Running the Trains

As mentioned, I'm in a dreaded transitional phase of the train project; moving from one room to an unknown room.  This is where, I think, its easy to lose your momentum and call the whole thing off and be done with it.  While this would be easy, I'd always be nagged internally with my train bug.  What I'm trying to say is - I have to keep my interest levels up while its determined where my trains will reside next in the house.

I'm running trains.  Got some new stuff in the mail, a box of goodies! I've started going into the inter modal scene, since let's face it, that's the way of trains now.  That and my new design calls for a harbour full of fun inter modal cranes and ships.  Oh, and a couple KATO AC4400 Beaver logo locomotives. 

 If you look at the picture to the left you'll probably think I like 7up.  I don't.  For the nosy - yes, that is my work cube and my shoes.

Naturally I tried to install the decoders into the loco's that night.  So a couple things...  apparently Digitrax changed the decoder type that's recommended for this KATO unit.  Although it says clearly in their documentation (web, instructions etc etc ) that it doesn't need a shell modification to fit, IT DOES.  Digitrax mentioned that - after when I asked them.  Great service response time though!  anyway, they were helpful with a suggestion - file down the back LED or mod the case.  I chose the filing method.  Worked great.  FOR THE FIRST ONE !!!  Of course it couldn't be easy after that.  no, that's not how life works.  The second decoder only ran in 1 direction.  Lights worked great.  ran great backwards.  nada forwards.  *sigh*

Of course Digitrax says send it back - its Friday, and I'm leaving for a course in Denver the next day so everything has to wait until I get back.  Realistically it's been a week and the decoder is still sitting on my desk waiting.

Aside from that, got my two FVM GEVO's speed sync'ed.  Or at least I thought I did.  A couple tweaks are still needed, as they're out to lunch with each other on the low speeds.  Cool feature in JMRI is their speedometer, which tells scale speeds based on my detectors.  Set the high speed to 90 mph and then worked down.

Local hobby store (http://www.cvrco.com/) had a sale this weekend, and last time I was there noticed that they've got the scarce BLMA 53' spine cars.  At full price, 89.99 its a bit much, but they had a great sale (21% off), so I got their last one.  oh yeah! 

So I ran my new KATO, my consisted GEVO's with 9 inter modal cars and associated random containers.  Sweetness. 

The nice thing about running trains is I've learned things for the next layout.  Like the importance of perfect trackwork and switches in the yard.  The BLMA's had a tendency to walk over some of the switches, thought I'd fixed 'em all perfect but apparently these cars are a bit fussier.

Had fun anyway.

More grass Man, more grass

Okay so the title is bit misleading - this isn't actually about the effects of marijuana. Maybe though, it gets me some cheap web hits ... if that's the case, sorry but thanks for visiting.  This is actually a continuation of the use of the new Grassinator on my N scale model train.  Dude - don't judge, you're looking up web references for marijuana !!   Anyway, I also tried my hand at building a rural road. Mixed results. Definitely mixed results, by that I mean the road stinks, the grass is pretty good.  Again, no weed ref intended.

The road was made with plaster of Paris tinted with grey. Mistakes

 1. should have used black not grey.
 2. was the plaster of Paris itself not runny enough I think.  
 3.Lines were painted - too thick a brush and I shake.  Tried, halfheartedly, to make a stencil but that failed too.