And so it begins. A new chapter in the C&L Layout. I have slowly began taking it down to the bare foam base. Already removed some of the track, and have to remove all of it and also probably the cork roadbed, as everything is attached with nails of some kind. Just removed all the Wooodland Scenics street and traffic lights. Now to remove the remaining track and the cork roadbed. Need to take a picture first for reference when putting them back. It will still be more or less the same simple track plan as it is only 2' x 4'! You can see Post-It notes for reference when working on it. They are just ideas and could change. First thread of the beginning of the C&L Layout & Beyond All those WS lighting items are already taken out. Now it looks like someone shot the underneath with buck shot. What a way to bring in the new year. Start over...again
You are going down a fun path in2tech! Going to be fun to follow along and see where "the beyond" takes you.
So if the road crew fixes the top of the layout, who fixes the bottom part of it...........me? So question(s), if I fill in the old foam base holes on the top at least, with spackle or something, which I plan on doing, since I now have a Pin Vise I can make the holes closer to the wire size of the Woodland Scenic wires. What can I use to replace the coffee straws I used before for smaller wire holes? I need something as the wires grab hold of the drilled foam. Do they make round styrene the size I need? I'm planning, and this is just the plan, to do a better job and go slower this go around...that's the plan I hope I can stick to the plan, or at least roughly stick to it
Finally found them, after more then 6 month's looking for all the electrical stuff for my layout. Now I can fix the turn outs and such when I get to that point in the rebuild. Yeah me I knew I had this stuff still.
Talk about your OCD Been putting all the street and traffic WS lights back in their packages as I work on the changes to the C&L. I had them taped to the wall with painters masking tape, but after they fell for the 10th time, I want looking for the original packages ( and found my wiring I was missing for turn outs ) to put them back in their packages as when bought. As you can see I almost never throw away most original packing That in itself is kind of OCD At first it was frustrating putting them back in, but now it's kind of calming for me. Anyway I feel better, knowing they won't break, they are so fragile, At least I hope not. Working on the Cast Iron street lights, only have 3, and one is broken and need to glue and wire is really short now. The time to do 6 more Wooden Pole that are on other base I even still have the plastic tab all the wires go around for each package Now watch me put them in a container and forget where they are
So I don't forget how BAD the wiring was, this is the second base, but first/main base was just as bad before I took it all apart. Mainly a reminder to me, not to put it back like this Spaghetti anyone? Going to try to make videos this go around, try. This is NOT good!
Bad? That's way better than the mess I recently cleaned up on mine. Just to make you feel better, you are note the only one who saves packages and puts stuff back in them when not in use.
Looking for some suggestions as I continue to think about Beyond? I have ideas, but need suggestions if you have any. Moving my turn outs so that I can put crossing over the tracks, IF it works. Making the road width's smaller for more room for modeling thing's? And have also wanted one of those areas that have the Smooth-It or whatever for an area, example uploaded below. Planning on small SPUR on the left and would also allow me to connect second base. And might add one in the front near the switches on the inside of track? Have about 12" wide by maybe 16-18" long as the door has to open. Not sure if possible yet, but would be cool if I can. Everything on the layout RUNS to the LEFT for operation. Something like this if I can? Suppose to be Smooth-It NOT Sooth-It Or just add the Smooth-It for my Refinery area? Now that's an idea, and easier to move base to work on, but I can of like the extension if not a PITA? Not sure. Any and all ideas appreciated. Still have to remove cork roadbed and all the DCC drops as connections will change from what they were, in most cases. Switches are moving, probably to allow crossing, etc... Go ahead your time to help design the new C&L or at least help with your ideas Thanks!
Like your proposed changes. Can the layout be slid to the left if you have to open the door all the way? Or is that not needed to get something in/out of the room. If you are going to use the area that is behind the door when open maybe use all of it. Also I use curved turnouts a lot as they let me fit things into spaces where I couldn't with a straight turnout. Are they available in the track you are using? Sumner
Sumner beat me to the suggestion for the additional "wedge" by the Soothit section. [Keep the name for that area, it sounds good and gives you a fun story/memory.
I use Atlas Code 80 track and have no idea abut curved turn out? The way I was thinking and just realized the trains would come out to the Right, of course it's DCC so doesn't really matter. But how would I turn them around to go Left? Just thinking about it. Always wanted a Smooth-It type area of some kind If I have to move something big in or out of the room, I usually move it to the bed for that. But rarely happens. I can even take down the folding table like I did when I installed my new shelves above the layout. Sorry don't have a drawing program! Can't find curved turn outs for my track.
The angled extension seems like a good idea. Would be a good spot for that diesel service area and maybe some other scene. Will be interesting to see what you come up with.
See attached. Orienting the streets parallel to the sidings, rather than the edges of the layout provides more space, and room for more/longer sidings.
Let's see if this works better (new computer, just figuring things out...) Rotate street grid to align with sidings, not layout edge. This allows more room for structures, etc.
Can you show mw where the streets would be? What program are you using? And thanks! I'll post a photo soon.
I use XTrackCAD ($free), and like it a lot. I'm sure I'd like expensive layout design programs more, but not as much as the additional track, rolling stock, etc. This design uses Unitrack sectional track. Overall dimensions are 24"x48", N scale. Outer track centerline radius is 11", inner is 9.75". The structure outlines are of actual, available structure models, which are included in XTrackCAD. Note that I positioned the streets to avoid crossing over switch points (the moving parts). I also left room for an industry at the stub at top center. The point of this exercise is to illustrate that using a curve to render a siding parallel to the mainline consumes extra space, which can be better used.
