Model Railroader 2008 10

I was scratchbuilding a large HO scale model of the Las Vegas Harvey House when I decided there had to be an easier way to handle this sizeable, partly finished structure. I didn't have any plans, so many of the dimensions had to be estimated from a mock-up. prototype photos, and sketches. Eventually, the building outgrew my workbench and, to make matters worse, many of its subassemblies were rather delicate until they were installed. Inspiration hit when I saw a television promotion for a cooking show where the hostess was frosting a cake. She was decorating all sides of the cake by rotating it on a lazy Susan - and she never had to touch the cake. This immediately got me thinking about how I could adapt this concept to my modeling. I soon found out that the readily available kitchen products were too small, as my hotel filled most of a 30" x 36" footprint. I did have a piece of scrap plywood that was the light size, but how could I make it rotate?

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Model Railroader 2009 01

Steelmakers use large quantities of recycled scrap metal that's shipped in from scrapyards all over North America. These loads arc always interesting due to the wide variety of colors, textures, and odd shapes in the scrap. Here's how' T made a batch of removable scrap loads for HO scale gondolas, and the same methods will also work for other scales as well. The "steel" scrap in my loads is made from aluminum shavings that I bought years ago at a train show. If you can't locale a source of similar shavings, bits of scrap styrene or non-magnetic plastic pot scrubbers will also work. Avoid using steel wool because it sheds small shards of metal that are attracted to motor magnets. I cut small blocks of plywood to use as the bases for each load and painted them flat black. See the photo above. I installed a small U-shaped handle in the middle that's made from the cut off end of a paper clip. Then I used a thick layer of white glue to attach the scrap metal to the block. To let the plywood bases drop freely into the gondolas, I cut them slightly undersized.

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Model Railroader 2009 02

Modelers with operating layouts always seem to wind up comparing notes about techniques to make restaging more efficient. This was the case not long ago when senior editor Jim Hediger asked how I handled the restaging of the loose coal loads on my HO scale Allegheny & Lackawanna Southern RR. My operators normally have 40 to 50 loaded hoppers to move from the mines to various destinations. In the process, a similar number of empties are returned and spotted at the mines. I've tried using one-piece cast loads, and swapping the same loaded hoppers over and over, but neither system was as satisfying as live loads. There's something about handling the live loads which gives my operators a greater sense of accomplishment as they work. In particular, Jim was interested in any tricks I had developed to speed up the rather involved job of transferring loose coal loads. In practice it's a matter of picking up the loaded hoppers, pouring the coal into a big plastic jug, and then setting the car back on the rails. Originally, I'd dump three or four coal loads into a medium-size container, and then load a similar number of empties until all the loads were transferred.Some time later, longtime A&LS operator Brian Searles started to help with the restaging of the railroad.

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Model Railroader 2009 03

Locomotive builders send demonstrator locomotives out so customers can try them out, just like automobile dealers let you test drive a new car. Like new cars, these demonstrators normally include all the builder's latest accessories and control systems. Demonstrators usually run alone or in matched consists, so their performance can be isolated for comparison purposes. Most demonstrators traditionally have attractive, colorful paint schemes to make them stand out. Their engine numbers arc often chosen to have some sales significance: for example the year the locomotive was introduced (2009), or a new model number (AC4400). Multiple-unit consists arc often marked with the builder's initials and a number (EMD-1, EMD-2, EMD-3, or an A, B, C suffix). Ordinarily, the new locomotives arc subjected to three types of testing. First, they're assigned to a regular train so the demonstrator's performance over the road and fuel consumption can be measured and compared to the host railroad's regular locomotives. Second, a demonstrator may be run with a dynamometer car on a test train that usually consists of similar-size cars. This is done so the load can be adjusted to see how well the new unit performs on the railroad's ruling (steepest) grade. The dynamometer car records the performance data for later evaluation.

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N Scale Railroading 2008 09-10

In order to make kitbashing and scratchbuilding easy it is necessary to invest in some tools. The first and best investment should be a good scale ruler. I would purchase one with multiple scales- This allows you to transfer details from drawings to your project and if it has multiple scales you can utilize HO drawings, which are easier on the eyes. Another good measuring tool is a small metal square, which is critical to cutting styrene at a 90° angle. A caliper is also helpful and can be used for transferring measurements from drawings and for comparing parts. Another great tool to have in the box is a set of Waldron punches. These are oriented to airplane and armor modelers and are used for punching out disks and hex nuts. You simply slide a styrene sheet into the die, hit the punch with a small hammer and out comes a perfectly round disk. I would recommend the sub-miniature disk set for N scalers as it has most sizes that you will need. A variety of tweezers and small pliers, including one with round noses, are good for holding parts and also bending parts to certain shapes. Finally, a good set of needle files in various shapes are useful for shaping styrene and cleaning up the model prior to painting. For cutting I recommend investing in two or three good hobby knives with #11. #10, and # 17 blades. This way you can avoid changing blades during the project. A NorthWest Short Line's chopper is also helpful for cutting at exact angles.

