in2tech, Thank you! I do work in a art related field, product design. My job has required me to do a lot of drawings over the last 33 years. Many of them for the toy industry. Scott
Joe, Regarding the incline to the bridge, someone on another site pointed out the same issue. I checked the rise/run and it's over 4% grade, even moving the switch section farther away. I also tried swapping the lumber yard siding with another interchange off to the right side, but the grades are still above 4%. So I will have to look at another solution. Scott
I have settled on this final version. It keeps the layout from being cluttered, still provides a interchange, and I can put a the bridge on the interchange. Next up, bench work (although this layout will not be a stand alone). Scott
Started the bench work this week. I have never done this before, so constructive criticism is welcome. I am using whatever I have around. So for the frame I'm using 3/4 pine, a ledge cut along the inside edge to hold the plywood base flush to the sides. joint will be rabbited with exposed bolt heads and washers, ie box car ends. I will be putting two cross supports inside. Since this will be all manual switches, I am going to put the control panel on the front side. Not sure what that will look like yet. Scott
Looks great Scott. I used 3/4 inch pine for the L-Girder benchwork on my N scale layout, using drywall screws to attach the pieces together. Then covered with 1/8 inch Masonite fascia using #6 flush head screws about 6 inches apart and painted it forest green. The base of my 11 modules is 3/4 inch Birch plywood with a 1/2 inch blue insulation foam and 1 inch pink foam to model below track level scenery. Blue foam acts as a warning track when carving with a keyhole saw. Joe Boston Mountains Sub Division.
Scott: Last night, I had a dream about your project. Woke-up with it being a stand-up “tall” Open-face Box (sitting on top of Filing cabinets) It had LED lighting inside its roof. Irregular clouds (Made From Cloth or something) disguised the lights. Everything was so cool. ...I must have gotten the basic idea from European layouts. Anyway, your drawing inspired me!
Joe, Thanks Like your layout. I wish I had a room. Commodore, Wow, I'm flattered my layout made it into your subconscious! Thanks
You’re welcome! The box in my dream didn’t take up any floor space... it was on top of some kind of drawers. It was actually taller than wide. I spent lots of time being captivated. Seems like there was a mountain on the back wall that only came into the space for a tunnel portal on each side. ...Keep us posted...on what develops.
Okay, Here is my latest progress. I was derailed by deferred molding work and an uncooperative camera. I cut the holes to lighten the frame and to run controls for manual turnouts. I am thinking of using exposed hardware to fasten the frame corners. I want to use square nuts, bolts and fender washers to simulate fasteners on rolling stock. What do you guys think?
You mean use nut bolt washer relief on the front of your layout as a design element? I think it would look great. The railroads often painted them black prior to the 1950's, which served double duty of protecting them from rust and acting as a sort of locktite. just like on wood cabooses. From the 50's onwards the railroads often just painted everything in the same body color to save time and money on painting costs. One thing to keep in mind. People's clothes tend to snag on stuff, especially if it is something that is waist high. Fat guys like me will pull the whole layout down, if my belt loop gets snagged trying to squeeze by.
Rob, Thanks for the input. Like your new avatar by the way. They probably will be on the sides and counter bored. Scott
Okay, A little are progress. I said earlier in this thread that I wanted to use manual switches. I am basing my switch controls on the ground throw switch. They will be lined up along an axis in front. I am going to mount them on a plate and connect them via rod or cable to gravity switches that Sumner (here on the Train Board) has modeled up. I will make a connection for a controller and openings for switches to isolate sidings. Scott
