Mopac layout

MOPMAN Feb 28, 2006

  1. MOPMAN

    MOPMAN TrainBoard Member

    1,429
    1
    23
    Well I finally got the spurs done on the east end of Van Buren [​IMG] This will complete the trackage on this side of the backdrop. Now all thats left are the two tracks to the grain elevator on the opposite side and Van Buren will be complete as far as trackwork. [​IMG]
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 25, 2006
  2. friscobob

    friscobob Staff Member

    10,534
    707
    129
    Nicely done! Are you including the Frisco crossing diamond as well as the bluffs along the north side of the tracks (where they follow the Arkansas River)? ALso, any of the industries west of the yard?

    I'd like to see more pics if you have 'em- I haven't been back to Van Buren yard for quite a while now..........
     
  3. MOPMAN

    MOPMAN TrainBoard Member

    1,429
    1
    23
    Thanks Bob. This is the west end. Sorry about the lighting as I have not had time to install the lighting valance. I couldn't recreate Van Buren track for track but I hope the feeling is there. You can't see the diamond for the shadows but its there. The locos are on the live Frisco interchange. I am in the process of building the cardboard mockup of a refrigerated storage whse. The other two tracks will be the rip and caboose tracks. [​IMG]

    [ February 28, 2006, 04:15 PM: Message edited by: MOPMAN ]
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 25, 2006
  4. StickyMonk

    StickyMonk TrainBoard Member

    1,941
    129
    36
    <font color="336633">Nicely done, must be nice being able to model a real location.
     
  5. Colonel

    Colonel Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

    8,721
    1,109
    119
    Jim,
    Looking great what locos do you have? As you know I'm an N sclaer but do have a HO GP35 and SD40-2 awaiting detailing and painting jenks blue.

    Do you have a pic of your track design to post?
     
  6. MOPMAN

    MOPMAN TrainBoard Member

    1,429
    1
    23
    Thanks Matt. It is fun to try and simulate features on a real line. I must admit that I have had to use modelers license (yes mine is current :D ) to inhance switching since I enjoy operation.

    Thanks Paul. I have a 40-2 and U30C detailed while building a previous layout. Unfortunatly we had to move and everything was packed for some time. Now that I have space to work again, I still have 2 more 40-2's and U30C's, 2 GP38-2's, GP35, U23B & B23-7 still to detail and paint or repaint. Since I model 1975-1976 I will need to add GP7/9's and GP18's to the rooster.

    I don't have a fully drawn plan. I did a scale drawing of the benchwork to check aisle width and clearance for a dropdown attic entrance. The rest I fit as needed. I have room for a minimum 36" radius with 40"+ being common.

    Bob: Here is a closeup I shot last night of the diamond. Again sorry for the lighting. The line into Ft. Smith is a dummy track while the track to the far right is the live interchange. This scene will change greatly once scenery and structures are added. [​IMG]

    [ March 01, 2006, 08:39 AM: Message edited by: MOPMAN ]
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 25, 2006
  7. Joseph

    Joseph TrainBoard Supporter

    196
    0
    14
    Hi Jim, nice railimages, clean,neat and tidy. Can I, ( a newby ), ask about the track. The ties are painted i assume but they look wider and more of them than my Atlas track. Or is it just these old eyes. Thanks
     
  8. MOPMAN

    MOPMAN TrainBoard Member

    1,429
    1
    23
    Thanks for the complement

    The ties are Kapler lumber 7"x9"x8-1/2' scale.
    I lay them in a tie jig that is just over 3' long, lay masking tape over the top then glue them to cork roadbed. I use the same jig to layout and cut the switch ties. The rail is code 83 on the mainline and code 70 in the yard and sidings spiked every few ties. When that is complete I overspray the track with loco black and hand paint the rail with rail brown. Right now I am in the process of painting the track you see in the photos so I can start ballasting.
     
  9. Joseph

    Joseph TrainBoard Supporter

    196
    0
    14
    Thanks Jim, looking forward to more pics.
     
  10. friscobob

    friscobob Staff Member

    10,534
    707
    129
    I like the layout of the west end. If you had more room, you could almost put in the interchange track that came off the Frisco just north of the diamond, then went right and along the MP main. However, I can understand space constraints.

