HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: Madil001@mc.duke.edu (James Madill)
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
Subject: Re: HO Turntables & Shinohara turnouts
Date: 3 Jan 93 18:14:57 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Duke University Medical Center

In article <1992Dec28.181833.24362@newstand.syr.edu> cwebster@rodan.acs.syr.edu
(Chris Webster) writes:
>Thanks to everyone who answered my last question about Con-Cor
>superliners.  Can't wait to get started working on mine....
>
>I've got two new questions.  I'm building three near-NMRA standard
>modules (Using Code 83 track instead of the standard Code 100 track)
>and would like to have a turntable on it.  Since I've decided that
>scratchbuilding is out, I've been looking at commercial models.  The two
>that seem to be available are the Bowser (14", 16", 18") and Heljan
>(14") kits.  The Heljan kit can be had for $50-$60 while the Bowser
>is about twice that.  Has anyone installed either of these on a module
>that got bounced around a lot?  Are either rugged enough to stand up to
>module transportation?
>
I have seen two commercial turntables, the Bowser and the Diamond Scale. 
Bowser's turntable base is plywood and the walls and bridge are made of
dimensional lumber.  This looks like it would have no problem standing up to
the rigors of module transportation.  Diamond Scale's turntable is more of a
craftsman kit, very detailed and realistic, but also more delicate.  The base
is plywood, but the pit wall appears to be a high density plaster.  I have
decided to build my own turntable based on the Bowser construction because the
module I will have the turntable on will be a two piece module split down the
middle, so the turntable will have to be removed each time the module is
removed.

--
James Madill                                    Internet: madil001@mc.duke.edu
Box 3900 DUMC                                   Bitnet: madil001@dukemc.bitnet
Duke University Medical Center
Durham, NC 27710
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
From: ehr@ecsvax.uncecs.edu (Ernest H. Robl)
Subject: Re: Good mail-order source was Re: ditto for 'n' gauge
Summary: Terminal Hobby Shop
Organization: UNC Educational Computing Service
Distribution: na
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1992 20:34:13 GMT



Regarding good mail order service:  Can't remember if I've mentioned
this here before, so:

Walther's has a retail unit called Terminal Hobby Shop.  They will
sell by mail order any item in the Walthers catalog -- at the 
retail price listed in the catalog plus shipping.

I've ordered a number of things from them over the years and have
always gotten good service.  Turn-around from the time I drop the
order in the mail until the UPS package shows up at my door is 
normally under two weeks.  I normally order with a credit card.

For anybody who doesn't know, Walther's (in Milwaukee) is the 
biggest WHOLESALE distributor of model railroad equipment in the U.S.

-- Ernest
(No connection with them, other than as a satisfied customer.)

-- 
"My other computers are Nikon N8008s and an SB25." -- Ernest H. Robl
Ernest H. Robl (ehr@ecsvax)  Durham, NC, USA   +1  919   286-3845
                                         FAX:  +1  919   286-1696
This .signature meets plate C specifications (for rec.railroad fans)
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
From: cwebster@rodan.acs.syr.edu (Chris Webster)
Subject: HO Turntables & Shinohara turnouts
Organization: Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
Date: Mon, 28 Dec 92 18:18:32 EST

Thanks to everyone who answered my last question about Con-Cor
superliners.  Can't wait to get started working on mine....

I've got two new questions.  I'm building three near-NMRA standard
modules (Using Code 83 track instead of the standard Code 100 track)
and would like to have a turntable on it.  Since I've decided that
scratchbuilding is out, I've been looking at commercial models.  The two
that seem to be available are the Bowser (14", 16", 18") and Heljan
(14") kits.  The Heljan kit can be had for $50-$60 while the Bowser
is about twice that.  Has anyone installed either of these on a module
that got bounced around a lot?  Are either rugged enough to stand up to
module transportation?

Second, I'm using Shinohara/Walthers turnouts.  These seem to route power
depending on which way the turnout is thrown.  Is this correct?  Any
suggestions on block wiring a yard lead using them?
From: stev@vax.ftp.com (stev knowles)
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
Subject: looking for comments on airbrushes
Keywords: airbrushing
Date: 29 Dec 92 16:25:42 GMT
Organization: FTP Software, Inc., Wakefield, MA
Nntp-Software: PC/TCP NNTP

well, now that i am *sure* i am not getting an airbrush for christmas:), and
the decision seems left to me (which is why i didnt get one, it seems to be
a complex decision with little supporting documentation) i am looking for
recommendations for airbrushes. 

i understand the difference between single and double action, but i dont
understand why one might be better then the other. might it be a price
related distinction? *anyway*, what should i be looking for? are some easier
to clean that others, as an example? are some bad at things like water based
paints?

