Finally got it.

Now finalised my new Badger Creek Lumber Company, taken many drawing to come up with one I really like, so, after Christmas I shall start demolishing. (Take the hammer to it)
I have also been quite busy making new structures for it. I cannot start until after xmas due to relatives arriving to stay for awhile. Never mind, it will soon be ---"Lets start it again ---YEH YEH YEH"

 

Paul, it seems to be a habit to reconstruct layouts. You, Robin, Johnathan ... who´s next?
I´m still working on my extension number four.

 

I guess I joined the ranks. My N scale layout is no more. I finished demolishing it and cleaned up the area yesteday. Due to finances caused by eye surgery and being off work until Dec.18th, I won't be able to start on my new layout until after the first of the year. Now when I look at that empty space I get a panicky feeling. The new layout will be U shaped and dogbone style. 9 feet X 8 feet X 11 feet. I will be building a open girber{??) style.

 

I too am dismantling somewhat. I'm adding on an addition to my layout for a loco facility. Which means about the first 2 feet from the one leg of my "L" shaped layout has to be torn up... The track and things on that leg has to be minorly changed for the track work to access the loco facility... "A layouts never really completed" I love that old saying! And boy is it true!

 

Paul, there is something decidedly depressing about seeing the badger creek go. Being new to the hobby I have been to your website more times than I can count for inspiration and just for fun browsing the pics. I can't believe you are taking the hammer to it, but know the next will be even better. I can't wait to see your new one, and please post lots of pics during the construction phase, those really help. I like the new plan and love the "Y" turn around by the 2 trestles, those are really neat. Also have you thought of throwing a small wooden turntable at the end of one of your lines? I saw one in a scenery book the other day at the end of a mountain narrow gauge run and don't think I have ever seen one on your layout. Is there a reason you don't like them or were they just not uncommon on the logging runs?

 

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by justind:
Also have you thought of throwing a small wooden turntable at the end of one of your lines? I saw one in a scenery book the other day at the end of a mountain narrow gauge run and don't think I have ever seen one on your layout. Is there a reason you don't like them or were they just not uncommon on the logging runs?<hr></blockquote>

Hi,
I would like a small turntable, but never had any room for one on the current Badger, nor do I expect this latest design. Might try and incorporate one if I can. Must have a looksee.
cheers friend.

 

It seems that a lot of folks are tarring down there wonderful layouts to restart a new. If I might make a point here, I see that most model railroaders are always wanting to rip out a track here and add on there or change this part of the layout and add on over there. I'd like to well not introduce to you something to you but maybe remind you of a concept that I have become very happy with.
Back a bought a year ago or so, I had to tear down my model railroad that I had been working on for 12 years. It was a very hard thing to do. But before I began to dismantle the layout I had come to the conclusion that I'd never go threw this again. Not the pain or the expense of it all. No I'm not done with the hobby, not by far, just with the basic idea of permanent model railroads. I chose to build a modular ( portable ) model railroad this time around. I made many plans before I found the right one. Then I adopted some standards to make it easier on me. There is a standard wiring harness and electrical system that makes each board as standard as possible. The Idea was I could remove modules and put in new ones when ever the itch hit me to make a new seen. Fallowing this plan if I remove a module, its not lost it just gets put into storage can always be brought back out. The other benefit was that if I ever had to move again the layout could go with me! The options are endless and benefits are really worth the effort.
I had no idea when I started to build this last layout that it would be the starting of a club layout. I had not planed to take it to shows but it was in the back of my mind that should I ever wish to show off my work I could. Just last month I and a friend took the layout to a train show. We had both been in a modular club before and relay enjoyed it. I got some really nice compliments from other model railroaders and non model railroaders alike. It was a really good feeling to have those who I consider my pears looking over my work and to see that they liked my work. Now what stated as a private portable modular layout is slowly becoming the corner stone of a young growing club.
For those of you whom are just restarting to rebuild your layouts, you may wish to consider the fact that modular layouts offer the ability to trade in and out new or old seen,s as your interest change. Then should move or take the layout on a trip to a show or a new apartment or new home, things will move just as easily as can be. I have a limited space here in my new home of 13' by 12 ½' and my portable modular layout of 12' x 12' fit right in just nicely. Because the door of the room was in a new location, I now have a new view of the layout and its great to see it from a new vantage point. This was a another benefit I had not planed on. When I took the layout to the train show, for the first time I got to see it from the out side view point. Not just standing inside it. What a difference there was. It was great. The layout being the same but having a hole other look from the out side. All the planning and hard work really paid off. The benefits are way to numerous to list them all but here are a few more then I had even thought of ( add by my wife ) : If we need the room for company to stay in, just pack it up and out to the garage it goes. ( Its not lost or destroyed, just packed up and out of the way. Want to add on, make a change ? no problem. What mother in law is coming to stay? Ya write! Moving? Jee why is the wife knitting those tiny LITTLE BOOTS ?!?! The possibilities are only as endless as your imagination ! So give it some thought……

