Well, as usual problems that were unforseen cropped into my laying in the last of the hard board (masonite) for the back drop. Measure twice, cut once - yeah I know but I still managed to get a cut wrong, so trying to trim off a small amount is challenging. When the board is installed, I will drive in the nails, and cover with wood putty, sand then the last of backdrop goes in. I am using commercial backdrops from Faller and I am worried as I have discovered the paper expands with the Modge Podge I have been using for glue. The last remaining pieces are quite large, as I am using a very large mountain backdrop for my "nolix" area to give it that Canadian Rockies feel. So I'm concerned these wider panels than what I have been using will be a bear to put up as they will even stretch more than the narrow counter parts. On the positive side, I find when they dry, they shrink again.
Got absolutely zero done this past week. Between house cleaning and car shopping my time was chewed up. Hopefully I'll be able to finish my joints this week.
Harron, You get an "A" for honesty, just try and get done what you can. Don't sweat the details. As for others, if you right down on a list of those who committed in the first week, versus those who are reporting back, you will find a few who have fallen off the waggon, but didn't want to report it. Even in these layout parties, I will procrastinate. The work output for me in the last two weeks is usually my highest work output for months. And I suspect that will be the case for this party.
Week Three Progress. Yeah, I know I'm only half way through week two, but ..........THE BLOCK SIGNALS WORK !!! After finishing up the wiring and logic for the red, the yellow and green went much faster and easier than anticipated. Therefore, I'm giving myself the rest of this "party week" off. May be able to post a few pix later.... Later has happened: [ 06. March 2003, 20:07: Message edited by: Colonel ]
Jackson, I edited your post and changed the links to the pictures can be viewed. When you copy the link click on the image button then paste into the image popup box. By the way the signals are excellent
My second week progress report: Progress has been a slowed down by two Laker games (can't turn down company tickets, can one?). It's mainly been a research week for the scenery. At the Model Expo show at Pomona we took the scenery clinic and were inspired enough to go taking pictures of the areas I am trying to model, to get an idea of accurate colors and "stuff" (like electrical boxes, signs, etc.). And were pleasantly surprised by a BNSF Swift Roadrailer train that crept by on its way to Bell intermodal yard. Next week the plan is to start experimenting with different colors and surface materials to create the urban branch line look for Southern California. William
Well I'm back, just finished a few dayshifts and have a few nites to work so plan on doing a few things during the day time. My layout: I model HO scale, mostly Canadian roads, am trying to incorporate a logging branch. Track in a mixture of hand laid code 100, 83, and 70. At present I am using peco turnouts but got a jig made to make my own turnouts, plan on doing this soon. The space that I have is 12 ft bt 6 feet. It is a rectangle with a 2 ft by 8 ft open rectangle in the center, there is also going to be a bridge accross short gap, the area that I am going to use as a removable bridge so I can walk in, no duck under. I had first planned on having the track go up and down and loop over itself but not enough room so track if flat and terain around including a town are either raised or lowered. Would have liked to have a mountain scene but have not found the right plan and limited space. Off this I can have another bridge accross a patio door and a 6 ft by 30 inches area to model, possibly a log loading area as I already have space allocated for a saw mill and log dump, this is in the future (maybe this fall). The back bench against the wall I am going to have a switch back to a tie and timber cutting mill, this switch back will be the second project. I have most of the track down now, main line and industrial tracks, (not including the switch back) just a couple of feet to go and the bridge to build before I have it running completely around. This is going to be the first project, to complete the track work, and get it running. Have a few scratchbuild buildings and a little scenery around them done, this was done so as not to be constantly doing one thing and suffer burnout. As being at this stage there is lots of projects to do so will keep you posted on how it is progressing, bye for now.. Ron..
