Hog Waller Junction

John Moore Mar 11, 2015

  1. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Cork can "dry out" (for a lack of better words) somewhat. But I have some which is easily over twenty years old, which still is good. It might be a combination of the age and the radius.
     
  2. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    The factor of how long it had set in the now closed LHS probably adds some age to my cork supply. And I was trying to lay the stuff on 9.75 Rad. The upper level will be about 8.5 Rad. so I know I would have even more trouble up there which is why I am using sheet cork cut to what I need. But a thought crept into my old gray cells this AM for the remaining lower level that I may just try and briefly soak the cork before using it on the lower level main. May just soften up whatever is the binder for that ground cork enough to restore some flex with a short soak. However that is some days away before I will know if it works.
     
  3. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    Almost finished the first trestle just need rails around the fire barrel platforms. I wanted to eventually have this on the larger layout as an abandoned trestle and roadbed and I think I caught the flavor of the ancient trestle. So I am going to leave well enough alone other than install those railings. Building a 2nd trestle kit except I am going to create two shorter trestles out of the kit. To do that I had to go digging in my scrap wood and come up with some more wood to do the ends for one. And my supply delivery is eminent. Shipped yesterday at 2 PM due to arrive today. Wahoo.
    [​IMG]
     
  4. cf7

    cf7 TrainBoard Member

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    Looks good, John. Looking at the photos, I don't see how a lot of modelers can handle the cat situation. I would imagine that hair would be everywhere. Not to mention...I would be sneezing my head off.
     
  5. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    My original two left everything alone and never touched a thing on my workbench. Even Deekus, as she has aged, now leaves stuff alone. As far as hair no worse than a dog and a good brushing plus a great vac, plus they are short hair variety. As soon as the novelty of the new layout wears off they will leave it alone. I do have quite a rapt audience when I run trains on the test track though. No matter where they are they hear them running and suddenly appear jockeying for the best viewing positions.
     
  6. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    With the supplies in finally I set back to work on the layout deciding to get the first turnout going to the logging line installed. Lot of words later and trying some different turnouts it is in. Tried soaking the old cork roadbed in some water. Left it to soak for about 30 minutes and daggone it worked. So by this evening I hope to have the main extended by about another three feet plus the turnout, and maybe two more.

    Decided that I did not want to cut up a piece of flex so I broke out the soldering iron to join three sections of curved 9.75 R together. Been a long time since I have soldered any track and my first mistake was grabbing the 15 amp iron. After a few choice words went with the 25 amp. and all was okay. So you soldering pros can grade me on the below photo. What looks like blue tweezers are my heat sinks, a must if one doesn't want to melt things for any newbies out there.
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    And Samantha the Witch made a rare appearance in the daylight to check out the construction. Seen here checking out the newest level added.
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  7. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    Track gang has been busy preparing the road bed for the main. And yes the outside track bed is about 1.75 inches from the edge. However the front gets a piece of low plexiglass so that will take care of unscheduled dives if any should occur. Also the front roadbed goes from end to end, anticipating when the section gets incorporated into the larger yet to be built layout. Same thing will occur on the upper line at the log camp since that will be a through line also when that happens. For the time being those ends will just be storage tracks. Trying to get as much roadbed glued down today as tomorrow will be a messy day of snow sleet and rain so glue won't dry worth a hoot. I haven't yet decided on how high the upper level will go. Right now it is at 4.5 inches so maybe a few more inches. And notice no cats. The novelty has wore off and there are more interesting things to do like wait to attack the mailman.
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  8. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    Got a little ahead of myself in laying the lower level roadbed since I have a creek to carve out of there. Oh well have razor saw and foam cutter, not to worry. Did finally start the first part of the incline ramp to the upper level and that foam cutter in the photo has paid for itself already allowing me to go back and trim and cut out foam where the ramp needed to go. Saved all the pieces cut out that I will use as fill later. Incline will be about a 5 to 6 %. Once I get the incline in place I will then go back and decide where the trestles go.
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  9. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    I've been meaning to ask about those "tweezers" in this picture. Where did you get them?
     
