I'll be building a 28" x 33" "Test Track Oval" at the end of a hall way. I intend to test: Wiring - DC and DCC Scenery - Structures, mountains, water, backdrops and who knows what. Any suggestions as to what it should include? It can be much more than just a racetrack oval.
Include a couple of turnouts and a 45 or 30 degree crossover. That's all you need to test loco's out. Stay cool and run steam....
Are you going to test maximum sustained speed needed to dry red paint in an hour? Include turpentine factory.
Mark - Actually I thought I would build a plant specializing in custom Pressurized Tank Cars. Each with: With a very noticeable patch With a dome that appears to have been the nozzle on a Testors spray can Special instructions on how to open, (readable at 1 foot) Car #: 41 - The "Stupid Mistake Number" give by Pete Nolan to my "experiance" Color: Flat Red Including a special “Oooops Line” logo. Hmm, I just named my new RR. How appropriate since I intend to use this one for practice and testing. Hmm, wonder if I can use this in the graphic: Painted flat red What else am I forgetting? Edit: I don't like "Ooops Line". Too much like "Leasons Learned Line". Any suggestions with "Oooops" in it? Edit II: Oooops Landia ! [ January 23, 2006, 04:38 PM: Message edited by: Grey One ]
Future Home of Oooops Landia It needs 3 more latteral supports. I'll put 2"s of blue foam on top of that. [ January 23, 2006, 05:55 PM: Message edited by: Grey One ]
Since it will be easier to scenic it should rapidly reduce the number of "blue foam pictures" folks here have endured.
Steve: Why don't you continue working on your layout and start to scenick a section of it? Stay cool and run steam.....
Bob - screwing up with the paint reminded me how prone to error I am. Yes, I have moments of damn near creative brilliance (or at least pretty smart), but there are times when I really wish I had practiced it first. There are multiple disciplines coming up that I would rather mess with first. I will proceed on both layouts. The GandG will: Get insulated for wiring. Gone over with a fine tooth comb, (magnifier) looking for weak connections Make sure the foam is secure Elevate the outside of curves Glue down the track. Insulating the track will force me to make progress on wiring. I'll do it. I have too much vested. With my g/f out of my way things should go forward. Um, did I mention she was gone. "Like a freight train". But thanks for asking. Your input is always invaluable. Edit: Of course, that won't help my spelling one bit. [ February 14, 2006, 07:14 AM: Message edited by: Grey One ]
Do you mean a "crossing" like an "X"? I plan to have at least 2 concentric ovals with cross overs as well but not the double cross over as that seems to be way too much trobule
Steve: I think you should focus on getting your track wired correctly. Then use a hot glue gun and adhere it to the foam. Then you'll be able to run trains continuously on the completely wired section I. Then you can start to scenick a small section of it. Think in terms of 12-18" squares and not the entire layout. Once you have one scene finished, you'll feel great about what you've accomplished and that will give you further impetus to continue on with some scenery in a different section. Have fun and focus on your main layout. Stay cool and run steam.....
Bob - I agree with you about the wiring. That is an area I will not innovate, (except for the use of rocker switches), I would rather practice wiring on the "Ooops Landia", (OLRR or OL). As for scenery? I will be innovating all over the place there. I have a lot of off the wall ideas which in the end will likely fail. I would rather do that on the OL. Edit: After thought - I think you should focus on getting your track wired correctly. Then use a hot glue gun and adhere it to the foam. Ah, yes, thanks for suggesting the sequence. [ January 23, 2006, 08:30 PM: Message edited by: Grey One ]
Grey, I am completely ADD and strangely OC. There are times when getting it right becomes so important, that getting it at all seems to fade into the background. Seriously, I get so obsessed with doing things right, or some minor detail that I just stop progress entirely. Well for the past few years I didn't have a layout. How stupid can that be? I am learning to squint and overlook the small stuff. The world looks better without my contacts. he he he I would have to agree with Power steam, just keep working on the master layout and if you screw something up just tear it out and redo it. Maybe, just maybe, you could do basic scenery with some of the off the shelf ideas that are tried and true. Then do the off the wall on select areas. I also tried the look at small areas and do those approach that power mentioned. on my 2x4 layout I divided it up into roughly sq foot areas and did a sq foot of scenery per night. Once it was all done I went back and added another layer on each section. But the main thing was making it look sort of done by doing those little chunks. Go look at my layout party progress reports. Progress is tiny but it is consistent. By the end of the layout party I am going to be running trains Darnit! So I say keep cranking on the big layout. It really looks like it's coming along nicely.
Well, Geeky - Yes and no. For scenery? - Yes, absolutely. I will likely get a covering of some sort down over most of it. Perhaps no more than brown paper / plaster and paint. For wiring? - Er, no. I can identify at least 20, (maybe 25), areas I would like as blocks and that is just on the GandG portion. I have to: Become "ok" at soldering Build a control panel. Solder everything together 20 blocks means: 40 plus cuts in the rails, (or insulated joiners) 40 plus wires soldered to track, (or use the pre done ones) 40 plus soldered rocker switches 10 “Local” rocker switches right on the layout, (great mind I have) Ok breaking it down into “doable” amounts: In one night I can do the cuts or put in the insulated joiners to create the blocks How long will it take to become competent at soldering? I see about 4”s across at my optimum viewing distance. Ok, Tell ya’ll what. I’ll try soldering wires to track and switches no later than Friday. That leaves making a control panel – That is at least a weekend project. Ok, I’ll try. Oh, and job hunting – gotta fit that in. Steve – Wondering what I have got myself into
This is the VERY reason I am starting small. I want a sense of completion and satisfaction to keep up my interest while I'm still new to all this.
It's always nice to have a little place to run trains while building the big "master layout". Little roundy rounds are always good for breaking in new engines and experimenting with scenery techniques.
Thanks John, Is that a door? Do you have a plan you can share? I will be going for some of the same type of scnery around the Grandure Valley.
Well if you need to solde, Get out the old smoldering iron and some wire and start Ironing. Practice tinning wires and use lots of flux. I do not know how I would feel about soldering anything to unitrack. Seems to be you will get lots of melted parts.
I find that rosin core solder does not have enough flux to really make things work. I have tried liquid flux, but I still love the old style of brown resin that you can dip the end of your solder into and double up on flux. You can do it without it, but once you use flux you'll realize it's just easier and faster to use flux. I have seen some pre soldered rail joiners that have a wire soldered to them. You could always just buy those and do without the soldering. I'm all for finding work arounds for the things you just really do not like to do. These are the atlas ones , they list for 2.45 [ January 24, 2006, 12:50 PM: Message edited by: traingeekboy ]
