Tools

As many of you read in my last blog entry, I had an unfortunate accident involving two fantastic Intermountain SD45T-2s taking a "Leap Of No Faith" off the top of my layout to the hardwood floor below.  Initial visual inspection looked as though I may have avoided much damage, but after putting them back on the rails, neither decided to run.

Well, last night, they rose again.  Ready to start hauling strings of ore cars around a 36x80" hollow core door.  In addition, I decided two other pesky locos needed some attention as well.

Acting on suggestions from yesterdays blog entry about my home built hot wire foam cutter, I wrote an article about how to build your own. You can find it here: http://www.nscale.net/story/tools/2008/02/16/build-your-own-hot-wire-foam-cutter-home

After taking some pictures, two finger typing, having my wife proof read, I hope that it is of some use to someone.

If any one has any questions, or finds that the article is unclear (hope not), don't hesitate to let me know.

Cheers,

Jim R

Foam board, in many forms, is in common use on model railroad layouts. Effective use of foam can allow for scenic contour that provides both firm support and realism to your layout.

Effective cutting of foam can be an entirely different matter. Mess, irregularities and impatience can make cutting foam into a chore, at least for me.

A hot wire foam cutter can cut foam cleanly, quickly and smoothly, and it can be done with minimal cash outlay. I did it and so can you!

Another step complete. I built my hot wire foam cutter (in anticipation of cutting foam for my layout).

For less than $20 CAN, I was able to build a dandy little cutter (pictured below):

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The little white things are pieces of polybead foam insulation that I was breaking it in on. 

I was able to build it out of some scrap I had around the garage, a shelf bracket, some aligator clips, old lamp cord, 19 gauge galvinized wire and one of my old Marx train transformers (here's a picture of that.)

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Like so many others I have acquired more locomotives and rolling stock than I can realistically fit on my layout at any one time. Not hard to do with a small layout!

This article has been updated as of January 10, 2008 with information regarding image sizes. See below.

Introductory note: Some of what follows is based on experimentation. If anyone finds issues please advise me so the content can be updated as quickly as possible. Thank you!

Good morning to you all Dear Reader's (especially those who are breathlessly waiting for the next installmen) of . . . whatever this episode of 'Komata's 'Blog' unearths.

 Let the fun begin. . .

Interested reader's of this 'Blog (as you all are of course Dear Reader's), will recall that a couple of  posts ago, I had been having a very close encounter with the laws of physics in respect of a model Head Frame (Hoist Tower, Poppett Head) I had been building for a Gold mine-themed portable layout, I was creating..

Give it a shot, literally.
  Have you ever gotten frustrated with the size of an eyedropper when securing ballast?
I have, many times! That little tube only holds just so much material...is there an alternative?

Yep. Make your way down to the local pharmacy and ask where they keep the syringes.
I know this sounds awkward, but there are a variety of plastic syringes available WITHOUT NEEDLES.

I keep a few around for multiple purposes like lubricating small items that need oil, glueing ballast,
getting isopropyl alcohol into tight places, etc., etc.

The well equipped poor mans hotwire cutter experiment

Warning and DISCLAIMER, all in one:
This entry is based on personal experimentation, and should only be attempted by ADULT, diehard tightwads, like myself.
I will not be responsible for injury or damage to life, limb, or property, if you try anything suggested in this post.

Written by Brad Bumgarner, CTA

Model Railroad Calculator

When my interest in model railroading was once again piqued, one of the first things I wanted to know was how to calculate grades. I knew that grade = rise / run but I wanted to be able to calculate for any of the three values. After writing the code for the Grade Calculator, I wondered what else I'd want to be able to calculate. So far, I've written a Scale Calculator and a Speed Calculator.