Looking good Bob. I mounted mine to the shell. One end (away from the bridge rectifier) fits over the motor thats under the long hood. A flat speaker will then fit in the cab ceiling.
Pete
@Norton posted:Looking good Bob. I mounted mine to the shell. One end (away from the bridge rectifier) fits over the motor thats under the long hood. A flat speaker will then fit in the cab ceiling.
Pete
I'm planning on using this chassis with different shells so I wanted to keep the board on the chassis. The shell is basically done, I just need to finish the harnesses. I put the speaker up under the cab roof and cut out the 2 rear windows to give the sound a place to go.
Thanks Pete.
Attachments
Images (1)
Bob, very nice work!!
Been working on a modern era Culvert Unloader 12983. This is the conventional version, not TMCC. When I received it the blinking lights would blink but no motion.
I was stuck for a while as I have no schematics for it but I did have my own working one. I discovered a pair of zener diodes had gotten hot, melted their solder connection and separated. These are in the violet wire that feeds the motor that lifts the magnet. Replacing the zeners (4.7v measured) got it operating again but the zeners got very hot and separated again. Turning my attention to lift motor and pulley it appeared the pulley was rubbing on the cover causing the motor to draw more current. My fix was to cut some washers out of some styrene tube to space the cover out plus apply some powdered teflon to the pulley. So far so good and it runs for at least ten minutes without the zeners getting hot.
Next step will be to replace the 1 watt Zeners with 5 watt as this is used at a club and gets a lot of abuse from visitors.
I know the control board is NLA but if yours is not working remove the structure from the base and check the zeners under the shrink wrap in the violet wire. Yellow wire is the return for that lift motor.
Cover attached, note the space behind the cover.
Pete
Attachments
Images (2)
You know guys sometimes I ask myself why I even come to this page, cause all the stuff you all do is over my head and just blows me away! I keep telling myself maybe one day I can try that, I just don't think I have the Chonas to do it!
That little Beep is running as smooth as silk Bob!!!
Well done my friend.😎😎
Peter......Buco Australia.
@Buco posted:That little Beep is running as smooth as silk Bob!!!
Well done my friend.😎😎
Peter......Buco Australia.
@mike g. posted:You know guys sometimes I ask myself why I even come to this page, cause all the stuff you all do is over my head and just blows me away! I keep telling myself maybe one day I can try that, I just don't think I have the Chonas to do it!
@Mark Boyce posted:Bob, very nice work!!
Thanks guys.
Mike- come on in, the waters fine! 🤣
Pete- yea other than the noise from the wheels on the KLine switches, it runs well.
Bob
@RSJB18 posted:Mike- come on in, the waters fine!
Yes, that’s a great way of saying it! 🥸
Unexpected ** BREAKDOWN** onthe testing of the Christmas PE / MTH /LEMAX/ CEO ( 💖 ) Layout.
Lemax Ice Skating / with Band ( I made the Sax and Horn players look like the Blues Brothers ). Total shutdown . 
It took most of the afternoon opening it , fixing it and closing it . 
Strange issue. Took the mini can motor apart to find positive and negative 1/16 inch × super thin blades extending to a very small commutator. Tha positive blade had worn down . I carefully gave it a very small bend and applied Detox D5 ( GUNRUNNER JOHN had talked about it in a previous post. ) It is supposed to rid oxidation and it seems to be a very fine lube.
I can't get over the fact that the micro positive blade not touching the commutator shut down the motor , the sound and the lights on the whole unit . 🤔 I was glad I had a VOM to check the board.
Keep the WORKBENCHES moving along . God Speed all. 
Attachments
Videos (1)
@Dallas Joseph I’m glad you got it going. It reminds me of the Mr. Christmas skating rink at the drive in restaurant my wife got at the thrift store for $5 two or three years ago. So far, so good!
@Mark Boyce posted:@Dallas Joseph I’m glad you got it going. It reminds me of the Mr. Christmas skating rink at the drive in restaurant my wife got at the thrift store for $5 two or three years ago. So far, so good!
Thanks Mark.
If I remember correctly ......I think this Lemax was more than $5 ???......
( I deffinetly have to find a " thrift store. 
Dallas, it’s situations such as this that keep our neural networks percolating and expanding. Well done and thanks for sharing your insights.
Jay
@mike g. posted:You know guys sometimes I ask myself why I even come to this page, cause all the stuff you all do is over my head and just blows me away! I keep telling myself maybe one day I can try that, I just don't think I have the Chonas to do it!
