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AVRR-PA
Fireman
USA
4599 Posts |
 Posted - 01/17/2009 : 6:54:24 PM
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Hi, everyone --
Here are a couple of pictures of the Phase II subassemblies sitting in the layout room, ready to be assembled on Wednesday.
Vagel told me he plans to lay all the parts out on the floor and decide on leg locations. He needs to create storage space for the rolling rack for his FreeMo modules and we also hope to create a wood rack under this part of the layout.
More on Wednesday! [:-bouncy]
Don |
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WVM_Nut
Engine Wiper
218 Posts |
Posted - 01/19/2009 : 2:42:29 PM
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| More like dominoes ala David Barrows than modules ala N-trak. I just like the idea of a free flowing benchwork rather than a square one. I actually have some dominoes and some L-girder. I was just curious, that's all. The layout looks good, that's what counts. |
I either build 'em, or I blow 'em up. Depends on me mood, I guess. |
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Vagel Keller
Crew Chief
USA
722 Posts |
Posted - 01/21/2009 : 10:41:46 PM
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Hello, all. As promised, today we installed the benchwork sections Don brought over on Sunday. Instead of using screws to connect the pre-fabricated grid panels as we have to this point, at Don's suggestion, we used 3/8" nut/bolt/washer sets, which we think will be more structurally strong.
To figure out how many legs we'd need and their location I had laid everything out on the floor earlier in the week, and that was how it was when Don came over this morning.
Here's a shot Don took with the first couple of new panels installed and the third one clamped and ready for bolts and legs. Note the sawhorse stand for the Chop Saw in the background. This section of benchwork would become our new work bench shortly.
Minutes later ...
Also note where the tops of the legs are more than an inch below the top of the 1x4 grid frames here. At the start of layout construction we set our nominal leg length at 38" (flush with the top of the frame in the kitchen where we started). Due to the failure of an exterior band joist from rot and insect damage, which my contractor fixed during the rehabilitation project last Winter, the floor is very uneven. In the area of the photo above, the floor is nearly 40" below the top of the grid. But at the far end of this peninsula, near the door, it's 37-1/2"!
Here we are, all done, with Don carrying away some waste. We clamped the long piece on the left in place just to see what it would look like, then removed it for under-layout storage until the sub-roadbed gets to that point at some undetermined point in the future. The blast furnace complex will occupy the area in the center foreground. I will now be able to try various layouts of the component structures and track plans in 1:1 scale. It looks like a tight fit at the end of the aisle, but its a full 24", wide enough for two moderately well-fed model railroaders to pass sidewise without any embarrassing contact.
In closing, here are a couple over-all views from different angles to put it all into perspective. Now, it's back to track work and, soon, to wiring!
Write if the mood strikes.
Vagel |
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hunter48820
Fireman
6024 Posts |
Posted - 01/21/2009 : 11:40:08 PM
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Hi Vagel,
That benchwork is looking great!! The rilroad is coming along nicely!!
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Best, Andy Keeney
Look out for #1, but don't step in #2! |
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AVRR-PA
Fireman
USA
4599 Posts |
Posted - 01/22/2009 : 07:03:22 AM
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Yesterday was really exciting! Because we had to glue and screw some additional pieces into the grid to get the legs just where they belonged, it took a bit longer than one might think. We worked from about 10 until 4, with a quick lunch break.
In the second to last picture, you can see Vagel's two FreeMo modules on their rolling rack stored under the layout. Vagel designed this "garage" for them into the leg layout. The rolling rack comes in the door and goes directly into its parking space. (The rack also rolls nicely into his Suburu Forester.)
He also planned the leg locations throughout the layout to accomodate shelving and drawer units.
In the short term, we'll buy a sheet or two of the same plywood that is used for subroadbed and tack-screw it down onto the Phase II benchwork, thus creating a good solid workbench and also a "conference table" for future Quilting Bees.
Normally, I run out of gas by late afternoon - still experiencing the side effects (slowly diminishing) of cancer therapy. But today, I was so charged up that I drove out to my MR club and spent the evening helping with the library.
