Haven't scoured the forums on this site to see if anyone else has discovered Clever Models structures http://www.clevermodels.net/.  These are print your own paper models in any scale (to O).  There is some initial investment (card stock, an inkjet printer, some sharp blades, gap filling Insta-Cure glue, some Sharpies), but once you have those basics, you order your design, print it, cut and assemble.  I'd love if they had more kits, but their stuff is very adaptable and scratchbuild ready.  Prices are really quite reasonable, and if you don't like what you've built, print it and try again (FOR FREE!) - make as many of the same thing as you like.  I've attached some pictures of some of my builds.      - is their small machine shop I think - adapted the LVRR sign on the front by sizing something I found on the internet.
      both the garage on the left, the Oil and Fuel tanks (got those as Freebies on the site) and the green house in the background are Clever kits.

Are there better examples?  Sure!  I'm just getting started building these kits, and that's one of the beauties of the kits, you can always decide you can do better and print out another one to hone your skills.

One of my coworkers took one of the R&N excursion trains (double-headed steam (The Iron Horse Rambles)) from Reading to Jim Thorpe and back last weekend.  Loved it.  A YouTube video taken during the trip can be found here....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ww5SfQzzuvk

The owner of the R&N is a big steam fan and has put millions into restoring a T-1 and a Pacific on their roster.  They run diesel excursions in parts of the Lehigh Valley Gorge from Jim Thorpe, but during the summer offer these longer excursions from Reading.  Real treat if you get a chance.  Lots of Railfans along the route.

Website for excursions is here: https://www.rbmnrr-passenger.com/schedule

I have a cheap pin vise and a set of bits - one per size from No. 61 to 80.  No. 80's are a pretty common size for grab irons, and inevitably, I've snapped the end off my only No. 80 bit.  Any good source out there that only sells specific sizes rather than an identical one-per-size set (and doesn't demand an arm and a leg to ship them)?

This week it is the folks from ALCO showing off their wares to the RK&M brass with a couple of C-628 locos in ALCO Demonstrator scheme (Bowser Executive Line).

It's time to get serious about rail defects. The Sperry Company is waiting for track.    
Charlie

Here we go....  my thread on this forum for my model railroad.  Hope to add to this - paralleling my website devoted to the same subject.

I'll start at the beginning in Armstrong fashion by filling out the Givens and Druthers:

This is the “Givens and Druthers” that the late John Armstrong used when designing layouts for people. It’s a very useful way to clarify your thoughts about what you want to do with yoThis is the “Givens and Druthers” that the late John Armstrong used when designing layouts for people. It’s a very useful way to clarify your thoughts about what you want to do with your model railroad.

Givens and Druthers

"Rainbows in the Gorge"
Scale:  HO
Gauge: Standard

Prototype: The section of the ex-Lehigh Valley mainline running between Jim Thorpe through White Haven, PA, now known as the Lehigh Valley Gorge.  The trackage rights were owned by Conrail, but the Delaware and Hudson also had rights on the same tracks during the period I'm modeling. 

Era: Summer of 1976
Region: Lehigh Valley Gorge
Railroad: Conrail and Delaware and Hudson

Space:

The layout runs around my office, which is a wierd space in my basement.  Diagram is below:

   


Governing Rolling Stock: Primary trains running through the gorge included the Apollo TOFC trains on 89' flat cars.  I also run a coal drag and a local cement train running from Allentown to Wilkes Barre.

Relative Emphasis: (move the V)

|___________________________________V__________|
Track/Operation .................................................. ..Scenic realism
|____V_________________________________________|
Mainline Running .................................................. ........ Switching

Operation Priorities: (rearrange as required)

1. Main-Line Freight Train Operations

Typical operating Crew: ___1___

Eye Level (Owner) _63__In.



Add to this any features required or intolerable (e.g. duckunders, multiple levels).ur model railroad.

Features include sharp turns and grades running at around 2% - 2 duckunders were deemed necessary to allow the office to function.  Eye level operation and freedom below the layout for storage and access.  I wanted to store trains on the lower level and have them magically appear on the upper level using a tunnel (there is one in the gorge at Rockport) and some cleverly disguised buildings in the town of Hazleton.

Next post will be my track diagram (circa 2006 in pencil).

Hello,

some months ago a friend of mine came to me and put this onto my workbench:


There was an old Athearn SD?? of which he has upgraded the shell. But the motor was still the old one and in this case it was not running well. He also gave me a Kato motor and asked for replacing the Athearn motor with this one.







Although the Kato motor was smaller as the Athearn one, it does not fit.There was some milling required on main frame and ballast weight.





He asked also for my 3-point suspension for Diesels whis i made here.




Funiculi ...




... funicula ...





The Kato motor in his milled bed in the main frame.





And the counterpart the weight.





The drive shafts has been to configurated new. Here the shaft diameter was reduced in diameter.





The was made because the shaft was elongated by the means of an aluminium tube.
As the old Athearn motors have shaft diameters of 2.4mm and the Kato has only 2.0mm, a reducer also was made out of an piece of aluminum tube.







At least the Kato motor fits inside. It has a much smoother running as it's precedessor.


Lutz

I just found a train superstition I've never heard about and wondered if anyone else had heard it either -

Apparently, if you blow across each shoulder when you cross tracks it gives you good luck.

Would love to hear any other train superstitions! There must be some really old ones out there.

I think I have watched every episode of "Barnwood Builders". That's a show where they take down old log cabins and barns, and rebuild them somewhere else. I was looking at Deano's barn and got a thought, "I've seen barns like that on that show". I don't know where a log cabin would fit on my layout, (I already have a barn), but I sure would like to scratchbuild one. I have surgery coming up next week and I'm not suppose to be active for a few weeks after that, so I think I'll have the time to do what I'm thinking.

Just curious, has anyone done anything like this, or are there kits anywhere for log cabins?

Hi, it’s been awhile since I posted here, but I have a question about Minuteman Scale Models, are they still in business? I placed an order with them in April for some Scalecoat paint and I am aware they have been having supply chain issues. My last email that was responded to was in June said the last chemical to make one of my paints I ordered had finally arrived and my order would ship shortly. Well, it’s now August and I have nothing from them. Additional emails have not been responded to, nor has a phone call. I can’t find any news about them being out of business on the inter webs so I figured I’d post a question here to see if anyone may have some info or has experienced the same issues.