Hog Waller Junction

John Moore Mar 11, 2015

  1. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    Now starting to lay out the area for the hidden trackage area and tunnels. Trying to keep things in order to avoid running into complications on this small layout build of 30 "W by 52" L. The hidden trackage area has 9.75 Rad. and will be all flex track on cork roadbed mounted on the foam. When this little module/mini layout gets folded into a much larger layout the track inside this area will be removed because the access to the area will be gone and the line abandoned. While this serves as a small layout for awhile, encouraged by the Wife to keep me out of trouble, before being eventually folded into the larger one I need access to the hidden track area. Decided on a 6 inch height after measuring my hands for access to reach in for any reason, and to later make removing that track to reuse elsewhere much easier. Once I get the walls up, today I hope, then I will lay the roadbed and track before covering with the top deck. The back will be faced with Masonite with cut outs and just enough lip to prevent a dive. For the Masonite I have decided to buy some precut at 2 foot height just to avoid the hassle of dealing with a 4 by 8 foot sheet.


    Using some 9.75 Rad. sectional track to establish clearances.
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    Looks like I am going to have to have some wider tunnel portals for my mice eradication and dust bunny clearance system. The south end of the Big Guy checking out the tunnel location.
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  2. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Eek. Those would be some BIG portals! About G scale in size, or more.
     
  3. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    Got the foam in place and glued down for the hidden trackage portion. I have about another 6 inches to build up over the back once everything is done and that is where the log camp will set and the logging area. There will eventually be about a foot of scenic backdrop above that. Once I get this area done I can then figure out the outline of the lower valley, where the grade runs up to the log camp, and the location of the trestle and the stream. Most importantly I can then build up the hillside where the Macie Moly Mine shaft goes into the hillside below the logging trackbed and grade. So far everything seems to fit and Mr. Murphy has been absent but certainly not missed. When I converted this track plan I drew it up on graph paper where each small square is 1.5 inch square or 8 square to the inch paper. This also matches my track template which is based on Atlas Track and for the most part I am using Atlas track.
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  4. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    Decided this AM that the walls for the tunnel/hidden trackage portions were too high so I took a board that was the right height and used it for the blade guide for the foam cutter. Sections cut off were reused as further bracing for the tunnel walls. Also started laying down some cork roadbed in that area and I remembered that that danged crap doesn't bend worth a dang into a curve. So I set down at the worktable and cut small wedges out of it where it has to curve. I am not going to use this crap in the exposed to view areas where I have curvature. Too much hassle. Dug back in my track box and came out with some sheet cork with adhesive backing that I will use for the material under the turnouts and the curves. I will stay with the regular cork for the straight sections.

    My supply order is being delayed due to all the nasty weather last week both here and especially up north. They fell behind in processing stuff because employees could not make it in through all the crap. Regular updates are being provided daily on where they are at in shipping. And because some of the items are needed to arrange the terrain foam areas I figure I will grind to a halt about this weekend. All is not lost however in that I still have a wood trestle to build and I need to start digging to find where I stored the mine buildings.
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  5. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    A little more progress as I got the roadbed in and glue dried for the hidden/tunnel portion of the lower line. This Am I started filling in foam to start the upper level. Stopped when I reached the point of about 3 inches and will allow glue to set. Plus I am running short of adhesive so time to make a supply run. Hopefully this PM I will lay the first flex track in the hidden portion and run a power feeder line in there. I am still awaiting my supply order to ship and the most recent update shows that it should ship this weekend. I decided to not reinvent the wheel and will use Woodland Scenics 4 percent grade for the ramp up. Once I get that in I can then get the valley outline done and locate the trestle placement. Since I will only have maybe four sets of wires running from the back I am really debating whether to just trench out the foam and lay the wires in there rather than go through the trouble of drilling out the layout and running them under. I can neatly run the wire to the edge of the layout where the control center is going to be located.

    Tomorrow a visit to the tax preparer and then taking the CFO to dinner so not much will get done.
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  6. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    This afternoon I managed to get the track in the hidden trackage/tunnel area and spiked down. Two pieces of flex and two rerailers that I reworked some. I have found that the Atlas rerailers tend to have a problem with two plastic retainers on each side at the beginning of each end. Deeper flange equipment and even the newer stuff with shallower flanges tend to hop when crossing them to the point if at speed will end up being a derailment on occasion. So I ground those away with a razor saw. Tonight I decided to check the conductivity and also to clean the track which had been in storage for a long time. Broke out my self propelled track cleaner and spliced it between a GP-9TT and a FA-1. Eight or nine passes back and forth and the equipment was purring along. So I guess I have hit a couple of firsts. First track laid and spiked. And first consist run over it although an abbreviated track cleaning consist. Need to secure the power feed wiring then I can go ahead with the top deck. My supplier has almost caught up with the storm caused backlog and my supplies will most likely ship tomorrow. And I definitely need those new Huron rail nippers and flex.
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  7. badlandnp

    badlandnp TrainBoard Member

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    Great progress John. The cork trick has always worked for me too.

    Like that fuzzy, black mascot!
     
  8. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thanks. Things are going to slow up for awhile as the only area I can currently work on is the tunnel portion until my supply order gets here. I have a riser coming that needs to be installed so I can see how I need to landscape that area and two timber tunnel portals that once I have them in hand I can work on those areas also. I also need to get some scenic backdrops in addition to what I have. The terrain is basically mountainous. And then there are the trees. I do miss Father Nature. A lot of his resin castings weren't that great of quality but he did have some nice trees.
     
  9. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Nice to see SP&S power. I'm looking forward to seeing more of your motive power fleet in action.
     
