Sweeping Curves With Unitrack On The New JJJ And E

When I first designed the "new" JJJ&E, I wanted a layout with sweeping curves. I was able to do this using Unitrack. The radii of the two turnaround areas on the layout have 23-24 inch radii. Each turnaround area is 50x50 inches. This was accomplished using easements with individual Unitrack sections.

For the rest of the layout the radii average 30 inches. Again easements played a vital role in accomplishing this important dynamic of the layout. I can run very large steam locomotives which require larger radii to run well.

 Photo # 1 ATSF FT units pulling a 40 car freight consist up the long 1 1/2% grade in the turnaround area              east of San Marino. The San Marino freight yard and the town of San Marino is in the background.    

  Photo # 2 A panoramic view of the front part of the turnaround area.     The building adjacent  to      Roscoe's  Engine is a Plumbing Parts & Service area. The three mainline track tracks in the foreground sweep  around the  turnaround area using 23-24 inch radii.

     

Photo # 3 The sweeping radii in the turnaround area east of San Marino. 23-24 inch radii are easy with the help of easements. A closer view of the back of the Plumbing &Heating Supply Building in the turnaround area.    

  Photo # 4 A closer look at the sweeping radii in the turnaround area east of San Marino. A closer side view of  Roscoe's Engine. Milwaukee Hiawatha #1 is making its way around the turnaround area on the lower level mainline track.     

Photo # 5 These are two of the inner mainline tracks in the turnaround area east of San Marino. Large radii area a must on the "new" JJJ&E. This is a prerequisite for large steam locomotives to run flawlessly on the layout. A closer view of Milwaukee Hiawatha #1 with a direct view of Rosco's Engine Repair Shop. The Locomotive Maintenance Building is directly behind Rosco's Engine Repair.   

  

Photo # 6 Two classic locomotives, the SP #4449 GS-4 "Freedom Train" 4-8-4 and the Milwaukee "Hiawatha" #1 pulling passenger car consists east of San Marino in the right turnaround area of the JJJ&E. The San Marino Freight yard is in the distance. The building in the immediate background is Roscoe's Engine Repair Shop. Both trains are running on the lower mainline tracks on this part of the JJJ&E.   

Photo # 6A The American Freedom Train, SP #4449 at the Santa Fe style station in San Marino

 
 

Photo # 6A A B&W photo of The American Freedom Train, SP #4449 at the Santa Fe style station in San Marino

    Photo # 6B An old sepia photo of The American Freedom Train, SP #4449 at the Santa Fe style station in San Marino

       Photo # 6C An old platinum photo of The American Freedom Train, SP #4449 at the Santa Fe style station in San Marino

       Photo # 6D An old color photo of The American Freedom Train, SP #4449 at the Santa Fe style station in San Marino

Photo # 6E An old albumen photo of The American Freedom Train, SP #4449 at the Santa Fe style station in San Marino

Photo # 6F The American Freedom Train headed by The GS-4 #4449 is leaving the station at San Marino. The town of San Marino is in the background.

 Photo # 6G An old B&W photo of  The American Freedom Train headed by The GS-4 #4449 is leaving the station at San Marino. The town of San Marino is in the background.

  Photo # 6G An old sepia photo of  The American Freedom Train headed by The GS-4 #4449 is leaving the station at San Marino. The town of San Marino is in the background.

 Photo # 6H An old platinum photo of  The American Freedom Train headed by The GS-4 #4449 is leaving the station at San Marino. The town of San Marino is in the background.

 Photo # 6I An old color photo of  The American Freedom Train headed by The GS-4 #4449 is leaving the station at San Marino. The town of San Marino is in the background.

Photo # 6J An old albumen photo of  The American Freedom Train headed by The GS-4 #4449 is leaving the station at San Marino. The town of San Marino is in the background.
 

 Photo # 6K The American Freedom Train headed by The GS-4 #4449 is leaving the station at San Marino with the Idaho Hotel in the background.

 Photo # 6L An old B&W photo of The American Freedom Train headed by The GS-4 #4449 is leaving the station at San Marino with the Idaho Hotel in the background.

 Photo # 6M An old sepia photo of The American Freedom Train headed by The GS-4 #4449 is leaving the station at San Marino with the Idaho Hotel in the background.

