Tachyon Eddy, The Prequel
@tachyoneddy.bsky.social
Model trains and Scifi. SFW. Tachyon Eddy's Other Account. Building and writing about the Z scale (1:220) Big Reverser Key RR and all of the island's imaginary inhabitants.
Rookie #modelRailroad mistakes being fixed. New plan here is one long piece of unturnouted track to go around this bend and through the mountain, then move turnouts to somewhere that makes more sense. I always knew a turnout half-inside a tunnel wasn't likely to work well but it sure looked cool.
June 9, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Rookie #modelRailroad mistakes being fixed. New plan here is one long piece of unturnouted track to go around this bend and through the mountain, then move turnouts to somewhere that makes more sense. I always knew a turnout half-inside a tunnel wasn't likely to work well but it sure looked cool.
This is about 41" x 26" so yeah you could fit a lot into 4' x 8'!
June 1, 2025 at 11:13 PM
This is about 41" x 26" so yeah you could fit a lot into 4' x 8'!
Trovestar has been flummoxed by the Z scale model train market. You're going to get an AZL UP Big Boy steam locomotive for $50? Not likely. Does the site work better for N or HO or other gauges?
June 1, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Trovestar has been flummoxed by the Z scale model train market. You're going to get an AZL UP Big Boy steam locomotive for $50? Not likely. Does the site work better for N or HO or other gauges?
One day the train tickets account will post a ticket from the same station featured on the train station account, and it will be a glorious day. @trainstations.stefanbohacek.online.ap.brid.gy
June 1, 2025 at 2:20 AM
One day the train tickets account will post a ticket from the same station featured on the train station account, and it will be a glorious day. @trainstations.stefanbohacek.online.ap.brid.gy
Watching a calming video of the Haleakala waterfall in Hawaii and the close captioning says "a trickle of rivulets down the rock face" which is almost the opposite of what's actually in the vid.
![Text in white on a black background reading "[The trickle of rivulets down the cliff face]"](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:kndhhwkaouqhmgqomldv773h/bafkreieaqjoayzjwd5xa2blhtpikv3d5mfsoakkelues2gvlv3rs7qsphu@jpeg)
May 31, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Watching a calming video of the Haleakala waterfall in Hawaii and the close captioning says "a trickle of rivulets down the rock face" which is almost the opposite of what's actually in the vid.
However this repaired water turns out, that's it... water feature done.
What I learned is there are about 10 factors in making a "good" fake water material, and it's probably worth getting real quality fake water.
What I learned is there are about 10 factors in making a "good" fake water material, and it's probably worth getting real quality fake water.
May 30, 2025 at 10:44 PM
However this repaired water turns out, that's it... water feature done.
What I learned is there are about 10 factors in making a "good" fake water material, and it's probably worth getting real quality fake water.
What I learned is there are about 10 factors in making a "good" fake water material, and it's probably worth getting real quality fake water.
The extra grass will be a permanent part of the water because I forgot there would be some more when I turned it all the way over. Next time I need to plan that a little better.
May 29, 2025 at 9:27 PM
The extra grass will be a permanent part of the water because I forgot there would be some more when I turned it all the way over. Next time I need to plan that a little better.
The AI suggests a Class 90 might be a good fit for making a custom body over an EF210 chassis (with the center bogey removed).
May 29, 2025 at 5:07 PM
The AI suggests a Class 90 might be a good fit for making a custom body over an EF210 chassis (with the center bogey removed).
Fixed a track issue on the BRK RR which had freight cars going sideways. After a test run with no issues by the locomotive itself
May 24, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Fixed a track issue on the BRK RR which had freight cars going sideways. After a test run with no issues by the locomotive itself
Now fixed with some good electrical maintenance! We have had some reports of rough track sections near the tunnel and our imaginary crews are looking into it.
Here we see EF66 "Oh Edo Rocket" has left behind it's freight cars (seen further up the track and around the bend in the tunnel).
Here we see EF66 "Oh Edo Rocket" has left behind it's freight cars (seen further up the track and around the bend in the tunnel).
May 18, 2025 at 3:38 AM
Now fixed with some good electrical maintenance! We have had some reports of rough track sections near the tunnel and our imaginary crews are looking into it.
Here we see EF66 "Oh Edo Rocket" has left behind it's freight cars (seen further up the track and around the bend in the tunnel).
Here we see EF66 "Oh Edo Rocket" has left behind it's freight cars (seen further up the track and around the bend in the tunnel).
Are you a fan of the Bavarian Crocodile style locomotive, or the Swiss Crocodile style? You must pick one or the other.😆 #modelTrains
May 17, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Are you a fan of the Bavarian Crocodile style locomotive, or the Swiss Crocodile style? You must pick one or the other.😆 #modelTrains
It's just images, the links to the file go to page not found, but I found this old page that shows a "BNSF Narrow" font but then a whole lot of road signs of good enough quality they'd be fine to print model RR signs with. Well, in my scale lol luc.devroye.org/fonts-27390.... #ModelRailroad #ZScale
May 17, 2025 at 9:50 PM
It's just images, the links to the file go to page not found, but I found this old page that shows a "BNSF Narrow" font but then a whole lot of road signs of good enough quality they'd be fine to print model RR signs with. Well, in my scale lol luc.devroye.org/fonts-27390.... #ModelRailroad #ZScale
I attached leads to that dead corner and it still didn't work! Then I realized I was so focused on soldering to the track I forgot to hook up the other ends. Now it works great. Also, I figure out exactly what changed: I pick the layout up & repositioned it, and haven't really secured the frame yet.
