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Back room practice pad: Becoming a Layout

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  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: Southeast Texas
  • 5,449 posts
Posted by mobilman44 on Sunday, June 12, 2016 5:02 PM

Gotta say......... there is nothing like laying track on plywood and sometimes it more fun than after it gets scenery.  

ENJOY  !

 

Mobilman44

 

Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central 

  • Member since
    August 2011
  • From: Perth, Western Australia
  • 226 posts
Posted by MonkeyBucket on Sunday, June 12, 2016 7:59 PM

Putting some insulation on the inside may be a good idea...I have a pile of 1200x1200 (4' x 4') marine ply left over from a job...May be able to get a bag or two of insulation material to line the roof in this particular area.

Looking forward to building a module to showcase the timber trestle bridge.

 

 

Cheers...

Chris from down under...

We're all here because we're not all there...

  • Member since
    August 2011
  • From: Perth, Western Australia
  • 226 posts
Posted by MonkeyBucket on Tuesday, June 21, 2016 6:10 AM

So here is the spot I have cleared for the branchline layout...I have taken advice on board and decided to give the module an extra 4 inches at the back for blending and low relief buildings...

I am hoping to get some insulation into the walls and roof around the area as the summer heat gets the shed up to 60C or for the eastern continents...140F...I have a roof vent that needs intalling to try and evacuate the hot air. 

The move shall comence in a few weeks after a couple of family birthdees have been endured.

Layouts new home

 

 I was also wondering if anyone has any good input on arranging one of my Oil clients...I have been looking around on google images etc and checking out prototype photos. Is there any wisdom I could be missing that may make for a better company site setout. Below is the current location of the proposed kit...It is a walthers kit...some may recognise it. Remember that I will be adding 4 inches to the back of the module.

Cheers

Oil company

 

Cheers...

Chris from down under...

We're all here because we're not all there...

  • Member since
    August 2011
  • From: Perth, Western Australia
  • 226 posts
Posted by MonkeyBucket on Saturday, June 25, 2016 7:26 AM

So I have been snooping around on the net for some local loco action on the northern end of the Southern pacific lines in Oregon...Found me some inspiration for my next module (once I have moved the lot out to the shed)

 

Cheers...

Chris from down under...

We're all here because we're not all there...

  • Member since
    August 2011
  • From: Perth, Western Australia
  • 226 posts
Posted by MonkeyBucket on Monday, June 27, 2016 8:24 AM

Well I have decided now that the layout will be based on the scenery and clients of the Mololla Brance and East Portland traction devision...as the layout cant be prototypical due to space I will be downsizing the companies but still trying to capture the scenery of the run down and overgrown old branchlines.

 The industries include grain, Timber and Steel from what I have been reading.

 RSG timber mill...

  This mill is known as the Willamette Feedmill and supplies chicken feed to the vast Willamette Egg Farms in the area.

  There also may be some old visitors that now serve the Oregon Pacific Railroad.

I am looking forward to putting some of the models I have been putting together on the layout...There may even be a gravel and sand client in the long run.

 

I am lucky enough to find a site that has a crew compiling info on the ex Southern pacific lines out of Portlands east and south.

This is the link to the website I have been getting a lot of my info from...

http://www.oregonpacificrr.com

Cheers...

Chris from down under...

We're all here because we're not all there...

  • Member since
    August 2011
  • From: Perth, Western Australia
  • 226 posts
Posted by MonkeyBucket on Tuesday, June 28, 2016 1:34 AM

So I found Anyrail6 and had a crack at plotting my exsisting track plan...

Here it is at the moment...the section on the left will be extended onto another module once the layout is fitted into the shed space I have cleared out. The wood trestle will feature on that part of the layout.

Cheers...

Chris from down under...

We're all here because we're not all there...

  • Member since
    August 2011
  • From: Perth, Western Australia
  • 226 posts
Posted by MonkeyBucket on Tuesday, June 28, 2016 5:02 AM

I have been learning to use the program a bit more today as it has been raining all day...It is revealing itself as quite a gem. I have included a 3% grade down the hill to staging...I wonder if the lil SW7 and GE44 will be able to handle the grade...

Below is more of my planning fun.

Cheers...

Chris from down under...

We're all here because we're not all there...

  • Member since
    August 2011
  • From: Perth, Western Australia
  • 226 posts
Posted by MonkeyBucket on Saturday, July 9, 2016 8:01 AM

While looking for inspiration for the oil company I came across a lil article on chain link fences...I might give it a go once I work out the site setout for the company.

http://rrmodelcraftsman.com/extraboard/cm_extra_chainlinkfence.php

 

Cheers...

