This is a copy of the invite I have sent everyone. You can begin your posts when you want to, after having decided on your commitment: Once again I am hosting a chance for some of you to work on your layout. What happens is you post your original intentions for 6 weeks of work, then post your results once a week. This format isn’t for everyone! But when I hosted this last spring, many joined in and had a good time with it. For example, my goals last spring were to get the backdrop up for my lower bench work. My goals this fall will be to get the backdrop up for the upper bench work. I would then post weekly as to my progress. Many had a good time with this format. It was not uncommon to hear people say they had gotten more work done on their layout, in the short time we ran the thread (8 weeks then – a bit too long), than they had in long time. Many posted pictures, asked questions, helped others, moaned about their problems, and encouraged others through theirs. This thread can be found at www.trainboard.com in the layout design forum. I will be entitling this new thread “High balling the Layout!” I am including a link to the old thread so that some of you hesitant, not sure you want to participate, can look at what happened in the past and check the results out for yourself. http://www.trainboard.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=33;t=000106 The purpose of this thread is to encourage those to work on their layout, give opportunity to talk/brag/ photograph your layout so that others can share in what you have. You don’t need photo’s to participate, I didn’t have photo’s in the last thread, and won’t in this thread either. You don’t have to be a permanent trainboard participant, I have opened this to other forum participants as well, including those from the Atlas forum. Last time I gave an official starting date, but this time, you can start as soon as you see the thread started (last time everyone ignored the starting date). So thing about what you want to accomplish, don’t bite off more than you can chew, and have at it. I look forward to talking to you there and hearing about your work. [ 18. February 2003, 03:46: Message edited by: rsn48 ]
I six weeks? Hmm.... Well, I want to get the structures finished that I've already started, begin scenery on the Ironton half of the layout, and letter my home-road rolling stock. Fair 'nuff.
I hope to have my N scale switching layout ballasted and wired, and scenery well underway, with buildings in place. Six weeks huh? Dang. I hope I can at least do SOMETHING in that time.
Ridgerunner, When I posted my goals for the first of these layout motivational sessions (Lonely Hearts Club Band), I thought committing to having the backdrop up on my lower layout would be a piece of cake, up in no time. What a suprise I received when I discovered to do a task, I had to do another task, and to do that task, I had yet another task to do, and on it went. I spend most of my time getting the masonite prepared and in place (harder than it sounds here) to take the photo backdrops I had purchased. So don't be surprised if you discover your goals include a challenge or two... [ 09. September 2002, 03:49: Message edited by: rsn48 ]
Well, I'm out here in the "West Texas Town of El Paso," and I'm modelling in HO scale. I need to have my creek detailed, painted, water poured and bridges installed before I can lay track. I've got my creek sanded (textured) and primed. I hope to have the rest done and ready to lay track within this next 6 week period, but that's gonna depend on my work schedule and mood. For pictures of my layout in progress: http://community.webshots.com/user/elpasomark Take care, Mark [ 09. September 2002, 17:47: Message edited by: El Paso Mark ]
Mark, I looked at your layout plan. The original Atlas you chose is one that appealed to me. I really like your modifications, and when some one is looking for a 4 by 8 plan, I will be passing it on, if you don't mind (bookmarked it). When you look at the cost of all the Atlas controller's or whatever they are called to throw blocks, I suspect it will add up a wee bit. I suspect they are practically giving away the first generation of MRC DCC on ebay (not the one being sold now); I forget the name of it. If you can, why not price one of those out. It isn't the "best" dcc for your layout, but it will speed up wiring, give you more operating interest, and generally be more fun. You can run up to 9 or 10 engines with it. And initially that will do you just fine I suspect. Looks like your motoring right along on your layout, glad you could join us.
My goal over the next six weeks is to actually get to do something on my N scale layout.With in that time frame I have two NTRAK modules that need refurbishing I need to build two On30 modules ,finish up 6 On30 locos and help organize the first Great Lakes Conspiracy On30 meet (minor part only )I also have to get a display made up for the Rider's Hobby Shop " All Hobbies Expo".No not Nscale,have done that the last 4 years. To get back on track so to speack,about 10 minutes ago I put power to the GVR for the first time and actually did a light engine power move. I have a long ways to go but that sure did feel good.
