Gun Creek Branch of the Gorre & Daphetid

DeaconKC Oct 17, 2022

  1. DeaconKC

    DeaconKC TrainBoard Member

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    I decided I would start this thread about my progress on this layout. Decades ago I built an Ntrak module featuring a station for the Gun Creek & Mora RR. Turned out pretty nice and was very enjoyable, so now that I am back into this hobby, I decided to combine the Gun Creek into a branch of the Gorre & Daphetid Railroad.
    It will use the basic Plan 17 from 101 Track Plans, but expanded to 3'x 6'4" and use minimum of 11" curves and number 6 switches instead of the 7 1/2" curves and stubs and number 4 switches. Number 4s will only be used in the yards. Unitrack construction except for the Walther's 110' turntable that is on it's way now. A small staging track will start on the right hand end with the foot or so I will have left over. The layout will be built using 1x3s for the framing [ I hope I don't have to go to 1x4s] but that will be determined by how deep the motor for the turntable is. Gonna use 1" insulation board for main deck and then build up the elevation changes with 1/2" foam board [best laid plans, etc]. Eventually will be able to add a small 8"x3' extension off the left near corner, attaching to roughly 12" of the end from the station.
    I want to test all the track wiring before I start doing finish scenery as I can just tip the layout up to work underneath it first. It will use a Lifetime folding table as it's main support and I am going to put the control panel and power sources on a rolling cart so it can go under the layout when not in use.
    So today I tried out the layout plan and it will fit with the larger curves and it worked well! One of my ancient MRC power packs [a 1370] decided to pack it in though, so I grabbed an equally old MRC 2400 and it handled everything well. Hopefully the 1370 can still do duty for the AC stuff. Or at least the turntable? Oh, the turntable location is flopped from the plan, going on the left instead of the right, so The roundhouse will become the centerpiece.

    I cannot thank you ALL for so much good advice and knowledge you have imparted, saving me from many mistakes or things I had forgotten or have been changed since I was in this hobby last.
     

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  2. DeaconKC

    DeaconKC TrainBoard Member

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    And some pics with some support offered by Louis Lamour.
     

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  3. in2tech

    in2tech TrainBoard Member

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    I remember having my tiny Bachmann kit on a dining room table 30 or 40 + years ago. Took forever for it to get on a base(s)! Good luck, and make sure you save these pictures some where safe. Mine are gone from the 35mm film days :) Sure wish I had them.
     
  4. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    That's some entertaining support! :)
     
  5. DeaconKC

    DeaconKC TrainBoard Member

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    Good news/bad news:
    Good news, the Woodland Scenics 2% inclines I ordered are perfect for my elevations changes. This will make life much easier as I can now just cut 1/2" blue foam for the other sections, laying these on that. Also, I that I was successful in getting rid of the 4% slope on the layout.
    Bad news: While not as determined as Barstow Rick, my 11" curves are not gonna allow the full length passenger cars to look right to me. I am hoping that once the track is put down, the shorter Bachmann length passenger cars will look okay to me. Because my Kato PA/PB will look SO good when they pass through.
     
  6. Shortround

    Shortround TrainBoard Member

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    Best wishes and thanks for sharing.
     
  7. DeaconKC

    DeaconKC TrainBoard Member

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    Well, long trip to the Hobby Shop today. Dropped off two totes full of HO stuff for consignment and did pick up some Model Power Corrugated passenger cars, being shorter, they do look "acceptable" on the 11" curves. And got the stuff I will need to build the framework and base at Lowe's. The rest of the week is supposed to be real pretty, so things are looking good.
     
  8. DeaconKC

    DeaconKC TrainBoard Member

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    Well, back to Good News/Bad News/No News
    No news: my turntable is somewhere on the East Coast
    Bad News: I mis-measured for some lumber I had cut yesterday, 4" short
    Good News: figured out that means I have 4" extra space in length to play with, so I can make an actual town scene on the Right End of the layout, and not just a small staging yard. And can Redneck Engineer the wood frame to accommodate this.
    PS, the plastic plate is approximately the size of the wandering turntable. And many of these pics are to help me to reassemble what works once I tear it off the kitchen table.
     

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  9. Shortround

    Shortround TrainBoard Member

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    I will patiently wait and see what happens.
     
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  10. DeaconKC

    DeaconKC TrainBoard Member

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    Well rats, discovered my Dome Car will not work on the layout. Oh well, it will still look good when I run it on the club's T trak in the SF consist. [And that 85' length didn't look good to me at all on the 11" curves!]
     
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  11. badlandnp

    badlandnp TrainBoard Member

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    Looking like a fun layout. And Lois L'amour has multiple uses!
     
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  12. DeaconKC

    DeaconKC TrainBoard Member

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    John Allen is driving me nuts! I bet he is snickering at me this AM. I have wound up with bridges/trestles in green, black, gray and silver so I decided I will unify them in color for the layout. Soooooo...I start looking at color pics on the web of the original G&D to see what color JA used. That stinker used every color there is! Brown, black, silver, solid rust even! And some right next to each other.

    PS: anybody know off hand how hard it is to pop the track out of the bridges? Some seems easy, but some I'm not to sure of. Crud, I may just mask the tracks and rattle can em.
     

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  13. badlandnp

    badlandnp TrainBoard Member

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    Definitely a hard act to follow!
     
  14. DeaconKC

    DeaconKC TrainBoard Member

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    Well, the turntable arrived today [no instructions!] so I was able to actually place it on the layout plan to check the fit. Should go right in where I want it. Laid poster board under the track, after removing the branch that will cross over the mains, and traced out the plan. Then laid the Woodland Scenics risers on the plan and marked where the transitions will be. This way I can cut the 1/2" foam to run under the risers and know that I am not exceeding 2 % slope. Heading to the garage now to build the frame for the Great Foam & Western!
     

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  15. badlandnp

    badlandnp TrainBoard Member

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    Gonna be fun!!
     
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  16. DeaconKC

    DeaconKC TrainBoard Member

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    Okay, got the frame built and foam cut. I am planning on using the template I made of the actual track to trace the outline onto the foam once I take an Xacto knife and cut out the track line. That's tomorrow's job 1. Job 2 is to finish leveling the frame and drill holes through the supports for wire to pass through.
     

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  17. BigJake

    BigJake TrainBoard Member

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    Great progress and photos! Keep 'em coming!
     
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  18. DeaconKC

    DeaconKC TrainBoard Member

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    Well, today did NOT get the holes drilled under the layout for the wires. DOH! I did get the pieces of foam for the main base glued together, then cut out the template, traced it, got the beast leveled, and then forgot all about drilling the holes! I started in gluing the risers for the mainline run and just kept going. Holy cats, I love foam construction! At any rate, I have most of the mainline run drying overnight, ran out of glue and soda cans, so called it a night. Say, I am planning on using a spade bit for drilling the holes for wiring under the layout using Kato connectors. Will a 1/2" work or do I need a larger bit?
     

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  19. DeaconKC

    DeaconKC TrainBoard Member

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    Okay, my mainline is roughly a 3'x5' two-lap oval. Is a third power feeder overkill or good planning?
     
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  20. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    1/2" holes should be fine. If you are using Unitrack prefab feeders with plug in connectors...5/8 might be better. A feeder every 3 lengths of of 9.75 straight pieces...or roughly every 30" of run would be best IMHO.
     

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