Running Bear's April 2022 Coffee Shop

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.


Status
Not open for further replies.
Enjoyed my afternoon watching the Cricket, first match was a bit boring, second match was very much a "will they won't they" match so enjoyed that one. Tomorrows F1 should be interesting as Ferrari seem to got their act together this year and are up front for the start.

Managed to get some work done on the layout, got most of the now no longer needed feeders removed (note to self, use chocolate blocks next time). removed all but one of the also no longer needed Hornby turnout motors, and installed the new Peco motors, both motors are causing hassle too, operate in one direction but not the other, pretty sure that's because I've wired them up wrong (again!):mad:

That's all folks
G'nite
 
Good Afternoon!
Guy- If the holes are on the tabletop shouldn't scenery/ground cover the dimples?
Curt - I was mostly concerned about the dimples on the backboard. I suspect I'll try and paint mountain, trees, and cloud on the backboard, even though I've never painted a picture. Just in case I'm any kind of a Rembrandt, though, I wouldn't want to see a pimple on Mona Lisa's face.
And, I did fill the screw holes on the table. If you remember Rebecca in the hardware; I wouldn't want her to hit a pothole with that new lawn tractor. - The fact is, I've never really done much railroad scenery yet. So I'm not sure how far I need to go to make things look nice.

I did get the backboard prime painted today. It looks flat enough to put a painting on, to me.
LayoutConst_04-09-2022.JPG

Tomorrow, I'm going to finish coat the backboard, same colour as the blue wall behind it.
I'm actually quite happy with progress so far.

Rough cedar has gotten expensive. 2 8ft 4x4 posts were $72.
Patrick - Prices for lumber have gone insane. I'm considering making my own. There's enough trees around here, that's for sure.

There's still gale force winds happening here, and tomorrow is supposed to be cooler. I may as well stay inside and paint.
Have a wonderful evening!
 


Afternoon All,

Well, the USPS package I was waiting on that was supposed to be delivered today instead got routed to a town about an hour away. :( This morning I did one of the biannual weed killer applications to the yard, put down red ant bait, and cleaned up dead palm fronds from the recent storms.

In the train room I turned a 40 ft Pennsy box car into a storage building for cattle feed and weathered it. After figuring out building and corral location I did the ground cover for that section.

TomO- Beautiful layout shots. They look real. What is the wooden brace on the fascia for?

Troy- I hope you and your family have some relief soon. You have a lot on your plate.

IB Ken- Neat solution to the problem.

Guy- Nice tank cars. If the holes are on the tabletop shouldn't scenery/ground cover the dimples?

Joe- It sounds like you're making good progress.

Tom- That is very nice.

Willie- Great looking hardware store. Yes, the pool is open. We've been having a lot of 80+ days already.

I hope everyone has a good night.
Curt, the brace is actually a throttle holder for one of my ProtoThrottles.

TomO
F529D809-A5E0-4329-A8BD-61781EA62485.jpeg
 
Has anyone had experience with Athearn Genesis 4-8-4 ? Do they track well. I don't have the best track work and will they stay on track . I'm thanking you in advance for your info
If your track work is not good, running any large steam engine will be an exercise in frustration. Many 6 axle diesels don't react well to bad track, either. If you can't get your track into shape, you'll be better off sticking to 4 axle diesels and small steam engines.
 
Good Afternoon!

Curt - I was mostly concerned about the dimples on the backboard. I suspect I'll try and paint mountain, trees, and cloud on the backboard, even though I've never painted a picture. Just in case I'm any kind of a Rembrandt, though, I wouldn't want to see a pimple on Mona Lisa's face.
And, I did fill the screw holes on the table. If you remember Rebecca in the hardware; I wouldn't want her to hit a pothole with that new lawn tractor. - The fact is, I've never really done much railroad scenery yet. So I'm not sure how far I need to go to make things look nice.

I did get the backboard prime painted today. It looks flat enough to put a painting on, to me.
View attachment 144252
Tomorrow, I'm going to finish coat the backboard, same colour as the blue wall behind it.
I'm actually quite happy with progress so far.


Patrick - Prices for lumber have gone insane. I'm considering making my own. There's enough trees around here, that's for sure.

There's still gale force winds happening here, and tomorrow is supposed to be cooler. I may as well stay inside and paint.
Have a wonderful evening!
Smart thinking, removing the dimples. Because if we DID see a pimple on Mona Lisa's face we would, of course, realize it was a fake. :p

On a more serious note: If you think you will ever want blue sky above the backdrop on the left--covering the paneling as it does up to the drop ceiling on the right--now would be the time to expand that backdrop section "just in case." You might find you will want a removable cover over the window too, but that would be much easier than getting more backdrop in and over that paneling. Not to mention blending and filling the corner (if you plan to), or even to just blend that horizontal seam.
 
