I am about to embark on the first part of me RR, it's newly designed and added yard area. Strange thing to start with I know but this area will be sitting over the top of cabinets (yet to be built) in our lounge room so I need to finish it first - keep the holder of the real estate happy (my wife!). Anyway, I plan to finish this part of completely, with yard structures, a couple of coal loaders (industries on one end), weathering and detailing - hopefully includng things like drains and the like for interest. Has anyone got any pointers on what should be included, any info sources for viewing for ideas etc etc. One specific thing I will ask now as well is: I plan to put cork over the plywood base, right throughout the yard - the done thing, yes/no? Cheers Bruce
Well its personnal preference but if you do lay cork through the yard make the yard tracks all even and a gap to the mainline, you may also consider having the mainline a little higher. I always maintain the yard tracks evenly due to the fact yard staff require an even surface to walk between trains and tracks. You can see in this first picture the yard has cork then a gap to the mainline This pic shows the finished ballasted area you will not the there are no ballast profiles between yard tracks
Instead of cork roadbed, you might consider using homosote for the yard. Yards are typically flat as apposed to mainlines which the cork roadbed would simulate. Ken
Hi Ken I considered the Aussie equivalent of Homosote (Canite) but at $53.00 a sheet compared to the cost of sheet cork, I decided to go with the cork route. I did forget to mention that I would use 3mm sheet cork, not the cork strips used for roadbed. And I see you are from Virginia - my area of modeling! I'll just have to visit your area one day.... Cheers
Good lord, at $53 a sheet I think I would take up finger painting instead. Even though I'm in Virginia, I model the great southwest. Check out the work I did on my Division Yard recently at: http://www.railimages.com/gallery/kenmeade
I put down a foam insulation sheet. Easy to cut and to make some terrain relief. Then I put sidings and yard tracks flat on that. Only main line track gets to sit on the cork.
Bruce,If you make your way to Sydney N Scale at Guildford one day you can have as much Canite as you want.
Now, about creating a weathered yard look.... What do you guys use for cinder type ballast and other types used in yard areas? Cheers
Since you're doing HO, Bruce, maybe small N ballast will do the trick? Some of that Aussie ballast (I think it's NSW proto as it comes from NSW ballast quarries) from the manufacturer down Canberra way could be the ticket. I recall it being fairly fine and it is a local product.
Cool! Thanks Gary...I'll look that up. Saw a product called Chuck's Ballast at the NMRA conference today, does that ring any bells? Cheers
I suggest you purchase from Chuck's ballast supplies. Here is a link to his website, this is the only ballast I use on my layout. Chuck's Ballast
Thanks Paul That's the stuff I saw today. Looks like a great selection that will fit the bill quite nicely - and it supports locally made stuff Cheers [ 03. October 2004, 14:25: Message edited by: racedirector ]
Bruce, I am assuming you are going for cork underlay for the same reason I will...noise..... I class the fact that it provides a raised track for 'drainage ditches' as secondary. In a yard situation strip cork wouldnt be as useful as sheet stuff (which you said you aleady had), because those drainage ditches would be required.
disime the number one reason I was looking at cork is that I am handlying all my track, noise was secondary and actually something I didn't think about. Through Jason's offer (which I hope is still OK) some of the yard area will be Canite so I can burrow into it for my ashpit and coaling tower receiving pit. I'll also be testing the Canite vs Cork in the ease of hand laying track. Cheers
Got the OK from the chairman himself just today Bruce,so come on down.You have been to the club room at Guildford before I take it?
That is great news, thanks heaps for that Jason. And no, I' never made it down to the rooms. I managed to find your website when I first got back into trains and was going N scale (lost it again though) though. I have one (1) 3' length of N scale Peco code 100 flex which I will bring with me to swap Do you want it? If it is OK, can me and my son call down on Saturday (the 9th - election day!). My boy will just be over the moon with the trains if he can come. Thanks again Cheers
