Welcome to the forum   
Welcome Guest! To enable all features please Login or Register.

Notification

Icon
Error

Share
Options
View
Go to last post in this topic Go to first unread post in this topic
Offline Zme  
#1 Posted : 18 March 2020 19:13:26(UTC)
Zme

United States   
Joined: 02/10/2013(UTC)
Posts: 760
Location: West Texas
Hello everyone

I know we all are under a great deal of stress right now dealing with our current situation.

When or if, you have time, what projects will you work on during this time?

I plan to add a few more street lights to my layout. I find working on my layout is a great stress buster. What about you?

Best wishes.
thanks 4 users liked this useful post by Zme
Offline DaleSchultz  
#2 Posted : 18 March 2020 19:55:15(UTC)
DaleSchultz

United States   
Joined: 10/02/2006(UTC)
Posts: 3,997
I am adding a big expansion, cutting lumber, constructing benchwork, laying track, adding a booster, defining the new tracks in my software...
Dale
Intellibox + own software, K-Track
My current layout: https://cabin-layout.mixmox.com
Arrival and Departure signs: https://remotesign.mixmox.com
thanks 3 users liked this useful post by DaleSchultz
Offline Zme  
#3 Posted : 18 March 2020 21:46:21(UTC)
Zme

United States   
Joined: 02/10/2013(UTC)
Posts: 760
Location: West Texas
Hello. Thanks. That project sounds like it will keep you busy for a while. I hope all goes well.

Mine is a simple upgrade by comparison.

Best wishes.
thanks 3 users liked this useful post by Zme
Offline kimballthurlow  
#4 Posted : 18 March 2020 21:55:28(UTC)
kimballthurlow

Australia   
Joined: 18/03/2007(UTC)
Posts: 6,653
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Oh I just fiddle around with my trains.

I have some old TRIX EXPRESS die-cast rolling stock, ensuring they are lubricated with new Märklin profile wheelsets to run on C track.

And keeping the layout clean for a run with a couple of trains twice a week maybe.

And I have an ongoing project modifying the body on an OO gauge English 0-6-0 tank engine to backdate it to 1914.
That is done in Plastikard.

That is enough.
Thank you.

Kimball
HO Scale - Märklin (ep II-III and VI, C Track, digital) - 2 rail HO (Queensland Australia, UK, USA) - 3 rail OO (English Hornby Dublo) - old clockwork O gauge - Live Steam 90mm (3.1/2 inch) gauge.
thanks 1 user liked this useful post by kimballthurlow
Offline Zme  
#5 Posted : 18 March 2020 22:05:10(UTC)
Zme

United States   
Joined: 02/10/2013(UTC)
Posts: 760
Location: West Texas
Thanks Kimball. Sounds like that is enough to keep you busy.

I just cleaned my track and am getting ready for a run in a few minutes.
thanks 2 users liked this useful post by Zme
Offline Martti Mäntylä  
#6 Posted : 18 March 2020 22:34:51(UTC)
Martti Mäntylä

Finland   
Joined: 15/11/2018(UTC)
Posts: 397
Location: Uusimaa, Helsinki
I just spent good two hours to figure out why some of my 4002 Donnerbüchsen cars with 7074 lights caused a momentary short when passing a curved turnout while some other cars didn't. I finally figured it out: it was a subtle matter of the geometry of the 7074 units. With this, I may just and just be able to use these cars also on digital tracks; we'll see. Not that it's particularly important, as I possess another set of Donnerbüchsen specifically for digital.

During the entire time, the current crisis never entered my mind.
- Martti M.
Era III analog & digital (Rocrail, CAN Digital Bahn, Gleisbox/MS2, K83/K84), C & M tracks, some Spur 1
thanks 2 users liked this useful post by Martti Mäntylä
Online Crazy Harry  
#7 Posted : 18 March 2020 23:28:34(UTC)
Crazy Harry

Canada   
Joined: 18/11/2008(UTC)
Posts: 476
Location: Oakville, Ontario
Two items on my to do list:

1. Track plan finalization for my Maerklin H0 layout.
2. Work on the live steam engine I just inherited from my wife's friend (it belonged to the friend's father).

forney.png.

