Terrain installed mostly

As of this writing, all terrain except the corner module for the drive is on the modules. One thing that happened was that omscaler ran out of the ground cover he was using. A next day trip to the craft store brought in enough to do the job. The drive mechanism will have to wait until further development, but the sections are ready to put on. To be cautious, omscaler will work on the Mountain Glen turnout and test it before proceeding with the others. New track/ballast sections are needed. This is due to damage to the previously used tracks being removed. However, a lot of track sections are needed anyway. Something new is curved track/ballast sections. As omscaler has said before, “Always something new to learn on The Omega Scale Railway”. Participating in continuous education, omscaler 

 

‘Tis the season for...gremlins?

Well, not really gremlins. Just a large boo boo. Omscaler finished installing all five turnouts on the module. Some adjacent track was installed as well. If finally dawned me that I had seen a problem on the Union City Module. In this case the lower level of the ballast was obscured by the surrounding terrain. On the previous module omscaler went to the trouble of making sloping sides on the ballast sections. Once the adjacent terrain section was put in, it was about the same height as the lower part of the ballast. This made the right of way look a little sunken. Not too bad but still not correct. As stated, some track was put in when I realized the problem. Nothing for it but to remove the track and install terrain sections. Some, maybe most of the track sections were badly damaged. So, at this point, omscaler has back tracked and made terrain sections which will be added before track is laid. Humble and persistent, omscaler

 

Initial success

Omscaler is happy to report that the Mountain Glen turnout is in place and tested well. Next will be the four turnouts at Alto Pass. Still to come are curved track sections. Slow but sure progress. Omscaler hopes that everyone has a happy and safe Thanksgiving. Until next post, omscaler

 

Now for the next phase

Omscaler is glad to report that all turnouts are in place. All channels are built as well. The next part will be ballast and track laying. Omscaler has decided to build these parts around the turnouts first. This will allow for adjustments without having to reposition and reglue track sections. The end modules will need curved track. This is something that has never been made on The Omega Scale Railway. As said before, “Always something new on The Very Small Railroad”. Fortunately, omscaler has a working plan. Trying to go around the bend, omscaler

 

Another discovery

As readers recall, last week’s post referred to channel building. As part of that, turnouts should be installed as well. The initial test turnout installation revealed a discrepancy in the sub-surface turnout “chamber” height. At this point omscaler recalled having to build a platform under each turnout which were installed on previous modules. In order to simplify this process, it was decided to raise the height of the turnout chamber and eliminate the need for platform under the turnouts. Doing this called for adjusting the measurements on the dimension diagram sheet. This was done in a slow and meticulous manner. At the writing of this post, turnout building is moving forward. Until next time, omscaler

 

More slow movement

Last week saw definite forward progress, but omscaler was hoping for more. The drive cord has been installed but initial operation revealed the need for more fine tuning. At this point, the idea is that since correct motion was observed to go ahead with completion of sub-surface channel building. Then will come ballasting and track laying. Staying optimistic, omscaler

 

A refreshing mini vacation

Not to make excuses but omscaler spent a couple of days out of town visiting with family. As a result, not as much has been done on the OSR. However, omscaler always feels recharged after an out of town trip. So, this week should see some definite progress on the modules. As a side note, all the relaxation brought forth a new idea for making figures. If this works, a definite improvement in figure making should follow. All omscaler has to do is get prepared and do some testing. Keeping fingers crossed, omscaler

 

Slow freight train?

Last week, The Omega Scale freight train was moving mighty slow. The analogy here is that new module construction crawled to a halt. The problem? Weekend warrior syndrome was encountered after last Saturday’s off trail hike. Knee pain. Doctor trip. Medication. All these saw omscaler not doing any module work until this last Friday or Saturday. As this is being written, relief efforts are working and OSR work is expected to have resumed to near normal velocity. Until the next blog post, omscaler

 

The loop is incomplete

Yes. The loop is incomplete, but to be precise, the lower layers are complete. The top “channel layer” is nearing completion. Also, the drive unit is assembled but not connected. Part of what is needed is an indication of where all turnout throws will be installed. Most of these things should happen relatively soon. Omscaler believes that once the drive unit is installed, it will need to be tested. It will probably need to be modified to work well. Followed by more testing. All this is a common occurrence on The Omega Scale railway. See readers on the next post, omscaler

 

Convergent technology?