Hi Rick. Glad you liked my layout. Hope it works out! Sure, pass it along, hope your friend likes it. I'm on the horns of a dilemma concerning DCC. I'll be posting questions later tonight on the Atlas forum. Take care, Mark
El Paso, I saw your post at Atlas but I will respond here. DCC for a smaller layout makes even more sense than on a larger one. The blocks are shorter so you are always throwing them, ask me how I know...lol. As for sound decoders, the price is even worse in Canada, but I N scale so I don't pay any attention to sound decoders (not available in N). Even though you would like sound and the price is prohibitive, now is a good time to get into DCC. The two largest DCC manufacture's are Lenz and Digitrax, in North America. Atlas is Lenz. Being the cheap guy that I am, I am assuming you are as well. I have Digitrax, but you might want to consider Atlas in another couple of months. The rumour on the grape vine is that with the introduction of the new low end system by Digitrax, the price of the atlas system will drop. Since it is Lenz, it is expandible if you need to upgrade with a larger layout. I would wait and see what happens with pricing. If you are going to stick with your layout for a while, I'd go with the cheapest "reasonable" system. If in 5 or 8 years, you build a larger layout, then I would either expand, or go into a new middle of the line modle (such as the Empire Builder - whatever it will be called then). We had the Digitrax Chief for our smaller layout, but it was definite "over kill." Because my son was demo'ing for Digitrax here in Vancouver, we got a good deal on the Chief. We purchased it also because we are building a large (for N scale) layout, and could use more of the features on it (I'm interested in power routing). If you can get a "deal" on Atlas, get it. If you can't, go Digitrax.
Ok my plans for the next 6 weeks are #1 lay at least a loop of track so I can the trains running. This shouldn't be too hard as I'm already in progress laying down the cork roadbed but also does mean scrachbuilding some turnouts. #2 paint the walls. I've been needing to do the blue sky for sometime now. I guess I had better finally do it #3 lighting. I need to actually make a decision on my lighting and install it before I progress too much further. At the very least I need to fix the light that is in there as right now my only illumination is a single desk lamp. #4 I'd like to get the scenery at least started even if it's only a little bit.
My weekly report for my layout progress is as follows. I had to purchase more masonite (hard board) for backdrop material. I cut strips of plywood to lenght to attach the hard board to (wall, plywood strip, hard board). I must confess I found it hard to motivate myself to work on the layout. One of the negatives of using Faller backdrop photos is that they come rolled up. So most of the summer I had the sheets laying flat on a table with heavy weights on them to get them to remain flat. If I hadn't done that, they would be a nightmare to apply with glue to the masonite.
Hmmmm,weekly layout report .Removed the peninsula that has been part of my benchwork since 1992. Room seems to be a whole lot bigger now Got some drywall up today on the last unfinished wall (should be done with that job by next saturday)I will be cutting some masonite fashia boards tonight for both the layout and my On30 modules.Oh and I installed and hooked up another 115 outlet for the layout ,it now has two of its very own wall outlets.Basically one at either end of the layout room. Never ceases to amaze me just how much junk you can acumulate over a 20 year period.
