Patching a patch job

During the N Scale convention held in Reno in June, Scaletrains sent out their PS-2 4785 3 bay covered hopper painted for Golden West Service and patched for Cotton Belt (SSW) to everyone who attended the manufacturers breakfast on Sunday morning.  What a nice surprise that was.  Because my wife also attended, we received two of these models with the same number so I wanted to re-number one of them.

I always like to start with a prototype photo and so looked through a bunch online.  The patches on these cars were done in several different ways.  I settled on this one although it is less weathered than the model.  While the stock Scaletrains model has a dark blue background with yellow characters, this one appears to have a black background with white characters.

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First thing to do was to remove the original patch.  I found that with a soaking of Microscale Micro Sol and gentle scraping with an Xacto blade, the original patch comes off fairly easily.

For the black background I used some of the wider stripes from a black stripe set I had.  None of the stripes were wide enough so I doubled the rows to get the width I needed.

This is the area with the black stripes applied.  The black stripe decals were applied in between bunt not over the panel seam to match the prototype photo.  These were then given an application of Micro Sol before the characters were started. 

This is how the model looked after the characters were applied.  As the weathering on these cars was identical, I added just a bit more to this one to make them seem different.  This was a fun project.  Most prototype patch jobs tend to be held to lower standards then original paint jobs so a few crooked decals or mismatched character fonts can be forgiven.  These are great models and I'm really happy to have them on my layout.

Changes for the Western Pacific staging yard

The west end Western Pacific staging yard had been in limited operation as being just a return loop since March.  I had replaced the wye control function of the non-operating DS64 with my own circuit but still could not use 3 of the 4 tracks.  Recently I built and installed the circuit to control the yard ladder.

With the new controls, the control panel also got some changes.  In the old scheme the track selected LEDs used a common return.  With this new scheme each LED is connected to its own track on both rails so additional connections were needed.  Removing the unused occupied LEDs freed up those connections in the control panel.

As I always run the trains in the same direction in the staging yard, I replaced the toggle switches which had controlled both the yard ladder and wye turnout with push buttons.  Then push buttons were added for independent control of the wye.  Those changes are pointed out in blue in the photo below.

So now this staging yard works the same way as the lower level staging yard but without the automatic function.

Removable coal loads for Micro-Trains hopper cars

Some time ago I added a unit coal train to the operation of my layout.  The SP trains would have been carrying Wyoming coal from Ogden, Utah to San Jose, California.  From there it would have gone out on locals to at least two cement quarries to be used it in their kilns. 

On this layout these trains run through without any interchange. It seemed unrealistic for them to run loaded in both directions so I wanted an easy way to remove these loads so they could be empty in the eastbound direction.  

The loads that come with the Micro-Trains hopper are good looking and fit snugly into the car and cannot be removed without picking up the car.  The loads weigh 10 grams, with the empty car weighing 18 grams so a lot of the weight is in the loads. On the bottom there are three rectangular bulges. 

First I wanted to make sure the empty cars would be not be too light and would run OK on the layout so I ran a train of 9 empty cars with several mechanical reefers on the back around the layout a few times and this seemed to work well.

I removed the center bulge with a coping saw then smoothed out the area with a sanding stick.  I originally thought those bulges might contain some metal weight but apparently it does not and the 10 grams is all plastic.  With one of the bulges removed, the load weighed in a 8 grams.

Using a sanding stick I sanded all of the outside edges until the load fit loose enough so that it fell out when the hopper car was turned upside down.  

Some 5/8 inch wide metal strip was cut into lengths.  The corners were rounded and the edges were filed smooth.

The metal strip was attached to the center area of the bottom of the load with E6000 adhesive and clamped until set.  The 2 grams lost with the removal of the center hump was made up with the addition of the metal strip and the load was back to its original weight of 10 grams.

Now with the help of a magnet, the loads easily be removed when the west bound coal train reaches the west end staging yard. 

The 2023 N Scale convention - Part 4

There was also a T-Trak layout at the 2023 N Scale convention.  Not nearly as big as ones I've heard about being at conventions in the east but was the first one of any size I've seen in person.

Below are some pictures of a few of the T-Trak modules showing what kind of scenery can be done in a small space.  Notice that the camera angle is more looking down.  That is because these modules are set on tables that are about 30 inches high.  These first two are single size which don't allow much length to include any turnouts.

