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AVRR-PA
Fireman
Premium Member
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 Posted - 02/06/2009 : 11:10:18 AM
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Y'know, George - that really is a very sensible idea. But it's an idea that I have absolutely no interest in carrying out. Stop by - we'll hand you a brush and a can of high-gloss white.
But, seriously, it would be a good idea. When I dust-proofed that rolling rack in my shop, I took the time to paint the underside of all the shelves so there would be more light inside.
Don
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Country: USA
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Vagel Keller
Crew Chief
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Posted - 02/08/2009 : 5:11:44 PM
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The Ft. Loudon yard area is taking shape, with the sub-roadbed tacked in place. I was able to make the whole thing out of a long, thin plywood remnant with only two cuts.
Having the interchange as a separate piece will work out nicely; I'll install the track on this portion at the workbench, then slide the finished product in under the narrow gauge benchwork.
Working with real HO turnouts I found that, in order to fit the cross-overs from the interchange to the passing siding and yard lead, the mainline needs to move farther from the edge of the layout before the reverse curve begins. This definitely gives me room for a third yard track and allows for a small freight office near the yard throat.
I tacked a small diorama that I had lying around in that area just to get some perspective on what might fit.
The structure is an American Model Builders elevated warehouse that, while differing in numerous ways from the actual Ft. Loudon depot, might fit the bill here.
That's it for now. Don and I are getting together again Wednesday, and I'll post another update then.
Vagel
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Country: USA
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George D
Moderator
Premium Member
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Posted - 02/08/2009 : 5:23:49 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by AVRR-PA
Y'know, George - that really is a very sensible idea. But it's an idea that I have absolutely no interest in carrying out. Stop by - we'll hand you a brush and a can of high-gloss white.
Don
Well, maybe it’s not such a good idea after all.
George
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Country: USA
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AVRR-PA
Fireman
Premium Member
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Posted - 02/08/2009 : 7:51:29 PM
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Vagel, it's great to see all that progress. I'm really looking forward to Wednesday.
George, nice to hear from you.
Don
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Country: USA
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RichBeau
Fireman
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Posted - 02/08/2009 : 9:08:55 PM
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Vagel & Don
I finally got some time to read through this thread (albeit with a good glass of wine  ). This is great stuff. I'm enjoying following along with this construction and camaraderie. Great stuff.
--Rich B.
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Edited by - RichBeau on 02/08/2009 9:09:58 PM |
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Country: USA
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AVRR-PA
Fireman
Premium Member
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Posted - 02/09/2009 : 11:57:49 AM
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Hi, Rich --
It's good to hear from you and know you're following along.
C'mon out for a visit. We'll take you to Ritter's Diner, get you a Primanti's sandwich, and get you used to being asked "Gravy over everthing, hon?"
See you at CSS09 - I already registered. Now we have to talk Vagel into going...
Don
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Country: USA
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Mike Hamer
Engineer
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Vagel Keller
Crew Chief
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Posted - 02/09/2009 : 3:13:36 PM
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Glad you're enjoying the show, Rich and Mike. I echo Don's invitation; let us know if your travels bring you this way, and I'll arrange a "presidential special." Actually, I think we're on target for our planned inaugural run 4-5 weeks from now in preparation for being open during our NMRA division Jamboree on Mar. 22d.
Track won't be extended as far as the blast furnace complex for some time to come (in fact, I have to re-orient things significantly to fit the layout space), but I'll have it set up so folks can visualize that day.
Mike, I really like the smaller laser kit projects like AMB, BTS, and others produce. I still have an Orbisonia Station kit from Webster Classic Models taunting me from the closet, though. I _think_ it's future will be in Springtown on the n.g. mainline, but it might just wind up in a diorama.
Meanwhile, I have lots of detail and re-design work to do on the blast furnace complex ...
Vagel
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Country: USA
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Vagel Keller
Crew Chief
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Posted - 02/11/2009 : 9:57:18 PM
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Well, this was a banner day! Don and I finished Phase I of the n.g. sub-roadbed, including the temporary return loop, and got most of the cork roadbed down before quitting time. I went back over this evening and finished the roadbed. So, we are ready for track as soon as the budget allows.
Don thought this would be a good place to include a tutorial on my track planning with cardboard technique, but it's late, so I'll just post some shots of the finished work here and put the "how to" stuff up later.
Here's an overview looking downgrade from Buchanan toward the return loop (off scene in the left distance) ...
... and the return track coming down along opposite side of the backdrop above the std. gauge yard toward the return loop.
Don worked this side of the grade ...
While I extended the roadbed down from Buchanan (off scene, upper right) and around the loop.
Based on the number of sections of roadbed we've consumed, this amounts to 0.7 scale mile, or 2.1 miles on a 3:1 fast clock, a pretty respectable length of run.
I'll post the pictures showing how we got all the sub-roadbed done as soon as I can. Until then, write if the mood strikes.
Vagel
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Country: USA
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AVRR-PA
Fireman
Premium Member
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Posted - 02/11/2009 : 10:12:24 PM
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Another fun Wednesday! It was really exciting to get all the Phase I subroadbed for the narrow gauge completed, including the temporary return loop that will allow continuous operation during the layout tours after the NMRA Jamboree in March.
