nScale.net - Blogs http://www.nscale.net/forums/blog.php This is a discussion forum for N scale model railways, go to http://www.nscale.net/ . en Sat, 04 Feb 2012 22:17:46 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.nscale.net/forums/images/misc/rss.jpg nScale.net - Blogs http://www.nscale.net/forums/blog.php BLMA Jersey Barriers and Decals http://www.nscale.net/forums/entry.php?751-BLMA-Jersey-Barriers-and-Decals Sat, 04 Feb 2012 12:40:29 GMT ---Quote (Originally by Bamboozledguy)--- Ive been looking at a lot of Intermodal Ports and they have a ton of these Jersey barriers around and took...
Quote Originally Posted by Bamboozledguy View Post
Ive been looking at a lot of Intermodal Ports and they have a ton of these Jersey barriers around and took some creative license and added some signage to mine.

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]]> Bamboozledguy http://www.nscale.net/forums/entry.php?751-BLMA-Jersey-Barriers-and-Decals How much do I really need? http://www.nscale.net/forums/entry.php?747-How-much-do-I-really-need Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:44:54 GMT With budgets getting tighter and tighter all the time it's becoming more and more difficult to allot some budget to non essential items. Fortunately model railroading is an essential part of my budget under "Mental Health". Until now this included any items I wanted, but there is room within this segment of the budget for some pencil sharpening. For example, I would love to have a Kato C44-9w Dynamic Duo set or a Heritage SD70ACe but on my little layout there's no place to let them run so I've decided I don't need them. That was logically easy, but emotionally very hard to do let me tell you. So what exactly do I need then? Well, I came up with a simple formula to help me figure out what I can get by with.

To start, I figured I'd better count how many car spots there are on the whole layout. My four rail served industries will be a modern feed mill, a soybean processor, cold storage/transload wharehouse, and no layout is complete without a junkyard. There is room on the feed mill siding for 5 covered hoppers, the soybean processor has spots for two covered hoppers and two tank cars. For the junkyard and cold storage, I decided to get a little fancy. Sometimes the junkyard will receive a shipment of new iron on a flat car, but mostly they ship out scrap in gondolas. To accommodate this I figured 2.5 spots for gondolas, and .5 for a flat car. Likewise at the cold storage, mostly they recieve and ship LCL in boxcars, but sometimes they will get or send a TOFC, so I figured 2.5 box cars and .5 TOFC. The reasoning behind these half a cars will become more clear in a little bit.

Someday I will add on a small yard where this branch will meet the main line, for the interest of this calculation I assume it to exist (even though right now the freight yard is some plastic containers under the shelf). I have no idea how to determine how many cars a yard should hold, but I figure it should be at least the same capacity of the branch it serves. Since the layout now holds 15 cars total, I'm figuring an additional 15 in the yard. These cars will be counted as type "Any" rather than a specific number of box cars, hoppers, etc.

Now the math gets fancier than just counting. There are 30 spots total, 15 of them don't matter, and 7 of them are covered hoppers. That's roughly 47%. I figured then 13% would be tank cars, 17% would be gondolas, 17% box cars, 3% flat cars, and 3% TOFC. Since a layout at max capacity is probably going to be difficult and not fun to use, I figured on reducing the actual number of car spots to 70%, or 21 spots. Of those 21 spots then, 47% will be for covered hoppers. The actual number of hoppers is 9.87 but since we're talking whole cars, I'm rounding everything up to the next whole car. That gives a group of cars that breaks down like this:
  • 10 Covered Hoppers
  • 4 Gondolas
  • 4 Box Cars
  • 3 Tank Cars
  • 1 Flat Car
  • 1 TOFC
Because I rounded up to the next whole car, the total is not 21, it's 23 but I'm going to live with it because 23 out of 30 spots is close enough.

Locomotive wise the calculation is similar, based on number of trains and spots in the engine facility. There is one train that runs the branch, requiring one loco. The future addition of the yard will include a service track with fuel and sand that will hold 2 locos. At 70% capacity that rounds out to be about 2 locos. That's disappointing, but workable and budget friendly!

