Hey all, after years of not having a layout I finally got rid of my circular test track and upgraded to a fig 8. 30"x 62". I'm using Atlas true track. Anyone else using the track, I would appreciate others opinion of it. Also if you have modified the track. I did a small trestle on here.(more close ups later) I'd like to see if anyone has changed color of ballast easily (like John Sing's Kato track). My layout is on a hollow core door ($10) and attatched with drawer glides ($24) to go under a work bench. 1" sheet of foam was $14.
Talk about a perfect teaching layout. This small yet usable and entertaining layout can bring hours of fun to a newbie starting out. I remember my first HO layout and all the fun my friends and I had with it. I didn't choose a figure eight but we had hours of fun operating trains and playing with the toy cars, fire trucks, one small bull dozzer and police cars. Oh it was cobs and robbers or train robbers and railroad police. Fire department and those imaginary fires that had to be put out. Never mind the one real forest fire we had. Darn that realistic and working weed burner. LOL I just hope the little guy that brought the matches learned a lesson. He thought it was the neatest thing... until I faced off with him. Never mind those fellows that joined the "Flying Diesel Corps". Set the switch points to a single stub end spur where end of track is at end of table. With glee in his eye he proceeded to run my brand new Tyco Century unit right off the table. It flew nicely but it was the landing that hurt. Never mind what I wanted to do to him. I worked all summer for the pocket change required to buy that ATSF, Red War Bonnet...beauty. Now, Tom is no newbie and is quite an experienced model railroader. One of the true modelers in Southern California. He's built a train shed complete with insulation, electrical, dry wall. The plans include a round the room layout. However, building the layout is slowing him up a bit. This will give him something to operate on, try out some ideas and test run some of his equipment. Gosh, I like what he's done. As soon as I can I need to run down and check this out. You ought to talk to Tom about his building skills...awesome! I mean he really has some unique ideas and methods for scratch building his own buildings. Never mind the resin forms he makes.
Looks like a great start you have there. One question, you have so much extra space why not throw some spurs for operation or do a larger run then a compact figure 8. Although who am I to talk, I can't even run trains yet
Thanks for the good words Rick Nlevo: this little layout is only for 3 purposes. to change from my 9 3/4" radii test track, Test Atlas' true track, and practice scenery for my big layout. I have a friend, Joe, he was a runner, round and round. But his layout had industries and sidings, none were connected to the layout. Saved alot on switches and wiring. He hid where you would think a switch was, very cleverly, so his layout looked complex. However it was very very simple. I'm going to try a little of that on this Fig. 8.
Building a model railroad takes a certain matter of creative thinking, mixed with ability to visualize the final product and execute the construction process. Did I mention artistic ability...to a point. I like what I see here and this old dog can learn a new trick or to. Nice work Tom.
The grain effect from the bead foam along with the color you painted it there makes those palm trees look right at home! Cant wait to see more progress.
Hey Tom, I look forward to your results and sharing your learnings here. I will watch closely. I don't know if you work in the field but I was in Highland/San Berdo and found a great structure you may be interested in. Its on Pacific just east of Palm. Its a Sunkist plant that is in very good condition and there is another structure a few hundred feet east but I am not sure what it was used for.
I was hoping more people using Atlas true-track would post. I guess this is not a big seller. I'm working on pics to post progress on the dry creek. John thanks for the info, I will try to get to Highland this week and check it out.
Here is the dry creek in progress..... Unfortunately I didn't take pics of the trestle construction. I took the 11" radius Atlas true track and removed the plastic ballast where the blue tape is. Next I glued wooden ties in place and spaces them for bridge use. I used regular acc glue and sanded the bottom of the rail with 400 grit sand paper. I installed concrete abutments and concrete block under the risers. the white around the abutments is light weight spackle. I formed that into the surrounding foam layout. Next will be more scenery progress......
I do like your scenic work. Let's see you aren't to far down the road and you could...naw...I couldn't ask you to help me. Which reminds me I need to get out in the train shed and start cleaning it. Wireing projects, lighting to go in, scenery to do, control panel to install, yawn...nap time! I wore my self out just thinking about it.
You are not the only one trying to use True-Track but it seems like it could be just the two of us. I only got into model railroading this year. I bought a Trainman set and have added onto it as much as a 4 X 3 will allow- double main (not connected since crossovers are not available), a passing track and a couple of spurs. While I like the look of it I am not impressed with the usability. The switches are not the best and the rail joiners don't seem to hold up. And feeders are a real pain but this has supposedly been addressed with the new track pieces. I am not sure where I am going from here. I already have over 20 locos and a bunch of rolling stock so I want a layout, even a small one, that is dependable. I may switch to Unitrack. Gary
Yes, I agree. Not this weekend but the next the RoundHouse Gang is putting on a swapmeet in Riverside, CA. Steve and I are planning on being there. Are you and Engr., Bill planning on being there? See you there if you is.
Folks; I have been working with True track since it was released and think it is great! My current small layout uses Atlas code 55 track which is the same realistic tie strip/spacing as the code 65 and the joints while sometimes finicky do go together well and basically disappear.. not like Kato. I have tested the track by modifying one of the switches to be a 'spring switch" for use at wyes/reversing loops and constructed a polarity reversing section on a couple of straight sections of track to handle independent wye/reverse loop "wiring" problems". If I had a way to display pictures on a website like Trainboard I would share them. This track line is a great addition for modelers and according to my sources at Atlas there will be additional pieces coming in the future and they have been happy with the success of the line. Barry
