Here are some pictures of my work on the helix in Pinetop.
This is the entry point for the 2 1/4 turn helix. It shows the 3 levels. Lots of 4 - 40 socket head bolts and blind nuts.
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w273/RANichols_2007/SRGRR077.jpg
This view shows the helix foundation work with some of the sections set in place. They will be tied together and have the elevations adjusted. For now they are work in progress.
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w273/RANichols_2007/SRGRR073.jpg
Another view of the helix from a different direction. It shows the viewing path near the helix as well as the road above the layout.
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w273/RANichols_2007/SRGRR071.jpg
A couple of questions:
1) What feeder spacing do you use and how long are you bus runs?
2) I soldered wires at the ends of all my rails on my last layout and that was a pain. This time I'm using split jaw connectors. Do I still need to solder feeders to each rail section? If so then has anyone had experience with resistance soldering. It sounds like it would make the job a lot easier but the cost is right up there.
Thanks,
Rex in Pintop
Rex;
The helix is looking good. As for the feeder connections, both hillmann and split-jaw make feeder clamps. they are a single screw clamp with a connector lug attached to the outside. Far easier and cheaper than buying soldering equipment and being on your hands and knees trying to solder your wires on.
Mark
Mark,
I was hoping I could use the clamps by just putting a lug on the screws when I join the rails. Does that work or will I need additional feeder clamps?
Rex
Rex,
If you all ready have a bunch of split jaws just use one of the screws as your connection. I bought some "grease" while back to prevent weathering but now have some type of liquide ele tape that I have used on my test track, can not remember the name.
William
WOW! Its like lokkin at a massive kenex building set.(but with wood)
Rex in Pinetop wrote: 2) I soldered wires at the ends of all my rails on my last layout and that was a pain. This time I'm using split jaw connectors. Do I still need to solder feeders to each rail section? If so then has anyone had experience with resistance soldering. It sounds like it would make the job a lot easier but the cost is right up there.
Tom Trigg
I purchased four boxes of Aristo brass 5 footers and two boxes of Aristo SS sectional 16.5 foot diameter. I'll mix in my left over LGB track and use my new rail bender. By the way I tried to buy LGB ties to replace the deteriorated Aristo ties from my previous layout (the desert sun here in AZ ate them up but didn't harm the LGB ties) but none of the dealers I've called or tired on the internet have any LGB ties.
I have a bunch of crimp-on electrical eyes but I'll take your advice and solder them instead. Should I also use the spray insulation on them too? I have several spools of AWG 14 wire. Is that heavy enough for DCC? Most of what I've been reading is saying #10.
What is a "Kenex building"? Is it something similar to an erector set?
FYI there will be over 2,000 socket screws, washers, and blind nuts going into the helix sections.
Thanks for the suggestions,
Here are some more pictures of the helix construction:
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w273/RANichols_2007/SRGRR103.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w273/RANichols_2007/SRGRR098.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w273/RANichols_2007/SRGRR107.jpg
I managed to get about half of the track installed this last weekend. I need to complete the transoms on the second level. I left those off the prefab work in order to access the lower levels with a nail gun for the track bed.
Unfortunately I got carried away working on the project and now the wife isn't speaking to me. I will only get to work on the trains when she is away on business trips in the future. It's going to take longer and it certainly isn't as much fun anymore.
Massive work your doing there and a great job! Looks sweet!!!
I do have to ask where did you get the bolts and nuts?
The socket head cap screws, blind nuts, and washers were ordered online from Micro Fasteners in NJ. I found them in an ad in GR. Great prices and fast delivery is a hard combination to beat!
Progress report from Pinetop.
We spent the 4th of July week up in the cool country while it was 116 F down here in Gold Canyon. I did finally find some ballast at a sand and gravel company. I bought basalt crusher fines @ $22.50/ton and it looks great.
The helix is just about finished. I just have the upper exit to finish. The new Bachmann Consolidation 2-8-0 just barely fits. Seems the 1:20 scale is a little bigger than the LGB I sized the helix for. It fits so all is well.
Here are some pictures: (Per the tip on posting pictures I think I finally have got it!)
This loop is where the gold mine will be -
The broad curve will have a saw mill
The area between the front porch and the helix is the town site. The area below the gold mine loop will be a ranch with a river rock stream.
