Hi everyone, July and August became very busy times at work, so I have not had much of an opportunity to post on Trainboard. I notice that the S Scale world is very quiet. I have indeed been working on my train layout. All of the benchwork has been completed and is in place in the bedroom. For the first time, I ventured into the world of backdrops and have painted and installed them along the walls. They are basically a sky blue, but they really add a lot to the appearance. As an editorial comment, I recommend backdrops for all model railroads now that I have seen how easy the simple ones are to provide. The current Model Railroader has an article on more artistic backdrops. I might attempt some hills and trees as well. The rough form of the terrain is about 90% done. I have one section where I intend to put a barge and barge dock which needs to be finished. After that is complete, I can begin installing the fascia boards. I actually intend to make this layout look reasonably nice. I have started to install roadbed and track. A little of the track is in place. I am laying the track on HO cork roadbed which I am gluing directly to the foam base. HO road bed is wide enough for my purposes and provides just a little bit of track elevation from the basic ground level. I have made more advanced progress on the cork installation. I am using Shinohara code 100 flex track and #6 turnouts. I find this track to be easy to work with for someone used to using Atlas code 83 and code 100 HO track. I laid out the turnouts for the layout and found (to my pleasant surprise) that everything will work as I intended. The yard ladder took a little more distance than I hoped it might, but my three track yard will hold about 12-15 cars, which is adequate for switching the planned available industrial spots. Although this layout has a continuous loop for those lazy evenings and for entertaining guests, it will primarily be a switching layout between a small yard and several industries. I have spent 24 years in the chemical industry, and that is the side of railroading I have observed most frequently and most closely. I do have one corner of the layout where I intend to build a chemical plant. I am also modifying an Atlas truss bridge kit for S scale to cross a small stream I have provided. The stream serves no other real purpose other than to provide an excuse for the only bridge on the layout. I am basically using the molded sides and creating the track support structure from plastic parts. My HO club, Northwest Crossing, has several kitbashed or scratch built bridges which served as a go-by for how to do things. Progress will be slow and steady this fall. I am using the system advocated by an old model railroad friend in Philadelphia. If I have 15 or 30 minutes, I will do a little work on the layout. Fall is a busy season at our house. Our daughter is a senior in marching band. Between Friday night games and various band events, I do not have a lot of free time. I will also be on two week long business trips. in October and November as I become trained to become a Six Sigma Blackbelt. My goal is to have the trains operation by the holidays. I can then focus on scenery in the new year. That is basically the news from Houston. Its been a little quiet in here lately and I thought I should liven up the discussions. I hope everyone is enjoying the early part of Autumn.
Don- Having heard nothing recently, I am guessing that the UP has grabbed Greg. May have him locked up somewhere. My last post relating to this topic, was actually the HOn3 you noted today. Concerning my ongoing exploration of Sn2 possibilities. Sn2 is largely a scratchbuilders scale. They use HOn3 track and switches. So that's easy. What is most lacking, is motive power. I'm a post-steam era person. So that makes it even more difficult. There seems to be only one two truck (B+B) diesel anyone has used. And it's not easy to locate. Believe it's brass. (OUCH!) Otherwise, much like at your home, summer has been consumed with other pursuits. Hoping to see some pictures of your work as progress is made! Boxcab E50
Howdy guys! I have been busy, but gone for 48 hours at a shot. I am on a temporary hold down on a pool turn to Elko. UP is in dire straights, and if they stopped worrying about overtime and such, they might get the trains moving out of the yards and over the road. Oh well, I guess I don't see the big picture. Well on to S. Don glad to hear you are progressing with your layout. I hope you are recording it as you go. Boxcab E50, have you considered Sn42? It uses On30 or HO track and has some nice kits available. Also, cheap old Athearn can make good sources for engine running gear. I look to New Zealand for inspiration, since they have some American looking engines along with some neat old English Electric engines that resemble EMD export F units. Also the cars they have use modern roller bearing trucks and have a wide variety of types to model. If I were to model Sn42, Peco On30 track would be the cats meow IMHO. Well, got to run. I will be in and out of here so hopefully I can keep up with you guys. Greg
Hi Greg- I know of Sn42. Have tried searching for info. Found almost nothing. There is a Yahoo Group. Very tiny membership. Weird membership requirements. Do you have any sites I could check for specifics? Such as available equipment? Inspiration? More? Boxcab E50 [ 11. September 2004, 20:19: Message edited by: BoxcabE50 ]
Take a look at this for some inspiration. http://groups.msn.com/kiwirail And here for some kits that can be either Sn3 or Sn3 1/2. http://www.railmaster.co.nz/railway/loco.htm I have a couple others book marked that I need to find. Greg
Darren, Cool looking car. IIRC there were also a 2-bay hopper and box car. I don't know if they were of the same vintage. Greg
Hope we get some pictures on the weekend photo posting next weekend. I really like the narrow guage scenery in the larger scales. (I am in N scale; hope it is okay to post here! ) Greg, how about some UP war stories? There must be somewhere on this list to post that stuff. Also, for New Zealand, I was there a few years ago. The engines looked like GE U boats to me. I will try to find some pictures and post them on the railfan forum. Here is the url: http://www.trainboard.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi/ubb/get_topic/f/77/t/000187.html? [ 14. September 2004, 19:52: Message edited by: sapacif ]
Greg- That looks to be about the most I've ever seen listed in any one place. Pricey stuff though..... Boxcab e50
So far this is the only thing I have found on eBay and most are incomplete with one or more canisters missing. If you hear of any of the others up for sale let me know.
