This layout is definitly a winner!:tb-biggrin: However, I've a question about the grade crossings. Myself I would not be long before starting mine, using a brand of plaster to build them (as well as the roads going through). My question today is, "which width do you recommand between the inside of the railheads and the paved center of track, in order to have flawless operations of Z scale equipment on grade crossings?" Or otherwise said, "which maximum width the paved center of track can accomodate for flawless operation of Z scale equipment?" Dom
The manhole covers are a great touch. Excellent! Quality work by another local-to-me guy modeling NY railroads. :thumbs_up:
Dom, I haven't used this number in operation, but in reviewing the NMRA specs for my new layout, the value I came up with is 5.25 mm on a straight and as little as 5.20 mm on a curved crossing. Mark
Dom, I used a width of 0.195" and a thickness of 0.027". It works for me for what I am running (modified MTL locos). John
“Wow, where have you been John?” I guess I’ve been caught up with those two things that distract anyone from any hobby – work and life. Ah well, in between work and life I have been diligently working on my layout. I added some vegetation around DB Cabin and Oil Transfer Tanks. I ballasted some more of my tracks, which I now have about 2/3rds completed. I completed the fencing around Maxwell Lumber Co. For this I used Miller Engineering Micro Structures #985 10' High chain link security fence. I like it a lot because it’s made of stainless steel so all you need to do to it is weather it with a India ink black wash and a rust wash and wa-la, instant city decrepit fence! I laid the concrete foundation for the West Chemical plant, and the “dirt” area’s next to the oil transfer tanks and the future auto recycling area. The main project that took most of my time since 6 Aug 11 was the Bloch & Guggenheimer Pickle Company kitbashed from an old N scale AHM factory to be a very thin background building. Holy cow! You’d think this would have been an easy task! But NO! After I researched the factory to figure out the building colors as close to accurate that I could I was continually challenged by kitbashing this 1/2” wide building. There was a lot of scratching my head, talking to myself and colorful words – good thing my hobby room has a door so no one could hear my rants! I had to walk away from it several times so that I would not drive myself crazy, however I stayed focused and patient and finally it was complete. I ballasted the track that I laid next to the factory and proudly looked at my work. Ouch, where do the tracks go to on the left side of the building? I hadn’t planned for that. They just couldn’t butt up against the future backdrop. Now what? So I thought of the creating an illusion of the tracks going on into the distance and my frustration turned to a stroke of luck - “light bulb”, I would use a technique that I have always wanted to try – a mirror. Now how to hide it. In real life the siding that is next to the B&G pickle factory runs back into the main line but with some artistic liberty I move the National Container Corporation from it’s real life location of behind the B&G factory to next to it so that the tracks had to run right through the National Container Corporation building. I was stretching the fact that this actually was the way the tracks ran but in reality there are many examples in NYC where tracks run through buildings. So easy fix, but again another head ache! Again the kitbashed National Container Corporation is only about 1/2” deep and I bashed it using the walls from an N scale Faller Machine Factory #222201, this proved to be a challenge because I never worked with hiding a mirror in a building or even trying the mirror technique so I was in totally unfamiliar ground. I used a mirror from an old make up compact case, cut it to size with a glass cutter. After numerous trials and errors I was done. I hid the bottom of the mirror with ballast and grass. I think it turned out pretty good. Now I have to make a decision as to what to do with the space between the B&G factory and the Morris Park yard. I could add more Morris Park yard buildings and trackage or add the famous Cavalry Cemetery. We’ll see. Until then enjoy the photos! Yours, John
Strange. I can't view the photos, because "password required" to get there. John, can you share the "secret", how to get to your photo album?
What Lajos said... Can't see the pic's John from what I can see it's looking good now we just need to get a better view:thumbs_up:
Sorry guys. I think I fixed it. Try enlarging the thumbnails now and let me know if they enlarge for you. Also check out http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php?cat=2321 John
PW&NJ, I expect it in a few weeks. I'll post photos of it and it's sister locos Fairbanks-Morse CPA-20-5 C-Liner and RS-3 after she arrives at the Morris Park Yard. John