The live steamer has a severe case of hardened oil or water deposit issues - one of the piston valves and the reverser valve are stuck. It's an older Accucraft Forney engine (1:20.3 scale, runs on G gauge track).

Stay healthy,

Harold.

P.S.: Maybe this topic should be moved to the general MRR area.
thanks 3 users liked this useful post by Crazy Harry
Offline Zme  
#8 Posted : 18 March 2020 23:36:16(UTC)
Zme

United States   
Joined: 02/10/2013(UTC)
Posts: 760
Location: West Texas
Thank you both. With this bit if extra time on our hands, we may just surprise ourselves with what we are able to accomplish.

Martti I bet a hot sauna wouldn’t hurt either. :)




Best wishes
thanks 3 users liked this useful post by Zme
Offline mvd71  
#9 Posted : 19 March 2020 01:26:04(UTC)
mvd71

New Zealand   
Joined: 09/08/2008(UTC)
Posts: 1,708
Location: Auckland,
If I get time available, it will be signals and decoders installed in a station, and maybe finish building some kits. But everything is a bit unknown over here at the moment, so I can only do projects that I have the components for already
thanks 1 user liked this useful post by mvd71
Offline Zme  
#10 Posted : 19 March 2020 04:18:21(UTC)
Zme

United States   
Joined: 02/10/2013(UTC)
Posts: 760
Location: West Texas
Hello. Signal installing is a challenge I have yet to try.

Model building sometimes takes a while, especially with the new carton models. I lack experience with them and it seems to take longer. The result though, are amazing and when I am pointing out the carton building to visitors, they are surprised with the quality. I have several available which I need to think about working on.

I agree, now is not the time to be waiting for supplies.

Best wishes.
thanks 1 user liked this useful post by Zme
Offline Gregor  
#11 Posted : 19 March 2020 12:48:21(UTC)
Gregor

Netherlands   
Joined: 17/04/2003(UTC)
Posts: 996
Location: Netherlands
Hi,

I now work from home every day and that keeps me quite busy. So no chance to massively increase my layout time...

However, when there is a meeting where I do not have to present and only should listen, I steal some time to work on my fire brigade station.

UserPostedImage

Best regards,
Gregor
thanks 5 users liked this useful post by Gregor
Offline Zme  
#12 Posted : 19 March 2020 14:38:56(UTC)
Zme

United States   
Joined: 02/10/2013(UTC)
Posts: 760
Location: West Texas
Hello. Sweet

By the looks of it, multitasking has allowed you to make great progress.

Thanks Gregor
thanks 2 users liked this useful post by Zme
Offline Zme  
#13 Posted : 20 March 2020 18:10:11(UTC)
Zme

United States   
Joined: 02/10/2013(UTC)
Posts: 760
Location: West Texas
Hello

Some time ago when I purchased an item from EBay, I had to contact the seller. I don’t recall why, because most times EBay purchases are rather impersonal and routine. I suppose something went wrong and I had to make contact. Anyway, as I recall it was a pleasant, personable communications and as it usually does, everything worked out fine.

It was only natural for the conversation to eventually work around to the hobby. Although I didn’t appreciate it at the time, the seller told me that for him, “trains are his fishbowl”.

At the time, I really didn’t fully understand and appreciate what he was telling me. Today I finally understand this statement. They say watching fish in a fish tank can be calming and even reduce your blood pressure. In fact, it can be beneficial to your health.

I agree with my EBay seller, planning, working on, purchasing, and finally, perhaps most importantly, watching a train pass by is a benefit to me. The positive impacts are similar to watching a fish tank perhaps better. To me, trains are even more beneficial than any other hobby.

I hope you agree.