      Photo # 6N An old platinum photo of The American Freedom Train headed by The GS-4 #4449 is     leaving the station at San Marino with the Idaho Hotel in the background.

 Photo # 6N  An old B&W photo of The American Freedom Train headed by The GS-4 #4449 is     leaving the station at San Marino with the Idaho Hotel in the background.

 Photo # 6O  An old albumen photo of The American Freedom Train headed by The GS-4 #4449 is     leaving the station at San Marino with the Idaho Hotel in the background.

 Photo # 6P The SP GS-4 # 4449 "Freedom Train" leaving San Marino. An Ice Platform is in the background. Ice Workers are getting ready to load ice into ATSF reefers.

 Photo # 6Q An old B&W photo of the SP GS-4 # 4449 "Freedom Train" leaving San Marino. An Ice Platform is in the background. Ice Workers are getting ready to load ice into ATSF reefers.

  Photo # 6R An old sepia photo of the SP GS-4 # 4449 "Freedom Train" leaving San Marino. An Ice Platform is in the background. Ice Workers are getting ready to load ice into ATSF reefers.

  Photo # 6S An old platinum photo of the SP GS-4 # 4449 "Freedom Train" leaving San Marino. An Ice Platform is in the background. Ice Workers are getting ready to load ice into ATSF reefers.

 Photo # 6T An old color photo of the SP GS-4 # 4449 "Freedom Train" leaving San Marino. An Ice Platform is in the background. Ice Workers are getting ready to load ice into ATSF reefers.

 Photo # 6U An old albumen photo of the SP GS-4 # 4449 "Freedom Train" leaving San Marino. An Ice Platform is in the background. Ice Workers are getting ready to load ice into ATSF reefers.

 Photo # 7 A look down on the lower level of the mainline track from the upper level of the double track mainline. The Milwaukee "Hiawatha" can be seen on the lower level mainline track. The outer mainline has a long 1 1/2% grade which most steam locomotives on the roster of the "new" JJJ&E can negotiate. The two lower mainline tracks in the turnaround area are level and locomotives that can't negotiate the long grade can use these tracks to get back to San Marino. 

Photo # 8 A closeup of ATSF FT Units negotiating the long 1 1/2% grade of the outer mainline track east of San Marino.       

  Photo # 9 A closeup  view of a Key Imports PRR #6750 M1A making the long climb up the 1 1/2% grade east of San Marino in the Monterrey Mountains.     

 Photo # 9A An old color photo of a brass Key Imports PRR M1A #6750 is on the mainline east of San Marino entering the right turnaround area of the JJJ&E. I installed a Lenz silver mini decoder and a Soundtraxx Micro Tsunami decoder and mini oval speaker in the tender.

Photo # 9B A brass Key Imports PRR M1A #6750 is on the mainline east of San Marino entering the right turnaround area of the JJJ&E. I installed a Lenz silver mini decoder and a Soundtraxx Micro Tsunami decoder and mini oval speaker in the tender.

 Photo # 9C An old sepia photo of a brass Key Imports PRR M1A #6750 is on the mainline east of San Marino entering the right turnaround area of the JJJ&E. I installed a Lenz silver mini decoder and a Soundtraxx Micro Tsunami decoder and mini oval speaker in the tender.

 Photo # 10 A closeup view of the PRR M1A #6750 (4-8-2)on the engineers side of the locomotive. This is a very powerful steamer. The Belpaire firebox is distinctive of PRR steam locomotives.

 Photo # 11 UP 4-8-4 #837 slowly climbing the 1 1/2% grade on the mainline east of San Marino.    

Photo # 12 ATSF F-7's pulling a 40 car consist up the long grade east of San Marino. The town of San Marino is in the background.    

Photo # 13 A South Western Portland Cement Company two truck Shay #12 on the mainline in the Monterrey Mountains east of San Marino. There is a Lenz mini silver decoder in the cab. I installed MT Z scale #905 couplers on both ends of the Shay. The gears are fully operational on the engineers side of the locomotive.    

Photo #14  An early evening photo of a South Western Portland Cement Company # 12 two truck Shay, making the long climb up the mainline grade in the Monterrey Mountains east of San Marino.    

Photo # 15 The South Western Portland Cement Company Two Truck Shay is slowly making its way up the long grade east of San Marino in the Monterrey Mountains.

