carpenter matt
1st Class Member
near columbus, Ohio
Brakeman
Posts:59
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 | | 02/16/2008 8:58 AM |
| | Vic, looks great! Loved the video footage. Seemed bigger to me than what I have seen on paper and in still photos. The smaller loco did look a little more at home. | |
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vsmith
1st Class Member
SoCal
Engineer
Posts:1000
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| | 04/10/2008 5:31 PM |
| In case anyone is interested
Some testing results, R1 curves with integral 4% grade, so far:
HLW Mack based engines:
Single units: 7 ore cars OK
Double headed: 12+ ore cars OK
LGB Porter based engines:
Single units: 5 ore cars OK (slicker wheels)
Double headed: 12 ore cars OK
LGB Toytrain based engines:
Single unit: 3 ore cars max, light engine, no pull
Double headed: 6+ ore cars, better performance doubled up
MDC Hustler based engines:
Single: 4-5 ore cars max, light engine, no pull
AC Centercab driveblock bashed engines:
Single units: 7 short (20') boxcars+ (ran out of cars) these pull like a son of a gun! nice and slow. They are by far my best performers.
Double headed: not tested but I suspect I'd run out of cars
Big Haulers:
Gen 2 converted to 4-4-0, 3 short cars is limit, very poor runner, poor elect pickup, may end a shelf queen
Gen 4 converted to 0-6-0, 4 short cars OK, 3 large cars OK
Gen 5 stock. 4 short cars OK, 3 large cars OK
Bachmann Indy:
Pooper...only 3 ore cars more and the wheels slip, this is a flyweight of an engine.
Bachmann Saddletanker:
7 ore cars OK, 4 or 5 short cars OK, rough performer though, prone to clunking around the track.
AC Rogers:
7 ore cars OK, 4 short cars OK
Overall I am very impressed with the HLW mack bashes, they pull more than I would have suspected due to there weight, more than the heavier LGB Porters. The kitbash geared engines like the Shaykirk and the Climax have more than outperformed my expectations, they are marvelous pullers! The most dissappointing for me have sadly been the Bachmann products, Oh well.
Legend:
Ore car = HLW Minicar or LGB ore cars
Short car = 20' freight cars
Large car = 40' big hauler frieght cars
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 Kitbashing, welcome to the Dark Side | |
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ThinkerT
Alaska
Foreman
Posts:203
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| | 04/10/2008 11:45 PM |
| Sadly, I was more impressed with my 0-4-0 Lionel switchers on 4% grades than I was with my Annie.
A dozen ore cars! Do you have enough siding space to hold them all? | | | |
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sftalc
Brakeman
Posts:11
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| | 04/11/2008 5:39 PM |
| VSMITH,
I noticed you stated your Bachmann saddle-tank porter clunks around the track and is a rough performer. I've have that problem with my side tank porter. I sent it back to Bachmann for repairs and afterwards it worked great. About a month later it's clunking and rough again. Is this indigenous to this loco? By contrast the two LGB locos I have are excellent runners and solidly built. | | | |
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vsmith
1st Class Member
SoCal
Engineer
Posts:1000
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| | 04/11/2008 5:46 PM |
| | I really think the little piggy need skates, but its also the fact that its nose heavy as hell, alot of electronic stuff is stuffed in the nose. I added some additional wieght under the cab to try to balance it, that helped but the flanges on the wheels still love to wedge themselves on LGB turn out frogs, Ugh! | |
Kitbashing, welcome to the Dark Side | |
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ThinkerT
Alaska
Foreman
Posts:203
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| | 04/11/2008 6:05 PM |
| | Up until reading the last couple of posts, I was thinking of getting a Bachmann 0-4-0 switcher. Think I'll stick with the Lionel ones instead...unless I can get a good deal on one of these 'Macks'.... | | | |
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vsmith
1st Class Member
SoCal
Engineer
Posts:1000
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| | 04/11/2008 6:15 PM |
| | T if you can find an earlier sidetanker, the 2nd Gen version with the metal siderods, that one is great! balanced suspension and reliability. BTW Macks are only about $40 or so. | |
Kitbashing, welcome to the Dark Side | |
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kormsen
in the middle of the westparaguayan semi desert
Conductor
Posts:546
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| | 04/11/2008 7:38 PM |
| ThinkerT,
if you want something reliable, get a LGB-Stainz at ebay, and rebuild the upper part, as you like.
my older stainz, i got 1970 or 71 with the starterset.
i used (abused) it for three years outside (driven by a 12v car-battery) and about 15 years inside. the rest of the years it was in the box.
the only maintenance, it ever got was dusting and mud wiping.
my stainzes draw better (specially on grades), than my 4-6-0 bachmann.
korm
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 construction site - keep off! | |
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vsmith
1st Class Member
SoCal
Engineer
Posts:1000
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| |
carpenter matt
1st Class Member
near columbus, Ohio
Brakeman
Posts:59
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| | 06/04/2008 6:00 PM |
| Vic, good luck on the contest! I hope your recent success on the micro layout spurs you on to senic this one. The micro Looks great.
