Time for my progress update: I was supposed to finish laying track on my new module, but spent my modeling time taking down my father-in-law's layout. I did modify my trackplan and 4 peco electrofrogs for DCC to install. I had to pull up the cork I just laid, take out a bridge on another module and install a turnout there to accomidate the revised trackplan. My goals for this week are the same as last... to finish laying track on the new module. BurghThing, I'm modeling the wrong region for a cigar factory, but I am for sure going to have a cigar shop complete with wooden indian and 5 cent cigars, next door to my barbershop with rotating barbershop pole! Remember those days everyone?
Bruce, A track cutter makes a clean cut on one side, and leaves the other side with an angle cut... which isn't desirable. A normal cutting pliers leaves both side with an angle cut, which is even less desireable. The one flush cut allows you to butt track together. So make sure Radio Shack cutter does that one flush cut. Look at a Zuron cutting edge before you buy the Radio Shack jobbie. [ 15 April 2002, 17:15: Message edited by: rsn48 ]
Robert Ray, I am glad to know I'm not the only one who would make more progress if not for taking "mulligans" on trackwork, scenery, etc. I often do things twice, but it's not exactly doubling my pleasure!
Im Jim Lawler, I Came across this site about 2:am This Morning and cant get off reading every thing. I Finally am able to get into H.O.Train Modeling and Just cant get started. I have a finished room that I could put a 16 x16 Board down and will tackle anything. Im new to it and the only way i could figure out for starters was to Purchase an Atlas layout book #14 and want to try the HO-36 layout. Know of any one that has built this? Just cant seem to headed in the right direction. Anyway im going to keep reading all the posts because I can pick up some things that way. Jim Lawler in Middletown De.
Hi Jim, Welcome to Trainboard.You are in the right place to ask questions.So don't be bashful about asking. If you have a problem someone will have the solution to it.
Jim, Welcome to trainboard I am glad you have found our site so interesting. Before you build your dream layout i suggest you build something alitte smaller and learn the basics with track laying, wiring and scenery this will then teach you a valuable lesson. Then again if you read all the topics in the HO foruam and especially The Inspection Pit as well as the Layout design forum you maybe able to have enough information to start. I look forward to seeing more of yours posts. Once again welcome to the family.
Welcome Jim! Time for an update. My goals for the last week were to lay the rest of the mainline and wire three turnouts. Well.... I got alomost the rest of the main laid. Ran out of track. With the required track being picked up today, it will be finished tonight. The turnouts. Oh man, how could something so easy be such a hassle?!? well its call a faulty turnout. After changing everything on the first turnout twice, I realized it was the motor on the turnout itself - not a wiring issue. Thus a lot of wasted time. But I got one of three done. In addition, I built 3 rolling stock, and an engine - added the details actually. oh, and started to repaint a UP sd40-2 to resemble UP 3300 the United Way UP engine! My N scale version of this engine went for over $120 when I sold it. Anyone want to start bidding on a HO version?
Oh, forgot goals for next week: Build two more cars, Detail two incoming engines, Wire other two turnouts, get ready to buy DCC, and most importantly, take a work break and run some trains around that mainline!
Jim, Welcome to Trainboard! I am not a fan of 4 by 8's for a beginner, especially some one like you who has the space to work on a great layout. But the problem for you is that everything is new, and choices are difficult to make. Yet I also support the idea of starting with something smaller to get you on your feet and "running," so to speak. You will be happy to know there is a newer way to begin, and the choices have been for you. The new system is called "domino" construction. You will be able to contact Kalmbach publishing and order this magazine; it will cost you around $8.00 with shipping; in other words, not much. The magazine is Model Railroad Planning 1999. The article you are looking for is "Domino Planning Basics" by David Barrow. The sentence under his title says it all": "A flexible layout-planning method lets a model railroad grow from small beginnings." Get the mag, and read the article about ten times and pay attention to all the small detail, and really study the pictures. The article is jam filled with techniques and choices. There is also an article by Linda Sand who developed different domino units for industrial switching. Unfortunately, after a search I can't find it. I also recommend this article highly. The advantage to the domino system, is that the choices have been made for you, and all of them are sound and time tested. You are given different choices of track and you pick and choose, thus building your layout - usually in 4 foot lengths - over time, adding a section at a time. The implications of this is you can build the table top and legs at your work bench, carry it into your room, lay track and you are off to the races. After you have built one or two and started running trains you will have more opinions on what you want, so you are at a good stage to change your mind if need be. Then all you do is rip your track out and start over, but your benchwork is unchanged. Other decisions have been made for you. Types of turnouts, the electrical system, going DCC; the decisions have been made. If you follow them you will have a great first layout. [ 17 April 2002, 20:06: Message edited by: rsn48 ]
Many of us start out this thread with at least a bit of excuse for lack of progress, including me. Here's a new one, though..... Two nights ago, I was kitbashing an RJ Frost kit, doubling it in size, and making the back out of styrene sheets. I decided to spray paint them black, since some of the doors were modelled open, and I wanted to darken the interior. I always do painting on the balcony outside the train room, since I use spray cans with smelly paint my wife objects to a bit. It was late, and I left them out there to dry. Last night at about six, a tornado came by within a mile of the house! Needless to say my styrene parts weren't where I left them! Luckily, I did find them by the pool, dried them, and finished the structure last night, after only a slight delay, that could have been much, much worse.
