Model a Christmas train | December 2019 WHATS NEAT MRH Mag

MRH roving reporter Ken Patterson's December What's Neat show includes:
Daniel Coomb’s modular layout
Outdoor model photography
Christmas LED light train
And lots of holiday train runbys!
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► See the full article and follow the discussion: mrhmag.com
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► THERE’S LOTS MORE:
Get even more how-tos for model railroading on the Model Railroad Hobbyist website. This video is just part of the FREE December 2019 issue of Model Railroad Hobbyist magazine.
mrhmag.com
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[@DutchDeLorean]

I want to take this moment to give a big thanks to Ken Patterson for all his wonderful how to segments. Thanks to him I just completed my first modular layout base and track work. I want to particularly thank him for the magnetic module connection of his. All 13 of my modules are held together with magnets and alignment pins. Super satisfying snapping the parts together. Brilliant!

[@Kensart55]

I would love to see video of this.. Ken. contact me... [e-mail]

[@joevalentine2048]

December issue of what’s neat is a real treat. James has a clear head with the led project but the highlight was seeing Daniel growing into manhood before our very eyes. Well done all ....Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. See you in 2020

[@Perfusionist01]

Great show. Mr. Regier is a freakin' genius! Wow, what a cool Christmas train. He really brings some neat talents to the table.

[@HenrikSweden1]

Nice modular layout Daniel ! But put in some switches and you got a perfect switching layout as well. Thanks for sharing and merry christmas !

[@jackoesterlejr.3454]

What a great show! The Christmas train just blew me away! How cool is that! The segment on Daniel's layout had a lot of information! This is the "World's Greatest Hobby" Merry Christmas to the staff! Till Next Time! "MoPac Jack"

[@mikegillespie4212]

Awesome job on the lights! thanks James. I like the use of the rectifier to use track power. I will have to make some adjustments to ones that i built. Nice to see Daniel moving forward with his layout. keep us up to date with his progress.

[@DCoombs928]

Mike Gillespie i will try to update at the next podcast that I am able to attend:). Daniel

[@JamesRegiersModels]

It works for your buildings, too! Just tap into your power bus.

[@TomsTrainsandThings]

A lot of patience & good eyes to solder those wires to the LED's

[@JamesRegiersModels]

I made use of your 555 grade crossing flasher for the project.

[@TomsTrainsandThings]

@@JamesRegiersModels Thanks for letting me know. Good to know at least there is somene that pays attention.

[@markushodel173]

Merry Christmas and a wonderful new year to you, Ken, your family and friends.

[@deandanielson8074]

Thanks, Ken and Merry Christmas to a man making a big difference in this wonderful hobby. Thanks again. I'd like to thank James for his very concise description and your talent video work in explaining how to make those beautiful Christmas cars and superb lighting. - Dean from Minnesota

[@ThePeejRR]

Awesome work on the Christmas train. Now that's quality content!!

[@DCoombs928]

James you need to educate me more on doing the LED installs and other things with them.

[@paulsmith6616]

Many thx James and Ken for the info, although I'm not a shutterbug, I do admire these shots, DO NOT EVER allow me to touch a camera, unless you want glorious pictures of my fingers or the dreaded 'red eye pictures'

[@jerrysmith1929]

Like the "L" style legs on Daniel's layout. Have been planning to use them on my next layout.

[@trainmaster9323]

Great video. Another one. Best wishes from Barcelona!

[@jackel440]

Love this project Christmas cars

[@spacecalander]

Merry Christmas!

[@robertshearer7600]

Good show! Great to see the progress on Daniel's layout. I was keeping up with James until he said" solder black for negative to the red".

[@jamesregier8463]

Robert Shearer this is because I use blue magnet wire on my LEDs for the positive terminal, because it links to the blue function common wire on the decoder. Red or green wires are the negative. This is changed a little bit in the case of these cars because there is no decoder involved. Only the positive and negative terminals coming off the rectifier. For that, the standard is red (or some variant) for positive, black (or some variant) for the negative. This connecting the red magnet wire to the black 30 awg and blue to a resistor and then to the red. There’s no real magic to the colors, as long as you know your polarities when plugging those LEDs in.

[@JamesRegiersModels]

That's the transition from 36 awg magnet wire to 30 awg stranded. When I am wiring LEDs with magnet wire, I use blue for positive, and red or green for negative. This is intended to match NMRA coloring for the blue function common wire, which is positive. The other wire, meanwhile, would be soldered onto whatever color function we are using the LED for. However, in the case of these coaches, we do not have a decoder. We only have a rectifier, or in the case of the coach baggage, a rectifier and timer chip. As such, the NMRA decoder wiring colors no longer apply, so I was using the standard red (or variant) for positive, black (or variant) for negative for my 30 awg connections. There's nothing magic about the colors, only that you are consistent with them and know what they are so that you can plug in your LEDs with the right polarity.

[@JoeG-firehousewhiskey]

Wow, James has a lot of patients!!!

[@charlesdempsey176]

Also James, could you have scanned the car in your scanner instead of measuring all those windows? Then using the scan to layout the lights.

