I've been working on the bridge again.

[Eric George]

I got the central pier's foundation installed today. I got a base coat of texture paint on it also. I'm going to be up on Thursday 2/17 @ 10am to continue work on it. If you go up tonight, your trains might derail since I didn't bother fine tuning the alignment. I don't recommend messing with it since most of the wiring is still disconnected to facilitate removal of the bridge.

[Eric George]

I got a handle on the problems with the bridge. First, the gear was slipping on the shaft again. I epoxied it this time and if it continues to be an issue, I will install a set screw. At the moment, the motor for the bridge is out. This will allow the epoxy to set up without stress on the gear. The second problem was the stop tab on the end of the bridge fell off. I epoxied a new tab on. This tab was drilled and tapped for an adjustment screw to fine tune the stop point. The screw is all the way in so the spring in the micro-switch won't push the bridge out of alignment.

This basically means that the bridge can be swung by hand until I reinstall the motor Saturday.

[Eric George]

I was working on the bridge today. I was correct in assuming that the sensor in the center pier had shifted, allowing the bridge to swing more than 90 degrees. I epoxied a new pin to the main gear. It should be dry in a few days. You can run trains across the bridge, but do not swing the bridge to full open until Sat. or Sun.

I gave up putting a sound decoder in the 4-8-0. I brought up a Bachmann decoder and got it about halfway installed. I'll put the sound decoder in the Bachmann On30 Consolidation. At least all my On30 Consolidations will have sound.

I'll be up tomorrow to work some more.

[Eric George]

Just got back from the clubhouse. Didn't have to work on the bridge mechanism today! ;D I did plaster cloth my seams on the plywood underneath the bridge and along the shore. I also decaled the bridge.

I also tested the sound decoder I put in my On30 Consolidation. Worked fine except the headlights don't work. Also I was wondering if the station at Cherdika could be moved about 1/16" of an inch back from the track. My consolidation hung up on it. It made it through the bridge, which I did NOT expect.

I'll be up tomorrow to finish up a few projects and weather the bridge. Most likely 10 to 2.

I'll be posting my pics of the Columbia dinner train later tonight.

[r0bert]

no lights usally means decoder plugged in backwards

[Eric George]

I tried reversing the decoder, that didn't work.

I weathered the bridge today. I also checked the operation, looks like it is good to go. I have a few details left to do (bridge tender figure, car at end of bridge, that kind of thing), but I consider the bridge to be finished. The module is prepped for Dean's demo Tuesday night. I'll be shifting my attention to the left side module now.

See you Tuesday night.

[Eric George]

Just got back from #20. I need to install a washer on the adjustment screw to increase the size of the contact area. That slight vertical misalignment is just enough for the screw to slip over the microswitch. I'll fix it next week. I did work on the gap between the modules and the fascia today and plan on continuing to work on that next week.
I did fix the On30 consolidation though. I had reinstalled the rear headlight backwards and traced the front headlight problem to a loose wire on the pc board in the ashpan. I replaced the slip on connectors with solder joints to prevent a reoccurence. I did blow out a spare led I was using as a test light when I inadverdently connected it to track power.
Absolutely no one came in today.

One more thing, I shimmed the rails on the east end on the bridge. If needed, Robert or Chad has my permission to remove the shim.

[Chad Angel]

Just giving you a heads up Eric, but looks like you need to adjust the bridge a little bit. we had trouble running through this weekend. Nobody messed with it. figured we would let you take care of it since you have it set up now to adjust it easily.

[Eric George]

It'll probably be in and out of alignment until all the plaster work is done. I think the weight and the damp plaster may be warping things a bit. I didn't have much difficulty running trains, but if you still have trouble try putting shims between the bridge and the pier under the inside track ont yard end. I'll probably remove the motor next time I'm up and leave the shims in place until I'm done adding plaster and paint.

Actually I had more problems with the yard turnouts being left thrown than with the bridge. Several times my train took unanticipated routes through the yard.