Looking forward to next Wednesday! [:-bouncy][:-jump2][:-jumprefect]
Don |
Edited by - AVRR-PA on 01/22/2009 10:47:28 AM |
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Dutchman
Administrator
USA
23230 Posts |
Posted - 01/22/2009 : 08:46:53 AM
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Just getting caught up again. Boy, that is some neat benchwork - neat as in 'cool' and neat as in 'not messy', too. It is great that you guys can work together on this. |
Bruce
Modeling the railroads of the Jersey Highlands in HO and the logging railroads of Pennsylvania in HOn3 |
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bitlerisvj
Crew Chief
USA
927 Posts |
Posted - 01/22/2009 : 4:58:27 PM
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Hi Vagel, this is really a cool Forum Topic. I am really looking forward to see what a western Pennsylvania railroad looks like. BTW, I went to your Clinic at the National in Philly. I really enjoyed it.
Good luck and regards, Vic Bitleris |
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Frederic Testard
Engineer
France
16443 Posts |
Posted - 01/22/2009 : 5:15:05 PM
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| I really love this benchwork, Don and Vagel. It's so neat! |
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Vagel Keller
Crew Chief
USA
722 Posts |
Posted - 01/22/2009 : 6:12:13 PM
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Thanks for the compliments, guys. Don's partner at the Slaughterhouse, Garth, has been teasing him for sanding the edges and corners because it's all going to be covered with facia ... eventually. Don and I were joking at lunch about how much it looks like the sectional layout kits that some vendor advertises in the hobby press. And I told my wife, Debbie, how much I feel blessed to have Don's help and coaching on the carpentry aspect of this project. It really just struck me yesterday how BIG this thing is!
Vic, I'm glad you liked the clinic I gave at Independence Junction '06. For the benefit of all readers, that one was about modeling HO vehicles for a 1930s-era layout, subtitled "Why I hate MiniMetals." If you've built as many Jordan highway miniatures as I have, you know how frustrating it is to see all the neat RTR vehicles on steam-to-diesel era layouts. Since then, of course, MiniMetals came out with a nice '36 Ford 4-door sedan and Athearn released its line of Model A's. And, of course, there are the nice, quick to build GM vehicles from Sylvan. But, I digress ...
I'm supposed to have the cross bracing well on the way by next Wednesday and have the place generally "redded up" so we can get on with sub-roadbed cutting and installation.
Vagel |
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AVRR-PA
Fireman
USA
4599 Posts |
Posted - 01/23/2009 : 06:51:44 AM
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Hi, everyone --
I built section "I" last night - you can find it in the drawing on the previous page. I also cut the diagonals that go at the end of sections "D" and "E". I plan to drop them off at Vagel's this evening.
But first, I think I'll sand everything to 220 grit, stain them, and spray two or three coats of laquer. Just to jag Garth. [:-bouncy][:-devil]
Don |
Edited by - AVRR-PA on 01/23/2009 07:45:50 AM |
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AVRR-PA
Fireman
USA
4599 Posts |
Posted - 01/23/2009 : 07:04:31 AM
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Hi, Bruce and Frederic --
I'm really pleased that you like the "neatness" of the benchwork. I suppose it's more "modeling for God" since it will all be invisible eventually but it's the way I like to work. I use the same layout tools that I used for trim carpentry or framing or furniture making.
For example, I have a simple little shop-made tool that allows me to quickly mark out the screw locations - three holes, evenly spaced, the right distance from the end of the board, and the same throughout the project.
Sanding the sections before I take them over to Vagel's isn't totally silly. It makes them a lot more pleasant to handle and cuts down on the number of splinters I dig out of my hands. And it only takes a few minutes with a random orbit sander.
Again, thanks for noticing.
Don
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Mike Hamer
Engineer
9343 Posts |
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George D
Moderator
USA
9907 Posts |
Posted - 01/23/2009 : 11:02:25 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by AVRR-PA
Hi, everyone --
But first, I think I'll sand everything to 220 grit, stain them, and spray two or three coats of laquer. Just to jag Garth. [:-bouncy][:-devil]
Don
OK, how many readers know what “jag” means?
George
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Rick
Administrator
USA
17731 Posts |
Posted - 01/23/2009 : 12:19:17 PM
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Great looking benchwork guys. Keep us posted on your progress.
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chooch41
Crew Chief
Canada
793 Posts |
Posted - 01/23/2009 : 8:09:13 PM
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| Ditto on what Rick said! |
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Topic |
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New Home for the Blacklog & Shade Gap Eastern
