Bonding with Grandson

[b&lmodules]

I was able to run my 30year old Bachmann HO train last week. It was doing a lot of clicking as it ran around the loop. It couldn’t go backwards and couldn’t pull any cars.
I found two cracked gears in the gearbox. After lubrication it runs much better but it will need some repair work.

I made a video for my grandson and the first thing he asked was "do you have any more track?"

I assured him i did but it shows how quickly he'd get bored with a fixed track plan so my modular train board seems to be right on target.
-B&L

I finally put in the new gears for my Bachmann engine and the clicking has stopped.
Here is where i found the replacement gears

Bachmann Gear (locomotive replacement) | eBay

1 Gear for Bachmann Locomotives. This gear center is designed to be a press fit and therefore is tight. Gear Information. I know it looks like injection molding but this is very high resolution 3D printing!

www.ebay.com

 

[b&lmodules]

The latest update.
1. Added a 2% grade up to a bridge. We'll glue chunks of foam and carve to look like rocks.
2. We'll be painting the plywood soon and sprinkling on grass and dirt.

But this week we'll glue up buildings printed on card stock. I alread cut and folded the pieces. Just one more to cut and fold.

 

[b&lmodules]

I may look funny, but i cut a 45 degree block and placed it in my mitre box and it gives me a good angle to solder the joiner to the rail.

I bought nickel silver rail joiners but decided not to solder them to the track yet. In stead, i used gorilla glue on the bottom to hold the joiner to the rail and to the black plastic ties. This worked well and the rubbery surface of the glue keeps the track from sliding apart.

I did have to remove and reposition a couple of the joiners and it was easy to use an exacto knife to clean off the gorilla glue and start over.
I can always solder the joiner to the rail at some point.

 

[b&lmodules]

My grandson was really excited when he saw the train board.

We ran the train and and assembled houses.

He started making a to do list...
1. Paint the surface green
2. Make the streets black
3. Add water under the bridge.

 

[b&lmodules]

We finally got the the plywood painted and a layer of fine turf put down. The attached picture shows our starting point for next week...a large loop.

I plan to show him how to add turnouts for inner loop and spurs.

We also made a few paper houses and some street/sidewalk modules to make it interesting.

Finally, i added weight and coal to the coal tenders so they don't jump the track when backed into a spur.

I think we're all set for next week.

 

[b&lmodules]

I also put together a number of track plans with options to help him understand how to create different layouts.

 

[b&lmodules]

I generated a blank so my grandson can color it as he chooses. Then we cut it out and glue it up.
If he enjoys it ill create more.