| Author |
 Topic  |
|
Brunton
Engine Wiper
|
 Posted - 03/16/2008 : 6:35:40 PM
|
Chapter XI - 2008 Snail's Pace Progress
Well, I took office as a Borough Councillor on 3 January, and that has used up an incredible amount of time! Switching roles between work, the borough and home life has left me feeling somewhat disjointed. I'm only now beginning to be able to integrate it all.
Progress on the layout has been very slow, but there has been some progress.
I finished the fascia (sixteen feet of it anyway) in front of Glenrock, and added the profile of the distant hills to the backdrop:
After hemming and hawing, trying to decide between foam-based scenery and the more traditional cardboard web-based stuff, I decided to try foam. Here's the first 8-foot section of foam temporarily installed on the layout. This was just to see how it all fit:
And here's the current state of affairs in that area - the rough carving of the foam is complete. There will be a bit of tweaking, and the ends will need additional layers of foam, but it doesn't look too bad:
That isn't all I did in the last couple of months, of course. I had to install power routing to the turnout points at Minneapolis West (under the foam), and I also installed a couple of radial tracks off the Laurel turntable that will be outside the roundhouse.
Maybe there'll be a bit more in a few more months...
By the way, Lynn, sorry I haven't replied to your post - I missed it! I'm just going to build a ramp up to the unloading bay on the coaling tower, then back dorn into the ground at the ashpit (they share the same track). I don't have any reference links for servicing areas - just what I've picked up out of the model press over the years.
|
http://www.thecbandqinwyoming.com
http://www.thecbandqinwyoming.blogspot.com |
Edited by - Brunton on 03/16/2008 6:38:05 PM |
|
Country: USA
| Posts: 386 |
 |
|
|
MarkF
Engineer
|
Posted - 03/16/2008 : 9:20:59 PM
|
Mark, it's really coming together nicely! That fascia looks great, and with some roughed in scenery, it's starting to take shape nicely! I still have to get over to see this project first hand.
|
Mark
See my homepage at http://home.comcast.net/~prrndiv/
|
|
Country: USA
| Posts: 9272 |
|
|
|
Tim Kerkhoff
Fireman
|
Posted - 03/16/2008 : 10:19:52 PM
|
Mark,
Nice progress and when it comes to the hidden staging, I understand there is a lot of work that never gets scene down there. 
How much space did you allow between the bottom of the foam and staging tracks? I like the way you cut the access holes. They
look very well done.
|
|
Country: USA
| Posts: 5869 |
|
|
|
Brunton
Engine Wiper
|
Posted - 03/17/2008 : 07:07:31 AM
|
Thanks, Mark & Tim!
Mark, you're welcome to drop by anytime!!
Tim, there was lot more work in the hidden staging than I ever figured on when I planned the layout!  The space between the foam and the staging tracks is about four-and-a-half inches. I wanted plenty of room to be able to reach inside to "handle" any problem (Ugh! Horrible pun!). The access holes are routed out. I made a little jig to guide the router, and presto! many identical holes!
|
http://www.thecbandqinwyoming.com
http://www.thecbandqinwyoming.blogspot.com |
|
Country: USA
| Posts: 386 |
|
|
|
Brunton
Engine Wiper
|
Posted - 04/06/2008 : 12:22:51 AM
|
Well, watching Chris Lyon's (LVN) beaver pond and farm scene coming together so well and so quickly has both inspired me (because of the beautiful scene) and shamed me (because of the molasses pace of my work compared to the lightning pace of his) into getting downstairs and making a bit of progress on my own layout.
This evening I spent several very enjoyable hours finishing up the radial tracks off the Laurel turntable. Here's where things now stand:
(The grey "pad" in the foreground is the base for the roundhouse, but you probably already figured that out).
I won't be doing any more work on Laurel for awhile (except maybe cutting the ash pit into the subroadbed), because I have to install the second level deck above Laurel and the backdrop behind Laurel. I don't want to have to work around a bunch of rather delicate structures. That won't happen soon, since I'm going to shift my attention to getting in more rough Glenrock scenery, and pushing on from the end of track west of Glenrock towards Casper.
Here's a shot of the Laurel servicing tracks filled with locos:
It's going to be real nice having a working terminal, even if it doesn't look like much yet. All those locos have been sitting in staging yards or taking up one of the two yard tracks at Laurel. Now I'll be able to keep the Laurel tracks free for rolling stock!
|
http://www.thecbandqinwyoming.com
http://www.thecbandqinwyoming.blogspot.com |
Edited by - Brunton on 04/06/2008 12:26:42 AM |
|
Country: USA
| Posts: 386 |
|
|
|
MarkF
Engineer
|
Posted - 04/06/2008 : 12:48:30 AM
|
Looks really good Mark. Glad to see your inspired again! I was wondering what had happened to you.
|
Mark
See my homepage at http://home.comcast.net/~prrndiv/
|
|
Country: USA
| Posts: 9272 |
|
|
|
Tim Kerkhoff
Fireman
|
Posted - 04/06/2008 : 6:17:10 PM
|
Mark,
Nice to see you back at it, and it's great to see those steamers have a new home being built.
|
|
Country: USA
| Posts: 5869 |
|
|
|
LVN
Fireman
Premium Member
|
Posted - 04/06/2008 : 6:26:27 PM
|
Hey Mark. Your layout is huge. I am sure looking forward to watching the progress. Nice to see you back at it.
|
Chris Lyon
http://www.lyonvalleynorthern.blogspot.com |
|
Country: Canada
| Posts: 5023 |
|
|
|
Brunton
Engine Wiper
|
Posted - 04/22/2008 : 07:15:14 AM
|
CHAPTER XII - A Major Milestone
This past weekend saw the accomplishment of a major milestone, as good buddy Walt came over and spent about eight hours Saturday helping me with the layout.
