Building the KY&N: Planning, Prep & Benchwork

GP30 Mar 27, 2020

  1. GP30

    GP30 TrainBoard Member

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    If only it was Campbell’s!

    If a battery is leading four cans of soup, then it must be deadrail!


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  2. VinceP

    VinceP TrainBoard Member

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    It's one of those new self operating Tesla 297 mile trains :sneaky::sneaky::sneaky::sneaky:
     
  3. GP30

    GP30 TrainBoard Member

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    Alright, alright, alright. I ran a 20 car empty coal train to the end of track and back to staging, had to use the 0-5-0 to run around the cars, but this was still an important test.

    [​IMG]


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  4. VinceP

    VinceP TrainBoard Member

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    Much better even have the soup silos in the background lol:ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:
     
  5. GP30

    GP30 TrainBoard Member

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    In addition to testing track placement with the coal hoppers, I also installed the crossover next to the rolling mill location and parked the work train on the siding. Sooner or later, we’ll have to pickup another gondola or two with ties to fill in the gaps at each joint. [​IMG]

    Finally, I continued installation of lighting for the lower level. This is a 300 foot strand of exterior weather proof party lights with standard bases. I’ll be using LED daylight bulbs for layout lighting when I progress to that point.
    [​IMG]


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  6. GP30

    GP30 TrainBoard Member

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    In addition to testing track placement with the coal hoppers, I also installed the crossover next to the rolling mill location and parked the work train on the siding. Sooner or later, we’ll have to pickup another gondola or two with ties to fill in the gaps at each joint. [​IMG]

    Finally, I continued installation of lighting for the lower level. This is a 300 foot strand of exterior weather proof party lights with standard bases. I’ll be using LED daylight bulbs for layout lighting when I progress to that point.
    [​IMG]


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  7. VinceP

    VinceP TrainBoard Member

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    Getting there slowly like it
     
  8. GP30

    GP30 TrainBoard Member

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    Made more progress this weekend than I expected. We’ve been having a yard sale on Friday and Saturday, so that cut into my weekend morning routine of early layout work before everyone else gets out of bed.

    First thing accomplished was the installation of a switch and all the track for the chemical plant. This is the first industry “north” of staging before you get to the rolling mill and electric furnace on the opposite side of the peninsula.
    [​IMG]


    Next was adjusting the approaches and setting the final grade for the stone arch bridge. I need to enclose the staging access track behind it, then I can paint behind the bridge, fasten it to the base and get track laid on it.
    [​IMG]


    Finally, I turned an idea into reality. On previous layouts, I borrowed a method of mounting ground throws at the front edge of the layout. I wanted to go a step further and mount the ground throws to the fascia. I found wooden oval plaques (3”x 5”) at the craft store and cut them in half lengthwise and drilled two holes so they could be mounted to the fascia. Here is how it turned out. Should work well. They’ll protect the ground throws from getting bumped into, but won’t inflict pain on operaters who might bump into them.
    [​IMG]


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  9. VinceP

    VinceP TrainBoard Member

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    Looks great
     
  10. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Good idea. It is interesting how inspiration can be accidentally found. :)
     
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  11. GP30

    GP30 TrainBoard Member

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    Not unsuccessful, just unplanned

    Saturday morning, I installed 2 sections of flex track north of the rolling mill, approaching the stone viaduct. I also installed several sections of fascia that I had previously cut and set aside.

    Sunday morning, I installed two more sections of flex ahead of yesterday’s progress. I also installed the switch for the EAF and tail track and added feeders for 4 more sections of flex to be installed later.
    [​IMG]



    This morning (off today) I inserted wood ties where they were missing at the flex track joints working north from the staging tunnel and the chemical plant. Then I went to Lowe’s for backdrop material, but they only had one sheet. Settled for more 1x3’s for the upper level benchwork.