 Photo # 15A An old color photo of the South Western Portland Cement Company #12 Two Truck Shay is slowly making its way up the long grade east of San Marino in the Monterrey Mountains.

 Photo # 16 A closeup view of the South Western Portland Cement Company #12 Two Truck Shay on the long grade in the Monterrey Mountains east of San Marino. The gears on the engineers side of this locomotive are fascinating to watch in action. The maximum speed for this locomotive is 10 MPH.

Photo # 17  SP "Daylight" #4450 Making The Long Climb Up The Grade East Of San Marino. The Monterrey Mountains Are In The Background 

Photo # 17A  An old B&W photo of a SP "Daylight" #4450 Making The Long Climb Up The Grade East Of San Marino. The Monterrey Mountains Are In The Background 

 Photo # 17B  An old sepia photo of a SP "Daylight" #4450 Making The Long Climb Up The Grade East Of San Marino. The Monterrey Mountains Are In The Background

Photo # 17C  An old color photo of a SP "Daylight" #4450 Making The Long Climb Up The Grade East Of San Marino. The Monterrey Mountains Are In The Background 

Thirty inch radii is the norm for the rest of the layout. This allows me to operate large steam locomotives and maximizes their optimum performance on the layout. I'm able to get inch radii with the use of easements which makes this possible.

  Photo # 18 A sweeping panoramic view of the Diesel Service Yard. Two Oil derricks are above the retaining wall which is in the corner of the layout. 30 inch radii make very nice sweeping curves on this part of the "new" JJJ&E. Both signal bridges are fully operational and are controlled by photo cells in the track and Logic Rail Technologies signal boards.    

  Photo # 19  A closeup view of Bowdens Mills Lumber Yard. The sweeping curves on this part of the "new" JJJ&E utilize 30 inch radii. Two oil derricks are in operation above the retaining wall in this corner of the layout. A long Billboard reefer consist is on the outer mainline heading towards the Switching Yard.

 Photo # 20 A closeup of the Cash Mining Company with a panoramic view of the two oil derricks above the retaining wall in the corner of the layout. Wide sweeping curves enable all the locomotives on the roster of the "new" JJJ&E to operate at peak performance.

Photo # 21  A ATSF 4-8-4 #3782 climbing the 1 1/2% grade on the mainline east of San Marino. The Monterrey Mountains are in the background. This locomotive has a very rigid wheel base and should only be used on layouts with radii greater than 19 inches.

Photo # 21A  An old B&W photo of a ATSF 4-8-4 #3782 climbing the 1 1/2% grade on the mainline east of San Marino. The Monterrey Mountains are in the background. This locomotive has a very rigid wheel base and should only be used on layouts with radii greater than 19 inches. 

Photo # 21B  An old sepia photo of a ATSF 4-8-4 #3782 climbing the 1 1/2% grade on the mainline east of San Marino. The Monterrey Mountains are in the background. This locomotive has a very rigid wheel base and should only be used on layouts with radii greater than 19 inches. 

Photo # 21C  An old color photo of a ATSF 4-8-4 #3782 climbing the 1 1/2% grade on the mainline east of San Marino. The Monterrey Mountains are in the background. This locomotive has a very rigid wheel base and should only be used on layouts with radii greater than 19 inches. 

 Photo # 22 Denver & Rio Grande F-7's and Milwaukee Hiawatha # 1 Locomotive and two car passenger train enter the turnaround area east of San Marino.

  Photo # 23 A panoramic view of a SP "Black"GS-4  #4390 in the center of San Marino.

          Photo # 23A  An old B&W photo  of a panoramic view of a SP "Black"GS-4  #4390 in the center of San Marino.

  Photo # 23B  An old sepia photo  of a panoramic view of a SP "Black"GS-4  #4390 in the center of San Marino.

  Photo # 23B  An old color photo  of a panoramic view of a SP "Black"GS-4  #4390 in the center of San Marino.

  Photo # 23C  An old platinum photo  of a panoramic view of a SP "Black"GS-4  #4390 in the center of San Marino.

  Photo # 23D  An old albumin photo  of a panoramic view of a SP "Black"GS-4  #4390 in the center of San Marino.

Photo #24  A closeup of a ATSF 2-6-6-2 articulated Mallet # 1175 on the mainline east of San Marino. The Monterrey Mountains are in the background.

