Curious why you are insulating your turnouts? I'm assuming the yellow joiners are insulated. If not, never mind then.
MK, I use the yellow insulated rail joiners on all of the joints because they are easier for me to install. Each piece of track will have feeder wires so it is a matter of convenience. I'm into DCC now, Dale Baker came by yesterday and gave me a Bachmann DCC system. He is too kind. What decoder do I need for a N scale steam locomotive? I'm not sure if I want sound, most of them sound like you're in a tin can. Joe
very nice of dale your layout is looking very good. love seeing all the progress and pics. My nephew busted his back up pretty good in a dirt bike wreck he has 20 or so screws in his . very lucky he was not paralyzed. hope your leg pain goes away.
Thank you Sidney. My legs don't hurt like they used to, it only hurts if I over do it which can be avoided. As a result I have been able to work on the layout more, having a great time. Now if life wouldn't get in the way would be a bit easier. Being retired is a lot busier than I thought it might be but the important thing to have a great time because you worked for it. I do. Joe
Cynthia and I are in the process of buying a 30x60 foot double wide mobile home. The room that I plan on putting the layout is the same size as the one in our apartment so that works out great. Mobile home is huge, 1680 sqft, compared to our apartment, about 950 sqft. We are looking at a park in Bixby Ok about 15 miles from our apartment about the same distance from downtown Tulsa. Everyplace we shop at is within a mile or two from the mobile home park just as it is here in Broken Arrow. Bixby has a lower crime rate than Broken Arrow, there was three pickup trucks stolen from the apartment parking lot in the last two weeks. The only time the mobile home park has any action is mostly medical emergency responders because there are several older folks in the park, hopefully there will be two more old timers in a couple of months. Joe Edit: Identity the photos. Kitchen Living Room Master Bedroom
This afternoon I installed the yard lead turnout and passing track on modules 02 and 03. Plan on installing ballast on the main and passing track on the above modules after dinner. If there is time will install ballast on modules 06, 07 and 08. That would complete all of the ballast on the tracks that are installed so far. It would also be half of the mainline track on the layout. Joe
Cynthia and I are looking at a different mobile home that is a new 16x80 single wide 1280sqft for financial reasons. It's not as big but just as nice. The bedroom that the layout will go in is larger than the double wide, longer but not as wide. Hopefully will be able to build a module with the Arkansas River bridge, that's the goal. May have to rearrange some of the modules because the smaller width. Progress on the layout will continue as planned in the meantime. On the previous move the only thing I had to do was cut one foot off of module 06. Joe
ohh cant hardly wait till you begin building . wood like to very much see this build with the Arkansas river bridge
Here's a couple of photos of the Frisco Arkansas River bridge between Ft Smith and Van Buren AR. Hopefully will be able to build a module with the bridge with the larger space in the mobile home we are looking to buy. Joe
Cynthia and I went to the mobile home dealership to take some photos and measure the bedrooms. It turns out the bedroom that the layout will go in is about the same size as the one in our apartment. Unfortunately I won't be able to build a module for the Arkansas River bridge. Now I'm thinking of scraping module 05 and putting the bridge there. If so will move the buildings and coal trestle to another location. What do you think about the idea? Your input will be greatly appreciated. Joe
I'm thinking about replacing module 05 with a new module with the Arkansas River bridge. Will move the buildings and coal trestle to another module. What do you think about the idea? Your input will be greatly appreciated!!! Joe
I like the look of the coal trestle Joe. If you don't have room for an additional module but have the space on another to move it to, then go for it as that Arkansas River Bridge would make for a fantastic scene.
Hi Joe, I think the question you need to ask yourself is, what are you looking for in your layout? My personal preference is switching, so I'll forego scenery items for industrial sidings. Now if you are trying to re-create a place because of a personal fond memory or because of it's historical importance to you, than by all means replace module 05 with a model of the Arkansas River bridge. But if switching operations is at the top of your list, then I'd forego the bridge in favor of the coal trestle. I guess the bottom line is, what decision will make you happy?
I've decided to move some of the buildings and coal trestle to another module. Will cut off 22 inches of module 05 and make the remaining 36 inches a diorama. This will open the door to build a module with the Arkansas River Bridge, a very prominent feature on the Frisco Ft Smith Sub Division. I've always felt that the layout needed the bridge but never could find a way. It turns out module 05 is an anchor, though it got the layout started so it served its purpose. Joe
I have a sheet of 3/4 inch Birch plywood that measures 43x21 inches for the replacement of module 05. Will cut it and splice two pieces together to make a module 58x12. The new module 05 will have the Arkansas River bridge, a major landmark on Frisco's Central Division between Ft. Smith and Van Buren AR. I've been looking at bridges unassembled kits and ones that are assembled, looks like there are a few good candidates. Joe
On the home front, we decided not to buy a mobile home at this time. That's okay with us, we just wanted to check out the possibility. Our apartment is fine for now, our neighbors are good and we don't have any complaints. The good news is we don't have to move. Joe
Today is my wife and I 37th wedding anniversary. We don't have any major plans other than BBQ a couple of hamburgers for dinner. Sometimes it seems like it was just yesterday we got married, it's been a great time and wouldn't trade it for anything. Joe
