Omscaler is delighted to report that the next boxcar rebuild is making good progress. As of this post, the main portion is done and the roof will be built next. After that, the running gear will be built and installed. A picture should be posted on this blog as soon as possible. Hoping the new year is going well. See you next post, omscaler
Hello again faithful readers. This week’s caption does indeed indicate some unexpected challenges. As mentioned before, a major boxcar upgrade project is in the works. The first was a Southern Railway PS-1. This project turnout pretty well. After this, omscaler was going ahead to work up a batch of car sides in sufficient number to complete the upgrades. Last Saturday afternoon omscaler set up the laser cutter cut file and decided to use the project outline feature in the software to make sure the cardstock was in the correct position. The button was clicked on. The laser head moved to the vertical position and then...nothing. No further movement. Omscaler got somewhat agitated rather quickly. A check of the laser operating software was done. Another trial outline was started. No go. At this point, omscaler began looking over the laser itself. It was discovered that the right-side x-axis pulley belt was not engaging. To find out why, omscaler disassembled the housing. The so-called belt tensioner. What was found was about four cracks total in the bottom and top of the pulley bracket. Omscaler definitely became very puzzled at this point. There was a vague recollection of bumping the laser cutter frame while moving it off the table to clean that table. What to do? First idea: check price of an entire replacement laser cutter. Doable but very reluctant. Second idea: check price of a replacement belt tensioner. Very affordable but decided to wait. Third idea: get out the super glue and go to work on a repair. This was fiddley work. However, patience and persistence were rewarded. Now, the laser cut boxcar sides project is over fifty percent completed as of this writing. After getting the laser cutter back on track, literally, another issue reared its ugly head. What was happening was that when the cardstock was cut, some details were burned beyond recognition. This was very puzzling due to the success with the first boxcar. Different laser settings were tried. Not successful. This after cutting just one boxcar side. Finally, omscaler thought, “Let's get real basic and use the preview feature." When this was done, what was seen was that some cut lines were to be cut multiple times. This was what was burning the details off. Somehow, what appeared to be one thick line on the cut diagram was actually “stacked lines”. The cut diagram was gone over line by line, and all unnecessary lines were eliminated. This took several tries. As mentioned above, the project got back underway. Omscaler is still unsure how multiple lines got put in the diagram. It probably happened when the basic cut diagram was converted by hand from the preliminary diagram. Omscaler says you always pay for your education.
Welcome to 2025! omscaler is super optimistic about this year. Lots of things planned. Lots of goals on the list. To set the stage for this year let’s look at what got done in 2024. The last completed project was the PS-1 boxcar. This project was very innovative. Features: True PS-1 sheet steel sides were recreated. The sides and door were laser cut. It is an open-door boxcar. Actual boxcar number and reporting marks were applied. Next was an improved turnout design. Features: One moving part. Along with this omscaler made a number of switch stand targets. The Union City module was completed. This module has an interchange track. Another first for The Omega Scale Railway. Figures were made for the railroad. Trees were made. Automobiles were built. Several structures were built or installed (one built a few years back). An improved pocket box for carrying a sample was purchased. A prefabricated track building method was developed. To support railcar upgrades, a parts backstock was begun. An improved car truck side-frame building method was developed. Whew! Omscaler thinks he may have forgotten one or two things. The PS-1 boxcar was also the beginning of a major boxcar upgrade. As of writing this post, there are nine more to go. So, as readers can see omscaler has been busy. 2025 sees a list of about twenty goals for the new year. Omscaler will stay busy. Until next post, omscaler