Photo #25 Key Imports SP F-7 units on the mainline east of San Marino

Photo #25A An Old Classic photo of Key Imports SP F-7 units on the mainline east of San Marino

Photo #25B A color photo of Key Imports SP F-7 units on the mainline east of San Marino 

Photo #26 An overhead color photo of a kitbashed Southern Kato Mikado using a GHQ pewter detail kit.

 Photo #26A A color photo on the engineers of a kit bashed Southern Kato Mikado using a GHQ detail kit

  Photo #26B An old platinum B&W photo of Southern MS-4 #4839 pulling a consist of freight cars on the inner mainline track in San Marino. The Idaho Hotel can be seen in the background.

Photo #27 A color photo of an ATSF articulated 2-8-8-2 pulling a long freight consist on the inner mainline track leaving the town of San Marino. 

Photo #28  Roof tops In The Town Of San Marino. The Busy San Marino Switching Yard Can Be Seen In Operation

Photo #29 A color photo showing part of the Industrial Park in the turnaround area east of San Marino. The locomotive maintenance center is on the left. The Five Cent Cigar Company is adjacent to the maintenance center and a Wood Processing Plant is on the right. I still haven't painted the logs at the Wood Processing Plant. I used roofing felt for the Industrial Center's asphalt pavement. BTW, when I bought the roofers felt at Home Depot, there was no odor from the roofers felt. The radii of the track in the turnaround area is 23-24 inches, which is 46-48 inches in HO scale.

 Photo #30 Another view of the Industrial Park showing a SP 2-6-6-2 articulated steamer pulling a freight consist on the lower level of the mainline track. The Locomotive Maintenance Building, The Five Cent Cigar Company and The San Marino Wood Processing Center Build are also in this photo.

 

 

Detailing And Weathering A SP Phase 1 GP-9

The GP-9 is a fantastic locomotive to detail and weather. It is unique because all GP-7's, GP-9's GP-18's and GP-20's in N scale have interchangeable parts. This allows you to kit bash many variations of these locomotives when it comes time to kit bash them and detail them. Most modelers don't know that all the parts of the GP-7, GP-9, GP-18 and GP-20 in N scale are interchangeable. I'll be using Sunrise Enterprises detail parts for the GP locomotive. Sunrise Enterprises is no longer in business, but I was able to accumulate many of their different detail parts to use on many SP, ATSF and Southern diesel locomotives on the roster of the "New" JJJ&E. Few manufacturers today specialize in supplying the N scale modeler with quality detail parts.

It was fun to work on the SP GP-9. I detailed two of these locomotives, SP #3509 and SP #3498.  I used a Dremel tool with very fine diamond points to drill the holes for the detail parts on the locomotive shell and frame.

                 Photo  #  1  SP #3509 completely detailed with Sunrise Enterprises detail parts. These parts include MU hoses,     MU Cables Round MU Stands, Antennae, Steam Generators, Rotary Beacons & Stands, High Stacks, Over head Air Tanks, Spare Knuckle Coupler and Speed Recorders. All of these detail parts were used on SP #3509 GP-9 and SP #3498 GP-9.

                                       Photo  #  2  An early color  track side photo of SP # 3508 GP-9 with all the detail parts cemented in place, on the outer mainline track in the Monterrey Mountains.

       Photo  #  3 An early color photo of the fireman's side of the SP #3509 GP-9 showing all the detail parts from this viewing point.. The spare knuckle coupler is mounted on the front truck along with the speed recorder.

Photo  #  4 An early color photo of the SP #3508 GP-9 showing an overhead view of the diesel. The diesel parts on top of the diesel shell are an Antenna, Steam Generator, Rotary Beacon and Stand, High stacks and Air Tanks.

All the detailing of this SP #3509 GP-9 took about 90 minutes to complete. The next step is to weather this diesel with the Bragdon Weathering System. I already added the detail parts to SP #3498 and weathered the locomotive with the Bragdon Weathering System. I'll post these photo's in a few days.

The photo's below are the initial weathering of SP #3498 Phase 1 GP-9 with the Bragdon Weathering System. The weathering can be toned down by brushing the excess weathering powders from the diesel shell.

