I bought some central valley HOn3 trucks at a train show a few years ago. At one time, there wasn't much else available for HOn3. Now there are better trucks on the market, so I think I picked up about 5 pair for a buck or two. The problem was, about half the axles were tight in gauge, and I was unsuccessful at gauging them by simply twisting on one wheel. So, I took a few pieces of scrap steel, welded them together, tapped a hole for an 0-80 screw, and made this puller. The brass block is two pieces of brass strip soldered together with a small hole drilled in one of them. It supports the end of the axle while pulling the wheel out.

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OK, here’s the deal. We’re going to have a structure building challenge that we hope will suite everyone at every level of skill or modeling preferences. This one is all about structures. When we talk about structures, we’re not just talking buildings. Houses and factories are fine, but also think other things; water or oil tanks, bridges, boat docks or grain elevators are just a few examples of what you can build. In order to keep things fair, we are limiting participation to two categories only. If you choose the kitbuild challenge, you can enter the kitbash one as well, but not the scratchbuild. If you enter the scratchbuild, you can also enter the kitbash, but not the kitbuild. The reasoning here is to keep the different skill levels apart and to let everyone complete at the level they feel is challenging to them, or at their preferred method of construction.

Kitbuild challenge will be as follows:

• Just build a kit using only the parts in the box for the structure only. You may paint and weather the structure and make cosmetic changes, but you cannot add anything that does not come with the kit. You can add other details such as scenery around the structure. This will allow you to do from a "let it look like the picture on the box", to "I built it like the instructions says, but I've enhanced it with weathering, different paint and scenery". The choice is yours.

• Take any structure kit and make it into something different, or even take two or more kits and combine them for something else. You can use parts from other kits, but mainly, you must use your imagination. We cannot define this any more than that, the rest is up to you to figure out.

1. Get a photograph of a structure, any structure, then scratchbuild a model of that structure. The idea is to come as close to the real thing as you can. The picture of the original structure does not have to be taken by you, but you must also post a picture of it, or a link to it if you found it somewhere on the Net. The surrounding scenery and details, such as people, vehicles and trees need not be the same.
   
2. Or, you can just build something from your own imagination from scratch. Again, any structure will do and it can be any scale, just not full-scale…

1. Pick the one or two challenges you’d like to enter, but you cannot enter both the kitbuild and scratchbuild together. This challenge is open to all registered members here.
   
2. Let us know here which challenges you are going to enter. We will keep things open so you can enter at any time before the end of the challenge, but it would be nice to know ahead of time who is going to be competing and where. This is the thread where we will keep track of these things, so I'll post a summary of who has entered which categories.
   
3. Start a new thread (or threads) as follows:
   • (your Screename’s) kitbuild ’09 summer challenge
     
   • (your Screenname’s) kitbash ’09 summer challenge
     
   • Or (your Screenname’s) scratchbuild ’09 summer challenge
4. Document your progress in pictures. Remember, we like lots of pictures. If you’re not skilled with a camera, either give it a try or get someone else to take the pictures. Just as long as you are the one that’s doing the work, we don't care who takes the pictures.
   
5. The contest will begin the first day of Summer, June 21, and end the first day of Fall, September 22. That gives us all about three weeks from now to prepare and three months to actually work on and complete the projects.
   
6. You may start working on your projects anytime, but the challenges don't officially start until the first day of Summer. The idea is that everyone has at least three months to complete their challenges. Some may use this additional time to their advantage, other, like myself, may take this time to chill out a bit, or as some people say, "to procrastinate".

• If you build a structure using Walther's modular parts and it follows one of their pre-defined plans, it is a "kit build"
  
• If you build a structure using Walther's modular parts and you dream up a unique structure, it is "kit bashing"
  
• "cosmetic changes" on kit builds can include signage changes or additions. More extensive changes such as adding roof details or lights takes it out of the realm of the intent of this challenge for kit builds, but not quite into the definition of kit bashing. I suggest these things be added after completing this challenge
  
• Scratchbuilding means that the basic or major parts of the structure is made from scratch and not kit parts. Small details such as lights, boxes, A/C units and fences to name a few can be from pre-made parts

If you've read the Coming Soon - Hamilton-Paice Industries thread, you know what is being planned.

Inspired by Josh (Trucklover) and a sale on Walthers Modulars components, I am building a structure based on the 3-story building plans found here -> <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.walthers.com/exec/page/modulars/3story">http://www.walthers.com/exec/page/modulars/3story</a><!-- m --> .

