Recent content by Max

  1. M

    rock molds and modeling geology

    Zedob, a horizontal or a slope mine might be a good idea, although I've never seen an HO scale model of those powered mine cars that haul the carts. The deep mines in WV go from a quarter mile deep up to several miles sometimes. So even a quarter mile mine shaft would be roughly 10-12 feet in...
  2. M

    rock molds and modeling geology

    Jack, one of the intentions we have is to incorporate geology learning objectives. I've been discussing it with the science teacher; since we're doing the Baltimore to Ohio Valley most of the stone would be limestone, sandstone, shale and clay, and maybe a few other things like chert. Which...
  3. M

    Feeder lines

    Thanks for the pictures, Rusty Spike. I was planning to peen them and slide under the rail bottoms, but the pictured way might be better. I foresee melted ties and big silver globs along the mainline, but maybe the balllast will cover things. Jim, you are probably right about 12 gauge...
  4. M

    Ballast question.

    I was originally planning to use builder's sand since I had 250 lbs of it already. I screened some down fairly fine, but then I heard the sand will get up in the locomotives and abrade the electric motors. My second plan is to use crushed walnut polishing media, which is what the Woodland...
  5. M

    Ballast question.

    Would it be unwise to use regular sand for ballast? Then paint it once it is laid?
  6. M

    rock molds and modeling geology

    I ordered a gallon of latex from delviesplastics.com and expect it to arrive next week. It cost 36 dollars plus 15 bucks shipping. I've done a fair bit of casting from molds but never made one. I'll give you the details on how things turn out. Unless it becomes one of those episodes too...
  7. M

    Feeder lines

    I greatly appreciate all the comments and I've copied them down for discussion with the group. The soldering tutorial elsewhere on the board has been very useful, and so have many other items of information here. I'll look again this weekend for smaller AWG wire, especially the magnet...
  8. M

    Feeder lines

    Sorry if I wasn't clear. I'm using 12/2 AWG for a bus line but I have a lot of pieces of solid single strands of 12AWG and I was hoping to use them for feeders. When I put them under the Code 100 HO track it caused a huge bump, so I figured I could peen the end flat and slide it under there to...
  9. M

    Feeder lines

    Would there be any negative effect to using solid 12 AWG wire for feeder wire? I happen to have a good supply of six inch lengths of that, and I was planning to peen the ends down then solder them to the bottoms of the rails.
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