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Re: Servo v. Tortoises
Mark Kasprowicz
I am relieved that I am not the only one finding much of it over my head! But some of the projects and of course their kits are well worth the membership and there's always the hope that a blinding light of understanding will one day home in on me - but I'm not holding my breath!
Mark K
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Re: D&RGW Coal Tower
Mark Kasprowicz
I cannot see the internal US postal rates only the cost to send items to the UK and in some cases the post is $65.00!!!!!
For a $15 item? 'Interesting but stupid' Rowan and Martin Mark K
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Re: Black Canyon, following section
Mike Smith
Very nice, Paul. Mike
On Tuesday, November 30, 2021, 08:55:19 AM MST, Paul Buhrke <risrwy@...> wrote:
[Edited Message Follows] -- Paul Buhrke D&RGW Salida Division Lost in the Black Canyon in 1929
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Re: SJM Co CONOCO Tank Car coupler conversion.
Dusty
When I realized that the 705s weren't going to be a drop in I experimented with the 714 centering device. Like would the 714 box center with a solid coupler rather than a split coupler. I welded a 714 into a solid, one piece coupler. Surprise, surprise it still centers. So the 705 could have been more friendly.
I felt the 705s were more challenging to 'pick' than the 714s but obviously the 705s look better and offer less slack. If my mission were creating images for big time publication I would probably make great efforts to either hide the 714s or build a couple of 'Foreground' prop cars with Sergent couplers and perhaps narrow tread wheels. Dusty Burman 623 261-8707
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Re: Servo v. Tortoises
I, too, am a member of MERG (https://www.merg.org.uk/merg_kitlocker/)
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and yes, I believe you do have to be a member to order. I've been thoroughly satisfied with everything I've ordered from them. I run MERG boosters off my NCE DCC system and MERG DCOs (electronic circuit breakers). I'm currently assembling a command station (CANCAB) and the other parts necessary to put together a DCC test track I can can interface JMRI to for loco speed matching off the layout. Their forum is extremely helpful - it's like an Open Source community for model railroad electronics. To be honest, most of it is way over my head, but I still reading through the quarterly journals and benefiting from the Tech Bulletins and other resources they offer. Bill Lugg
On 12/1/21 11:07 AM, Mike Conder wrote:
Very interesting, do you have to be a member to get the controller
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Re: Servo v. Tortoises
Mike Conder
Very interesting, do you have to be a member to get the controller kits? Would love to learn more about them. And love your new railroad name ... 😁😁 Mike Conder
On Wed, Dec 1, 2021 at 10:58 AM Mark Kasprowicz <mark@...> wrote: Like many I installed Tortoise turnout motors from the first time I saw them in operations - mmmmdiddly years ago. Recently I wanted to change the track layout at the back of my RR and didn't fancy crawling around trying to get the things installed underneath. So I decided to try surface mounted 9g servos using tube and wire control. I joined a UK organisation MERG which specialises in model RR electronics and bought kits for servo controllers each powering four plus the servo setting controller. You have to build these youself BTW, involves soldering. Installed, aka glued in place, I can adjust the throw and the speed, something you cannot do with a Tortoise. and they are cheap. So my upcoming East German NG layout centred aound a sausage making town in Saxony - 'The Wurst Railway' - will have turnouts and signals powered with servos.
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Servo v. Tortoises
Mark Kasprowicz
Like many I installed Tortoise turnout motors from the first time I saw them in operations - mmmmdiddly years ago. Recently I wanted to change the track layout at the back of my RR and didn't fancy crawling around trying to get the things installed underneath. So I decided to try surface mounted 9g servos using tube and wire control. I joined a UK organisation MERG which specialises in model RR electronics and bought kits for servo controllers each powering four plus the servo setting controller. You have to build these youself BTW, involves soldering. Installed, aka glued in place, I can adjust the throw and the speed, something you cannot do with a Tortoise. and they are cheap. So my upcoming East German NG layout centred aound a sausage making town in Saxony - 'The Wurst Railway' - will have turnouts and signals powered with servos.
Mark K
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Re: SJM Co CONOCO Tank Car coupler conversion.
Mark Lewis, I thank you for your answer. It's a hopeful thing, then, to begin a slow conversion. Someday.
I agree with the pair (Marlett and Kasprowicz) about how strange the notion is that it couldn't be made to fit in an existing box. Buxton's notion that a 'hurry up' job is a good and worthy thing mystifies me. Maybe in a real time crisis, but not here. It's a hobby not a war or disaster- we had already waited decades, why not another season or so to find a new die making guy?
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Re: D&RGW Coal Tower
Nigel Phillips
Go to eBay, search Model Power 410. There are 100+ at around $25-$27 including postage. The $14 one is the cheaper EST but with high postage.
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Nigel
On Wednesday, December 1, 2021, threefootmodels via groups.io <threefootmodels=yahoo.com@groups.io> wrote: Can you provide a link for the $15 eBay special? I can’t find it.
