It’s a day late, I know, but here’s a couple photos of my newest engine:
This GP-38 will be used for light duty freight: a few box cars, a reefer, an open hopper, a couple tankers, log+lumber etc. I bought this Atlas engine on e-bay. It came with DCC+Sound and cost me $94, including shipping from Alaska.
While laying flex track years ago I discovered a method for keeping the rails parallel at a joint. If not carefully laid, flex track will “kink” at a joint in a curve. To combat this, typically you hear of people soldering the joints before bending the track. I typically don’t like to solder my joints, as I often change the track around and soldered joints would make this very difficult.
I discovered the rails will stay parallel if the joints are offset or staggered. By carefully removing a few spikes, rail joiners can be offset. Here is an example of such a joint. The joints are separated by about an inch or more. If very careful, you can accomplish such a joint without removing any ties. This prevents you from having to glue them back in later.
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| Staggered Joints |
With the transition from Kato Unitrack to Atlas Code-55 track, I decided to extend the table by a few inches. This would allow for broader curves, and a more natural look to my new passenger cars.
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| Before Expansion and Conversion |
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| After Expansion and Conversion |
Every layout needs a tunnel! I built a table in the closet to support the track as it ran through the “tunnel”. The track is positioned such that a second line could be run to the inside of the curve. There is the possibility of adding a helix here as well.
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| Table built. |
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| Detail of ramp: 3/4″ rise. |
The layout I inherited from my grandfather was done with Kato Unitrack. I knew I would eventually convert it to something more realistic. I’ve liked working with Atlas brand track, and its easy to get a hold of, so it was my natural first choice. That and I had a box of Atlas flex-track and cord roadbed in storage.
I could not convert the entire layout in one fell swoop, buying all the switches would exceed by budget. I would need to do it in sections. I planned on converting the loop first, followed by the various sidings. In order to accomplish this, I created two sections of conversion track. They would be placed at the beginning of the conversion and one would “move” with the end of the converted track as I converted different sections.
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| Custom built transition track |
I built two pieces, each a different length. I have one that is a combined 3″ long and a second one that is a combined 9″ long.
I’ll upload another picture in the future, when the pieces are not in use. =p
Modeling Alaska 