i notice that testors has one out now that can be adjusted to go either
single or double action. has anyone used it? has anyone *found* one? i can
only seem to find the model under it, and the starter kit costs 80$. oh,
yea, what is reasonable to pay for a good kit?
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
From: pratta@rebecca.its.rpi.edu (Anthony Edward Prattico)
Subject: Re: Re: Bachmann motor
Organization: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1992 18:15:45 GMT

In article <ardie.168.724957724@UIUC> ardie@UIUC (R.D. McClary) writes:
>>
>>
>
>Not so!  1.  Many of these motors are "universals" that can run on AC or 
>DC.  There may be a few odd-balls out there that do mess up, but it is not 
>always obvious.   2.  Direction for a DC system depends on polarity.  I 
>don't know how electronic reversers for AC work, just how to hook them 
>up.  (The old AC motors with field windings reversed direction by reversing 
>the order in which current flowed through the motor - field first, or 
>brushes first.(

1. WRONG, WRONG, WRONG, WRONG.
The following motors are NOT series and require DC
Note that they are the most popular of model motors.

Northwest Shortline (Sagami)
Athearn
Kato
Bachman
Circuitron (Tortoise switch machine motors)

I checked each of these. They all buzzed and hummed as they oscillated, and the
Sagami motor fried after less than a minute. 

>>Also, the motor detemines the current draw. The motor will not 
>>draw 5 amps unless there is something seriously wrong with it. 
>
>I know that!  The question was, can the motor handle that much current 
>before it gets fried.  (Actually, the Baldwin is the one tinplate loco with 
>a motor that couldn't handle enough load.  Although the motor windings might 
>survive, the heat often melted the loco body or the brush solder.)
>
No, the motor windings and possibly the pickup wires will fry. But I still 
don't understand why you're asking this, since the motor won't draw that much
current as you agreed with above. 

The reason I checked the Tortoise motors is that a couple of ours fried in a 
big way. The traces, which have a resistance close to that of motor windings,
IGNITED the pc board and then melted completely away. These traces were on the 
contacts that switch track power to the turnout frogs, and the layout power
supplies only provide 4 amps. The thing is, they didn't short the supplies.
Our power supplies have electronic circuits that cut power within a few milli-
seconds of a short without needing a fuse or breaker, so they reset as soon as
the short is cleared without having to shut them off

>>I think you need to brush up on your electronics a bit before you proceed.
>>
>>
>Agreed, but then, don't we all?

Yes. I've got a final exam in circuit analysis in 45 minutes.
From: dermer@convex.csd.uwm.edu (Marshall Dermer)
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
Subject: Re: Improving HO ConCor superliners
Date: 27 Dec 1992 04:24:04 GMT
Organization: Computing Services Division, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
NNTP-Posting-Host: 129.89.7.30

In article <1992Dec26.215207.18013@newstand.syr.edu> cwebster@rodan.acs.syr.edu (Chris Webster) writes:
>For Christmas, my signifigant other gave me a HO Amtrak Coach/Baggage
>Superliner.  It's a nice car, but needs some work, as does most of my
>equipment.  I know how to handle adding weight and that someone makes
>the correct trucks and diaphrams, but what can I do for interiors
>on this and other superliners?  Can I tint the windows somehow?  |Is
>that prototypical?  Suggestions for adding kadee couplers?  
>
>Thanks for all your suggestions.

I have ConCor Heritage coaches.  I have added Kadee couplers, metal wheel
sets, wipers and lights, and diaphrams.  Additionally, I made interiors
mounted on 1/8" thick fiber board.  Most of the interiors consist of seats
made by gluing a strip of 3/32" X 4/16" balsa to 2/16 X 7/32" stock and
then cutting 6/16" wide seats.
                                  _
     Seat ========>              | | 
                                 | |
                        _________| |   <====== Side View
                        |        | |
                        |_______ |_|

The finishing touch is a pair of Red LED warning lights at the rear of the
last coach.  They are connected to the current via a bridge rectifer and a
1000 OHM dropping resistor.  (I thank my wife Judy for driving me to Union
Station in Chicago several months ago so I could see how the warning lights
are mounted.)  

The parts I used are:

  Walthers Diaphrams  2/ Pk   933-429
  Oregon Rail Supply Red LEDs  # 110
  NWSL 36" Wheelsets 6 /PK  053-71184
  Athearn Wippers           140-90200
  1 K OHM Resistors     Radio Shack 271-023
  1 A Silicon Bridge Rectifer Radio Shack   ???-161
  Kadee Coupler Conversion Bolster  #508
  Walthers Car Lighting 2-Bulb Kit 933-717
  (Three such lights per Heritage Coach is ideal.)

