Acme, an N Scale HCD Layout

logging loco Feb 5, 2021

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  1. NtheBasement

    NtheBasement TrainBoard Member

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    The wall is upside down. It would look better with the shadows below the rocks instead of above them.
     
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  2. logging loco

    logging loco TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thanks for the heads up. I never noticed the shadowing. I bet some are right side up.
     
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  3. logging loco

    logging loco TrainBoard Supporter

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    There is a lesson to be learned here. When I applied the stone walls I was working on the dinning room table. Lighting in the dining room is only from lamps on a server and a side board. Not ideal for modeling.
     
  4. Espeeman

    Espeeman TrainBoard Member

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    I cannot think of one layout that I've build that I didn't end up building it twice! Seems that as I would go through the plan I would see how it could/should have been done differently and so I would make the necessary changes. Someone on this forum has/had a layout called the "Lessons Learned Line" and I think that is the way it is with every layout. I'm glad to see you are still at it and not getting discouraged.
     
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  5. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

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    Your thoughts are an encouragement to me as well @Espeeman . I've been dragging my feet with scenery, afraid to start even though some TrainBoard members have given me some good advice with it. I need to remember that if I do it wrong, there's no shame and I can try it again.
     
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  6. logging loco

    logging loco TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thanks Espeeman,
    I'm not worried about the stonework. I do appreciate NtheBasement pointing it and any other critical feedback members provide.

    If the stone bothers me when the layout is completed I'll just laminate a higher quality printed retaining wall over the existing wall. The black foam layer lifts right off making replacement easy.

    Back in February of 2021 I touched on my goals for this layout. My revised goal is to build this layout for relatively quick and easy set up in our living room around Christmas. It also needs to fit up the very steep and narrow turnbox style steps to the attic. By the end of the summer I want to have basic scenery finished, painted, ground cover in place, roads in and painted and pond base color panted.

    I'm learning a lot building this layout. I'm also trying to build it mostly from material, kits and so forth I have on hand. I also don't want to spend much time learning skills or mastering techniques that won't be used on my future logging layout, things like working signals, street lights, modern steel buildings, paved roads and so on.

    A non train related goal is to experiment with a couple scenery ideas I have for a 1:64th down hill die-cast open track I would like to build this coming winter. The concrete retaining wall caps and guard cables I'm currently working on are an example. I'll be posting pictures soon.

    This layout will have paved roads but I'm not going to make more than one attempt at them. (Unless they look really, really bad.)


    Since I've decided it is going to be a "Christmas" layout I won't mind as much if it has a touch of toytrain feel to it. I may even forgo painting the rails. Trainiacs posts about CRAP modeling have influenced my thoughts about the toytrain look. After all who doesn't like toy trains at Christmas.

    So far to date, I believe the most important lessons I've learned from this layout are;
    1. The example logging layout I referred to in February would fit in this room but would make this room claustrophobic.
    2. Instead of the above mentioned peninsula style layout example it will be a J shape with each section being only slightly deeper than the supporting shelves.
    3. Having the layout supported solely by shelves has worked out well.
    4. My next layout will be built in lightweight open grid sections that will fit on my workbench.
    I had better get back to work on the layout.

    Have a Good One!
     
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  7. Espeeman

    Espeeman TrainBoard Member

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    Hardcoaler, I was at a buddy of mine's house who is in the local train club with me. When I walked in I saw his wife scenicing (sp?) one of the modules they were working on for our clubs modular layout. Man, she was just going to town on it with an electric carving knife! So I asked her "Aren't you afraid of making a mistake?" She didn't miss a step and said "If I make a mistake I'll just do it over again" like it was the normal thing to do. LOL I don't know why I never thought about that or never before had taken it to heart but when she said that it revolutionized my thoughts on doing scenery. I guess I always thought it had to come out right the first time and look like all the pictures in the model railroad magazines and I never gave a thought to tearing it out and doing it again. Now, I go at it thinking I will definitely be tearing it out and redoing it and its made all the difference, at least in getting me to go for it. I still have a long ways to go before I can do scenery like some of the modelers here but at least I am fearless now, for good or bad. :D
     
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  8. Espeeman

    Espeeman TrainBoard Member

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    Logging loco, I have really enjoyed reading this thread and watching what you have done. I've definitely picked up some pointers but what I appreciate the most is watching you overcome the obstacles you've faced and how you've worked through them. This hobby takes a lot of patience and creativity on many levels and seeing how others go about it and overcome problems is really a great thing. I love logging layouts so I am anxious to see your thread when you get underway with that project!
     
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  9. logging loco

    logging loco TrainBoard Supporter

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    Espeeman Thanks for taking the time to read my thread and post replies. The encouragement is greatly appreciated.

    It will be a while before I build the next layout so don't hold your breath.

