Finished the main line around the layout today, and fired up the steam engine for the first time! Here's a video of the maiden voyage, Vigdis was in charge of the radio control while I was documenting this historical event!

Svein

You both have a real little steamer running with radio control. That is phantasic
I would like to see a short video demonstrating how much switching (slow speed, change of direction etc.) can be done with a real model steamer.

Thanks Reinhard, it sure was fun firing up the engine and watching it run its first laps around the newly laid stretch of track. More track to come later, two passing tracks and a couple of sidings, but our first priority was the continuous loop.

This was our first time ever running a live steam engine, so we're probably not the right ones to show how it's properly done. I found that to keep a nice even speed, a steady hand on the throttle and continuously making small adjustments is a must, quite a difference from the DCC H0 engines we run inside. Also, all live steam engines have to be broken in, allthough our engine were running very smooth from the factory, according to the importer, he tried it on another layout just before he delivered it to us. It may also have something to do with the weight, this engine is quite large, and reacts a little slower and behaves more realistic than the smaller ones. Plus, a string of cars behind will probably also affect the running characteristics, so I guess it's time to start building kits.

We haven't done any real slow speed running yet, maybe try some today and make a short video.

Svein

Congratulations - it looks great !

Smile,
Stein

Thanks, Stein, it feels great too!

The railcar is finished and ready for service! This has been entirely Vigdis' project, even the soldering was done by her after I explained how the wiring should be. The roof is covered with strips of 240 grit sandpaper as roofing felt, and she has done some light weathering on the car sides:




Here's a short video of the railcar running a lap in the evening sun yesterday.

Svein

Edit: fixed movie link

Hmmm - link to video is not working, and the link is not the same as on <!-- w --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.mjf.no/forum">www.mjf.no/forum</a><!-- w --> - maybe the inspection vehicle got renamed from "knerten" to "smaaen" (both meaning "tiny") after posting the link here?

Link that works: http://www.hjemstad.no/videos/smaen_01.wmv

Looking great again!

Smile,
Stein

steinjr Wrote:Hmmm - link to video is not working, and the link is not the same as on <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.mjf.no/forum">http://www.mjf.no/forum</a><!-- m --> - maybe the inspection vehicle got renamed from "knerten" to "smaaen" (both meaning "tiny") after posting the link here?

Link that works: http://www.hjemstad.no/videos/smaen_01.wmv

Looking great again!

Smile,
Stein

Oops... You're quite right, Stein. I originally named it Knerten (and the video as well), but decided to change it to Småen to prevent any legal hassle from the Knerten-movies. I renamed the movie file and updated the Norwegian forum thread, but forgot about the link on this forum. Sorry... :oops:

That little vehicle is so cute. It looks extreme funny running in a circle like a duckling
ps. You may invite depressed people in your garden watching it as a therapy

When looking at the video again, I totally see what you mean! Now that's an image that won't disappear from my mind any time soon

Mmm - a handful of feathers, and some duck tape ... :-)

Smile,
Stein

It would be overdone to call you the proud parents of a duckling, wound't it? It certainly would.....

Awesome! Very fine work on the rail car and especially the benchwork. Hope it will be strong enough to survive winter condition.

Matt

Thanks guys!

Matt: I've had a couple of comments about that on the Norwegian forum too, and frankly I don't know yet. The construction itself is more than strong enough for me to walk on (I weigh about 105 kg), but the steel posts go only 60cm (24") into the ground, and are not below the frost line, so I'm prepared that some of them may shift a little through the winter. Anyway, the ugly truth will reveal itself next spring, and hopefully it won't be too messed up.

Svein

Vigdis is well underway with her second kit, a passenger coach from I.P. Engineering's Pure & Simple Range series. This will get a teak finish:


The car isn't prepared for interior lighting, so we have to do some kitbashing to make the roof removable. She is currently making ribs to keep the curvature of the roof, these will be made from 1mm plywood pieces glued together in pairs, and sized to fit just inside the coach side walls:


The lighting will be small battery powered LED's, with a flickering effect to mimic kerosene lamps.

Svein