Today I built the removable staging cassette that will represent Duluth. The cassette attaches to the layout using deadbolt locks, and can be attached from either end, allowing me to turn the train by simply turning the cassette 180 degrees. A tense moment as I ran the first train onto the staging area, praying everything stayed together!! Gotta install some side walls on this thing... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwltjvsJpj8
I watched the You Tube video...amazing! How the heck can it stay level with one end being unsupported? You have really made some tight construction tolerances and a very nice job! :thumbs_up:
Notice the length of the end pieces. I designed them to work like a shelf bracket. The deadbolts hold the top of each "leg" tight against the fascia, while the long end piece works to provide leverage to support the structure as a whole. Providing nobody crashes into it from the side, it's not coming down unless I release the deadbolts.
I didn't get much time on the layout until this past weekend, but shifted the track serving the 4 industries at the north end of the Adams Street Yard to where it needs to be for best use of the space and ease of operations (less reach). I'll re-wire from the tracks to the bus wires tonight or tomorrow. I also realigned some tracks in the CNW Yard and along the nearby BN and P&PU mains so I'll (eventually) be ballasting tracks that run parallel to each other instead of weaving back and forth. In the next few days, I hope to work on the background tree flats.
Construction, fascia, almost done All fascia panels installed, drawer installed, pull-out work shelf installed, switches for lights and layout power installed, and a shiny new from-scratch throttle pocket installed... All that remains construction-wise is to put the facing panel on the pull-out shelf, putty over the screw heads, sand, and paint....
It looks like quite a few of you are making progress. Even with a busy schedule this week, I did find time to install fascia along the area in front of the yard at Clarksville Jct. and filled in some of the area between track and fascia for the scenery base. Here is the corner of the peninsula at the west end of Spadra I am hoping to get more done over the New Years weekend.
My three narrow gauge modules have got fascia color, the track is wired. The modules are ready for the next step, scenery. Wolfgang
I managed to move everything from under the layout and shifted the layout the required two feet away from the garage door. I only had to fix one popped rail joint over a section break after moving and everything is still level after some quick adjustments. Last night, I dismantled the yard module ( I originally put this section together over 20 years and 3 layouts ago which shows the advantages to sectional construction) and kept any parts that were reusable (like one of the leg assemblies). I also got the lumber cut for the new section. A power miter saw is your friend in benchwork construction, believe me! I also will borrow Tracy Mckibben's T-girder idea for some extensions that are needed for these modifications (a escape crossover for my Union Station platform tracks on the other side of the layout and a fiddle yard that will attach to the new yard module that I am building. Peter
Layout Well with Christmas and visiting relatives in town the whole time not a lot has happened. I cleaned out some more space in the dungeon and will be expanding my work space to the point I can put a couple modules together and test things. It will require some earth moving though and that will take a while. For the modules I have built the frame for the other half of the 180 degree set and cut two pieces of foam for the surface. I pinned them together this morning and laid out the track work on the other side. I then realized that on the interchange tracks I had already put cork down for, I wanted to make more of a differentiation between them and the main line. So I have already ripped up the cork about six inches past the switches on the first side. The interchange tracks will be glued directly to the foam. The crossover between the two sides will be a straight section on the main like ntrak uses. On the interchange tracks it will be half sections of atlas code 55 12.5 inch radius sectional track.
During construction, the drawer will be storage for tools, some materials, anything that I want within arm's reach while working on the layout. After, I'll use it to store rolling stock, or something else related to the layout. The shelf is a work area, and hopefully my motivation to not place ANYTHING on the layout surface that doesn't belong there, things like Pepsi bottles, coffee mugs, etc... Plus, it allows me to quickly hide a work-in-progress if I don't feel like cleaning up at the end of the day (as demonstrated below :tb-tongue. Notice also that the facing board is now installed on the shelf, and all screw holes, seams, and corners have been puttied over.
Civilization springs from cereal boxes I mocked up my first three structures today, using cardboard from cereal boxes. The largest of the three, with the yellow reefer in front, will be Johnson's Produce. The one on the hill will be The Lakeview Inn (prototype photo below). The third structure will be the Hill City Depot. My ultimate goal is to scratchbuild every structure on the layout, no kits, no plastic, all matte board and wood.
Looks like the entire layout will fit right into the room nicely to. I do like the way you built using a shadow box like effect. I added the shell and a couple layers of goop here and there. More yet to do but this side of the layout is moving along. My goal is to have this mountain/desert side of the layout in good enough condition to be included in a layout tour in March 2011. Notice that I added a flat area at the front edge so now I can add an industry for the siding rather than using it as an interchange track or team track. I plan to make it a fuel and oil distributor. In Victorville along Hwy 18 along the tracks there is a dealer that is called Beck Oils. There is a gap between the fascia and the added board that I will close up some, but I plan to leave a peep hole for the staging yard. So now I just need to do a bunch of scenery and some structure work.
Looking good everybody!! I am jealous that most of you are working on actual layouts, I can't wait til I am at that point. With the week nearly over, I ended up getting a fair bit accomplished on my train room. In my original post, I had the walls framed. As of this evening, the electrical is done, plumbing is re-routed, outside wall is insulated, drywall is hung, and the first coat of mud has been sanded out. Needless to say, I am very excited to be done with mudding and sanding. This weekend, we are busy with family get-togethers so I won't get a whole lot more done. Next week is back to work, so maybe by the end of next week I will be finished with mudding and sanding and will be ready for a coat of paint on the walls. Still to go is the installation of a T-Bar ceiling, and I need to do something with the floor. It is painted concrete from way back, and then had a vinyl tile floor put down over top. I pulled that off and it is still a little sticky. I want something that will breath, but don't want to go with carpet. Any suggestions? Cost effective is of importance. Anyhow, that is all for now, Cheers,
Ben your patience and diligence in creating a good comfortable space will pay off big time. Don't hold back.
Thanks. This was a key requirement for putting it into this room - it needs to have a finished look to it, like it belongs in the room. This is the first thing you see when you enter the house from the garage.
Back in the saddle Been a busy vacation at home. There have been cars to fix, targets to shoot, naps to take, responsibilities to avoid, obligations to fulfill, and now... I have a little time to play in the man cave. I bought a white metal sand tower kit earlier this year in hopes of building a better sand tower at Myersville since a former feline resident had chewed (ahem) on my scratchbuilt one. Tonight, I opened the kit and was pretty disappointed at the quality. I could spend 2-3 hours cleaning up casting flash and straightening or I could work in my preferred material, styrene, instead while getting crisper details. I went with the styrene. My tank matches the kit's scale 2 foot diameter. It is held aloft atop a styrene H-pile column, scale 15"X15"-ish. I can't complain for a project made of scraps. Primed it just now and hopefully tomorrow I can apply the finish paint and install it.
Well I was going full tilt when I realized I needed a right hand #7 turnout to bridge my branch to the main. There are no real hobby shops in Champaign that carry the Atlas turnout I need. I might do something expensive and fill the railfan Jeep up with some $3.29 a gallon gas and go to Decatur for my turnout. I should have just ordered on-line last week and I would have had it by now. Lesson learned. Track work is about 85% done. Getting ready to paint and weather track then ballast. I want to look into ballast options since I have never had good luck with WS ballast. Jim
