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A lecturer once told our Master Gardener group, “Mulch is like underwear: we need it, but we don’t want to see it.” Ideally, the ground is best covered with plants, but it takes time for small starts of groundcover plants to spread and fill the areas we want. If the soil is left bare between […]
Nancy Norris Common name: Dwarf hardy jasmine, Parker’s jasmine Latin name: Jasminum parkeri Plant type: Shrubs & small trees USDA Hardiness Zones: 7-11 (overwinter indoors in lower zones) Cultural needs: Regular moisture, well-drained, slightly acidic soil, sun or part shade Plant size: 8-18″ high x 18″ wide Many plants are called jasmine but stem from […]
Marc Horovitz 1:19 scale, dual gauge, live steam 2-6-2T Accucraft Trains 33268 Central Ave. Union City CA 94587 Price: $1,995 Website: www.accucraft.com 1:19 (16mm) scale live-steam locomotive; gas fired; single-flue boiler; 60 psi blow-off pressure; twin safety valves; pseudo-Walschaerts valve gear; D-valve cylinders; reversing from the cab; water glass, pressure gauge; displacement lubricator with drain; […]
Kevin Strong TCS WowSound 5-amp DCC decoder Train Control Systems 845 Blooming Glen Road Blooming Glen PA 18911 Website: www.tcsdcc.com Price: $199.95 Five-amp capacity DCC motor/sound decoder; available for steam and diesel. Size: 3″ x 17/16″ x 9/16″ Pros: Good motor control; high-quality sound reproduction; many sound options programmed onto the decoder; prototypical braking; “Audio […]
Kevin Strong 8-ohm Visaton speakers Available from: Train-Li 3 Kensington Way Upton MA 01568 Prices: $14.95 – $24.95 Website: www.trainli.com Moderately priced speakers for use with locomotive sound systems; size: 2″ to 3.3″ diameter Pros: Great sound reproduction even without enclosure Cons: None Anyone who has worked with sound systems knows that speakers need a […]
Railroad signals have been around for a very long time. Signals are an important safety feature on railroads. As usual, I enjoy the journey of making my own. These signals may not be to scale — I just need them to look right on my railroad. Using commonly available T-1 ¾ LEDs, the design revolves […]
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Name: Eric Schade Railroad Name: Winnegance and Quebec Location: Phippsburg, Maine Scale: 7/8″=1′-0″ (1:13.7) Theme: Maine two foot gauge railroading in the teens Description: This is a compilation of several live steam runs on two beautiful spring evenings. The leaves are just poking out and so are the black flies. The trains are pulled by […]
Jack Verducci Download full-size drawings: a wheelbarrow metal lawn furniture decorative flower cart and a picnic table! […]
Marc Horowitz 1:32 scale, gauge-1 N&W 4-8-4 Accucraft Trains 33268 Central Ave. Union City CA 94587 Price: $5,950 Website: www.accucraft.com All metal, 1:32 scale, gauge-1 model of Norfolk & Western J-class streamlined 4-8-4; working Baker valve gear controlled from the cab; gas-fired boiler; ceramic burner; weight, 28.8 pounds (loco, 19.8 pounds; tender, 9 pounds); fittings: […]
Kevin Strong High current, wireless DCC receiver CVP Products (Airwire) PO Box 835772 Richardson TX 75083 Price: $132 (internal antenna); $138 (external antenna) Website: www.cvpusa.com Convertr-60; 6-amp wireless DCC receiver for battery R/C. Dimensions: 2.4″ x 1.2″ Pros: Easy installation; good range; high current capacity; able to use all 17 available Airwire frequencies Cons: No polarity […]
Kevin Strong Wireless DCC throttle CVP Products (Airwire) PO Box 835772 Richardson TX 75083 Price: $129 ($139 with charger and cable) Website: www.cvpusa.com T1300 throttle; operations-only (no programming) throttle. Dimensions: 6″ x 2″ x 1″ (excluding knob) Pros: Throttle knob has defined start and stop points; rechargeable battery via USB cable included; easy to use […]