This module appears to be a double sized which allows more length to include turnouts.

It was really great seeing 3 different modular layout standards side by side and to see the public interaction with each type of layout.  Here are some of my own observations.

FreemoN - Uses code 55 track which is what I use on my own home layout.  As the layout tends to be single track with multiple junctions and balloon tracks, not as many trains running so a viewer is likely to look more at the scenery and the scenery on this layout was realistic and very well done.  This layout type is great for serious modelers to run some realistic operations.  Also I believe these types of modules may be more easily integrated into a home layout.

T-Trak - The low height is great for viewing by children or for someone seated or in a wheelchair.  It's also a good way for children to get started in the hobby.  Uses Kato Unitrack which is also great for beginners. Someone could also use these modules as a home layout.  Uses double track as a standard so allows for more continuous operations during public display.  Personally, I don't like the low height but if used in a home layout could be set on shelves at any desired height. 

Ntrak - With 3 tracks and set at a 40 inch height this layout type can provide lots of action and seemed to draw the most attention from the visiting public.  Modules can get a bit harder to handle for older modelers but with some ingenuity this can be overcome.  Not as easy to be used in a home layout, I know this because years ago I tried it.

The 2023 N Scale convention - Part 3

 N Scale layouts at this convention included 3 Ntrak, a really large FreemoN, a T-Track, a Disneyland display, and a static vintage Lone Star layout.   As this was the first time I have ever seen a T-Trak layout of any size and the first really large FreemoN layout, I'm going to feature those here.

FreemoN:  I spent quite some time wandering around this layout late one evening enjoying the realistic scenery.  A few of the modules I recognized as being from the local group in the Bay Area but most of them came from other areas and were new to me.

The scene is from a module set that I recognized as being from the local group in the Bay Area.

I did not see all that many trains running on this layout but that could have been because it was after hours.  

Lots of the modules in this layout had some really well-done desert scenery.

This particular module of Afton Canyon I am sure I've seen in a magazine somewhere.  These are the same BLMA bridges as the one I have on my layout in the Palisade Canyon.

In the next post I'll show part of the T-Trak layout.

The 2023 N Scale convention - Part 2

This is the second installment in my posts about attending the recent N Scale convention in Reno, Nevada.  

Peninsula Ntrak was assigned a 26 ft x 38 ft space for our layout and we ended up using 26 ft x 32 ft.   7 Members of our group brought their modules to the convention plus we used our large club staging yard and 5 of the club's outside corners modules.  We also had several of our members there without modules and they provided extra help with setup, running, and tear down of the layout.

A couple months before the convention, one of our members who is really good with scenery took one of our 30 plus years old corner modules with it's original scenery home for a re-do.  Just before the convention she brought it over to my train room where we completed a few finishing touches.   A total of 6 different members contributed to this project.  Shown here are Julia Jackson and Paul Ingraham.

We displayed this refinished corner module for the first time in our layout at this convention. This photo provided by Mark St Clair.

The layout was setup and running by Thursday afternoon and ran through Saturday afternoon.  Peninsula Ntrak has the flexibility to run DC or DCC on any of the 3 basic Ntrak lines.  We ran this layout using DCC on the red and blue line and DC throttles on the yellow line.  I ran DCC with one train on Friday and another on Saturday.  This was my Saturday train passing through the staging yard on the red line.  It was one of many different trains run by club members and guest operators.  Photo by Mark St Clair.

On Saturday the show was open to the public from 9:00am to 3:30pm and drew a good crowd.   It was a bit of a rush to get everything taken down and packed up by 6:30pm for the convention banquet but we did it.

Next post I'll show something of some of the other layouts that were set up at the convention.

The 2023 N Scale convention - Part 1

Between June 15th and 18th I was able to attend the 2023 N Scale Enthusiast convention in Sparks, Nevada.  This was at the Nugget which is between Union Pacific's Sparks yard and Interstate 80.  In fact the casino extends under the highway. 

My wife and I had a room on the 28th floor with a great view of the yard.  Many attending the convention had a similar view.  It's a really interesting yard with a small intermodal operation going on nearest to the hotel and a number of rail served industries on the other side.  All of the through trains stopped here for crew changes and some manifests had cars to set out or pick up so there was always some action going on.   On my layout I call the western SP staging yard Sparks as it is the next western terminal beyond the west end of the layout.

