Talking T Gauge

victorian t gauge · Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 7:46 am Post subject: 103 MEC.

mmm,Hmmmm........ Rolling Eyes

i just pulled one of my powerd cars apart, WHOA!! Shocked

i knew i would be in for a challange getting the vic pass car bodys to work over that mec, but im starting to rethink the whole approch & possibly use the bodys built so far as rolling cars only. the biggest problem for me at the moment is time! 2 days untill the exhibition with a loco to build, & 2 working powerd cars. i maybe putting in 2 late nights, trying a new method that worked well today on a new "BS" blue steel car body with 2 fine yellow lines.

The method i tryed is striping and using the 103 car body as a base instead of the 10thou clear styreen i have been using to layer the sign film over.

To do this, i rubbed the empty shell accross 280 grit sandpaper untill the side windows, roof, & end impressions had disappeared. once gone, i "polished" the surface on 1200 grit and then accross tight fabric. the shell sides and roof were then flat, shiny & transparent. After that i proceeded with the same method of layering sign film over the cleaned shell.

I was very happy with the end result & will try to get photos up soon, as for now i will spend most of tonight creating the red "wooden" pass car bodys over the power unit shells. Wink

victorian t gauge · Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 8:30 am Post subject:

Already im having another rethink!! Confused

thoughts going like crazy, i wonder if the tiny pins on the tucks that the springs sit over can be solderd? if so, i could use my exsisting built bodys as per the original plan, & solder an extreamly fine flexable wire i have, from truck to truck each side with loose play for pivot and a stripped & solderd section in the middle to the motor contacts. hmmmmm..... Rolling Eyes

in theory.... ?

David K Smith · Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 11:36 am Post subject:

B 67 · Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 12:47 pm Post subject:

Paul, I guess it is a case of doing what you can to get running for the weekend. The second generation mechs (and later) are going to suit you much better.

Today I not only received a replacement second generation mech for the faulty one in the mountain train. But Eishindo also sent the spare parts to fix the original one. So I not only get to enjoy the challenge of fitting the side pick-up strips to the trucks (the part with the hook that had broken off the first example), but somehow getting those tiny tension springs in place WITHOUT losing them. They are about half the size of Kadee HO knuckle springs - if that. And being tension springs, I have to hook the end loops over hooks on the trucks and the bus bars on top of the mech. Wish me luck. I think I may actually need it this time. Shocked

By the way - replacement mech runs lightning fast too - BUT it can be controlled down to a nice slow speed. Not as slow as the pulse control videos, but a very noticeable improvement. I shall post videos, but it won't be until the middle of next week at the earliest.
_________________
Darren,
Stratford,
Australia.

victorian t gauge · Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 10:51 pm Post subject:

Thanks guys last night i tryed the original concept & glueing the contact strips to the roof and using the springs, it went together moderate but hardly ran, i can hardly get any of them to run to be honest, even in the 103 body....
The wheels have started to tarnish again, so i might try another clean, but im starting to feel it may just be a static for the show. Rolling Eyes

David K Smith · Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 11:46 pm Post subject:

You may be starting to find what I found out--these things are way too easy to "brick." I'm really hopeful that the 2nd gen mechanisms are a little more forgiving.
_________________
—David

http://www.t-gauge.net/
http://1-450.blogspot.com/

victorian t gauge · Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 12:08 am Post subject:

I am certanly looking forward to the 9000's. im also thinking now, i may have been better off using the 103 body as a base for the vic pass cars opposed to building others, but eagerly started modeling bodys before having any t gauge at all! We'l see what the future holds with the 9000's in regard to that.

victorian t gauge · Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 2:22 am Post subject:

Well, i have decided to bite the bullet on this one. I wont be running my victorian train around my layout ot the expo BUT!!!!, in a last ditch effort to have SOMETHING VR at least running, i have one 103 that runs "reasonable" and now im franticly drawing up the artwork for a VR DERM! Very Happy

it actually scales up close, i thought the 103 would be to long.
a day & a half left, its going to be a loooong night. ill finish the artwork after work then start cutting and building over the 103 body. I will let you know how it goes later tonight. Wink

David K Smith · Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 3:00 am Post subject:

Yikes! Burning the midnight oil making T gauge cars... now, there's dedication to the hobby for you.
_________________
—David

http://www.t-gauge.net/
http://1-450.blogspot.com/

trainspotter-usa · Joined: 04 Sep 2008 Posts: 315 Location: Minnesota

One of these?

http://www.victorianrailways.net/motive%20power/derm.html

Neat.

Ian
_________________
I CAN see how cool this stuff is!!!
http://more-t-please.blogspot.com/

victorian t gauge · Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 3:32 am Post subject:

hehehehe

yer, i can be VERY enthusiastic sometimes! i have a drive in me, i MUST have some VR t gauge running on the weekend! That sure is the one Ian! Very Happy

i really hope i get it finished tonight! Rolling Eyes

victorian t gauge · Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 9:26 am Post subject:

8.20, was going well untill i put the slightest bit much heat onto body to set the roof,......... melted. Evil or Very Mad

it was bairly a second! a bit of the side perished & the roof is warped. owell, ill try again now with the 2nd body..........

victorian t gauge · Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 1:52 pm Post subject:

12.50am in the morning!!, were still at work & i just FINISHED THE DERM!!! Very Happy

im really happy with it & the fact i can run VR t gauge at the show! we'l get photos of it up soon. zomers here to, working on his buildings, making good progress also for the show. my eyes are going to be sore tomorow! Shocked

time to clean up & head home to bed before i come back here in just under 7 hours. Wink

trainspotter-usa · Joined: 04 Sep 2008 Posts: 315 Location: Minnesota

This brings back so many great memories for me.
I used to love burning the midnight oil getting a layout ready for an exhibition.
Can't wait to see the pics....

Ian
_________________
I CAN see how cool this stuff is!!!
http://more-t-please.blogspot.com/

trainspotter-usa · Joined: 04 Sep 2008 Posts: 315 Location: Minnesota

Now can we see a picture of the DERM please?
Huh Huh can we Huh?

Ian
_________________
I CAN see how cool this stuff is!!!
http://more-t-please.blogspot.com/