The Atlantic and Southern Build Thread Continued, Part 2

[ACL1504]

Looks great but I have a question - You said you added brass wire between the rails as a rail stabilizer.  Are these electrically isolated or are the rails not hot?   

My thoughts also.......looks like a short circuit to me

Jim

Jim,

Well, yes and no on the short circuit issue. Follow me later this morning.

Tom

[ACL1504]

Very nice indeed!

Jerry

Jerry,

Thank you, much appreciated.

Tom

[ACL1504]

Tom: For all the projects you've done, do you "just know" what and how to do them, is it experiences from previous layouts, or do you research/collaborate with others?

I'm always blown away by how you engineer a project, the relatively rapid time you complete it in, and the fidelity and workmanship displayed. If it's contagious, I need to detour your way my next time down to visit Mom and breathe the air around you.

Larry.

Larry,

Good to see you my friend. Hope all is well.

Actually my head is full of stuff all the time. It is quite annoying at times as I think of a project I want to do/start but have others already on the burner.

When I actually start a project, I do have some ideas as to what I want it to look like when finished. More often than not, it will be changed from my original idea. I don't do any research but try to draw on memory of my past layouts and other layouts visited. I learn from my mistakes and those of others as to what looks good and what doesn't.

As far as this ash pit is concerned, I did the same thing on my last layout. However, it was much easier then. I used 3/8" plywood with 1/2" Homosote glued and screwed to the plywood. All I needed to do was cut out the Homosote for the ash pit.

Some projects go faster than others but for me PATIENCE while building is the key to a great looking project when finished.

Not sure it is contagious, but you are certainly welcome to "come on down". I just need a day or two notice.

Thank you for the extremely kind and generous compliment on the work and layout. I very much appreciate the support.

Tom

[ACL1504]

Tom,

As usual in your journey, an impressive feature for the railroad. But, as others have pointed out, styrene rod might have been a better choice to keep the rails in gage.

Bob

Bob,

Thanks for checking in and for the compliment, much appreciated. The issue of the brass on the rails will be addressed withing the hour.

Tom

[ACL1504]

I hope ya'll gave me a little more credit in knowing I just can't place a brass rod between the rails. Then again, maybe not.


I knew there would definitely be an electrical short if they were placed directly against the rails. I did experiment by painting two coats of paint on the rail and just lay the brass on the base rail, no solder, just ACC.

I then did a conductivity test and two of the tracks showed no short but the third one did. Rather than chance this happening once all was weathered and ballasted, I made the change then. I was going to post this change after the last posting but didn't get the chance. Then ya'll saw what I did with no explanation from me and got all freaky.

Here is what I did. I removed the brass wire and super glued them to the under side edge of the top portion of the plastic I-beam. No metal to metal contact as shown below.





More in a few.

[ACL1504]

The change is not really noticeable and now no worries about the movement of the brass or arching through the paint.





I'll have more updates tomorrow afternoon.

[PRR Modeler]

I don't think anyone is doubting your intelligence or your awesome modeling ability. I think it was a matter of the photo perspective that made it look wrong.

[tct855]

Curt,
Please don't make excuses for him.  In his geriatric state, he's making 1st-year modeler's mistakes with sticking brass rods between hot rails.  I learned that at 15 when I built my first ash pit, but of course with DC I shorted out the whole track past the switch.

Heck, he even said he had a short on one of the tracks.  Naw, no excuses Lanford I say!  I personally would never say any of the aforementioned out loud (course one can't hear print). ha.  Nice job on the whole tutorial of your AS ash pit using your dad's ashes...from the fireplace.   Keep hammering away brother, who knows, you might actually hit a nail. KP-out...

[deemery]

Just out of curiosity, why didn't you use styrene rod instead of brass rod?


dave

[Bruce Oberleitner]

Speak for yourself Langford.....Pegi says I'm boringly normal.....most of the time. 

Like Abby Normal?   [size=78%]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inqdiNVzQcc[/size]


dave

I always thought that they did a great job of lighting my face in that scene.

[ACL1504]

I don't think anyone is doubting your intelligence or your awesome modeling ability. I think it was a matter of the photo perspective that made it look wrong.

Curt,

Thanks for stopping by. I wasn't offended by the comments. It was my lame attempt at dry humor. It's all good my friend.

Tom

[ACL1504]

Curt,
Please don't make excuses for him.  In his geriatric state, he's making 1st-year modeler's mistakes with sticking brass rods between hot rails.  I learned that at 15 when I built my first ash pit, but of course with DC I shorted out the whole track past the switch.

Heck, he even said he had a short on one of the tracks.  Naw, no excuses Lanford I say!  I personally would never say any of the aforementioned out loud (course one can't hear print). ha.  Nice job on the whole tutorial of your AS ash pit using your dad's ashes...from the fireplace.   Keep hammering away brother, who knows, you might actually hit a nail. KP-out...

Thom,

Thanks brother from another mother. I'd say something pithy to you but it would be like looking in the mirror and talking to myself.

Tom

[ACL1504]

Just out of curiosity, why didn't you use styrene rod instead of brass rod?


dave

Dave,

When I went to the local Hobby shop for the plastic rods, all the small sizes were out. The smallest ones they had were 1/8". I didn't want to wait a month for them to get more so I used the material on hand.

The brass ones almost worked. Well, 66 2/3 percent anyway.

Tom

[ACL1504]

Speak for yourself Langford.....Pegi says I'm boringly normal.....most of the time. 

Like Abby Normal?   [size=78%]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inqdiNVzQcc[/size]


dave

I always thought that they did a great job of lighting my face in that scene.

Cousin Brucie,

A remarkable resemblance for sure.

Tom

[ACL1504]

Last Friday I finished getting the track from the turntable to the roundhouse. I have more track to add to this area and will get to it later.



Yesterday, The Judge and I laid the reverse track around the back of the round house. Here The Judge is helping test the smoothness of the track and turnouts.



More in a few.