Recent content by vanburen

ModelRailroadForums.com is a free Model Railroad Discussion Forum and photo gallery. We cover all scales and sizes of model railroads. Online since 2002, it's one of the oldest and largest model railroad forums on the web. Whether you're a master model railroader or just getting started, you'll find something of interest here.


  1. V

    HO Scale Vertical Staging Yard

    Well here it is in action! We are still in prototyping / test mode but the control and mechanics work so far! I need to get the lasers built and the track installed. Also some alignment adjustments but so far it looks like it’s going to work!! https://youtu.be/D-P2qOli6tE Sent from my...
  2. V

    HO Scale Vertical Staging Yard

    Progress continues. I have modified my mounting by cutting the eye bolts open so I can skip the S hooks, which gives a little more clearance at the top end. Likewise I moved the electrical cable that ran behind the elevator down lower and got an 18” of room for the counterweights and an extra...
  3. V

    HO Scale Vertical Staging Yard

    John, great ideas and questions. I went with your bricks - thanks! $20 at 3.4ibs per brick. The linear actuator has a position driven potentiometer. It appears repeatable. Hopefully within acceptable tolerance. Once I get it connected to the elevator I will know. The controller is...
  4. V

    HO Scale Vertical Staging Yard

    I will look for those. I spoke with a metal dealer who can cut bars of 1/2” steel that I could use. So I have one source at least Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
  5. V

    HO Scale Vertical Staging Yard

    While not painted fully, I got it mounted on the wall. It weighs ... 80 lbs empty. Slightly more than I had anticipated... Now I need to find 40 pound counterweights! The pipe clamps don’t cut it! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
  6. V

    HO Scale Vertical Staging Yard

    I’m going to use a linear actuator to move it and hopefully it will sit peacefully at each level without a solenoid to lock it. I am planning on counterweighting it to offset the weight which isn’t insignificant. The plus will be that each train shouldn’t make it move! Sent from my iPhone...
  7. V

    HO Scale Vertical Staging Yard

    Here is the completed carriage. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
  8. V

    HO Scale Vertical Staging Yard

    Made a lot of progress this weekend. The elevator carriage is complete! I drilled the ends of the floors for my laser detector beams - figured that it would be impossible once assembled. Added the shelves using spacer blocks. It’s overbuilt but was simple to assemble. Next step is the...
  9. V

    HO Scale Vertical Staging Yard

    Thanks Willie! Looking forward to breaking ground on this project! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
  10. V

    HO Scale Vertical Staging Yard

    Hello everyone! I wanted to share an upcoming project, solicit advice and share progress along the way. I am building an 8 foot long, 4 foot high staging elevator with about 10 tracks to store trains. It will be lifted by a dc linear actuator controlled by an Arduino. Riding on 8 foot long...
See more




Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a commision from some of the links and ads shown on this website (Learn More Here)

Back
Top