I do have some crusher run for driveways out back where it won't be seen as much and I'll top it off too. I have screened a bunch down to crusher fines myself. I am using this to see how it holds up as well. There are parts of my yard that are too wet most of the year and I'm using the concrete to solve a couple of issues. It has mesh inside and if it floats up and down with the seasons, I think it will be OK.
I made a mistake of using round pebbles on my first RR loop and will fill the track bed with crusher to lock it up!
I got a tip from CRH about some vent louvers from Archer Transfers that are easy to apply. I wish there were more details in G scale. I emailed them about making door latches and more stuff for G scale. Maybe you guys could ask too?
I have several MTH G gauge engines that are exactly the same speed. So I use them as a reference when I do an upgrade. I think there are other guys that use their own engines the same way. I have noticed when I buy someone else's engines that are upgraded, that I need to tweak the speed to match mine. I guess the biggest thing with your engines, would just be to have them close so the sounds and the running seems right. If you are not paring them up in a consist with others, it would not matter if you were one stripe off, one way or the other.
With all that babble, I have to say that I'm impressed with these Es that you've built. Congrats. I bet that they will tease a lot of jealous train guys out there!!! Very nice.
I'm forging ahead with something I've never done, building an outdoor RR! I don't know the best way as whatever I read is not built for Western NY weather. We only get a few great months of weather here and the frost is tough. I decided that concrete would be my friend and we'll see if that works out. I also have areas where it will just be crushed rock. It may need rebuilding each year for awhile. How do you sell a house if it's been made for a RR? How will I ballast this stuff?
I really did something bad. I got the engine to run first and enjoyed playing with it. That, along with struggling with certain details, kept me from moving forward. I am not in a rush. I almost slapped some paint on it last year, more to make others happy.
Of course life gets in the way too. When the roof leaks, or the back yard needs improving, or whatever takes us away from the hobby. I should have banged this out and it's embarrassing looking at the starting dates of my posts. This is the third forum I've posted this on by the way. The other two I got bullied off by a dominant poster who doesn't like MTH. It actually was my choice to leave rather than fight to stay.
I like it better here. Nice and quiet and enjoyable.
can't seem to stay focused on it. So I'll work on her while I can! Not sure how far to go with the details? I mean, I could work on it forever. Do I just run wires and hoses? Do I do all the detailing to the most realistic I can get? I could probably make these details really work!
Thanks. Someday I need to finish the scene. There's always something spreading out my attention. I finally got my G scale ACe back on the workbench for detailing. I put the Triplex aside for now. I would have loved a bigger, diverse, modern diesel fleet in G scale.
I have ran into this where people have not only shipped stuff without proper protection, they also have omitted packing that came with the original engine. The styro blocks on the inside ends of USA's boxes must be in place to prevent end damage, for example. I've got broken stuff from people making their own packaging and wrapping stuff too tight or lacking protection.
I was amazed at MTH's new packaging with the metal shipping cradles. After receiving broken engines from other manufacturers, I understand why they upgraded.
I'll have to order some to try it. I could use them on other cars anyways. I do like the looks of them. The plastic would be easier to cut back than the bearing surface that I've tried to bevel on the trucks.
I get a kick out of the wheels are always black or silver. I wonder why nobody paints them rust brown?
I've heard that the best way to make ties last longer is to protect them from the sun's rays by painting them. I'm trying out the newer Train-Li concrete colored (and shaped) ties. I found a satin stone grey paint by Rustoleum 2x that matches the color pretty much perfect. I am color blind! I just painted 100 and will see how they hold up.
I have a couple boxes of Aristo ties that I'll paint in brown to see if it helps them as well. One can of paint seems to cover about 150 ties as a rough guess. It seems like a good investment if it does help.
I have one in O scale 3 rail (20-3043) just sitting because I run 2 rail. I liked the look of her so I may add a three rail line to run engines like her. Pennsy had some awesome looking steam engines. The big tenders add to the overall look too. Too bad MTH didn't go deeper into G gauge for us.
It's hard to tell yet from all the complaints which ones are valid. I ran into lash-up problems and those alone made me angry. I've heard of signal problems and I ran into a little myself. I can't attribute it to 4.3 so I'm not as sure.
I should have waited myself as I heard of the problems. Now, I think I'll have to rebuild every consist as all the preset lighting is messed up. I fix it and on power cycle it goes back to messed up again. That was on existing consists. I have not made up new ones. Maybe it will go back to normal with 4.31??? Maybe if people go straight to 4.31 they won't have to?? I wouldn't recommend 4.3 with the consist lighting problems. It causes as much trouble as it attempts to fix. I hope they hurry with a fix or I'll go back to 4.2.
MTH released new software and it has flaws. They are currently working on a new one again that's 4.31. After upgrading to 4.3 and running into some problems, I'd suggest that others might wait until the next one is ready. I don't know how the 4.3 beta test missed so much?
.png.a4fb2273837361b3bbaa7a1d8a4c8996.png){kind=logo}
preparing the roadbed
in Track & Layout
Posted
Thanks!
I do have some crusher run for driveways out back where it won't be seen as much and I'll top it off too. I have screened a bunch down to crusher fines myself. I am using this to see how it holds up as well. There are parts of my yard that are too wet most of the year and I'm using the concrete to solve a couple of issues. It has mesh inside and if it floats up and down with the seasons, I think it will be OK.
I made a mistake of using round pebbles on my first RR loop and will fill the track bed with crusher to lock it up!