What's on your layout

I don't like the "missing" ties when joining MTL flex track. They thin out the first 4 ties so that they'll clear under the rail joiners. This looks funny when ballasting. I wish they had left the ties as thick and only reduced the thickness under the rail where the joiner goes.

If you use an insulated joiner, there is no room under the rail so you have to cut them out. So I had fellow BAZ Boy Robert Ray cut me some filler ties. One is 0.2" wide and drops between the joiners. Then there are two that go on the outside, with a thinned are that goes under the rail (to hold it until ballasted).

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So after they are inserted, they look like this (will update this pix with the ballast tomorrow):

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Hey Jeff that looks pretty nice!

 

Didn't come out as nice as I wanted though, now that I've done a bunch. For the virgin track, when they are on the cork, it works great ( a lot of mine was reworked so not all on the cork in some spots due to super elevation, etc.). Just got done ballasting a few scale miles, will post some shots with and without after the goo dries.
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I just use styrene strips that are a little thinner than the ties. Slip them in with a dab or Liquid Nails. After I ballast, the whole area is solid as a rock.

...don

 

I was over at Robert Ray's on the weekend with Kim Vellore, all fellow BAZ BoyZ. Kim made a custom EL lighted Gulf sign for Rob's gas station. Here is a couple of shots:

A busy day in the country:
[URL="http://zcentralstation.com/modules/xcgal/albums/userpics/10023/Rob__s Gulf station_2.jpg"]http://zcentralstation.com/modules/xcgal/albums/userpics/10023/Rob__s%20Gulf%20station_2.jpg[/url][/URL]

Cheap gas, good service (or only place around?):
[/COLOR]http://zcentralstation.com/...0023/Rob__s Gulf station_3.jpg[COLOR=#000000]

End of a busy day:
http://zcentralstation.com/modules/xcgal/albums/userpics/10023/Rob__s Gulf station_4.jpg
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Here are a few more shots of Robert Ray's new end module with the Rabbit Hatch kit and Gulf gas station in the background:

Twighlight in the country. Slowing things down a bit:
[URL="http://zcentralstation.com/mo...albums/userpics/10023/Rob__s Gulf station.jpg[/url]

Love is in the air:
[URL]http://zcentralstation.com/modules/xcgal/albums/userpics/10023/Rob__s Gulf station_1.jpg[/url]
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It sure is some nice scenes Robert have made.

 

Jeff, I am sold on your camera...... nice shots esp. the night shot. Kim

 

Yep, Rob puts together great scenes.

My new camera (Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18) is SOOooo much better than the last one.

 

Here are two before and after pix of the laser cut wood tie inserts I used at MTL track joints:

http://zcentralstation.com/modules/...3/Replacement joiners for MTL_pre-ballast.jpg

http://zcentralstation.com/modules/.../Replacement joiners for MTL_post-ballast.jpg

 

New pictures of the Engine yard and Wye module overview after ballasting the MTL flex and Peter Wright turnouts: (sorry, I still cannot get the (url) to link the actual picture)

http://zcentralstation.com/modules/...0023/Jeffs__ Wye +Engine house view _1280.jpg

http://zcentralstation.com/modules/xcgal/albums/userpics/10023/Jeff__s Wye after ballast.jpg
.

 

Like this Jeff?

 

Is the roof wet/dry sand paper?

Randy

 

but i only see ONE Door??
dave f.

 

Tudor = Two Door

Oh, Dave, that's awful.

I always think of Tudor as the style that is similar to the German half-timbered houses, but I guess it's more the architectural shape than the construction methods. Very nice house Robert.

Randy