WHAT’S ON THE WORKBENCH AT THE MOMENT

@Darrell posted:

I got this Premier Climax from Trainz for a great price. I was really happy to get it as this is one of the few locomotives on my must have list! This is a 5 volt PS2 model and when it arrived it would not power up, bummer, but I was going to upgrade it anyway. So, on the self it went until MTH had stacker boards in stock. Fast forward a month and my stacker board arrived so on the workbench it went! The tender is very small but the stacker board did fit with a little trimming of the mounting bracket. I can now run this loco with DCS or DCC, I wish a bigger speaker would fit as the sounds are not all that loud but it's already tight in there!

Anyway, here is the test run with the extended start up and shutdown sounds, oh, and lots of smoke!

Shes beautiful! How did you configure the stacker board? Do you have a TIU and remote? I really want to upgrade my PS2 locomotive but I dont have a TIU or remote. Im not spending crazy money on eBay for one either as MTH some decade is releasing their new unit which I have on pre-order. Hoping these new units well let me/us program chips.

Unrelated, I have a Williams locomotive that I am toying with upgrading to TMCC. Ive been reading all these threads and I think ERR has everything I need to be successful.

Yes, I have a rev L TIU. Unfortunately my buttons only sometimes work on my remote, wore the poor thing out! I used to use ERR for upgrades, nothing really wrong with them. I have switched to DCC for my upgrades now , the sounds are way better and the control systems are available ( with hardware remotes no less). Once all my 45 loco's are converted to DCS PS3/DCC I will probably sell off my TMCC/Legacy systems. With PS3 you can run in DCC mode and have just one system to run the layout. Would have to keep the TIU on the workbench to load sound files and configure stacker boards, but can then run them on DCC on the layout. The DCS remote is not needed to configure stacker boards or load sound files. Those tasks are done with a computer anyway. If you want to upgrade a MTH loco with a stacker board, MTH can for a small fee program the board for you, then your upgrade is plug and play, ready to go!

The climax is great, Darrell!!  Your upgrade program makes good sense.

I decided to paint the interior parts of the MPC coach.......I seem to have found the rabbit hole that Alice fell down.......

I did a first coat last night and will post some proof of activity when appropriate.

EDIT.....PIX!

I gave the parts a second coat of paint when I got home this evening. I'm using Testors enamel. The floors are dark brown and the walls are a lighter brown. I'm going to paint the seats dark green. Been a long time since I used Testors paint. The smell brought me back to my youth building Revell hot rods...😀😀

Bob

Am I the only one working on trains at the moment??????

Making good progress on the Madison coach interior. I finished the painting last night. The first coat of green on the seats was too light so I mixed some black in for the second coat. Also painted the sinks silver. Added a few figures in the cargo side. I will do the passengers next.

Lot's of discussion about the scale size of figures. The standing figure was knee-capped to bring him down to size. Both types are BEEP figures but the standing one's are much larger than the seated people. The standing man will is positioned to be looking out the door and shouldn't be visible from the other side of the car where the seated people are.

Also built my first lighting regulator. I bought kits from @Rod Stewart a while back. It went together quickly, just 6 components to solder to the board. Once the warm white LED strips I ordered arrive, I can wrap this project up. (The other 2 boards were removed after assembly. Made it easier to handle while soldering).

Bob

Bob, the interior work looks great!  I put Rod's lighting kits and LEDs in all 11 of my passenger cars, and they are quite an improvement.

@RSJB18 posted:

Am I the only one working on trains at the moment??????

Making good progress on the Madison coach interior. I finished the painting last night. The first coat of green on the seats was too light so I mixed some black in for the second coat. Also painted the sinks silver. Added a few figures in the cargo side. I will do the passengers next.

Lot's of discussion about the scale size of figures. The standing figure was knee-capped to bring him down to size. Both types are BEEP figures but the standing one's are much larger than the seated people. The standing man will is positioned to be looking out the door and shouldn't be visible from the other side of the car where the seated people are.

Also built my first lighting regulator. I bought kits from @Rod Stewart a while back. It went together quickly, just 6 components to solder to the board. Once the warm white LED strips I ordered arrive, I can wrap this project up. (The other 2 boards were removed after assembly. Made it easier to handle while soldering).

Bob

Looks good Bob, I like your color choices. Will you be doing the same for the Doodlebug?

Gene

@Mark Boyce posted:

Bob, the interior work looks great!  I put Rod's lighting kits and LEDs in all 11 of my passenger cars, and they are quite an improvement.

@Genemed posted:

Looks good Bob, I like your color choices. Will you be doing the same for the Doodlebug?

Gene

Thanks Mark.

Gene- The doodlebug will only get the back wall painted as others have suggested. The seats will remain as is.

Bob

I’m in the process of detailing the boom car that’s paired with my DMIR X-7 Big Hooke.    The car is a wonderfully detailed metal Lionel flat car with a wood deck.   I found at a train show for $10. I have added side panels and appropriate grab irons. Had to build a new brake wheel mount and fuel tank.    This week I constructed some spreader bars, hooks, cables and various other items to fill the car. Plan to order some rivet decals to dress up the spreader bars before painting and weathering.     

The actual crane and boom car are currently owned by the Wisconsin Great Northern RR, Trego, WI. This is the RR organization that’s rebuilding the Mark Twain Zephyr.  The Zephyr should be operational in the coming year.

