Just Between You, Me, and the Cottonwood Tree: Life Lessons from the Cabin

Gore Canyon doesn't seem that exciting via train when it derails and you're stuck there all night.

 

I took the zephyr from the Bay Area to SLC and back in college. Was definitely a cool experience.

 

I have picked up a half dozen Tropicana reefers to build a juice train..... Any tips for a newb getting into N scale are appreciated.

 

take your time laying the rail. Most frustration comes from imperfect track joints that cause derailment.

 

I could hear it from my house. Got lucky as I was just going out to shovel the deck.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccpWoDj4h4Q&feature=youtu.be


For comparison.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WW2qFFiPqI

 

After a bit more research, I found Kato made a csx locomotive same as what pulls the reefers out of the Tropicana plant in Bradenton FL. So I was killing time in Louisiana over thanksgiving and convinced Rochelle to go into a train shop. They had a kato starter set but when I asked to see what locomotive and rolling stock came in the set, the store owner could not find them. I asked how much for the track and power pack and he marked it down for me and I left with the package to carry on. I got home and set up the track put the reefers on it and intended to look for the kato csx gevo. While I was setting it all up Rochelle discovered the small drawer in the styrofoam package with the locomotives and the rolling stock. I called the guy and he marked it all down and I settled up with him so I don’t feel guilty and he isn’t out on lost merchandise.

Also while inNew Orleans, I became inspired by the street cars. Bachman makes a brill trolley and I happened across a couple of them as well. Now I’m hooked. I found some Freight hoppers from another company and I am tempted to build out a sloss furnace steel mill setup too. Fuck me why did I ever open this box.

The kato setup is rolling with the reefers around a Christmas tree. The leftover straight track is going to power the street cars and I need to find a power pack to put it in a window sill. The sloss mill setup will go into the other window sill.....

 

The positive is that the locomotive and rolling stock set she found in the packaging for the track was the same BNSF as runs through town blocking the intersections for 30-45 minutes at a time...so i guess i got that going for me

 

https://youtu.be/yHW-PFQI5D4

 

At a Volleyball tournament. Oddly enough there’s this set up.

 

Worst volleyball court ever.

 

Can this be our coronavirus safespace?

Maybe I should build a model train set while I'm self quarantined.

 

I'm working on the monon Hoosier Line currently. Mostly frieght so far. I found a gondola car with some tanks in it that is pretty cool as well as a reefer with opening doors. I still need a passenger monon setup before I build a layout. I have been looking at noch briefcase layouts too as I don't really need anything that isn't out away 90% of the time

 

Going to resurrect this for the mini bike build.
It starts with a concept and a bit of visualization.

And then i forgot to take pics until this stage. Still in the mock up phase.



Ended up with just shy of 9" between the rails. The 212cc motor is 12" wide, and gonna hang off to one side. So it's perfect.

So front forks and the base of the frame, which will be shortened to about 25ish"
Target wheel base is 36ish"
Total cost so far is $18 for the axle bolts from ACE.

 

When you’re done with this are you going to ride it all the way to Aspen?

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-WgGh9lvx4
These guys actually did it

 

I know. I thought that might be your inspiration.

 

Teaser pics of the seat.

 

Removed motor from the go kart and mocked up where it might sit, measured for the new chain, wheelbase, etc.






put the stock air cleaner and exhaust on it. Has a miss at the higher rpm's now.



It will be sitting way off center to get the chain to line up. I might reverse the clutch and see if that moves it more to center.




Two new tires are on the way from the Amazon and 10' of chain cause they don't sell 5' lengths and 4' is too short.