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Re: D&RGW Coal Tower
Rio Grande
Can you provide a link for the $15 eBay special? I can’t find it.
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Re: SJM Co CONOCO Tank Car coupler conversion.
Dale Buxton <dbtuathaddana@...>
Well, My spy told me the 705 creation was a rush job. It seemed that the tooling guy at Kadee was getting ready to retire and they wanted a new HOn3 coupler. So they took an older design they had and never used and had him make the dies for the 705. It's still a damned nice coupler. It just came too late for me. I had already gone with Sergent Sharon Couplers. But, the 705 mates quite nicely with the Sharon's. One downside I didn't like about the 705's. It's just really hard to convert one to a pilot coupler without the draft gear box. There is really not enough material in the 705 shank to work with. I'll probably end up using some eventually though. Dale Buxton
On Tue, Nov 30, 2021 at 11:50 PM Mark Kasprowicz <mark@...> wrote: Couldn't agree more Jim. It had to be a fast conversion for me to take up the new coupler. When the standard coupler for HOn3 is the 714, what kind of thinking does it take to make a replacement that doesn't fit!
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Re: D&RGW Coal Tower
Mark Kasprowicz
The plastic shed is actually OK, (it's also part of the Sanding tower kit I believe). If you're not happy building the Campbell kit then why complicate matters and just build the complete plastic kit without trying to make it into a hybrid.
As far as the Walthers version is concerned I wonder how much difference there is between it and the original. I've been told that altering plastic injection moulds is not quite as easy as it sounds. One thing that is different is that the Walthers version has a base on whch it stands. The main changes I made were using plastic Evergreen timbers and Grandt line NBW's. There's one on Ebay right now for $15! Mark K
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Re: SJM Co CONOCO Tank Car coupler conversion.
Mark Kasprowicz
Couldn't agree more Jim. It had to be a fast conversion for me to take up the new coupler. When the standard coupler for HOn3 is the 714, what kind of thinking does it take to make a replacement that doesn't fit!
Mark K
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Blackstone Box Car For Sale
Rio Grande
I am selling a Blackstone box car factory painted yellow silver colors #3468 non weathered (P.N. B340118). Going thru my collection and didn't realize I bought two of these.
If interested message me a we can talk price.
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Re: D&RGW Coal Tower
Rio Grande
Yes those are both great looking coal towers. I did actually start building the Campbell kit a few years ago, didn't get to far but I did build the lower building/house thing (not sure what its really called) maybe I can use that with the plastic kit.
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Re: D&RGW Coal Tower
Mark Lewis
John, Looking at a few examples of the AHM #5833 kit on ebay.....it looks very close to the Walthers #931-910 Coaling Tower kit, but the Walthers kit has more defined details and molding. Probably upgraded die/mold work, for the very old, original Minikits dies. Mark Lewis Narrow gauge modeling in N.C.
On Tue, Nov 30, 2021 at 8:32 PM John Hutnick <johnhutnick@...> wrote: Is this Model Power coaling tower the former AHM Minikits 5833 coaling tower?
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Re: D&RGW Coal Tower
John Hutnick
Is this Model Power coaling tower the former AHM Minikits 5833 coaling tower?
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Re: SJM Co CONOCO Tank Car coupler conversion.
Jim Marlett
It still just amazes me that Kadee made a new narrow gauge coupler that wasn't be a drop in fit with the old box or for the cars that make up the majority of our current rolling stock. They'd have sold a ton of them if they had.
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Re: SJM Co CONOCO Tank Car coupler conversion.
Mark Lewis
I can only tell you of my experience, on my layout that uses manual uncoupling, with trip pins clipped off and using bamboo skewers for the uncoupling procedure. The 714 to 705 coupled cars uncouple with the slightest twist of the skewer. Another benefit to using 705's is there is none of the annoying "Kadee bounce" during movement of trains, between cars. My hope is that SJM Co, on future HOn3 rolling stock releases, makes the switch to Kadee 705's for their coupler of choice. There would be less parts to assemble and would only require a "minimal" widening of the end beam opening, where the coupler pocket sits. Mark Lewis Narrow gauge modeling in N.C.
On Tue, Nov 30, 2021, 5:31 PM p. f. hollingsworth <2fisherman@...> wrote: for the folks with tons of the 714 couplers installed, but wishing to try the newer, better looking coupler, does it take much to uncouple them in the mismatches that would occur before full (if ever) conversion of the 'fleet'? As it is, I can uncouple the 714s with barely a wiggle of the parked cars. Of course, I have been doing it with a pick for forty five or so years. It's a point of pride that struggling with another would disturb, hahaha
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Re: SJM Co CONOCO Tank Car coupler conversion.
for the folks with tons of the 714 couplers installed, but wishing to try the newer, better looking coupler, does it take much to uncouple them in the mismatches that would occur before full (if ever) conversion of the 'fleet'? As it is, I can uncouple the 714s with barely a wiggle of the parked cars. Of course, I have been doing it with a pick for forty five or so years. It's a point of pride that struggling with another would disturb, hahaha
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