Today I finally started bench work for my first layout. I only got one section 32" x 7'2" done so far but will continue on. I'm using L girder construction to make things easy to change if necessary. I'm going to be loosely modeling the PRR of the 30'-40's. I purchased my first steam locomotive, a Kato Heavy Mikado 2-8-2 for my primary freight hauler for the time being. Though I can't seem to nail down the details, my plans are to include coal, industry, horseshoe curve, some sense of the Rockville bridge and who knows what else I will think up. My space is somewhat limited as my layout will be in a 15 foot camper. I do plan on filling most of the space other than a walkway down the middle and a small section for a work bench. My spray booth will be built under the benchwork and vented outside. After I got the section of bench built I couldn't wait to throw a piece of plywood on top and put together my unitrack oval and try out the Mikado. Man, she's a smooth running and quiet locomotive. I'm in love already and certainly don't regret buying it now. As soon as my magnifyer gets here I will attempt to get the details put on. I need better lighting and something better than my phone camera but you get the idea. I'm looking forward to keeping a log of my build here and will update as I make progress. Thanks for looking and comments and suggestions are always welcome. -Denis-
I'll enjoy watching your build. My layouts have been modest in size, but I've always worked in a small "Muleshoe Curve" as a sort of Horseshoe Curve substitute. As you know, the PRR did indeed have a real Muleshoe Curve between Duncansville and Gallitzin on it's "Port Road" (Allegheny Portage Railroad) right-of-way which provided a secondary route up the east slope. I think the line was torn up in the mid-1980s and portions of US-22 placed upon it.
This will be an interesting build to see. The hardest part of the details on that Kato USRA heavy are the handrailing stanchions. I had the most success by using an average sized pair of needle nosed pliers. Take care not to grip them too hard, or either you will launch them or pinch them and ruin them. Further, take care to grip them with sufficient push not to drop them. I had no luck with the tweezers, even those that came with it. Either I launched them or l ost the stanchions. Micro-trains makes a kit specifically for that locomotive. I recommend it. Be sure to get the traction tire conversion as well, as it is an anemic puller without it. The conversion is not difficult. In addition, once you do the traction tire conversion, put a little weight into the tender. The tender shell is a friction fit, so it comes off the chassis easily. This helps the electrical contact. This thing is heavily dependent on the tender for electrical contact. When dealing with N scale steam, always keep in mind Miranda's Maxim as explained by ke: "The poor performance of many N scale steam locomotives is almost always directly attributable to poor electrical contact". The Kato USRA heavy 2-8-2 is a good locomotive. It runs well and will pull well, once you make the modifications. GHQ does sell a kit for this one that converts it to a Penn 2-8-2. If you want passenger power, B-mann sells a K-4 Pacific. I do not have one, so, I do not know how well it runs, but, B-mann has improved markedly over the years.
Thank you for the info, I wasn't aware that any aftermarket parts were available so now I will search.
Well, a busy weekend again but I did manage to get a second section of benchwork buily. 32"wide and 7 feet long. It is right over the couch and I decided to leave the couch to make wiring turnouts easier. This section will be my switching yard so if I need a little nap while I'm wiring, I'll be in the right place. And once again my picture is sideways , but you get the idea. I've been trying to design a yard on Anyrail 6 and apparently I'm not smart enough lol so I guess I'm going to have to do it the old fashioned way. I can't decide what to do for the yard since all of the Pennsey yards are way too big for me to model. I think I'm going to research and just go with something that will work and just throw in some PRR details. I'm waiting for an order from Fast tracks to get started building some turnouts, I've ordered a few sections of Atlas code 55 flex track and also bought a few used turnouts on fleabay. When everything is here I will get started while I'm waiting for more lumber for benchwork. I want to go 32" wide all around except by my workbench (table) and seat where I am planning just wide enough for a four track mainline. I'm thinking and opening bridge across the door so I can raise it to go in and out (again just wide enough for the mainline). This will elave me a meer 30" aisle, but I think I can make that work. I was lucky enough to find the traction wheels for my Mikado, apparently they are quite scarce now. I cannot source the L1 conversion kit but I will look harder when funds aren't so tight. Another bit of fun, I am in the process of designing and 3d printing a turntable and when I finish and can get some measurements, I think I will design a round house. Thats whats going on for now, time and money are tight but I'm not giving up.
This will be fun to watch as you go! My layout is in a 10x50 trailer house. It has yet to be relocated to my new property, but being portable is the beauty of it! Keep the pics coming.
Today I started building some turnouts. Turns out (haha, see what I did there...) its not as simple as I thought. The first one took me 3 or 4 hours to figure out the basic layout and all. The second 2 took about an hour. Only about 22 more to go for now lol. I'm waiting to get some plywood so I can start laying out my track to get a loop made to run a train on. I also need to order some more flex track, but things are moving along slowly. I definitely need to clean up my solder work but I've had to shuffle and re shuffle the rails so much to get the clearances but the trucks do seem to roll through pretty well. I will come back with the dremel later and isolate the rails. The points and frog are my biggest challenge right now. I'm working on some sort of placement jig I can 3d print to help locate that and then I think the rest will go more smoothly. Thanks for looking.
