WHAT’S ON THE WORKBENCH AT THE MOMENT

@RSJB18 posted:

Calling it done.....

I suppose the shiny new gondola is not typical, but they all were new at one time, since most look well used and war torn but that's a project for another day. Freight car weathering is a rabbit hole I'm not ready to dive down yet.
I have a Reading car that will get a similar load soon.

Bob

Bob that turned out looking great! Don't worry about the new look on the gondola it will look with time! Just like the rest of us in the model RR.

Thank you, Bob @RSJB18 I didn’t do anything more with the two examples, but I did roll a new section in place on Monday using some more tips from Jeff.  It looks pretty good before painting.  I was thinking of rolling more before painting.  I’ll be posting.

@Leroof posted:

it’s a bit funky but it was well worth the fun renovating this.

Does anyone want to guess what where and when this was manufactured?

One day she will appear working in Saturday Morning Switcher post possibly!

Thx and appreciation to all that tuned in.

Love it. I even like the noise - so old-school O-scale. No sissy quiet-running here. It sounds like a real piece of machinery.

@trestleking posted:

like a pig in a mud hole...perfect home for a scrap yard gon...

Bob

@RSJB18 posted:

Calling it done.....

I suppose the shiny new gondola is not typical, but they all were new at one time, since most look well used and war torn but that's a project for another day. Freight car weathering is a rabbit hole I'm not ready to dive down yet.
I have a Reading car that will get a similar load soon.

Bob

I would too, that looks perfect! As far as the new look of rolling stock, I feel the same way, I’m just not ready to even begin thinking about weathering them.

Gene

@Genemed posted:

I would too, that looks perfect! As far as the new look of rolling stock, I feel the same way, I’m just not ready to even begin thinking about weathering them.

Gene

Yep- I still need to weigh the car and see if I need to add any additional weights. The load by itself might be enough.

Thanks

@RSJB18 Bob, I am with you on not weathering rolling stock.  I have too many other projects I would rather do.

@RSJB18 posted:

Calling it done.....

I suppose the shiny new gondola is not typical, but they all were new at one time, since most look well used and war torn but that's a project for another day. Freight car weathering is a rabbit hole I'm not ready to dive down yet.
I have a Reading car that will get a similar load soon.

Bob

That's some nice looking junk and scrap you have there.  If you decide to get into weathering (although I agree that it's a rabbit hole and I can't bring myself to mess up a nice car), there are tons of inexpensive common postwar and MPC gondolas that will gladly give their all for your efforts.

I put the car on the layout last night and tested it out. Pushing the car with my 0-4-0 through a 027 curve was lifting the truck off the track a bit. I weighed the car with the load at 8oz. The load weighs 1oz, and I added another 2.5oz. to the load.

Bob

And yes- that old scale is accurate within .25 oz.

@RSJB18 posted:

I put the car on the layout last night and tested it out. Pushing the car with my 0-4-0 through a 027 curve was lifting the truck off the track a bit. I weighed the car with the load at 8oz. The load weighs 1oz, and I added another 2.5oz. to the load.

Bob

And yes- that old scale is accurate within .25 oz.

It looks good Bob. Did the car lift off the track when it was empty?  Did it stay on the track with the extra weight that you added after the first run?

@pennsyfan posted:

It looks good Bob. Did the car lift off the track when it was empty?  Did it stay on the track with the extra weight that you added after the first run?

Bob- Empty, the car would get pushed off the track completely. With the added weight it holds the rails OK on most passes. The steamer has a fixed pilot, I'm sure with a diesel it will sit down just fine. I'll have to try a diesel next.

Bob

@RSJB18 posted:

I put the car on the layout last night and tested it out. Pushing the car with my 0-4-0 through a 027 curve was lifting the truck off the track a bit. I weighed the car with the load at 8oz. The load weighs 1oz, and I added another 2.5oz. to the load.

Bob

And yes- that old scale is accurate within .25 oz.

