What is your current project in S?

My current S scale project: Continuing to refine the art of procrastination.



Andre

quote:

Originally posted by laming:
My current S scale project: Continuing to refine the art of procrastination.



Andre

Andre! How's the KC lines West Bottoms (IIRC) layout comming? I think you had a thread going about a year ago with some nice looking stuff, especially some of the switch engines.

I've got two Smoky Mountain Model Works kits sitting on the glacier being poked at, the B&O wagon top boxcar and ACL watermelon car. Both are about 75% done, just waiting for the spirit to move me.

Also lots of plans, little action.

Rusty

[QUOTE]Originally posted by CSX Troy:
.......what others are doing lately in S.......


I've been "working" on a new layout featuring SHS flex track and hand built turnouts in the style of Tom Stoltz'. I have 99% of the track down and continue to trouble shoot the trackwork. So far, so good. Right now, I'm on a short trip with my wife and when I get home, I'll post some photos. The layout features three separate but connected routes going over and under each other, plus a street car route through the town (which remains to be constructed). Each route is electrically separate from the others, but all can be powered by one power source if I wish. I have both AC and DC capabilities, but will NOT ever go over to TMCC, Legacy, or any other high tech "sparky stuff". I prefer to Keep It Simple, and not spend money needlessly on such things.

Some of the layout can be seen in the thread concerning the U33C's where I posted photos of my Great Northern.

Most of my trains are either American Models (GREAT runners), or Flyonel (which on the whole perform well too). I also run classic Gilbert things, but prefer to display them, although everything is ready to run at any time.

Jerry

Re-building the layout to include more cardstock structures and to allow for a little switching

Right now, a small decal project and that's about it. Mostly though contemplating tearing down the layout or deciding to redo. That's been going on for two years with no activity either way. Also thinking about the best way to sell a bunch of stuff.

Mostly thinking and not much action. We do want to sell our house and downsize but not sure when that will happen. I do like Brady's approach which would simplify everything. But then again I would have to tear down the layout and sell stuff. Back to inactivity.

Still plugging away on my AF 302 "scale" conversion.

The tender's almost done. I've got the loco tuned to have a starting voltage of 3V DC, runs really quiet since I disconnected the "choo choo" feature, the announcement from LBR regarding the new pilot truck will help, then on to the boiler....

Mark in Oregon

Caldwell,

 

These can keep you busy, and they're inexpensive

 

http://www.clevermodels.net/

 

 

Brady

Hi CSX Troy:

Thanks for your interest in my West Bottoms layout!  I haven't furthered it much since the last pictures were posted.

 

I'm currently rethinking everything as I look toward retirement.  There MAY (outside chance) be a dedicated out-building in my future for my trains.  I sort-of-kind-of thought about simply going back to 3 rail traditional for such a building. (3 rail has good "plop n' play" track sytems, low hassle factors, lots of cheap traditional-sized stuff available on the resale market, etc, etc.)  I intended to stay with an urban setting.  I would continue tinkering with my S scale on this small layout I have here in this room (that you saw pics of) and have a lower hassle factor traditional 3 rail layout out in The Building.

 

HOWEVER...

 

I'm now beginning to consider the idea of putting S scale into such a building IF said building comes to pass.  I would then simply use my modest traditional 3 rail collection around the Christmas tree each year.

 

This would mean no "eggs in different baskets". (i.e. My available funds would not be split between purchasing 3 rail and S scale.)  I could have a better end result if I stay focused on my chosen scale: S.

 

Plus, I would get about 30% more railroad in the same space with S scale!

 

Andre

 

 

Currently dismantling some SHS F7's to add proper details like dynamic brakes, nose and roof grabs, dual headlight nose doors and other correct details plus new speakers for sound and paint for the Union Pacific.  These are really amazing locomotives once you get into them. The routing for the headlights, marker lights and number board light tubes is an engineering marvel. All the wiring has mini-plugs so no cutting. A really well designed and thought out model. Kudos to SHS.

 

Andre......you know you want to stay in "S".    Save the 3R for the Christmas tree. I've got an MTH #1 train that comes out every year but "S" scale is the only size for operating a layout. 

