Roco 43012 - Preparing for an Outing

 [ 601 posts ]

I haven't worked on the BR 601 3-rail conversion project for almost 3 years now. I was stuck on a mechanical drive train problem, how to install lights, and how to power the sound decoder for the rear motor unit. In addition, the full train is too long for the Welztalbahn. So several intermediate cars stayed in the box, and a shortend train with the two power cars sat on a storage track in staging. 

Now I have an opportunity to run the train in its full-length glory on a larger layout in public, so I finished swapping all wheel sets for their respective AC counter parts and installed the hand rails at all doors. I'm not going to be able to finish installing the sound decoder in the second motor unit before Monday, nor lights or passengers. That will have to wait for another time. I hope that I can resolve the drive train problem today or tomorrow.

The Welztalbahn in Layout Design Journal

I'm thrilled to report that the current issue of Layout Design Journal (LDJ #69) comes with an article introducing the Welztalbahn, and describing my journey from idea through design to layout. Including many of the detours and compromises I made to turn the layout into reality. 

Byron Henderson, the editor of LDJ, did a superb job turning my article and materials into an appealing presentation. This is my first published article that's exclusively about my own work. Of course, I could not have done this without the support of my family and friends that gave me feedback and encouragement along the way. Thank you!

Maerklin 46690: Bauzug / Epoch IV

My orders from last year are starting to trickle in. This is a Maerklin Haendler Initiative (mhi) car set of a construction work train. This set will complement the Lima set I picked up a couple years ago. The light weathering on the cars looks very nice. The Ommi 51 is loaded with ballast, and the stake car is loaded with concrete ties.

Here's the train set in place on the Welztalbahn with the Brawa Koef, probably maxing out the pulling capacity of that little engine.

A keep-alive for Maerklin 37180 (094 232-6)

Maerklin's 37180 model of BR94 in early era IV livery is a beautiful model. In addition, it's lettered for BD Stuttgart, Bw Crailsheim which makes it perfect for use on the projected Murrbahn layout.

Even though I don't have any photographic evidence that a BR94 was operated between Backnang and Gaildorf/West in the early 1970's, the opportunity to pick up a model that could have been running at least nearby was too good to pass up.

Meanwhile, it's a great switching engine for sessions on the Welztalbahn. There's only one catch: The power pickup seems to be a bit finicky and there is minimal run-out distance on my model, despite the motor having an -- admittedly small -- flywheel.  Other modelers reported not having any problems, so maybe I'm particularly picky, or the pickup shoe needs some love. In any case, I want to use this engine in situations that require slow switching moves and nothing is more annoying than the locomotive getting stuck on a yard ladder turnout. Hence, I looked into what it would take to install a keep-alive, in addition to a mechanical review of the pickup shoe. 

This is a tender locomotive, which are not exactly blessed with space, so I searched for really small keep-alive units. Tams usv-mini have a nifty way to hardwire with any decoder, so that the keep-alive is turned off during programming, which I would have preferred for this application. However, the TCS KA2 is much easier to source in the U.S. Since the locomotive has a MTC21 connector, the KA2 can be hardwired to pins 16 and 20 of the plug. No modification of the decoder is needed.

Contrary to my 10 year old BR86, with this locomotive Maerklin managed to keep the view through the cab open. This allows me to install figures for engineer and brakeman, as well as hide the KA2 in the rear of the cab. With a size of only 9 x 9 x 15.5mm the unit is truly tiny.

I spent most of the evening carefully disassembling the cab, plotting where to install the KA2, and painting the unit black. That's good enough for tonight.

Piko 59311: Talent 2 in bwegt design (2)

BR442 Talent 2 on the Welztalbahn

The built-in Piko decoder is not particularly good. It's supposed to support MFX, but I couldn't get it recognized on the Mobile Station II. The motor control is sub-par leading to a very grumbly motor. I wanted sound with the model, and Piko offers an extension module with speaker that plugs into the SUSI port on the decoder. However, that module costs only slightly less than a new Loksound 5.0, so I ordered a Loksound 5.0 with NEM 652 plug instead. 