          Photo  #  5  Initial weathering of the SP #3498 Phase 1 GP-20 with the Bragdon Weathering Powders on the fireman's side of the GP-9 

Photo  # 6  Overhead view of the Initial weathering of the SP #3498 Phase 1 GP-20 with the Bragdon Weathering Powders on the fireman's side of the GP-9 

Photo  #  7  Comparison of a weathered and unweathered SP Phase 1 GP-9 with detail parts added.

              Photo  #  8  Another view of a completely weathered SP Phase 1 GP-9 and an unweathered SP Phase 1 GP-9 with the detail parts added. The weathering of SP #3498 will be toned done in subsequent photo's by using a soft sable brush to remove some of the excess weathering.

Photo   #  9  Closeup of Initial Weathering of SP #3498 with the Bragdon Weathering System

Photo  #  10   Closeup of Initial Weathering of the roof of the SP #3498 with the Bragdon Weathering System

Detailing And Weathering A SP Phase 1 GP-9

I weathered the detailed SP Phase 1 GP-9 with the Bragdon Weathering System. This was easy to do since I've been using this technique for many yeras. I weathering the vents with a Grimy black soot. The rest of the shell and trucks were weathered with the Grimy black soot, dirt and dust and some rust.

Traditionally SP diesels were heavily weathered and never were cleaned. I detailed # 3509 and #3498. I weathered SP #3498. If you applied too much weathering in any area, the weathering can be toned down with a soft sable brush. That's the beauty of using the Bragdon Weathering System.

              Photo  #  1 Trackside Photo of SP #3498 GP-9 weathered with the Bragdon Weathering Powders. The SP #3498 GP-9 is on the mainline high in the Monterrey Mountains.

        Photo  #  2  SP #3498 GP-9 on the engineers side of the GP-9. I moderately weathered the shell of the SP GP-9 using Grimy black soot on the roof and around the vents  below the roof. The rest of the shell of the GP-9 was weathered with dirt, dust and rust.

   Photo  #  3  Another view of  P #3498 GP-9 on the engineers side of the GP-9. I moderately weathered the shell of the SP GP-9 using Grimy black soot on the roof and around the vents  below the roof. The rest of the shell of the GP-9 was weathered with dirt, dust and rust.

Photo  #  4  An overhead view of the roof of the SP #3498 Phase 1 GP-9 weathered with grimy black soot around the fans

Cheater Boxcars Or Helpers

              
"Cheater" Boxcars are a great addition to N scale railroading . This type of boxcar is powered and aids N scale locomotives especially steam locomotives to negotiate grades of 2% or greater, that many steam locomotives couldn't handle without help.

The "Cheater" boxcars are easy to make and work well on layouts with DCC. In 2004, one of the large hobby shops in Ft. Lauderdale Florida had a "blowout special" on Life Like  UP GP-20's for $16. Needless to say there was a large "run" on these sale price GP-20's. I bought eight of the LL GP-20's which I intended to use for "Cheater" Boxcars or "Helpers" for many of my steam locomotives as the "Original" JJJ&E had a completely graded 120 foot mainline  ( 2% ).

I used the frame of the LL GP-20 as the main component to build the "Cheater" boxcar. I was able to hard wire a Lenz 0521W decoder to the diesel frame and motor.The orange and gray wires of the decoder are soldered to the motor tabs. The red and black wires of the decoder are soldered to the original light board. The led is cut off from the light board and the rear light board is removed from the frame. The decoder is taped to the frame where the rear light board was positioned with Kapton tape. This  Life Like GP-20 wasn't DCC friendly. Front and back lights weren't necessary as the frame was completely covered by a 50 foot boxcar shell. At the time I had some MRC 50 foot boxcar shells that I used for my new motorized "Cheater" boxcars. I was able to install MT N scale couplers at each end of the GP-20 frame.

Now I consisted the "Cheater" boxcar to a steam locomotive that needed extra power. The "Cheater" boxcar provided ample pulling power to aid the steam locomotives, I consisted these to. The Life Like GP-20  is very powerful  in its own right and this Gp-20 can easily pull 20 cars on level track.

I used two 'Cheater" boxcars on the "Original" JJJ&E and they have a presence on the "New" JJJ&E ( See Photo  1 ).

I gave several of the other Life Like GP-20's that I didn't use to friends who wanted to make "Cheater" boxcars or "Helpers" for their own layouts.

Photo  # 1  Two completely weathered 'Cheater" Boxcars on a siding with the Switching Yard in the background.

