Well i'm going to have roads too, my friend used for his layout a road system kit from woodland scenics theres paving tape wich is 1/4'' high and then you put in smooth-it (also by W. Scenics) in the area and then dry you take the tape off and apply proper paint to match asphalt or concrete. Here are the part numbers: Paving tape ST1455 Smooth-it (plaster material) ST1452 Top coat (its actually paint): Asphalt ST1453 Concrete ST1454 hope i helped
First AMI, you can lay AMI directly on the foam. Asphalt - you could try the Woodland Scenic asphalt roads. My progress report: What I am working on isn't very dramatic or even interesting at the moment. I have found some wood is turned (Lathe) in interesting shapes that I will use for my nolix area. However, since they were used in theatre, they are covered in many layers of paint. I have been stripping one of the two legs this past week and using wood fill where necessary. This coming week more of this boring project, but once both legs are done, I put in the perimeter I have formed for the nolix and that will be dramatic.
Well, I'm happily in my second week here at the house. The first layout is coming together nicely... but I won't take pics until the room is cleaned up. Foam base is down, and the two main ovals are corked and ready for laying the flex track! Nothing spectacular to start with, but after reading all the posts I decided to start with something nice and "completeable" before going larger. Two ovals on a 3x6 base, 20" and 18" radiuses with easements in and out, including a cross over point on each side. If I get really brave, I'll add a short rise and climb loop in the middle... as long as it doesn't "busy up" the layout too much! Oh yes, I discovered that the "foam safe" hot melt glue from Home Depot wasn't foam safe... although it does appear one way to make a nice gooey lake though!
Ah, success is sweet. I had to do a little revision to my original plan, but I made 2 kids very happy this evening. I used hot glue to put down some more of the cork roadbed, it dries alot faster than the liquid nails, but it worked really nice and didn't put off the odor. I put in a small oval (30" radius) in order to get some trains moving. It was getting difficult to keep telling my son that I was making head way without him seeing trains moving. So presto, now I have moving trains and he and my daughter can run the trains on the oval while I continue to work on more of the roadbed. Well, I guess I have one of my goals accomplished. And to see the trains rolling gives me even more incentive to keep going. I love this stuff. Rick, I recommend you extend the party! Jeff
I'm changing my goal for this week. I won't have much time to spend working on the layout this week, but I want to do the following: - Get remaining plywood screwed down to benchwork. - Replace current 2x4 legs on the main part of the layout with different legs that have casters on the bottom. While working on the layout last night, I discovered it to be nearly impossible for one person to move without it being really hard on the legs. I need to make it roll. - Regarding lighting, I researched a little bit last night by installing some 19W florescent "daylight" bulbs into the light fixtures in the garage. It was supposed to be equivalent to a 75 watt incandescent, but it was nowhere close. I was very disappointed with the little bit of light the florescent put out (especially for $8 per bulb). I want to research my lighting options some more if I have time. [ 28. January 2004, 18:57: Message edited by: Hoss ]
Hoss, I'm going to guess that you'll need four 40-watters at a minimum. When I built my house, the electrician ignored my specs and put in two in my workshop. It was only after I doubled them up that I got enough light to see. In the train room, I have about 1200 watts of halogens, figuring they'd let me shoot under "ambient" light. Hah! I still have to drag out 2000 more watts of photofloods to get anything decent. Pete
Pete, I'm thinking of doing something along the lines of what is shown in the picture below. I was thinking of using the GE "Reveal" lights as that is what I have in my house and they put off a good, white light. I figure 75W or 100W bulbs spaced at either 16" or 24", approximately 24" to 30" above the layout would shed some pretty good light on everything. I would have the layout lights on a dimmer switch. In the aisle (3'x7'), I would probably have two fixtures. I'd put the two $8 florescent "daylight" screw in bulbs I bought yesterday in them (more so they wouldn't go to waste than anything else....they wouldn't really be necessary). That should give me plenty of lighting, all at a cost significantly cheaper than buying florescent light fixtures and bulbs. Actually, I need to go post this in my "Layout Lighting Idea" thread. [ 28. January 2004, 19:54: Message edited by: Hoss ]
No, not layout work, but I am very nearly finished with GN X10, a slant cupola caboose. Only window glazing needs installed with Micro Kristal Kleer, and installation of MT couplers and some weathering.
Hoss, Don't forget the heat factor of incandescent bulbs, if you have a 1000 watts of lights, its like having a 1000 watt heater just about in your room. The reason fluorescents are popular is the heat factor. I think even many of the guys who use fluorescents would rather use incandescents. There are more expensive fluorescent tubes that throw a better quality of light than the cheap tubes.
