Hi, my name is Mark. I'm originally from Kentucky but live in Chicagoland. I'm a Senior Programmer/Analyst at a regional medical center in the western 'burbs.. I'm married, have four sons, a daughter-in-law and a granddaughter. I just got back into N Scale just yesterday, actually. My favorite railroads are Southern, Norfolk & Western, L&N, CSX, Norfolk Southern. Actually like them all, but I have too many hobbies and not enough space. My main pursuit when I'm not working or spending time with my family is drawing & oil painting. And it is this actually that got me back into Model Railroading. I have promised paintings for all of my sons.. The first two paintings are completed. I'm currently working on a painting of a Norfolk & Western Class J and a Class Y6b in Eastern Kentucky (Millard, KY, near Pikeville, KY) for my third son who was born when we were living in Pikeville, KY. He has always loved those two locomotives, so I'm making up a scene and trying to make it somewhat believable. Someone who really knows the history could probably poke a thousand holes in it, but being strictly historically accurate isn't the purpose of it. So after looking at dozens of photos on the internet, I decided I needed a model Class J and a Y6b to draw from. Since we already had a layout (Modern day CSX) I figured another couple of locomotives wouldn't hurt (they never do, do they?). So I took the sheets off the layout that we had put there to reduce the dust, and started cleaning it up, and then went looking for an N Scale Class J and a Y6b on eBay. Of course, I found just what I was looking for.. I also build and fly Control Line Stunt and R/C aircraft, play Classical Guitar and play at Jazz Flute. And I started building a Model Shipways 1/64 scale Niagra (I'm former Navy, and am doing a painting of the Battle of Lake Erie, Oliver Hazard Perry) and am also working on a model of the HMS Birkenhead (for my youngest son's painting). So, as you can see I keep myself pretty busy. I attached the layout plan that I have. When I can dig up or take more photos of it I'll post those
Well Hi and Welcome. Make sure to link to where you post the photos of your layout. How long have you had it. You said it was covered up from dust?
Yes, my sons and I built it back in 2009/2010.. Then they grew up and moved out.. So it's had a bed sheet over it for about four years or so. but it got pretty dusty first.. A few days ago I pulled off the bed sheets and vacuumed it after pulling most of the trees off.. There is some repair work that needs to be done.. I'll take a photo or two this weekend and post them.
Well, I decided to go ahead and take a few photos, with a number of my other pursuits in shot also. The layout was completed about ten years ago. Then my sons grew up and moved out. We covered it with a bedsheet about four years ago but it had gotten dusty before that. A few days ago I took the bed sheets off, pulled off most of the trees and bushes and cleaned it with a vacuum. It needs repairs.
I think what I'm going to do is build up plexiglass sides high enough and then put either a plexiglass top over that or have rods going across to support a bed sheet without it touching the scenery.. If anyone has ideas of how to protect your layout from layers of dust without going the route of totally replacing the home ventilation system I'm all ears..
Mark, first, those are lovely RC's in the background. Oh yeh, your layout is beautiful also. Second, use plex only if you want to look at the layout periodically. However, if you only want to protect the layout from dust, build a frame of 1"x1"s to support the sheet(s). Use 1' verticals attached to the layout frame at the corners and every few feet along the sides. Attach horizontals to the verticals. framing the perimeter. Then lay 1"x1"s across the horizontals every so often just to support the sheet(s), letting the sheet(s) drape down covering the layout sides. By "attach", I suggest 1-1/4" sheet rock screws, two attaching the verticals to the layout sides, and one to attach the horizontals to the verticals around the perimeter. The sheet supports don't need to be attached, but you can if you wish. Reason for my suggestion: Plex is expensive and a pain to install rigidly and worse to uninstall. Scrap 1"x1"s are (relatively) inexpensive at lumber yards.
Nice layout! You sir, have a boat load of hobbies Enjoy them all. Especially the N Scale layout, so we can see new pictures and get ideas!