Agreed. Very nice, Owen! You're gonna have an empire when you're finished!!! On a side note, I ran trains on the layout unassisted by the 0-5-0 last night--from staging to Crescent to Plain, on the continuous loop, and back up down to staging, around the loop, and parked in the east throat. Yeah! That PM42 is awesome! Now to get more decoders, since running analog locos is not recommended on reversing sections.....
Nice pics Owen. I finished weathering the rock work around Ozark last night so I can now start applying ground cover. Am I correct in assuming that we are now in the fourth week of a five week party?
Tonight I got the saw and major tools out of the way and laid down the first level of pink foam. Now to work out the final elevations and start working on track laying on the left side of the plan.
WOO-HOO, Owen! Look at you go!!:thumbs_up: :thumbs_up: :thumbs_up: :thumbs_up: I've put down a little more grass, planted a few more trees, and put ballast on a 2 foot long section of the 3-track yard by my houses, but I haven't done much more since last week's pictures. My wife is out of town until Friday, so I hope to get some more done on the Spring Layout Party and still have time to prepare for my monthly operating session this coming Sunday.
Hay Mike, Just to clear the air I have checked with the DCC experts and the use of #8 guage is primarly for the restiance over long runs. The overall plan will be about 267 feet of main line not counting passing sideings with several power districts of 10 amps each, some where around 80 amps total when all is said and done. I will be running several coal drags with six to ten locos per drag and in O scale, as well as several other trains. Westbounds, The digger, two passenger trains #9 and #10, branch lines, hidden stageing, and extras. The math! 34 locos @ 2 amps each = 68 amps. Plus 12 amps as a 18% saftey factor. So I may as well build in in from the get go. And it O.K. I can take a little kidding, If nothing else it gives new meaning to the term weilded rail...lol... "Still Training After All These Years"
I am going to rebuild Plain siding; it's too short, and just doesn't fit any train other than shortened varnish or local trains. That just doesn't do me much good. So, I'm going to rebuild the entire siding, and gain about 12-14" more length. That I can live with. Maybe tonite, maybe next week. I don't want to start scenery work,a nd find I should have rebuilt Plain when I had the chance to without wrecking scenicked areas.
Hit a slow speed limit area As I had said, I want to mock up the buildings before finishing the backdrop. To get the footprints of the buildings, I need the finial track layout. So here I am creeping along, fit this there, then move another element out of the way, cycle after cycle. Here are a few shots of were the layout is and of the prototype that I want to include. this goes here(also the base for the backdrop) and this goes here There will be about eight or nine industries in the 11.75' section, though in the two city blocks it represents there was much more. I use Atlas' Right track software to see if the track arrangment will fit, but work out the finial positions in real space. This weekend I need to set aside for work on my school finial project, so I don't think I be doing much with the railroad. Tip check out Sanborn maps for you area. Your local library or university, may be able to provide you FREE access. Michael
Pics! I rebuilt Plainview siding; it now fits longer than 15-car trains: The BN train is 2 SD40-2's,a nd 20 Athearn hi-sides with caboose. It is a close shave, but it fits. Overall:
Looks good Hemi, :thumbs_up: Did you get all the wiring issues worked out ok? The PM42 thingie sounds like it works:teeth: Cheers, Ken.
The intermodal yard takes shape, plastered the area and painted. Also finished weathering and ballasting the track. But wouldn't ya know, as soon as I run some trains I strike some unexpected hiccups. I have had to lift the track in a couple of places for realignment. Nothing major just annoying. I have still yet to finnish building my signal bridges, I am having trouble finding suitable material to use as decking for the walkway. Anyway here are some pics of the intermodal yard. All a bit bright and shiney at the momment I will weather the models later. Cheers, Ken.
We are now in the last week of the layout party. Please post what you intend to complete in this last week.
Trains Run on the GandG! Plan for this week: Clean track Bury wires Paint blue areas Clean up under table Plan scenery Order track for yard (mostly turnouts)
I see a lot of good progress out there guys, but still slow goin' for me this week as I just haven't had much spare time. The first two skyboards are mounted. The first facia panel is mounted. Worked out a couple of other sorta complicated construction issues. I'm still not quite ready to lay track. I need to hang some lighting, but wanted to get some skyboards in place so I can judge locations. Next week I hope to take a picture and post it.
Well, I hope to get a couple more decoders installed or start on the rough scenery forms for the East Portland waterfront. I eventually need to build a wharf here along with a ship (a Sylvan Scale Models Great Lakes freighter kit "converted" into a small coastal freighter) but that's probably for the next party. Unfortunately for me now, yardwork, home projects and work are all taking larger and larger chunks of my time, but maybe I'll need a break and I can get some more things done. Peter
Managed to get the last layer of base foam cut and glued down tonight. Amazing how fast that "NO More Nails" product sets up and secures the foam to foam. Hopefully start laying out the track and get some risers installed over the next couple of days.
Well I got my card reader up and running so I can post some progress pics. This is the scenery as of Saturday. The rock is weathered and ready for ground cover. This is looking west from Ozark.
