I'll concur on the Australian conifers. I have some and they are excellent. I'm not sure why but I think it is the choice of the "branches" using natural hemp. It gives some variation in the tree whereas the commercial trees are all so uniform. Great job, Colonel! :thumbs_up:
I have been focusing more and more on getting the lower level sorted out so I haven't had a chance to try out your tree building method yet Paul. Anyway I have completed the subroad bed connection from Helix 1 to Helix 2 and now need to start laying track. Hmmm... Note to self, please tidy up the wiring. The track from Helix 1 runs along the wall and the return loop around the Helix crosses underneath. I plan to have an engine service area here The return loop then rises and joins the Helix mainline. The plan is to have flour mill and grain silos here. This is the exit point from Helix 2. I was pressed for room and needed to start the return loop rise on the Helix base. The area in the photo will be mostly out of sight. I took the pic from the "pop up" at the back of Helix 2. Another pic from the "pop up" looking down the Helix mainline. I'm not totally happy with the yard yet, but the Helix mainline and the return loop track can be layed while I figure out the yard details.
Ken , That is looking real good. And now you get to do the fun part. Change your mind every five minutes . Mike
Yep, that seems to happen alot on my layout, maybe not every five minutes but alot. Progress update: I have joined both Helii at the lower level and ran a train on a continuous loop up Helix 1 over the upper level and down Helix 2 along the new track on the lower level and back up Helix 1. A golden spike day of sorts. There were a few clitches where I had to do some minor woodwork to releave some tight squeezes. Much like "Another ATSF Admirer" had on his Helix build on the Duck River Sub. Some Pics: Running the high iron towards Helix 1 Climbing the Helix, it got a bit tight at the top and I had to raise the upper level baseboard 1/4" to get clearance and also saw the supports for the entrance track to lower the level there by 1/4" in order to clear the first cross over loop Emerging from the Helix onto the upper level Exiting Helix 2 onto the lower level. I now need to complete the return loops around the base of both Helii that lead to the lower level yard and industries.
Ken: From trains in boxes, tentative track plans, and experimenting with ballast in August 2007 to this less than 10 months later: VERY IMPRESSIVE!!:thumbs_up: Thank you for your excellent photo documentation of your journey...It has been inspirational and very informative. We're looking forward to continued progress reports.
Thanks for the kind words guys. I completed the loop track last night and did some testing found a couple of glitches that were causing derailments but I have sorted those out and can now run trains around the lower level loop. Some pics: The yard is almost sorted and will be the next project. Swinging out from behind Helix one heading for the mainline. Heading around the back of Helix two.
Ken, Can you post a few pics showing overall views of your layout ? You've done a great job!:thumbs_up::thumbs_up::thumbs_up::thumbs_up::thumbs_up:
Your wish is my command. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TETUZ32aM1M"]YouTube - Lower level loop[/ame]
Ken, I'm a little concerned about the tight radius and the S in this section, it may give you long term problems.
Thanks for the heads up Paul, at the momment trains seem to happy rolling through this section so I will leave alone in the meantime. However, I will most likely replace that section with a larger radius before I start scenicing that area. I have been busy laying track for the yard, some pics: The yard throat at Helix one. Looking back from Helix one to the main yard The Helix two end of the yard. I pushed the turnout and rail away so I could glue down the roadbed. I can assemble and park 25 car plus trains in this yard, so I am happy. I don't think that I will run trains with more than around 20 cars anyway.
!!!! OMG!!!!!! I don't know if I could ever build something as cool as that! Gosh... I just wish I had the money and the space to do it...
bachmannrider: It will happen, there is plenty of time to make a small layout, talk to your folks and negotiate a dedicated area to build a small layout. It's a good time to fiddle about with models while you are young. Glad you appreciate my efforts, here's a video trip up, down and around: [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNPkbVTmrgQ"]YouTube - N scale layout[/ame] I still have most of the rails on the top level covered waiting for more plaster work on the other two bridges and the river so it's not a complete trip, maybe next month?
The last few days I have done nothing on my layout but run trains. Even though there is so much that needs done, more plastering on the upper level, more track work on the lower level, wiring and soldering more feeders and well... the list just goes on. But wait a minute... oh yeah, that's right this is a hobby and you are supposed to enjoy it! This is a shot from the "pop up" at the back of Helix two. You get a good view of the sceniced area around the top of Helix one and the yard on the lower level. I am ruuning a trio of Atlas SD60's pulling a string of 22 cars. I had not run these locos for a while and when I added them to a consist and ran them they sounded terrible. A screeching sound that seemed to come from one or all of them depending on the speed. I removed the shells from them all and removed the trucks, then very carefully "painted" some light machine oil on the gears and motor bearings with an old paint brush. Then one at a time ran them around the lower level track in both directions and at different speeds to work the oil into the mechanism. Then finally, run them together and the result was magical, no awful noises, just smooth running. A shot of the bridges. That center track is part of the all important reversing loop and alows me to turn trains around and run them back the way they came. Also a good spot to have a train lay over while you run another up and around. I lifted up all the masking tape that had over the rails so that I can just run trains over the whole layout. And yes it's lots of fun. I am not sure how many trains I can handle running at the same time. I think two is all I will run at this time, one on each level. I just get too nervous if there is too much happening at the same time. Mostly I run just one train at a time. Even then I still manage to run turnouts the wrong way and derail the lead locos from time to time. Part of my wiring stategy is make the rails leading to the turnouts controllable so that trains appoaching from the wrong track are stopped before the hit the turnout. It's still on the "to do" list ok?
I love the first photo, showing the sceniced area. You're right, the idea is to have fun! :tb-cute: I never considered painting oil onto gear-trains. I always poured it on (far too much oil to boot) and watched the pretty droplet spray as the thoroughly soaked engine moved away. So I've learned something today, thanks. I know the "too much work" feeling, I've lifted out 1/4 of my staging deck to get at the bus wiring; just so I can fix the main deck... (looks around) oh, wait, this isn't my thread Keep up the 'work'; run the trains; and remember: the only thing better than running a train is running a train through scenery! :thumbs_up:
Great videos,Ken,I look forward to more videos and updates on your layout.It looks fantastic,great job.
Thanks guys, Tina my partner has complained that she can't see the trains on the upper level very well so I cut the facia down to the level of the scenery. Before there was about a 2" lip and now viewing is much improved. I did some more detail work on the area recently exposed, some pics. Some of the recent plantings still have white glue showing, also had some glue run down the facia