The NSE conventions offer quite a few things and sometimes one has to pick and choose to fit as much in as possible.  Besides brings modules for a layout, I also had something in the contest room, a couple of items in the live auction, helped present a clinic, and went to the welcome reception on Wednesday, the Ice Cream Social on Friday, the Banquet on Saturday, and the Manufacturers Breakfast on Sunday.  Did not do any of the tours this time.

When attending a convention it's always fun to catch up with people who you've met at other events and for me at this convention there were many.   Doug Gary was just one such example.  He brought his set of Disneyland Ntrak modules from New Mexico as a stand alone layout.  I first met Doug 23 years ago when I was coordinating the Ntrak layout for the 2000 National Train show in San Jose.  Over the years he has returned to shows in San Jose several times as a vendor with his custom painting business.   It was great to see him and his work again.

Another event I attended on the first evening at this convention was an online modelers meet up hosted by George Johnsen.  I was able to meet several people who I have known or followed on various online venues.  One of them was Bob who I have known from his YouTube channel "DaBob's N Scale Man Cave."   Here's Bob as we were checking out the FreemoN layout.

As mentioned above I brought modules to the convention.  In fact, I towed the Peninsula Ntrak club trailer to the event.  It was the first time we've been able to put up a layout since before the pandemic.  Of course we were a bit out of practice with layout setup but everyone pulled together and we had a great layout.  There will be more about ours's and some of the other layouts in an upcoming post.

This shot was taken at the I-80 west bound rest area near Donner Summit on the way home.  This is at 7,200 foot elevation and it's the first time in many years that I've seen any snow on the ground in June.  We had a wet winter and has been a cool spring and summer so far.

To be continued ....

Scrap metal piles

The scrap yard industry I am building on my layout will need some piles of scrap metal as the source for loading rail cars.  The process I used to create a large pile of chopped up scrap steel is similar to how the gondola loads were made.   Because of how large this pile would be I started with a piece of 3/4 inch plywood cut to the desired shape and then shaped further with a belt sander to get what is shown in the photo below.

This wood block was then painted a flat black color which made it look a bit like a pile of coal.

The wood base does not work well with the liquid PlasticWeld so an initial layer of plastic pieces were attached to the wood block with Super Glue.  Additional layers were then added using the Plasticweld.

Once the layers of plastic scrap were finished, the entire pile was brushed with a watered down rail brown paint so it would soak down into the spaces.  If anything is left uncovered the black base of the wood block should make it not so noticeable.   Next the entire pile was given a light spray of rust colored paint.  Once that dried individual pieces of scrap were dry brushed in various dull colors, and the pile was given a coat of Dullcoat.  On this one I also added some weathering powers.

Here is another smaller scrap pile I made using clear plastic from a water bottle.  This was the one I had some trouble with the glue and paint sticking.

Scrap metal loads for the gondolas

One of the products my scrap industry ships by rail is carloads of metal scrap separated by type and grade.  Not having exactly what I wanted in my stash of cast resin loads, I decided to make my own. This load will be for steel scrap that has been chopped up.  I needed some thin plastic and is was suggested that I try plastic bottles as a source.  I tried that first and it looked good but I had trouble with both adhesives and paint sticking to it.  What I have had nice results with is the type of plastic from a food tray like the one shown below.

The load was built on a scrap of clear acrylic plastic cut to fit inside the gondolas.  I drilled a hole in the middle and glued in a cut off roofing nail so the load could be picked up with a magnet.  Gluing a thin piece of steel to the acrylic base would also.

The top surface of the acyrilic was painted flat black.  The black plastic tray material shown in the first photo was cut up into small pieces which were about 2 to 3 scale feet square. This material works well with Plastruct Plastic Weld.  In the photo the process is just started and can be built up to whatever depth is required.  Looking carefully in this photo part of the round head of the roofing nail can be seen.

After building up the scrap to the desired depth, I brushed on a heavy coat of rail brown that was somewhat diluted so it would run down into the small spaces.  After that dried I airbrushed a light coat of rust and after that dried, I dry brushed some lighter colors on some of the individual pieces.   The photo below shows the finished result.

As was envisioned, the load can be easily removed using a magnet without having to remove the car from the track.  In this photo it can be seen that much of the overall thickness of the load is made up from the thickness of the acyrilic base.  This load is about 3 scale feet thick.