BEGINNING OF WEEK FIVE I will be throwing in one optional week for those who need it. I've been busy writing a book, so I personally have some catching up to do. This is the finest of our layout parties yet; and the photo's have been outstanding.
YEH! OPTIONAL WEEK I've never been this productive!!! I might need another self-imposed "party" to keep the drive alive! [ February 22, 2005, 06:07 PM: Message edited by: nscale_lover ]
OK, it's been a while, with three trips almost back-to-back, but I haven't forgotten about the party! Here are a few pictures of the tunnel I cut. Next up is laying down the grade inclines on both sides of the tunnel.
Great work everyone! I have made some minor progress on the diorama the last few nights but it has been slow. I had to make a cap on the abutment for the bridges to sit on. This has involved a lot of do some work and wait for it to dry. While I am waiting for spackle, glue, or paint to dry I have been weathering some steam locomotives. The first one is an IHC Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company 2-6-0 camelback. At the time of these pictures I still needed to seal it with Dullcoat and add coal over the plastic coal load in the tender. The second locomotive is also an IHC 2-6-0 camelback. It started out lettered for C&O. I decided to re-letter it for Lehigh & New England. I know the LNE did not have any 2-6-0 camelbacks but there are no 2-8-0 or 0-8-0 camelbacks available and I do not have the time or materials to kitbash one. Here is the locomotive before; Here it is after the lettering has been removed. I removed the lettering by brushing over it with Solvaset. I let it sit for a few minutes and then I started rubbing over the lettering with a grey ink eraser. It did take some elbow grease and a couple of applications of Solvaset to get the lettering off. The lettering on the rivets did not completely come off so I had to touch up around them. I brush painted a heavy coat of Folk Art Licorice over the area and then used a paper towels to wipe it off. I am not worried about the discoloring because weathering will take of that.
Ed, since 1975 I'm again in the hobby. And I've soldered a few crossings and about 100+ turnouts. And I've spiked my first turnouts, even with tie plates. The point is: you should have fun! Wolfgang
I have been loosely following this thread and thought I'd add my 2 cents. I started a new 2'x4' layout at the beginning of the year. I am wiring it for dc block operations and hit my first snag last weekend. I have found that beer and wiring don't go togther very well as I reversed the wiring at three different locations! "Test each segment before moving on" you say?!?! Nahhh!!! Not with the confidence beer brings to the party! Anyway, the problem was rectified last night so I can start ballasting tonight (without beer )
My progress has been a bit slower than I hoped, and the fact that I was at an anime convention this last weekend didn't speed things up much. Still, I'm very glad I signed on for this, since I doubt I would have gotten even this much completed without the added incentive to work. Basically, I've completed the first of the four parts I'd planned, getting the scenery base done for the buildings: The next step is to attach the base to the module and start integrating it with the surrounding terrain. The building in the background is my roundhouse, which is usually on the other side of a skyboard. Here's an overview of the whole module, if anyone's curious:
Great job Rob! Here a couple pictures of the finished abutment cap. I used light weight spackling and wood to create it. I need this flat area for the bridges to rest on. Now I need to set the highway bridge pier height and paint the highway bridge. I also can begin the other creek bank and the island for the trolley bridge pier. After looking at the trolley bridge pier I think I need to paint it some.
We have a winner. Somebody gave me that model a few years ago, to go with the giant robot. Most of the folks at train shows seem to think it's some sort of roof ventilator...
All the track is laid in it's final configuration; Double track main line with jct for my shortline. The track to the right will (eventually) lead to the upper level of a turnaround blob. I need to finish the balast and some ground foam and this section is basically done
Quick question for you Guys..... I keep looking at this area and I think it would look better if I build a tunnel out of it .... What do you think???? now it looks like it would be about 10 inches long and no way to get to cars if they derail in the tunnel. at 10" long I don't think it should be a big problem.
Mike, what might work better than a tunnel is a cut-out. No access problems and provides a prototypical-looking view break...
I'd agree with that suggestion. Build up the scenery "outside" the track to match the "inside," and you'll have a nice-looking rock cut. To my way of thinking, it would be more attractive than a dark hole in the layout (i.e. a tunnel), easier to build, and more realistic as well. (edit) Here, have an artist's conception: [ March 01, 2005, 08:15 PM: Message edited by: Rob M. ]
Wow!!!! Thanks Rob that looks Killer I guess I need to get you another picture of the front so I could see what its going to look like from that view
27.Feb 05 I've reached my goal for this time. Turnouts at the Harbor District have got switch stands with working target. This was thiis part of the layout at the end of January: I've sold Pulpwood loading module, removed the other modules and parts of the old benchwork. I've built new benchwork with storage boxes and laid about 8m (26') track and 6 turnouts. I've scratch built a dummy crossing for the interchange track, and a working crossing, too. Three turnouts are ready for operation, the other have to get their manual device. That's the "new" look: Now, I can run trains again and switch the Plywood District. Wolfgang
I took this photo of AD&N 17 on 31 Dec 2003 at Crossett, Arkansas at the old AD&N shop. It had been out of service for 7 1/2 years at that time. Here is my N Scale version. It was made from a $1.50 Life-Like Caboose. I added an Atlas smokejack and caboose trucks. I also body mounted Micro-Trains 905 Z scale couplers.