Chris from down under...

We're all here because we're not all there...

  • Member since
    July 2009
  • From: lavale, md
  • 4,678 posts
Posted by gregc on Sunday, July 10, 2016 6:33 AM

MonkeyBucket
I am working on a cheap freelance HO, point to point layout in the man cave/my designated store room. It is a North American branch that is owned by Southern Pacific. Only servicing a few industries in this section of track I plan to get a couple of spurs and a run around for some basic operation.

after scanning thru the various posts, it looks like you haven't settled on a track plan.  You may find the follow plans helpfull as examples of small simple pt-to-pt layouts.

 

greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading

  • Member since
    August 2011
  • From: Perth, Western Australia
  • 226 posts
Posted by MonkeyBucket on Sunday, July 10, 2016 7:33 AM

Gday Greg...I have already layed the track for the basic switching module...this is the unit I have to move out to the shed...Its wired up and all...I am just going to lift the plywood top off the framework and fix it down onto wider framework. Smile

Thanks for throwing up some more to look at...The exsisting trackwork I have is based on the small layout below...

Once in the shed I will know how much more space I have. I think the turntable may be a bit overkill seeing as the branch I am basing the layout on is only 10 or so miles long and I wont need to turn any steam engines. Come to think of it though...there is a wye on the interchange end in Portland. Could make for some interesting modelling.

Cheers

Cheers...

Chris from down under...

We're all here because we're not all there...

  • Member since
    August 2011
  • From: Perth, Western Australia
  • 226 posts
Posted by MonkeyBucket on Tuesday, July 26, 2016 1:35 AM

My branch has just purchased a new loco to help with local goods haulage over the older load limited track.

Presenting the GMD-1 #1101...Purchased off Canadian National

 

Its a great model and a real nice running unit. Has quite some wieght in it. Rapido trains really did a good job when they knocked these out.

Cheers...

Chris from down under...

We're all here because we're not all there...

  • Member since
    August 2011
  • From: Perth, Western Australia
  • 226 posts
Posted by MonkeyBucket on Monday, July 5, 2021 8:36 AM

G'day all...been a while...only just brushed the dust off the layout after a huge lull in time and mental stamina. 

I have started a Youtube thread if you wish to follow me...

Here is the first of many updates you can find on my channel...please forgive the rough footage as I am only a beginner with movies and an amateur modeler at best. 

Thanks

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLox-pXU1zyuAC0PZiagKFDUeM39aWgvlM

Cheers...

Chris from down under...

We're all here because we're not all there...

  • Member since
    August 2011
  • From: Perth, Western Australia
  • 226 posts
Posted by MonkeyBucket on Monday, July 5, 2021 8:51 AM

Cheers...

Chris from down under...

We're all here because we're not all there...

  • Member since
    August 2011
  • From: Perth, Western Australia
  • 226 posts
Posted by MonkeyBucket on Monday, July 5, 2021 8:51 AM

Cheers...

Chris from down under...

We're all here because we're not all there...

  • Member since
    August 2011
  • From: Perth, Western Australia
  • 226 posts
Posted by MonkeyBucket on Monday, July 5, 2021 8:52 AM

Cheers...

Chris from down under...

We're all here because we're not all there...

  • Member since
    August 2011
  • From: Perth, Western Australia
  • 226 posts
Posted by MonkeyBucket on Monday, July 5, 2021 8:53 AM

Cheers...

Chris from down under...

We're all here because we're not all there...

  • Member since
    August 2011
  • From: Perth, Western Australia
  • 226 posts
Posted by MonkeyBucket on Monday, July 5, 2021 8:53 AM

Cheers...

Chris from down under...

We're all here because we're not all there...

  • Member since
    August 2011
  • From: Perth, Western Australia
  • 226 posts
Posted by MonkeyBucket on Monday, July 5, 2021 8:54 AM

Cheers...

Chris from down under...

We're all here because we're not all there...

  • Member since
    August 2011
  • From: Perth, Western Australia
  • 226 posts
Posted by MonkeyBucket on Wednesday, July 7, 2021 4:29 AM

Gday again...got some color in the concrete and started to lay down some road...

been thinking about fencing as well...Huh?

Cheers...

Chris from down under...

We're all here because we're not all there...

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Wednesday, July 7, 2021 9:38 AM

Those are some interesting videos.

Please keep updates coming.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

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