May 17, 2025 at 8:50 PM
I attached leads to that dead corner and it still didn't work! Then I realized I was so focused on soldering to the track I forgot to hook up the other ends. Now it works great. Also, I figure out exactly what changed: I pick the layout up & repositioned it, and haven't really secured the frame yet.
Still analyzing and learning, but I think it would be divided up like this to mill pieces, nose, sides, roof. simple as possible. For the Class 25, it's more material to remove I think but not really that much at Z scale. Another "why z scale" is small machines can make most things.
May 17, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Still analyzing and learning, but I think it would be divided up like this to mill pieces, nose, sides, roof. simple as possible. For the Class 25, it's more material to remove I think but not really that much at Z scale. Another "why z scale" is small machines can make most things.
Then, too, how did I not know about the D16 class, which looks like sort of like an F7 (or vice versa)? That's a looker.
May 17, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Then, too, how did I not know about the D16 class, which looks like sort of like an F7 (or vice versa)? That's a looker.
Is my mid-term model railroading goal to make a swappable body shell for a British Class 25... or should it be a "Baby Warhip" Class 22?
Decisions, decisions.
(links/src in pics)
Decisions, decisions.
(links/src in pics)
May 17, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Is my mid-term model railroading goal to make a swappable body shell for a British Class 25... or should it be a "Baby Warhip" Class 22?
Decisions, decisions.
(links/src in pics)
Decisions, decisions.
(links/src in pics)
I should make that diagram more like this:
May 17, 2025 at 2:46 PM
I should make that diagram more like this:
Hear me out... ⬇️ but then ⬆️
(reversible, just a shell swap + fashion a center tank)
#ZScale #modelTrains
(reversible, just a shell swap + fashion a center tank)
#ZScale #modelTrains
May 17, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Hear me out... ⬇️ but then ⬆️
(reversible, just a shell swap + fashion a center tank)
#ZScale #modelTrains
(reversible, just a shell swap + fashion a center tank)
#ZScale #modelTrains
Day 140 of the Big Reverser Key RR and a video showing the results of the great work done by the imaginary mechanical engineers to get everything on the same gauge.
If you listen closely, you can hear how this consist made it just over the bridge before something got off track. #modelTrains
If you listen closely, you can hear how this consist made it just over the bridge before something got off track. #modelTrains
May 17, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Day 140 of the Big Reverser Key RR and a video showing the results of the great work done by the imaginary mechanical engineers to get everything on the same gauge.
If you listen closely, you can hear how this consist made it just over the bridge before something got off track. #modelTrains
If you listen closely, you can hear how this consist made it just over the bridge before something got off track. #modelTrains
Three locomotives needs DCC, even with these Rokuhans unless you get the same kind. Better yet, if you're considering a Z scale purchase take a look at one of the matched pairs Rokuhan sells, like this one. www.rokuhan.com/products/tra...
May 17, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Three locomotives needs DCC, even with these Rokuhans unless you get the same kind. Better yet, if you're considering a Z scale purchase take a look at one of the matched pairs Rokuhan sells, like this one. www.rokuhan.com/products/tra...
The Big Reverser Key RR is back to doing freight runs now that the main locomotives can connect. There is some track maintenance so trains will be running a "U" (well, a backwards "J" really). Rhinestone glue saving the feature. One more tube might do it. #modelTrains
May 17, 2025 at 6:31 AM
The Big Reverser Key RR is back to doing freight runs now that the main locomotives can connect. There is some track maintenance so trains will be running a "U" (well, a backwards "J" really). Rhinestone glue saving the feature. One more tube might do it. #modelTrains
Once I found the bogey pin, this actually worked reasonably well... having the locomotive wired to a car. I think the trick would be thinner wire and a lot of careful work to make sure it acts like a coupling. It's Z scale... you hiccup and a freight car will derail.
May 17, 2025 at 1:42 AM
Once I found the bogey pin, this actually worked reasonably well... having the locomotive wired to a car. I think the trick would be thinner wire and a lot of careful work to make sure it acts like a coupling. It's Z scale... you hiccup and a freight car will derail.
I found the Rokuhan to Marklin adapters so the RR is retiring the EF-210 Bo'Bo' experimental Rokumarklin locomotive. I finally found that bogey pin. It was on the layout the whole time, not the floor.
Here's Rokuhans pulling Marklin cars. :-) #modelTrains
Here's Rokuhans pulling Marklin cars. :-) #modelTrains
May 17, 2025 at 1:42 AM
I found the Rokuhan to Marklin adapters so the RR is retiring the EF-210 Bo'Bo' experimental Rokumarklin locomotive. I finally found that bogey pin. It was on the layout the whole time, not the floor.
Here's Rokuhans pulling Marklin cars. :-) #modelTrains
Here's Rokuhans pulling Marklin cars. :-) #modelTrains
I think I'll end up redoing most of it, or at least sanding and redoing the top layer, but as an experiment I can't recommend clear elmers for model railroad water. At the least, make sure your paint is properly dried. It absorbed more that I expected.
May 17, 2025 at 12:34 AM
I think I'll end up redoing most of it, or at least sanding and redoing the top layer, but as an experiment I can't recommend clear elmers for model railroad water. At the least, make sure your paint is properly dried. It absorbed more that I expected.
What's saving me is Z scale again, that this layout is easy to prop up at an angle. The white waterfall paint-glue was running downstream and looking more like a chemical spill than a waterfall, but prop up one end of the layout and some quick brush work with a fake plastic palm tree and it's fixed.
May 16, 2025 at 2:39 AM
What's saving me is Z scale again, that this layout is easy to prop up at an angle. The white waterfall paint-glue was running downstream and looking more like a chemical spill than a waterfall, but prop up one end of the layout and some quick brush work with a fake plastic palm tree and it's fixed.