N Scale T-Trak

billmtx Oct 28, 2010

  1. randgust

    randgust TrainBoard Member

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    I'll have five T-trak modules at Altoona this year - in Dave Ferrari's ad-hoc T-track group.

    West Hickory - triple - this was there last year - mostly sceniced

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    Hickory Bridge - that's the new single track module that's a triple length and is pretty much done

    [​IMG]

    paired with Thompson - which for now is just a bypass track triple for the inner main around Hickory Bridge....unsceniced

    and two doubles on either end that swing the inner main around the back of Hickory Bridge module:

    Trunkeyville - semi-sceniced
    Jamison - operational but no scenery

    I'm using Peter Soborg's track weathering techniques that were described in MR.

    For the most part, I'm using Kato end connectors only, but Peco C55 inbetween. Full conventional roadbed and ballast construction. I've also painted and ballasted all the Kato track in the final versions.

    So if you're curious on what I've been tinkering with on 'single track' designs, stop and have a look, I'll usually be over at my vendor table.
     
    Last edited: Aug 11, 2017
  2. MK

    MK TrainBoard Member

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    It will be an honor to run my trains over your bridge Randy. I'm part of Dave's club and I'll be in Altoona (first time). I'm also a photographer so I'll be taking lots and lots of pictures! :D

    Can't wait to see that bridge in person!
     
  3. arbomambo

    arbomambo TrainBoard Member

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    Randy,
    the modules are gorgeous and the deep pour water worked!!!!
    ~Bruce
     
  4. arbomambo

    arbomambo TrainBoard Member

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    Hello all...

    I was flattered to be video interviewed by Cody Grivno and David Popp, of Model Railroader Magazine at the National Train Show in Orlando this past weekend. It is aired in part two of the MR Video Plus segment of their National Train Show coverage. ( in fact, the T-TRAK was the ONLY layout featured in either part 1 or part 2).

    Dave also mentioned to me that the Model Railroader staff is planning to do another segment on T-TRAK soon!...so more N scale exposure!


    if you subscribe to Model Railroader online and also MR Video Plus, the video can be viewed here:


    http://mrr.trains.com/sitecore/cont...ational-train-show-2017-special-report-part-2


    ~Bruce


    PS-(the fifty lbs. I've gained since the surgery are all too evident in the video!...EGADS!...i've got to get to work!)
     
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  5. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Bruce-

    Apparently the have done a prior article in MR, on T-Trak. Do you know the particular issue?
     
  6. Point353

    Point353 TrainBoard Member

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    Should be in the June 2016 issue.
    Also see these videos: http://mrr.trains.com/tags/t--trak
     
  7. casmmr

    casmmr TrainBoard Member

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    Here are 6 pictures and the t-trak layout sheet from Altoona PA N-scale Weekend. The layout sheet is from Dave Ferrari (in an email he gave to permission to post) and the pictures are taken by Dave Lindsey of some of the modules in the large t-trak layout. Per Dave F, there are 72 modules from 11 different clubs.
     

    Attached Files:

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  8. casmmr

    casmmr TrainBoard Member

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    I was unable to rotate the pictures, hopefully, someone can explain how to do that so everyone can enjoy without looking at them from the side. Sure wish I could have been there.
     
  9. SecretWeapon

    SecretWeapon Passed away January 23, 2024 In Memoriam

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    good job Dave. it was a wonderful layout.
     
  10. randgust

    randgust TrainBoard Member

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    Here's the aerial shot of the 'pickup' layout organized by Dave Ferrari:

    http://mikewongphotography.zenfolio.com/p799119698/h93b965d2#h93b96b33

    There is a plan for this to show how it worked out.

    "There are 72 modules from 11 different clubs with over 135 feet of double-track mainline run in the layout. I use a "Single Equivalent Unit" count plus corners to calculate total length. We had 122 SEUs, up from 94 last year, plus 10 corners, down from 19 last year for a total count of 132 versus 113 last year." - Dave F.