Omscaler thinks so. What is in the works as this post is written is a sub-surface drive unit. It is a lot more fun than omscaler ever thought it would be. Being a little sarcastic there. Sorry folks. What happened was that omscaler made a mistake by assembling parts in the wrong order. We continue to learn. Things are moving along correctly now. Still more work to do, naturally. Patiently progressing,

 

The thing about curves

Sometimes they are even. Sometimes they are not. We are trying to make ours even. The details are that the curve sections could form a circle if placed adjacent to each other. Each section is a quarter circle. At this point they are a half circle on each end of the Alto Pass module. Three quarter circle sections have been completed and are in place at each end of the main module. The last section is planned to have a drive mechanism installed. This will be challenging to do but will be worth it in the future. See readers in the next post, omscaler

 

Another Train Show under the belt

This past Saturday was the Coosa Valley Model Railroad Association 2^nd Annual Fall Train Show. Reportedly over one hundred dealers were set up to serve model railroaders. The permanent layout had many scenery improvements. There is still more to be done. It is a very large layout. However, the current work is of a very high quality. The next show will be in April. If readers could not attend this one, perhaps the Spring show? The Alto Pass module continues to be worked on. Until next post, omscaler

 

Layers done

As of this post writing, the base layers all are glued to the sub-layers. To inform readers, the modules are one twelve inch by eighteen inch module along with four six inch by six inch modules. The smaller modules will have curved track on them. This will form a loop of track. Alto Pass has one main track and one passing track and one short passing track. The shortest track was probably a helper “pocket” and short term storage. The next step will be to mark out the track and put in the sub-surface channels. Turnout equipment is needed as well. Just taking one step at a time, omscaler

 

A new discovery

As said before, the new Alto Pass module is underway. As omscaler was researching the GM&O South of Alto Pass, the town of Mountain Glen was noted. Also seen was a stub end turnout. The track appeared short in length. Further map research showed the town of Kaolin. Digging further revealed that historically, the town was the site of a kaolin mine. The information also stated that there was a track to Mountain Glen. This discovery will motivate omscaler to place a turnout and do some pickup of kaolin loaded boxcars originating at the mine. Always more fun on The Omega Scale Railway. Until next post, omscaler

 

Moving higher

Omscaler is happily working on new modules. Previously mentioned is the Alto Pass module. This module will contain straight sections of track. What is needed on each end is curved track. This will make a loop of track. Something not tried before on The Omega Scale Railway. The plan is to make two half curves for each end. The front of the largest module will portray Alto Pass around year 1946. The back of this module will be Shawnee Hills/ Eastern Ozark scenery. It has not been that long ago that omscaler learned that there was an Eastern Ozarks. The idea is that the hills will provide a view block. This is supposed to make the module appear larger than it is by hiding the loop of track. The reason the end curves will be half curves is to provide even more modularity which may be needed in the future. Happily building away, omscaler

 

Another one for the history books

Saturday morning at about 9:47 A.m., the last of four refrigerator cars was complete. This project marks another landmark effort for The Omega Scale Railway. This important railcar type brings closer the last of the types planned for The Very Small Railroad. Point of fact, only the stock car and the tank car types remain. However, the two gondolas and flat cars need a serious upgrade. Altogether, this shows how much there is yet to do here on the OSR. Currently, omscaler is laying out patterns for additional modules. One is planned to be Alto Pass, Illinois. The highest point on the entire GM&O. In steam days, helpers were always needed unless a very light train was moving through. Until the next post, omscaler

 

At the fifty-yard line

This post marks the completion of two of the four refrigerator cars that are planned. Since a better roof making method was used, the roof appearance is neater. Stirrup steps look better as well, but continue to be challenging to build. However, omscaler has had one of his “scathingly brilliant” ideas. We will see how this works for the remaining railcars. Pushing toward the goal, omscaler

 

Still creaking forward

As this post is being written, all that is needed to complete the first refrigerator car is six stirrup steps. As readers will note, normally there is a stirrup step at each car corner. Refrigerator cars came with one at each center door as well. Omscaler is using the last technique learned to make these as this will be a stirrup step closer to scale size. Moving toward completion, omscaler

 

Up on the roof, again

As hinted at, omscaler continues working on refrigerator cars. The first car is ready for the roof to be put on. Omscaler actually wishes he were further along, but we do what we can. Some parts that are from the original ten or eleven boxcars may be used. These are specifically the parts from the running gear. If they can be used, this will save time. Until the next blog post, omscaler

 

More refrigerator car work

At this point, all eight car sides appear to be complete. Next in the plan is attaching car sides to the car decks. This will be followed by car ends. The car sides look a little odd. There was a significant problem matching report mark and graphic applique colors to the color of the car side itself. More on that when pics of the cars are available. Omscaler is still advising hot weather safety. Stay cool, omscaler