Best wishes. Hang in there.





thanks 7 users liked this useful post by Zme
Offline kimballthurlow  
#14 Posted : 20 March 2020 21:00:44(UTC)
kimballthurlow

Australia   
Joined: 18/03/2007(UTC)
Posts: 6,653
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Originally Posted by: d_landen@yahoo.com Go to Quoted Post
... They say watching fish in a fish tank can be calming and even reduce your blood pressure. In fact, it can be beneficial to your health.

.. most importantly, watching a train pass by is a benefit to me. The positive impacts are similar to watching a fish tank perhaps better. To me, trains are even more beneficial than any other hobby.

I hope you agree.

Best wishes. Hang in there.



I agree wholeheartedly.
Watching my little trains go round and round is very satisfying.

I was asked by a colleague once what I did for relaxation.
This was before I had a layout.
When I told him I watched videos of trains shunting (yes many US themed) he was amazed.

Kimball
HO Scale - Märklin (ep II-III and VI, C Track, digital) - 2 rail HO (Queensland Australia, UK, USA) - 3 rail OO (English Hornby Dublo) - old clockwork O gauge - Live Steam 90mm (3.1/2 inch) gauge.
thanks 4 users liked this useful post by kimballthurlow
Offline jvuye  
#15 Posted : 20 March 2020 23:57:03(UTC)
jvuye

Belgium   
Joined: 01/03/2008(UTC)
Posts: 2,881
Location: South Western France
Besides reading, talking to friends and family and listening to music, my train project has to do with my SBB layout under construction.
The next step is the catenary, and I need to build some custom elements to span the station's 7 tracks .
The cross span will be covering 4 track in the platform area , and 3 tracks in the freight trains area
The Swiss catenary is a little different from the DB or Austrian , and actually show a lot of different types of elements along the line
I am using Sommerfeldt as the main supplier as they have about everything to build whatever combination you'd like .
But I will have to build 4 of these extra heavy duty cross spans which also serve as tensionners for the messenger and the contact wire

Her's a pic of what it should look like.

Note the interesting cable and pulleys combination

vectron+sbb Catenary tensionner.jpg

Now if I could only get the parcel with the materials: it's blocked in the post offic by the lockdown here.
Jacques Vuye aka Dr.Eisenbahn
Once a vandal, learned to be better and had great success!
thanks 4 users liked this useful post by jvuye
Offline jvuye  
#16 Posted : 20 March 2020 23:58:35(UTC)
jvuye

Belgium   
Joined: 01/03/2008(UTC)
Posts: 2,881
Location: South Western France
Originally Posted by: jvuye Go to Quoted Post
Besides reading, talking to friends and family and listening to music, my train project has to do with my SBB layout under construction.
The next step is the catenary, and I need to build some custom elements to span the station's 7 tracks .
The cross span will be covering 4 track in the platform area , and 3 tracks in the freight trains area
The Swiss catenary is a little different from the DB or Austrian , and actually show a lot of different types of elements along the line
I am using Sommerfeldt as the main supplier as they have about everything to build whatever combination you'd like .
But I will have to build 4 of these extra heavy duty cross spans which also serve as tensionners for the messenger and the contact wire

Here's a pic of what it should look like.

Note the interesting cable and pulleys combination

vectron+sbb Catenary tensionner.jpg

Now if I could only get the parcel with the materials: it's blocked in the post office by the lockdown here.


Jacques Vuye aka Dr.Eisenbahn
Once a vandal, learned to be better and had great success!
Offline river6109  
#17 Posted : 21 March 2020 00:45:27(UTC)
river6109

Australia   
Joined: 22/01/2009(UTC)
Posts: 14,636
Location: On 1965 Märklin Boulevard just around from Roco Square
Until 3years ago, my layout wasn't fully assembled because the lack of room but since than the trains do run around and around unless they stop for some reason and it is relaxing when they don't stop but very frustrating when something goes wrong.

