The Atlantic and Southern Build, Part 1

[ACL1504]

Glad to see that you braced it well so when that DeMayo guy comes over and leans against it!! 

Gman,

Yes, you are correct. One day after I was finished with a section of the ovalix, DeMayo came over grabbed hold of the ovalix and started pulling and pushing.

I said, "What the He-- are you doing?" He said, "Checking to see how sturdy it is." I said, "This is HO scale and will hold, it may not hold a force 5 pushing and pulling"

We both had a good laugh over that incident. I'll also say, he hasn't tried it since. Something about a 9mm.

Tom

[ACL1504]

For several years now I've been saying I was going to build a section of track to check couple height and ease of uncoupling. Well, the Judge and I finally did just that.

He bought a great piece of 1x4 oak from Lumber Liquidators. The piece was three feet long and a perfect fit for a section of cork and ME Code 83 track.



I used Code 83 ME flex track and inserted a section of Atlas Code 83 rerailer off to one side of center. I also installed a Kadee Code 83 uncoupling magnet to the longest portion of the track. I then glued a Kadee uncoupling height jig to each end.





Today we used the jig to set 50 freight cars to the correct coupler height and gladhands on the coupler to the track magnet. It took us about 6 hours to correctly set the cars. The jig will also allow me to use two 50' freight cars or two heavyweight passenger cars.

Some of the things we did were to replace all wheel sets with Intermountain 33" non-magnetic wheels. We adjusted 85% of the couplers to the correct height and replaced all the McHenry couplers with Kadee scale #158 "scale" metal whisker couplers, medium centerset shank couplers. After each car was fixed, we marked the bottom of each car with a silver dot or dash. This allows us to know which cars have been given the treatment. We used a silver inked Sharpie for the marking.

We removed 6 cars from the service that I deemed not worth the investment of updating. These cars had broken stirups, unfixable ladders, etc.

This is one area where most modelers fail to consider when attempting to get the trains runnning smoothly.

I've found Intermountain wheel sets to be superior to Kadee sets as the drag is much less.  Just my humble opinion of course.

[deemery]

Add power feed, and this will double as a DCC Programming Track...


dave

[ACL1504]

Add power feed, and this will double as a DCC Programming Track...


dave

Dave,

Yes, it would, great tip.  I do; however, have a programming track on the layout. Thanks for checking in.

Tom

[deemery]

(Locomotives are not immune from the dreaded "coupler droop")


dave

[gnatshop]

Sounds like the Judge issued a good sentence on most of your rolling stock!!

[ACL1504]

(Locomotives are not immune from the dreaded "coupler droop")


dave

Dave,

You are correct, the locos are on the schedule. I've already had to replace some of the gear sets on the older Walthers E Units.

Tom

[ACL1504]

Sounds like the Judge issued a good sentence on most of your rolling stock!!

Gman,

Yes, he did. I wouldn't let him give any light sentences to the offenders. We did release a few cars on parole.

Tom

[Zephyrus52246]

Cool idea on the coupler jig.  I may have to do something like that. 


Jeff

[GPdemayo]

Glad to see that you braced it well so when that DeMayo guy comes over and leans against it!! 

Gman,

Yes, you are correct. One day after I was finished with a section of the ovalix, DeMayo came over grabbed hold of the ovalix and started pulling and pushing.

I said, "What the He-- are you doing?" He said, "Checking to see how sturdy it is." I said, "This is HO scale and will hold, it may not hold a force 5 pushing and pulling"

We both had a good laugh over that incident. I'll also say, he hasn't tried it since. Something about a 9mm.

Tom

It's called quality control.....somebody has to check the structural integrity of the construction or Tom will get another red tag from our favorite building inspector.


I'll see you're 9mm and raise you with a 50 caliber. I really need one when I drive down I-4! 

[deemery]

Glad to see that you braced it well so when that DeMayo guy comes over and leans against it!! 

Gman,

Yes, you are correct. One day after I was finished with a section of the ovalix, DeMayo came over grabbed hold of the ovalix and started pulling and pushing.

I said, "What the He-- are you doing?" He said, "Checking to see how sturdy it is." I said, "This is HO scale and will hold, it may not hold a force 5 pushing and pulling"

We both had a good laugh over that incident. I'll also say, he hasn't tried it since. Something about a 9mm.

Tom

It's called quality control.....somebody has to check the structural integrity of the construction or Tom will get another red tag from our favorite building inspector.


I'll see you're 9mm and raise you with a 50 caliber. I really need one when I drive down I-4! 

Ah, children playing with guns.  Here's mine (M198 howitzer, NH ARNG had 3 Battalions, each of 18 guns, when I was there.)



dave

[GPdemayo]

Glad to see that you braced it well so when that DeMayo guy comes over and leans against it!! 

Gman,

Yes, you are correct. One day after I was finished with a section of the ovalix, DeMayo came over grabbed hold of the ovalix and started pulling and pushing.

I said, "What the He-- are you doing?" He said, "Checking to see how sturdy it is." I said, "This is HO scale and will hold, it may not hold a force 5 pushing and pulling"

We both had a good laugh over that incident. I'll also say, he hasn't tried it since. Something about a 9mm.

Tom

It's called quality control.....somebody has to check the structural integrity of the construction or Tom will get another red tag from our favorite building inspector.


I'll see you're 9mm and raise you with a 50 caliber. I really need one when I drive down I-4! 

Ah, children playing with guns.  Here's mine (M198 howitzer, NH ARNG had 3 Battalions, each of 18 guns, when I was there.)



dave

Now that's a gun!!! Can I get one of those to mount on my Jeep for the ride down I-4? 

[ACL1504]

Cool idea on the coupler jig.  I may have to do something like that. 


Jeff

Jeff,

I've been meaning to do this for several years. It will be much easier for me to get all the cars to one standard and cars new to the layout by using the jig. A little time consuming to get all the cars calibrated for the layout but the payoff in the long run will be well worth the effort.

Thanks Doc for stopping by.

Tom

[ACL1504]

Glad to see that you braced it well so when that DeMayo guy comes over and leans against it!! 

Gman,

Yes, you are correct. One day after I was finished with a section of the ovalix, DeMayo came over grabbed hold of the ovalix and started pulling and pushing.

I said, "What the He-- are you doing?" He said, "Checking to see how sturdy it is." I said, "This is HO scale and will hold, it may not hold a force 5 pushing and pulling"

We both had a good laugh over that incident. I'll also say, he hasn't tried it since. Something about a 9mm.

Tom

It's called quality control.....somebody has to check the structural integrity of the construction or Tom will get another red tag from our favorite building inspector.


I'll see you're 9mm and raise you with a 50 caliber. I really need one when I drive down I-4! 

Greg,

Again, I'm publicly giving you credit for the CAD design on the ovalix. Yes, I did build it; however, without your demensions and design it never would have been built to the superior standards I hold near and dear.

So, all kidding aside, the ovalix is one very strong structure. Thanks my friend.

Oh, by the way, Tom Wilson gave the red inspection report for the Judge's trackwork, not my ovalix! Just saying.

Tom

[ACL1504]

Dave,

Okay, your gun is bigger and better than mine. I give to you my friend. Wonderful piece of artillary.

Tom