It will feature:

• indoor loading/unloading for rail and trucks
  
• outdoor loading unloading for rail and trucks (no specific unloading dock for rail though)
  
• freight elevator from outside ground level
  
• outside winch from dock level
  
• chimneys
  
• roof vents
  
• skylights on some of the flat roof
  
• a water tower
  
• no other outbuildings planned (not yet anyway)

While preparing to wrap all my trains into bubblewrap in anticipation of moving, I wondered how everyone stores their trains when they are not on the layout. Do you generally use the box the engine or wagon came in, do you have some fancy storage system, some improvised solution or don't you ever separate the trains from the layout?

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://modelrailroadtips.com/index.php?op=Articles;article=265">http://modelrailroadtips.com/index.php? ... rticle=265</a><!-- m -->
Let me know what you think!

The little ( 9 miles to Montague, originally - later 11 miles) Yreka railroad, which has persevered since it's creation in the late 1800's, has gone into receivership, most likely to a group of investors.

Sadly, this gallant little railroad may be on the way out.

Summerail 2009 will be held again at Cincinnati Union Terminal on August 8. Presenting this year will be:

Rick Acton Jr - Rick's 30 Year Roustabout
Mike Danneman - Cold Enough to Snow
Mark Demaline - Business and Office Car Specials
John Hake - BC Rail in 1985
Dave Honan - From Seam to Steam
Andrew Nelson - On Wisconsin
Mel Patrick - Pride of the Rio Grande-Zephyr
Brian Root - Flags, Fields & Friends
Jaime Serensits - Summer Ail
Steve Smedley - My Piece of the Rock (Island)
Craig Williams -Thru The Winter

The main program starts at 1:00 on Saturday. Tickets are $15 and it is recommended they be purchased in advance. Saturday morning starting at 10:00 there is a train show in the rotunda at the station and admission is free. Friday night at 8:00 there are "talkie" slide shows up in Tower A also with free admission.

I encourage anyone out there within a day's drive of Cincinnati to make an effort to come out for Summerail. The presentations are top-notch and the swap meet is one of the best for railroad paper you'll ever find. You'd spend ten bucks now for a two hour movie ticket so why spend a little more for a whole day of trains?

If anyone out there is interested in attending but has questions about the shows, swap meet, or even what else to see in Cincinnati give me a shout and I'll make sure you get some answers! More information on how to purchase tickets can be found at: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://cincinnatirrclub.org/summerail.htm">http://cincinnatirrclub.org/summerail.htm</a><!-- m -->

Here is a pic of my new layout that I've been tinkering with. I've already posted a few requests as I've wrestled how to do this.

My 'problem' is that I'm trying to build a small, portable layout in the spare room of our basement. I will probably tweak this even more and work on the scenery in due course -- the scenery is obviously not finished. I'm not even sure where I'm going to place the road and industries, etc. FYI, the street and a few other details are left over from a previous version of this layout -- hopefully I can re-use at least part of the street.

The layout's size is approx. 3-ft wide by 5-ft long. The outer loop uses 18" radius track (except for the outer siding where I had to use tighter curves) while the curves of the inner loop is entirely made up of 15" radius track. FYI, the layout is also British 00, which is similar to our HO.

My small tank engines (0-6-0's and 0-4-0's) can haul freight trains on the inner loop (and outer loop) while many of my larger locos will be limited to the outer loop, especially larger passenger trains.

(You can see my "larger" (4x6) layout to the right, leaning against the wall. I still hope to use that during the winter.)

At any rate, I'm open for feedback, both positive and negative!

Thanks,
Rob

   

I finally got some time today to try out my new camera. I picked up a new Canon digital Rebel XS. My little Fujifilm S5200 was taking nice pictures but I wanted something with 10 megapixels or more and something with more flexibility and options.
The train to Noranda Quebec was passing through town so I ran down to the tracks and got a few quick shots. This one turned out not to bad. I was trying out the cameras depth of field setting.

The lead locomotive is an Sd75I the ONR got a number of years back ( #2105 ). The second and third locomotives are SD40-2s ( #1737 & #1734 ). Both were bought new by the ONR around 1973-74 and have been in service ever since. The 1737 is still wearing its very worn and faded chevron paint scheme. The 2105 and the 1734 are sporting the new ON Rail scheme the railway went to a number of years ago.


Wayne Reid

   

Hello.
I am wondering if I should put a back drop on the island table, where the red line is. I think it would allow me to have more buildings, and switchable industries, by allowing me to use building flats. But, it would also block the view of the other table. What do you all think ?
Thanks for any help.

Loren

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