kz9's HO Scale Empire.....
- Thread starter kz9
- Start date
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Thanks for the input and pointers on the wieght. As for the trucks if I am understanding you correctly, I should tighten up one truck screw so it only moves circular, and have the other one loose?
Me moving along so quickly has kicked me in butt a few times. I had some bad radius turns, and had to rip up some track. Now just today I found out that the S turn I had on my mainline is going to need to be ripped up and smoothed out as much as possible.
My upper level is going to run a 24'' min radius so I can run my Challenger up there.
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Kellan, LOL, not necessarily, but I do miss at least the attempt to add some flowing lines to modern locomotives. The Dash 8's sheet metal was designed to have as few acute angles as possible and no curves at all. When the GP-7 was introduced, EMD's head stylist said he made it as ugly as possible, so it wouldn't cut into F unit sales. By today's standards, the early Geeps are almost works of art. 
Proper Car Weight and Balance
One of the things I took note of was the suggestions for proper car set up.
If I remember correctly it called for 1/2 oz of weight for each 1" of car length plus an additional 1/2 oz more. In other words if the car was 7 inches long if would need to weight 3-1/2 plus 1/2 for a total of 4 oz. (I believe this is the correct formula, but I've not done it in a long time and my memory is not what it use to be)
I found those tire balance weights to be great additions since most are divided up into 1/4 oz blocks, and have a good adhesive already attached.
Of course coupler height and correct flange dimensions are important. But there is another important consideration. The trucks at either end need to be adjusted differently. On one end you want the truck to rotate circularly, BUT you don't want it to allow the car to rocker side to side. On the other end you want to allow the truck more latitude to allow rotating and rocker. Its sort of a 3-point stance.
And finally, great layout work...you really move right along
And I wouldn't be too worried about a LOT of action in a small layout (dense), particularly on your first layout. I did a similar thing with my Central Midland layout HERE.
Later you might want larger radius than 22", especially if you ever take a liking for steam.
.....much more exciting than those 'boxes with diesels'
When I got into the hobby I picked up an old paper back 'how to' magazine that was titled "Tips" I believe. Can't find that copy now, but it offered a lot of interesting tips from years of old time modelers.I was hoping this was the case. All I need now is a scale and to find the specs for different cars.
Thanks for the help, now I wont get as frustrated when it happens.
One of the things I took note of was the suggestions for proper car set up.
If I remember correctly it called for 1/2 oz of weight for each 1" of car length plus an additional 1/2 oz more. In other words if the car was 7 inches long if would need to weight 3-1/2 plus 1/2 for a total of 4 oz. (I believe this is the correct formula, but I've not done it in a long time and my memory is not what it use to be)
I found those tire balance weights to be great additions since most are divided up into 1/4 oz blocks, and have a good adhesive already attached.
Of course coupler height and correct flange dimensions are important. But there is another important consideration. The trucks at either end need to be adjusted differently. On one end you want the truck to rotate circularly, BUT you don't want it to allow the car to rocker side to side. On the other end you want to allow the truck more latitude to allow rotating and rocker. Its sort of a 3-point stance.
And finally, great layout work...you really move right along
And I wouldn't be too worried about a LOT of action in a small layout (dense), particularly on your first layout. I did a similar thing with my Central Midland layout HERE.
Later you might want larger radius than 22", especially if you ever take a liking for steam.
.....much more exciting than those 'boxes with diesels'
Last edited by a moderator:
Of course coupler height and correct flange dimensions are important. But there is another important consideration. The trucks at either end need to be adjusted differently. On one end you want the truck to rotate circularly, BUT you don't want it to allow the car to rocker side to side. On the other end you want to allow the truck more latitude to allow rotating and rocker. Its sort of a 3-point stance.
And finally, great layout work...you really move right along
And I wouldn't be too worried about a LOT of action in a small layout (dense), particularly on your first layout. I did a similar thing with my Central Midland layout HERE.
Later you might want larger radius than 22", especially if you ever take a liking for steam.
.....much more exciting than those 'boxes with diesels'
Thanks for the input and pointers on the wieght. As for the trucks if I am understanding you correctly, I should tighten up one truck screw so it only moves circular, and have the other one loose?
Me moving along so quickly has kicked me in butt a few times. I had some bad radius turns, and had to rip up some track. Now just today I found out that the S turn I had on my mainline is going to need to be ripped up and smoothed out as much as possible.
My upper level is going to run a 24'' min radius so I can run my Challenger up there.
BNSF_Denali_Sub
BNSF SD70MAC's
ahhh the wonders of what Flex Track can do for you, look at that nice flowing curve
ChevelleSSguy
Member
That doesnt appear to be a very difficult repair though.
Ok so I have been waiting on detail parts for soem loco projects and working on the rest of the lower level plan.
Changed to orginal idea for this and moved the blast/blower up to the 2nd level to make room below for a nice yard, coke oven, hulet and dock.
Heres a quick picture. This was my first go at XtrkCAD and I am getting better as I keep playing around.
Yes I know there is a turnout that doesn't line up, but it will once I build......
Purple is the East main to helix
Green is lower Main and it does elevate over the blue track that goes to the 2nd level, and also the right side will go back to the helix aswell.....
Changed to orginal idea for this and moved the blast/blower up to the 2nd level to make room below for a nice yard, coke oven, hulet and dock.
Heres a quick picture. This was my first go at XtrkCAD and I am getting better as I keep playing around.
Yes I know there is a turnout that doesn't line up, but it will once I build......
Purple is the East main to helix
Green is lower Main and it does elevate over the blue track that goes to the 2nd level, and also the right side will go back to the helix aswell.....
Littlefoot14
Active Member
Kellan, did you ever get that locomotive? I sent it over 2 weeks ago, so it should have been there by now.
Littlefoot14
Active Member
Nope no PM 
Glad to hear its working again. Enjoy.
Glad to hear its working again. Enjoy.
Most of the track plan looks fine, although overly busy - but that's just my scenery vs track bias, nothing wrong with what you've done. I'm usually a proponent of crossovers, but the number of crossovers on the left side of the layout seems excessive, with very little reason to have that many in a relatively short section of track that I can see. The bottom most crossover (in green) is really useless, since the tail track won't even hold one medium size engine.
The green tracks continue onto the existing layout. That track is already there is is my lower mainline not a tail track.
Ya the crossovers on the left are busy, but I want to be able to have Arrival and departure trains to be able to get to ethier the helix or the lower main.
Looking at it agian I can get rid of the one crossover near the top that goes between the lower main (green) and the west main to helix (purple) as it is redundent.
Ya the crossovers on the left are busy, but I want to be able to have Arrival and departure trains to be able to get to ethier the helix or the lower main.
Looking at it agian I can get rid of the one crossover near the top that goes between the lower main (green) and the west main to helix (purple) as it is redundent.
hoboblues75
Model Rail Rider
wow! What a collection. I am very jealous.
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