    It may be neat to have a Frisco GP7 sitting on the tracks as if waiting for the signal to cross over the diamond to get to Ft. Smith. Just using an old Athearn "wide-body" blue-box GP7 dummy would work, as you wouldn't even have to have it powered.

    I hope to be back in that area about a month from now en route to home, and will stop to shoot Borg and A&M action.

    Well done!!!
     
  11. MOPMAN

    MOPMAN TrainBoard Member

    1,429
    1
    23
    Bob: Thanks for the suggestion. That idea did cross my mind.

    A couple of us are going up there during spring break for day trip. I hope to get some good reference photos for future structures. [​IMG] If I see any A&M I'll shoot it to. However since I won't have my gun I can't shoot any UP. :D

    Do you know if there was a tower at the interlocker prior to the UP takeover? I have seen current photos and there isn't one. I was planning on one but not sure of the position or if it ever existed. [​IMG] But then again I might have to pull out my modelers license. [​IMG]
     
  12. friscobob

    friscobob Staff Member

    10,534
    707
    129
    From about 1979 on, there was no tower. Any earlier than that I couldn't say, but one source for this info could be the MOPAC group at Yahoo.
     
  13. MOPMAN

    MOPMAN TrainBoard Member

    1,429
    1
    23
    Thanks Bob. It appears there never was one from photos I saw on the yahoo site. I'll have to think about that for a while. I may still pull out my modelers license.
     
  14. MOPMAN

    MOPMAN TrainBoard Member

    1,429
    1
    23
    Here's the latest construction update

    Scenery base started in Alma for the scrapyard spur
    [​IMG]

    Ozark looking west - note reference photo for scenery on the benchwork
    [​IMG]

    Ozark looking east
    [​IMG]

    The front and rear uprights were the same measurments but the horizontal pieces had to be cut one at a time thereby taking quite a bit of time to construct. The river will be on the front side of the tracks.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 25, 2006
  15. StickyMonk

    StickyMonk TrainBoard Member

    1,941
    129
    36
    <font color="336633">Looking good so far, do you have a track plan of the layout???
     
  16. verse2damax

    verse2damax TrainBoard Supporter

    1,079
    23
    27
    This is nice work MOPMAN.

    I'm currently building my first HO layout, I'm really a n scaler but I have so much good stuff in HO and I can't stand seeing them confined to a shelf.

    My layout is a shelf layout looping above my head in my 10' x 15' office. I made it wide enough for three tracks, 8". It will feature 3 industries (logging, oil refinery and coal mining).

    Looking at stage that you're at with your layout reminds me of where I am with mine. I've just finished putting down the cork bed for the two inner loops. The outer loop is complete with trackage and awaiting the completion of the inner tracks, then I can start the scenery.

    Do you plan to run a camera train on your layout?

    I'm currently making provisions for such on mine, you know the capacitor and what not story.

    I'm looking forward to seeing the progress of your layout to the end and if you're interested I'll post pics of mine.
     
  17. MOPMAN

    MOPMAN TrainBoard Member

    1,429
    1
    23
    Matt I don't have a formal plan as such. I need to do that for the forums benefit.

    Richard, pics of layouts are always welcome on the board. Thank you both for your comments.
     
  18. friscobob

    friscobob Staff Member

    10,534
    707
    129
    On my pass thru Van Buren, I did get two A&M C420s parked under the US64 bridge. They were being used for interchange/switching power, as well as switching the Arkhola sand plant (see my pics in the Class III forum).

    As for the yard, the depor is gone, and the ready track was slug-infested (well OK, road slug-infested):
    [​IMG]

    This was spliced between two GP40-2s.
     
  19. friscobob

    friscobob Staff Member

    10,534
    707
    129
  20. MOPMAN

    MOPMAN TrainBoard Member

    1,429
    1
    23
    Thanks for the link. I have seen that site before but forgot to bookmark it. ( I've since remedied that problem) I have to agree that no interlocking tower ever existed. I am still trying to find a picture of the yard office prior to the one that is on the property now. When I was there in 04 I didn't get a picture (my fault) as we were too busy chasing a damn steam engine [​IMG]
     

Share This Page