Bill,

I agree ... I would love to see any Beyer-Garratt.  Having ridden behind them in South Africa and Zimbabwe, they are tremendous experiences.  However, with an On30 version in brass being offered by Backwoods Miniatures (albeit for a very hefty price), I suspect that our friends at Bachmann may not feel that they should prepare a duplicate.  But, I'll put in my vote for one ... that I can afford ... I'll worry about justifying it on the layout set in northern New Mexico, later.

Jim

I think it looks great.  There really isn't anything that looks off.  My only comment is that once you get things going, you have to weather everything to make it look good in a string of cars ... unless you are sending it to a rip track. 

Some time in the future, you might want to fool around with shaving off the grabs and ladders and replacing them with detail parts.  Weathering some times emphasizes the molded on look.  But, those are skills that can be developed along the way.

Anyway,  I think it is an excellent first attempt.  Much better than mine, even now!

Jim

My experience has been that we tend to run our models too fast, but this is especially true in narrow gauge.  From what little I remember of films my father took of the Chili line trains going across Otowi Bridge and the Rio Grande river, they seemed to creep along all the time.  I have been trying to keep the speeds down on my layout.   If nothing else, the slow speeds really make you feel like the run is much longer and the layout much bigger.

Jim

Wally,

My model railroad club uses a toggle to go back and forth between our NCE-based DCC system and a straight DC system.  This works fairly well but, as mentioned above, we have blown out NCE power cabs when somebody isn't careful.  An expensive disaster when it occurs.  I would recommend against it.  I suggest going with Digitrax or EZ Command or any others which WILL support both.

Jim

Quote from: finderskeepers on April 07, 2008, 09:20:41 AM
fantastic, love it. Is there a home webpage site?

Sorry, but there isn't.   I have a website, professionally, just to list all of my publications and research and I hate having to keep that updated.  I never thought about trying to keep a home webpage devoted to the layout (I'd rather be making a mess of the layout room instead).  I guess I should, if nothing else, put together a photo album, or something and post it to one of the On30 list serves.  I have always thought of the work as being kind of mediocer, anyway.  I am surprised by the response and grateful for all of the compliments.

Jim

OK.  Here's one more.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3225/2382823806_f0abde2df1_b.jpg

Crossing Frijoles Creek before the little guy was weathered.

JIm

Thanks for letting me that I can do this picture stuff.  Even though I have been doing computer modeling for over 30 years (FORTRAN, etc.), there are still things that leave me confused and bewildered.

The pueblo is where my grandmother grew up in northern New Mexico (at least my condensed version).  The layout is set in northern New Mexico along the Chili Line.  I will post more pictures in a while.

Don't know if I can provide an "overall" view of the layout.  It fills my converted two-car garage here in Florida.  I guess I could attempt to draw and post a layout plan.  Would that help?

Jim

Just trying to post a pic of my On30 layout to see if I can.  I hope somebody lets me know if it worked.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3250/2382824250_1fbe0930e4_b.jpg


Jim

Wade,

Right you are ... my mistake.  It's the Banta kit and it should slip right over the top of the combine, just fine.  Pretty seamless conversion but one I am anxious to get going on my own layout.

Sorry for the confusion.

Jim

As far as I know, the Micro-Mark kit (I assume you are refering to the SR&RL modification) is a laser cut kit designed to fit on the Bachmann On30 coach chasis.  There is no modificaiton of the body needed (it becomes "scrap").  I have not built the kit, but it sure looks like it would be fun.

The Banta cupola is not listed on their website but I have one of those, ordered directly from Banta.  They are designed to fit on to the combine, to represent a drovers cabosse or something close to the D&RGW's "Pagosa".  The cupola from the Banta kit is designed to fit over the existing coach roof and includes all of the hardware and drilling guides, etc.  Havent' built it yet but hope to post some pictures soon.
Jim

Clever Models also has O, HO, and N kits as very elegant cardstock models.  I know it sounds strange but with high quality printing and high resolution graphics, these things look as good as anything built by other means, especially if they are not forground models.  On the other hand, I have one in the foreground of my layout and people keep touching it because they can't believe that the textures are just printed on.

Jim

I spent my time flying off the USS Ranger (CVA-61) during Linebacker 1 and Linebacker 2 in Vietnam (1972).  Even had a couple fellow model railroaders on board.  When we weren't sleeping, flying, or screaming, we had a bit of a round-robin club going.

Jim

Thanks for the insights so far.  I AM a crusty oldster, having subscribed to MR since 1961 (and having almost every issue since 1942) and I will continue to subscribe until the day I die but, that said, I must admit there is more picture and less text and more "here's what you can do with RTR" and less "here's how to build something"

Jim

I am just curious about the feelings of the members of the group as to the "value" of some of our publications.  I can recall a time when I couldn't wait for the next issue Model Railroader, but over the past few years, I have found very little of value.  Indeed, I have found that I can spend days and days with each issue Railroad Model Craftsman and Narrow Gauge and Shorline Gazette but not crack the cover of MR.  Too bad Mainline Modeler is gone.  Never did appreciate Railmodel Journal and some of the others.  Has the publication evolved or have I?  After 30+ years in HO and On30, have I finally moved from beginner to intermediate or advanced?  Is that why some magazines just don't satisfy?  What publications do the others think are providing the best modeling information?  This whole discussion may have already been beaten to death, but any insights would be interesting.

Jim

Kalmbach is coming out with a publication, under the Classic Trains series, called "Railroads and World War II".  That could probably get you started.  You can read about it at the Model Railroader website.  Your strings of flats with all of that military equipment will certainly be unique.  Don't forget the troop trains and all those converted boxcars.  As I recall, the Navy and the Army operated a lot of their own rolling stock and engines in and around depot facilities.

Jim