For those that care too, I am extending this party by another two weeks so that it will be a 7 week party rather than 5 weeks. A few have requested a longer party. If you want to quite after 5 weeks that's okay, since that is what you signed on for, however, it feels that projects for some are moving slowly and others had a late start here. My project is moving and I'm tackling something I have procrastinated on since I wasn't sure what I was doing. Stripping and painting the legs I have found is dull boring repetitive work that I'm definitely not enjoying, but in another week or so, I should be ready for my nolix construction and that will be motivating. PLEASE NOTE: LAYOUT PARTY HAS BEEN EXTENDED AN EXTRA 2 WEEKS. [ 30. January 2004, 01:07: Message edited by: rsn48 ]
Hoss, I just can't tell how your lighting will work. It's one of those things where I just don't have the expertise. In my case, I solved the lack of expertise by putting in an extra 20-amp circuit. I use incandescents because I designed the room before I switched to digital photography. Pete
Hello there. Is it too late to join in, seeing as you're already into week 3? I already have 4 small baseboard modules, rescued from a previous failed venture, but they don't fit together yet. Thats Sparky (web handle - Eric the Cat), who would be the supervisor and judge I've just been fiddling about with making some captive nuts and washers, to fix the boards together, so the finished layout will be fully portable, and have fitted adjustable feet to the temporary legs. There's no track layed, although I have some buildings made, ready to fit on as soon as the track and electrics are done. In the next few weeks, I would like to get some track down and wire it up, just to get something running. That is if I can drag myself away from modelling locos and buildings. Thanks Jon
John and Pete, Yes we are finishing week three. Pete you reminded me of something I haven't done and that is start a Post at the beginning of each week, with just the week number in it. Since I have extended this party another two weeks, we will have 4 weeks left, certainly enough time for new guys to join in and accomplish your goals. SO WE ARE ENDING WEEK 3, WHICH WILL END ON SUNDAY AT MIDNIGHT - THE FIRST OF FEB.
Hmm, Feb 1. Ordinarily I'd spend it any way I pleased, as it is my birthday. This year, however, the only sports team I root for is in the Superbowl--I learned many years ago from my wife's great grandpa not to ever root for the Red Sox. So there's a party--lobster dinners--yummy! I guess I'll have to ask Rick for a one-day extension! A two-week extension? Well, I guess that will get me up on the second deck. We're already there--oops! I wasn't supposed to say that. Pete
A quick update. The mainline roadbed is down, as is some of the siding roadbed. Next week will see completion of the roadbed, and then layout work will halt due to lack of construction funds. At that point I will go to work on a Campbell structure kit that needs to be built. Nothing happening this weekend, as it is dog show time again and we will be in Pine Bluff AR for the weekend. Pete - Happy Birthday. May the gift givers bring you much RR stuff. Go Pats!
Jon, I really like your pics and the way you are building your bench work. And the cats great too. Hemi, A lot of work went into your caboose, good on ya. Peter Z, Keep an eye out for a Nova Scotia Duck Toller breeder for me, they're hard to find. I'm not sure if the Duck Toller's are a recognized breed yet in the States. The dog looks kind of like a smaller Golden Retriever.
Thanks, PeteZ! My wife will buy me buildings that SHE wants to build. My kids know that you never have enough miniature people--I know one of them is out there frantically searching for an N scale Superman. My friends now know that scenery materials are goof-proof gifts--a bag of blended turf is just fine. On this topic (layout building) I know I've mentioned somewhere that my wife, her friends and my four daughters (only two local) have discussed a "Tuesday Night Layout Party"--where they go out and add scenery, and maybe run trains, albeit Addams Family style. Besides the Red Light District, they're discussing Superman serving as a rail (as in Superman I?), a Batman spotlight over Downtown, etc. "Don't worry, Dad, we'll have movie crews around them to make it real!" The problem is that all of them are graphic artists in one field or another, and could actually pull it off! My wife is looking at spare LEDs in a very suspicious way--Batman's spotlight? My heart be still! Actually, I really appreciate the help, and know they'll do a good job, with some wacky aspects. After a very short apprenticeship, Jeanne now creates her own techniques for buildings and scenery, and one of the daughters is an accomplished "package designer"--now, is not an N scale building just another package, I ask? There are more eXacto knives among them than most model railroad clubs. GO PATS! Pete
