For those that have been around awhile, you may remember Rick (RSN48) hosting Layout Partys. These are six week projects to help us motivate each other to make some serious headway on our layouts. If there is enough interest we will do this again in January to fill the post holiday lull, and maybe take atvantage of some new presents. As we get closer either Rick or myself will post more specifics. It's been almost a year since last January's "Door Knocker's Delight" and I've been very happy with what I accomplished, but I have found a couple of problems. I realize I bit off more than I should have (for me) for a six week project. Back to Electrical 101: Simple double track main; PECO C55 with insulators between the #8 turnouts in the crossover. Feeders soldered to both sides of the turnouts. Somehow I did something wrong. Runs fine going straight thru but when the route is deverged it shorts out Although I succeeded in my objective of a simple scenic run, I failed to create the best rail fanning spots for photography. My outside curve is too close to the edge, leaves no foreground for pictures. My inside curves, which I now realize give the most foreground, are blocked by scenery. Sure, I can get some shots of long trains but with the depth of field problems in N scale that's kinda fruitless.(haven't tried the Helicon software yet) I plan on fixing these things, already have ideas spinning in my head. Maybe before the next party we should have a Layout REPAIR party.... 3 weeks to get any major or minor issues resolved before Holiday guest arrive and see our layouts. I think Thanksgiving weekend is the perfect time to start Just state your problem area, the planned correction, and then post updates as we go along. In fact if Mark's(Fotheringill) doesn't mind I dub this the Leasons Learned Layout Repair Party! Come to think of it, this may be a great way to drop those hints to family of what you REALLY want for Christmas (or whatever you call the holiday you may celebrate) [ November 28, 2005, 08:40 PM: Message edited by: BALOU LINE ]
Thread title: "Dirty Harry's Double Eagle Western" Time to Clean up this town! Locate it in the Inspection pit
I like that title.. 'Ya feel LUCKY punk?' I love that movie! If I had a layout to fix, I'm sure I'd have a few projects... As it stands now, I need to finish removing it....
Well it didn't take long to get overwelmed with holiday project ( the joy of being a single dad ). I'm gonna have to wait till January to do my scenery modifications. In the mean time I'll just work on straightening out my electrical snafu. In the meantime we'll be hammering out the details for the January party. Here are the basic rules that Rick has always used as the format for the partys. Here's some links to previous partys: Workin the layout – time to party Beach Blanket Layout Party Door Knocker's Delight From armchair to benchwork! This will all be reposted towards the end of December with more details.
Well, thanks to last year's party I have a new basement layout designed, built and wired! So I'm in the front row of the Layout Party Rah-rah Band I still need to do buildings and scenery, though, so this might just be the ticket. Bring it on!
I'm in. I need some progress on the layout. My personal goal is to lay the main oval and staging spurs for my door panel so I can get them running before I retirein 20 years.
I'm in as well. I plan to get work done on my Duffy's Coal Yard kit and do some lighting, drywall and benchwork in the train room. And, I'm taking my wife on a secret date night to see the Christmas Train on Saturday.
I'm in for this too. I'll probably focus on some super-details, but I suppose that counts. About 18 months ago, when the Atlas Forum car was going on tour, I signed up for a visit. Boy, did that inspire me to go from plywood plains with little trackage to about 50% scenicked in a short amount of time. Nothing like a little pressure from the old peer group!
I'm in. I got so much done the last time I particiapted in one of these threads and not nearly as much when I didn't.
I'll play again. The last time I got about half of what I proposed done, but since then I've pretty much done the other half and then some. It definitely motivates and helps focus on specific tasks instead of getting constantly sidetracked with other less-important projects.
Well, I'm going to try on this one. Was in on the last one, all ready to go and then the personal life took a massive derailment. Have things started on the begins of a yard, and have stalled so this will get me moving.
Cool Bean! Glad so many are interested. The thing I learned from the last one was to keep the goal reasonable. My problem was I had no way to gauge how much I could get done. It's all a learn as you go process. As far as projects go, they can be as simple or complex as you wish. Doesn't have to be major construction. Painting a bunch of figures, weather a few cars, super detail an engine, whatever. I supose researching prototype info or learning design software would quailify. There are always things to do with we what already have on hand. As long as it benefits your layout now or in the future that's the important part. For now I need to go re-arange the living room so I can put up the Christmas train ... er... um .. tree.
