M Graff

So, finally part 50! I have started the benchwork. It's 1/2" construction Plywood that I had the lumber yard rip for me in 5" widths. I have glued and nailed the modules together. The longest sections will be 8' and no one wider than 2'. That will make it easier to move if needed. This is the first two sections:

This one is the old CMM/HSM kit. http://www.narrowgaugecolorado.com/?name=Catalog&mode=i&item=000681 I'll see if I still have the drawings.

The latest update only fixed the locomotive image function, nothing new with the POM issue...

I've updated the app, and apart from the above and some cosmetic changes, i.e. the light orange theme and stop in writing, there's not much else... The POM is still inoperable, even with Railcom plus equipped locomotives. Strange.

That update didn't help with the POM issue.I really don't know what it did...

Yes, I received the same mail: Thank you for your e-mail and your feedback to our new Z21-App. We have forwarded your suggestions to our developers. The new Z21-App is constantly evolving and also the database of our models is continuously extended. For the POM-Programming there will be another update soon. We hope to have helped you with our answer and wish you much pleasure with your hobby, the model railway. But no timeframe for the update?

I reported both the POM and the lack of a turntable symbol in the control station. That was a couple of days ago, and still no automated reply though? Edit, it arrived, I had mailed it from my Gmail account which I don't look at so very often....

Yup, same problem. No way to program on the main. I guess you'll need railcom equipped decoders for it to work now. If ROCO has gone proprietary, I'll dump it and buy the new ESU instead.

Started the backdrop painting. One wall is sky painted with clouds. The backdrop is 60' long and 4'6" tall. I use regular wall paints. I will wait a bit to paint the landscape until after I've started the benchwork.

Well, I don't care if they Photoshop a bit of smoke on the pictures. What REALLY irks me is the bad habit of photoshopping real backgrounds in every picture! If the builder hasn't managed to build a complete railroad environment, then it is to be shot as is.

Installed the second LED strip today. The light level will probably be okay when I can install the outer LED strips as well. I have to build the valance first, so it'll be in the right places. My plan is to have the valance about 2-3" outside of the layouts edge. The LED strips has a 40° light angle and will be mounted 20° inward so it will light straight down at the front, and towards the backdrop.

Lots of time has passed.... The train room is almost finished. So.... Let there be light! First LED strip in place in the train room. There'll be double rows, the other angled 20 degrees to the wall. Fill lighting will be with LED spotlights. Can be okay in the end. The switched power supplies I use are from Mean well, 12 V and 18 Amps. They are adjustable between 11.4 V and 12.2 V. The LED strips are rated at 12 Watt per metre and are 5 metres in length. 4800 K in temperature.

Weathered the Blackstone C-19. I used it to try some new paints and techniques.

I've finished the Sunset models HOn3 K-27 as number 461. It has a Tsunami decoder installed. I painted it with a green boiler just because.... Here's my collection of K-27's: #452, 455, 460, 461 and 463. One of these are not like the others though. As one isn't a brass engine. Which one?

I've installed the new Android app, and I'm very happy with it. Sure, it will take a while to get used to it. But, at the control panel editor there's no turntable function. That's a big flaw.

Hi all, this is some pics I took of my newly finished K-27 #460.

Westside models K-27 #460 in HOn3 dismantled in preparation for painting. These engines are like Swiss watches in their build quality and is a pure joy to work with. I have prepared it for LED lights in both the front and rear headlights. It will get a sound decoder with a oval speaker. The D&RGW #460 is a very odd engine. It was never modernized to piston valves, neither did it get a shortened smokebox. The version I'm building will represent how it looked in the mid -30's. The paint is Scalecote 1 engine black that is baked in the oven for an hour or so at 85° C. The #460 is an odd individual. And as such, there were no correct number stickers on my decal sheet ... I found an old decal sheet with numbers, it was unfortunately so brittle that the first decal I tested was disintegrated when I put it in the water ... I sprayed dullcote on the sheet, and then there was no problem with that anymore. The locomotive was test run in analogue and works as well as it did before painting. Test drive of the K27. I've weathered it as well as installed the sound decoder. The decoder is a Loksound V4. Some adjustments remain to be done, but after the auto tuning, the motor works well.

