Having the same backdrop challenges here, I feel your pain!
I hope suggestions here can help both of us!
Having the same backdrop challenges here, I feel your pain!
It can be corrected by inserting track nails where Paul has the arrows pointed and pushing the rails more into a smoother curve to straighten it out. It would be a delicate fix but it is possible. Don't ask how I know!
Another thing you can do, is pin everything in place, ballast, and pull the pins. The track ain't going anywhere after that.
Thanks so much for the encouraging words, Smudge! My layout is somewhat amateurish but I'm an amateur so I guess that's to be expectedI've just caught this thread, and I've been back in this hobby a few years now, and I'm nowhere close to what you've achieved so far, good work, I'm another fan of yours, so I'm looking forward to seeing your layout progresses.
Thanks, Willie! Funny you mention the difficulty with aligning the tall walls...the roof doesn't quite fit . I think the way to go is to use a piece of construction paper or cardboard to make a template and then cut a new roof from a piece of styrene. Other ideas are always welcome!Nice start. Those Bachmann kits are not the easiest kits to assemble. The very tall walls need time and care to align them well.
I wish you well with your upcoming surgery and recovery.
Errrrrrrmmm about that, I'm too scared to take it out the box, took it out, took pic, back in box, at the moment it's safely tucked away under my layout where it can't be dropped, knocked or otherwise mishandled.Thanks so much for the encouraging words, Smudge! My layout is somewhat amateurish but I'm an amateur so I guess that's to be expected
I'm glad you found my thread. By the way, I hope you're enjoying the NS SD60!
Errrrrrrmmm about that, I'm too scared to take it out the box, took it out, took pic, back in box, at the moment it's safely tucked away under my layout where it can't be dropped, knocked or otherwise mishandled.
Work has been a Bar steward lately, 15hr shifts, 6 day a week, my day off normally consists of sleeping most of it away.
But one day soon.
Not sure how far you've progressed with the track cleaning car idea - I purchased a CMX tank car track cleaner and found it very good to run over the track occasionally. The best advice I ever got regarding tack cleaning was via a YouTube post by Gregg of Fishplate Films - link attached
First word of advice - don't use any abrasive track rubbers or scourers if you can possibly find another way to clean stubborn spots - they destroy the smooth surface of the rail and lead to more track contamination than you started with. I have also abandoned Isopropyl alcohol where possible except to clean some stubborn wheels. I follow Greggs' advise and use a product called INOX which cleans the track and helps prevent oxidisation of the cleaned rail. Things have never run better or for longer between track cleaning sessions. There are numerous other YouTube videos from other modellers who have fully endorsed Greggs findings. Hope this helps