    Mike Wong's entire photo album, NTRAK and T-Trak both:
    http://mikewongphotography.zenfolio.com/p799119698

    I got some video that I'll get up to YouTube at some point. What amazed me was how long you had to wait for a train to circle the outside main line. You needed a timetable. It was run as a combination of outside main line 'long distance' and a collection of inner shorter loops with junction sections on the inner main lines.

    I had to chuckle on some of the equipment spotted on the West Hickory Bridge module during the show:

    "Conrail local", which could have happened, actually, and it made me think what it would have looked like if the line had survived....
    "SP Daylight" with a a GS-4!
    "Santa Fe Super Chief"....wow!
    "Thomas the tank engine" - which was a surprise because I only saw it in Mike's photos.

    West Hickory also had a wonderful time warp in an empty NS unit coal train running 'southbound', just as if the Bethlehem Steel plant in Lackawanna never closed and the Kinzua Dam was never was built. Yup, would have looked just like that.

    The offset modules (Jamison and Trunkeyville) that put the inside main line BEHIND Hickory bridge module using Kato #4's worked flawlessly. That idea works. I did modify the #4's to make sure the points seated tight and were sharp, and there were no incidents running through the diverging side of the Kato turnouts all weekend. So if you're wondering if they are reliable, they are, if you put some work into them.
     
    Last edited: Aug 22, 2017
  11. arbomambo

    arbomambo TrainBoard Member

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    GREAT debut of the Hickory Bridge module!!!!!

    a little update on "Bushy Creek" and the Deep Pour Water product.
    I took some time, last evening, to add another dimension to the creek, using the new WS "water ripples" product. after watching the YouTube video showing application, I jumped in with both feet...basically using a small square cut hobby paint brush to apply the product in a stippling and smoothing motion...the product is a thick clear gel that holds its shape fairly well...and is, basically, foolproof. I really like effect and it certainly gives a little more 'life' to "Bushy Creek".
    ~Bruce


    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  12. randgust

    randgust TrainBoard Member

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    Wow. My creek on the Ross Run module is going to have to get that. That will be the next water feature.
     
  13. MK

    MK TrainBoard Member

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    Randy, I snuck that one in there for a chuckle. Thomas is actually mine. :D

    -Mike
     
  14. WFOJeff

    WFOJeff TrainBoard Member

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    Wow that is great, obviously I don't shop well...never seen that product!, Thank you
     
  15. Bill Denton

    Bill Denton TrainBoard Supporter

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    IMG_0856.JPG Throwing my hat into the T-Trak ring. Here is an in progress photo.
     
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  16. arbomambo

    arbomambo TrainBoard Member

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    Bill,
    Looking great!...that patchworkroad is outstanding!
    ~Bruce
     
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  17. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Fantastic what is being created in these small scenes. Now you step into it. Can't wait to see more!
     
  18. casmmr

    casmmr TrainBoard Member

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    Bill, welcome to the t-trak club. Your module is off to a good start. Just beware, just like a certain brand of potato chips who state you cannot eat just one, with t-trak modules, you just cannot build just one. Have fun, enjoy, I do not know what section of the country you are in, but, the PA N-scale Weekend in Altoona, PA in August, and the OH N-scale Weekend in Hilliard, OH in May, have t-trak layouts where you can bring your module(s) and see what a joint t-trak layout looks like. PA's is larger by far, but, small is nice also. later, Craig
     
  19. Bill Denton

    Bill Denton TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thanks all. I'm in Chicagoland and I was gifted a pair of bare modules and already had the track so......who knows. Kind of like a drug, the first hit is free!
     
  20. casmmr

    casmmr TrainBoard Member

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    Bill, I will extend a personal invite for you to attend the OH N-scale Weekend on May 18/19/20, 2018 at the Franklin County Fairgrounds in Hilliard, OH, a suburb of Columbus, OH along with your modules. Visit our web site, www.centralohiontrak.org for a participant registration form and mail it to me some time in early 2018. The t-shirts are always nice looking and with the 10th anniversary, maybe a different logo from or in addition to the past. Schmidt's is always great food for the evening meal, and the live auction is a lot of fun. Hopefully, see you there. I will be unable to make any responses for about a week as I enter the hospital at 11a today for surgery to remove my bladder due to stage 2 cancer. later, Craig
     

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