Last edited:
I'm back. Ah! Yes, what a convenient alarm clock the human bladder can be.
Spent a goodly part of the day yesterday mowing after last Monday night's 1.5" rain and the lovely 70°+ days. That new drive belt arrived just before noon. It did however, take me longer to put it on as I had to take off one pulley to remove remnants of the old belt.

Interesting story about how Tom O got to be called that. In my case, I was Billy to most until I was about 10 years old and it became Bill. Meanwhile since I went to Catholic schools for 12 years, I was known there as William by the nuns and priests. After starting college at 17, my friends from high school just started calling me Willie. I didn't mind and I've been that name way ever since. When I first met my wife, she saw Bill written on some of my record albums and had to ask me who that was?

Thanks for all of the likes and comments regarding the bungalow yesterday; Steve J, Guy, Mikey, Karl, Sherrel, Patrick, Chad, Hughie, Tom O, Gary, Dave B, Tom, Louis, Rick, OB Ken, IB Ken, Smudge.

I am in the down time between projects right now out in the train shed. So I resumed some "under the layout" cleaning and sorting. i also started Q2's biannual cleaning of the layout surfaces. I didn't find any stray parts along the tracks on the section that I am doing this quarter. I vacuum next before removing and cleaning/dusting vehicles and structures. Many of the structures don't appear to need it this time around. I'll still take a few off here and there and add details and touch up paint as I always do.
From the archives, a few repeats, but maybe new to some.
One of my favorites, Majestic Hardware, a laser-cut wood kit from Bar Mills.
View attachment 144241
View attachment 144242
View attachment 144243View attachment 144244

Guy - Your benchwork looks very professional. I like it. Judging from your recent purchases, the bug has finally bitten you!!!;)
Karl - Gun Bingo sounds very interesting. I have seen signs posted on utility poles for it around here occasionally.
Tom O - Thank you for noticing my taxpayer dollars at work on the Texas Highways. The two lane rural ones are well maintained. Most Interstates have been re-built in the last ten years. Can't personally comment on the streets in Austin because I haven't been in the city itself for over 25 years. "the crazy fast speed limits" are required to get away from the liberal city of Austin quickly!
Greg - My wife always loved those clients with foreign income of any kind. She made loads of money on those returns.
Regarding the porch garden. Some things like Basil and Cilantro do have to come inside overnight occasionally. The pots make it easy. The Sage is only in a pot right now until it gets better established, as it is a very hardy perennial, at least for here.
Dave - I agree with you regarding everyone completing more information. It gives a better sense of companionship.
Curt - Glad to read that you and your wife are feeling better. By the way, are you able to use your pool yet? Only one more month before I uncover and get mine ready. Then it takes about a week for the sun to warm it up.
Ken (D&J) - I'm just the opposite regarding investments. After retiring I took over self-management of my retirement portfolio since I now had time. It has done far better than the sometimes disappointing performance when I had an advisor. This year hasn't been great, I have lost about 1%, but in the last seven years, I have almost doubled the fund. And I did it without going over 30% in the market.
Smudge - Where's the pictures? You know that we love pictures.

Everybody have a great Saturday.
Willie- Majestic looks great as always.
Where is the country girl in shorts hauling a bag of feed out to her pickup?
 
If your track work is not good, running any large steam engine will be an exercise in frustration. Many 6 axle diesels don't react well to bad track, either. If you can't get your track into shape, you'll be better off sticking to 4 axle diesels and small steam engines.
I have AHM 2-10-2, AHM 4-8-2 and have other 8 drive wheel that track well. (No derails.) I was wondering about the Athearn Genesis 4-8-4
 
I have AHM 2-10-2, AHM 4-8-2 and have other 8 drive wheel that track well. (No derails.) I was wondering about the Athearn Genesis 4-8-4

You are comparing something that is extremely crudely put together, with huge pizza cutter flanges and gobs of slop in the running gear to allow them to run over the horrible train set trackwork of 50 years ago to something that is a precision-built piece of equipment that has no tolerance for flaws.
 
You are comparing something that is extremely crudely put together, with huge pizza cutter flanges and gobs of slop in the running gear to allow them to run over the horrible train set trackwork of 50 years ago to something that is a precision-built piece of equipment that has no tolerance for flaws.
I still don't have an answer to my question. I have over 100 freight cars that have the old wheels replaced by metal wheels with RP 25 contour and they don't derail. If the track work is ok for them, then it must not be to bad, right?
 


