Author |
Topic  |
Michael Hohn
Fireman
   
USA
6993 Posts |
Posted - 10/06/2019 : 9:06:27 PM
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quote: Originally posted by Guff
Mike, It's fun to see your layout grow and develop. You're creating a fine time period replica!
Thank you, David, it’s fun reading your comment. I much appreciate it.
Mike |
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Pennman
Fireman
   
USA
4678 Posts |
Posted - 10/07/2019 : 05:48:34 AM
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Mike,
Getting back in touch with your progress, it seems that you are enjoying your time designing and building, making it work, etc. AND, I am enjoying watching. Looks good.
Rich |
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Michael Hohn
Fireman
   
USA
6993 Posts |
Posted - 10/07/2019 : 10:44:57 AM
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quote: Originally posted by Pennman
Mike,
Getting back in touch with your progress, it seems that you are enjoying your time designing and building, making it work, etc. AND, I am enjoying watching. Looks good.
Rich
Thank you, Rich. Nice hearing from you.
Mike |
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Michael Hohn
Fireman
   
USA
6993 Posts |
Posted - 11/30/2019 : 9:42:09 PM
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The rural end of my layout continues to develop, although at a slow pace. Much of the work has involved pulling up track, but it hasn't been all destruction. To make curves in the wye more reasonable I detached the peninsula and moved it over to the right about 16". That also gave me more space behind the peninsula to maneuver. Track you see to extreme left represents points south, basically staging. Here is how it looks now, with some track mocked up:

Meanwhile, I have been working on a T-Trak module for my local NMRA division.
Mike |
_______________________________________ And we gazed upon the chimes of freedom flashin' — Bob Dylan |
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Bill Gill
Fireman
   
USA
3199 Posts |
Posted - 12/01/2019 : 09:04:24 AM
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Shifting the peninsula looks like it helps a lot. The wye is looking good. |
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Michael Hohn
Fireman
   
USA
6993 Posts |
Posted - 12/01/2019 : 09:39:54 AM
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quote: Originally posted by Bill Gill
Shifting the peninsula looks like it helps a lot. The wye is looking good.
Thank you, Bill.
I was reluctant at first about doing the shift but knew all along that it had to be done. The work didn’t require much more than removing a few screws and two bolts.
Mike |
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railman28
Fireman
   
USA
5695 Posts |
Posted - 12/01/2019 : 1:48:25 PM
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I think the move opens things up nicely. I'm eager to see the development. How are you going to handle backdrops?
Bob |
It's only make-believe
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Michael Hohn
Fireman
   
USA
6993 Posts |
Posted - 12/01/2019 : 3:30:49 PM
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quote: Originally posted by railman28
I think the move opens things up nicely. I'm eager to see the development. How are you going to handle backdrops?
Bob
Hi Bob!
Thank you for your interest and support. To answer your question, I don’t plan at this point having a backdrop on the peninsula. I think it would be a nuisance during operations and would look weird. However, the narrow shelf to the left has a high backdrop which provides a good background when doing photos on the peninsula. I might add a shallow band of scenery along the front of the staging shelf, sloping down from track level, to provide the appearance of uninterrupted landscape in photos.
Mike |
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deemery
Fireman
   
USA
8742 Posts |
Posted - 12/01/2019 : 3:47:13 PM
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You could always tack up a backdrop just for photography.
dave |
Modeling 1890s (because the voices in my head told me to) |
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Michael Hohn
Fireman
   
USA
6993 Posts |
Posted - 12/01/2019 : 4:22:32 PM
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quote: Originally posted by deemery
You could always tack up a backdrop just for photography.
dave
That’s true, Dave. I have a 2’ by 4’ portable section of Masonite backdrop intended to cover a window which I sometimes use. But I fear that in a clumsy moment I will let it fall on my layout and wipe out structures and rolling stock.
By utilizing the current backdrop I will have a scene about 4’ deep with very little effort. And it will be permanent
Mike |
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railman28
Fireman
   
USA
5695 Posts |
Posted - 12/02/2019 : 5:15:13 PM
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Mike, tape up a temporary one about 14" high and see if that makes things look better. it should at least improve pictures.
Bob |
It's only make-believe
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Michael Hohn
Fireman
   
USA
6993 Posts |
Posted - 12/02/2019 : 7:06:58 PM
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Bob, Thank you for the suggestion. I’ll probably try something like that before I do anything more permanent. You guys have given me some ideas.
M |
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Bernd
Fireman
   
USA
3894 Posts |
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Michael Hohn
Fireman
   
USA
6993 Posts |
Posted - 12/02/2019 : 7:47:55 PM
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quote: Originally posted by Bernd
Mike,
Have ever considered Trackside Scenery from Joey Ricard?
http://www.tracksidescenery.com/index.php?id_category=7&controller=category
Bernd
Thank you, Bernd. I’m familiar with their structure flats but not their backdrops. I’ll take a look.
I’d forgotten about this company so I appreciate your suggestion.
Mike |
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Michael Hohn
Fireman
   
USA
6993 Posts |
Posted - 12/09/2019 : 12:57:15 PM
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Tracklaying has been started on the rural end of my layout. I decided to model the actual town of Alderson, PA, situated on a branch of the Lehigh Valley Railroad and serving a lumbering region and Harvey's Lake, a tourist destination. I have several old photos of the depot and surrounding area as well as freight and passenger trains on the branch. I have already modeled many of the flats, gondolas and boxcars, so I'm all set up regarding freight cars.
Here is a view of the rural end of my layout:

You can see the backdrop--which I will probably have to repaint to represent a hillier topography--the narrow shelf for staging representing points south, and the peninsula which will probably have a lumber industry-related scene. You can see that the backdrop really serves the shelf and peninsula for purposes of photographing scenes. You can also see my bottle of white glue, not used so much these days. Because layout-building is an iterative process for me, I've learned to use water-soluble glue for ballast. A good soaking and I can gently work the track loose and remove ballast when I make changes. The yellow wood glues are very good, but not very water soluble, and track is hard to get up in one piece, especially the Micro Engineering track I use.
I have the track down for the wye, very important for operations:

The track arrangement conforms to a map of LVRR trackage around the Alderson depot, including the wye.
I can push cars along and they run smoothly without derailments, so now I must wire this area. Then I can test it with trains.
Mike
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_______________________________________ And we gazed upon the chimes of freedom flashin' — Bob Dylan |
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