Search results

Welcome back after a few months . . . I made a push in the last couple of months to get some scenery done. What you see is in the lower left corner of the track plan in the previous post. It's a mix of scratch built and other familiar structures. I've been working on better photography with...

Welcome back after a few months . . . I made a push in the last couple of months to get some scenery done. What you see is in the lower left corner of the track plan in the previous post. It's a mix of scratch built and other familiar structures. I've been working on better photography with...

Based on past bad experiences, I try very hard to have my mainline run on straight and smooth track to avoid derailment problems (mainline always takes the straight route on a standard T.O. or the widest on a curved T.O.). I use wyes off the mainline but not on it. I find this especially true...

I attach foam to foam with PL300 - an adhesive made specifically for the job. It is in the caulk section. It works great - forgiving within a few minutes but a good solid hold thereafter.

I'm looking at my track that I laid with elevation and I'm frustrated because the trains don't run flawlessly and I don't like seeing a train go in a loop. I'm thinking about tearing out what I've got and going with a flat mainline and very little elevation change on the spurs, etc. I was...

Trucklover - I love what you've done! It looks like it would be fun to operate as well. Consider this - because the ADM grain elevator is so familiar to all HO modelers, it will always be visible to us. However, your non-modeling audience will be impressed and have no problem accepting what...

Opens up some neat modeling opportunities.

I used latex to create molds from natural cut sandstone that was used on my old farmhouse basement steps - it was an easy process (paint repeated coats of latex on the surface) and procuded nice results. The talent I lacked was in accurately painting the finished molds.

Here are some pics from the LHR's feeders:

Model Railroader Magazine had a section recently on feeder wires. The technique is to drill a hole straight down next to track (outside of rail, obviously). Then take the smallest guage solid copper wire you can purchase (16g at my local home supply store), cut it to length to reach your bus...

The auto reverse loop comes with good documentation. The nice part is once it is wired - there is nothing you need to do. Run the trains, switch the tournouts and everything takes care of itself. The instructions with the reverse loop will show you where to put the insulators and how to route...

I use the Prodigy system - there is a single programming button that is labeled "Polarity" or so I think (I'm not at home right now). Put the engine on the programming track, move the switch on the main unit from run to program and hit that button one time. Switch to "Run" again and test it...

Darn, that looks like fun! It has a bit of an erector set feel to it! It is funny, over the years I've found buddies who either think in metal or in wood depending on their experience. Look out when the machinist tries to make something with wood - no calipers please!

Is the side of the hopper dented? If so, did you heat it up to get the dented look?

I was just going to post "making the curve is going to be hard" but you've got that on your own now. Of course, I learned the hard way too as you just did. :-) A scratch built stone or concrete viaduct would look good there and you get to use regular track and regular ballast across the top...

A warped truck sounds possible - jbaakko. Thanks Green. I do have some track issues but there is so much evidence to the contrary - I have a bunch of other engines that run on the same track and everyone one of them - katos (AC4400s, dash 9s, SD40s) and P2Ks (SD60s) - run fine with all 12...

The problem is present on flat and properly spaced track - the front two wheels are on the track and the 3rd set is not touching the rail - 1/32 gap or so. All is fine when you run the train forward except in a couple of bad spot (areas I plan to fix) that derail each time. If I run the engine...

I purchased a BL AC6000 - the rear truck seems to have issues as the last set of wheels ride just above the rail and derail on some of the tough sections of my track work. Is anyone else running this model? Have you had issues?

What about rail expansion and contraction? We've hit some warm temps here in MN recently (compared to when I laid the track) and when I went in the train room today I had a long section of what was supposed to be straight track that had pushed up and curved, I asume, because it expanded. I do...

:rolleyes: Let's try that pic once again . . . nevermind -- on the kids computer right now and I can't shut off the pop up blocker to access the picture manager. Search Walthers for ho/pellet and you'll see all that is there.