Thanks Mike - yours was one of the sites I studied closely while we were designing the bench work. I've watched and marveled at your progress, especially since I love the area you are modeling.
Thanks Bob. The big panel is 17 inches wide, the others about 7 (all the green LED markers are the same size, across the panels - the JPGs fool you). I hadn't really planned on doing these at this point, but being a bit movement restricted right now.... At least I'm not flat on my back, like I was last spring.
More Progress, but no photos Made a lot of progress this weekend. Unfortunately, camera is still at Nikon being repaired, and little camera was with daughter. I've completed wiring all the turnouts to 8 DS64s, there are 32 logical turnouts, with 5 double crossovers and 6 single crossovers (wired as one logical turnout). Also, wired the two on the bridge such that the wires from the turnouts go into a Molex connector, which then attach to leads under the bench. Also got the bridge's bus wiring installed in similar fashion, including the "loopback" wiring, such that the (approx) 18" of track leading to all four connections to the pull out bridge will be unpowered if the bridge is out. I also started plastering the WS risers. Using some plaster cloth that I have for the base roadbed, will then smooth out with joint compound. Needed to do some stretches, since there are a couple of turnouts on elevations, and didn't want to drop the controls and then come back and re-drill holes once I plastered the foam. Time to start dropping some strategically placed feeders, to actually test out the layout, then go back and start the weathering of each section and permanent feeder drops. My plan of attack: Test the whole layout Work on the roundhouse / turntable Slowly start the scenery and perm/weathering of sections.
No Photos? Ok, I'l use my imagination! Nicely done Rick B. I envy your arrangement. Do you have a spare room for mine?
Sorry Rick, no spare room forecast for right now. Youngest daughter leaves for college in the fall, but I don't think we get to take over her room quite yet, and eldest is graduating this spring from Cal Poly, SLO, and I hope she gets a job and her own place! If so, maybe we get her room. I do love the shed arrangement. I'm able to keep the work progressing without worrying about the cats, company, etc. Just me and the layout, well, and the outdoor cat who thinks it is just great to stick his nose in from time to time and inspect the progress. The other night, he decided that I was working too hard, and jumped up in my lap and required a 20 minute session of pets and ear scratching. Camera still not back, but I'll try to post some progress pics taken with the little point-and-shoot this weekend.
Roundhouse taking shape OK - Pictures. I got sort of tired of putting in feeders - I know, they need to happen, but I wanted to make some "visible" progress today. So, started working a bit on the roundhouse. The first set show how I the slots cut for the work pits: Then, I finally cemented the roundhouse base together, and installed the pits:
I measured and cut the flex track for each stall, and have placed the interior support structures on the base Still have to Neolube the track, remove the ties, etc. But, an afternoon of significant progress.
I've always loved steam, but never held too big of an interest in roundhouses or turn tables. But seeing the work of you and Powersteamguy, you guys are making me want to model a roundhouse more and more everyday! Great work Rick!
I have a Atlas roundhouse i got at a Omaha hobby shop. it was very dusty and out of the shrink wrapping but only one piece was missing.
Have to adjust the positioning of the roundhouse, slightly. Managed to "creep" in, when cutting the pit grooves, by about 3/32", so the tracks no longer align properly with the lip of the turntable (once I got everything set). Shouldn't be a big deal, just widen the grooves underneath each pit, allowing for some play in all dimensions, then realign and pin down the, now assembled, base. Once I am sure of the dimensions, I'll start dropping the feeders from the 12 stall tracks.
Turntable Installed and working No pictures today (but I did get my DSLR back from Nikon - yay), but I now have all the tracks for the roundhouse stalls installed, weathered, wired and indexed to the turntable. I can now run a locomotive from one non-walled stall, onto the table, and into another stall, in either direction! All 12 stalls. The (almost) 55-year old kid in me is jumping up and down for joy. Sounds silly, doesn't it? But, that was my goal for the work-week (i.e., not a lot of time to make major progress). I'll try to get the roundhouse actually completed, so as to get some pictures on Sunday. Then, I'll need to get the approach tracks to the turntable, from the yard, installed, along with the Engine Service building (goal for next week).
Congrats Rick! I've been keeping the idea mill running at the back of my mind on your transition to the underground station. I've got a few ideas that I think you might like. I'll whip them out into some quick concept sketches this weekend for you.
Roundhouse pics Spent yesterday and today working on the roundhouse. All went well, didn't get all the roof finished, but all the panels are prepped. Casualties on two door hinges (both were right doors, top hinge-pin, managed to break them off while getting them into the pin holes -- guess I'll glue those stalls in always open mode). Anyway, here are the pics: Wall of roundhouse, weathered: Back wall going up All walls up Door frames
The first resident A Santa Fe E8A takes its place in a stall (got to work on that roof, it isn't glued on)
