New Forum member introduction

Mark Dance Mar 13, 2010

  1. Mark Dance

    Mark Dance TrainBoard Supporter

    195
    621
    19
    Hi everyone:

    I have been referred to TrainBoard a few times as a site with interesting comments so I thought I would take the plunge. Still trying to figure out how all the posting and filtering rules work...soooo much content here, wow!

    By way of an introduction I have been an N scale modeler for nearly 35 years. My current layout has been under construction for coming on 5 years. It is a triple deck layout in a two car garage modeling. I am modeling the CP’s Southern mainline in BC on the Boundary, Slocan and Kaslo subs crica 1970 as accurately as I can achieve. Lots of FM power with GMD and MLW power thrown in for good measure.

    I recently posted videos of the design, operation and construction of the layout on Youtube at http://www.youtube.com/markdance63 . If you do visit the Youtube site I hope you find the videos interesting.

    I am a fan of operations and we have held about a dozen op sessions in the last 19 months the last one hosting 9 operators.

    Thanks!

    md
     
  2. r_i_straw

    r_i_straw Mostly N Scale Staff Member

    22,210
    49,632
    253
    Welcome aboard Mark. We are looking forward to you participation here.
     
  3. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

    9,982
    10,821
    143
    Welcome Aboard Mark. Just watched your video...N I C E !!! I think you are gonna like it here :)

    .
     
  4. SP-Wolf

    SP-Wolf TrainBoard Supporter

    2,585
    13,693
    74
    Welcome Mark! You'll find a great bunch of N-Scalers here!

    Enjoy,
    Wolf
     
  5. sandro schaer

    sandro schaer TrainBoard Member

    2,020
    87
    43
    welcome aboard !


    nice to see another cp guy here...
     
  6. FriscoCharlie

    FriscoCharlie Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

    11,140
    261
    135
    Welcome aboard Mark.

    Charlie
     
  7. Stourbridge Lion

    Stourbridge Lion TrainBoard Supporter

    16,680
    130
    184
    Welcome to TrainBoard!!!!!!!

    :thumbs_up: :thumbs_up: :thumbs_up: :thumbs_up:
     
  8. Powersteamguy1790

    Powersteamguy1790 Permanently dispatched

    10,785
    10
    115
    Welcome to Train Board Mark. Glad to have you aboard.
     
  9. Train Kid

    Train Kid TrainBoard Member

    798
    3
    21
    Welcome to the board!

    Enjoy!
     
  10. RBrodzinsky

    RBrodzinsky November 18, 2022 Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter In Memoriam

    5,685
    2,780
    98
    Welcome Mark. Nice video. Will look forward to seeing more of your layout
     
  11. SecretWeapon

    SecretWeapon Passed away January 23, 2024 In Memoriam

    5,121
    3,788
    103
    Good stuff. Welcome.:thumbs_up:
     
  12. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

    67,560
    22,735
    653
    Welcome to TrainBoard!

    Boxcab E50
     
  13. Cajonpassfan

    Cajonpassfan TrainBoard Supporter

    1,105
    33
    25
    Welcome aboard Mark. Great layout!
    Regards, Otto Kroutil
     
  14. Chaya

    Chaya TrainBoard Supporter

    1,095
    2
    23
    What a truly beautiful layout, Mark. I love everything about it. Can you tell us about the evergreens? Where purchased or how made?
     
  15. Pete Nolan

    Pete Nolan TrainBoard Supporter

    10,587
    237
    125
    Wow! Welcome to Trainboard! Can you post a track plan? My layout is a three decker in a single stall of a three car garage. How are you getting from level to level? I just climbed along the back walls at a steady 2.5%.
     
  16. jagged ben

    jagged ben TrainBoard Member

    1,832
    4
    31
    Awesome video. Love the deep scenes and mountain scenery. Nice commentary too! Glad you decided to join us here.
     
  17. Mark Dance

    Mark Dance TrainBoard Supporter

    195
    621
    19
    Thank you for the compliments!

    The evergreens are a mixture of a bunch of sources but primarily Heki and Woodland Scenics. The Southern BC region East of the Monashees is very heavily wooded. On the West end of the layout it becomes more arid so that will see Ponderosa Pines and more grassland. The Summit (Farron pass) will be a snow scene so snow-coated pines a la Mike Danneman's work I hope.

    I figure I will need between 10 and 12 thousand trees when I am all done (approx 1 per sq inch) so I need a method which is reasonably cost+time effective. I researched a bunch of solutions but ended up purchasing bulk Heki and Woodland Scenics conifers, trimming them a bit, then flocking them with a combination of WS ground foams so the colours merge a bit. The process is about 30 secnds per tree and about 40-50 cents each.

    I also highlight these trees with some speciality trees from a variety of sources to mix things up a bit...both deciduous and conier. Then buffalo grass and WS foliage for bushes and focus areas.

    Hope that helps.

    md
     
  18. Mark Dance

    Mark Dance TrainBoard Supporter

    195
    621
    19
    The mainline climb between levels 1 and 2 includes a continuous grade and a two turn helix part way along. The prototype climbed at 2.4% to a summit (Farron where there was a helper station!) then back down again at 2.4%, so these climbs allow for most of the deck-to-deck seperation. The two turn helix is just bearable in terms of waiting time for a train at scale 20 mph speeds.

    The transition between the 1st and 3rd decks is by way of a rail barge. The prototype moved whole trains up the BC interior lakes on barges to isolated branches where the train off loaded and reassembled before continuing. I use the rail barge to move the trains between 42" and 70" (an owner-only operation to move the barge :) ). One of the videos is dedicated to the barge operation. This braqnchline job is one of the most popular jobs during operations.

    There is also an 8 track storage table on "Level 0" at 30" from the floor. This storage table feeds 3 staging areas (East, West and South) through 2 helixes. Neither the storage nor most of the helixes are used in operations...they are just for restaging and storage between sessions though they also provide a couple of continuous run routes.

    I will see what I can do to post the track plan...being a newbie to the site this may not be instantaneuos. Where do I post?

    md
     
  19. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

    67,560
    22,735
    653
    I would sure like to see photos of how you operate that barge setup! It soudsn great! Could be a good way for me to resolve some of my planned future layout questions.

    Boxcab E50
     
  20. subwayaz

    subwayaz TrainBoard Member

    3,222
    106
    44
    Welcome aboard Mark; and excellent video and layout . You'll find some very nice/talented folks here into N Scale

    Hope you enjoy your ride here

    Glen
     

Share This Page