So the last attempt at building a layout was torn down. I found that the unique nature of the layout's footprint actually made for a limiting layout. I do not have the room for the dream layout I want... I don't think I ever will. My dream layout is so large that my TGV trains will look slow at full speed... but I digress, I'm stuck with small spaces and thus I am going to build a couple of small layouts. Why a couple? Well I do plenty of shows with my 2 clubs and I am starting a business making model railroad items so why not have a travel layout showing off my products as well as a fun layout to run trains on. The first layout I am working on is a 2 foot by 4 foot layout that is based on a 2x3 layout from Steve's Trains on YouTube. The second layout is a bit larger, it can travel if needed but will be mostly at home, it's also based on a track plan from Steve's Trains and it will be 3.5 feet by 5.5 feet. I may just make it a 3.5 x 6 and have a couple more inches of scenery. Oh, and I have been commissioned to build a small display layout for the Restore the 4 https://www.restorethe4.org/ group. It will be a simple loop of track and will be of a logged hillside with a camp cabin. This layout will be 18" by 24" and have built in DC controller. I will be building this layout alongside the 2x4 layout. I'm going to start building this here soon I am just waiting a couple of new tools that will make the building go a bit smoother and stronger. Stay tuned for more!
Ok, so I know most of you have seen the start of this layout on the workbench thread, but here it is here. Today was a good day, I got quite a bit done. We started off as it was on the workbench… er… floor and I used a sureform file and a razor to shape the road and shape the upper deck. Placed a few scraps to hold the upper deck up and then put on the facia. This was followed by shaping the facia and lastly the glueing of the pieces to hold everything together. Here’s the start of the day. Supports for the upper deck going in place. Upper deck sans tram track. Facia all in place and glued down. Sorry I didn’t get any pics of it as I was building it. Trust me is was ugly, but I made it that was so I could come back and trim it down to follow the proposed scenery. The big tab at the top is going to have a building on it. I had to make tape straps to keep the tension just right to keep the panels aligned while the glue dries. Here’s a better look at the tram line on the upper level. And of course I had to put the track back down and run some trains. Tomorrow I will work on putting the power feeds in and some of the other goodies.
I had to get started on the Restore the 4 layout as it is needed here soon. I got to try out my new staple gun and it is so much nicer than the old Brad nailer I was using. Granted staples leave larger marks on the outside of the wood, but they hold much better. This layout is 18” x 24” and will feature a logged mountain and a work camp. I sent the owner the same pics I’m posting here tonight and told him these were the last pics he is going to get until it’s finished. The layout’s owner doesn’t visit the forum so I will keep you all updated with the progress… just not him. Framework freshly assembled. Another view showing the wood for the facia. Glue, aka liquid nails is down ready to accept the foam. And the foam which is going to make up the base. Stay tuned for more, I’m going to find some track for this now and get on to starting the hillside and camp.
Whelp… that was short lived… I thought I had enough of the 183mm (7 inch) curve pieces to make this work, but apparently I only had 2 of them. So I ordered a few more, and a couple extra just to be sure and I will have to put this on hold for a few days.
I just got finished in the solder lab and I came out with this (see below). This is the throttle controller for the RT4 layout. It’s a DC controller I found off Amazon (same one I use on my throttles for the Thomas layout) that is wired to a DPDT switch for direction control. It’s powered by a PS14 or similar power supply and will give the little Shay this layout will be running plenty of power. Front. Rear. And how it will mount to the layout.
This will be a logged hillside and the hill will be built over the top of the speed control. This is intended to be in the back of the layout so the viewing public won’t be able to see the controls, but they will also be easy to reach. I can’t start building the hillside until after I get the track so I’m in a waiting game right now.
I honestly can’t take credit here, this is a modified layout from Steve’s Trains. His was 2x3 mine is 2x4.
I got a few things done tonight. So over the weekend I cut the wood for the Kiddo layout and I was supposed to have had it built over the weekend but we had company and... well... It got done today. This is another one of my mini layouts that I am so fond of building. This one replaces the Thomas T-Trak modules that I have been bringing to shows for kids to play with. I will repurpose the existing modules into something else, but more on that some other day. The Thomas layout was 2 end caps and 2 singles making a 30x42 layout and it was just 2 simple ovals. This is 48x30 and is a bit more interesting track wise. Just about finished building. I didn't want to bring out the table saw tonight but I got lucky and found a piece of wood that I wanted that was already pretty close to the size I needed so I put it in to finish up the benchwork. This little cove is were the power will plug in as well as the switches that will control the voltage to the throttles. Here is one track layout idea, it pretty much is symmetrical to the layout and to me it's boring. Same track plan just angled a little. To me this looks more interesting, what do you all think? Symmetrical or angled? And a little bonus track tonight. I got the track for the RT4 layout today and I placed it on the layout. I will be able to work on the scenery now, I still need to build the office and outhouse but that will be later, the Kiddo layout is needed for a show coming up in 2 weeks.
Massey, The angled looks better unless you need the extra perimeter space for kids fingers and trains. - Philip
