UP Mike's ZoCal Sub

up mike Jul 13, 2010

  1. up mike

    up mike E-Mail Bounces

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    Thought I would start a New thread on the building of my layout / mods.
    What started out only wanting to build a home layout and then build a mod for the Club just made more sense to use the Z Bend Standards for my home layout.
    As of now it's 8' long and 36" wide on my smaller mod I might go from a double track down to a single track thru a small mountain.
    Using DCC makes all that easy nothing like Holding for a train to clear the single track area.
    the plan for the smaller mod is for the home layout only but that could change.......
    The plan for my 36"x48" Mod it will have two themes Cajon Pass type scenery on one side and on the other the Rockies
     

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  2. Loren

    Loren TrainBoard Supporter

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    Well Mike,
    Looks like you caught the Z disease!! I'm so glad you are sick !!!

    You have enough foam to model the entire Cascade range. Now when you need trees, well, I can either supply, (prefer not to) or help you learn how to make hundreds yourself.

    At any rate, I'm glad you are in ZoCal, A fine bunch for sure.

    If I can be of any help, here I am.....
     
  3. zscaler

    zscaler TrainBoard Member

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    Looking good so far Mike. You need to paint your fascia glossy black to match the ZoCal modules. Mask off the UP symbol of course. ;)
     
  4. Z_thek

    Z_thek TrainBoard Member

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    Actually the paint is semi gloss, very dark green, left over from John Duino's house trim paint. I have a small can with that paint, enough at least for a couple of dozens of modules.
     
  5. SJ Z-man

    SJ Z-man TrainBoard Member

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    There ya go ! Welcome to module-mania !
    .
     
  6. up mike

    up mike E-Mail Bounces

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    Thanks Guyz!! More pic's coming later today

    Loren did you get my last PM?
     
  7. Loren

    Loren TrainBoard Supporter

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    Mike, I did, and answered you, but who knows what goes on in cyber space.?

    Try a pm to ljsnyder@charter.net
     
  8. up mike

    up mike E-Mail Bounces

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    e-mail sent Thanks!
     
  9. up mike

    up mike E-Mail Bounces

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    Quick update waiting on some Portals and still need to get some roadbed down before I do any final cuts in the foam but for now it's coming together.

    When I first built my N scale layout a few years back I picked up some 120 watt lights but at the time they didn't come in any colors and it was a cooker in the garage.
    Yesterday I picked UP some 100 watt builbs in the Sunlight color.....Wow big difference and it's not as Hot as before

    Before and After
     

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  10. up mike

    up mike E-Mail Bounces

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    More pic's..............
     

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  11. Loren

    Loren TrainBoard Supporter

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    Mike,
    I don't know whether to call you the Blue Foam King, or the Foam Hog?

    Or there is one other possible explanation for that pile of blue......you're going to make a mountain much bigger than the ones I have? LOL
     
  12. Loren

    Loren TrainBoard Supporter

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    Mike,
    Just be sure you can access that hidden track........if you don't you could end up hating yourself........don't want that to happen
     
  13. zscaler

    zscaler TrainBoard Member

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    Mike,
    Try to cut out as much of the back as you can for better access. If you want, make a "tunnel liner" out of some aluminum foil. Make it as thick as you like for rigidity. Form it into a "u" shape and curve it to match the track. Paint the inside flat black. Keep the inside as wrinkled as you can to represent the irregular inside of a "blasted" out tunnel. Keep it removable to get to the track. You only need to make it long enough so you can't see down the tunnel(s).
    Just an idea. ;)
     
  14. up mike

    up mike E-Mail Bounces

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    David that's a great idea on that removable tunnel liner I will look into that when I get my portals I have 4" head room to get to the cars and clean track I guess if I wanted more I could carve the roof out.
     

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    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 17, 2010
  15. SJ Z-man

    SJ Z-man TrainBoard Member

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    Mike, looking REAL good !
    .
     
  16. up mike

    up mike E-Mail Bounces

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    Thanks Jeff

    How much cutting did you do on this ME Bridge? Nice colors on that unit :p

    [​IMG]
     
  17. up mike

    up mike E-Mail Bounces

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    Got my portals today Nice work Loren :thumbs_up:
     

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  18. jhn_plsn

    jhn_plsn TrainBoard Supporter

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    Looking good Mike. Hope to see it at a local show.
     
  19. Loren

    Loren TrainBoard Supporter

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    Mike,
    Your mountains are of great interest to me since I've got seemingly a whole mountain range on my modules, with dreams of yet more to come. A man can't have too many mountains.....or is that tools? No matter, we just seem to keep building as we grow older. I may have to buy a semi to haul everything in someday.

    Just two days ago I sent off another batch of portals to Anthony to replace some of the ones you bought. Mountain builders are my best friend.....

    Once again, as I and others have mentioned......be sure to have some portion of the mountain be either a removable access area for cleaning and maintenance, or maybe a complete lift off mountain top. The lift off is a bit trickier to camouflage the seams, but it can be done as I did on my Castle Crags module . In this early picture you can see the joint between the removable portion and the mountain base. Shrubs can be a modeler's best friend just like trim can be a wood worker's best friend..........they both hide a multitude of sins......er, gaps and voids :eek:)
     

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  20. up mike

    up mike E-Mail Bounces

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    Wow now that is a Mountain Loren the back side of the mountain will have a hinge door not sure but thinking of a magnet system to keep it closed

    What are the sizes of your Modz for the mountains?
     

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