Rainier Great Western Const Update

Thanks Greg. Going to build helix on a Saturday in next couple of weeks, you available on Saturdays? If so, want in on the build? M

 

Michael-

That sounds pretty easy. I am not an artist in anyway either. I find it fascinating when someone can paint a backdrop and make it look easy. We in the hobby all have our niche at a couple items and others we fall short on. I am one that loves weathering and painting rolling stock and structures and also doing electrical work. When it comes to scenery, a 4 year old could do a better job than me, LOL.

I might have to see if I can make it over the bump one of these weekends to see your layout. It sure looks nice from the pics I have seen.

Ryan

 

Ryan, you are welcome anytime. As for "easy", not sure I would go that far, but I appreciate the compliment. I would suggest that trial and error and a ton of patience is the mix that works best. Like I said earlier, best practice is to do a little, then step back and assess. Once I had a feel for it, I could do more in between "step backs", but even then, I felt better, walking across room and taking a long look. The guys used to give me a ration because I would paint, then go sit on a stool across the room and stare at it. The end result was usually taking the fan brush and putting in more trees.

Check out post #7 near beginning of thread, it talks about using different brush strokes, color for depth and other things. Also the painters knife, when used at certain angles, leaves thicker amounts of paint, which for landforms gives that 3D look and it really works. I took that straight from the Alexander videos. M

 

Spent a couple hours today doing benchwork solo. Makes you appreciate the extra pairs of hands. Got three more uprights in place and two more bracketed cross-members. Then spent some time tieing the cross-members together with fascia. Here are two shots, first looking east, second looking back to west.





As you can see in the next photo, we are about to turn due west toward our final table section and the helix. We will be building the helix on the 23rd, so we'll need the table ready for it.



Thanks again for following our progress. M

 

Let's hope the Golden Spike isn't somewhere in the middle of the helix!

 

After getting whupped at kickball by my 7 yr old, spent a couple hours adding cross braces and fascia to the return table. Then to ensure my pal Boxcab gets his daily dose of progress toward the golden spike, here are today's pics:





Til next time....

 

Helix Primer.

Yesterday was Phase 2 of the helix build. Our goal (accomplished) was to complete all six levels. I have many more pics and uncut video to process, but here's a tidbit of how day started.

Everything in its place and ready to go. Blue tub had bottom pieces, tan the top. We used a half lap method, with tops glued and screwed to the bottoms.



A quick confab as each team member took position and we discussed the choreography of the build.



Finally, first level complete and Bill places wax paper in between before we start level 2. Wax paper protects each level from excess glue. You can see how the half lap works, final product incredibly strong.



Much more later. M

 

Phase III of helix build.

Last evening we removed all the wax paper from between the helix layers. To confirm both vertical and lateral alignment, not to mention to assure we didn't glue layers together. Here is a pic after wax paper removed:



Looks like we hit our marks.

Next task was pulling the layers apart, yes apart. We purposely left one joint loose on each layer and marked it so it would go back in the right location. This was done to facilitate roadbed (cork in helix) and track placement. Here is layer 1 with cork applied. You can see other layers set off to side at bottom of shot.



We then put down our first layer of track. We are using the inner and outer radius for our tracks and will be putting the threaded rod in the center. This gives us maximum clearances and the centered rod placement gives us sufficient lateral strength that we will not need to stagger or double the number of rods.





Finally, we put the next layer on top to weigh down the cork and give us more exposed helix layers to adhere cork to between now and next work session.

 

We'd welcome your presence and participation.

 

You sure you're not already on my crew, talking about me????

 

Wow, just passed 10,000 views. Many thanks to all my fellow modelers. M

 

Ever have one of those nights, where you have the best of intentions, only to get bogged down in a thought and then find out you accomplished virtually nothing (pun intended). Well that was last night. The RGW team started discussing grades and access points to the helix and before you know it, we had been discussing the point for about an hour and a half and almost nothing had been done. Very frustrating. Had to make three trips to the computer just to print off additional cadrail drawings with varying points of reference for grades and track end points. I am not even sure (after the fact) if we agreed on anything. UGH! Perhaps next week we will make more progress. I did get my woo woo woo order of 100 pieces of Code 83 flex today, so that made me feel a bit better. M

 

Thanks Paul, I appreciate your interest and your commentary. M