 

sean. I can understand why you like modulars. I thought about doing it and then I thought about all the modular layouts at the train shows I have seen. They all looked chopped up and disjointed. My wife and I live in a senior citizen mobile home park in a large 24 X 65 mobile home.(Manufactured Home) It is a permament place and the only way I will leave is in a pine box. I am using my family room for my layout. it is 12' X 12' where 8' X 11' is for my layout. I just made to many mistakes in my other layout and found that I ended up making more mistakes correcting the first mistake. That is why I dismatled the whole thing and starting over using all the tips I learned from monitering TrainBoard. I feel that the new layout will be almost bug free

 

Dick,
I think you could get a z scale layout in a pine box! Just a thought.

 

Yea Rick. I was just trying to imagine how much more there could be in the small scale in that size room. Actually, with my eyesight, it is everything I can do to handle N scale

 

Dick,

Well you have a big point about MOSTE modular layouts. They do have a chopped look to them. I think this is due in part to the old way of thinking, : " We must cram as much as we can into our allotted space ". The first step is to toss out the old rules on modular layouts. Here are the new rules: 1). Main lines must enter and leave each module at the same high and distance from the edge. 2). Seens must start from a flat sere faces and return to a flat sere face. This rule number 2 is often what gives the boxed or choppy look. A lot of times Modelers start say in the middle of a hill. There is no transition from one Modula to another. So if we remember were working with wood, for the most part, its flat. So some space must be allowed to help make the transition help full. Its ok to start model a mountain, but start 2" in from the edge of the module on the side in witch it connects to the next and start building up from there. I have seen modules that start with a black painted wall of ply wood facing the module on the left and just to the right is ¾ of a mountain. This dose save space but has a choppy look to it. Almost as if the module was cut out of a another layout and plugged into the next. However there are places were you can get away with this trick, like for instance a row of buildings. If the back of the row is right on the modules connecting side and you leave say 2" for space, then almost any other seen will work right behind it. As long as you have a 2" or so lead in space and you next seen dose not start ½ way threw, like say a hill or a river. I have found its all in the lead in at the seams. Here are several shots from my modular layout. Find the joints of the modules and you'll see what I mean. In some places you will not even see the joints, in other welp bad carpentry gives it away every time. AAARRGGG!!!

O yes the layout is 12'x12' at this time, but not for long he he he !

Ok here in this first shot you can see 4 Mods.


Here we can see the other side of the layout. You can see part of 4 mods. here to. Not the same mods.


Here we can see Pierson Power Athu. and just be hinde it a inteer modual / roadrailer yard. Can you finde the seems? I'll give you a hint there are 2 Mods that make up this seen.


Here is a tuff one. Can you finde the joint in this one? I'll give you a hint. Finde the back of the 2 brick buldingswith there backs facing us in this shot. One has a smoke stack on the right side. The joint of 2 mods are right under the back of those buldings.


Here is the last view of the Pierson Power plant. Cann you see the seem here ? Finde the blue dump house and its right under it. See its all in how you handel the trasitions.

 

Thanks Sean
That is quite a layout. Looks real nice. Your right. I really had to study it to fine the seams