I had lots of visitors this last week as the layout starts to take some shape - kids and big kids.
Man that grew. Great work.
So Rex,
You say it's up over 100 there at 7K feet up ?? WOW MAN, An I think it's hot here..dry heat I guess ??
Yes that is look'in good too, so how long you gonna make your main line, looks like you got some room there to work with. Who's track you using....
OK, keep us posted on the progress.
Byron
I was just looking back at one of your earlier posts here Rex, about the Aristo ties deteriorating, contact the folks there at Aristo, they sent me a whole case, box measured 2ft X 2ft X 3ft, for some 8 to 10 boxes of track to replace all the bad ties, no questions asked. Their track is life-time guaranteed. Now this was a few years back, I had just told them roughly how much track I had and next thing I know the box was here. So far for me over the years---great folks to deal with.....
Byron,
I purchased Aristo track because I couldn't find any LGB. The 100' of stainless came with the standard ties (no choice) so I had to purchase the narrow gauge ones and replace them. I still have some left over Aristo & LGB brass track from 10 years ago when I had a layout in Chandler, AZ. The Aristo ties disinigrated in the high heat and UVL but the LGB ones are still in great shape. I bought enough ties to replace my leftover destroyed stuff while I was at it but I may write to Aristo anyway per your suggestion. Anyone need the small ties?
There are actually two main lines to this GRR: the upper one out of the helix to the mine and logging operation and a lower river run that takes in the town and lower ranch. It also connects to the helix so the mine and sawmill workers can get back and forth to their jobs from their homes in town. The two main lines will total a little over 500' with a current plan for about 700' total.
We actually have two homes - summer = mountains and winter = desert. It's cool up in the mountains (Pinetop runs 80's to 90's in the summer and 0 to 40 in the winter) while it's hot here in the desert (Gold Canyon runs 110's to 120's in the summer and 70's to 80's in the winter). Right now the weather is trying to start the afternoon thunderstorm cycle we call monsoons so the humidity has gone up past its normal <10% to about 50% making it really feel HOT! Unfortunately my wife didn't get to tellecommunicate from the mountains this year so we're stuck in the desert during the week and only get to spend the weekends in the mountains. We spent some time in southeast in our younger years with the Army and didn't really care for the high humidity hence the southwest when we had a choice.
Yeah my brother stayed out there near Phoenix, Chandler to be exact, with my oldest sister for about a year.
My preference for now if I had the choice to move would be up near Greenville SC, have a friend up there now for about 6 to 8 years he says it's really quite nice.
So are you purchasing as you go here or do you already have a good bit of your structures, or you gonna build'em yer self. My skills at building and bashing are quite limited, but as time goes on and allows for it I will eventually try my hands at it. As it is for now my first goal is to try and get the layout running and wired as I'd like it, than comes the details. I like to get the trains running ASAP.....
My other hobby is building, flying, crashing, rebuilding, flying, crashing, rebuilding .... (well you get the idea), remote control model airplanes. My building skills get considerable workout so I plan to use the buildings I have with significant refurbishment and bashing. The 20 or so buildings I have will make a pretty good start on the town and stations. The gold mine needs stamping and sluce structures which I plan to build. The sawmill I already have but will probably build some more onto it. Then I've been dreaming about an airport...
Plants are another subject. I have a good source but need to bring in the irrigation system first. I'll do that while laying track which is first on my agenda.
I did get my "Connie" backtogether but 'am still waiting on the replacement switch before I can put the tender back together and test everything out. Hope to run it this weekend when we're up there in cool country.
Anyway Rex,
I've had immense success on the Evil-Bay, I do a good bit of my dealing there, you do of course, have to have some..... Ah-hhh, say.... savey, when dealing on there, I do always check feedback and selling/buying history.
Anyways keep us posted on yer progress here.....OK
Turns out a loose jumper on the decoder board caused me all kinds of grief. The RX wouldn't link and I was dead in the water. All is well now except I've got to put it all back together. We're heading up to Pinetop for the weekend so I'm planning on running the Connie for the first time on partial tracks. Will keep you posted.
Made it up to Pinetop this weekend. Put my Connie on the rail I have down for her maiden run. She ran beautifully in front of several friends who gathered for the occasion. The sound made a hit too. Here are some pics:
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