  --Best,

    Marshall

      -----------------------------------------------------------------. 
  .--/__|_|__Marshall_Lev_Dermer_ University of Wisconsin ______|_|____| 
  /.  . |-|   Moshe Ben Menasha         Milwaukee               |.|  | | 
 /   ___|-|_Dept. of Psychology _  dermer@convex.csd.uwm.edu____|_|__|_| 
/___/<_>==<_>\------------------------------------------------/<_>==<_>
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
From: pierson@empror.enet.dec.com (dave pierson)
Subject: Re: Video and Model Railroad?
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Date: 29 DEC 92 09:53:21    

In article <103319@netnews.upenn.edu>, gasser@eniac.seas.upenn.edu
(Nathan Gasser) writes...
>Hi all,

>I was in the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, MI this past week and 
	Let me inteject here that the Ford Museum has MUCH stuff bedies cars.
	Including much RR Stuff.  (Cars are under 20% of floor space.)  Great
	place.  Reccomended, at least for those with a taste for techno
	history....

>there was quite an extravagent model railroad layout in the lobby.
	What scale/gauge?

>The feature catching everyone's attention was that one of the 
>locomotives had a video camera in it, and there were monitors on
>all four sides of the table showing the view as the train chugged about.
	Lionel sold such a rig, perhaps still does.  I cannot, for the moment
	think of the trade name.  It apparently did not sell real well.
	(A friend of mine is partner in a model RR store.  They still have
	theirs, unsold)  It comes back to me.  RAILSCOPE.  Available down to HO.

>Has anyone ever seen this done, or done it?  What does it take to get
>a small B/W video camera into a locomotive, and get the signal back to
>a monitor?
	Lionel did it with RF, on one of the usual channels, coupled thru the
	rails.  (I think.  Coupled thru the rails, fer sure, not sure where the
	modulator was...)  Required bypass caps at block gaps for best results. 
	The effect was surprisingly good, sometimes.  It ran on a nine volt
	battery with a real SHORT lifespan.  Limited to B&W and the resolution
	was roughly half that normally used for NTSC video.

	A mucho betterquality arrangement would not be that hard, tho pricey to
	do.  Consider the size of an HO loco compared to that of a super8 cam,
	LESS the mechanicals for the tape deck.   hmmmm.  Probably have to be
	a "dummy" loco, with accompanying real loco.

	I recall ragging a firend that now he would have to scenic the INSIDE of
	his tunnels.

thanks
dave pierson			|the facts, as accurately as i can manage,
Digital Equipment Corporation	|the opinions, my own.
40 Old Bolton Rd		|I am the NRA.
Stow, Mass, USA	
01775				pierson@msd26.enet.dec.com
"He has read everything, and, to his credit, written nothing."  A J Raffles
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
From: dave@grunge.auspost.com.au (Dave Cole)
Subject: Laying track - joining baseboards.
Organization: Australia Post
Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1993 03:46:46 GMT

I just recently bought a model train and am going to build a proper
baseboard for it.  I have two questions about the process.

1.  When using flexible track, how do you make it stay in place while
you add the ballast.  Knowing nothing about this I would try to hold
it in place with a series of track pins (nails) along the inside of
the curve, then a couple at the outside at the ends.  These will be
hidden by the ballast later.  Is this right?

2. When rail crosses baseboards at an angle, do you cut it in line
with the join in the baseboards - or do you cut it perpendicular to
the direction of the rail?

Dave
From: ebe+@pitt.edu (Elmer Beachley)
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
Subject: Marklin Dance Car
Date: 22 Dec 92 04:46:50 GMT
Organization: University of Pittsburgh
Originator: ebe@unixd2.cis.pitt.edu


Yesterday I watched a PBS Tracks Ahead segment that visited the
Marklin factory in Germany.  One of the things that caught my eye
was the Dance Car, which has animated figures moving and spinning
about inside a passenger car.  I have also heard mention of a
Panorama car which apparently has similar animated figures.

My question is are these cars available as products?  I've looked
through the latest Marklin catalog fairly carefully and don't see
these cars.

Elmer Beachley etb@cs.pitt.edu ebe+@pitt.edu
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
From: cwebster@rodan.acs.syr.edu (Chris Webster)
Subject: Improving HO ConCor superliners
Organization: Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
Date: Sat, 26 Dec 92 21:52:07 EST

For Christmas, my signifigant other gave me a HO Amtrak Coach/Baggage
Superliner.  It's a nice car, but needs some work, as does most of my
equipment.  I know how to handle adding weight and that someone makes
the correct trucks and diaphrams, but what can I do for interiors
on this and other superliners?  Can I tint the windows somehow?  |Is
that prototypical?  Suggestions for adding kadee couplers?  

