Search results

Following Andrew's thread...with my before-mentioned dedication to my rolling stock...couplers, trucks, weight, etc., I still have trouble. I think I might just go ahead and remove the magnets (they are so unprototypical!) and be done with it. My 2-foot deep layout allows me access to all the...

As Fred and Ed said...perfect uncoupling is an ideal that few can achieve. First of all, you must have walk-around to be able to be right there with the train consist. Secondly, as Fred states, you must be expert and slow motion and just the right hesitation over the magnet -- then pushing the...

CAS...If you go for under the ballast/track, consider the electro-magnetic. Wherein you must activate the magnet with a push-button. Kadee sells these too. Under the magnet track installation means you can't see it. You need sort of "mile posts" to show you, the operator, where they are. I wish...

Hi Andy...N1CLZ here in CT. I didn't mention this in my past posting as to hobbies, I was afraid with so many hobbies people would think I'm nuts! I'm not an active Ham anymore. Just not enough hours in the day. Am seriously thinking of putting my low-band Icom and accessories on Ebay and just...

Chad...I won't belabor the point. The majority is for Kadees, and they're right! I have tried all the other type "knuckle" couplers and they come close but don't equal the reliability if Kadees. I finally bit the bullet and took all my rolling stock and mounted Kadee couplers, threw out all the...

Kevin...I like your painting. Strong van Gogh influence. You could do worse. Very strong and lively approach to the subect. Well done. Allan

Camera collecting. Have thinned out collection to mostly rare TLRs and classic manual-focus SLRs, Photography, modelling armour, aircraft and ships.

I lived with a water softener behind the layout for 25 years in my former house. I had a large house and a large basement. I allowed a 30" passage behind the layout to get to the holding tank (5' tall), the softener and salt barrel. Maintenence on a softener is on the top. Salt is heavy and you...

Fine work... Looks like a scene from Madama Butterfly!

"Fall" look... My rairoad is late Fall early Winter. Obviously you just want to keep strong greens out of your coloring. Dark greens for evergreens here and there is good. Check your local fabric shop for a faux fur. I use a fabric that's beige in color about 1/2" deep. Makes a perfect dried...

Which concept are you going with? Please keepus posted. The confined space plus some of the machinery to overcome is a challange. We're all with you.

Andrew's idea is a good one. I'd stay clear of the water tank because it might be too high. But you certainly could have enough elevation to go over the softener and salt barrel, and of course move and run behind the water heater. On the other hand, a true model railroader would jam the kids...

Retired 13 years. Basically been a graphics designer (Yale School of Fine Arts) my entire career, even though titles included, PR Director, Ad Manager, Art Director, and for the last 24 years of my career, VP & Creative Director for a mid-sized design/printing firm. I love to build. And have...

Is this your entire basement? Is the doorway coming from a garage? Area seems small. I don't think a water tank is a heavy maintenence item, but a jet pump is. That's sucking water up from a well rather than a submersible that's pushing water up. They're noisy and tend to fail. If this is your...

I would suggest you confine the layout to "around the wall". That way you can always reach anything on the layout. Don't attach it to a wall, but have it free standing and build up your background with plywood sheets.

One of the books that has been most helpful to me for years is Allen McClelland's, "The V&O Story", Kalmbach. I believe it's just been re-issued. The book covers the concept and design of the railroad, describing "off-stage" modelling and car-card/waybill operation in great detail. Plus many...

Hi Larry, My orders come from industires alone. The town is just to help locate. The 3-step V&O system requires the car to stay at the industry for three passes by a train...Set Out, Hold, and finally Pick Up. If you arrive at an industry and there's a car card in the set out slot, you move it...

My first of four layouts in the mid-50s was screen and the plaster cast material. Worked fine but the screen was a pain to form, 2 and three were thesame. But four, my present is 1" strips of corrugated over which I used 2" wide masking tape then sculptamold for the final finish. This is fast...

Andrew...About 50% of my operations is made up of industry to industry operations. John Allen worked this in his operations with a low-class peddler freight -- and only the most experienced of his operators were allowed to run this kind of freight, having to make way for almost everything else...

Don...Wasn't aware of the Operations Forum. Would appreciate you moving it if you would. I'm still learning. Allan (abutt)