Now I have a clear focus area, as I have plenty of some things, but am short on tank cars, box cars, and a flat car too, so there's still plenty of shopping to do! ]]> kalbert http://www.nscale.net/forums/entry.php?747-How-much-do-I-really-need Woodland Scenics (Fire) Update http://www.nscale.net/forums/entry.php?749-Woodland-Scenics-(Fire)-Update Fri, 03 Feb 2012 04:35:50 GMT From a more recent article (a day or two after the fire in January)

"Official Predicts Quick Recovery"

In a follow up to our earlier report regarding the fire yesterday at Woodland Scenics, in Linn Creek, Missouri, MRH has learned that the most of the damage was limited to two of the company’s several manufacturing buildings. An assessment of all operations indicates that damage may not be as devastating as initially thought. “We operate from multiple buildings that are spread all over town,” said Gale Cousins, Woodland Scenics director of sales and customer service, “and we only lost two of those buildings, and those two contained just a small portion of our manufacturing facilities.” As MRH reported earlier, the buildings that burned Thursday afternoon were located directly across the street from the town's city hall and police department, and a total of 120 firefighters from local and regional agencies concentrated on preventing the fire from spreading through downtown Linn Creek, a community with a population of about 280 people. No injuries were reported among the company’s 150 employees. A firefighter said the fire appears to have been started by a medium-sized exhaust fan motor. “Our shipping department, warehouse, and corporate offices were spared any damage, as were most of our manufacturing buildings,” said Cousins, “so we think it is going to be business as usual.” Woodland Scenics was founded by Dave Osment in 1975. It is considered one of the world’s largest manufacturers of structures and scenery products used for building model railroads, museum dioramas, and architectural models. In addition to Woodland Scenics, the company markets products under the brand names of Design Preservation Models, Landmark Structures, Built-&-Ready, and Pre-Fab ]]> Fairmed http://www.nscale.net/forums/entry.php?749-Woodland-Scenics-(Fire)-Update More decals from the factory G.O.D. http://www.nscale.net/forums/entry.php?748-More-decals-from-the-factory-G-O-D Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:47:49 GMT I was surfing the web the other day and was reminded of a trucking company that I always wondered was real or not. Turns out that the company was... I was surfing the web the other day and was reminded of a trucking company that I always wondered was real or not. Turns out that the company was real, I always loved the company's name and logo. So I recreated the logo for my Road Railer Trailers in N scale, I know you're waiting with baited breath for the company's which is G.O.D. Guaranteed Overnight Delivery. I touched up a pic from ebay of the G.O.D. logo, shrunk it down to the correct size for my trailers. Im going to go through my current fleet of trailers get rid of some of the PRLX decals & replace them with G.O.D. decals. They should come out looking pretty cool. I think it came out looking great, what do you think.


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I guess I should have prefaced this entry with an warning or something considering the name of the company. This is not intended to poke fun at anyone's religion but to model a prototype. ]]> Bamboozledguy http://www.nscale.net/forums/entry.php?748-More-decals-from-the-factory-G-O-D The unnamed creek http://www.nscale.net/forums/entry.php?746-The-unnamed-creek Sun, 29 Jan 2012 23:54:19 GMT After finishing the yard and doing alittle ballasting, work on the n scale layout came to a stop for over 2 years. The reason for the stop was. I... After finishing the yard and doing alittle ballasting, work on the n scale layout came to a stop for over 2 years. The reason for the stop was. I started research and construction on a g scale layout outisde. Within the last month I have restarted work on the n scale layout, the layout has grown to a 2'x7' from a 2'x6'. I also brought a Bachmann Ten Wheeler. Scenery work around the bridge has started, it will a small creek under it. I cant make up my mind about wide the creek should be. A small one running through the middle attempting not glue the bridge down permanently or from bank to bank placing parts of bridge under the realistic water. Inputs, thoughts, suggestions, opinion highly demanded.
]]> Opie http://www.nscale.net/forums/entry.php?746-The-unnamed-creek <![CDATA[Conrail fan's Question: What if??]]> http://www.nscale.net/forums/entry.php?745-Conrail-fan-s-Question-What-if Sat, 28 Jan 2012 17:55:21 GMT Here is a hypothetical question for CR fans. If Conrail was not broken up and CR had continued in business, which locomotive would have been bought... Here is a hypothetical question for CR fans.
If Conrail was not broken up and CR had continued in business, which locomotive would have been bought next?
Would it have been another EMD unit? Another SD-70 like the "M" version?

Or would they have gone back to GE for perhaps a Dash 9? Or an Ac4400?

