Post your non-O scale stuff here!
Engineer-Joe posted:Hmmm listen to this one
https://mthtrains.com/sites/de...150203a-webckout.mp3
then, listen to this one
Joe I have to admit they sound very much alike to me. The closest SD70Ace horn I've heard to the real thing is my MTH BNSF PS3 SD70Ace. Keep up the good work!
Paul, ??
On my computer speakers the bass in the second one is about twice as loud. In the first one, it's turned down. I should say the engine's turbo sounds.
I bet when I load it, they'll be the same!
BTW, this isn't a SD70ACe! Think a little bigger.
Some people won't know the difference anyways.
I do like some sound sets horns better than others. If I was more adventurous, I'd use the computer program from Mark S to swap out the horns.
I have the MTH PS3 kit on the way. I thought I'd get a head start on the wiring.
You've done some impressive work with your locomotive builds, Joe. Where are you getting the power trucks?
You've done some impressive work with your locomotive builds, Joe. Where are you getting the power trucks?
Matt Jackson
Hmmm. I can't tell you. Then you and others would get the few out there! 
Some come from basket case engines that met an early end. They are well built. They don't survive being dropped too well. I think some clubs run on benchwork that doesn't allow for accidental bumping or unwanted hands on children. I got a set several years back (10 or 12?) where a guy tried to lower the engine and then abandoned the concept. He hacked up the trucks pretty bad, but I made them work.
I recently found 2 sets of the 4 axle trucks for sale and I grabbed them. I re-trucked both my F40PH and my LGB Genesis. Now they pull as they should. I wish all the manufacturers would use flywheels inside their trucks (and HD metal gearing) like MTH does.
I have bought several engines for the purpose of tooling my scratch builds. All have never got cut up. I ended up enjoying each model as is. 2 VO1000s are still together and running well. They were supposed to become more MP15ACs. A F3 SF was also bought for that purpose and still resides as is here.
I just couldn't do it!
That's awesome. I've been looking at some engines on eBay as potential parts donors. I've had the "as-is" experience also -- purchased a locomotive with the intent of using its innards in another engine. Ended up liking the little critter.
That is very impressive Joe! Can't wait to see it progress to the end!
Here's some more work done on the cab
For any new people here, I've done 4 other hack jobs. The 2 recent ones, are on this forum.
My SD70ACe before MTH decided to make one
https://ogrforum.com/...cratch-built-sd70ace
and another that Mike Wolf waffled over making. It sits right here next to me, for inspiration.
Here's the MP15AC I built too! I edited the title now after searching for my old posts
What do you think? Bright enough? 
Probably around 2.5 volts on used batteries. I was testing motors and stuff. Maybe brighter on the PS3 outputs.
Trying to close her up! Working on the rear now.
UnBleepingbelievable How cool is this
"
UnBleepingbelievable How cool is this "
Whoa. 
Thank you Ben!!
Not up to your bridge's (and layout scenery) quality but I'm practicing!
I need to cut off the top light shields on the rear lamp housings to make them flat. The front has these shields on the top of the lamp housing.
One thing that I keep running across, is when copying existing models when building. There are shortcuts builders make that can mess you up. Some are obvious. I think that some are from the way the product is built to make it easier?
I'm working on the rear of the long hood. Lucky for me, I decided to get an exact measurement of the thickness of the rear top panel.
I can see on the prototype, that it's 2 (x 1.5mm thick roughly) panels sandwiched together. The top is bigger, and overhangs the middle piece.
On my MTH O scale model, it's just one piece (3mm thick roughly) the exact same size.
Hey Joe, is this an SD80MAC or one of the NS re-builds?
Well?? I'm shooting for a Conrail SD80MAC. What it ends up being, we'll see. I need to get several detail parts still.
It's tuff to build things like fan housings. Your eyes pick up any flaws in anything less than perfect.
So a problem for me here, is that I have forgotten how I did some things. It's good in some ways in that I can improve a design without even knowing it. I have a vague feeling I did something a certain way and I attack it as if it was the first time.
So I need to build the MAC's cooling fan assembly. I did something like it before
I think I overbuilt the whole section using 1/8" hard plastic. It is built like a tank! When I first started, I used a suggested glue and found some things were breaking off from handling. So I overbuilt the rest so that it could take a pounding. I switched glues and found that this section never even got a scratch after years of handling. When you have a shallow angle, the joint of the pieces is weak. If I re-enforce those joints properly, the box becomes very strong. Trouble here is something has to be cut to fit around each other and that weakens it again. If it's not removeable the glue takes care of that.
So on this next build, I tried a sort of half cut box where the box is cut half way, and the long hood is cut half way thru. I forgot that the assembly does not need to be removeable like the O scale version is. I made my Gevo's fan cover removeable because it houses the speaker. This build has the speakers in the fuel tank.
My joints at the body are a little off so I will glue and clamp them tight to fix it. At least I got it started. I wasted some extra effort here.
Not a lot more done today. I plugged away at the cooling section and glued the panels together. I hesitated on the intake grill section until I remember how I achieved it on the ACe. The metal grills need to be backed up from rough handling pressing them inwards.
Some parts of the builds are more fun than others. It all needs to be done. I love looking at tiny details. I just hate making them. I wish 3D printing had moved forward more to allow for ready made details for engines in one gauge. There are some. Just not a lot. Hand made details only go so far. The flaws are too big to get away with.
There's more parts available in 1/29. Even more in other scales. There's so much available in HO scale. It doesn't make sense. The current RTR releases are pretty top notch.
I looked into a laser cutter years back to make some finer detailing. It arrived broken and just sits here. I got it for free! I'm too lazy to discard it and it's too far damaged for fixing. I considered trying to make it into something better but it never started. Over my limits and over my pay grade.
If I had the money I'd get a resin printer. It's way down on the list of priorities. I still need to do my O scale scenery.
My favorite part of any build is seeing them come to life!
I do rush to get this going.
I'm actually getting slower at these wiring harnesses. I spent the morning working on routing wires. Most of the lights are just laying loose where they need to go.
I think I'll skip the marker lights on this.
I spent the afternoon installing the smoke unit and funnel system that probably won't get used anyways.
I come up stairs to see it's the nicest day of the month! I missed it.
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