Also have you thought of hiding a turnout behind trees or something to create a hidden "Y" at the far right side coming of the mill spur? | |
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vsmith
1st Class Member
SoCal
Engineer
Posts:1000
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| | 06/12/2008 9:16 AM |
| Hi Matt
It had such a switch at one time but I took it out as it was out of reach and thats always where trains would always stall of course. We'll see, I might reconsider it as I have no other real way to turn an engine around right now. | |
Kitbashing, welcome to the Dark Side | |
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CCSII
Norman Oklahoma
Foreman
Posts:174
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| | 06/12/2008 10:56 AM |
| | Mr. Smith - what are the overall dimensions of your layout? | | | |
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kormsen
in the middle of the westparaguayan semi desert
Conductor
Posts:546
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| | 06/12/2008 11:21 AM |
| i like that plan.
are the curves R1? | |
construction site - keep off! | |
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vsmith
1st Class Member
SoCal
Engineer
Posts:1000
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| | 06/12/2008 12:05 PM |
| | Its 19'6" long, 10'0" wide on the right side, 9'0" wide on the left side. All curves and switches are R1 | |
Kitbashing, welcome to the Dark Side | |
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pacbelt
Sonoran Desert
Brakeman
Posts:51
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| | 07/08/2008 5:53 PM |
| I'm glad to see familiar faces - and remakes of familiar projects!!!!
I've been away so long, I had to get a new membership!
Looks really good! Good luck in the contest as well.
I'm getting underway on my impossibel railroad - 6' X 17' with all R1 curves. I really look forward to seeing how yours turns out!
Carmine | |
Carmine
Tucson, AZ
 Since 1975! | |
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vsmith
1st Class Member
SoCal
Engineer
Posts:1000
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| | 07/09/2008 9:37 AM |
| Thanks, Carmine have you developed a plan yet? I'm always curious to see how others approach the "Great Indoors"
BTW tied for second in the contest, not bad given I was up against two very well done HO layouts. On the last contest there my On30 "Angry Beaver" logging layout was a blow out winner, so second place this time around aint bad at all, its all for fun anyway, no prizes or cash.
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Kitbashing, welcome to the Dark Side | |
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pacbelt
Sonoran Desert
Brakeman
Posts:51
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| | 07/09/2008 4:20 PM |
| Congrats Vic!
I'm horrible at track plans! All I know so far is this is a layout that is being built secional, so when and if I get my 3-car garage, it can grow.
Basically, right now, I'm building the two ends of a hopefully larger layout!
I should probably get a thread started soon.... | |
Carmine
Tucson, AZ
Since 1975! | |
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Gary Woolard
1st Class Member
Canoga Park, CA
Brakeman
Posts:62
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| | 07/09/2008 10:14 PM |
| Hey Vic,
I was just reviewing this thread from the beginning (y'know, your layout wouldn't be half-bad for an outdoor plan:hehe and I noticed for the first time your reference to Malcolm Furlow. I've seen occasional pix of his work and other people's references, but I can't find any real SOURCE material! Do you have any pointers?
thanks...
P.S. I think if you put some weight into the boiler of that Indy it would improve its traction quite a bit. Leastways, that's what I've heard! | |
-Gary the Garden Rail Hobo- | |
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vsmith
1st Class Member
SoCal
Engineer
Posts:1000
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| | 08/23/2008 10:18 AM |
| Been awhile since I updated here, mostly because I havent really made any progress due to too many Tim Taylor projects around the house, I might slowly now be able to begin to re-approach this project again.
When I was watching the extras on my "LOTR" dvds I was struck by the idea of the "Pre Viz" (pre-visualization) program, which uses blocky very basic computer 3D animation to study shots, camera angles, and how action sequences will take place before any actual film shooting takes place, so I wondered if I can do this with my layout, (not in 3D!) so I took the pics I had of my layout and the basic paint/editing program I have and just attempted to get a good idea of what the layout might end up looking like, so:
Dont mind the bright colors, or the chunky graphics, its really just to get a more basic visual "sketch" idea of what goes where with possible buildings and scenery.
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Kitbashing, welcome to the Dark Side | |
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carpenter matt
1st Class Member
near columbus, Ohio
Brakeman
Posts:59
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| | 08/26/2008 8:10 PM |
| | Vic, Great visualization aid. I have no doubt that once you start the mountians you will roll right through the rest of the sceanery. | |
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