I tried my hand at casting rocks today. The results were... a start... at least. I found a rock mold at Hobby Lobby that produces castings shallow enough to be used at the west end of the bridge, but I put too much plaster in the mold which cause most of the castings to break up when I tried to remove them. I salvaged most of the pieces though. I also saved the "flash" for use as possibly building rubble. It's in a Christmas cup on my module if anyone wants it. I also lettered my observation-dome car today and installed the tunnel portal.

I'll make sure to check here before I go up again. Hopefully I won't miss anything I really NEED to do like I did this week.

[r0bert]

I'm planning on going up to the club tomorrow, the 17th, from around 4 'till 8 PM.
Come up and play, if you want.
Also going to run in to St. Charles to pick up decoders, ballast, and stuff before opening up.
Anybody need anything?
call me if you do.

[Eric George]

We had a good get together last night. Bob, Robert, Scott, Dean, Mike, and Father Doyle were there. I got the bridge shimmed. The gear is slipping on the shaft again. I need to devise a way of determing the bridge's open position off the shaft rather than off the gear. I have an idea, but the implementation may be a problem. I also want to remove the motor to prevent damage in case fruther realignment is neccessary. This would be temporary until all the plaster work on the river is done and the wood has a chance to dry out after absorbing the moisture from the plaster.

I also glued some rock castings to the bluff at the west end of the bridge. I made more rock castings and plan to install them the next time I'm up there. I got Scott to agree to do the coloring I'm done installing the rocks. He did a good job on his module.

I also finished lettering my old Athearn passenger cars. I still need to paint the chassis and trucks on two of them. I'm working on making a forth passenger car out of the remains of the two I had kitbashed several years ago when I made a dome/observation car. I should put a brakewheel housing on the dome/observation car. I have one from a tank car kit I can use. I think the car I'm working on now will end up with odd window spacing.

Speaking of odd cars, I need to thank Robert for giving me a concor passenger car. Runs well, but I'm having trouble justifying the presence of a sleeping car in scenic railroad's excursion train. I do really appreciate it, Robert.

Check out my threads in the trading/for sale forum. I'm listing a few N scale locomotives for sale.

[Eric George]

I'm planning on going up to the clubhouse Weds, March 23, from 10am to around 2pm at least.
Come up and play, if you want.
I'm also planning on bringing the engines I have for sale.
Hope to see you there.

[Eric George]

Been a while since I mentioned anything here. Worked on the eastern approaches to Exile Bridge today. I eliminated a lot of kinks in the rail and carefully aligned the new track. I also shimmed the east pier. I successfully ran my old time freight forwards & backwards through the bridge. If there are any problems with it, let me know.

I want to file better guide angles on the ends of the bridge track and drop some feeders for the extreme east end of those modules next week. I also want to resume work on the Missouri River itself next week.

[Eric George]

I got the skim coat done today. I just need to do some sanding and the river shall be done. June 21st, Ill be casting some rocks. If you want to learn, I can show you then. I do need to borrow some rock molds though . I'm hoping to get the hillsides done soon.

Also I clamped my backdrops up for the time being. If someone sees Sonny before I do, let him know I borrowed a couple of his clamps.

[Eric George]

I skimmed a few remaining divots in the river with spackle today. Next week, I'll take a wet sponge to those areas and smooth them out. That WILL finish the river until I paint it. I also mixed several batches of hydro-cal and cast rocks today. I'll cast more rocks next week.

Also brought back my 44 tonner. I lettered it for the MASR and weathered it. I'll be posting pics later tonight.

Next week, I'll continue casting rocks and start installing this week's batch. I want to bring a stiff toothbrush so I can scrub the molds a bit. Also need to wet sponge today's skim coat. Hopefully, I'll have my new locomotive by then and will have gotten it lettered.

I bought a Bachmann Spectrum 0-6-0t Monday from www.trainmodels.com/. After a $10 discount AND free shipping, it was cheaper than Walthers ;D.