The bacon omelet at Ritters was good, too.
Don
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Frederic Testard
Engineer
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Posted - 02/12/2009 : 7:16:29 PM
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Great progress on the roadbed. I understand your excitment about it, Don and Vagel. Are you going to handlay or will you use flextrack?
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Country: France
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elwoodblues
Fireman
Premium Member
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Posted - 02/12/2009 : 10:13:15 PM
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Looks like another successful and productive day. Glad to see you decided to lay the most important line first, the narrow gauge portion
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Ron Newby
General Manager
Clearwater Valley Railway Co.
http://www.cvry.ca |
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Country: Canada
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Vagel Keller
Crew Chief
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Posted - 02/12/2009 : 10:16:32 PM
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Hi, Fred. I'm going with Code 70 flextrack all the way, although I will not use the mass produced turnouts like Shinohara. I've had great success with the hand-built turnouts by LIT (Light Iron Turnout) Co. on my HO/HOn3 module. They don't employ the failure-prone hinges, but actually bend the rail.
I promised to post some pictures and narrative on our track planning with cardboard approach, so here goes. First, this is not a totally haphazard approach; we start with the sketch plan I developed on the computer using Adobe Illustrator with a grid where 1 square equals 4". From that I trace the curve radii onto a full-scale mock up along with actual turnout templates to see how they fit in the real world and then draw in the tangents between curves.
Everything has turned out to be more or less within 3 - 6" of what the computer sketches estimated. Thus, the complex curved siding and mine spurs at Buchanan are somewhat different in configuration than the sketch map, but they fit within the spatial parameters of the overall plan; the std gauge tunnel portals below Buchanan are well within 4" of where I thought they'd be on the sketch map.
OK, with that, lets look at some shots of how we got to the final shots posted last night:
Here we have laid some pieces of straight cardboard to connect the existing sub-roadbed on the return track (leading down from the operating end of the n.g. branch to the temporary return loop -- future hidden staging) to the sweeping 49" radius curve that connects to the loop.
Turning 180 degrees clockwise, we are looking at more cardboard pieces used to tie the long 49" radius curve to the return loop via a compound S-curve.
That S-curve pattern is re-used (nyuk, nyuk) from the other side of the branch coming down from Buchanan, seen here, left foreground in a previously unpublished snapshot from Dec. 3, 2008:
Was it really just 8 weeks ago?! Here we've lined everything up and anchored the various cardboard pieces in place with lots of painters masking tape (it peels off easier than the regular masking tape, lessening the damage to the very cheap packing cardboard from IKEA's indonesian suppliers). We're ready to disassemble the mockup and transfer it to the 1/2" plywood sheet for tracing.
We were able fit the overall pattern onto a 4x8 sheet using only two sub-components, and there was plenty left over. Here is the return loop with approaches laid out and traced; note that we added a 6" fudge factor at one end; the overlap allowed us to "measure twice, cut once" in this imprecise process.
The other piece, consisting of the 49" radius curve and tie-in to the existing return line was also cut with deliberate overlaps at either end to facilitate more precise joints. All joints were spliced with 1x3x4 scrap.
Finally, here is the return loop blank cut out and clamped in place prior to final installation.
The risers were later screwed to the grid, and we had to mount a 1x3 laterally across the diameter of the piece to remove a pronounced bow due to the abysmal way our big box store stores its plywood:
OK, that covers what we've accomplished so far. See you on the railroad!
Vagel
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Country: USA
| Posts: 720 |
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Vagel Keller
Crew Chief
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Posted - 02/12/2009 : 10:39:13 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by elwoodblues
Looks like another successful and productive day. Glad to see you decided to lay the most important line first, the narrow gauge portion
Ron, interesting for you to bring this up. I actually DO have an ulterior motive, as well as a practical one, for getting the n.g. running first. The active HOn3 modelers in the SW PA region can be counted on one hand of a clumsy circular saw operator! One of the other two has accused me more than once of having given up on the one true scale in favor of the HO gauge PRR stuff that bombard his senses when he visited my home. So, getting the HOn3 in operation first is my way of reassuring him that he is not alone in the world. The other reason is practical; as I mentioned several pages back, I have to get the HOn3 return track in service before I can develop the standard gauge yard and engine terminal below it. That said, though, it is more and more apparent as the physical layout emerges from the drawing board that my intent for the narrow gauge to dominate the operational landscape of this layout will be fulfilled. The meek shall inherit ...
Vagel
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Country: USA
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AVRR-PA
Fireman
Premium Member
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Posted - 02/13/2009 : 07:58:57 AM
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I'd like to say that I'm already looking forward to next Wednesday - but I'm actually pretty focused on getting a bunch of models and paperwork ready for Sunday, when they'll be evaluated for the AP Structure Certificate.
However...I can always be distracted by Vagel's layout.
One project that we may tackle on Wednesday is adding a string of 110v outlets under the layout, on the front of the legs. I have a lot of wiring supplies (boxes, Romex, etc.) left over from other projects so I may start work on that job.
But if Vagel gets the turnouts he's ordered from Light Iron, I suspect we're going to be laying track. 
Must remember to take a picture of Ritter's Diner; that's an important part of this project.
Don
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