I'd like to hear your opinion because I want a Conrail unit for my future that has not been done.

Thank You.:D ]]> m301 http://www.nscale.net/forums/entry.php?745-Conrail-fan-s-Question-What-if Quality of My Photography Goes Way Up http://www.nscale.net/forums/entry.php?744-Quality-of-My-Photography-Goes-Way-Up Wed, 25 Jan 2012 04:38:11 GMT I spent less than $15 and about two hours time to improve the quality of my photography tenfold. Following some common ideas found by a Google search... I spent less than $15 and about two hours time to improve the quality of my photography tenfold. Following some common ideas found by a Google search for "Cheap Photography Lighting" I made a trip to Wally-World and picked up some black Duck brand tape, a 14x14 cardboard box, some white gift wrapping tissue, a white poster board, an 8" utility light, and a big round 'daylight' 60w bulb. The bulb and the lamp cost about $12, the rest of it was almost free.

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I taped the bottom of the box shut, cut 12" squares out of 3 sides, and removed two of the flaps from the top. I left two flaps based on Internet advice that I could control light behind the camera with them but I don't know that I will ever care to. Then I taped on pieces of the white tissue paper pulling as tight as I could, then following a trick from my model airplane adventures I spritzed the tissue with water and dried with a hair dryer on low to shrink the paper tight. Having tight paper probably doesn't matter, but it sure looks better. Finally I cut a chunk of the poster board to fit inside and mounted it with the flat side up (vs the glossy side). I'll probably invest in a second light, one is enough but having light from another angle would be good. I'll also look into getting a black poster board and make a second backdrop to change out sometimes. While the device will not help me take better pictures on the layout, it sure will improve my "roster shots" and photos showing my sub par modeling skills.

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]]> kalbert http://www.nscale.net/forums/entry.php?744-Quality-of-My-Photography-Goes-Way-Up Decaling 101- You can do it too http://www.nscale.net/forums/entry.php?742-Decaling-101-You-can-do-it-too Sat, 21 Jan 2012 23:31:42 GMT Ive always wanted to model my own railroad but.....This time Im back with a vengeance, My leasing company is named Pegasus Railcar Leasing the... Ive always wanted to model my own railroad but.....This time Im back with a vengeance, My leasing company is named Pegasus Railcar Leasing the reporting mark is PRLX.

I guess the first thing to do is to give your company an identity with a logo etc. My leasing company first started as SOTX then GRLX and finally as PRLX. I read up a lot and wanted to make my own decals which I thought you needed alchemy and toads wart to do.

Its pretty easy actually all you need is clear decal paper a laser or inkjet printer and an ideal. I used Google drawing program in Google Documents to draw my logos. The Google drawing program is a vector based program which gives you better quality finished results & allows you to manipulate drawings

The clear decal paper is from Lazertran, I used the laser version of their paper. I also used a Lexmark x544 color printer to print with. I used the manual paper tray and inserted the shiny part of the paper face down into the tray.

Lazertran also makes white decal paper too, most printers do not print in white for some reason. If your artwork contains white you will need to to use white decal paper.

Before you finalize your output on decal paper print your decals on regular paper to get the size right for the application. Once everything looks good on regular paper print on decal paper.

Being an old school modeler Im used to using Micro-set & Micro sol to get the decals to set in those hard to reach areas, it does help believe me. Finally you'll want to invest in a can of Dullcoat to knock down those shiny parts of your decals.

I created about 5 different logo designs for my leasing company for locos rolling stock etc. Below is a sampling of all 5 logos on my Roadrailers just to change things up a bit and keep them fresh.

