Chris the layout is looking really good. I find it hard to believe that you were able to fit a helix in there, that's Awesome! Who says you cannot have a nice layout in an apartment, right? Keep up the progress, looking forward to some more photos and videos. Have a good one.
So basically you're going to be playing Tetris with a train table, your tools, and your tushy :question: (And why can't the "guest" have the lovely and cheerful sunroom??) Project looks good! What's the projected railhead height of the upper deck? And for how many minutes does the train disappear between decks? (The goal, of course, is just enough time to use the bathroom, grab another beer from the fridge, and wipe the Cheezie-Poof dust off yr fingers) Rock on!
Thank you all for the kind words and encouragement. MC: Projected rail height is 58" max, 56" min on the upper deck. As for the time between levels, it's a rough guess at between 2 & 3 minutes, but that could be totally wrong. I'll get a better idea once I get the helix hooked up and can get into the more thorough testing of things. Fingers crossed I'll have just enough time to work my way through that little list The other benefit being I can have two trains chasing each other with a semi realistic gap between them, and still sit back and just watch them go around and around and around. As for the guest... It's the wonderful GF's wonderful sister. I didn't stand a chance. Plus the sunroom has no fan, no AC vent (have to leave door open 24/7) and no cable. I'll make it work though. The room has the typical outside storage closet, which I have plans to claim, and play Tetris with all my tools in there. In other news, I'm going to make a work bench on slides that will fit under the river side of the layout. Gotta make the most out of my 4X8 footprint.
A few minor updates to report. Firstly, bought the drawer slides for my workbench. Also bought a bag of sculptamold (never used this before, looking forward to it), 5lbs of plaster cloth, a tripod adapter for my cell phone (smoother videos from here on out) and a nice new purse for T-the theory being, big box of expensive goodies arrives for me, she goes "What's that?" (disapprovingly so) and I go "Your brand new purse" and then run away with my goodies while she recovers from shock. I think it's a good strategy (for the bigger orders) Anyway secondly to that, there have been a few layout changes. I'll let the pictures do the talking: I'm building the scenery base because before I break out the saws again (which is going to have to happen soon) I have to pack all the trains away (again) and this is something that makes me sad, and thus will put off for as long as possible. In other news, there is no other news (at least not that I can remember).
Looking good! I like the idea of using foam ribs to shape the hills. I might just have to borrow that one
Yes, the foam wedges and newspaper is very clever and lightweight! It's coming together very nicely. Are you going to add colour and texture before breaking out the saws?
Lol, thanks guys, but just so we're clear, that is in no way my idea. I've seen at least two other people on this forum alone using this method. Still though, very good method indeed. That and it turned out better than expected-the newspaper held its form very well with only the lateral compression acting on it. It's also given me a nice undulating surface I doubt I would've gotten from a purely foam base... which means I probably have to rough up the foam I'm using in the traditional fashion. Thankfully I have just the tools for that job
Got a package in the mail yesterday-which of course went straight to the PO because I was at work, so today I went and picked it up. In it was my CVMW 150' Pratt Truss bridge. Being spring break, and actually having a day off (which should have been filled with HW, but oh well) I decided to make a go of it. I'm not quite sure what I was hoping for when I went into it, but I think it came out better than expected (which unfortunately isn't saying much). It will remain freestanding when the layout is finished, so it leaves the possibility of buying and building a new one (that will turn out better due to the experience). As of right now this is probably the most complicated (again, not saying much) kit I've had a crack at, so the fact that it's usable is probably a bonus! (Yes, my workbench right now is a cutting mat) My workshop gets crowded sometimes Some paint and 100 years of aging and we'll be in business. In other news: I'm sick of not having a proper work bench with good lighting. My drawer slides arrive tomorrow, and between that and today's experience, I'm ready to pack the trains away and break out the saw. Watch this space.
Hi Chris, As the others have said, it is looking good. Every time I see this thread's name in the list of New Posts I think of the "Loops" that the Clinchfield (now CSX) has in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. I visited them many times during my 6 years living in NC. There is one section of the loops it is reported that a Conductor jumped off of the caboose and ran down the hill side and climbed onto the loco as it passed by. True or not it makes for an interesting story. Gary
Danger zone eliminated: All that's left is a table top, and some deadbolts to lock it in place when I'm working. Very pleased with the results
I'd love a table saw even more, then I could use something other than dimensional lumber lol. The downsides of apartment life...
That drawer / desk will be groovy! Good thing the layout is so heavy to support your work I don't have a tablesaw either (would love one! would make things sooooooooo much easier) I just clamp both the board and a guide to a cheap 20"x48" folding table from target and then have at it with a circular saw. Some cuts work better than others, but at least everything isn't made out of 2"x4"s I did pop for the adjustible mitre/chop saw: Which helps SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much! (and you could use on your sunporch) Anyway, very cool that you're getting your layout & benchwork ready for the "big move" into the sunroom. Anything to help keep the trains running!
Funny, I had thought vaguely about the circular saw approach. I can't remember why the idea didn't develop into anything more-perhaps due to the space constraints and cost constraints. If I remember correctly I could only afford the miter or the table/circular/everything else that I'd need to go with the circular, and the miter had more long term pros. Incidentally it's the same one as yours
It's Alive!!! Today the GF's sister and father are coming over to discuss some interesting things. The short version: it looks like the four of us are going to pool our resources and rent a house (hooray!) which means the layout is up for a big move come summer, instead of just to the sunroom. I'll keep you updated as I get updated Anyway, due to there visit I've been ordered to clean up the trainroom (for clean & easy access to the guest bathroom). Knowing this I went ahead and knocked out one final 'big' project. Observe: Step one: raise legs off the ground Step two: remove horizontal internal leg braces (from halfway up leg), attach cheaply made, just good enough Chinese castor, insert back in-between legs (wheel buried in carpet, legs off carpet), clamp, screw, remove spacers and huzzah! It moves!!! Granted not willingly, but it goes back and forth none-the-less. Also, another smaller project (which ironically took longer than the big project): My desk now has a bits/tools/styrene-scaps drawer! And lastly, got some more plaster shell in: You can't see it here, but one of my old rocks is now firmly set in place right before the bridge abutment. Big milestone In other news: Anybody know a good piano mover in the Tampa Bay area? >_< Oh, and, I finally have cable in the trainroom, after 8 months of living here!
Man that's a lot of progress since I last looked! Looking good! Moving that thing is going to be a fun adventure, but maybe you'll end up with a bit more space? The slide in workbench is a neat idea, t'boot.
