Sweethome Alabama

Jon Grant Aug 23, 2009

  1. Jon Grant

    Jon Grant TrainBoard Member

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    Over the past week, Sweethome Alabama has taken two backward steps and one step forward - rather like a drunk trying to get home.

    Firstly, I decided I didn't like the increasing sag of the Homasote, so I ripped it all off the layout

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    This was replaced by 5.5mm thick marine plywood sheet - much less sag to it and, even with some underboard bracing, will not weigh nearly as much as the Homasote.

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    Now on to the other backward step...

    Jon
     
  2. Jon Grant

    Jon Grant TrainBoard Member

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    I wasn't happy with the high gloss finish to the dark red of the fascia boards, even after coating them in 2 coats of satinwood varnish. The second backward step was to repaint everything with eggshell-finish lacquer red. I much prefer the finish now and the paint goes on so much easier.

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    I also painted the lighting brackets and the back of the layout black....so half a step forward

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    Now for the real step forward

    Jon
     
  3. Jon Grant

    Jon Grant TrainBoard Member

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    I deliberately set one section of the baseboards lower than the rest, so I could lay a sheet of foam to the correct height as the WS track underlay. The foam I used was from a camping bed roll and I used it in an area where I didn't want a steep ridge to the track ballast. It was also dirt cheap.

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    The WS underlay butts up nicely to the bedding roll

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    BTW, the gons are a couple of old Roundhouse examples I messed up.


    Next up are to wire up the lights and then I'm almost ready to start laying some track

    Jon
     
  4. stewarttrains98

    stewarttrains98 TrainBoard Member

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    Looking good. really like the the work that you have done on the gons. Nice job.
     
  5. Jon Grant

    Jon Grant TrainBoard Member

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    Over the past few days, I've added a yard lead to get the track from the fiddle yard to the layout proper, behind the backscene.

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    Once fitted I was knew where to cut the hole in the backscene so the track could enter the layout, the hole being slightly higher than the tallest 'excess-height' car in the fleet.

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    Once these 2 preliminaries were out of the way I was able to lay some track - finally.

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    Jon
     
  6. Jon Grant

    Jon Grant TrainBoard Member

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    The Peco code 83 track has been fitted behind the backscene and laid on WS roadbed, all the way to the interchangeable fiddle yard cassettes.

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    At the FY end, the last 6 inches of track changes from code 83 to code 75, so that the rails match with the tracks on the cassettes. I have also soldered the rails at the join between the layout and the fiddle yard board, which will be cut with a Dremel cutting disc.

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    The fiddle yard cassettes align with the track using a set of home-made bolts - the square-section brass tube and the code 75 rails are soldered to a scrap of PCB and screwed in place. Plastic toggle switch caps finish off the brass wire bolts.

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    Jon
     
  7. smallbore3p

    smallbore3p TrainBoard Member

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    First Rate as always, Jon!
    One question: Do you ever sleep?
     
  8. Jon Grant

    Jon Grant TrainBoard Member

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    I made some progress today and laid some ballasted track all the way up to the break between the two baseboards. I also remembered to fit the under-track, uncoupling magnets.

    Here is the ballasted area with the holes cut into the ballast to accept the magnets. I also had to chisel out some wood for the intensifier plate that fits under the magnet.

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    I adapted the turnouts for DCC operation as per Peco's instruction sheet and drilled the holes for the Tortoise and the wire to the frog, before pinning the turnout and track in place. I will remove the pins only after the track has been ballasted and glued.

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    My next job is to cut some wood strips to the profile of the ballast, so I can add some brass screws to hold the rails in place, where they cross the two baseboards.

    Jon
     
  9. Jon Grant

    Jon Grant TrainBoard Member

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    I have been busy laying some more track over the last few days. The first obstacle was to get the tracks over the baseboard joint.

    Using my tried and trusted low-vis method (once the ballast is laid) I glued some stripwood and inserted brass screws at the baseboard joins, sitting just under the rails. The rails are then soldered to the screws before being cut.

