sides.





While I was working on this, I also had the printer going on a couple of projects. Having a 3D printer is like having a second body in the basement. Once the design is done, it largely works automatically.

Also progressing along on a resin CB&Q XA-9 50' box car.

Regards,
Jerry

[Paul S.]

One more question, Jerry: What do you recommend for tungsten shot?

[JerryZ]

Paul, the smallest size I could find is "Liquid Gravity". It is 0.6mm spheres. There are cheaper alternatives available, but usually greater size quantities. I paid $19.80 for 240 grams on Amazon in October 2024. I'm lucky if I used 1.5 oz on the car, so this is going to last a while. I wouldn't use this size for a lot of applications and purchased it for my upcoming NP flat car builds also. For conventional cars like my CB&Q box car, I use the 1/4 oz weights that I've accumulated in abundance over the years. Lead is still way cheaper, particularly if it is already paid for. :-)

[Paul S.]

Thanks, Jerry. That's what I needed. I've got a couple HOn3 stock card that need weight, and between the sills is the only option. I'd forgotten the name "Liquid Gravity." I'd searched under "tungsten pellets," etc. Couldn't come up with the right stuff.

You secure it with ACC or? ... Allen , you use this product, right?

[JerryZ]

Made some more progress on the CB&Q XA-9 box car. Underframe detailing complete, grabs and doors on the sides, still have a lot more to do on the body.



Here it is with the gondola.



Regards,
Jerry

[BillyJoeBob]

Nice looking under frame piping. BJB

[Chuck Geiger]

Some scenic expressions I've been working on.

[BillyJoeBob]

Chuck -- nice weathering on the track - especially the curved siding.🙂 nice bushes next the the poles. I too like track scenery. BJB
Check out this--

https://realisticmodelrailroading.ne...s-on-the-track

[Paul S.]

You possess a great eye for detail, Chuck.

[denny99]

Very nice and realistic,

[Paul S.]

So I mentioned in another topic about the Arduino I'm using as a delay-on timer. This device will keep me honest adhering to te five-minute rule at C&A Junction.

Here's the Arduino in test mode. I'm awaiting some standoffs before installing it underneath the layout:

The yellow wires go to a normally-open, momentary contact switch. The red and black wires go to an LED.



The LED dark.



The LED on. (Weird glare from the camera.)

My only concern is that I've tested this a dozen times. Each time the LED turns on after 45 seconds, stays on for 2o seconds, then turns off. Just like the Arduino is programmed to do.

But I'm still waiting for the bananas. Where are the bananas?

[Allen]

That's because you are not fast enough Paul!
https://www.tiktok.com/@street_food3...nder_device=pc

[denny99]

😂

[SamS]

The home layout isn't optimized for all the modern loads one might encounter, such these 225' wind turbine blades here seen at the local model railroad store on Saturday, which has a test loop of old NTrak modules set up. Even on the generous spacing there the overhang was... excessive.

The cars were printed this last week. I need to figure out a better tip support method than is presently used.



Idea came from this video: [4K] Historic Alcos pulling modern windmill blades!

[Paul S.]

Those blades are astounding, Sam. What do they measure out at in scale feet?

[SamS]

225 feet or about 68.5 meters (it's an odd size... I tend to think the actual prototype is a round number, 68 or 70 meters, and somehow 225' got thrown in to some of the various videos and articles).

Scales to about 16.75" long.

[BillyJoeBob]

The load is defiantly a "high and Wide," that's for sure! BJB