Specific decal application instructions
  1. Once you're done trim your decals to the correct size, Work with one decal per side.
  2. Put decal in warm water (I use a jewell case top) for 5 seconds top facing up.
  3. Make sure that the surface where the decal is going is clean.
  4. Lay decal with packing paper on paper towel for two seconds (To blot up excess water).
  5. Take decal with backing paper and position it on model.
  6. Use small paintbrush to maneuver decal off backing paper.
  7. Once decal is in final position blot excess water with paper towel (dont be an ape about it)
  8. If surface is flat let dry an hour then spray with dullocate (if needed).
  9. If surface isnt flat pop any air bubbles with a sharp hobby knife then apply Micro-Sol.
Below are some photos of projects Ive been working on. As you can tell I have not done the dullcoat or micro sol on the projects yet, Hope this has been helpful.
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]]> Bamboozledguy http://www.nscale.net/forums/entry.php?742-Decaling-101-You-can-do-it-too Hmmmmmm, lets see this week has been kind of busy. http://www.nscale.net/forums/entry.php?739-Hmmmmmm-lets-see-this-week-has-been-kind-of-busy Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:22:49 GMT I ordered replacement tandem trucks and assorted parts for my Roadrailers. I got a Trainworx 86' Auto Part car which I love. Im waiting for a WSOR 53' (Fight Breast Cancer) Boxcar. I ordered some construction/MOW equipment from THE N SCALE INTERMODAL STORE, I also ordered a Chessie System and BN 86' Auto Parts Boxccar. Im waiting for a FMC 53' BN Boxcar as well. I changed the name of my leasing company to Pegasus Railcar leasing. The Greater Regional Railcar Leasing wasn't realty working for me, and Ive re-done decals for PRLX. I think PRLX sounds and looks a lot better than GRLX thats already being used. Waiting for stuff really SUCKS!!! ]]> Bamboozledguy http://www.nscale.net/forums/entry.php?739-Hmmmmmm-lets-see-this-week-has-been-kind-of-busy Engine Maintenance Facility Construction http://www.nscale.net/forums/entry.php?738-Engine-Maintenance-Facility-Construction Wed, 18 Jan 2012 01:15:54 GMT So I've taken on my Engine Maintenance. This contains a single Walthers Car Shop, a transfer table and a kitbash of additional Car Shops. I decided to start the complex with the initial Car Shop kit.

The build started with a new Micro-Mark gluing jig, and primed and painted walls. After the basic structure was built, I rigged up an overhead crane and added decals.

Still to come are the structure lighting, base, interior details and a planned scene with a locomotive being worked on. I'll post these as soon as possible!

Cheers!

Gleiss
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]]> cgleiss http://www.nscale.net/forums/entry.php?738-Engine-Maintenance-Facility-Construction <![CDATA[Yes, i'm a senior citizen!]]> http://www.nscale.net/forums/entry.php?737-Yes-i-m-a-senior-citizen! Mon, 16 Jan 2012 00:38:58 GMT Are you in this age group? I am. I thought maybe some of us old f*rts might enjoy this. Some folks might be trying to divide the generations but I... Are you in this age group? I am. I thought maybe some of us old f*rts might enjoy this. Some folks might be trying to divide the generations but I don't think they will succeed. especially now that the "Babby Boomers" are about to join us.


YES, I'M A SENIOR CITIZEN!
Senior citizens are constantly being criticized for every conceivable deficiency of the modern world, real or imaginary. We know we take responsibility for all we have done and do not blame others.

HOWEVER, upon reflection, we would like to point out that it was NOT the senior citizens who took:

The melody out of music,
The pride out of appearance,
The courtesy out of driving,
The romance out of love,
The commitment out of marriage,
The responsibility out of parenthood,
The togetherness out of the family,
The learning out of education,
The service out of patriotism,
The Golden Rule from rulers,
The nativity scene out of cities,
The civility out of behavior,
The refinement out of language,
The dedication out of employment,
The prudence out of spending,
The ambition out of achievement or
God out of government and school.

And we certainly are NOT the ones who eliminated patience and tolerance from personal relationships and interactions with others!And, we do understand the meaning of patriotism, and remember those who have fought and died for our country.

Does anyone under the age of 50 know the lyrics to the Star Spangled Banner?

What about the last verse of My Country 'tis of Thee?

"Our father's God to thee,
Author of liberty,
To Thee we sing.
Long may our land be bright,
With freedom's Holy light.
Protect us by Thy might,
Great God our King."

Just look at the Seniors with tears in their eyes and
pride in their hearts as they stand at attention with
their hand over their hearts!

YES, I'M A SENIOR CITIZEN!

I'm the life of the party...... even if it lasts until 8 p.m.
I'm very good at opening childproof caps.... with a hammer.
I'm awake many hours before my body allows me to get up.
I'm smiling all the time because I can't hear a thing you're saying.
I'm sure everything I can't find is in a safe secure place, somewhere.
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

I'm a walking storeroom of facts..... I've just lost the key to the storeroom door.
Yes, I'm a SENIOR CITIZEN and I think I am having the time of my life!