You probably already know about NMRA recommended practice for car weight, but just in case...  for O scale, it's 5 ounces + 1 ounce per inch of length.  So a 9 to 10-inch gondola should have a total weight of 14-15 ounces.  Although it's technically still underweight, there's no value in making it any heavier than it needs to be in order to stay on the track.  Can get tricky with O27 curves - gotta be strategic regarding where it fits into a train.

https://www.nmra.org/beginner/weight

@Mallard4468 posted:

You probably already know about NMRA recommended practice for car weight, but just in case...  for O scale, it's 5 ounces + 1 ounce per inch of length.  So a 9 to 10-inch gondola should have a total weight of 14-15 ounces.  Although it's technically still underweight, there's no value in making it any heavier than it needs to be in order to stay on the track.  Can get tricky with O27 curves - gotta be strategic regarding where it fits into a train.

https://www.nmra.org/beginner/weight

Yea- It's still light but I've found that an ounce or two doesn't make a huge difference. Car placement and how couplers interact is more critical on my tight curves.

Thanks

@RSJB18 posted:

I put the car on the layout last night and tested it out. Pushing the car with my 0-4-0 through a 027 curve was lifting the truck off the track a bit. I weighed the car with the load at 8oz. The load weighs 1oz, and I added another 2.5oz. to the load.

Bob

And yes- that old scale is accurate within .25 oz.

Love that scale and wouldn't even think to question it's accuracy.

@coach joe posted:

Love that scale and wouldn't even think to question it's accuracy.

Thanks Joe. My wife sells stuff online. The .25 oz is verified by the USPS postal scales.

It came from her Grandmother's kitchen.

@RSJB18 posted:

I put the car on the layout last night and tested it out. Pushing the car with my 0-4-0 through a 027 curve was lifting the truck off the track a bit. I weighed the car with the load at 8oz. The load weighs 1oz, and I added another 2.5oz. to the load.

Bob

And yes- that old scale is accurate within .25 oz.

Bob, another job well done. And that scale; they don’t makem like that anymore.

For @pennsyfan and @Mallard4468-

I tried the loaded car behind a WbB NW-2 tonight. The car ran fine through the layout. Can't say the same for a comparable empty car.

With 4oz of added weight it made it out of the same curve and stayed on the rails

Granted...these are Menards cars with less than the best trucks and wheels.

Bob

Marx 666.  Upgraded with reverse unit lockout switch and LED headlight.

The post “Show us your Derricks and Maintenance-of-way cars” inspired me to search for a suitable car to occupy my workbench. The DM&IR repurposed a number of coaches for maintenance duty. The Duluth Missabe & Iron Range Historical Society website provided me with three options and the purchase of a preowned Lionel NYC coach provided the canvas. 

W30, a track department car became the target. It’s designated as a sleeper.

The pre-painted look highlights some of the added detail. On this car I added the electrical power connecters and holders for marker lights to the vestibules.   Marker lights were required only if it was last car of the train.   I also removed doors from the vestibules, added appropriate wire grab irons, rivets detail to the exposed vestibule area and cut back the floor to reveal the steps.

Boarded up several windows per prototype, added fuel/propane tank for cooking stove, kitchen vent and two stacks to venting wood/coal heaters.  

The car is ready for the paint shop.   I have removed the silhouette windows as I plan to detail the interior.   I’m hoping to learn more about the interior arrangement.   If my research ends up in a blind alley, I will do a fantasy setup. I assume the car provided day seating, bunks, kitchen, a heat source, shower and bathrooms so I will do my best to make it functional. Added wood strips to the frame to provide access and clearance for wires and the swing mechanism needed for the trucks and couplers. Will attach a styrene floor over that to support the interior detail.   

Always fun to keep busy with a new project!    Still managing to avoid weathering!  

Cheers, Dave

Dave, that’s a great idea for a car.  I’m sure I have enough projects to keep me from ever weathering 😄