See my new loft space in my garage? It's pretty nifty. I will now be able to store everything that is currently in the basement, especially under the layout up there. The garage is about 18' high, the loft is about 12-13' off the floor. See the view in this photo? This is how it looked to me 20 minutes after the builder left, when in my excitement, I scurried up the ladder and had it slide out from under me as I reached the top. I fell 12', on my back, hitting my head on the ladder when I fell on top of it, causing me to head to the ER for X-Rays, a Cat-Scan and a few staples to close the wound on the back of my head. This happened two weeks ago, and pretty much put a damper on my modeling activities. Not that I couldn't work on things, I just didn't feel up to it.
Tonight I finally made it down to the basement to start on one of the projects I've been wanting to work on and that's the kitbash of one of Bachmann's Doodlebugs into Ma & Pa's #61. I picked up one cheap at a local train show for $20 and made a deal with someone to buy two extra shells on HO Interchange on Facebook. Today I finished phase one which was to shorten the body and add 4 extra windows on each side to match #61.
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| Here you can see the shortened body compared to the original size. |
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| Here is a caparison of #62 a Gem Brass model and #61 my kitbash. #62 has had an interior installed and I'm currently finishing up installing the Tsunami Sound decoder, TCS KA2 capsitor and the Stanton Drive. |
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| The chassis is going to need some modifications. Not only do I need to shorten it, I'm going to have to figure out what to do about the drive in it. I'm leaning towards scrapping what's there and installing another Stanton Drive. |
The workbench is getting cluttered again with 3 different projects taking up space: The two Gas-Electrics, and #27, a Bachmann Ma & Pa 4-6-0 I picked up cheap on eBay which I'm installing a TCS WOW Sound decoder.
Hmm, maybe that hit on the head did me some good..
'Tis good to hear that you are recovering. What sound decoders will you use in the gas/electrics? To me an important part of the sound of a gas electric arises externally from traction motors, wheels and suspension. Dick Bradley
ReplyDeleteHi Dick,
ReplyDeleteThanks, doing much better. I'm using Soundtraxx Tsunamis GE Cummins diesel in both. Back when I was modeling the EBT I found a sound file of their M1 Gas Electric and then went over to the sound file section at the Soundtraxx website. I found the GE Cummins to be the closest to the sound I needed. Since switching to modeling the Ma & Pa I'm sticking with my choice since non of the sound decoder manufacturers have come out with a Gas Electric decoder.
Ted
Yes, Ted, the EBT M1 should sound like a Cummins/GE - the M1 is a Brill/GE product.
ReplyDeleteFrom Charlie Mahan's Equipment List I learn that Ma&Pa 61 and 62 were St.Louis/EMC products with Winton engines. The 61 had a Winton 120 gas engine and the 62 initially had a pair of Winton 106D distillate engines. The 62's engines were changed to a single gas engine in 1930. I have no idea of the sound of a Winton.
For fun I put a Tsunami Galloping Goose Ford V8 in 62 - my operators like it, particularly the OOOA horn. Dick Bradley.
Hi Ted,
ReplyDeleteAlways enjoy your humor....but I am happy to hear that your injuries were not any worse. That was a recipe for disaster my friend.
#61 is looking good so far.
Art
Gosh Ted. Glad to hear you're gonna be ok. Usually after hitting ones head hard enough they wake up modeling narrow gauge.
ReplyDeleteArt, I was lucky. I think it would have been worse if I would have hit the concrete floor. I do find now I'm able to solve complex mathematical equations now, so maybe the hit on the head was the reason. ;)
ReplyDeleteTed
Darel, LOL I used to model narrow gauge, don't remember hitting my head though when I started. :)
ReplyDeleteTed