Thanks for the boost folks. I look at the layout and it has so many flaws but its just me. Other folks have seen the layout and its the best thing since Swiss cheese. I have the back right piece of the layout uncovered and i had a idea as to how i wanted the tunnel opening to be but it don't fit so i am holding off doing anything more till i can figure out how to lift out that piece or a piece of it anyway. I have the trestle to fix too. That layout isn't easy to lift so it takes Deb and I to do that.I want to finish that part of the layout as once i place the new piece in place, I won't have any access to that part of the layout but for the front side. It will be fun for someone to remove this layout once i die because it will be one piece all the way across the room. 12 foot of layout and 3 feet wide will be a lot of fun getting it out of that side of wall and floor.The room is 12 foot 2 inches long and 9 foot wide. Good luck there! hehe! Anyway i am starting to have pain in my thumbs so i am getting off this thing and rest the hands.
dr said i could work on the layout for light work. The hardest part was taking the track off in the tunnel and also the trestle. the trackwork is now corrected and is gluing in place. it will need around 24 hours to dry real strong. Then i can repair the scenery. I pulled all the track in the tunnel and got part of the new with turnouts all in place. I stopped there before i hurt myself My rh thumb was starting to throb, so i quit for the day. It felt good working on the layout again. anyway i will see how my hand feels and if i can see if the solder gun will fire up. Its dying on me and with me even driving right by the Harbor Freight i forget to stop in and get another. Shots of the fun below. I hope my hand feels good tomorrow, Smoke
Thanks folks! Yepper I am looking forward to running a train on it to make sure it is set correct. After dinner i ran my first crossover in the tunnel and i called it an evening. I don't want to over work the thumbs but I am looking forward to getting some of the trackwork finished. After i finish the scenery at the trestle i can move the board back into place and start the work for the last addition for the coal mine. Looking forward to that. Shots below, Smoke
Great stuff Smokey! Glad to see and hear you are able to get back at the layout a bit more. Like the progress. Am curious, in of the tunnel pics, the clearance over the inside curve looks really low. Is just the pic or is it that tight?
I ran a engine around the first runaround and it clears really good. There was one place that was a bit tight and i got the saw out and took about 1/2 inch off to clear the train. I have to be careful as i almost cut through the pond on the top side. I wasn't sure till i ran a engine around that i was in the good. I took one shot so you can see how much clearance it really has
I went to the VA this morning on base and things are looking better but for my hands. Got home and i finished the scenery around the repair of the track at the trestle. Letting my hands calm down we had winds over 30 mph and rain on and off all day. makes for a tiring day when you are not used to it anymore. The repairs i had done to the truck last month are solid. Firestone did a good job on repairs and Discount tire did a good job as well. Only thing i need to do is get a new tire on my spare wheel so i have a new spare. I got the tire ordered and they have my wheel. The old tire had good tread but is over 8 years old so its time for a new tire. The ones on the ground are 4 years. For a 34 year old truck its really been a good truck! Anyway i have a couple of shots of the finished trestle. Ya all have a good day, Smoke
I always figure if my trains run smooth and don't give me any problems I am gonna live with my scenery even if it seems sub par from my perspective.
THIS! If the trains don't run smoothly, pretty scenery isn't gonna matter much. While there's much more to smooth-running trackwork, ultra-reliable Unitrack does make it a lot easier. The broad choice of Unitrack curve radii allows easements of sorts, even in sectional track. Rather than use a constant radius curve, replace mid-curve section(s) with shorter radii, and curve ends with longer radii, to ease the transitions to straight track.
thanks folks. The outer track in the big tunnel isn't in place and I am having a bit of a issue with that one. I have a piece of Atlas flex track i am going to use to get the right angle i need. Not planning to get a bunch of different angle track just to not use any or only one piece. its in the tunnel where it can't be seen very well.
I have been really busy and had to tale a break and let my hands calm down some. I got my new board laid down and in place. I need to paint the board brown and check for how much clearance i need for the coal mine. Also there is a track that runs back on the back side of the new board and comes around to the mine track. I have lots of pictures showing the fun i had. It don't look to bad. I took the shots when i had painted the pink to brown. it was still wet and has a shine to it. It drys flat. I need to get more paint. Need more brown and some grey for the mountain itself. having fun a hour at a time. laters
Sorry Something went wrong when i started uploading pictures. Not sure if its my end or the site. Will try this again and see if the post will go
Well..got bad news.. I took a fall yesterday and broke my leg in 3 pieces.I can't walk on this foot as it don't have the shoe tread on the bottom of the cast. Oh, it is a plaster cast. This will put me back a few weeks if i don't have any issues with it. Well, there it is. What caused it was two things, one my oxygen tank was empty and it was a new tank yesterday and the other thing my blood sugars dropped to 33. It shouldn't go below 70 so i will do something in a few weeks. This isn't a walking cast so moving around is not fun. I guess laters till i can get to where i can do something to the layout. Laters folks
I’m sorry to hear this, Smoke. You are going through a very tough time. I’ll be praying for you for a speedy recovery and return to good health. God bless.
I hate to hit "Like" on a post like that, but you get the idea. Prayers and well-wishes in route for your swift and compete recovery. Looks like you'll have more online time though, so we can at least share your charming wit!
