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 Posted - September 06 2013 : 2:02:51 PM
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Well, after finding a box of old Marx tinplate trains for $25 at the local thrift shop, I am well on my way to completing a new college dorm layout, the Tinplate Pacific. Current motive power is a n 0-4-0 Marx clockwork steamer, to be joined sometime by an A-A set of electric B&O F-units.
The powered F-unit, unfortunately, has a burned-out motor armature. Replacement won't be too expensive, but college is, so it's on the sidetrack for awhile. But hey, it's still in pretty good shape for a locomotive its age. It's about as old as the full-size locomotives I work on at the train museum!
In case you're wondering, the grass groundcover is made from neon-yellow microfiber kitchen cloths from Dollar Tree, which have had a heavy application of emeral-colored spray paint. The lighter yellow underneath gives a bit of a two-tone color to the ground cover.
The ballast is cheap aquarium gravel from Walmart.
You may also be wondering about that wire between the rails. Turns out, 3 rail track is hard to come by out in the middle of the Palouse. I already had enough two-rail clockwork track to make a loop, plus two 3 rail curves and two 3-rail switches. Walmart had 100 feet of steel wire for about $6, so I made my own 3rd rail for most of the track.
 
My Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/weekendrailroader?blend=1&ob=video-mustangbase
Edited by - weekendrailroader on September 06 2013 2:06:38 PM
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Posted - September 06 2013 : 2:13:29 PM
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That looks great!  I especially like your creative solution to the third rail.
I like how you added the building and the roads. Keep on posting pictures as you make progress.
Thomas
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Posted - September 06 2013 : 3:05:11 PM
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Hey man, that's awesome!
And who cares how "realistic" it is? I know that's grass, I know that's asphalt, and I know that's ballast, how much more realistic does it need to be? And I am envious of your resourcefulness. You're doing it the way it used to be done before we had everything handed to us on a silver platter. I KNOW you're gonna have fun with it! Keep up the good great work!
Glenn
I was thinking of the immortal words of Socrates, who said, "... I drank what?"
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Posted - September 06 2013 : 7:48:58 PM
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Anything with B&O power just looks awesome.
Randy
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Posted - September 06 2013 : 7:50:57 PM
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real cool I think I has a few Tinplate Marx cars 
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Posted - September 06 2013 : 8:16:00 PM
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| That is fine. I checked out your youtube channel and especially liked the video of the Lionel locomotive pulling the Marx tin plate cars. Seemed like that old motor was moving pretty nicely. Some, cool, creative stuff you're doing.
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Posted - September 06 2013 : 8:18:50 PM
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Very creative! The kitchen cloths actually look really good and installing your own power wire is pretty cool. 
I gotta say, I love the look of those old F-units!
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Posted - September 06 2013 : 8:21:32 PM
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this is the FUN part of model railroading, the DIY improvising and creativity involved. LOVE what you did with it so far!
Jerry
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
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Posted - October 04 2013 : 11:25:01 AM
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Here's the Tinplate Pacific in action, featuring both clockwork and electric power. Sometime I'll have to show y'all the cool accessories I got for the layout.
My Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/weekendrailroader?blend=1&ob=video-mustangbase
Edited by - weekendrailroader on October 04 2013 11:25:42 AM
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Posted - October 04 2013 : 11:39:54 AM
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| considering its size (the layout) those locos go like the wind and stay on track,great fun ken
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Posted - October 04 2013 : 11:46:08 AM
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It took some tweaking (and a few derailments  ) to get it right. I finally tried super-elevating that first curve, over by that brick wall, and that has done wonders for keeping the trains where they belong: on the rails!
With these light tinplate cars and tight curves, it's important to have smooth trackwork. Otherwise your flat cars start bouncing, and disaster usually follows shortly thereafter. I'm probably going to make some loads for those flatcars (they're actually just a car chassis that is missing the main carbody). A little extra weight should smooth out the ride a bit.
My Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/weekendrailroader?blend=1&ob=video-mustangbase
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