Thanks for all your suggestions.
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
From: ehr@ecsvax.uncecs.edu (Ernest H. Robl)
Subject: Re: Good mail-order source was Re: ditto for 'n' gauge
Summary: the model RR business
Organization: UNC Educational Computing Service
Date: Fri, 1 Jan 1993 23:27:30 GMT

In article <Z0iowB2w164w@stauff.UUCP>, ed@stauff.UUCP (Edward L. Stauff) writes:
> Is it possible that my hobby shop was trying to discourage me from making
> a special order?  Does Walthers' wholesale have a different reputation
> from their retail outlet?


There are a couple of things that one needs to keep in mind about the
model railroad business:

-- There's no single market, but rather thousands of different niche
markets.

-- Many specialty items are made by so-called "garage" manufacturers
-- often literally out of their garage, -- while having another
full-time job.

-- Since many items appeal only to a limited audience, even the 
bigger manufacturers do not keep all their items in production all
the time.

Given the above factors, it's not surprising that items sometimes go
out of stock, either at a hobby shop (if it stocks the item to begin
with) or even at the wholesaler/distributor.  Walther's points these
things out in their catalog and newsletters.

They also point out that local hobby shops can get small hand-held
computer terminals from which they can upload their orders directly
into Walther's main order-processing computer.  I would assume that
in these cases, if the item is in stock, the turn-around should be
at least as good as on direct orders to Terminal Hobby Shop.

Businesses make the most money on volume items.  They get a bigger
discount and better price from the distributor, and it's obviously
less trouble to order 500 of one item than 500 individual items.

On the other hand, shops stay in business by providing what their
customers want.  So, if a shop is not willing to special-order
what you want, get it elsewhere -- by mail-order, if necessary.


My own model railroad interests (Austrian prototype) are 
specialized enough that I would find very little of interest at
a local hobby shop, other than very generic items such as paint, 
rail joiners, etc.  So, I have to order most things by mail.

-- Ernest
-- 
"My other computers are Nikon N8008s and an SB25." -- Ernest H. Robl
Ernest H. Robl (ehr@ecsvax)  Durham, NC, USA   +1  919   286-3845
                                         FAX:  +1  919   286-1696
This .signature meets plate C specifications (for rec.railroad fans)
From: pdp@cc.usu.edu
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
Subject: RE: Rivarossi Steam Engine Parts
Date: 29 Dec 92 10:44:10 MDT
Organization: Utah State University

In article <1992Dec29.144833.29813@uc.msc.edu>, wes@uf.msc.edu (Wes Barris) writes:
> A few weeks ago I inquired about acquiring HO Rivarossi steam engine parts.
> Since then I have sent letters to a number of dealers who advertise Rivarossi
> engines in Model Railroader.
> 
> The only positive reply I have received so far was from IHC (International
> Hobby Corp.).  They indicated that what I need to buy is a catalog they sell
> called:
> 
> 	"IHC Loco. Parts Cat., B/W, 120 pgs. -- $12.98"
> 
> I didn't necessarily want a catalog but perhaps it is worth it.  Has anyone
> else seen this catalog?
> 
> -- 

IHC was the US Distributor/Importer for AHM/Rivarossi and as a former hobby
shop owner I am sure that you would find their catalog very helpful.
It is worth the $12.98...........



Peter Wood      		Email: pdp@cc.usu.edu
Utah State University           (801)753-7179
From: fulks@cc.usu.edu
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
Subject: Marklin HO questions
Date: 29 Dec 92 15:56:03 MDT
Organization: Utah State University


Thanks to the many of you for advice on starting model (or toy in our case)
railroading.  As fate would have it, my five year old son's Godfather sent
him a Marklin starter set for the holidays.  After monitoring him and teaching
him how to use it, we have opted to store it and use the Tyco/Bachmann set-up,
which we are currently running in a spare room.  The opinions expressed by
so many of you regarding the Tyco are apparent in our use- the engine (a 
steam engine in this case) seems adequate enough, but the accessories which
came with it are very very cheap - even in the opinion of a five year old!

My next questions to you (collectively) are in reference to the Marklin.
What we have is about ten years old - a starter set in a box originally
marked "$158.00 value".  I would be interested in:
	
	- knowing how to assess the value of this set on the current market
	- knowing where to obtain accessories for Marklin HO trains
	- hearing opinions and experiences you may have regarding Marklin

It is our intention to build upon the Marklin for the next 40 years or so,
as well as the Bachmann/Tyco/'better model railroading' possibilities.