    When used in tandem with the patternmakers dowels, I get a perfect alignment every time

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    To keep the two tracks evenly spaced I cut a template equal to a scale 7ft wide. When placed between the sleepers of two tracks I get the correct spacing for two facing Peco #6 turnouts.

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    Jon
     
  10. Jon Grant

    Jon Grant TrainBoard Member

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    Once the boards joint was crossed I made quick progress and have now got most of the track, underlay and undertrack magnets fitted and glued.

    I started by finishing off the loop.

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    I then laid the tracks in the west yard - The foam underlay here is a flat sheet, as I want to inlay the tracks into the dirt, rather than have them properly ballasted.

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    I had to cut the back off the building at an angle so it fitted between the track and the backscene

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    I have now run out of undertrack magnets and will have to halt the tracklaying until some more arrive. I suppose I can fit the Tortoises and do the electrical feeders while I'm waiting for Postman Pat.

    Jon
     
  11. stewarttrains98

    stewarttrains98 TrainBoard Member

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    Looking good, like the progress so far. Looks like a productive weekend.
     
  12. Jon Grant

    Jon Grant TrainBoard Member

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    The rest of the track has now been laid and the undertrack magnets fitted.

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    I've already re-aligned one track and re-fitted the magnet three times until it worked correctly

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    All that remained from ten #5 and #6 turnouts and 12 yards of track was this...

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    I've also filled in the blank areas across the baseboard joints with railties, cut individually to fit between the rails and the screws. Once ballasted, the joint between the boards should be difficult to spot, without actually looking for it

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    Jon
     
  13. Jon Grant

    Jon Grant TrainBoard Member

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    Always a 'heart-in-mouth' moment, here is the first time the boards have been separated since the track was laid

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    I can now work on the underside of the layout - easy, when the layout can be propped up on its side.

    The first job was to paint the underside white. this helps to see the wiring and enables me to draw/write straight onto the board with wiring notes, section diagrams and placement lines for the Tortoise motors.

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    Now I can start with the wiring. I use 7-strand (7 SWG) wire for the rail droppers and 12 SWG wire for the cab bus. I also solder 2 feeds to each length of rail, to ensure there is no voltage drop.

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    I have also drilled the holes for the wires on the non-viewing side of the rails so that the feed isn't visible on the viewing side - it does mean that the solder joint is on the 'gauge/flange' side of the rail, but it shouldnt prove to be a problem.

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    Now for some soldering

    Jon
     
  14. gregamer

    gregamer TrainBoard Supporter

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    Nice progress!
     
  15. stewarttrains98

    stewarttrains98 TrainBoard Member

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    Like the progress, looking good. Thanks for the updates.
     
  16. MOPMAN

    MOPMAN TrainBoard Member

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    Nice trackwork. That is one of the best solutions to track over a joint that I have seen.
     
  17. friscobob

    friscobob Staff Member

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    Now THAT is what I call thriftiness! Looks like you subscribe to the saying "Measure twice, cut once."

    You may have mentioned it already, but what is the premise behind "Sweethome Alabama"?

    BTW, like the construction and trackwork!
     
  18. Jon Grant

    Jon Grant TrainBoard Member

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    Northwest Alabama in the 1980's-90s, small freight yard in the woods. served by one loco from any of the following - CSX/FL, NS/SOU, BN/FRISCO, KCS/Midsouth, IC. Freight cars mainly from those companies already mentioned, including numerous examples of patched freight cars.

    Should be right up your street.

    Jon
     
  19. friscobob

    friscobob Staff Member

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    At least in the same neighborhood, given that I'm modeling in southwestern Arkansas with Frisco and MP, in a quiet corner of the Frisco system. With all those railroads involved, should sound and look good:thumbs_up::thumbs_up:

    CAn't wait to see more!:tb-biggrin::tb-biggrin:
     
  20. COverton

    COverton TrainBoard Supporter

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    You do really good and painstaking work, Jon. Thanks for sharing your work via all those photos. They should help many who are looking for tips and techniques.

    You're a busy fella!! Like Isaac Newton, you're never at rest. :tb-biggrin:
     

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