Mr. Keller, thanks for the info.
I ordered the back issues and I'm looking forward to reading them.
We do project layout articles much more comprehensively today - the desert section was in the May 1999 issue and the Christmas section was in the December 1999 issue.
Both back issues are available through the shop pull-down menu above.
The Christmas section is available as part of a pdf download "CTT staff project layouts" cttpdf007 through the digital download section of the store. be advised there are no trackplans or diagrams in the second story, and the first story is focused on the desert portion of the layout.
Bob Keller
Slight topic highjack.
I think the same Christmas/western theme project was mentioned on page 74 of the December 2010 CTT issue.
"... and found the Department 56 porcelain buildings we used on our 1998 North Pole & South Western project layout."
After receiving the Dec 2010 issue, I made a post here on the forum asking what issue (or issues) contained the 1998 article, and I did not receive a single reply.
I plan to eventually have a layout with Department 56 buildings, and a Christmas theme. Hailing from the southwest, also having part of the layout with a southwest or desert theme.
I'd like to get a copy of the issue or the article with the North Pole and South Western layout. Can someone tell me what issue it was in?
Thanks for any help you can provide.
On our project layout, for the Christmas section, we used plastic straps you use to bundle bunches of electrical wires. There was an article on using this technique by Joe Lesser in our Sept 1999 issue.
Speaking for myself I did with small machine screws but the padding acted like a damping effect on the vibration of the track like a shock absorber..no drumming to report. If I ever get around to learning how to upload a video, I could demonstrate how effective this is ( inexpensive as well). I used a foam like carpet pad..the trick is to not overwork the fasteners otherwise you end up with a roller coaster effect.. I can leave the door open to the layout like Bob reported without a racket of "thunder" drumming coming from the layout..
Nothing is more fairly distributed than common sense: no one thinks he needs more of it than he already has.
Did you fasten down the track ? That usually transmits noise to the table.
Roger
A zillion years ago we did a two level project layout. The upper level was a Christmas scene with ceramic buildings and carpet padding.
The lower level was desert scenery with two trains that alternated after three laps each. The only padding was under the lower level.
The train was amazingly louder when it transitioned from the padded section to desert section. This layout was in a corner of our office area, and whenever we fired it up for a tour, we were very aware of the noise disruption in the next door conference room, and the MR offices. Carpet padding is a solid was to go to reduce noise.
Traditional tinplate, Marx and Lionel, with Marx power switches.
Wallyworld - what kind of track are you running?
I don't know if this is an old or new idea but I thought I would share it as it's worked great. On the top of my table ( folding tables bolted together) I had to come up with an inexpensive way to deaden the drumming sound as I run tinplate which can be noisy in of itself. I bought a roll of carpet padding, cut it to fit and then took a cheap roller and painted it green. I used contact cement to adhere it. I use either double sided tape or silicon to plant trees and bushes etc. It is very effective as all I hear is the sound of the locos and wheels on the tracks..no sound amplification of drumming. For what it's worth.
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