Layout pics... first layout... try not to laugh

[SimRacin40]

I like the scenery,and I envy the railyard(I'm working on a 2'x4' N scale layout,can't get too fancy with yards.)

[ereimer]

as many have said , there's nothing there to laugh at . very nice work . i have to assume that a nuke ET2 (you navy guys really need to include translations for us choo-choo lovers!) requires a very detail oriented , "plan twice , do once" type mind , because that's what i see in your layout construction . i guess with your schedule we'll be waiting a while to see more pictures . too bad for us !

[route_rock]

  I think it looks great for a bubblehead I was a EO 3 and my boot camp company sponser was SUBTRAFAC in San Diego. You guys are all right I dont care what the Airdales say.

  I think its great you can spend all that time out there and still have that much done and such good work.I know it would drive me nuts to not be able to get to work on a layout when I wanted to.

  Keep up the good work and keep in touch.

[claymore1977]

Dave,

It's funny to hear someone talking about fast attacks and prototype.  I'm a nuke ET2 with about 2 years and some change left.  I love off-crew life, although politics, lip-service training and IDE sessions get in the way.

 Yeah, I kinda figured that the off-crew life wasn't the little slice of heaven that it was talked up to be lol.  So you all got the IDEs running up there?  I served with ET1 Berhalter on the boat and then ETCS Berhalter a few years later when he was in charge of planning the S8G IDE deployment for SUBLANT.

What prototype were you at?  Anyway, I got there in January of '06...  Don't know a Rancourt.  I can only imagine the pain you had to endure on a fast-attack...  I've only heard stories.  What boat were you on?

Okay, it was a shot in the dark, but i figured I would ask.  Anyways, I was a student at S8G in '97 and back as a staff in '01.  USS Alexandria (SSN-757) was my home in between.  Well, I will admit that it wasn't a walk in the park, but some of the things I got to see and the places I got to go...  But i did my 8.5 years (only cause i made 1st early) and then jumped ship...  I work for the Army now :)

I have to assume that a nuke ET2 (you navy guys really need to include translations for us choo-choo lovers!) requires a very detail oriented , "plan twice , do once" type mind , because that's what i see in your layout construction.

Yes, the ET's (aka twigets) are notorious for being meticulous... for good reason!  They do all the Calibration & Testing on the reactor protection systems on the subs... and then document their every move while they did it!  There are severe consiquences (as you can imagine) if their Calibrations are off or if their paperwork is messed up. 

Us Electricians are more on the shifty side of the house, renowned for being the Ninja's of the engineroom and Keepers of the 9/16" wrenches.

LOL I used the 87% op-tempo I had on the Alex to memorize the T-12 cover to cover.

 

[claymore1977]

(you navy guys really need to include translations for us choo-choo lovers!)

Quickie Glossary:

EM = Electricians Mate, aka Wire Biter

ET = Electronics Technicia, aka Twigets

MM = Machinist Mate, aka Knuckle Dragers 

Boomer = Ballistic Missile Submarine

Nuke = Short Name for "Nuclear Trained Personnel"

F-ing Nuke = Short Name for "Nuclear Trained Personnel" uttered by those who are jealous or those who were just the brunt of a practical joke.

 

I will edit and add as necessary. 

 

[jkroft]

To all who aren't Navy...  I'm sorry that this is a little off topic.  Berhalter is the other crew (Blue crew) EDMC and I had to work for him last refit during "green" (or combined) crew.  HAHAHA!!!  That's all I have to say about him!  I went to Charleston prototype by the way.  Dave, it's sooo funny that the same way of doing things is such a standard throughout the Navy.  As a matter of fact, my division got busted for not catching an out-of-spec on RC div paperwork twice in one week!  Luckily (actually not-so luckily) I had nothing to do with that mistake.  Yet of-course I had to pay for it as well.  It's good to see another nuke down with model railroading.  By the way, I have two of my own 9/16" wrenches that I guard with my life.  As an RC div guy, I don't use them much, but I have used them quite often as leverage for checkouts.

[Anonymous]

Whaddaya mean try not to laugh?  It looks great!  Can't wait to see more pictures!

[fireman216]

Ex Navy here!!....

[claymore1977]

To link the two topics together:

I had an n-scale GP40-2 and a covered hopper that I used to put on the hinge of the desk section of the Electric Plant Control Panel while I was on watch.... the Engineer hated it.  Got my butt chewed atleast twice a week... but it was funny as heck and worth it to see his face:

"Southern Pacfic... Loman, what the hell is a train doing...."  You can imagine the rest of the conversation.

[ATSFCLIFF]

Laugh??  Don't joke!
That's very GOOD work for your first layout. You would fall off your chair with laughter if you saw my first layout!

Happy modelling!

Cheers, 

[EspeeEngineer]

That looks GREAT! My favorite part is your yard and intermodal facility....excellent quality of work!!!! Keep it up!

[tomkat-13]

Great Start!!!.....Keep us posted.  Thanks for your service to our COUNTRY!

 

I'm also an US NAVY VET: USS Lexington CVT-16, USS L Y SPEAR AS-36 (SUBRON 6) & NAS Miramar. Was a SK (Storekeeper)= a Cumshaw Artist 3rd Class Petty Officer.

[Cumshaw. A present or gratuity, often a piece of needed equipment that appears when needed (while at the same time a similar item disappears from another unit). A cumshaw artist is generally prized within a unit for his or her ability to provide-and few questions are asked. From the old Chinese term "kam sia" meaning grateful thanks.]

 

  

 

 

[flyngsqurl]

Thats amazing for a first layout!  I guess all that time aboard subs gave you time to do your homework.  My first two layouts looked like someone dumped styrofoam, plaster, and plastic scrap onto green shag carpet.  Of course I was 13....but thats beside the point.

keep up the good work!

[E-L man tom]

I'm not laughin' lkroft! You've got a fantastic start on this layout. That's a great job and very convincing scenery taking shape. I say keep up what you're doing 'cause it's gonna be very nice when you're done. Very nice, especially if that's your first effort. I'm truly impressed.

[RR Redneck]

Try not to laugh.........I think that try not to gawk is more accurated dude. That is a heck of a good job you did, ESPECIALLY FOR A FIRST LAYOUT. Cudos.

[CNE Runner]

What an excellent beginning. I still shudder when I think of my first layout (4x8 naturally). Nothing ran well and the scenery...well let's just say it had to get better to be awful. You have done an outstanding job. Keep up your good work!!

[Anonymous]

Awesome my friend, very awesome. A lot better then my first layout that I started when I was like 6 or so. Anyways, I was going to comment on using pinstriping from AutoZone but I was beat at that answer so all I have to do is say, yes very good idea on that and again, very nice layout you've got going there!