  10. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    I have a number of them of different sizes with one just a little larger than the one shown. I have had them about 20-25 years now and I believe they were from Radio Shack when they used to have quite an assortment of tools and I needed some heat sinks for some mini torch work.
     
  11. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Ah. Well, that is one source which has mostly gone away. We're losing ours in a few days. :(
     
  12. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    Probably another case of corporate suicide. Was the place to go for years for all the electronic parts to build almost anything or repair it and the tools to do it with. When they got into trying to sell phones and froofaw junk they lost their customers.

    A quick postscript. Internet search of the Shack show they only have one type of heat sink tool listed and it appears to be a blunt nosed one about the sixe of the blue one pictured in my earlier post. I notice that the shop that used to be about a mile from me is no longer being listed so they are rapidly shutting doors.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 20, 2015
  13. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Yup. Exactly.
     
  14. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    Continue to make slow progress with the incline up to the upper level. Just about to fit the last piece in but it has been and still is being a challenge. Round circular piece of cardboard is my custom made template for 8 inch radius. Furry object is my instant weight device for holding down the additional upper levels just added. Blue taped stuff is my Woodland Scenics incline foam which I have bent to the radius and now securing with glue before it gets mounted. The upper level point at which the incline meets the level will be beveled some. Did that to reduce grade. Running at close to 6% on the grade and will definitely be double and triple headed critter territory with short consists.
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  15. Hytec

    Hytec TrainBoard Member

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    Supervision, though always present does have its benefits.

    John, your progress is a pleasure to watch, thanks for sharing.
     
  16. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    Finished laying in the incline to the upper level and installed the 2nd one running the opposite way. Curved turnout goes there. Using my handy dandy gauge I went to checking percent of grade and while the lower area up to about 3/4ths of the way up is within or under the 6 percent the last portion is a danged 9 percent. I am not totally happy with that although I have enough capable power to climb that grade double or triple headed with a short consist.

    Several trains of thought are running through my mind. All of course after the glue has set by tomorrow. One is to reduce the upper deck by one level and then simply lower the whole incline by either cutting out underneath it and regluing or use my Woodland Scenics foam cutter, bow style, and simply cut the incline down to a gentler grade. The other thought is to again lower it some and cut out some of the foam on the upper level to make the tail end of a switchback.

    A quick post scrip. Decided before dinner to remove a top layer and then cut the incline down to a better grade. The heck with waiting for glue to dry it was easier to do it now. Have my incline now starting at a gentle 2% at the beginning and gradually increasing up to 6 % at the top. Tomorrow I will take my small sander to the incline to smooth the irregularities from the cutting down. Nice big shop vac sitting in the room with me will take care of any dust quickly and anything else that isn't strapped down. [​IMG]
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 22, 2015
  17. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    Talk about supervision! The Big Guy intently studying the plan to make sure I got it right.
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    And this I had previously posted on another thread. My modeling locale, the island with Friday harbor in the distance. Note the ferry at the bottom of the photo. Just visible near the left center side of the photo is a rock outcropping near the top and that is the locale for this mini scene I am doing. Found the back drop for those mountains on the mainland and will order that along with my next supply order.
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  18. badlandnp

    badlandnp TrainBoard Member

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    Looks like the superintendent is approving of the work, he hasn't applied the paws of re-arrangements yet! Purrrrrrr.

    Looks like there will be a lot of trees in your future.

    Am waiting to see that ten-wheeler pulling a load up that little climb.
     
  19. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    That is going to be Shay and Climax country. I have about 14 locos that can negotiate the 8 inch radius including the Micro Ace Mallet. That photo is a lot of 2nd growth timber. So I will still have my hands full planting enough trees to be creditable for the early years of the old growth. Haven't given much thought to trees yet though.
     
  20. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    That's hysterical! I'm laughing like crazy.....
     

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