The New Oakville Sub

[Jim Reising]

Speaking of backdrops - I guess you could say the new Oakville Sub is officially underway.
And a trackplan as well: the main level:
Staging area:

I have one more room to put the backdrops in, then it's on to benchwork. I've also somewhat redesigned the web site to allow for the new layout. It's good to be working on trains again, even if it's only the backdrops!

[Fotheringill]

Looks like a great start.

[GaryHinshaw]

Jim - looks like a great new start! Your previous layout was a source of inspiration - I look forward to seeing the new one.

One question: I saw in your photos that the backdrop was (apparently) composed of Masonite and that it was coved pretty tightly. What thickness are you using, and do you have any tips on coving it that tightly?

Thanks, Gary

[Jim Reising]

Originally Posted by GaryHinshaw

Jim - looks like a great new start! Your previous layout was a source of inspiration - I look forward to seeing the new one.

One question: I saw in your photos that the backdrop was (apparently) composed of Masonite and that it was coved pretty tightly. What thickness are you using, and do you have any tips on coving it that tightly?

Thanks, Gary

Thank YOU, Gary!

I used 1/8" tempered, I was a bit worried about the big boxes carrying it but Lowes (they're closest) did have it. They made the cut for me at three feet on each panel (Sixteen to be exact!), making it easier to load on my car and giving me some one foot pieces to cut into splines.

The Masonite was actually one of the easier parts of the whole deal so far! I leveled and marked where the base should be, finding and marking studs as well. Then I drove a couple screws in to support the panel at the correct height, and a couple more where the first end needed to be.

Then I put the panel in position and simply pushed until the cove felt about right (How's THAT for a measurement!), marked the panel for the nearest stud, cut it there, put a couple more screws to hold the cut end, and again put the panel in position, this time held by the bottom screws and the screws at each end. Then, at my leisure, I could secure the panel properly with countersunk screws - three vertically in each stud location, but staying clear so as not to distort the cove. (The media Backdrop Warehouse uses is 12 mil - accordingly there's no need to fill the countersinks or use joint compound at the Masonite joints - it literally floats right over them and they can't be seen when the backdrop is up. Good stuff!

As to the radius of cove, I guess I could have gone larger but this works for me. Actually I DID go larger in one location and there really doesn't seem to me to be all that much difference in how the backdrop looks...

[OC Engineer JD]

Wow....what a fantastic start, and a great track plan. Look forward to seeing progress photos of this layout.

[Jim Reising]

Originally Posted by OC Engineer JD

Wow....what a fantastic start, and a great track plan. Look forward to seeing progress photos of this layout.

Thanks, Jerry. That's my intention. You've set a pretty high bar, though! Finished the last of the backdrops this afternoon, now it's LUMBER time!

[Jim Reising]

Basic benchwork is now complete in the south room. What you see here is where staging will go.

Next up: the staging yard.

[GaryHinshaw]

Nice workmanship! Please keep posting updates.

-Gary

P.S. Thanks for the earlier info about the backdrop. I'm looking for a pretty tight curve myself, but I think the time I tried this before it was with untempered stock.... -SNAP-

[TexasNS]

Can't wait to see more - you're last layout continues to be an inspiration and I really look forward to seeing more of your progress!

[Jim Reising]

We're ready to lay track!!!



The curving Masonite strip is the path of the main which will be double track spline; the area below is staging. Staging will be laid first - I'm doing it this way so I can work whilst awaiting switches for the yard ladders. The ladders will be on the far right where the tools and such are piled.