It seems every time I decide to just take a break, take a step back, I find myself doing something else. A wild guess is it's my stress reliever. Which would explain the rapid rate of things around here -_- Today I got the upper deck framework 75% done. I've found this to be an enjoyable experience because it has started to 'put a lid' on the bottom level, as it were. Perspective and all that jazz. In other news: Move is planned for the start of august. I have until then to: Finish top level benchwork, roadbed, and track (plus electrical work) Get the backdrops for both levels up (and preferably painted) Build and install the top level light canopy (this will be a part of the top level benchwork=all one structure) Finish the entire plaster shell Install l.e.d. strip lighting in the bottom of the top level to light the bottom level Finish the plaster shell (top and bottom levels) Finish all electrical (Including terminal strips to easily connect and disconnect the two levels, my frog polarity switches, lighting, etc) 4 Months to go (No Pressure) In other other news: Found a great deal on ebay for the bulk package of supertrees armatures. So I bought two boxes, which was probably a really dumb idea, because now I have 600+ trees to make, and no decent excuse not to. I think I'll worry about those post move >_< Cheers!
The curse (one of at least) of dimensional lumber. The smaller you go, the crappier the quality gets. I would've loved to have used 2x2's as the 'big stuff' but it simply wasn't plausible. Also, given this layer needs to be moved as its own entity, I figure (as always) that over-engineering isn't so much of a bad thing. So long as it works!
It works! Next step, short trains, and after that big trains Of course this is a temporary track setup, but the important thing is IT WORKS!!! :-D Note the other connection to the helix in the bottom left hand corner. The plan is for that track to disappear behind the buildings it currently sits behind, and some thick trees. So far so good!
I'm a little bit confused and amazed at the same time. Great job so far though, how long do you think it will be until you will have permanent track on the upper deck?
Firstly, thank you Secondly, is your confusion linked to how completely insane this whole thing is? Because I know mine is >.< And, lastly, the workflow is as follows: Test helix/linkup to death. Wrap helix with backdrop, and secure the whole thing to the lower deck. Create match-up points (think module ends) between the helix (lower level) and the upper level. This will involve some latches to keep everything in place, but more on that later. I'm hoping to have this done by the end of April. So when all that is done, I'll get to the roadbed, mainline track, then yard, etc. Fingers crossed to have a whole mainline loop done by mid to late May. Of course, saying that, I'm relying on atlas C55 #10R turnouts to magically appear sooner rather than later...
Using some rough guesswork, and a weight of 1.3lbs per linear foot of 2x4 (which I believe to be a touch overestimated given that a 2x4 isn't actually 2"x4") the low end is 250, the high end is 350, with everything said and done, which includes the legs and possible upper deck light canopy. No one piece weighs more than 175, which is still less than a 'basic' upright piano, which is good given that I'm planning on using piano movers.
Well, make sure you post up a video as soon as you get trains running the entire layout! I'd like to see it!
Taylor: "You'd better find a place to put these" *stern voice* Apparently I had underestimated the size of the supertrees boxes... And apparently a rodent and/or something tasty came in them... Sorry for the shoddy camera-phone quality -_- But really, who ever thought 1000 N scale supertrees would take up so much space? Not me apparently *sigh*
Good news, bad news, and as always, other news So helix testing wrapped up its first week, during which time I learned the following: The helix sections (which are quarter turns) have a significant amount of sag in them Despite this, train running has been mostly incident free. Some random uncouplings, but mostly all good. Despite everything being level at the base, some of the helix has no gradient, some has 4%. And lastly, No matter how well I get things running, I don't think I will ever be comfortable sealing the helix off. I can't access it from inside because the opening is too narrow, and I won't be able to access it from the outside for obvious reasons. This has led to the executive decision that the helix will be relocated to its own detachable module. This module will have a footprint of roughly 3' x 4'6" and will simply plug into the main layout-both top and bottom levels of course. The helix will be hidden by a curtain, and the top level will be done up to match the rest of the layout. This will also eliminate the issue of aligning hidden tracks in tight places. All in all, I'm very happy. In other news, the top level comes off very easily. Took five minutes to clean all the junk off, and then about one to move it into the sunroom. Everything being on wheels made the process a heck of a lot easier. Simply roll the layout off the wall, and voila! Access to all four sides. Of course all this plan changing means lots more work than originally planned, so this thread might start to get a bit busy. Fingers crossed it's all good progress updates...
When you built the helix you didn't use all the supports provided by Ashlin . You used 4 but 8 are required. That's why it sags.
He only sent me 4 hboy: I thought it odd that yours had the full 8, but I just put it down to you getting a larger diameter helix???
So, decided not to update until I knew exactly what was going on in my model railroads life Things had just gotten to... uncertain. Happy to say that there is now a rock solid plan in place. GF's sister is moving in the beginning of July-I am being moved to the sunroom. (Oddly enough she's really worried that she's 'stealing my space' and that I won't be happy. Very considerate girl lol). However, moving to the sunroom has a major consequence: given my wish to locate the helix externally, moving to the sunroom is forcing my hand. That is to say, my double deck dream is now a single level pursuit. As such, there have been some changes. First there was a change, then another change, then half a change back to the first change, then another change, then changed back... you get the idea. I'm sure you've all been there >_< Thus: In short, where the helix was going to be there is now a half loop that comes out of a tunnel on the river side, which then connects to the bridge line. Here's an updated track plan: In other news: I had no idea that pieces of foam could be screwed together :-S Has proven very useful.
Quick update today. Spent the last few days working with the skeleton for my mine end mountain, including some of the intricacies around tunnel 1, and today broke out the plaster and paper towels. Very messy. The whole section is still removable, which it needs to be as I still have a lot of work to do on the tunnel interiors, including a widening job, and lots of aluminum foil. For some reason I'm feeling really pedantic about my tunnel interiors. I want it so that if you get down to eye level, all you can see is rock lined tunnel, as opposed to some rock lining, and then layout interior. Anything to make my life more difficult. Also of note, the old mine section is now fully secured to the blue framework, as evidenced by the paper towel overlap Anyway, Pictures: In other news, I have absolutely no idea where my huge roll of (unused) plaster cloth has gotten to... Cheers!
So guessed what happened today... It all started with yesterday, when I cleaned the living room-which promptly made the train room even messier then seemingly possible. So today, instead of studying, I decided to tidy up the train room. Which naturally, meant that I began tidying the sun room. And then tidying the sun room became emptying the sun room. And having done that, I built this: Which is on wheels, which look like this: Having done that, I then went back to cleaning the train room, which led to emptying the train room, which led to the most wonderful girlfriend ever and I doing this: And then, just to top that, we did this: And then this: And finally, put it all together again, so it now looks like this: TA-DA!
Did some track painting and ballasting the last couple nights and days. Thought I'd take some 'rail-fanning' pictures to show how things are progressing Cheers!