Hi to all. Being new to the forum, this is my first post. I am in the midst of building a 28'X 20' "O" gauge basement layout. After many months, and using the services of a layout designer, Kris Foondle, I started laying track just this past March. I have approx. 1/3 of the track laid and hope to have it all laid by the end of the year. I choose to start with what I feel are the two most difficult areas to lay track first. Finally, this is just about done. With the exception of my center pennisular yard, almost all of the rest of the track will be main line track. I have now gotten to the point where I have to wall in my basement steps. The walls will then form the backdrops for two of my industrial spurs. I am at the point where I cannot really progress further untill this chore is done. This coming week, I have off for vacation. Although I have several things planned with the wife for the week, I hope to get the walls constructed which will included rebuilding the steps. Hopefully by making this public to you on the forum, I will feel the added pressure to report to you back in a week that this chore has bee completed. I don't have a website but you can view early photos and the track plan by going to www.modelrailweb.com . Click on design on the top left and follow the prompts to the Cape Cod Northern. Al Zuckerman (aka zuckie) [ 15. September 2002, 22:07: Message edited by: zuckie ]
Zuckie, I visited your site, overall great, with lots and lots of goodies. I must confess the home page was a bit confusing at first to get into your layout for me. Also I experienced some confusion as to what scale you were modeling as I read in your post that it was O guage, but the title of your piece said N guage. I look forward to more posts from you and welcome to Trainboard. If you take one project and concentrate on it, then take the 6 week (now five) deadline seriously, you will find that the desire to meet the deadline, will help move you on and you should accomplish a lot. I have found that a project I took on in the first episode of this layout project management technique we did here at Trainboard in the spring, was for more complicated than I originally contemplate. I have a feeling this is not an unusual state of affairs in layout construction and completion. This is the first larger layout I have built and I don't have the experience to judge what at first appears simple. Judging by your web site, you have lots of experience, and capable assistance. As they say in Australia... "Good on ya, mate."
I guess I am now at only 5 weeks, but still... the goal is to have benchwork up. I have a finished 7' by 7' room and have redrawn my plan too many times. I am going to work backwards and build bench work and then design layout. N scale. Right now, My tenative plan is dogbone, with entry into room unobstructed.
Barry T That is exactly what I have done. I designed a layout based on a mainline drawing only (loop to loop) and have built the benchwork. Now, after having just bought 90 feet of Peco 55 (N scale) I am seriously looking at the track plan in more detail. If you really want a challenge, after you have buiilt the benchwork, then put your backdrop in, then design around your back drop. The nice thing about this approach is that I use real turnouts and real track to plan, so I don't worry to much if what is on the paper is what is going down. I do use some parts of layout design in mags to help me and follow them roughly, to get the kind of operations I am after. I think you will like your approach.
Hi all. Okay, the 1 week report: - I got the "bluffs" above and east of the creek, and the low laying area west of the creek painted, shaded and highlighted. - I painted/detailed a few small "specimen" rocks in both areas to add interest. - I completed (weathering/dullcoating/adding track) the 3 main bridges across the creek, and set them aside for safety until ready for installation. - Painted the rock wall of the creek with the 1st and 2nd colors. Lessons Learned: - Latex is thicker than acrylics. I'm using both types on the layout, latex for the base coat, acrylics for detailing. Even though I thinned out the latex, if you're not careful it'll clog and cover the fine detail of the sand grains I'm using as "ground." - Washes need to be constantly mixed/stirred while using. This is the largest area I've ever applied a wash to, and though I periodically stirred and mixed the wash I still got color "splotching" and areas of darker color (not necessarily the low laying areas either). A larger brush (1 inch perhaps) probably would have helped too. - Know what you're going to do in advance. I lost quite a few hours "fiddle-farting" around because I didn't know what color I wanted to use for a wash and a highlight. So, I had to do tests, adding washes and highlights, let them dry, try something else, do it again, etc. until I came up with something I liked. My current topic for debate: Do I want to add vegetation (turf grass, lichen, etc.) to the completed areas now, or later? I'll try and make pictures available sometime this week. Well, it's getting light enough in the train room to see to paint, and I want to do some more work on the walls before I go to work later today. Gotta go. Take care, Mark [ 17. September 2002, 14:37: Message edited by: El Paso Mark ]
I have to admit a to-do list is very useful. I did it once in the past. I have a lot to do, including putting together some rolling stock, putting in decoders, scenery, and fixing one section of track. I just have to prioritize. I guess my first thing will be fixing one section of track that has a little hump to it. My next priority on the layout will be putting making a couple of hills and work on one of my down-town areas.
