Weekend Photo Fun 6/22/18 HONGZ

NKP 765 pulling the caboose train.

Cool effect the way the headlight blinds the camera for a few seconds.

I've been buying stuff like hotcakes.  Picked up this Aristo consolidation for almost nothing.  Debating whether to sell it for profit or renumber.  

I've been buying AML Reefers from RLD and I believe a move from MTH to 1:29 is eminent. The AML Reefers are so nice but my MTH struggles to pull them on any grade. I could add some weight or sell my two locos and buy a USAT. Pretty sure I'm gonna buy the USAT. 

Also got in a 4 car lot of these today. Thought they had metal wheels which they don't. Might swap them out for AML or Kadee trucks and couplers.  

I've got a set of 4 AML boxcars coming in for NW to sell. If I like them better, may move the aristos for some AMLs. 

   a really nice N scale layout !!!

          part 1        https://youtu.be/2J7eellGf6U

          part 2         https://youtu.be/9PEzuVs6wKg

In Part two we move from the main train room to the shelf around the basement. It goes through the office into the family room. An incredible long running main line with countless industries. Container terminals, paper mills, industrial sidings, ore facilities and fuel .gas

Track work on the left side.

Temporarily placed the flex track in place to get a nice picture in my mind. The track in the middle is still not nailed down yet.

Now I can draw out the gravel and dirt roads, get a better placement for the Rusty Stumps craftsman buildings I still need to build...

Wood plank grade crossings glued in place.

Awesome picture's and video's Pete and Brian!!!

Jacobpaul81 posted:

 

I've been buying AML Reefers from RLD and I believe a move from MTH to 1:29 is eminent. The AML Reefers are so nice but my MTH struggles to pull them on any grade. I could add some weight or sell my two locos and buy a USAT. Pretty sure I'm gonna buy the USAT. 

 

You should check out the MTH Challengers or Big Boys if you can somewhere. They out pull the Hudson by a big factor (x10?).

or the Triplex that pulls out tree stumps!

I believe that the MTH Hudson is in need of some serious weight or modification to help her out?

Whatever you do, make sure that your cars roll well or you'll be wearing out equipment struggling to yank them around your yard. I have been installing bearings in much of my other brands of equipment that did not roll well.

I always pull an assembled train by hand to gauge just how much power to assign to the consist. I even do that in O scale. I want to know just how hard the engines have to work.

I average less than 20 1/29 scale cars per engine in an average train depending on how well they roll, with 1/32 MTH cars you can do more. I've read posts about poor rolling AML trucks. The Accucraft 1/32 scale passenger cars have bearings and they roll super easy!

Engineer-Joe posted:

Jacobpaul81 posted:

 

I've been buying AML Reefers from RLD and I believe a move from MTH to 1:29 is eminent. The AML Reefers are so nice but my MTH struggles to pull them on any grade. I could add some weight or sell my two locos and buy a USAT. Pretty sure I'm gonna buy the USAT. 

 

You should check out the MTH Challengers or Big Boys if you can somewhere. They out pull the Hudson by a big factor (x10?).

or the Triplex that pulls out tree stumps!

I believe that the MTH Hudson is in need of some serious weight or modification to help her out?

Whatever you do, make sure that your cars roll well or you'll be wearing out equipment struggling to yank them around your yard. I have been installing bearings in much of my other brands of equipment that did not roll well.

Hey Joe, The AML cars roll well but they are heavy with metal trucks and wheels.  Ballbearings would probably improve but they are very heavy - which I like.  By comparison, the Aristo boxcars I got yesterday are featherweight. 

 Im ATSF only - have no real interest in other roads. Definitely where MTH went wrong with their models - picking road specific models with limited applicable scope.  

Yeah, Hudson is definitely light. The consolidation I just got weighs twice as much.   

I'm thinking I'm going to ru-letter/number the Consolidation for ATSF and get an LM-3S-G, Railpro Controller, and Battery.  Given the ever-rising cost of track, I can go aluminum and cut my costs significantly.  Micro-Engineering (which is made about 3 miles from my house) sells 16 x 6' aluminum code 250 rails for $58 and $52 for 25 ft of tie strips.  In stainless, that'd cost $500-600 for rail and still need tie strips.   That's weighing on me as my budget is not unlimited.  That'd free up more cash for other locos and LM-3S-G.

Reading T1 #2100 with Paragon 3 rolling thunder has the caboose train today. Turn up the speakers and enjoy.

          AWESOME  sounding

MY USA Trains Big Boy at the 2009 HAGRS in the Kansas City area..

The economy in using stainless comes from running with track power. You can run unlimited hours. The MTH boards have sound and smoke control all in one package with great consisting ability.

 I would have considered battery more if they lasted longer back when I looked. They have a limited lifespan and charge cycles. Couple that with the need for extra board sets for sound and wireless control. Battery power gets expensive. Lithium-ion batteries maybe getting better life cycles nowadays I don't know?

There were gel cells in use back when I looked and ni-cads were just coming into wide use. Not very good for their excessive weight vs. power and life. I can understand new users looking at them I just hope they look at the whole picture before diving in. For users that just want to run an engine with a few cars, batteries are the way to go. I want large consists that run as long as I wish and no extra costs of replacing stuff constantly.

 It seems like I have to replace my cordless drill sets every year or two as they just wear out.

           Scene at Mr. L.B. Achor's 7-1/2 inch gauge railroad...

          http://ibls.org/mediawiki/index.php?title=Bruce_Achor

Amtrak "toaster" 918 cruising along at 75 with 7 superliners. 

