Oops. Didn't get back here for a while. While a 2 track staging yard would not add as much to operation as 3 tracks, I'd say it would still be worth a try. Maybe you could do something temporary to try it out. Just my 2 cents.
We had one of our traveling layouts at a train show in Melbourne, Fl, yesterday. While I mostly stayed with the layout I did have a little time to peruse the aisles and found this MTH Railking Imperial PRR L1 Mikado at an irresistible price so it came home with me.
As trains roll around the layout boxcar doors will often open revealing a blank interior. I printed floorboards and used foam core to look like boxes. When I printed the floorboards I thought they might be too wide but now that they are installed I'm not so sure. What do you think? It's easy to adjust the print to make them narrower on the next boxcar I detail. I hand printed the boxes Allied. I think it turned out OK but might try printing some Acme boxes next time for a more professional look. Again, what do you think?
I am really partial to a style of modeling I call Crap Building. If anyone looks to close, they'll realize my models are just crap. The fundamental rule is, do something, then do something else, because if you obsess over the details you'll never have a layout to play with. I think the floor looks fine. I'd move onto another project and just let that sit. FYI - Really enjoy your layout updates.
I added narrower floorboards and a different load to another boxcar. The first boxcar is in post #224 above. I like both loads and floors. What do you think?
Yeah, the skinnier boards are a little more realistic, but then again, there is no real prototype. Some different sizes of wood and the load itself make it more realistic!
The floor looks great. My only comment for improvement would be on the wood pallet under the boxes. A standard size shipping pallet is 40 inches by 48 inches so if you made that wood pallet half the size and put 2 side by side under the load, it would look better. there is also an opportunity to add some color there as well. Check out Chep and Peco pallets for ideas.
I like the skinnier boards better, myself. Enjoy following your progress Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
So true, Kurt. These are semi-scale toy trains so semi-realistic is more than good enough. Thanks BNSF. I didn't think about the pallet being too big, but you are right. Maybe when I do the next one I'll use 2 pallets side by side. Thanks C&O. Thank you Joe.
I've added 3 new freight cars in the last couple of weeks. First is this MTH Railroader's Club Railking club car. It arrived on my front porch about 2 weeks ago. Next up are 2 cars I picked up at the train show in Deland, Florida. I went with a group of Vero Beach Model Railroaders. First is this NYC stock car. I didn't have any stock cars and this one caught my eye. It's an MPC era car with plastic trucks. It's very light weight but seems to track well. I may eventually replace the trucks with die cast sprung trucks but it's not a high priority. Last is this Williams PRR caboose. I have 2 Pennsy engines but only 1 caboose. I'm not concerned with prototypical accuracy but having the engine and caboose to match is important to me. Now I can happily run two Pennsy trains at the same time.
I particularly like the stock car. It's unusual to see a model of a double deck stock car as used for hauling sheep and hogs.
I added some unkempt greenery from the freight platform to the milk platform over the last few days. Even though my layout is finished in the sense that there are no bare areas it still needs a lot of refinement and detailing so I'll be busy for years to come. I may do the same for the area between the main and the spur track from the freight platform to the switch next.
I ordered this Railking Commodore Vanderbilt from Mario's Trains and it arrived yesterday afternoon. It's already on the rails earning it's keep. I had a pre-war Lionel Commodore Vanderbilt when I was a boy and for a long time I've wanted to add a modern model of this loco to my roster.
What a beauty! Good for you. I've been collecting models I always wanted as a kid lately. in my case it isn't really collectible, its just 60's to 70's plastic HO scale junk to most people. Your loco is a real masterpiece by comparison with the things I buy cheap in T'internets.
Thanks Geeky. The trains you collect are important to you and that gives them value. It really is true that one man's trash is another man's treasure, and if you can get that treasure at a good price it's even more valuable.