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Fw: [RailroadCitrusIndustryModelingGroup] Railroad Citrus Industry Modeling Group - Digest #433

 

Some info for upgrading the detail on?your molded?AF reefers. ?




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On Sunday, May 18, 2025, 6:02 AM, [email protected] <[email protected]> wrote:
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Topics in this digest:
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1. Upgrading Accurail Plug Door Reefers - PFE R-40-26 Reefer
2. Picking Oranges
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1a.?
Upgrading Accurail Plug Door Reefers - PFE R-40-26 Reefer
From: Bob Chaparro
Date: Sat, 17 May 2025 11:48:57 CDT

Upgrading Accurail Plug Door Reefers - PFE R-40-26 Reefer

An illustrated step-by-step post from the Resin Car Works Blog:

Scroll down for the PFE reefer project.

Bob Chaparro

Moderator

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2a.?
Picking Oranges
From: Bob Chaparro
Date: Sat, 17 May

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--
Ted Larson
trainweb.org/mhrr/??????? --------??????? NASG.org??????? --------???????
GN in 1965


Re: Rail Joiners for S-Helper Flex Track

 

John,
?
It looks like you got some good advise on rail joiners.? When I laid my layout's track, I used the SHS line of flextrack and instead of soldering a wire to the joiner, I soldered a wire to each section of track, then to a bus wire under the table.? That way there's a solid electrical connection to the track, not a mechanical one.? With a sufficiently robust bus, there's no voltage drop from one section to another and the trains receive constant voltage throughout the layout.? When all is done, a swipe with a bit of dark paint hides the soldered connection.? Ballast even more.? Just a suggestion.
?
Above all, have fun!
?
Jerry Poniatowski
Brighton, MI
?


Re: Rail Joiners for S-Helper Flex Track

 

The Fast Tracks Knowledgebase has a listing of rail dimensions.? If the link below does not take you to the page, go to Knowledgebase > Assembly Fixtures > Can you make Assembly Fixtures for rail other than Micro Engineering?
?
Fast Tracks (HandLaidTrack.com) Rail dimension link >
?
Thank you,
Matt Hogan


Re: Rail Joiners for S-Helper Flex Track

 

It appears SScaleAmerica has metal and plastic SHS rail joiners.
Ron Kemp


Re: Vintage Exacta 80' HW Coach

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Very nice! That car took me back to building the old Walthers metal sided wood car kits in HO.?
Mike Swederska?

On May 20, 2025, at 3:46?PM, adguytrains via groups.io <bob.hogan@...> wrote:

?
As requested, here are a few photos of the now nearly complete Exacta 80' HW Coach.
Bob Hogan
<IMG_2666.JPG>
<IMG_2667.JPG>
<IMG_2668.JPG>
<IMG_2669.JPG>

--
Mike Swederska
Meramec Valley Lines
Modeling Mopac equipment in 3/16
https://www.youtube.com/@mikesscale3149

Don't let perfection get in the way of good enough! Keep model railroading fun!


Vintage Exacta 80' HW Coach

 

As requested, here are a few photos of the now nearly complete Exacta 80' HW Coach.
Bob Hogan


Re: Rail Joiners for S-Helper Flex Track

 

I have same issue.? Been using the O scale 148 joiners, work fine.

Jack

On May 20, 2025 2:21 PM, "Roger Haag via groups.io" <s_scale_man@...> wrote:
Hello
IF ALL ELSE FAILS?
I thought I could use the thin brass U-Shaped scratch building stock. 12inch length. Cut to about 1inch long. ?Buy the stock that has a width that is as wide as the base of the rail. Solderable.
Roger Haag

On May 20, 2025, at 2:00?PM, Steve Lunde <ace5348@...> wrote:

? In a pinch you can use Atlas O joiners for code 148.
Steve Lunde?

On May 20, 2025, at 11:59, John Donnersbach via groups.io <pullmx@...> wrote:

?
Just thought I would ask this group if anyone knows what might work the best for rail joiners, since Fox Valley are Sold Out at this time. I'm looking for Rail Joiners for S-Helper / MTH code 138 Flex Track that will be used with Fox Valley Switches. I was looking on eBay and found 3 different rail joiners that might work. I want the Silver unpainted ones so I can solder wires to them if needed. [1] Peco PL-10 said they fit HO / O scale code 100 Track, [2] Guy in Florida goes by antbocc_50 has O Scale rail joiners for code 125 & 148 track, [3] Micro Engineering 26-100 rail joiners. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks John


Re: Rail Joiners for S-Helper Flex Track

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

I would stay away from code 100 rail jointers. I would think the heal would be too tight to get on the raill. The suggestion of O scale code 148 is what I would try. Micro Engineering should have those. If you Google them, they pop up from many different hobby shops. Since you plan to solder wire to them you may want to think about soldering the joiners to each rail end and locking them in. I would also give the joiner a tap flat before installing them if they are to lose once installed.?

But Hey, I built my last S-Sn3 layout all hand laid with out using any rail joiners. This one I did because some of the main line track is flex.?


Mike?


From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of Roger Haag via groups.io <s_scale_man@...>
Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2025 6:21 PM
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [S-Scale] Rail Joiners for S-Helper Flex Track
?
Hello
IF ALL ELSE FAILS?
I thought I could use the thin brass U-Shaped scratch building stock. 12inch length. Cut to about 1inch long. ?Buy the stock that has a width that is as wide as the base of the rail. Solderable.
Roger Haag

On May 20, 2025, at 2:00?PM, Steve Lunde <ace5348@...> wrote:

? In a pinch you can use Atlas O joiners for code 148.
Steve Lunde?

On May 20, 2025, at 11:59, John Donnersbach via groups.io <pullmx@...> wrote:

?
Just thought I would ask this group if anyone knows what might work the best for rail joiners, since Fox Valley are Sold Out at this time. I'm looking for Rail Joiners for S-Helper / MTH code 138 Flex Track that will be used with Fox Valley Switches. I was looking on eBay and found 3 different rail joiners that might work. I want the Silver unpainted ones so I can solder wires to them if needed. [1] Peco PL-10 said they fit HO / O scale code 100 Track, [2] Guy in Florida goes by antbocc_50 has O Scale rail joiners for code 125 & 148 track, [3] Micro Engineering 26-100 rail joiners. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks John

--
Mike Swederska
Meramec Valley Lines
Modeling Mopac equipment in 3/16
https://www.youtube.com/@mikesscale3149

Don't let perfection get in the way of good enough! Keep model railroading fun!


Re: Rail Joiners for S-Helper Flex Track

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Hello
IF ALL ELSE FAILS?
I thought I could use the thin brass U-Shaped scratch building stock. 12inch length. Cut to about 1inch long. ?Buy the stock that has a width that is as wide as the base of the rail. Solderable.
Roger Haag

On May 20, 2025, at 2:00?PM, Steve Lunde <ace5348@...> wrote:

? In a pinch you can use Atlas O joiners for code 148.
Steve Lunde?

On May 20, 2025, at 11:59, John Donnersbach via groups.io <pullmx@...> wrote:

?
Just thought I would ask this group if anyone knows what might work the best for rail joiners, since Fox Valley are Sold Out at this time. I'm looking for Rail Joiners for S-Helper / MTH code 138 Flex Track that will be used with Fox Valley Switches. I was looking on eBay and found 3 different rail joiners that might work. I want the Silver unpainted ones so I can solder wires to them if needed. [1] Peco PL-10 said they fit HO / O scale code 100 Track, [2] Guy in Florida goes by antbocc_50 has O Scale rail joiners for code 125 & 148 track, [3] Micro Engineering 26-100 rail joiners. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks John


Re: Rail Joiners for S-Helper Flex Track

 

The width of the rail web (width of the bottom of the rail) varies surprisingly between different makes of the same rail height (code), let alone between sizes of rail. So the two code 100 sources you mention are extremely unlikely to work. Even code 125 rail joiners (hard to find now) don't work on code 138. If using a code 148 joiner it's easy to pinch the base a little closer together in case you feel the joint is too loose (in case you are leaving one side loose for expansion/contraction). So I'd go with the "O scale code 125/148 joint bars."

You are wise to want unpainted/unweathered rail joiners. Cleaning off paint or weathering is essential for good solder connections, and cleaning small rail joiners can only be described?as a pain. When you're confident that your completed solder joint is making a perfect and sturdy electrical connection, you can paint the rail and joiner and it will visually melt into the scene.

While a little pricey in quantities of two (larger packages were sold), here is an ebay seller with the later MTH version of code 138 joiners. These do have a gloss enamelled finish, however. I have not used these on Fox Valley track, but it's unlikely that they wouldn't fit.


Jim Whipple
Pittsburgh PA

On Tue, May 20, 2025 at 12:59?PM John Donnersbach via <pullmx=[email protected]> wrote:
Just thought I would ask this group if anyone knows what might work the best for rail joiners, since Fox Valley are Sold Out at this time. I'm looking for Rail Joiners for S-Helper / MTH code 138 Flex Track that will be used with Fox Valley Switches. I was looking on eBay and found 3 different rail joiners that might work. I want the Silver unpainted ones so I can solder wires to them if needed. [1] Peco PL-10 said they fit HO / O scale code 100 Track, [2] Guy in Florida goes by antbocc_50 has O Scale rail joiners for code 125 & 148 track, [3] Micro Engineering 26-100 rail joiners. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks John


Re: Rail Joiners for S-Helper Flex Track

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

In a pinch you can use Atlas O joiners for code 148.
Steve Lunde?

On May 20, 2025, at 11:59, John Donnersbach via groups.io <pullmx@...> wrote:

?
Just thought I would ask this group if anyone knows what might work the best for rail joiners, since Fox Valley are Sold Out at this time. I'm looking for Rail Joiners for S-Helper / MTH code 138 Flex Track that will be used with Fox Valley Switches. I was looking on eBay and found 3 different rail joiners that might work. I want the Silver unpainted ones so I can solder wires to them if needed. [1] Peco PL-10 said they fit HO / O scale code 100 Track, [2] Guy in Florida goes by antbocc_50 has O Scale rail joiners for code 125 & 148 track, [3] Micro Engineering 26-100 rail joiners. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks John


Rail Joiners for S-Helper Flex Track

 

Just thought I would ask this group if anyone knows what might work the best for rail joiners, since Fox Valley are Sold Out at this time. I'm looking for Rail Joiners for S-Helper / MTH code 138 Flex Track that will be used with Fox Valley Switches. I was looking on eBay and found 3 different rail joiners that might work. I want the Silver unpainted ones so I can solder wires to them if needed. [1] Peco PL-10 said they fit HO / O scale code 100 Track, [2] Guy in Florida goes by antbocc_50 has O Scale rail joiners for code 125 & 148 track, [3] Micro Engineering 26-100 rail joiners. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks John


Re: Exactla 80' HW Coach

 

Similar, yes, but not exactly?the same car.
Bob

On Mon, May 19, 2025 at 2:03?PM Tom Lennon via <milepost169=[email protected]> wrote:
From BLM's website. Symmetrical windows, 10 pairs and singles at both ends


Re: Speaking of S-scale Trucks...

 

Stony Smith was the designer. Sold through Shapeways.


On May 19, 2025 at 7:10 AM, jjmannmmr via groups.io <jjmannmmr@...> wrote:


Pete,
I got this a number of years ago.
?It was N scale? blown up to S. Don't remember the?
Designer. Thought it was from Shapeways. Do you remember it? A guy is looking for one in S.

John Mann


On May 14, 2025 at 6:48 PM, Bill Hawk via groups.io <archhawk@...> wrote:

Thanks for your continued work Peter!

On May 14, 2025, at 5:20?PM, Peter Vanvliet <peter@...> wrote:

? Part of my "recent discoveries" are because I am going through each one of the companies/individuals who used to only sell their items via Shapeways. It's been nearly a year since that company effectively went away, so by now we should be able to determine if a company or individual has decided to sell their wares in another manner, or have given up altogether. Each day I thoroughly research a couple (there were about 100 such Shapeways-based entries listed in the NASG web site's "Resources" section) and document my conclusions.

Be sure to check the NASG web site's "News" section at least a couple of times a week, as I update that with every bit of useful info I come across, which is nearly daily.

- Peter.


On 05/13/2025 07:33 PM, Ted Larson via groups.io wrote:
Tnx peter
I seek this which used to be on shapeways




Sent from my Tardis

--
Ted Larson
trainweb.org/mhrr/??????? --------??????? NASG.org??????? --------???????
GN in 1965

--   
Peter Vanvliet (info@...)
owner, Fourth Ray Software
Houston, Texas

 (personal web site)



Laser Horizons PRR Passenger Car Sides

 

Jerry Britton has a page on his web site that, as of May 2011, Dennis of Laser Horizon was able to produce these sides for PRR-based cars:



One could presume that if he has those drawings, he'd be able to scale them up to S, or make others for other railroads that had similar cars.

As an aside, Dennis is the president of the Sebring Model Railroad Club (HO-scale) in Sebring, Ohio and the local paper did a report on him and the club this past November:



- Peter.

--
Peter Vanvliet (info@...)
owner, Fourth Ray Software
Houston, Texas

(personal web site)


Re: Speaking of S-scale Trucks...

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Hi John,

No, I don't recognize that. If you do find the source, I'd be happy to add it to the web site's listing.

- Peter.


On 05/19/2025 07:10 AM, jjmannmmr via groups.io wrote:

Pete,
I got this a number of years ago.
?It was N scale? blown up to S. Don't remember the?
Designer. Thought it was from Shapeways. Do you remember it? A guy is looking for one in S.

John Mann

-- 
Peter Vanvliet (info@...)
owner, Fourth Ray Software
Houston, Texas

 (personal web site)


Re: Exacta 80' HW Coach

 

Tom...The edge of the end etching says "Cars 100-104, 401".? There is no kit number on any of these?etchings.? My sides match the NASG photo.

Bob

On Mon, May 19, 2025 at 4:00?PM R. James Whipple via <rwhipple=[email protected]> wrote:
And here's a prototype photo of a P70. Perhaps the NASG website needs to be corrected, but it would be great if someone could come up with a picture or model of the Exacta #100 coach, just to make sure. Looks like both models are the #102 for the PRR P70...

Jim W

On Mon, May 19, 2025 at 2:04?PM Tom Lennon via <milepost169=[email protected]> wrote:
An HO model from Broadway.?
Tommy?


Re: Exacta 80' HW Coach

 

And here's a prototype photo of a P70. Perhaps the NASG website needs to be corrected, but it would be great if someone could come up with a picture or model of the Exacta #100 coach, just to make sure. Looks like both models are the #102 for the PRR P70...

Jim W

On Mon, May 19, 2025 at 2:04?PM Tom Lennon via <milepost169=[email protected]> wrote:
An HO model from Broadway.?
Tommy?


Re: Exacta 80' HW Coach

 

An HO model from Broadway.?
Tommy?


Exactla 80' HW Coach

 

From BLM's website. Symmetrical windows, 10 pairs and singles at both ends