But first, some other progress of recent weeks -
I figured I'd have a bit of a problem with the IRDOT detectors reading false occupancy in Minneapolis Staging because of the foam Glenrock scenery placed about 4 1/2 inches above the detector. I was right. When I placed the first section of foam over Minneapolis West, all detectors showed red - tracks occupied (I checked and they weren't)! Here's the solution - I caulked some swuares of 120-grit sandpaper on the back of the foam above the emitter/detector elements. The sandpaper scatters the infrared beam so it doesn't reflect back to the detector. Problem solved!
I also started building the foam section to go in behind the Glenrock tracks. Here's a few shots of that in process:
And now the Big Milestone - Construction of the second deck has begun, with placement of the first benchwork section over Glenrock!
The "box" is standard grid construction, except for using a 2X3 in the back (attaches to the stud "wall" that also supports the backdrops) and a 1X6 in the front. Stringers are 1X3 pine. The 1X6 was chosen for the front to provide mounting space for the porcelain light sockets that will be spaced along it's inner edge. I used poplar for that, even though it's more expensive even than select grade pine or fir, because the poplar is much less prone to warping.
The question arose about supporting the front edge of the second deck. I toyed with a variety of ideas, even thinking that I could maybe get a couple of 24' X 4" wide 1/4" steel plates, sandwich them between 1X4s, then hang the assembly from the ends, leaving a long run between with no visual interruptions. I decided instead to use threaded rod suspension members located periodically along the front edge. Much easier. I'll just have to avoid banging into them (or looking at them) when running and switching trains.
So here's good buddy Walt installing the rod support members against the ceiling joists:
And the final product - the first upper deck section of benchwork! The two outer helix tracks will be running onto that new section sometime in the next few months! Note the pink hill behind the tracks on the lower deck. That's the foam stack that was being carved in the earlier photos. Still some carving to be done there, but general shape is not too far out now.
And just to top off the day, we began extending the backdrop at the opposite end of Glenrock siding, preparing to take it around the corner and into Thermopolis.
All in all, a productive two weeks or so, especially this past Saturday! Thanks Walt!!
|
http://www.thecbandqinwyoming.com
http://www.thecbandqinwyoming.blogspot.com |
Edited by - Brunton on 04/22/2008 07:16:57 AM |
|
Country: USA
| Posts: 386 |
|
|
|
MarkF
Engineer
|
Posted - 04/22/2008 : 07:45:59 AM
|
Wow Mark, some excellent progress! Yup, things are definitely taking shape. You defining the first level and starting the second level!!! Looking good.
|
Mark
See my homepage at http://home.comcast.net/~prrndiv/
|
|
Country: USA
| Posts: 9272 |
|
|
|
Dutchman
Administrator
Premium Member
|
Posted - 04/22/2008 : 08:29:13 AM
|
Great progress, Mark.
Any chance of showing a closeup of the hardware that goes on both ends of the treaded rod? (In other words, how is the rod being attached to both the ceiling and the layout frame.)
|
Bruce
Modeling the railroads of the Jersey Highlands in HO and the logging railroads of Pennsylvania in HOn3 |
|
Country: USA
| Posts: 23230 |
|
|
|
simon1966
Fireman
|
Posted - 04/22/2008 : 09:42:55 AM
|
Mark, the enormity of what you are doing is starting to sink in, I had not quite comprehended how much work a layout like this entails. Great job.
|
|
Country: USA
| Posts: 2861 |
|
|
|
Brunton
Engine Wiper
|
Posted - 04/22/2008 : 12:22:08 PM
|
quote:
Originally posted by Dutchman
Great progress, Mark.
Any chance of showing a closeup of the hardware that goes on both ends of the treaded rod? (In other words, how is the rod being attached to both the ceiling and the layout frame.)
Sure Bruce!
The hardware arrangement is the same as what I used on my helix. Two nuts on each side of the board, with a fender washer on the bearing side (to distribute load) and a standard flat washer on the other. Two nuts are used because one acts as a jamb nut, preventing the nut against the washer from loosening up with vibration.
Here's a couple of (not so great) shots from my helix. The first is the top of the suspension beam, and the second is the bottom of the tiers:
|
http://www.thecbandqinwyoming.com
http://www.thecbandqinwyoming.blogspot.com |
|
Country: USA
| Posts: 386 |
|
|
|
Dutchman
Administrator
Premium Member
|
Posted - 04/22/2008 : 3:02:48 PM
|
Thanks, Mark!
|
Bruce
Modeling the railroads of the Jersey Highlands in HO and the logging railroads of Pennsylvania in HOn3 |
|
Country: USA
| Posts: 23230 |
|
|
|
Tim Kerkhoff
Fireman
|
Posted - 04/22/2008 : 5:35:41 PM
|
Great progress Mark, I am enjoying following along.
|
|
Country: USA
| Posts: 5869 |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Railroad Line Forums |
© 2000-13 Railroad Line Co. |
|
|
|
Home
Forums
Events Calendar
Sponsors
Guestbook
FAQ