[@JamesRegiersModels]

I suppose that might have been a possibility. Though I didn't really consider that option. I've only scanned photos and documents where I could readily close its lid. I don't know if it would have behaved similarly with the lid open.

[@charlesdempsey176]

Hi Ken and James, My question is, is there a list of materials and suppliers for the LED projects?

[@JamesRegiersModels]

Most of these items are in the written article as submitted, though I will certainly make up a more concise, separate parts list for future articles. 0402 warm white LEDs 36 awg Magnet wire in two colors, with temperature rating lower than 400 degrees. Electronic components as shown in the Fritzing Diagram. (They are written out in the accompanying MRH article as submitted.) These were all sourced through eBay, and I do not have specific sellers to recommend, as they seem to change frequently. From your local hobby shop: Tamiya acrylic paints in desired colors (specific colors are also in the article as submitted). Pin stripe tape (1/64”). This will either be through eBay or your local hobby shop. Color doesn’t matter since it’s being used as masking. From your local hobby shop: Tamiya masking tape of varying widths. Micro Krystal Klear. From your local hardware store: frog tape painter’s masking. 3M super 7 Spray adhesive. Are used acetate plastic packaging for the windows. Kadee centering springs for the wheel wipers.

[@JamesRegiersModels]

Unfortunately, my accompanying article was not used as submitted. I will try to make the accompanying materials available elsewhere, possibly my own channel.

[@Kensart55]

I've got this James. From now on I will again take 2 days to write the text with 30 or so photos for the inside of the magazine starting with January What's Neat.....Time is my biggest issue since we started the weekly podcast on Ken Patterson's You Tube site.. What's neat This Week in Model Railroading. I actually need to start employing dependable staff for the productions. It's coming..........KP

[@rjl110919581]

thank you special detail show 2019 xmas

[@365n4]

Love the Lionel Train Sets, more O Scale in the future please. You seem to forget or overlook the big scales most of the time, which is pretty sad.

[@farmerdave7965]

The antique drill press museum ?

[@spacecalander]

Ken can we buy these night time prints?

[@samiam619]

Only problem with 8 minute exposures is....drum roll please... the Moon moves!

[@JamesRegiersModels]

Very true. One of these days, I'll invest in PhotoShop and learn how to overcome that aspect of nature. So far, the two options are to dramatically increase the ISO, which gets the moon pretty crisp, but leads to graininess, or to do a double exposure, with the first set on high ISO, short exposure, then layer and blend with a second 100 iso, long exposure of the train. I don't have photoshop, unfortunately.

[@samiam619]

JRegier80 Can’t you use that Russian computer program that Ken has to bring everything into focus?

[@JamesRegiersModels]

I might have to try that software sometime. One obvious issue I can think of is that it’s not really an issue of focus. But of timing. As in to get the moon to not move you have to be a minute or less of exposure time. But this is not the last shot. There’s plenty of time to experiment.

[@wamozart9573]

High Five, Ken!!!!

[@yrunaked4]

Rock N Roll

[@TheCombatartist]

The lighting segment requires a BSEE degree - waaaaaay beyond the comprehension of us mortals.

[@davidcurtis5398]

Just what are the dementions of the modules and what radius are the curves on Danial's layout???

[@DCoombs928]

David Curtis about 11x 15. Outside curve is 28” radius and 26 inside tracks 1 and 2. Inner yard track 22 inch radius. Daniel

[@mack042]

Awesome where did you get the Santa Rolling stock

[@jamesregier8463]

Santa's sleigh and the reindeer were all preiser figures. Check What's Neat This Week Episode 100 for a few details on that.

[@MMRails]

Anyone know who makes that Santa Fe? She’s purty. I’d love one.

[@JamesRegiersModels]

The shot at 1:32 was of two B40-8W's from Atlas, a Kato GP35, and a Life-Like Proto2K GP30 (mounted on a Kato GP35 chassis). The F45 and FP45 that appear around 15:12 are Athearn Genesis. The 4-4-2 pulling the Christmas train around 40:37 is a Mantua.

[@MMRails]

Thank you so much. I should have clarified. It’s the Athearn I was admiring.

[@JamesRegiersModels]

@@MMRails So far that I know, they are only available second hand on Ebay right now, though some hobby shops may have new old stock. Those genesis FP45s and F45s are absolutely beautiful locomotives, and very impressively detailed.

[@MMRails]

Thanks for the info. I did some searching and you’re right, they’re hard to come by. Maybe Santa will find me one. :)

[@cwiford20]

Cool

[@scotabot7826]

James must have a degree in Electrical Engineering is all I can say! WOW!

[@kjellmortenklevsand2088]

Sorry, need to give it a thumb down this time. Because of the annoying background music. Is it really necessary ? I can hardly separate the voice from the music ! Frustrating !!!

[@Kensart55]

Well.Heck.. Have a nice day. The fact is I matched the sound perfectly to the music in this video presentation for December. I watch the Sound bars very attentively through the editing process , It's my job which I know well..... Lets just agree to disagree on this. By the way I know a great podcast you can watch... There is no music but great modelers and guests. Check it out !What's Neat This Week In Model Railroading with Ken Patterson on You Tube.... With respect to you and your assessment.....Ken Patterson