Steamghost - I just checked, and my can is DOW "great stuff" from Home Depot. Paul - yes, this will be a direct continuation of my last module (covered in this thread) from the West end (the right end from the front, the one where University Road crosses US Route 30). Thanks for checking in guys! Jack
Hi Don. Do you live near there? I think that bridge had its 15 minutes of fame when Emery Gulash set up his cameras there on one of his outstanding "chases" of steam power in the 1960's. I'm really going to have to figure out which of my railroad DVD's that one is on.
Boxcab, Just make sure you use the whole can, as you usually can't get two uses out of it because the valve ends up glued shut. Steamghost, I have used the Great Stuff Minimally Expanding foam around my attic door, and it's quite rigid.
Originally posted by NorsemanJack: No, I don't live near there but would travel that route while heading to Hinckley. Thank God for Emery Gulash and his 16mm camera.
I'll second that. For those unfamiliar, Emery generated a lot of very high quality railroad films back in the late fifties to the early seventies. Many are available on DVD from Green Frog (a forum sponsor).
Since it has been over a year since I've posted any progress* photos, I decided it's time: I'll be adding trees, road signs, etc. prior to incorporating this module into the layout. I really like the Rix highway bridge and would recommend them to others. Also, I learned that you can create a curve with Detail 160 roadway provided you apply enough heat and patience. That is not necessarily a recommended approach. *I used the term "progress" very loosly, as my photos indicate about 8 hours of work over one year's time. Pathetic.....
Thank you for the renewing this excellant thread, missed it the first time. Read them all, very helpful. Lets hope more progress comes your way quickly. Joe
Wow great work on these modules. After seeing this thread and reading through it, I might try the module approach rather than a permanent conventional layout, since the house I'm moving into my train room will be around the same size you're working with 12'x12' Looking forward to watching your progress!
The highway is a product from a company called Detail 160. They make prefabricated roadway in a heavy vinyl with a peel and stick installation. The dashed lines are preprinted on the roadway. I first install a balsa substrate to lift the road up above the surrounding scenery. That may be overkill. The tricky part on this module was making the roadway follow the gentle s-curve. Out of the box, it is very rigid. I used a heat gun to soften it, which also had the effect of shrinking it a bit so as to allow the inner curve diameter to be formed. This is definitely an approach that demands a practice run with scrap material prior to attempting the real thing.
Thanks for the kind words. I would highly recommend a modular approach to anyone with limited space and/or time. I'm hoping to get this module wrapped up soon so that I can start on my next one. I'm expecting that one to be a simple four foot straight that will incorporate a #10 crossover (Atlas code 55) along with a beginning of some yard tracks. To date, all of my modules are a simple two track main without any switches.
I really like what you're doing here. I noticed your technique for installing the "fitter" rails between the modules, and the general construction, and I must say that they are very similar to the way Free-Mo is designed. You just used different materials than what Free-Mo calls for. But, you did a very good job, I must compliment you on a job well done. The curve looks spectacular! I am hoping to build a Free-Mo N (N scale) module in the near future.. I have the material to do it........ Just need motivation - There is no one else interested in Free-Mo N just yet. Mike
Thanks for the feedback Mike. I'm not that familiar with "Free-Mo", although I seem to recall reading something about it years ago. The main reason I use MDF for my modules is that both the sheet and the dimensional pieces are absolutely straight, flat and uniform. That makes things much easier when working to the tight tolerances that N scale demands.
free-mo is where the mainline is centered ont he module, and it is reversible 180 degrees... electrically and mechanically. It's great.. I like it, it gets away from the roundy-round HO/NTRAK stuff, and it also provides OPERATIONS which is the focus of Free-Mo. www.free-mo.org
This is a nice Module! For something so simple it looks outstanding! Can';t wait to see more!!!! More!!!!!!! Hobo Tim
Hi Tim. I've added some trees and telegraph poles and still need to add road signs. Guardrails might be nice, but I'm not sure what's available out there. Beyond that, it will just be adding it to the layout and populating the road with some traffic and also possibly putting a couple of pieces of farm equipment to work in the field. My boss(es) just don't seem to understand that I've got model railroading to work on.:angry:
