Weekend Update (17th Mar 2023)

[Admin]

Please update us on the progress you have made on your MRR projects this week (commencing: 17th Mar 2023).

This weekly thread is to post little snippets about your layout/project progress.
This is not be a substitute for your layout build thread, but just a mini update on what you got done for the week.

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So, fellow nSn'ers, what have you been up to this week?

[jhn_plsn]

So far I painted the benchwork for the branchline. Tomorrow I hope to get a backdrop on it. The reason for the different shade of gray is because we have yet to settle on a house color. The next section will have a bit of an earth tone to it. Since this is only benchwork the color is not a big issue, but it gives us a chance to use some of it on the house next to our new windows as a test.
20230318_191130.jpg

[Silent1961]

Installed a total of 1 DCC sound decoder and 16 DCC silent decoders this week in between the wife to do list goodies. The current DCC fleet.

2023-03-16 007 Decoder Equipped Family.jpg

Fortunately for my pocket book, I have to wait for the LHS to get restocked with decoders as I cleaned them out of the ones I need. I still have 9 more I can install until upgrading comes to a grinding halt.

[Heiko]

The reason for the different shade of gray is because we have yet to settle on a house color. The next section will have a bit of an earth tone to it. Since this is only benchwork the color is not a big issue, but it gives us a chance to use some of it on the house next to our new windows as a test.

I see what you did there - making the Honey-Do-Task into an MRR achievement

Heiko

[Power Stroke]

Well I finally got motivated to start my double crossover install which I will probably get finished up next weekend but at least I got started. Picked up some items off Ebay over the last couple of months including, and it about time, a GM fishbowl bus from Rapido. Cool! Honestly, I didn't even look at the paperwork but there's wires coming out of the thing, so working lights? The paint scheme looks a bit like CT DOT so works perfect for me. Also picked up an Ike's, and an MB 230 SL which fits with my A-Z who seems to specialize in 2nd hand Germans.
As well, I finally found a cream & green Walthers Golden Valley freight house after near 20 years of on/off looking. Finally have the complete set. Weathering is a bit on the heavy side but I can live with it.
Have an OUTSTANDING week!

IMG_3918 by snwbluebyyou, on Flickr

IMG_3920 by snwbluebyyou, on Flickr

IMG_3921 by snwbluebyyou, on Flickr

IMG_3924 by snwbluebyyou, on Flickr

IMG_3928 by snwbluebyyou, on Flickr

IMG_3931 by snwbluebyyou, on Flickr

IMG_3929 by snwbluebyyou, on Flickr

IMG_3942 by snwbluebyyou, on Flickr

IMG_3945 by snwbluebyyou, on Flickr

[Silent1961]

Honestly, I didn't even look at the paperwork but there's wires coming out of the thing, so working lights?

Low beam side of the headlights and the tail lights illuminate.

[Power Stroke]

Low beam side of the headlights and the tail lights illuminate.

This thing is so realistic you can almost hear that Detroit 8V71 screaming. Wicked cool!

[SP-Wolf]

Well - I think, I made a silk purse out of a sows' ear.

SP Alco S-3 #1023





Started out as:






Thanks,
Wolf

[el Gato Gordo]

You did, indeed, @SP-Wolf!

[badlandnp]

Had 'work' today, so only had time to run trains a bit. No 'steam' for building....


And then the 2511 left town, and had an accident!

[jhn_plsn]

I doubt I will get the backdrop finished tonight but it's mostly in place. The module is resting on the brackets in the photo so I can keep the clamps on. Once I can remove the clamps I will slide it back, fill the joints, and touch up the color.
20230319_172452.jpg
20230319_165058.jpg

[jhn_plsn]

Now I need to work on the seams(spelling corrected).
20230320_160427.jpg

[el Gato Gordo]

Mmmm. Seams like you do.

[jhn_plsn]

Mmmm. Seams like you do.

Funny guy. TY

[NtheBasement]

Several people have asked how the rotary dumper works so I made a video.

[WP&P]

Several people have asked how the rotary dumper works

What I don't understand is, do you actually have rotary couplers on all your hoppers, or do they uncouple somewhere in that process?

Also, when the pusher arms drops into place between two hoppers, is that based on a set distance or is it detecting the gap between cars? It looks like you have it set to a fixed distance, which means no mix-n-match of different car lengths.

[NtheBasement]

The only uncoupling is with the engine. I have I think five working rotary couplers, the rest are drawbars that permit rotation. Details: https://www.nscale.net/forums/album.php?albumid=1658

You are right, the car length and gap are critical. Looking back I should have made the cylinder a quarter inch shorter - it would have avoided some problems with pusher arm clearance between the cars and with the end of the cylinder when it lifts. And I could have made the arm return support bar adjustable in length. The pusher arm can get hung up if the gap is too short. It can also hang on the brakewheel.

I have three models of the Johnstown America BethGon Coalporter hoppers. One model was marketed by E&C Shops, Hubert and LBF; they have 2 out of three cross braces. They are light weight but look great empty. Then there are the Deluxe Innovations models - no cross bracing and gaps around the weights which are part of the floor. For some reason the two differ in how far the truck pin is from the end of the car, so drawbars that work fine on the E&Cs might make the gap too small on the Deluxes. Finally I have one Athearn which came with all three cross braces (yay!) and has the best paint detail and removable weights; spacing seems similar to E&C. The Kato model doesn't come in black. Silver unpainted cars are way more common in the real world than black ones.

I bought another road number on eBay and still have to add it to the unit train.