Rico’s coal train thread

[Rico]

Do you have a shot showing the out-of-frame abutment?

The pier is 3/4 plywood with styrene attached, the abutment to the right is the same but has styrofoam added.
None of them are quite finished yet, I tend to jump around a lot with projects.
I’m changing out a piece of flex to the left, hence the crew at the set off.

 

[kjd]

I've been working on a video showing more of the dumper unloading a train and Rico collecting coal dust. iMovie doesn't give you a lot of control but here's what I came up with.

 

[Snowman]

I've been working on a video showing more of the dumper unloading a train and Rico collecting coal dust. iMovie doesn't give you a lot of control but here's what I came up with.

Ok, but please explain the rotary couplers? Or am I just that stupid or out of the loop?

 

[kjd]

The colored end of the car has a coupler that can rotate. If all the cars face the same way, one coupler at each joint rotates allowing the car to be tipped without uncoupling. They are Kadee #5 couplers I modified to rotate. Is that what you're asking?

 

[kjd]

The last week or so, I've been modifying Walthers Transformer Factory into a shed for the rotary dumper. I left off most of one side and cut a big notch in the roof so the dumper is still visible, inspired by Doug's Somerset dumper module found on youtube. Here's a shot of first train, lead by the infamous 5050, through the mostly completed building.

 

[Rico]

I like that idea, I fully enclosed mine then thought why did I do that so I’ll modify.
Post some pics when you get time!

 

[kjd]

The dumper shed has been a bit of an ordeal. For years, I've used spray paint for larger projects. I spray it into a straw and it runs into my airbrush cup and off to the races. I used Rustoleum Tan Camouflage and multiple layers went on in different shades of the color leaving a streaky pattern. I ended up stripping and repainting one side. Painting isn't my favorite part of projects. Anyway, here are a couple with the girders installed and outside painted. Besides lighting, I'm sure there are tons of details inside the building but I don't know what they are. Most importantly though, Rico is still there collecting dust samples.