Hey guys,

thought i would share the pics of my Blower Engine House i just finished this afternoon. It is fully built, painted, and weathered.

Here are some pics showing the difference the weathering makes on the structure by comparing unwearhred roof and vents to weathered roof and vents








And here are the pics of the completed Blower House:

hey guys, just in case anyone here is interested, i have listed the Blast Furnace and Blower Engine House i have recently finished. I also have some other Steel Kits on the bay as well, check em out....

http://shop.ebay.com/maderscustomtrains/m.html

Hardware we use at the modular club includes T-nuts, 3/16-18 threaded bolts and knobs, leg levellers, etc.

<!-- w --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.leevalley.com">www.leevalley.com</a><!-- w --> is a good source for those in Ontario or wherever mail order costs are reasonable. Post your local source here.

Andrew

I started modifying a German BR 211 by Arnold (typical starter engine, N gauge) into a Hungarian M 44 (no N gauge models available, some small-series brass in H0....love the bright colours). The models are close enough lengthwise and so on to allow for a conversion. The biggest obstacle seems to be the size of the frame on the original model. The frame is all-steel and every free bit of the body is taken up by it. Now, I thought, shaving off a few millimetres here and there shouldn't be a problem, after all the engine and transmission will fit inside perfectly after the little modifications.

Right. Took apart the beast and on to shaving off the millimetres. I discovered the obvious: steel is pretty damn hard. I started cutting it with a dremel (clone) and a engraving point. It does work, more or less, but it is painstakingly slow. Next idea is to get a saw and try that (will that work?) or are there suitable bits for the dremeloid to cut instead of file?

My second approach would be to rebuild the body from brass and styrene. A bit more challenging, but at least it would be correctly sized. If I can't find a good solution for cutting the steel block I'll probably get me a few sheets of brass after the weekend..

I am making some progress pictures as I work, will post some eventually.

If you haven't found it yet, Shorpy.com is a great site for period historical pictures and scenery. Most are in black and white, but there is a wealth of detail and stuff.

Any thoughts and photos?
I model the PC, but spent a lot of time as a teenager in Jersey City and Hoboken NJ. My family owned 2 large buisnesses both rail served at one time. Jersey City Forge & Majoda Tool & Machine. But anyway I remeber and still have pics of tracks running everywhere turning all directions and in the industrial areas track in the streets with switches everywhere.
The big question here is how do you recreate that realizime and operations? Can never seem to get it.

Well, I guess you can ask about anything here, so I have a car tire question!

My wife & I have two cars -- a 1998 Honda Civic and 2003 Subaru Legacy. I think both could do with a set of new tires, especially now that winter is around the corner.

I'll start with the Honda first. In Dec. 2006, we bought a new set of all-season radials for it. At that time, the Honda had about 140,000 km on it (about 87,000 miles). It now has about 186,000 km on it. Just recently, when I start off fast when the pavement is wet, I its front wheels spin easily -- this makes me think that it could do with new tires. Even last winter, it wasn't that great in the snow.

I realize that I bought these tires less than 3 years ago but I'm thinking of getting new all-season radials as an option instead of snow tires.

It's a similar situation with the Subaru. It's about 7 years old & I can't quite remember when we bought new all-season radials for it. But, last winter, we actually got stuck in the snow a couple times with it -- which is really embarrassing with a Subaru! When the car was new (and had new tires) this practically never happened.

So, is this a good/sensible option -- to go for a new set of all-seasons rather than snow tires? Is it also "normal" to replace all-seasons for the Honda in only 3 years (especially if you're using them as an alternate to snow tires)?

Also, FYI, we do a lot of our driving in Toronto but do frequently drive into the country, in the winter, where good tires are crucial.

Thanks,
Rob

So Im drawing up plans for a new layout, and Im finding that there are a few spots where I might have to have switches that are out of reach. Until now Ive always used the manual ground throws from caboose hobbies, what would the easiest alternative be? Is there an option that doesnt involve wiring up electric switches?

I have been away from the forum for a while due to some family and personal issues that needed my attention.
Now that I have basically got them straightened out I can get back to railroading.
My layout is now to the point where I can start to operate it once I get a new power pack (my current one died-it was 30 years old). I still have some detail work to do and the track still needed some tinkering.
But I was thinking-had it not been for the many members on this forum that offered help,suggestions and helpful comments my layout may not be this far along. There are too many to mention and I would not want to leave anyone out so let me just say this-I deeply appreciate all the help that you guys have given me. You are a great bunch of guys and this is a great forum.
Thanks again
Bob

Don't worry...this is the real link.
Enjoy!!!!!!!!!
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