Well I don’t know of too many people who have an airplane taking off and landing. Plus, YOU are building the housing for your train room. Then you’ll do the layout redo. You’re impressive Mike, don’t doubt your multitude of skills.
Jay
@Tranquil Hollow RR posted:Dallas, it’s situations such as this that keep our neural networks percolating and expanding. Well done and thanks for sharing your insights.
Jay
Thanks Jay. My neural networks are now not so knotted up.
Good night and God Speed sir.
@Tranquil Hollow RR posted:Well I don’t know of too many people who have an airplane taking off and landing. Plus, YOU are building the housing for your train room. Then you’ll do the layout redo. You’re impressive Mike, don’t doubt your multitude of skills.
Jay
+ @mike g.
What he said.......Don't sell yourself short Mike. Built a train room from the dirt up, plus two layouts, moved half way across the country to start over on a second train room and third layout.
Keep up the good work.
Bob
@Tranquil Hollow RR posted:Well I don’t know of too many people who have an airplane taking off and landing. Plus, YOU are building the housing for your train room. Then you’ll do the layout redo. You’re impressive Mike, don’t doubt your multitude of skills.
Jay
@mike g. Mike, I totally agree with Jay. Besides that, look at the lift up bridge you made and I copied your concept!! You are an inspiration to many of us.
Afternoon guys,
@Dallas Joseph Dallas I am glad you were able to get your Christmas ice skating rink fixed! The kids would have missed it!
As for the rest you wonderful folks, thanks you so much for the kind words! It really means a lot to me that you all like some of the stuff I put up here! I hope to be putting up some stuff down the road! First I have more SHEETROCK and mud and taping to do!
Then the real fun can start! BENCH WORK!
@mike g. posted:Afternoon guys,
@Dallas Joseph Dallas I am glad you were able to get your Christmas ice skating rink fixed! The kids would have missed it!
As for the rest you wonderful folks, thanks you so much for the kind words! It really means a lot to me that you all like some of the stuff I put up here! I hope to be putting up some stuff down the road! First I have more SHEETROCK and mud and taping to do!
Then the real fun can start! BENCH WORK!
Mike, recall the Barbie/My Little Pony pink room I had to convert into a train room. At least the wall board was up, but I don't know how many coats of light blue I had to do to cover up that blinding pink! 
@Mark Boyce posted:Mike, recall the Barbie/My Little Pony pink room I had to convert into a train room. At least the wall board was up, but I don't know how many coats of light blue I had to do to cover up that blinding pink!
LOL Mark I am glad I don't have to deal with Pink! It's just a blank slate and the ceiling is going to be all black, walls will be light blue and the rest will be whatever pops up!
I ma getting excited as things are getting closer!
Mike I used Sherman-Williams “cloudless” and I’m very happy with the results.
My granddaughter adding clouds to the cloudless blue paint.
Jay
Attachments
Images (1)
@Tranquil Hollow RR posted:Mike I used Sherman-Williams “cloudless” and I’m very happy with the results.
My granddaughter adding clouds to the cloudless blue paint.
Jay
Always good to have an artist in the layout area Jay. 
@Tranquil Hollow RR posted:Mike I used Sherman-Williams “cloudless” and I’m very happy with the results.
My granddaughter adding clouds to the cloudless blue paint.
Jay
Jay that's looking great! I think I see a mountain drawn out in the corner also! I hope you will post more photos of your layout as you get them!
Checked the sticky electro-coupler on my BEEP. After a couple drops of oil, and a few days to soak, it works fine. I also think there was a burr on the cast knuckle piece which is gone now.
Glad I dont have to replace it.
Bob
@RSJB18 posted:Checked the sticky electro-coupler on my BEEP. After a couple drops of oil, and a few days to soak, it works fine. I also think there was a burr on the cast knuckle piece which is gone now.
Glad I dont have to replace it.
Bob
Bob, that is great news! Now that is something I could do! LOL Really don't worry if I ever take a shell off you will be contacted!
@mike g. posted:Jay that's looking great! I think I see a mountain drawn out in the corner also! I hope you will post more photos of your layout as you get them!
I had hoped that she would paint the wall for a backdrop; she has that level of talent. However, it was not to be. But we do have a mountain made of left over foam board from our construction project.
Attachments
Images (1)
@RSJB18 posted:I'm planning on using this chassis with different shells so I wanted to keep the board on the chassis. The shell is basically done, I just need to finish the harnesses. I put the speaker up under the cab roof and cut out the 2 rear windows to give the sound a place to go.
Thanks Pete.
