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Amazing how little time I seem to now have after picking a retirement date and going on 3 months of vacation. Not sure where all the time is going. This project is quite literally what is on the workbench.  All the work, assembly and painting was done in my garage. Its only on the workbench to support it prior to hanging on the wall.  Finally a place to have trains out of boxes where my grand kids, visitors and family can see the rolling stock - me too BTW.

Not happy at all with the primer and the paint not sticking well to the primer coat. I think it will be quicker and easier to rebuild the entire thing than re-prime and re-paint. I'll hang this and live with it for a while before deciding on the next step.  Overall dimensions are 10 feet wide, 4 feet tall and 4 inches deep. Wood is decent 1x4 pine stock. Spacing between shelves is 5 1/2 inches.  I milled track grooves to allow the flanges to ride into the shelves.  80 linear feet of display - now to put rolling stock and engines up there.



Display Shelves

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  • Display Shelves
@ScoutingDad posted:

Amazing how little time I seem to now have after picking a retirement date and going on 3 months of vacation. Not sure where all the time is going. This project is quite literally what is on the workbench.  All the work, assembly and painting was done in my garage. Its only on the workbench to support it prior to hanging on the wall.  Finally a place to have trains out of boxes where my grand kids, visitors and family can see the rolling stock - me too BTW.

Not happy at all with the primer and the paint not sticking well to the primer coat. I think it will be quicker and easier to rebuild the entire thing than re-prime and re-paint. I'll hang this and live with it for a while before deciding on the next step.  Overall dimensions are 10 feet wide, 4 feet tall and 4 inches deep. Wood is decent 1x4 pine stock. Spacing between shelves is 5 1/2 inches.  I milled track grooves to allow the flanges to ride into the shelves.  80 linear feet of display - now to put rolling stock and engines up there.



Display Shelves

Is your disappointment in the paint b/c you can see the wood grain?

Also, do your vertical pieces coincide with your studs?

@Berkshire President  The supports are lined up with the studs so I will be fixing them into a solid base.

Regarding the paint. It is similar to trying to paint over an existing high gloss finish or putting oil base over water base. The coating looks great going on, but the surface tension is such that the paint pulls away from the surface leaving gaps in the coating. Second coat does the same thing. I think the water based coating was not compatible with the base. 

Looks ok on the photo but not so much close up. Really, with the shelves loaded with cars, only I would know its there.

I'm finally going to start building my pair of MTH ALCO S2's. I bought both on one of the last Cabin Fever MTH auctions. One engine is a complete dummy (NYC) and the other has most of it's parts, but no shell. The original plan was to build a powered unit and a dummy. As with most things, plans change and I'm now going to build both as powered engines.

I pulled the "more complete" unit out of the box last night to take a closer look at what I have/ need.
The haves- motors, wiring harnesses, lights, etc. I tested the motors and both work.

The needs- boards, speaker, new BCR, smoke unit (optional)

This engine is a PS2- 3V so at least I'm starting off on the right foot. I'm OK with keeping it PS2, especially since PS3 diesel kits are MIA. If I can find the boards, it should go together pretty quickly since all the wiring harnesses are there.

2023-06-14 21.03.172023-06-14 21.02.352023-06-14 21.02.47

This engine started life as a SOO, it has been sold to the Lehigh and New England

2023-06-14 21.15.19

As fate would have it, Beth at Public Delivery recently announced a L&NE custom RS3, which is on pre-order.....

The other engine is a New York Central. This one is just a frame and shell. I picked up a pair of motors from a forum member. Since this is a ground up build, I'll go with ERR Cruise M boards and add my own lighting.

2022-05-06 20.41.34

And now the adventure begins.....

Bob

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  • 2023-06-14 21.03.17
  • 2023-06-14 21.02.35
  • 2023-06-14 21.02.47
  • 2023-06-14 21.15.19
  • 2022-05-06 20.41.34
@RSJB18 posted:

I'm finally going to start building my pair of MTH ALCO S2's. I bought both on one of the last Cabin Fever MTH auctions. One engine is a complete dummy (NYC) and the other has most of it's parts, but no shell. The original plan was to build a powered unit and a dummy. As with most things, plans change and I'm now going to build both as powered engines.

I pulled the "more complete" unit out of the box last night to take a closer look at what I have/ need.
The haves- motors, wiring harnesses, lights, etc. I tested the motors and both work.

The needs- boards, speaker, new BCR, smoke unit (optional)

This engine is a PS2- 3V so at least I'm starting off on the right foot. I'm OK with keeping it PS2, especially since PS3 diesel kits are MIA. If I can find the boards, it should go together pretty quickly since all the wiring harnesses are there.

2023-06-14 21.03.172023-06-14 21.02.352023-06-14 21.02.47

This engine started life as a SOO, it has been sold to the Lehigh and New England



PS32 board with 3V connectors (currently available from MTH parts) would be an almost drop in replacement. You can load it with a PS3 sound file as well for updated sounds.



PS32

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  • PS32
Last edited by Lou1985
@Lou1985 posted:

PS32 board with 3V connectors (currently available from MTH parts) would be an almost drop in replacement. You can load it with a PS3 sound file as well for updated sounds.



PS32

Thanks Lou. I don't have a TIU, I use a remote commander. If these boards aren't programmed, I assume I will need to find a local shop/ train friend who can do it for me. Correct?

@RSJB18 posted:

I'm finally going to start building my pair of MTH ALCO S2's. I bought both on one of the last Cabin Fever MTH auctions. One engine is a complete dummy (NYC) and the other has most of it's parts, but no shell. The original plan was to build a powered unit and a dummy. As with most things, plans change and I'm now going to build both as powered engines.

2023-06-14 21.15.19

And now the adventure begins.....

Bob

Bob, I presume that the work will be done at the Pen Argyl Shop.  It's good to know that there are a few other L&NE fans out there!  I can't wait to see progress reports.

Bob, I presume that the work will be done at the Pen Argyl Shop.  It's good to know that there are a few other L&NE fans out there!  I can't wait to see progress reports.

As mentioned previously, this engine didn't arrive with a shell. I was looking for a suitable shell and thought the red dot in the L&NE logo would go well with the SOO chassis, and save having to repaint it. The reds are close enough for gov't work. Doing some research, the L&NE did own # 612 along with several other S2's.
Since I run north east roads, these will fit in just fine.

Thanks

For quite some time I wanted to make a chain link fence for my layout.

A few weeks ago I bought metal screen, and last week went to Hobby Lobby, bought a couple packs of 1/16" brass rods.

Cut the metal screen into 1 1/4" sections, cut the brass rods to length and height, soldered them together and painted grey. Wire tied the screen to the fence frame. Placed the fence around the motorcycle shop.





1) chainlink fence [4)

1) chainlink fence [3)

1) chainlink fence [6)

1) chainlink fence [7)

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  • 1) chainlink fence  (4)
  • 1) chainlink fence  (3)
  • 1) chainlink fence  (6)
  • 1) chainlink fence  (7)

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