                      Photo  # 2  A Completely weathered Southern "Cheater" Boxcar on the mainline east of San Marino with the Monterrey Mountains in the background.

           Photo  #  3     An  N  scale coupler mounted to the LL GP -20 frame. This car was weathered using Bragdon Weathering Powders. There are couplers on both ends of this "Cheater" Boxcar.

                  Photo  #  4   A Completely weathered Western Pacific  "Cheater" Boxcar on the mainline east of San Marino with the Monterrey Mountains in the background.

                  Photo  #  5  The WP "Cheater" boxcar in a consist with a ATSF 2-8-8-2 articulated steamer on the mainline in San Marino.

                  Photo  #  6  The Southern "Cheater" boxcar in a consist with a ATSF 2-8-8-2 articulated steamer on the mainline in San Marino.

The "Cheater" Boxcars are easy to assemble. You can use any GP-7, GP-9, GP-18 or GP-20 frames with a 50 foot boxcar shell. All the above N scale diesels have interchangeable parts.

Weathering Locomotives, Rolling Stock And Buildings With The Bragdon Weathering System

Many years ago I started to use the Bragdon Weathering System to weather locomotives, rolling stock and buildings on the "Original" JJJ&E as well as the "New" JJJ&E which was started in 2009 . The complete Bragdon Weathering System contains 16 colors; light, medium, dark rust and soot, Ash,Grimy Gray,Dust Bowl Brown,Weathered Brown,  Old Yeller,Green Grunge,The Blues, Used Brick,  Lime Morter White,Dark Rail Brown,Old Tuscan and Antique Iron.

These weathering powders are easy to apply with a small 18/0 sable brush. If excess powder drops on your work area, it can be reused.You can leave the powders on the models you weather as is.The weathering powders will remain in place. You can also use Dullcote after applying the powders but that isn't necessary. If you do use Dullcote, you might find it necessary to re-apply the lighter colored powders over the Dullcote to re-establish the full effect of the Bragdon Weathering System.

The weathering powders will adhere to any non-glossy surface. It has no resemblance to chalks. Brushing the weathering powders on a locomotive, rolling stock and buildings give instantaneous results. The weathering powders require no  drying or curing. If you use the weathering powders  carefully; you won't have to replace any of the colors for a long time. According to the company, "The weathering powders are made from real rust and other weathering agents that have been ball milled to a particle size over 100 times finer than chalk and blended with a pressure sensitive, dry adhesive. The Weathering powders will adhere to most surfaces. They are nonmagnetic and nontoxic".

            Photo  # 1  The "Idaho Hotel" a signature building on the "New" JJJ&E was weathering with the Bragdon Weathering Powders over 12 Years ago. This building was used on the "Original" JJJ&E and survived a move from Florida to Texas with the weathering intact.

Photo #  2  The Schultz Gear Factory was completely weathered using the Bragdon Weathering System. This building was also used on the "Original" JJJ&E and also was moved from Florida to Texas with all the weathering still in place.

Photo  # 3 Rolling stock can easily be weathered with the Bragdon Weathering System. Varying degrees of intensity can be accomplished with the weathering powders which stay in place on the model.

Photo  # 3A A sepia photo of Rolling stock can easily be weathered with the Bragdon Weathering System. Varying degrees of intensity can be accomplished with the weathering powders which stay in place on the model.

 Photo  # 3B An old platinum photo of Rolling stock can easily be weathered with the Bragdon Weathering System. Varying degrees of intensity can be accomplished with the weathering powders which stay in place on the model.

Photo  # 3C An old B&W photo of Rolling stock can easily be weathered with the Bragdon Weathering System. Varying degrees of intensity can be accomplished with the weathering powders which stay in place on the model.

Photo  # 4  A highly detailed Southern Ms-4 Mikado is easily weathered with the Bragdon Weathering System. A fine 18/0 sable brush was used to apply the weathering powders. This locomotive was weathered over 10 years ago.

Photo # 5 Closeup photo of the highly detailed and weathered Southern Ms-4 Mikado on the Engineers side.

   Photo # 6 The completely weathered Southern Ms-4  Mikado #4910 on the outer mainline  track. Another Southern Ms-4 Mikado on the inner mainline track that is very lightly weathered with the Bragdon Weathering System.

 You should give this system a try. A small 16 color kit is $37.50 USD.