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The Lab! |
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06/27/10 |
This site was last updated 06/27/10
Welcome to the Lab, where ideas grow into creations!
The latest creations????
Road Slugs!
Not 1, not 2, but 3 of em!
Based on P2k (CSX & Chessie) and Front Range (MAW) platforms, these were all constructed pretty much simultaneously. I painted the MAW and CSX units. but the Chessie unit (built for Bill Carl) was painted by Scott Shaw. Something about that paint scheme just wont flow out of my airbrush! The CSX unit is the only one with a prototype, but the others look too cool to not have, even if they are "what if" models!
According to the latest info, the Article is sitting at RMC, awaiting publishing.
DCC installation for a Bachmann Spectrum “Baby Trainmaster” and other split frame models.
Article was just published in the June 09 issue of Railroad Model Craftsman!
Bachmann Thomas with DCC?
Really easy with the right decoder! He even has lights!
And on the chopping block we have,
A Trinity Industries 2 bay, 40 ft cement hopper!
Here's the prototype,
and the model, so far
More to come!
Odds & ends
64 car Maryland Midland freight at the GSMTS show 4/5/09
Gotta find some more of these, made by, believe it or not, Matchbox!!
Maryland Midland 305 takes shape!
New digs!
Special leg clamp upgrade proposal for FCSME modules.
As anyone familiar with the FCSME standards know, the legs are held on by a clamping mechanism consisting of 2 side braces, 2 bolts and a piece of 1x4 with holes to match the holes in the frame at the leg attachment points. These bolts are tightened by 2 wingnuts under the modules. After several shows, the Tim Taylor in us started bringing power tools to tighten the leg clamps with. Not a bad idea, but a few bruised fingers occurred. Also as needs arose, space on the inside of modules got cramped by scenery drops, switch machines, and additional bracing. So to keep fingers out of tight places, and also to help those who are getting a little older to be bending under the modules every few feet, I offer this solution.
It's just t-nuts, in place of wingnuts. Follow along, I'll show you how.
1st, Remove the existing leg clamp bolts .
You may notice my holes were square. Remember, "Louanne" was built with carriage bolts for a smoother appearance. Remove the inner plate.
Add a little wood glue to the plate, and firmly press the 5/16-18 t-nuts into place. Be careful not to get any glue in the threads!
Option 1: You may wish to do as I have done with all the other modules. Replace the Pine leg clamp plates with Poplar or Oak. Pine may be too soft to hold up to repeated clampings. (or so I have been told) Only time will tell so I left 1 module with Pine, the rest are Poplar.
Gently tap the t-nuts home, then wipe off the excess glue with a damp rag.
Reinstall the plate, making sure the t-nuts are facing the inside of the module, that way the force of being tightened will not try to drive them OUT of the plate.
Finally it should look like this. Fingers are safe now, lower backs too!!