    Finally, I did get one piece of backdrop up in place and started assembling another section of upper level benchwork.
    [​IMG]


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  12. VinceP

    VinceP TrainBoard Member

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    Looking good anything no matter how small is progress
     
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  13. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Interesting lighting option. How far apart are the light sockets spaced? Did you space them tighter for more even light? I'd like to see how you did this, as I'm very electrically-impaired. I don't do electrician work. Just not my talent. Give me a 2x4, screws, saw and drill and I can build just about anything, but if it involves copper wire, I'm out... :p
    where did you find such a long string?
     
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  14. GP30

    GP30 TrainBoard Member

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    On a previous layout, I assembled each fixture with cheap plastic bases and shallow ceiling boxes, took a lot of time! The two-foot spacing worked really well so I stuck with that again. I also wanted something more “plug and play”.

    I found commercial grade outdoor party lights online, one strand at 330 ft long, sockets 24” apart. There is no plug, so I’ll have to put one on. Cut off half for the upper level and wire in a switch for each level.

    I’m using standard base 8.5w LED Daylight bulbs and plugging into a dedicated outlet to a dedicated breaker, expected draw for all lights on both levels (around 100 bulbs) should be less than 7.5 amps.


    https://www.noveltylights.com/330-brown-commercial-grade-stringer-e27-base

    I’ll try to remember to get a couple more pictures of the lighting set up this evening.

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    Last edited: Aug 19, 2021
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  15. Shortround

    Shortround TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks for the link, I've saved it. I've modified house wiring, even bracker boxes, so that doesn't affect me negatively. But those may come in pretty handy.
     
  16. GP30

    GP30 TrainBoard Member

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    I made a short video last night about the lighting, you can get a better idea about what I’m doing vs a picture.




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  17. GP30

    GP30 TrainBoard Member

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    I had a somewhat lazy weekend in terms of layout work, especially Sunday morning.

    On Saturday morning, I installed another section of the upper level benchwork along the back wall, now 22 feet is in place, almost ready to put in the corner section and work back to the peninsula. I also put in a test riser for the upper level “high line” to staging. This is at 72” from the floor, staging will be in the other room at 75”. (That clears the top of a non load-bearing cinder block wall for the old coal bunker).
    With the “high line” being mostly inaccessible, I think I’m going to eliminate the use of risers and build a narrow shelf at 4” wide and fasten directly to the vertical wall boards as floating benchwork. This will allow the tracks below to not interfere with risers and help hide the Grafton & Greenbrier / Crescent Valley interchange track at Spencer, when that time comes.
    [​IMG]

    I also experimented with the lighting valence for the upper level, which is 58” height. I found that a 12” valence left a 16” opening, but felt too crowded for my liking. (I’m 6’-0” tall). Then I tried 10” and it feels just about right.
    [​IMG]

    Finally on Sunday morning, I turned on my favorite John Coltrane channel on Spotify and just relaxed in the layout room. I did finally get around to gluing down another section of track, lettered and 50’ flat car and assembled an Accurail open auto rack before church. (I’m always up at 5:30, even the weekends)
    [​IMG]


    Planning on getting more backdrop and benchwork material this week, so hopefully this progress will continue.


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  18. VinceP

    VinceP TrainBoard Member

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    Nicely done
     
  19. GP30

    GP30 TrainBoard Member

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    Over the past week, I’ve been working on a Proto 2000 kit of an ACF 8,000 gallon Type 21 tank car. I didn’t plan onnusing this car as-is, but I’m woefully short of tank cars for chemical service. So waybills for a few cars in oil service were changed and this car was completed Saturday. With a 1922 build date, this car would have been long past interchange service in the early 70’s. Eventually HTCX 1710 will be in company fuel service for the KY&N, as originally intended.
    [​IMG]


    Other accomplishments over the weekend include installing 7 more upper lighting valence brackets, stripping old ballast off of the viaduct and general clean up of the work bench.
    [​IMG]


    I’m also still looking for the right fascia color. I picked up more swatches from Lowe’s but I’m still leaning towards a shade of burnt green with a little bit more yellow and brown to it. The color on the right is getting closer….. but with a broad upper lighting valence throughout the room, I am considering a shadow box effect and just paint fascia, valence and ceiling a satin black for effect.
    [​IMG]


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  20. VinceP

    VinceP TrainBoard Member

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    Git er done
     

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