Now if I could only remember who sent this to me, I wouldn't send it back to them, but I would send it to many more too!

Spread the laughter

Share the cheer

Let's be happy

While we're here.

]]> 69Z28 http://www.nscale.net/forums/entry.php?737-Yes-i-m-a-senior-citizen! <![CDATA[Griff's Grimeshop & Georgia Pacific N Scale Paper Mill Blog]]> http://www.nscale.net/forums/entry.php?735-Griff-s-Grimeshop-amp-Georgia-Pacific-N-Scale-Paper-Mill-Blog Sat, 14 Jan 2012 04:20:35 GMT After returning from Iraq, I decided not to put my old website back online (ex-www.griffsgrimeshop.com). Despite the nice cost savings, I have... After returning from Iraq, I decided not to put my old website back online (ex-www.griffsgrimeshop.com). Despite the nice cost savings, I have missed the ability to post pics of my weathered cars for a historical record & for the memories.

Instead of a website, I decided to do a Google Blog Spot to share progress shots/ideas from my layout/module and to share my weathered cars and weathering techniques.

Please visit my blog at: http://griffsgrimeshop.blogspot.com/

Here is a teaser shot of my GP Paper Mill (2'x7') N scale module/layout at NIGHT under the LIGHTS:



A few of the many weathered cars available for viewing on the blog:





Please sign up and follow my progress!

http://griffsgrimeshop.blogspot.com/

Thanks!
GRIFF ]]> mrg76 http://www.nscale.net/forums/entry.php?735-Griff-s-Grimeshop-amp-Georgia-Pacific-N-Scale-Paper-Mill-Blog To the dump, to the dump, to the dump, dump, dump ......... http://www.nscale.net/forums/entry.php?731-To-the-dump-to-the-dump-to-the-dump-dump-dump Thu, 05 Jan 2012 23:22:00 GMT Recently I was having a natter in the chatroom with a couple of members.:-/
The topic of discussion was creating layouts & items for free by thinking laterally..... or at least, outside of the box. >:-}

So, suitably motivated, I went for a visit to my local Waste Recycling Transfer Station ..... aka The Dump ...... :innocent:
and came home with this lot, which was the start of an interesting conversation with the CFO ......:o

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A 210 ltr upright freezer .....
Don't ya just luv the weathering detail?

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Some H Blocks .... one hell of a dual main line viaduct.


I mentioned to the operator (dumpie) that I was looking for some wire for a main buss line .....
He gave me this !!!!! :scared:

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Yes, folks .... That is 10mm diameter 80 Amp copper cable ..... :slap-head:
About 10lbs of it.





MacGyver !!!!!!!!!!!
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 ]]> ejholden http://www.nscale.net/forums/entry.php?731-To-the-dump-to-the-dump-to-the-dump-dump-dump <![CDATA["Resolutions! Five tech behaviors to drop in 2012"]]> http://www.nscale.net/forums/entry.php?730-quot-Resolutions!-Five-tech-behaviors-to-drop-in-2012-quot Tue, 03 Jan 2012 13:12:00 GMT One man's thoughts:

http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/02/tech/w...tml?hpt=hp_bn6 ]]> BryanC http://www.nscale.net/forums/entry.php?730-quot-Resolutions!-Five-tech-behaviors-to-drop-in-2012-quot Using Multiple Locomotives-New Member http://www.nscale.net/forums/entry.php?727-Using-Multiple-Locomotives-New-Member Sun, 01 Jan 2012 20:23:41 GMT Hi- I am new to this scene and website and have a question regarding the use of multiple locomotives pulling a single train of cars. When I was a... Hi-

I am new to this scene and website and have a question regarding the use of multiple locomotives pulling a single train of cars. When I was a kid, I remember the train sets that had a working locomotive and a dummy engine for this purpose. Is this still a popular choice for multi-engine trains, or do most folks forego the dummy engine and actually use powered engines? The reason I ask is that I am wondering how different powered engines (especially from different manufacturers) would be able to work in tandem without creating some sort of resitence between them, unless they are somehow synced to operate precisely with one another. Again, I am a newbie and probably over thinkimg matters, but would appreciate any insight that you can provide.

Have a great day:rolleyes:

Barry ]]> NSFAN http://www.nscale.net/forums/entry.php?727-Using-Multiple-Locomotives-New-Member