John
https://www.youtube.com/river6109
https://www.youtube.com/6109river
5 years in Destruction mode
50 years in Repairing mode
Offline Zme  
#18 Posted : 21 March 2020 01:47:43(UTC)
Zme

United States   
Joined: 02/10/2013(UTC)
Posts: 760
Location: West Texas
Hello thank you for your replies.

I have noticed longer delivery times here also. I have no choice and must mail everything I need as there are no Marklin vendors here. Seems I am always waiting for something that is in the mail. I probably over buy just to have some stock of things I may need and this can be expensive.

Dr Eisenbahn you are fortunate you at least found what you needed. That looks like a complicated setup, but with that source, it should be fantastic when installed. It is frustrating knowing something needed is close by, but you can get your hands on it. Hang in there.

John I check out your YouTube’s and they are amazing. The sound sure enhances the spectacular sites on your layout. The horn and motor sounds on the Schienenbus are something. I don’t know why, but I like the Railbus. I would say they are a favorite.

Thanks again. Take care.
thanks 2 users liked this useful post by Zme
Offline parakiet  
#19 Posted : 23 March 2020 07:35:30(UTC)
parakiet

Belgium   
Joined: 20/02/2017(UTC)
Posts: 280
Location: Flanders!
I am one of the happy few who can keep working. It's like crossing zombie land.

Wondering how many colleagues I'm going to meet at work today. Perhaps 2 out of 13.

So.. more work, more stress, same amount of household related work => no extra train time for me..
thanks 1 user liked this useful post by parakiet
Offline jvuye  
#20 Posted : 23 March 2020 10:21:33(UTC)
jvuye

Belgium   
Joined: 01/03/2008(UTC)
Posts: 2,881
Location: South Western France
Originally Posted by: parakiet Go to Quoted Post
I am one of the happy few who can keep working. It's like crossing zombie land.

Wondering how many colleagues I'm going to meet at work today. Perhaps 2 out of 13.

So.. more work, more stress, same amount of household related work => no extra train time for me..


Stay safe, that's all that matters right now!

Jacques Vuye aka Dr.Eisenbahn
Once a vandal, learned to be better and had great success!
thanks 2 users liked this useful post by jvuye
Offline Zme  
#21 Posted : 23 March 2020 18:10:03(UTC)
Zme

United States   
Joined: 02/10/2013(UTC)
Posts: 760
Location: West Texas
Hi. We all can keep doing what we need to, by all means.

When things slack, or during a break, you could think about your train project. Perhaps during that time you could come up with a solution to a problem, or perhaps a better way to do something on your layout. Although, some aspects such a wiring must be done in a specific way, other things such as how to place a wall, building, or light can be done in a number of different ways. I find, sometimes the best way to do something is not necessarily the first idea you arrive at. Thinking about something for a time, perhaps may give you a better idea.

Just a thought.

Best wishes.
thanks 2 users liked this useful post by Zme
Offline kimballthurlow  
#22 Posted : 05 April 2020 22:05:06(UTC)
kimballthurlow

Australia   
Joined: 18/03/2007(UTC)
Posts: 6,653
Location: Brisbane, Australia
I have taken advantage of extra time at home, to catch up on some fiddly rolling stock projects.

One of them is an obsession with freight escort cars or baggage wagons.
Here is an old 1466 Fleischmann version from the late 1950s, which now has a part fitted coloured interior.
I made new doors, filled in one window and glazed others, and added a port-hole toilet window.
Tamiya As-24 spray paint exactly matches the exterior colouring.

Soon I will put it back on its die-cast underframe.
Ostensibly this model was made at 1:82 scale, but its overall dimensions match those used by Märklin (except in length).

UserPostedImage

Kimball
HO Scale - Märklin (ep II-III and VI, C Track, digital) - 2 rail HO (Queensland Australia, UK, USA) - 3 rail OO (English Hornby Dublo) - old clockwork O gauge - Live Steam 90mm (3.1/2 inch) gauge.
thanks 3 users liked this useful post by kimballthurlow
Offline Janne75  
#23 Posted : 05 April 2020 22:36:43(UTC)
Janne75

Finland   
Joined: 23/03/2012(UTC)
Posts: 2,550
Location: Finland
I have been working from home since 18th March. As I work normally in another city now I have more free time as it does not take time to drive to work and back to home. I have been running much more my trains now.

