Weekend Update 8/1/25

[Paul S.]

Please update us what you've done on your model railroad or other modeling projects 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.

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So fellow RMRers, what have you been up to this week?

[john_plsn]

I extended the track bus in staging and added 20 feeders. I added two older (2015) PSX units to my command station so I could then power up staging. So six districts now, but one is extra. My older PSX sounds off upon adding a load but quickly resets and runs fine. I haven't figured out why yet, but sent off an email to Tony's for guidance. While investigating that issue I found that I had left temporary substandard wiring in place to power a section of mainline, so corrected that while in there. I also added another 24' of roadbed to San Timoteo.
I am just about out of supplies, so it may be an expensive month. Funny thing, the wife is ok with it, but I know the spending won't end for some time. Once I get the layout up and running I won't have nearly enough rolling stock or locos to populate it. I will have to offer up my layout for people come test their trains and run ops sessions with their equipment. That could be fun.

[Steve H AC&Y]

Busy with real world stuff this week but while living life in the real world I found this. I thought it had been pitched years ago. One of my favorite Christmas gifts of all time. Small wonder I grew up wanting to build models (and still do)!

[Paul S.]

A nice blast from your past, Steve!

[JerryZ]

Had a enjoyable and productive week of model railroading.

First up, painted two Jerry Hamsmith XA-9 box car kits. One is mine, the other one is for Rail Group member Steve C. First time using Tru-Color paint. Appreciated the fact that they have a correct color for the car. Not sure that I like it more than Vallejo, but at least I didn't have to try to match the color by mixing two or more Vallejo paint colors. Shot it through my Iwata brush, and I ended up backing out the needle to get a decent flow rate. I think this stuff may have been happier with my Pasche model H with either a #3 or #5 tip. Not sure if there is a shelf life on the Tru-Color, as I used up the paint that my friend Allen used when he did his car four months ahead of me. The user is supposed to be able to decal right on the paint without gloss coat. I will know later today how that works out.


After all the paint I threw at this car, I still have a few spots where the paint didn't cover. ARGHHHHH. I think I'll weather those out.



Next up, I completed three SoundTrax Tsunami 2 decoder installations into my Lifelike Proto 2000 geeps. These decoder installations have allowed for a successful removal of all QSI decoder from my diesel fleet! I truly think that these three units, which I used to run in consist most of the time were one of the reasons I had such poor luck with ESU decoders. When these locomotives cross from one power district to another, if there was an ESU consist running, almost all of the time, it was almost a guarantee that it would scramble an ESU decoder running in consist. Was able to replicate it in my helix during testing multiple times.

No photos of the installation, and as much as I envisioned a satisfying retirement gift to these decoders as a visit from my dead blow hammer, or a squeeze in my mill vise (think "Casino" movie scene here), I instead opted for the time efficient retirement method and just tossed them in the trash.

Here is a photo of one of the three locomotives running coupled (yes, in consist in DCC land, but in the real world two separate crews), which means both crews got the same set of orders. This photo has GN 2008, an N-3 class 2-8-8-0 locomotive in the lead with GP7 854. Since we are power short in early September 1952, this coupled consist generates equal or greater tractive effort of a three unit consist of GPs, with more horsepower, allowing the Spokane Southern to reduce total train starts, run trains to maximum siding capacity, maintain track speed, and make use of relatively modern steam power that still have years of useful life in them before requiring a 15 year boiler overhaul.



And last, but certainly not least, I hosted my "lucky 100th" operating session. 16 operators participated (plus the writer). It was the best large crowd session I had hosted to date. I even got to administer discipline to my Worley yardmaster, who failed to place empty log cars at the end of Number 501 (3rd class local freight) in accordance with Bulletin Number 10 (which he obviously failed to read and initial 😁). After the session, a thorough investigation was held (during Pie Time), after which he received 30 days off without pay. Using a 2.5:1 clock, he will be returning back to duty for my 3rd Tuesday of the month daytime session for Rail Group retirees. 😁

What, you ask, made this session "lucky". This clip should give you a hint. One of my favorite movie clips.

https://youtu.be/3_YywbtM9ME?si=8mfBhM7MZesFZ3fs

Regards,
Jerry

[Paul S.]

Wow, a very productive week, Jerry!

[Allen]

Not sure if there is a shelf life on the Tru-Color

I've used some TCP paint that's been in a drawer for some two years at least, Jerry.
The only thing I did to it was to add thinner back into it as it was a little thick. The thinner in TCP does seem to evaporate over time.
Once I rehydrated it, it seemed to work just fine.

What, you ask, made this session "lucky".

My guess would have been the Pie?

[Karl]

I did deliver another Jordan Spreader to its new home up in Calgary a week or so ago.

[Ben V]

Uh.... WOW...

[Paul S.]

Why, I do believe that's the SAR! Great model, Karl. Fits right in.