I still don't have an answer to my question. I have over 100 freight cars that have the old wheels replaced by metal wheels with RP 25 contour and they don't derail. If the track work is ok for them, then it must not be to bad, right?
There is no simple answer to you question. Your asking about a powered locomotive, how your rolling stock performs is a moot point really. AHM were built to be played with by 8yr olds, so their axles and tolerance were very forgiving to allow for poor trackwork, more modern locomotives are built to a much higher standard, so if your confident in your trackwork the only way to find out is to try it, and see what happens.
 
Last edited:
Has anyone had experience with Athearn Genesis 4-8-4 ? Do they track well. I don't have the best track work and will they stay on track . I'm thanking you in advance for your info
Lester - The Athearn Genesis will track well on most track. Whether or not it tracks well on your trackwork cannot be answered without testing it. Comparing it to an AHM locomotive is like comparing a Tesla to a '61 Beetle. It could be an expensive test though.
 
Has anyone had experience with Athearn Genesis 4-8-4 ? Do they track well. I don't have the best track work and will they stay on track . I'm thanking you in advance for your info
Track work will make you or break you in the model railroad hobby. I would say buy the 4-8-4 and use it to improve your track laying skills.
Athearn makes very good models so the 4-8-4 isn't going to be the source of derailments if you have em.
 
Track work will make you or break you in the model railroad hobby. I would say buy the 4-8-4 and use it to improve your track laying skills.
Athearn makes very good models so the 4-8-4 isn't going to be the source of derailments if you have em.
I always tell people to plan their track work for the largest engine and longest car that they have. If a big boy and an auto rack (for example) can go through your curves an switches just about anything will. Track work is #1.
 
Good Morning!
A commercial sterilizer works by creating prime tropical conditions for bugs to come out and play in, and then zapping them as soon as they come out from hiding. The gods seem to sometimes try that same technique on Canadians.
The temperature on Friday was 71.6F, in the sunshine. - This is a photo out my back window yesterday at 5pm. The photo cannot show the gale force wind.:
5pm_04-09-2022 (1).JPG

As the old saying goes, though, 'If you don't like the weather, wait 5 minutes.' That's all the sleet lasted, about 5 minutes. Then there was calm and sunshine breaks again. - I was hiding in the house, so I didn't get zapped.

Smart thinking, removing the dimples. Because if we DID see a pimple on Mona Lisa's face we would, of course, realize it was a fake. :p

On a more serious note: If you think you will ever want blue sky above the backdrop on the left--covering the paneling as it does up to the drop ceiling on the right--now would be the time to expand that backdrop section "just in case." You might find you will want a removable cover over the window too, but that would be much easier than getting more backdrop in and over that paneling. Not to mention blending and filling the corner (if you plan to), or even to just blend that horizontal seam.
Thankyou, Snowman, for the comment and suggestions on my layout construction.
The 2' backdrop is currently 5'9" from concrete floor to the top. Suppose I feel that a 2' backdrop is good enough for taking closer-up photos on such a small layout.
The window will indeed get a removable, painted 2" insulated panel as a covering.
Plus, I did caulk the corners and the horizontal seems last night, after that photo was taken. I didn't install a nice curved panel in the corners, like some great layouts have. Then again, I don't think anyone other than the G-kids will ever come here to see it, so, it just don't have to be world class.
I'm going to paint the backdrop blue today. Then I can play around with track laying and trying to get a bridge built. Plus, it's gonna need a stable swing gate. There's a couple of thoughts on swing gate construction formulating in my head.

Well, since I don't go to church anymore, I may as well get the dog walked and then get painting.
Have a great day, everyone!!
 
Another day to ponder? Nothing seems to have changed to note:
High today is somewhere about 75f.
Still have the thorn of a water valve to repair ...
Still have the tired and worn out MIL to look after ...
Didn't hear from the Spousal Unit yesterday, must be at sea?
Kids didn't bother to see if I am still vertical?
Still need to work on the taxes!

My dad used to always say: "Husbands are a sorry lot!"

I'll take the pups to the park?
 


Lester - The Athearn Genesis will track well on most track. Whether or not it tracks well on your trackwork cannot be answered without testing it. Comparing it to an AHM locomotive is like comparing a Tesla to a '61 Beetle. It could be an expensive test though.
Oh! don't I know it, seem to have all my trackwork up to scratch, bar one curve, but as always, my layout is a work in progress
 
Status
Not open for further replies.




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

Back
Top