  10. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    I took the time this evening once I got that short section of track cleaned to pull out a few locos and run them back and forth. The 4 axle stuff did fine but some of my larger steam like the 4-6-2 and the 2-8-2s didn't like the curvature much. My Athearn 2-8-0 ran flawless along with my smaller 2-6-0s, Class A Climaxes, and the Atlas 4-4-0s. I thought I would be able to run my 4-6-0s but the pony truck kept derailing on them, something I will have to look at later. My fleet of Alco RS units should be able to navigate the lower line also since the FA and the GP-9 had no issues.
     
  11. badlandnp

    badlandnp TrainBoard Member

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    My ten-wheelers had that issue too. I added a teeny bit of lead weight to the front half of the lead truck and it helped a lot.
     
  12. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    There have been some reports of issues with the pony trucks on these but this has been my first time encountering this issue. Which make me also want to check the track gauge with my NMRA gauge since it is the flex where they are having the issue and maybe I have a piece of flex out of gauge. Then I will want the check the gauge on the pony trucks if not the flex. Have some Tungsten putty that I can flatten out and shape to the pony truck if needed. And if that flex is out of gauge then I would rather be replacing it now before I close up. Once I do that the only time I want to touch that track is with my cleaning cars until it becomes time to fold this mini layout into the larger one and I reach in through the access to remove the track and cut the feed wires.

    A quick postscript to the above. I did just pull out my gauge and checked the rails and all are in gauge so it boils down to either the pony trucks being out of gauge or the flanges are too shallow on the wheels and need some weight to hold them down.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 14, 2015
  13. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    Very little progress on the layout with only a narrow trench cut in the foam in the hidden track area to run some wires, which my youngest feline immediately found, discipline time. And another .75 inch of foam installed to cover part of the hidden track area and start the base for the upper logging area. Still waiting for notification of my supplies shipping and thought I might get something this weekend but alas not. So basically at a standstill for anymore construction as far as terrain goes or track laying. So Today I have started building one of my wood trestles having stained all the wood this AM. Was more than surprised when I looked up the current price at the manufacturers' site. The little trestle kit now goes for $77 and some change. I paid about $10 for it years ago and glad I got it when I did and stored it away. So using todays prices my total is now up to $324 counting in some more glue and sheet cork along with the current trestle price.

    According to the updates from my supplier at their site they were processing orders received on the day I made mine with the backlog caused by the weather event so I should be receiving notice by today of shipping. Nothing show up in my Email by Wednesday I guess a phone call will be in order.
     
  14. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    Working on my wood trestle. The India Ink wash left a nice look to the wood and the only thing else I may do is once assembled dry brush some light gray on parts. I am using those glass coasters to assemble the bents that I had found in a thrift store. Beats the heck out of wax paper or about anything else. Once dry I just use a single edge new razor blade to slip under the parts to free any that might be stuck to the glass. I am just laying the glass over the diagrams and using my blend of regular Elmer's white and carpenters glue. They will be dry enough in about an hour to slip them off the glass and apply the cross braces. This kit is so old that the paper is yellowed and brittle with age.
    [​IMG]

    And my cast of helpers in this modeling endeavor. The patented black and white wire puller, and the very large immovable weight for holding down glued items. Even the famous Deekus the Cat joined in earlier helping me sort trestle bents.
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  15. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    I'm glad to see you are making steady progress. Good knowing you have supervision to keep projects "on track." :)
     
  16. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    Sometimes too much supervision. I think they are running shifts to keep track of me and the project. Sitting at the workbench wrestling with placing some trestle bents when I heard the distinct sound of scratching on foam. Turned around to find that Deekus had decided an open pit mine needed to be where the log loading operation goes. Fortunately stopped her before she opened it up and with my luck would have left some nuggets in there.

    Received notice that my supply order has been shipped (Who Hoo) so the track gang has been put on notice to get ready to start the log line incline and the bridge and building gang to hurry up the trestle bent construction. Still have one more trestle to build and with the first one to assemble the sections.
     
  17. HOexplorer

    HOexplorer TrainBoard Supporter

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    No, No, No. John and the rest of you, cutting wedges is not how you do curves with cork or foam roadbed. Check any piece of foam or cork roadbed, notice that it is sliced most of the way through. To make a curve you are supposed to tear the road bed in half and lay your curve one half piece at a time. You end up with little extra pieces that can be use later and you have perfect curves. Jim
     
  18. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    For whatever reason my one half pieces of cork did not conform to the curvature as advertised and I am well aware of the angled cut down the middle since it gives you tapered slopes on each side when separated. May be due to the age of my cork since it has been in storage for years. The slits cut or small wedges solved my issue and the cork is laying flat saving me from buying new cork. The same cork will be used for the exposed sections of track at the front but since most of that is straight trackage there won't be an issue. The curving logging line is getting sheet cork cut to radius that will be thinner and leave the track with a lower profile. Not the first time over the years that I have had issues with cork roadbed not wanting to conform to the tighter radiuses. May have been due to the age of the cork then and there is no guarantee that ordering more cork will not end up with me getting more that has lain around for awhile. At least what I have is not crumbling yet.
     
  19. HOexplorer

    HOexplorer TrainBoard Supporter

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    Yes! It could be old age. Still I've make some pretty sharp curves in my Z scale days. Actually, this could be the reason I know use WS foam road bed. Jim
     
  20. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    I thought of using other material but I have a goodly stock acquired when the LHS went out of business. Just had not anticipated it would be stored as long as it was before I was building again. However most likely when and if I get to building the bigger layout that this is just a section of I will probably be looking at other options since I will have some 8 inch radius to deal with.
     

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