Hi, kids... Time for the week 2 report. The plan was to build 6 buildings in 6 weeks for a city streetcorner scene. It was a good plan, but true to the military adage, "no battle plan ever survives the first engagement with the enemy". I'm still waiting for my order of .010 clear styrene to replace the thick plastic supplied with the kits for window glass. Maybe the big brown truck will show up today! Work on the tower has stalled, so I started on the hotel. I picked up a nice Bar Mills 'Hotel St. George' sign at a recent train show and it really works well on the hotel roof! Let's see if I can create a link here: web page BTW...While walking through the local Staples office supply store, I found a great ready-made photo backdrop. I was able to pick up a poster printed with sky and clouds for about $5. It makes a terrific backdrop for building photos. I've got a City Classics Iron Front building kit started for the next building, with the front wall painted and weathered. Next week's goal is to prep a side wall to look as though the neighboring building was demolished. I'm looking forward to trying some new techniques on this project. Until next week...best regards to all. Bruce J.
Bruce- This has me curious! What is the overall size of this poster? We have a Staples in town. I'd like to take a look next time past their store. Was there a catalog number on it? Boxcab E50
Hey, Boxcab... Look in the aisle with posterboard, foamboard, etc. The size is 28"h x 22"w. The tag on the back lists the mfr as AMPAD (Div of American Pad & Paper), cat. no. 58151 "Clouds". Bruce J.
Hello. Well, when this started two weeks ago, I promised to make progress. I have run into a snag (out of my control) w/ regard to my control panel. HOWEVER... the goal of making some sort of progress on my layout continues. I have diverted attention to building a long hiway (road) that I have procrastinated doing for a long time. It is a milestone that must be done on my layout to move and progress the balance of scenery. I started this morning by stiffening the area w/ Woodland Scenics plaster cloth. The base road is down. Once the plaster cloth is dry, I will tape off the "righ-of-way" and pour the roadway w/ a hydrocal/plaster like material. I chose this method because the roadway flows too much to try and cut it from core board or gatorfoam. This afternoon, I will take some pictures and try to sign up to the Trainboard "Railpic" thing and start posting pictures. Good luck to all w/ the projects.
Kitbash and others, If you have pics of your layout, even if it isn't what you have done recently, by all means please post them here. I'd love to see them. I myself will eventually get some pictures up and running. But not during the duration of this thread.
Oooooookay. I have made some progress. Switching my project from the Control Panel to FINALLY building this road has been worth it. I have about 12 feet of highway to build and I have finished roughly 7 feet of it. Here's a pict'. Mind you photography is NOT one of my hobbies!
RSN.. okay. Here's another pict, that is not directly related to the "project". I am getting there.. but SO many details to fill in.
Well, your pictures look better than many, for a non-photographer, better a little to over exposed than under, which many are. I love the structures you have built in the second picture.
Half Way Through the Six Weeks! Goal for the next week is to get a bit of operations started. So far, I have an idea of the types of trains my layout can support. I have car cards for all the rolling stock. I'm going to try to rig up a dozen waybills. Hopefully, I can try 'em out a bit this evening. Since the club is visiting tomorrow night, the waybills will get a pretty good workout, and lots of criticism!
Hi Guys. I'm a little late with my update this week. Kitbash, Nice work on the road. Sometimes you need to modify your goals to the achievable. I can't tell you how many times I've done it. Bruce, During my errands today, I'm going to stop by the Office (Depot, Max whatever) to try and find some of those clouds. They looked great. On my own layout project, I don't have a lot to report. It is progressing. I have cut all of the plywood to general size, and am now fitting and attaching it to the benchwork. I am laying half inch plywood and one inch pink foam for my table top. I should finish with the plywood and foam this week. I tried to find sheet cork rolls at Home Depot on Saturday, but was informed it's no longer available. I'll try other places later this week. For my mainline runs I will use the strip cork from the hobby shop, but I don't want to use it in the yard and staging. Too expensive. My question for you guys is: If I just lay my yard on the styrofoam, will I experience terrible noise levels? Until next week, Keep up the good work. Dave
Not a great deal of progress this week. i was bidding for some turnouts on ebay, but i lost. if i won i would have had enough to complete my mainline, and start working on the tunnel and hills in my un senicked end of the layout. as it turns out, all i have really done is cut some foam so that it should fit when i do get the tracklaying done. i was supposed to take an interstate trip soon, but im not doing that anymore unfortunately, so perhaps i will get some more work done on my layout. at least thats a positive out come from not taking the trip... i cant find any others.