    Retaining Wall Cap and Guard Cable
    I need some type of cap for the retaining wall, something to act as a guardrail and something to help me keep a uniform thickness when I spread material for the road surface.

    I decided against styrene partly because I don't want to dip into my limited stock and I don't want to spend for new stock. Another reason is that I'm not sure what to use for bonding styrene to extruded polystyrene. I believe the Henry Ready Set would work but I haven't tested it on a mock up. It is also thick. In this application I want a thinner glue that won't attack the scenic base material, expanded polystyrene.

    I also like the vintage look of wire rope cable through round wooden posts versus Armco galvanized steel type gaurdrail.

    While looking through my supplies, I believe I came up with an answer.

    20220616_205511.jpg
    Here is what I have to work with, mostly.

    To be continued . . .
     
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  10. logging loco

    logging loco TrainBoard Supporter

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    Disclaimer
    I'm not suggesting you follow my building techniques. They are mostly old school and out of date. Most of my kits and materials are decades old but what I have on hand and this is what I enjoy working with.
    Oh, and I tend to ramble!
     
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  11. Shortround

    Shortround TrainBoard Member

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    Ramble on old man. Those are my memories as well. (y);)
     
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  12. Espeeman

    Espeeman TrainBoard Member

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    Me too. Looking forward to seeing this.
     
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  13. logging loco

    logging loco TrainBoard Supporter

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    The wooden side walks are taking way to long. I thought a coat of primer would hide the wood grain but it is taking several coats and sanding each piece.
    20220616_211031.jpg

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    Even though I'm retired my time is not unlimited. If I don't make steady progress I'll lose motivation and working on the layout will come to a stand still.

    Even though I'm not going to use this technique on the train layout it wasn't a waste of time. From what I learned with this little experiment, if done with Masonite it should work well for the die-cast race track.

    While walking the dogs this morning I thought of a different, simpler approach to building side walks and forming the serpentine road of the business district. This time in styrene.

    It's a beautiful day out.. Family is coming to help with yardwork since I'm still recovering from heart surgery. I really appreciate their help, but I'm already also looking forward to their departure so I can try out my new ideas.

    If all goes well I should have another update tonight or tomorrow.

    Have a good one!
     
  14. logging loco

    logging loco TrainBoard Supporter

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    My wife's niece and niece's husband spent the whole day here yesterday you can read about it on my This Old Dump thread if you like. After that I was to tired to do anymore than set up for rev two of cap stone/sidewalk construction, however I got an early start this morning.

    I neglected to get photos of the first couple steps.

    I stated lifting the Commercial District off the layout and placing it on the table. Next I taped poster board to the top surface of the Commercial District's foam base.

    I then flipped the foam base upside down and traced around the top edge of the retaining wall were it will meet the cap stone.

    20220619_061745.jpg
    I then removed the poster board and using a rotary knife, cut along the pencil marked outline of the retaining wall.



    20220619_065701.jpg
    Next I again taped the poster board back onto the top of the foam base. This gave me a piece of poster board matching the outline of the foam base.

    To be continued . . .
     
  15. logging loco

    logging loco TrainBoard Supporter

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    . . .actually I used T pins to hold the trimmed poster board to the foam.



    20220619_071206.jpg
    (Sorry about the poor photo. The light tan area in the center of photo is steep road down to the coal& lumber yard. The retaining wall is the dark area just to the left of this road.)
    After securing the poster board to the foam I used a drafting compass to mark what would be the inside edge of the cap stone/side walk.
    The compass was kept perpendicular to the retaining wall edge to maintain a uniform width.
    The pin leg is set a little longer than the lead leg.


    20220619_072233.jpg
    The line drawn with the compass was a bit to wavy. I used a French curve to clean up the line, adjust any inconsistencies in capstone/sidewalk width and make the lines flow more smoothly.

    The poster board is going to be used as a pattern for cutting .060 styrene to shape. I need to do a few trial cuts in scrap styrene to see which cutting method will give the best result.

    If I had made the retaining wall in a straight line this part of construction would have been so much easier. I believe the extra effort will result in a much more interesting scene.
     
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  16. logging loco

    logging loco TrainBoard Supporter

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    I've started on the styrene sidewalks.
    I have about 120' cut and filed to shape. A rough estimate tells me I need approximately 1200' for this section of road.

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    First three pieces pinned in place.


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    Not much room to pass on coming traffic on the ramp down to the coal and lumber yard. Most of the ramp will be hidden behind the lumber shed.

    The blue and gray triangles of foam are where I had to rase the road elevation to get close to rail head height. This is also the layout section seam.
     
  17. BigJake

    BigJake TrainBoard Member

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    I sure hope those are scale lengths of sidewalk! Still a lot, but workable.
     

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