HO Stub Switch
Eye level view of an HO scale code 70 stub switch I built this week for an upcoming article in Model Railroad Hobbiest magazine, due out shortly.
-T.
but its getting done!
For the last couple of evenings I have returned to finishing off the trackwork. I admit, I have been procrastinating with this job because it is a bit on the tedious side. One of these days I will have to count just how many PC board ties I have soldered in place on this layout, several thousand I suspect.
The results are worth it though, the finished track sections are rock solid and will never move, very important with trackwork such as this.
The hinging technique for the points also seems to be working well. I can get two turnouts done in an evening.
Most of the missing PC board ties have been added in to these sections. I also finished off the curved track for the inner circle.
As I add in the missing ties, I also finish off the switch points, so the trackwork is fully completed and ready for the next phase of construction, which is cutting the rail gaps. I don’t want to cut the gaps until I am ready to install the track in place as it will become weak. I would love to get this done, so people will stop asking how I am going to do it!
A bit of progress. I think there are now 8 turnouts completed. The next section of trackwork consists of 8 more turnout points, so that should take a few more evenings.
I should have used Photoshop to remove that double chin in the first picture.
-T.
On to Next Section….
Now this is a Billboard Reefer!
After building and weathering a couple of reefers last week I have found myself very fascinated with billboard reefers. Before the mid-1930’s there were lots of these colourful billboard reefers rolling around. Due to a law passed banning railcar advertising like this, they were all painted over.
I ran across this picture the other day of what has to be one of the best examples of a billboard reefer. I would have loved to have seen this in colour!
I guess this is what would pass for graffiti in the 1920’s.
UPDATE – This isn’t a billboard reefer. It has been modified to transport coal, two hatches on the roof have been added to load the car from above. Dustless coal apparently as either they have just painted this car, or their coal really was dustless. My money is on the repaint….
-T.
