Free-moN: At Home & On The Road

MC Fujiwara Dec 3, 2012

  1. jpwisc

    jpwisc TrainBoard Member

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    There may not be rules, but there are still standards! ;)
     
  2. WPZephyrFan

    WPZephyrFan TrainBoard Member

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    LOL Standards are good!
     
  3. MC Fujiwara

    MC Fujiwara TrainBoard Member

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    Sometimes it seems that the standards apply only to the modules themselves :)

    Sunday at the GTE Show in Richmond, CA was as good as it gets.

    Beautiful day on the Bay:

    [​IMG]

    TVs behind the bar/cafe to watch the Niners freeze the Packers:

    [​IMG]

    [Feather River Chuck was lucky enough to have his stall--far right of photo--with a great view of the game!]

    Oh, yeah: there was a large layout on which to run some trains, too!

    [​IMG]

    All in all, a very groovy weekend!

    And, of course, a video:

    <font color="#000000" style="background-color: rgb(250, 250, 250);"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">[video=youtube_share;ceW2WY0KVbA]http://youtu.be/ceW2WY0KVbA[/video]

    Thanks for looking.
     
  4. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    Damnnnnnnnnn...I love them trains running in natural sunlight.....awesome !!! ^5 :cool:
     
  5. RBrodzinsky

    RBrodzinsky November 18, 2022 Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter In Memoriam

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    But now I have to repair the expansion damage caused by direct sun on the station platforms and parking lot! Gorgeous day, though
     
  6. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Nice venue. Hope you can return there again. And, speaking of groovy, I always like your video background music.
     
  7. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    Oh the woes of model railroading eh ? ;-)
     
  8. Primavw

    Primavw TrainBoard Member

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    Again, some quality work there! Looks great!!!
     
  9. DCESharkman

    DCESharkman TrainBoard Member

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    The video was sort of wild, in that the locomotives and rolling stock looked too big. It was hard to believe just by looking that it was N Scale.

    But that aside, it was a great video and a great location. If I hadn't been sick, I would have been there. That is an awesome place to have a show.
     
  10. MC Fujiwara

    MC Fujiwara TrainBoard Member

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    Was quite a jolt to go from the illuminated glory of the Craneway Pavilion in Richmond to... the Elk's Lodge in Alameda!


    The Alameda, California Elk's Lodge is a beautiful Turn-of-the-Century building with amazing molding, scrollwork, painting, and quality beer ($3 a pint Anchor Steam, Blue Moon and Sierra Nevada! Woot!)
    The clinics regaled the audience upstairs while the Silicon Valley Free-moN rocked out in the lobby with Byron Henderson and his Layout Design consulting crew.

    [​IMG]

    As you can see, very "lodge-y" but we were able to wrap a long point-to-loop layout around the edges with plenty of space for people to walk around and talk.
    (One benefit of rocking a modeler's meet is that you never, ever have to say "Don't touch, please!" or "Yes, this is N scale" [​IMG])

    Another benefit of rocking a lodge is the large number of props that really add to the realism of the layout:

    [​IMG]

    A drawback to a lodge is the ambient "romantic" lighting in the corner:

    [​IMG]

    that created a better environment for night ops and LEDs than most shows.

    Nils decided to put his other modules on hold and build one better suited for switching ops:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    7'6" long, BluePoint turnout control, and still determining which industries will go where along which spurs, but a very nice addition (long passing siding / runaround and long big-industry spurs).

    We also took the opportunity to make a short presentation and request for potential ops suggestions.
    Many modelers sat down with us and shared with us their suggestion, based on both practical experience as well as otherworldly inspiration.

    So all in all a groovy day.
    Normally I don't like doing "one-and-done" shows (set up and take down in one very long day), but the LD SIG--where I was first introduced to Free-moN and have meet many, many magnificent modelers from all over the West--is one that is definitely worth it.

    And, of course, a video:

    [video=youtube_share;42ihLDmqga4]http://youtu.be/42ihLDmqga4[/video]

    Dark room + dark beer = crappy video.

    Thanks for looking!
     
  11. MC Fujiwara

    MC Fujiwara TrainBoard Member

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    With a show at the Toy and Model Train Expo on March 1 & 2 at the Santa Clara Convention Center http://www.trainexpo.org/
    and in an effort to improve operations, I'm building a new insert for Effett Yard.

    Old Insert: 2', 15-degree with single track off to Staging Yard O' Necessity (or a branch):

    [​IMG]

    The main issue wasn't backing trains in but having all trains enter the layout in the same direction, especially when that side of the layout was already crowded.

    New insert: 3', 30-deg with a wye to staging / branch:

    [​IMG]

    The wye is a separate section to avoid big bulky and because sometimes we don't need it.

    Slightly separate note, I'm building two of each section (for inverting and sandwiching between endplates), with the other module adding some needed industries, perhaps something like:

    [​IMG]

    A bit over-packed on purpose: will decide actual plan after finishing the Effett insert.