At this point, the only steam locomotive of any interest to me from USAT or MTH was the Hudson - which in both cases is a J1E, which is sorta similar to an ATSF 3450 class, but not a 3460 which is what both companies numbered them as.   I've seen documented problems with both engines and like anything in life, there's a risk in either purchase.   I'm not interested in Big Boys or Challengers of FEFs... to date, neither USAT or MTH has built a steam locomotive based on a common ATSF or USRA model.   The MTH locomotive is very light and lacks the power to pull a reasonably sized train (10 cars!) without weight added.  I'm sure USA's model is a better puller given the extra heft but at what cost?  If I can obtain a used USAT Hudson at what I consider a cheap price, I'll buy one and give it a shot.

Given the climbing costs of stainless track due to the lack of availability the cost to even begin a layout like Joe's is no longer possible.  While I have enjoyed watching Joe's layout and how MTH performs, I've come to the determination that track powered DCS isn't practical for me. There isn't that much track out there and what is costs a premium. 

By comparison, Aluminum is cheap, readily available, and not likely to go up much in price which allows someone like me to not have to over-factor track costs in achieving a large layout like Joe's.  It's also a lot easier to replace if something happens.  Did I mention, they make it a few minutes from my house?

I appreciate the concern over battery power.  It does have it's power and life limitations and long term,  there are replacement costs.  Of course, transformers go out, TIUs die, PS2 boards burn up, etc etc.   

Railpro looks like a solid solution for me for control.  $220 for a controller, $150 for a control / sound board, battery or track power. Given it's growing presence in HO and compatibility with DCC, it's likely to have some legs under it unlike other systems.   

The easiest thing you could do now is just add some weight to the MTH Hudson and see how she performs. You could just put something on top of the engine for a quick test. That wouldn't take much effort and you could get an idea of the optimum weight without much effort.

 If you do add weight I would make sure you lubricate everything well so that it handles the extra weight better. Some self-stick car tire weights, fishing sinkers, or whatever you can get to fit in the correct places. I have to imagine for a couple of dollars, she will perform better.

 I too had no interest in all the old era products that MTH made. I prefer modern diesels. Somehow I ended up buying every one of them? The company, relatives, and our grandsons all prefer steam. So it influences what I buy.

Engineer-Joe posted:

The easiest thing you could do now is just add some weight to the MTH Hudson and see how she performs. You could just put something on top of the engine for a quick test. That wouldn't take much effort and you could get an idea of the optimum weight without much effort.

 If you do add weight I would make sure you lubricate everything well so that it handles the extra weight better. Some self-stick car tire weights, fishing sinkers, or whatever you can get to fit in the correct places. I have to imagine for a couple of dollars, she will perform better.

 I too had no interest in all the old era products that MTH made. I prefer modern diesels. Somehow I ended up buying every one of them? The company, relatives, and our grandsons all prefer steam. So it influences what I buy.

Hey Joe, I've thought about it and I'll certainly try adding some weight.  The MTH Hudson is better looking (and more durable) than anything I've handled from aristocraft and priced far more affordably than older run Hudsons from USAT.  Metal gear, drivers, and add on parts makes it nicer than Aristo and  I could buy 2-3 MTH Hudsons for what one old USAT costs.  

I've got it well lubricated.  I'll try some weight - I assume towards the back end over traction tires.  Track power is still out long term.  Need to cut costs somewhere and stainless track is just not available.  I still want to try doing DCS  Explorer / Battery car. 

I'll keep hoping they will announce a Mikado or Baldwin Northern as the next steam engine (though given their track record, it'll be a FEF).  In all cases, they've got the 8 driver engine block.  

Wonder Twins activate LOL YouBetcha 

https://youtu.be/-PH_pBUj4gQ

https://youtu.be/1zH1m4TgW4g

Play nice guys...got some alerts so edited/deleted them...

Got in a set of 4 AML and a set of 4 Aristocraft 40' Boxcars over the weekend. 

Took a bunch of comparison shots.   Size wise they are identical and line up nicely with one another.

These are "new Roofwalks" Aristos and look close to AML.

AML went for the more detailed roof vs flat roof.  Given most run on the ground, the AML roof adds something while the Aristo seems simple. Both are accurate.

Both have good detailing underneath.  Aristo plastic trucks are better rollers than these older AML trucks. These aren't the same AML trucks found on the reefers. Those are better than the aristos.

Both ends are nicely detailed.  I personally like the AML better

The biggest visual difference I see is with the doors. I prefer the less toylike look of AML but the Aristo door is more functional. There's a reason 1 in 4 AML Boxcars has issues with doors flying open. 

In both cases the trucks are a bit of a let down.  I'd swap both for Kadees. I tried mounting the AML reefer trucks on both of them but they have a different design that would require modifications to mount. 

Nice boxcars Paul!!!

Chessie1971 posted:

Nice boxcars Paul!!!

Thanks!  I picked up the AMLs for cheap to flip - too modern a paint job for my taste.  I'm keeping the Aristos for now and would like to find a set of the  AMLs in Santa Fe.  The AML Santa Fe model has a 6 panel door which will add some additional detail differentiation. 

Jacobpaul81 posted:

Chessie1971 posted:

Nice boxcars Paul!!!

Thanks!  I picked up the AMLs for cheap to flip - too modern a paint job for my taste.  I'm keeping the Aristos for now and would like to find a set of the  AMLs in Santa Fe.  The AML Santa Fe model has a 6 panel door which will add some additional detail differentiation. 

Your welcome!! Cool!!!!!