After many many years of inaction (and a whole lot of other things to do) I have finally found some space and time to put together a small layout. This fine specimen of a layout is the culmination of years of planning and downsizing, and downsizing... and downsizing some more. So small did I downsize that it is being made a 30"x36" rectangle. The most amount of space i could feasibly take up in the family room. Hard to believe my original plan 6 years ago fit in an 11'x13' space. Such is life and its going to be a fine starter to hone my (and my boys) skills. laugh: I am still waiting on 3 switches and 11" radius curves to come in. My two not-so-local hobby shops only had 3 switches of the ones i wanted and no full 11" radius curves! Gah!
Looks like alot of fun and welcome to the layout club after all these years! Keep the progress shots coming.
It is amazing and more important, it is yours I have been in this hobby since I was young, and have built a lot of layouts, mine and helped with several others, and I always go on first impression after the track is laid. Your layout to me, reflects the time and effort in the years of thinking, dreaming, and planning, and most of all listening, reading, and applying all the information to your first effort. Not too much trackage or busy work, but enough to keep it intersting and provocative, and provide hours of operation without any onset of boredom or banality. It also looks like your workmanship is very deliberate and careful. What a first layout, and I am thinking what about next ones or what appears to additions as space becomes available. Plus you are doing this all with no hobby shop nearby for bailouts like many of us, especially me utilize. Good luck in the future adventure, and it looks like Trainboard guys have your back!!! Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman
Congratulations on the start. That's a neat first layout. You and the boys should have a lot of fun with it.
thanks for the words of encouragement fellas! laugh: I'm sure im in the same boat as many of you are or have been, just biding your time, reading every scrap of information you can find on the hobby. Over the years ive discovered im a scenery fan and like to watch the trains roll by. Operations are nice, but only important because i feel the railroad needs a purpose. The cars it carries need to go somewhere. So i'll plop down a few industries and have a nice long interchange up front to stack the cars up. when i expand in the future, the interchange will become a runaround to the main for the local switcher. The bridges will join in a wye just off the layout and run down to a small port town or something. So lots of future big plans... This little thing will keep me busy for a long time. The boys are 6 and 3 with a little sister on the way in August. So i wont be able to expand for a while. My saving grace is the local train show every November. I can pick up some rolling stock and an engine for a good price. The hobby shop closest to me that has an N scale selection is 25 minutes away, and the selection is mediocre since they mainly deal in RC cars and the like. The other is 40 minutes away and is nothing but trains, but i think the guy is having a hard time lately and the selection is better than the closer one, but still lacking. Ah well. Track is Code 80. figured it would be a good start since a lot of the stuff i have is older (picked up for cheep at said train show, and i dont like paying more than 5$ for a piece of rolling stock). i can paint up the track to look halfway ok. Next step is to glue down the foam after drawing the river and cutting it out. The comes the black magic of laying the cork and making sure the rail doesnt kink up.
Through millions of years, water scars the landscape to forge mighty rivers! I didnt have that much time, so i used a steak knife instead! Instant river! Well more of a gorge in this case. Some shaping will occur, but this will be a deep cut. Similar to what we have over in Yellow Springs around here... a gorge. Tunnel portals have been marked out as well for the curve above the river. Its not a proper layout without a tunnel! wink: ... to glue, or not to glue tonight...
Have you tried looking at ordering stuff you need on-line? There are several great on-line dealers advertising here on Trainboard and you usually get a better price and it comes right to your door. I do almost 100% of my purchases on-line and love it.
Glued the foam down. How long does it take liquid nails to set? looked all over the tube and couldnt find anything...
Nice job, you've learned the most important guideline in this hobby, build something Nice work and count me in on seeing your scenery progress, something I'm not good at all at! Regarding Liquid Nails, let it cure up over night, check it in the morning. By the time you get home from work tomorrow it should be all set for you.
So the liquid nails has set quite nicely. But i have two new problems. I had to cut and join the foam together, so i have a gap between the 3 pieces. The cuts were done with a steak knife, so the gap isnt huge, but its deep and jagged. How can i fill this in? Also, i need to form a tunnel with the left over foam. what can i glue foam to foam with?
How are you going to cover the foam? If you are only planning on painting the foam base- you can use a couple of products that Woodland Scenics makes- flex paste or foam putty. You can probably even use cheap latex caulk to fill the cracks. I like to cover my foam with plaster type products. I have used Plaster of Paris, light weight hydrocal, and I have even used Drywall compound since watching Jim Reising's The New Oakville Sub thread. Good stuff in that thread! Craig
In my experience ( and I've used a LOT of foam.......pink & blue ) the best "foam to foam" glue is "PL-300" construction adhesive, readily available at Loew's, Home Depot, Menard's, etc. BE SURE it's the "PL-300" foam adhesive, the other varieties will eat foam!!! To fill gaps, if not huge, I always use "lightweight spackle". Bonds to the foam really well and is sandable and paintable. If you've got big gaps..........1/2" or so, try the spray "expanding foam" for insulation purposes. That bonds well with foam as well, and it can be covered/skimmed with the spackle.