The Youtube video of the crane in operation inspired me to add the detail.   Check it out. Railroad Wrecking Crane, DMIR X7, Inside Tour & Lifting A Great Northern Ranch Car

https://www.bing.com/videos/ri...9CFA2C&FORM=VIRE

Cheers and Happy Easter, Dave

Nice work! The boom tender is perfect for that crane. I did a similar crane/tender set in Erie. Yours look much nicer…

Tom

Producing a short high hood for a MTH C-630. The engine will eventually be in N&W blue…

I need to tweak the vents and sand some more. Waiting for a set of five chime airhorns to arrive.

Wasn’t sure if these engines had Leslie or Nathan horns…but they were five chime…

Tom

@Krieglok posted:

Nice work! The boom tender is perfect for that crane. I did a similar crane/tender set in Erie. Yours look much nicer…

Tom

Thanks Tom.   Have any pictures of your tender?   Would like to see what you did as I have more space to fill.   Always looking for more ideas!!

Cheers, Dave

PS:  Nice job on the C-630 or might it be a C-628?  

I've previously posted on my search for replacement switch motors for my DZ1000 and DZ2500. Not bad switch motors, they just fully throw the points around 90% of the time. Well the other 10% usually cause a derailment in the most inconvenient places. For my new layout, I have used Tortoises but have a few spots where the Tortoises would interfere with the underlying yard track.

During my search I learned about an MP series of switch motors that operate like the Tortoises but have a low profile and they turn off after reaching their full motion. So far I am positive on these motors. And I am able to use the Touch Toggles from Berrett Hills (previously posted in these).

Just a couple of short videos showing operation. They throw slowly. Their throw is adjustable from 6 to 12 mm. Factory default is 6mm, but I think 9mm may be optimal to provide enough pressure on the points.

The motor is attached to a thin plywood base (purchased separately)  and that is attached to the plywood roadbed. Both have adjustable screws to enable fine tuning of placement.

@darlander posted:

Thanks Tom.   Have any pictures of your tender?   Would like to see what you did as I have more space to fill.   Always looking for more ideas!!

Cheers, Dave

PS:  Nice job on the C-630 or might it be a C-628?  

You’re welcome, Dave. Here is my wrecker set. It was modeled an actual Erie crane and tender that is preserved here in NJ…

The spreader bar is a cable type and some cribbing added. Your bin for the actual model control pins is a great idea!

As far as the engine, I am not 100% sure how they differed, but the N&W had both. The 628s went to the C&NW while the 630s stayed with the N&W through out their career…

Tom

I finished the MPC coach yesterday. Some minor touch-ups to do but I'm happy with the results.

The K-line window films didn't work out so I used some clear sheet I had left over from a building kit. I did use a couple of them on the single windows.

The lighting looks good, the spill out into the vestibules was an added bonus.

Bob

@ScoutingDad posted:

I've previously posted on my search for replacement switch motors for my DZ1000 and DZ2500. Not bad switch motors, they just fully throw the points around 90% of the time. Well the other 10% usually cause a derailment in the most inconvenient places. For my new layout, I have used Tortoises but have a few spots where the Tortoises would interfere with the underlying yard track.

During my search I learned about an MP series of switch motors that operate like the Tortoises but have a low profile and they turn off after reaching their full motion. So far I am positive on these motors. And I am able to use the Touch Toggles from Berrett Hills (previously posted in these).

Just a couple of short videos showing operation. They throw slowly. Their throw is adjustable from 6 to 12 mm. Factory default is 6mm, but I think 9mm may be optimal to provide enough pressure on the points.

The motor is attached to a thin plywood base (purchased separately)  and that is attached to the plywood roadbed. Both have adjustable screws to enable fine tuning of placement.

Those motors look nice Jeff. How high are they? Looks like they have dry contacts for signals etc too?

Bob

Bob, the interior of the car looks great!

Jeff, the motors do look nice!  Nice movement of the switch points.  I have noticed the same thing as you with the DZ1000s that they are not as consistent as I would like.  On the other hand, all of my derailments have been because of user error! 🤦‍♂️

@Krieglok posted:

As far as the engine, I am not 100% sure how they differed, but the N&W had both. The 628s went to the C&NW while the 630s stayed with the N&W through out their career…

Tom

Tom, ALCO C-630 produced more horsepower and had greater tractive power over the C-628.     As I understand it, this required modification to the blower system. The C-630s had a reconfigured venting system on the hood bulge south of the cab. The Union Pacific sold 10 of their C-630 to the DM&IRR in the 70s as they experienced a power shortage due to EMD back logs on new power. I was able to find an MTH UP C-628 and did a little modification to turn it into a C-630.   Your engine is a C-628.  No problem since N&W had both.  Nice job on the modification.     I was determined to convert my find to a C-630.  

Before:

After:

You can check out my modification if you want more of the story:

https://ogrforum.com/...5#147690501401785585 6/23/20 8:43 PM

Cheers, Dave

Thanks Dave.

The intake grills are very obvious once you pointed the out. I will use your article as a guide to do the mods on my C-628. The larger intakes really add to the look of the engine. Thanks again!

Tom

@RSJB18 posted:

I finished the MPC coach yesterday. Some minor touch-ups to do but I'm happy with the results.

The K-line window films didn't work out so I used some clear sheet I had left over from a building kit. I did use a couple of them on the single windows.

The lighting looks good, the spill out into the vestibules was an added bonus.

Bob

That turned out very nice Bob. That’s going to look cool doodling behind your doodlebug.

Jay