I was aware of a hobby shop in Houston back in 1980 which sold Marklin-
my son's godfather, who lives in Nashville, says the hoppy shop which
sold Marklin there no longer exists.  

Thanks in advance for your comments,

	happy rails,
			Steve Fulks
			Utah State University
From: stevray@stsci.edu (Don Stevens-Rayburn)
Subject: Re: rec.models.railroad Fortnightly FAQ
Originator: stevray@sol.stsci.edu
Organization: Space Telescope Science Institute
Date: Tue, 29 Dec 1992 14:03:06 GMT


In article <1dbI028.30Rq01@JUTS.ccc.amdahl.com>, czl30@duts.ccc.amdahl.com (Chris Lee) writes:
|> In article <rec-models-rail_725523302@tahiti.cs.brown.edu> rjm@cs.brown.edu (Ralph Johnson Marshall) writes:
|> >Archive-name: model-railroad-faq
|>
    [lots of stuff deleted]
|> 
|> Kadee couplers
|> --------------
|> 
|> Which couplers to use? must be a frequently asked question, and between
|> the rec.models.railroaders we must have put Kadees onto most kinds of engines
|> and cars (this is a hint!). Maybe this deserves a FAQ in itself?


I second the motion.  I would add "Please don't leave out the N-scalers."  In particular,
has anyone out there successfully added Kadee (MicroTrains) couplers to an Arnold N-Scale
S2?  If so, could you please describe the process:  What couplers did you use?  What
problems did you run into?  How would you do it differently next time?

Thanks.

Don
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
From: andre@king.slc.mentorg.com (Andre' Hut)
Subject: Re: enterprise model colour
Organization: /net/king/usr1/andre/.organization
Distribution: rec
Date: 28 Dec 92 10:21:52

In article <1992Dec26.2820.2058@dosgate> "bernie wong" <bernie.wong@canrem.com> writes:

   >Hi all.  I just got the Star Trek: The Next Generation U.S.S.
   >Enterprise-D model from AMT-ERTL (stock no. 6619) and would like to know
   >the correct paint colour for it.  The instruction manual says that it is
   >"...molded in color so painting is not necessary.".  However, I would
   >like to paint it.  I can't identify by eye what colour it is molded in,
   >but if somebody (perhaps from AMT-ERTL) knows could they please tell me
   >what the colour is?  I, personally, would like to re-paint the model
   >even though it is "...molded in color...".

   >Please reply via E-MAIL at bernie.wong@canrem.com.  Any help would be
   >greatly appreciated.  Thank you!

Jason,

	Perhaps if you would post your article to alt.models or rec.models.scale, you
may get a better answer.  I haven't seen the Enterprise D on any prototype railroad.

How big would the Enterprise be in HO scale anyway?


--
-------------------------------------------------------------------
My opinions are solely my own, and do not necessarily reflect those
of my employer.

Andre' Hut       andre@slc.mentorg.com  or  utah-cs!caeco!andre
Mentor Graphics, Suite 300, 5295 South 300 West, Murray, Utah 84107
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
From: wes@uf.msc.edu (Wes Barris)
Subject: Rivarossi steam engine parts
Reply-To: wes@msc.edu
Organization: AHPCRC, Minnesota Supercomputer Center
Date: Tue, 29 Dec 1992 14:48:33 GMT

A few weeks ago I inquired about acquiring HO Rivarossi steam engine parts.
Since then I have sent letters to a number of dealers who advertise Rivarossi
engines in Model Railroader.

The only positive reply I have received so far was from IHC (International
Hobby Corp.).  They indicated that what I need to buy is a catalog they sell
called:

	"IHC Loco. Parts Cat., B/W, 120 pgs. -- $12.98"

I didn't necessarily want a catalog but perhaps it is worth it.  Has anyone
else seen this catalog?

-- 
                                       o O O O O o o o o o o o o . . . . . . .
 __________    ___           ___      __                _
/_______|--`--|_ _|--=-==---|_ _|--,_|__|_             |-+-------`____________,
| ||_| /        -  |        / - \  |      || ________  |                      |
|_|___/------------|----__---------|------|||__|__|__| |Southern Pacific Lines|
|_|____________/-------{__}---------------{__}_______|=|_________     ________|
/_(o)=(o) ( )( )( )( ) [__]  ( )( )( )( ) [__]--(o)     (o)(o)(o)-----(o)(o)(o)
===============================================================================
Wes Barris                                                   PH: (612) 626-8090
Minnesota Supercomputer Center, Inc.                         Email: wes@msc.edu
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad