#135 ~ Test, Adjust, Test, Adjust, Repeat

 Making the Necessary Adjustments to Help Make № 135 a Reliable Runner.

In the last post about № 135 we were trying to troubleshoot why it couldn't negotiate the left-hand turns.

After determining that more weight was needed, it turned out that a little more work was also needed on the frame to allow the trucks to swing more freely.

After some work, № 135 successfully negotiates a left-hand turn.

Turning the power truck with my fingers, I could just make out that one corner of the truck was rubbing on the frame. Normally I would remove the truck before filing the frame, but an extra weight I had just installed made removing the truck a bit complicated. So I kept the truck in place and carefully cleaned up after the filing. I don't want all that debris getting into the gears!

With its trucks swinging more freely, № 135 successfully negotiates a left-hand turn with № 426 making an opposing left turn, while № 9 makes a right.

№ 135 is becoming a much better runner. Occasionally it will still derail while making a left turn, so more adjustments will be needed. In some places, I'm beginning to suspect that the track itself may be the culprit and that it is what needs adjusting.

It's a constant battle: run, troubleshoot, adjust; run, troubleshoot, adjust; run, troubleshoot, adjust. Slowly but surely, things keep getting better and better.

And then one fine day, it'll all be perfect!

Yes sir! Perfect!

Dandy

AshNoir & Chill

 A Short Video Featuring the Recently Completed Watts Building and the Grand Union Intersection

My photo of the completed model with a little help with the atmosphere from PixVerse ai.

The Video series chronicling the modifying of the Walthers Ashmore Hotel Kit to resemble San Diego's Watts building has wrapped up over on the Dan D. Sparks YouTube Channel. And for a 'Grand Finale' I made a Noirish 1 minute video featuring the building in its new location on the layout next to the Grand Union Intersection.

Above is the 1 minute 'sensationalized' YouTube version of the video. 

But for those of you who enjoyed the 3 minute finale in Part 10 of the series, here it is as a stand alone video exclusively on this blog (though I reserve the right to make it public in the future). This is the slower, all noir version:

The electrical arching in this video was unintentional. I didn't notice it until I was editing the video. I'm not sure what happened there. Something must have gotten on the contact wire. But I liked it so much that I added the appropriate 'zzzap!' sound effect for it.

I hope you enjoy!

Yes sir! 

"Zzzap!"

Dandy