Bob, since you plan on using the chassis with different body shells how did you fasten the speaker to the cab roof?
@Tranquil Hollow RR posted:I had hoped that she would paint the wall for a backdrop; she has that level of talent. However, it was not to be. But we do have a mountain made of left over foam board from our construction project.
Jay. ..." one thing about trains; it doesn't matter where they're going . What matters is....".aah...wait a minute.......how about................one thing about layouts ; it doesn't matter what you want to happen. What matters is that you are flexible and inventive enough to soldier on.
This started out as one of those low-end Lionel USRA 0-8-0's. After I had test-fit the new (actually old O-scale) zinc pilot. This whole project was a case of a $100 saddle on a $50 horse; it does run smoothly, though. It has been converted to an "emulation" of a 1940's Alabama, Tennessee and Northern Consolidation.
And now. The front truck under the new, extended pilot is old Lionel PW stock, modified. Dynamo and pops were re-arranged. I can't show you a photo of the real loco (not my photos), but they were small-drivered Lima Consols, with twin sand domes and box tenders with extended coal boards (I used styrene). The name on the tender? Prototypical. One of these locos was used on a WWI-era commuter train (using small-ish re-cycled Northeastern commuter cars, it seems) that ran from downtown/waterfront Mobile up to Gulf Shipbuilding, among other places. This seemed to be a humorous nickname that stuck. It ended after the war.
Modified cheapie MPC tender; Postwar trucks. Original headlight, re-positioned. Modified running boards. No sound, no command, no one left on base.
Very niche, very local; no one cares but me, but I had the loco and the parts and the photos of the real thing.
Attachments
D500, Nice work. My views on what I want to get out of the hobby have changed over the years. Tinker and make something close to what you want and have fun. No stress on what might be coming in the next catalog or the next big must have feature.
D500, that is some nice work.
@Dave_C posted:D500, Nice work. My views on what I want to get out of the hobby have changed over the years. Tinker and make something close to what you want and have fun. No stress on what might be coming in the next catalog or the next big must have feature.
Yeah, it keeps getting more whimsical.
My latest investigation involves getting a modern flywheel-equipped can motor (and rev unit!) under and into a 1920's (I guess) Ives NYC S-motor "model", with the original cast-iron frame. The patina will stay. Resto-mod idea - looks old, drives new.
Nope - the Williams truck (from a donor GP7) is too tall, no matter how I sneak up on it. OK, Ives back on the shelf - for now....
Attachments
While moving a lot of this and that over here and there most of the day I decided it was time for change. I dismantled the (Peter Riddle) layout. There was nothing wrong with it but I have some idea that starting over isn't too late! In fact very freeing to advance! Maybe something less traditional will develop. Spring may be a better time to start a new.
right now back to getting some space for the electrical modifications work. And a ton of shop vac mania!
btw, I kept the figure 8 table for a test track we all need one of those. lol.
Off the work bench and onto the layout. Jack, my Superintendent of Scenic Design, combined three Plasticville structures into this masterpiece. We printed out red bricks and used cement colored paint on the columns. I’m very fortunate to have his skills.
Jay
Attachments
Images (4)
@Tranquil Hollow RR posted:Off the work bench and onto the layout. Jack, my Superintendent of Scenic Design, combined three Plasticville structures into this masterpiece. We printed out red bricks and used cement colored paint on the columns. I’m very fortunate to have his skills.
Jay
This is one nice piece Jay. It is indeed a masterpiece that would be a real asset on any layout 
Guys....you know who you are....stay with talking about the topic of this thread. My mods deleted a bunch of chit chat. Do your chatting via email.
@coach joe posted:Bob, since you plan on using the chassis with different body shells how did you fasten the speaker to the cab roof?
Double-face tape.....
The back of the magnet hits the roof so a piece of tape does the job.
I use it to mount the boards too.
Bob
Attachments
Images (1)
Built up a couple of Team Track Models Schneider trailers to go with my Menards Schneider warehouse this week / evening in a hotel away for work. It was worth checking a bag so I could get something done at night!
Attachments
Been working on my project car. Still needs more body work and sanding. But it's coming along nicely.
@Jayhawk500 posted:Been working on my project car. Still needs more body work and sanding. But it's coming along nicely.
Chris impressive work! I am not sure what your building, but it is going to be huge! I can't wait to see the finished product!
@mike g. posted:Chris impressive work! I am not sure what your building, but it is going to be huge! I can't wait to see the finished product!
It's the Union Pacifics UPP 2066 Generator Car. I have a build thread going.
