Grey, If you increase the distance between the car Works and Engine terminal (by shifting the Car Works area to the N.E. and/or removing the top 2-3 spurs) you'll have a nice geographic barrier if you rise some hills there or build a 3+ story building, or silos, or... etc..
Looking good there, Grey. Glad you liked the suggestions. I think you've got something workable that goes with you're original concept. As a suggestion, I'd go ahead and install those two switches for the two interchange tracks when you build the layout. I'd also add a piece of straight track out to the table edge (you don't need to install the second switches that make the interchanges double track). Installing the switches in the curves now will be easier than cutting them in later. Even if you don't actively use the interchanges now (no connection to another module or staging track) they'll give you the appearance of having an operable interchange (that's what I did, anyway). Regards Ed
Mike, good idea. I am pretty sure I’ll get a ridge line there also. I still need to try to squeeze a run a round track into the industrial area. I am also thinking that when the time comes if I have room to have a double track mainline all the way through or possibly run it along the back almost straight across. Thanks again
something I realized recently while admiering the beautifl work done by the Nscale community here. My accuity, color vision and field of vision is so bad that I will never win any acolades for my detailing or scenery. What I will recieve is bou cou points for originalty. I will be creating modules of various scenery types. Some of the scenery will be "Earth like". Other modules will be Sci Fi. alien worlds. Does anyone know of any other "Sci fi" layouts? I wonder if the alien planet sceneruy will be too much to grock, (accept / wrap your brain around), with the current rolling stock and engines or will I need to create matching eqipment. We shall see
I anticipate it will take two maybe four forms. 1) From the mine - Ground up PC board - which I hope to try creating this weekend. 2) From the quarry it will be large slabs possibly big enough to warrant being moved on the Alan Curtis 12 axel flats. (Um, Due to a dumb mistake on my part I have 4 on order, (Two from a US mail order and two straight from Alan). These slabs may be made from slices of PC board laminated together. I think I better buy a lot of blades for my Dremmel. 3) Some liquid form which may never been seen but who knows? 4) Gaseous form which may or may not be stored / transported in clear tanks. Maybe I can make tank cars for it from glass ornaments or the glass balls they make, (or used to make), for nets fishing nets. Maybe I can get plexi tubes. Hmmm
If gaseous or liquid: You can take clear (drinking) straws (or something clear and tube-like), you could cut sections of 2"-3" long (depending on car length - maybe a 85'er?), horizontally stack them 2 or 3 high by 2 wide... add some type ends caps... I'll draw you a pic tonight and post here
Mike, Those are great ideas. Thanks. Over Thanksgiving I was talking with my sister (who makes glass beads). Glass rod is cheap. Not as cheap as straws though. Bonus it comes in 9mm. I'm thinking of a clear mysteruim tank car made from glass rod. 85 Footers? I would love to but I think they would look out of place. I'll stick to 40 to 60. Should be fun.
I would believe that since it's mysterium, it can be shipped in any type of car handy. One day in a hopper. The next on an auto rack. Another time in a box car. Then on a skeleton log car.............. Boxcab E50
Boxcab, You are quite right but I feel that even though it is “sci fi” I must 1) Be Consistent 2) Avoid it looking like a “toy train set”. People need to be able to grok / wrap their heads around it that it is “real”. I hope I can get it to the point of credible. I will use “Earth Standard” physics and establish a density for each state of mysterium. A solid block of mysterium 7mm W x 21mm L, and 15mm high sliced from the ground will still weigh enough to require a heavy duty flat car. So while no one can count my rivets they could say, “hmm, XYZ seems to be inconsistent with or unreal relative to another aspect of the layout” and those comments would be welcome. Most loads will be in open cars but I do love the looks of a string of center flow hoppers. I have to keep the cars short as they would not look good or operate well in the industrial section. I may have a couple of AC’s 12 axils on display with a huge blocks on board but that is about it. Most likely it will be out of proportion to the rest of the layout and I will have to just keep them for photo shoots. More later.
Sorry it's in paint, but I wasn't able to get it done at home.. but my idea for the car would look something like: and some perspective green (or insert your favorite color here) tubes could be replaced for the clear ones as you fill up and leave the plant And of course you'd need some filler valves, pressure release valves (unless it's inert), and some gauges to monitor the stuff Anyways, just my 2 cents
2Cents? More like $200. I had not considered that variation. That is really cool. Wonder who makes detail parts for tank cars. Anyone know? Thanks soo much!
Another possible variation. The loop is Flat Maroon Decends Black is Flat Yard is Flat Grey Climbs to possible Staging Tracks or a mysterium mine. [ 06. December 2004, 12:50: Message edited by: Grey Gryphin ]
This could be made with balsa or plastics with not much effort - or maybe there are some computer parts (resistors come to mind) that could be used in a variation. I like the new plan - it really opens things up! I see much potential there! [ 30. November 2004, 19:51: Message edited by: nscale_lover ]
Mike, I'm going to try to make it from PC boards and glass rods. I will try cutting up the PC board with my Dremel cutting wheels. I will have to lengthen the table by a 1/2 foot to do the Grey line. If I do that I will try to do it by 3 feet per someones's suggestion.. If i do I'll try to put in a reverse curve.. [ 30. November 2004, 23:45: Message edited by: Grey Gryphin ]
A few more details. Another possible variation: The space Needs to be expanded to 7 1/2 feet to accommodate the Grey Line The loop is Flat Maroon Descends sharply, (up to 6%), to an inch total and levels off at the siding. Siding and Industrial area are abstracted. Black is Flat Yard is Flat Yard is abstracted but close. Diesel terminal is at the bottom right of the yard. The Grey Line Climbs to possible Staging Tracks or a mysterium mine. Operations The Gryphin and Grandure is a horizontal monopoly in the business of extracting mysterium from the earth and selling it and goods made from it to the world. It also runs the Gryphin Car Works which provides them and the world with a unique selection of railroad cars. As in a prior post: Raw materials are picked up from the mines, quarrys, ans wells. From there they are shipped to the processing plant or sent off line. The processing plant sends some goods to “Tha Factory” and much of it’s output to the interchange. Tha Factory sends it’s output to Gryphin Car Works and the interchange. The G&G has running rights on the main to access the Grey Line. The siding on the bottom center is an interchange track for outgoing and incoming freight. Inbound freight includes parts for Gryphin Car Works, diesel fuel for generators at the mysterium extraction plants and returning empties.
Mike, I think you once wondered what cars would be good for linking Rapido coupler engines to MT coupler cars. Here is my choise for a prototype. Fule Tenders - good choice for Rapido / MT coupler 1/2 and 1/2 cars I have a lot of Rapido engines and will be making a lot of these cars for semi permanent link. The first one will be a GN tender, (bought 25 years ago), for my two new LL GN SD45s. Nice how that works out.
