Slowly making progress on a layout

Watching with interest. Are those LGB locos? 

A mix of LGB, Kalamazoo, Bachmann and Marklin Maxi for that F7 behind stuff

artfull dodger posted:

.......  I can just manage a loop using the older Atlas/AHM sectional track and turnouts.  .......

 

I assume you mean their 24" radius curves and turnouts.   Have you tried your AN locos on those curves, both by themselves and coupled to cars ?   The Atlas / Rivarossi road locomotives sold with that track, along with their US rolling stock, have truck mounted couplers.

SZ

I have, they do ok with kaydee couplers. Now a GP7 might have issues due to its longer wheelbase.  But the shorter NW and did ok with 40' cars

The ones that dont like the tighter curves are the CLW drives made for the AN F units, those have the drive shafts inline with the trucks from the fuel tank area instead of a tower drive like the stock AN units had.  The stock set up handles tighter curves.  I have a tool to make 48" radius curves, but in my small room, I would have a big circle for the most part.  I am going to use flex track so I can can go for something inbetween 48" and the really tight stuff.  Going to try to have a couple industries to switch, a small grain elevator would be one of them, maybe one of the Woodland Scenics ones you can get at Menards would be another.  

A very good straight DC family of throttles are made by GML Enterprises located in Oxford Michigan.     I used their 6 amp version with memory for my layout for years.      These come with a 5 year warranty and are designed for high amperage O scale.     the 3 and 4 amp versions are good too.  

I did not get the brake option on mine.     The link below should work.

https://thegmlenterprises.com//index.html

Thanks Jim!  I will look into those.  Hopefully I can find someone local to assist with building the removable section of the bench work.  With it being curved, it goes beyond my meager wood working skills.  The only reason the rest of the bench work did so well is Tom Tee built it.  I cannot even come close to his skills.  I wish I could just order the remaining benchwork framing I need.  Should be 3 pieces.  One above my work bench, the corner, then the curved/removable portion to tie back into whats in the picture I posted.  I can deck and homasote them, but the framework is a challenge for me to get to come out really nice.  

Started taking a crack at painting the F3, warmed up the air brush and here is the results after several thin coats of red and black.  Off to work now, and these can sit and cure for a bit before I start putting the detail parts on.  

If you want straight DC the GML throttles are great. I have one as I run DC only on my meager 12x14 layout. I’m getting Scenery done now and I’m glad it’s no bigger than it is. I run SW & 44 ton switchers with 40’ cars. I have one 50’ boxcar that I use occasionally. I also have a EMD model 40 that I’m trying to get going but the drive mechanism is giving me fits,

I’ll be watching your progress, looking good.