It's time for another progress report, as I'm getting ready to leave town for another "workweekend". I modified 5 electrofrogs for DCC and installed them on my new module. As Rossford Yard (Jeff) said I did take a mulligan on my trackplan, and modified it to add 4 sidings for extra switching operations. Barely visible in this photo is the bridge I removed to install a turnout at the far right. Also visible are the lines on the benchwork that show the old trackplan: Also I said I wanted to get my wooden tresslt done, well I have started on it as can be seen in this photo: My goals for next week are then the same as the last... to finish laying the track, build the wooden tressle, and get base scenery completed.
That trestle is a thing of beauty Robert. Impressive to say the least. I also like your background art work.
How on EARTH did you draw and paint that thing so well on paper???!!! Must be one of those "perfect lighting" things. I don;t know, but that looks exactly like a picture ot of an illustrated book from the 50's...when all the illustrations had that quality to them. Nice module! [ 18 April 2002, 05:43: Message edited by: Benny ]
Robert Ray, It looks like you used your "mullie" well. I get frustrated when the new stuff doesn't look a whole lot better than the old stuff. Sometimes I rip stuff out, and expect it to go back in like I was John Allen or something.....of course, sometimes I make a little progress. I like the broader curve of the new layout. The vestiges of cork remind me of a picture from "Impossible Challenge" where you can see the older, more crooked B and O roadbed from earlier eras visible off the to side. Perhaps you can make lemons out of lemonade and leave the old cork in, ballast it and convey a sense of history! Just a tired guy musing though..... The layout looks great in all respects.
Well I have sucess to report AND to show! That's right, I finally put up my first web page showing the layout's progress. I plan on adding to this site, and streamlining it as I go on. Its my first attempt at web design, so be kind www.burghthing.com Finally finished glueing and soldering the main lines and one siding. Still waiting on some switches and bumpers from Hobbees.com before I tackle the switch yard and downtown area. Also laid out the bus last night in preperation for soldering the feeders tonight. I could actually be running trains tonight!
Robert, I like your plan and pics. The loop looks good there and natural. What are you planning to put there. Jeff, I'll have to remember the tornado excuse... new one to me....lol.
I used a Faller's backdrop for my lower level. I finally got it in which I am happy about. I like the Faller's product as it is a good one, with lots of coverage for the price. Basically for $50 I got 19 feet of coverage. The ones I chose for the lower level look like a scene very close to home here in Vancouver, British Columbia: an area called the Chilliwack Valley. So I finally met my goals for last week - I'm one week behind - sounds like the contractor I hired for our reno's....lol...except he was only 4 months behind. If you are nervous about backdrop quality check out Faller's in a Walter's catalogue but preferable not this years, as they cut out much of what Faller has to offer. An older catalogue will show you what is available. Putting it up is definitely a two man job and I highly recommend you use Modge Podge (Matte Finish). This coming week's goal is to work on the nolix area and get the first level up on it. In theory...LOL... this should be easy.
Progress on the MAT continues. This last week, the mainline reached completion to the city of Maberly. The MAT is a point to point layout (N gauge) and the main line length is 103 feet, 14 feet of which is single track and 89 feet of double or multiple track. I included the single track to be realistic and create some complexity in dispatching. There is a single track bottleneck in the CN mainline that goes through Georgetown and that's where it crosses the Credit River on the old iron bridge and I have also seen single track used by both CN and CP in the mountains. I also finished building the Travis Trailer company factory this last week. A picture can be seen in the freelance forum. This coming week I want to finish laying track in the passenger car servicing yard and to add one or two more industrial tracks.
