Well finally looking like a layout Its based on a plan by John Tate (JBT on here!) who I owe a great deal to, for allowing me to hack his plans that he sent by Email to use. Thanks John, Your a life saver. Here is Johns thread. http://www.trainboard.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi/ubb/get_topic/f/9/t/006165.html . . JT went the cookie cutter build, I are aint that smart I went the Woodland Scenic Foam. Wish I would have gone Timber instead.. John also set a landspeed record completing his layout from nothing, to running in about 10 minutes . . . ere we look from the South End. It is actually not a bent board its straight, but comes out that way with the photo Stitch. . . . . Here we look from the South West Corner down on top of the layout which is not finished yet as you can see by the Pins holding the track in place to see what/where/when. . . This again is from the South End. The Cente section, not sure what to do here. The left Bridge is a temp addon, as is the right bit of foam. The center line has to be double lined, to allow for a station and a passing track, so not sure what to do yet [ January 05, 2006, 07:29 AM: Message edited by: virtual-bird ]
Looking from the West, ground level look across the yard to the station, with a 3 car Passenger train waiting at the station. Look across to the station, you pass a pair of B23-7's waiting in the yard Looking towards the North, a nice blurry photo of the yard. A Pair of Rivarossi E8's sit and wait in the yard. Note one with MT's and one with Rapidos
Looking down on this section at the south end, which the top level is not finished yet... As you can see by the pins pretending they are Glue . . . . . The North West Corner. . . . . . aint they sweet
Currently I am still in testing the track mode, finding dodgey joins, and the like. I have run from the station, round the south end, back under the bridges, and up the back hill to the pins, without an issue.. I have to complete the layout on the upper section from the south east corner thru the center. All the yard has been tested and checked, nothing bad there now, was a few baduns, but never work after midnight, and just take your time!!! Anyway hoping to have the top section done tomorrow if I would stop Procrastinating (http://www.getmoredone.com/tips2.html) on what I want to do, and JUST DO IT! Take care people, rip it to bits, let me know what you think of it so far, and any other ideas/suggestions. Thanks Bruce [ December 28, 2005, 09:32 AM: Message edited by: virtual-bird ]
Bruce, Are you looking for a two bay engine house. I have a Bachmann Model of one. If you would like it let me know. Alan
Bruce: your layout looks great. You've accomplished quite a bit. I particularly like the elevated area as you can do much with scenery. Stay cool and run steam.....
Thanks for the encouragement people. Want to hook into it today, but an agency called me up and wants me to come in for interview.. always something! Alan, let me know what ya want for it, might be just as easy to buy locally. Bob, That was one of the things I was planning is nice scenery. Where JBT's one has the 2 centers of the loops with lines, Im not sure if I will or not, but if I dont then the trains really arent going anywhere but round and back. Thats why I have that 2 line bridge pointing into the north section from behind where the station will be, I could put some warehousing up there... early days yet.. I have to figure out wiring yet :'( Boxcab. I hope so
Bruce: It looks like you have reverse loops to contend with. If you're using DCC, the wiring for the reverse loops are no problem at all. Stay cool and run steam.....
Bob. Overall size is 7.5ft long (north/south) by 4ft wide. Min Radius is 13.5inch which is the inner of the 3 tracks at the south section. Whats the story with return loops? Please shatter my dream It maynot show it, but its one big loop. The tracks going up the hill on the east are seperate lines that dont cross - even at the north end which is out of sight in this image.. But you can see it in this one that they are seperate So you come out of the yard on the left (in larger photo), and this line stays on the outside of the board until the top where you see it loop into the middle where there is no track at moment. The outer line will head across to the left on the foam, and circle back around to the line that comes over the single bridge, and will become the line parallel to the line you came up on. You then go down this line, to the bottom, which hugs the foam and comes back to the inner part under the bridges you just crossed, and to the yards from south west corner. (Confused now?) You go up the hill on one line (eg outside), and back down it on the other, which is the inner of the 2 lines, then at the north end there are 2 lines, one is from yard, the other cuts back under the bridge heading back across to the east side, loops back round and enters the yard at the south west corner.. Anyway I hope that makes it easier for me Thanks Me. Couple of other photos http://www.railimages.com/gallery/brucecremonesi
All the track is down! Now to figure out DCC and DC wiring Might just go with DC for now, then would be easier to convert to DCC later. I am going DCC. but $$ are preventing me going there yet, and not working does not help What is the best thing people have found for modelling edges of cliffs etc? EG in the above photo where the Woodland Scenic foam is, I want to make it into a nice looking thing! Is plaster the go, paper mache (Im now going back to 1975 when dad helped me with my first HO layout!)... or others? More Photos tomorrow. Thanks Bruce.,
Bruce, Use woodland scenics plaster cloth. If you look at my rail images account by pressing webpage you will see what it looks like. It is very easy to use and sets up very nicely. Good luck mate with your layout. The train shed schould be onit's way to the address you gave to on friday, once i find it. Alan
Being woodland scenic, it wont be cheap, would material, cloth of some form (old curtains?), soaked in plaster and used like paper mache work the same ya think Thanks again for the shed o u 1
To do mine it cost about $20.00 dollars us. Had it all done in about three days working maybe hour each day.
Get the plaster cloth from a medical supply store... you get the same thing, but more of it for less cost
thanks.. who said you blokes dont know ya stuff! I priced it from medical supplys.. worse than the hobby shop unless you buy in BULK..
Well my 4th attempt to post images again My first attempt at a Station Kit. There isnt many out there that I could find Im happy with the result although its a bit shiney! But all in good time. [ January 06, 2006, 08:27 AM: Message edited by: virtual-bird ]
Anyway Today is the first time a loco has run completely around the track, and along ALL tracks There were a few bugs, but thats what the testing is all about. My Overland Brass SD45-T2 is PERFECT for this sort of thing, it runs very fine tolerances on the track, so any humps, it finds them! Anyway heres a photo or 2 of the Test Loco RS11 and a Kato SD runnin round.... Not sure what to do next. Any hints on what should be done before other things?? Things to do 1) Figure out which way Im going in the end - DC or DCC 2) Finish wiring up points 3) Scenery 4) Wiring up track 5) Build Control Panel 6) Enjoy the layout! Thanks for looking.... Take care people.