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N Scale Railroading 2009 01-02

Grant and I drew the short Straws but also the unhappy stares of the rest of the group. The plan was for two of us to get in the cab when the train stopped in Greenberry Hills. We would get a short ride past Shomo Yard and be dropped off at a grade crossing on the other side of the sprawling yard complex. There the unlucky guys who didn't get to ride would meet and pick us up. Mr. Reid handed up orders and a short note about the planned cab ride to #654 as she went by. We met #654 at Greenberry Hills and introduced ourselves to the engine crew. Bill Reid manned the controls while the fireman, Rich Weyand, graciously let Grant and me take turns sitting on the left side of the cab. Talk about a trip to remember! Rich pointed out the sights as we went by Shomo Yard. All too quickly the cab ride was over as we hit the ballast and met our friends at the designated highway crossing. Of course they were all green with envy! The next stop for us and #654 was Greencastle. We were in luck as CL-4, a local freight, was still in town and in the hole for the passenger train. It had a box car to deliver to the freight depot and we photographed the engine backing down to make its delivery before leaving town. We discovered that another local, CL-7, would switch the cold storage and feed mill later that day. We found it interesting that each local only switched trailing point turnouts in order to save time and unnecessary switching maneuvers. The west slope of Timber Ridge was our next destination and we found a nice stone viaduct along the ridge that turned out to be our favorite photo location. Coming from flat country in Illinois, we were really impressed by the mountains and scenery The viaduct allowed us to get great photos of the trains stretched out against the mountain. Passenger #654 came through first and we waved to our new friends in the cab, Bill and Rich. CV-88 was following right on the heels of #654, so we hung around to get a photo of it before once again dashing off in the car, this time for Shippensburg.

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Railroad Model Craftsman 2008 07

Construction was basic L-girder, with plywood sub-roadbed and rubber roadbed over that. Atlas code 83 track and switches were used, mostly No. 6's, and a 22" minimum radius. A hidden, seven-track staging yard under Yakima is connected to the mainline by two helixes, thus forming a reverse loop in either direction. Now that's a clever use of staging! Control is by Digitrax DCC, and some of Scott's 32 locos are also equipped with Soundtraxx sound decoders. The layout is also home to some 75 freight cars, 35 passenger cars, and 15 cabooses. Of the hundreds of structures on the layout, most are kit-built or modified from kits, with about 15 percent being scratchbuilt. Almost all feature lights, with many also having interiors, and, I'm here to tell you, when Scott turned down the room lights the effect of all those illuminated buildings was dazzling! Some of Scott's rolling stock and structures came from a previous layout, but much of what you see is new to this one; it is an impressive accomplishment in only seven years. Nearly the entire layout is finished to a high degree of detail, with only the Anacortes and Goldendale sections awaiting completion. Scott formed his scenery base from pink insulation foam carved mostly with a knife, then coated with plaster.

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Railroad Model Craftsman 2009 01

A Passion For Steam is really a story in two parts. The first section of the book runs eleven chapters, and after introducing his own love for water boiling, the author takes us by the hand and walks us through every aspect of the engineering behind small scale live steam. Starting with an overview of how water and fire are turned into movement, Horovitz devotes subsequent chapters to cylinders; pistons and lubricators; reversing mechanisms and valve gears; mechanisms other than traditional (such as geared engines); boilers; fuels and burners; boiler fittings such as safety valves, throttles, water glasses and pressure gauges; and feedwater systems. (Another chapter deals with tools and other handy things to have when running a live steamer.) It should be stressed that the chapters are not descriptions of the components on a full-size locomotive, but those found on live steam models. Nor has the author set out to present a technical manual showing how to create these items for a working model (although I am confident that he could). Rather, Horovitz discusses the general principles, history, strengths and weaknesses of various systems that an operator might encounter at a steam-up, and it is all supported by plenty of CAD illustrations and photographs.

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