    Started building the module (Effett Yard is flat so no need of foam) and to ensure the ply was flat during construction I screwed two metal shelving channels on top:

    [​IMG]

    Then when building the second one (with ply base lowered 1" for foam) I realized I could place one underneath [Duh] and it'd make space for wires as well:

    [​IMG]

    The channel does make the section ram-rod stiff and flat, but it also effectively eliminates the space for Bullfrogs or other switch machines without some actuating cable action.

    For the trapezoidal section I used an 1"-wide strip of ripped ply for the same effect (seen here before cross supports installed):

    [​IMG]

    Will look like this when all assembled and inserted:

    [​IMG]

    The two notches at the end are to allow the clamps to reach up to secure the Staging Yard O' Necessity, which is framed with 1"x2"s (not a standard module).

    [cont.]
     
  12. MC Fujiwara

    MC Fujiwara TrainBoard Member

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    Clamped the insert between the Effett Yard sections and GorillaGlued the American Tie & Timber GapMasters at the end:

    [​IMG]

    Adjusted the insert until ALL tracks on insert will be level with existing Effett Yard tracks, then drilled alignment pin holes underneath (same holes double for attaching protective endplates), then fit & installed track:

    [​IMG]

    A bit more difficult than starting from scratch, as you can't lay track over the gap and then cut, or use the mirror trick.
    Here you must line it up by eye and carefully trim rail to fit both ends and with smooth curve:

    [​IMG]

    Caulk allows enough working time so you can run a long flatcar over the section back and forth before soldering to identify any kinks or bad angles.
    I think it worked out pretty well.

    Today I'll mock up the wye tracks to determine the turnout templates.
    The "top" can be a normal wye but the two leads will probably be custom asymmetric.

    Thanks for looking.
     
  13. RBrodzinsky

    RBrodzinsky November 18, 2022 Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter In Memoriam

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    Can't wait to see it operational!
     
  14. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    I this gonna be another "I got it all done in 2 days and it looks awesome!" builds ? ;):teeth::cool:
     
  15. MC Fujiwara

    MC Fujiwara TrainBoard Member

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    Nope: trying to bustamove for a "real" job while doing all the freelance stuff and building the 1920's HO layout for the dude out in the boonies (and catching a couple of Champions League mid-week games) takes up most the time: been waking up at 3 and trying to get to bed around 8, though that's difficult when GS Warriors or UCLA are playing and kickin' butt.

    The module's been occupying the wife's car side of the garage for a couple of days, and probably throughout the weekend, too.
    (I'm too lazy to put Effett away when I'll have to pull it out again after finishing the turnouts, so hopefully I'll get the three turnouts done & installed this weekend).

    Rick: me too!
    Got the PSX already, just a big question of getting the turnouts built right and flowing smooth.

    Bonus: the mirror-module benchwork is built, so if I can get some track laid we'll have more industries as well.
    But probably not, as I don't do all-nighters any more :)
     
  16. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    I sure don't. I discovered that come morning, there would be errors, or possibilities I'd overlooked.... :(
     
  17. DCESharkman

    DCESharkman TrainBoard Member

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    I can't wait to visit Fre-Mo at the show, I will be there with the Ntrack guys, but I will come and visit.
     
  18. MC Fujiwara

    MC Fujiwara TrainBoard Member

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    Voice of Experience says: anytime creating a scene with foam, seal off the seams with caulk even if you don't anticipate a water feature (keeps the diluted white glue from dribbling down yr legs like an old drunk):

    [​IMG]

    Installed the 1" foam in the insert mirror module:

    [​IMG]

    Will allow for some ditches and depressed water features.

    On the Effett insert, laminated some more ply on the extension side to reinforce clamp and alignment pin areas:

    [​IMG]

    Feeders go in gaps in flex before replacement ties get shoved in.

    Tested out various FT templates to see what fits best: #7 wye at "top," though customs will be needed on insert proper:

    [​IMG]

    Will build one, adjust, ensure smooth (cool?) running, and then build the mirror for other side.

    The #7 wye at top was an easy way to get back in the swing of handlaying:

    [​IMG]

    [every time I start handlaying after a sizeable break I find it takes a turnout or two to get back in the swing of things]

    Intentionally curved the diverging routes a little wider than needed, as will be easier to bend back into "natural" postion after finishing the other two turnouts and laying in the flex connectors.
    Made sure the area up through the frog was smooooooooooooooth and slightly curved, with ties reinforced so I could reposition the curves later.

    [​IMG]

    Two more custom asymmetric wye turnouts to build and install (along with the PSX auto-reverser), as well as cheering on the GS Warriors tonight, Man U on Tues, and Chelsea and Real Madrid on Wednesday.
    Good times.
     
  19. TrCO

    TrCO TrainBoard Member

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    Oh the humanity!

    Seriously though, with the way United's season is going, that pretty much applies ;)
     
  20. John Bartolotto

    John Bartolotto TrainBoard Supporter

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