 

Butch

Butch, are you fabricating most of those parts or are you buying them somewhere?

Troy,

 

I bought almost all of the extra details from S Helper Service.  They have tons of extra parts for sale that are not advertised. If you every break anything on one of their locos chances are they have the replacement parts in stock. The only thing I didn't buy from them will be the eyebrow and side nose grabs that I'll either form or buy elsewhere.

 

Butch

 

Well Butch, I'm sometimes a bit dense, but yes, I'm coming back to that realization again.  Just glad I'm seeing that NOW instead of AFTER I had a closet full of 3 rail traditional trains again!

 

And, right you are, there is NO better size for an operating model railroad!!

 

Andre 

Welcome back Andre, welcome back.  S Scale is a lot like the Hotel California...

 

"You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave!"

 

Rusty

Welcome to the Hotel California... such a lovely place... such a...

 

Ah, I digress.

 

Thanks Rusty... but technically I wasn't leaving.

 

Actually, I intended all along to continue with my current S scale layout here in this small room... and use traditional 3 rail IF an out building was in the cards.  Reason: Simpler. 

 

However, now the decision is to fill any future building with S scale trains.  I can then either dismantle the current layout and reclaim the entire room, or, salvage any S track in place for re-use on the bigger layout, and put 3 rail on this bench work.  Frankly, though, I like the idea of reclaiming the room so it's not so "cramped" feeling.

 

Christmas trains will suffice for my 3 rail interest.

 

Andre

I have been adding an interior on each floor an redone the first floor door and windows.  Just added this fire escape

I am on the planning and preparation phase in my basement. We are about to finish off about 500 sq ft of virgin train room not the biggest in the world, but I have literally waited my whole life to have this opportunity. Then the layout build will start. I almost gave up on S in favor of HO. Those MTH HO steamers with smoke and sound are really nice and on paper make more sense. However, a funny thing happened... Everytime I went to try to sell some of my S I just couldn't do it. HO just doesn't have the same feeling that S does. I can't explain it, but I have decided to stay with S for the new layout.

Adding a 6.75" turntable to my S scale micro layout:

 

 

Nice turntable pit! Keep the pics coming please. I will need to learn how do build 2 of these sooner or later.

Mine is to set up an oval of track and get the C&NW 4-6-2 and a couple of old cars to running.  The loco - the only "S" I have ever had, was fresly overhauled when I bought it about a yr ago.  I have an AF transformer.  There is no room on the 3-rail pike for this, so the board will have to hide under the bed in the spare bedroom.  This seems simple enuf, but are there any potential glitches to look for?  Will get to this asap, amidst all the other projects to deal with before the cancer advances enuf to sideline evrythin'.  Thanks 4 any tips you may have.

I'll try to insert or attach a couple of photos of my new layout.  Remember, though, it's WAY in the process.  Tools, materials, wires, etc. all over the place.  The trains on the tracks are for testing purposes, but hey, it's fun running them!  Ive been tweaking the turnouts I made, and so far, they all work great. 

 

 

The room is my basement train room where I have not only trains, but 1:64 cars on display.  The cars began as items for the layout, but as most things, they got out of hand and now are a separate (but sometimes related) collection!

 

BTW, the Great Northern U33C is pulling every AF or Lionel car made in GN livery.  The loco has NO problem whatsoever pulling them. 

 

Jerry

How many cars is that Jerry?

Rich,

I only have 13 cars behind the loco, but there are two other cabooses that aren't in the consist.  I may be wrong on the exact number of cars that were made in GN livery, but I'm close.  The only one I know that I don't have is the harder to find (too expensive for me) 24047 GN boxcar.  Some day, I'll put more behind the loco to see how much it will pull, but the layout comes first at this point.  It handles the cars as if nothing's behind it.  I'm using a Gilbert 30B transformer.

Right now, I'm wiring it using a below track bus to insure even power all over the layout.  I only have one route done, and three more to go!  It's kind of fun, but not as satisfying as laying the track.  You can see the track, but not the wires.  Once the wiring is done, then comes scenery, buildings and roads......   But right now, I'm starting to have more fun running trains in "test" mode.  ;>

Jerry