Sunshine, Palm Trees and a Food Industry...

Thanks Gormo.

It certainly will give the layout more operation. I never really wanted to release the loco from its train, then a second loco comes up from behind to pull the cars away on to the main line, to release the loco that brought the cars in. It will possibly interfere with other operations if/when I have two operators.

Cheers, Gary.

 

Well, the new run around on a drop down section is all complete apart from actually cutting the rails where they hinge together.

I have used two collapsible hinges so that the small shelf doesn't wobble sided to side which I found earlier in the build.

These collapsible hinges can carry up to 50kg in weight (110lbs), which is overkill, but at least I know this is stable and will take my biggest loco and a pint !

I have used a length of pcb along the edges of the layout and drop down shelf. These were screwed into place, track soldered and then through the copper on the pcb to isolate the rails.

Although I haven't wired the stub end in yet, I need to purchase 2m of wire before I can do this. The test loco (CSX GP9) ran fautlessly onto the stub then back around. You can watch this on our facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/groups/PLATFORM1MRC

Cheers, Gary.

 

Thank you Pete and Gormo.

These are locally sourced from Bunnings, although you can order online. They come in two sizes, the larger brackets are 300 x 145mm. The ones I have used are 250 x 115mm shown here: https://www.bunnings.com.au/carinya-250-x-115mm-white-spring-loaded-folding-bracket-single_p3970375

Cheers, Gary.

 

Nah, not digital, just digits...!

Cheers, Gary.

 

I will be making a start on the third area with buried track and that will be the fuel siding. I have the balsa at hand (picked up today) and whilst I was out and about, I dropped in to Casula Hobbies, where I picked up a large fuel tank for the siding. I already had a Rix kit tank, but it had the dome top and it was a little small, plus it is riveted whereas I wanted a seam welded tank. I could have scratch built a tank, but I would of had to purchase a 1m length of 100mm diameter drain pipe and more styrene sheet etc.

I picked up a kit manufactured by Tichy Train Group, who make a lot of HO scale kits for the US market (and others). It is a sizable tank measuring 107mm in diameter and 178mm tall. Here are two photos...

At $31.50, that ain't a bad price, say compared to the Walthers kit...

This photo below shows the size of the model with a tank car 35mm behind it...

Tomorrows job (after work) will be to finish the hard stand/buried track then properly plan out the tank and bunding, where the smaller tanks will be located as well as the transfer shed (rail to tank) and the associated pipe work.

Cheers, Gary.

 

Some new rolling stock has turned up in the last two days, as well as some detail items...
The new rolling stock will allow me to switch loads in/out, drop off empties, pick up loaded !

^ Walthers 57' Mechanical Reefer, 'American Refrgerated Transport'.

^ Walthers Insulated Boxcar 'CSX'.

^ Walthers Railgon 'Railgon'.

^ Walthers Railgon 'Conrail'.

^ Walther 40' UTLX Tank Car 'Cargill Foods'.

^ Walthers 40' UTLX Tank Car 'Corn Product Corp'.

^ Athearn Genesis GATC 20K Tank Car 'Hercules Inc.'

^ Rapido Procor GP20 Tank Car (General Purpose 20,000 gallon) 'NCTX North American"

^ Several packets of detail items, mostly air hoses and brake lines etc...

I have also been making up some pallet loads for the produce warehouse...

As usual, some of the cartons do get damaged in transport !

So I won't be doing too much modelling this weekend as I will be up in Newcastle, as I have sold my 'Tomlins Creek' HO scale NSWGR layout to a mate and we will be installing it in his home.

Cheers, Gary.

 

Pinch as many as you like, after all, I pinched them from others !

Cheers, Gary.

 

Thanks mate. I was thinking that the concrete surface looked a little too shiney, but from photos I have seen, I just tried to copy the finish. I do have a small forklift coming soon.

Cheers, Gary.

 

Thanks Geoff. I am impressed with some of those freight cars, some haveexceptional details and a few of the Walthers cars (box cars) don't have a lot but what is on them shall be highlighted once weathered.

As for the fruit boxes, they are a HO scale paper download, available from Team Track Models in the Acme Transfer Warehouse kit. Here is a link and you'll find them on page 8, of course after purchasing and downloading the kit ! https://www.teamtrackmodels.com/product/acme-transfer-warehouse/

Mind you, I have spoken with the owner at Team Track Models (John Gibbens) and asked if he would do a kit/download of pallets and pallet loads. He is considering it.

The oranges you see are simply mustard seeds painted orange ! This is something I have done previously, using seeds as fruit and veg.

Cheers, Gary.

 

That makes perfect sense behind the shiny surface ! As for the weathering of the cars, that'll be some time away....

Cheers, Gary.