Programming on the roller stand

I should have ordered the Loksound 5.0 Micro instead, since the regular Loksound 5.0 just barely doesn't fit into the decoder department and is about two millimeters too high, so that the compartment can't be closed . I "fixed" that problem by fitting a piece of styrene over the opening and hold it in place with Kapton tape.

Update 2020/12/29:

I've learned in the meantime that the NEM 652 plug of the Loksound 5.0 micro doesn't fit on the socket of the model, and can't be modified like I did on the Loksound 5.0 plug. There might be a way to fix this, but it requires disassembly of the model. I might take a stab at making more room for my Loksound 5.0 at a later time if and when I have to take the model apart completely to install interior lighting.

Not pretty, but functional and invisible

As it goes with modern electrics, the operating sounds are not too exciting, but capture the atmosphere of the prototype really well.

Piko 59311: Talent 2 in bwegt design

The Welztalbahn is set in the early 1970's. So far I have always resisted opportunities to break out from my chosen era and locale. I think that is a good thing. It makes purchase decisions really easy: Did the prototype for the model in question run within BD Stuttgart or BD Karlsruhe in the early 1970's? If No, don't bother buying it. If yes, take a closer look. I'd consider whether the model would be appropriate for a non-electrified, somewhat rural, single-track mainline. Especially for locomotives, consider if I can find evidence of the locomotive class in one of the BD Stuttgart Buchfahrplans I have, or the model is based within BD Stuttgart.

I am somewhat flexible with timing and era. A bit earlier than 1972, because I do like steam locomotives. A bit later, because I do like the ET 420 and the 614. However, I have not purchased anything modern.

Until now.

I consider the bwegt design used by the infrastructure agency of Baden-Württemberg to be very attractive. Since catenary is problematic in combination with prototype-oriented freight operations, I have been looking for a Diesel train in bwegt design for a while. Piko 52206 VT 612 "Regioswinger" was a candidate, but sold out quickly, is impossible to find now, and a rather bland and ugly prototype. 

When I first saw the Talent 2 / DB BR442 in bwegt design at Stuttgart Hbf two years ago, I was a bit skeptical. It's also powered by electricity, so not really appropriate for my layout. Nevertheless, the train and the design have grown on me. When the bwegt Talent 2 became available for pre-order from Piko earlier this year, I reserved one, and the shipment arrived in time for Christmas.

Piko has been offering variants of the Talent 2 since 2012, so the digital side of the model is a bit outdated by now with the NEM 652 plug, and the awkward option of adding sound with a rather expensive SUSI module. Nevertheless, the moldings are very well done, with crisp lines, nicely detailed trucks, roof, and sides. The shape of the train front is spot on. Due to two effective flywheels the train runs very well, even with not perfectly clean track. 

... and it looks cool. I'll get to enjoy it outside formal operating sessions.

Marzipan Delivery (Bonus)

One crane was not enough, so the crew brought in the steam crane to help with the unloading ...

This picture didn't really fit in that well with the actual layout of Emsingen station, nor can you see the truck the Marzipan is loaded on. It's a bit overkill to call in the steam crane for unloading a car when there is a gantry crane on the other side of the station, so the photo with the gantry crane won out.

Nevertheless, I do like this picture, and it gave me an opportunity to play with the smoke effect at the crane. So here it is as a bonus.

Marzipan Delivery (6)

The sweet freight has reached its destination: The  big stage on the Emsingen market square. It's time for the big celebration and everybody gets some Marzipan to share.

I wish all my readers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

[ Bonus ]

Marzipan Delivery (5)

"... and you all have been good this year."

[ part 6 ]

Marzipan Delivery (4)

The loading crane makes easy work of the heavy load.

[ part 5 ]

Marzipan Delivery (3)

The freight house also got a delivery. Looks like they will need at least a pallet jack or maybe a fork lift.

[ part 4 ]

Marzipan Delivery (2)

The treats arrived at the loading ramp in Emsingen. "How are we going to fit them into the van?"

[ part 3 ]

Marzipan Delivery (1)

I woke up early today and caught this special delivery arriving at Emsingen station. Looks like the town is getting ready for yummy treats.

[ part 2 ]

Schuco 452655300 - Stückgut Vans

 

As I was working on my express freight warehouse in Emsingen a couple years ago, I wanted to populate the street side with the typical Deutsche Bundesbahn delivery trucks. I went as far as collecting photos for use in a truck repainting projects. That project never made it to the top of the list, though.