Test drive of the newest addition to the fleet. A brass Westside models K-27 in HOn3. I have painted and weathered it as well as installed a sound decoder. The decoder is a Loksound V4. Some adjustments remain to be done, but after the auto tuning, the motor works well.

Latest project .... A reflector with light for my narrow-gauge locomotives. The diameter of the reflector is 4 mm. The LED is 0.5 x 1 mm! The reflector is made out of aluminum from oven trays. I took a nut of the right diameter and slowly pushed the aluminum with the rounded top of the hat from a ballpoint pen. Then I rough cut the edges and filed it to shape with a needle file. I then drilled a 0.8 mm hole in the center of the reflector. I glued the LED to the backside of the reflector with epoxy. The LED is a bit too white, so it'll get a drop of Tamiya transparent orange. Then I'll take Microscale Crystal Clear and fill the reflector so it gets a lens.

I'm ready to install sound in my K27. Unfortunately the Soundtraxx Econami 100 isn't currently available. When searching my own stash, I found a Loksound V4 micro though... I have just downloaded the latest sound for the K27, and my God what a lot of sounds and functions! This might actually be very good.

Westside models K-27 #460 in HOn3 dismantled in preparation for painting. These engines are like Swiss watches in their build quality. A pure joy to work with. I have prepared it for LED lights in both the front and rear headlights. It will get a Soundtraxx DCC sound decoder with a sugar cube speaker. The D&RGW #460 is a very odd engine. It was never modernized to piston valves, neither did it get a shortened smokebox. The version I'm painting will represent how it looked in the mid -30's. It will now get a bath in some acetone before being sandblasted. I will then paint it in Scalecote 1 engine black that will be baked in the oven for an hour or so... Here it's painted and decaled. However, there were no correct number stickers on my decal sheet ... I found an old decal sheet with numbers, it was unfortunately so brittle that the first decal I tested was disintegrated when I put it in the water... I sprayed dullcote on the sheet, and then there was no problem with the decals anymore. The locomotive is test run in analogue and works as well as it did before painting. Now it's time for weathering it, installing the lights and a sound decoder.

My brass Sunset models K-27 is finished. This has been a long road.... First I had to sort out the power pickups, and added phosphor bronze wipers. Then I replaced the worm with a new one from NWSL. The next was installation of a Econami decoder with stay alive and dual speakers. The worst problem was that the drive wheels were out of gauge (and so was the tender wheels...). I corrected that, and finally I could paint it! I used Scalecote 1 engine black and baked it in the oven. Then I painted the details with water based paint and a brush. The decals are from San Juan, and it was a quick job to apply them. The weathering is a mix of various water based paints except for the rods and valve gear which got some MIG engine oil wash (oil based). Now I just have to add some details, such as cab curtains, water bags and such and crushed coal in the tender.

Thanks, some of them will be, but some of them has been sold off. I had an art showing where I had a few dioramas exhibited. They sold very well...

Some of my favorite builds in HO/HOn3. Coach in HOn3 Combine in HOn3 Caboose in HOn3 Boxcar HOn3 Paper model scratchbuilt. Miller & sons diorama. Station close up. Station 20 t Shay in HO Bi-level station Gas station Leadville building in HO Modified Lindbergh tug in HO Weathered brass C-19 in HOn3 FSM engine house for HOn3 Scratchbuilt paper model in HO Roundhouse for HOn3 Sierra Hotel in HO Detailed and weathered Swedish Sb locomotive in HO. (Tenshodo) Drugstore in HO Store in HO Auhagen building

Thanks, I have had my fair share of bad environment to build the layout in... Considering the cost of building a layout, then the cost of renovating is miniscule. I've kept record of expenses, and with the new insulated walls, trimmings, new door, new wiring, carpet and paint, the total is £500. Not so very expensive.