Kimball, I also like very much those freight train baggage wagons. I have seven baggage wagons for freight trains and many more for passenger trains. For freight trains I have one newer Märklin DRG and two DB with close couplers. I have now also four older Märklin freight train baggage wagons. Three 310/1’s from 1956 with those wider ”special” couplers made only in 1956. Then I have one even older full metal 310. These older ones are just for display purposes and newer ones are in heavy use almost daily Love .

Cheers.
Janne
Märklin H0 digital layout. I have analog and digital H0 Collection. Rolling stock mostly from era I, II, III and IV. Märklin 1 gauge beginner.
thanks 1 user liked this useful post by Janne75
Offline Michael4  
#24 Posted : 05 April 2020 23:55:58(UTC)
Michael4

United Kingdom   
Joined: 02/02/2017(UTC)
Posts: 637
Location: England, South Coast
I am spending quite a lot of time wiring controller 6600 to shuttle trains between two stations, alternating across three sidings at each station. I have used up all my good 5146s and am now having to try and sort the ones that are in the junk box.

In the normal world I really wouldn't have bothered but putting theory into practice keeps me busy.
thanks 2 users liked this useful post by Michael4
Offline rugauger  
#25 Posted : 07 April 2020 22:33:44(UTC)
rugauger

United Kingdom   
Joined: 19/12/2003(UTC)
Posts: 1,205
Location: Swindon, Wiltshire
I'm busy working on the town part of the layout. It's the part that people first see when they come into the room. Hoping to put up some pictures soon!
Richard
Offline ocram63_uk  
#26 Posted : 08 April 2020 09:50:15(UTC)
ocram63_uk

United Kingdom   
Joined: 07/01/2015(UTC)
Posts: 704
Location: England, Suffolk
little time for trains I must say. I'm fixing all my vintage fountain pens that needed a bit of attention. I'm fixing an old HP41C card reader, redescovering the HP41C as well, and most of all I'm working from home which menas I'm working more than when I'm at the office :-)
Every once in a while I put a loco on the programming track and tweak some CVs, mainly CV5, so that I get it to go at prototypical speed.
Developed a silly routine for the HP41C that tells me the 'real' speed the loco is travelling :-)
Keeping busy as I can
thanks 1 user liked this useful post by ocram63_uk
Offline Zme  
#27 Posted : 12 April 2020 04:49:24(UTC)
Zme

United States   
Joined: 02/10/2013(UTC)
Posts: 760
Location: West Texas
Hi everyone. Sounds like we are keeping ourselves busy with various projects. I managed to get some more lights installed and find myself troubleshooting others. I have also been lubing and been running my locos with various rolling stock. Also I have one loco which needs to be reassembled after I did some cleaning. That will keep me going.

Maybe I need to find some spots for some new building. That is always fun.

Take good care.
Offline Michael4  
#28 Posted : 12 April 2020 09:35:36(UTC)
Michael4

United Kingdom   
Joined: 02/02/2017(UTC)
Posts: 637
Location: England, South Coast
Well, now I appear to have fried one of my 6600s. Have downloaded the wiring diagram etc and and a whole new passtime opens up before me.
thanks 1 user liked this useful post by Michael4
Offline rhfil  
#29 Posted : 12 April 2020 14:40:48(UTC)
rhfil

United States   
Joined: 05/09/2014(UTC)
Posts: 422
Location: NEW HAMPSHIRE, Somersworth
Becoming knowledgeable in the automating features of the CS3 "events" sequencing. Just perfected a station shuttle.
Users browsing this topic
Forum Jump  
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.

| Powered by YAF.NET | YAF.NET © 2003-2024, Yet Another Forum.NET
This page was generated in 1.097 seconds.