I was delighted last January when the Q1/2020 MHI announcement included Stückgut trucks and a van made by Schuco, in exactly the paint scheme I was looking for. Naturally, I immediately ordered them. 

Today, the shipment finally arrived, and I have to say, I'm thrilled.

The trucks are beautifully detailed, and even have proper license plates! The bodies are made from metal. The covers of the loading area look good, but have too much a plastic shiny look. That's easily fixed, though, so I'm not really complaining.

Now I just need to add a driver in one or two of the trucks, some light weathering, and they are ready for the layout. Nevertheless, even out of the box they look great. 

Zugschlusssignal (2)

A week ago I showed an actual prototype Zugschlusssignal ("end of train signal"). Here's the HO version attached to a short train leaving Emsingen.

The effect is very subtle, but significantly increases realism. Making these is an extremely fiddly task. I hope to get better at it with more practice. The etching is from digitalzentrale.de. The etched parts need to be folded and painted. To mount on a car, the part merely gets hung over the buffers and pushed towards the car body. That makes the mount pretty much disappears from view as it lines up with the black running gear of the car. Painting the red and white signal cleanly is difficult. Even though the signal has etched paint guides and I'm using a toothpick instead of a brush, my painting accuracy needs more work. There's plenty of opportunity to practice: I have 20 parts, with 2 signals each, front and back, so I'll need to paint 80 signals... I should have ordered the decal sheet.

Ops session with the modules

After the arrival of Dg 6946 in Horb (active staging) the local switcher is sorting cars

 

Among many other things, over the last few weeks I worked out an operations plan for the Welztalbahn with the modular extension. Tonight I tested out the first part of that hampered by many technical issues. I need to operate the layout more often and more regularly.

Virtual Crew Lounge Discussion: Modeling During the Pandemic

I'm participating in a TSG multimedia virtual crew lounge discussion tomorrow afternoon at 4pm PDT. I'm planning to join from the Welztalbahn layout room. Camera, laptop, and props are in place. Looking forward to an interesting discussion.

Update 20/Sept/2020:

With the extra light I put on top of the garage cabinet it was getting toasty in the layout room. I very much enjoyed the discussion with the other panelists. 

Action!

I'm using the opportunity that there is space in the garage to set up the Untergroeningen branch of the Welztalbahn. Today was the first time that I set up Slim Staging with the backdrop and the turnout control panel connected to the module.

The Welztalbahn hasn't run for almost a year and the modular extension so far hasn't run in operations at all. The track cleaning train has some work to do ...

Decluttering Under-layout Storage

Open floorspace below the Welztalbahn

The Welztalbahn layout frame is supported by only 4 legs, one in each corner of the layout. When I built it, I wanted to minimize obstructions under the layout to maintain maximum flexibility for moving about under the layout, as well as storage. That turned out to be a good idea. However, over time storage took over all open floor space under the layout. In the last year it got so bad, that I'd have to remove boxes from the layout room just to run a train. The activation energy to do something with the layout became too high and I didn't do anything, apart from storing more stuff in the layout room. Instead I focused on the Untergroeningen segments, which was good an enjoyable, but I do want to operate again at some point, too.

To reign into the clutter I had to move all the stuff stored under the layout somewhere else, sort through it, combine and optimize and then put it back. Which I did this week. I didn't take a photo before I started, but the photo above was taken when everything stored here had moved elsewhere. I used the opportunity to rearrange supplies, kits, project boxes, etc. to meet the storage needs I have today, instead of from 10 years ago when the layout was under construction.

Compact long-term storage

I'll have to see how well this is going to work, and I may end up rearranging a bit more, but for now I'm very happy that things I need access to are within easy reach, while other stuff is safely packed away.

Projects are easily accessible

Rats!

Huh? What happened to my "Halt für Rangierfahrten" sign?

Why is this dude laying on his back?

Who pee'd and poo'ed on my signal?

Aha! Fingerprints of the culprit.

For the first time in 12 years in the garage, the Welztalbahn was visited by a rat this week. That's a visitor I prefer to not have in the layout room. I see a deep cleaning session in the near future.