I posted this last week and saw it disappear with nary a comment, so I didn't really think anybody cared. I just came back looking for the post today just out of curiousity.
I'll try and answer everyones questions.
I don't post on this board often. I mostly lurk here and read up on some of discussions. I've posted all of my progress on another board. If you click on my name and check my profile there is a link to a website with all of the photo's I've taken to date regarding the long journey it has been to get to this point. Riverrotter - You are also on that board just do a search for me and you'll find me there.
This is first layout I have ever, constructed...not counting the one my uncle built out of Atlas sectional track which I "helped" with when I was 12. After months of reading and studying the few scant articles on-line I decided that handlaying would provide me with the challenge I needed to keep me interested and motivated. Something about installing 3ft of RTR track just didn't seem to appeal to me. There seemed something very prototypical about it as well. Laydown roadbed, ties, ballast, spike rail to ties... Besides...$30 dollars CAD for a Cd83 Peco turnout of which I would need over 20 to start didn't really strike me as much of bargain. No thanks...I'd rather spend my money on other things.
So I've never laid a substantial amount of flex track. Ever. I started off with hand laying. Although, if I were to build a larger layout in the furture I could see me doing a combination of both. The relative small size of this layout was the main reason I figured I could do the whole thing hand laid. So I just got started.
A HUGE factor in giving me the confidence to go this route is the FastTracks turnout fixtures. I don't think I would have tried it, nor ever got around to building a layout in the first place if it were not for their fine products to get me going. I've picked up a couple of their fixtures and frog point form tools and they really are a phenominal product. If you can get over the initial start up cost and do the math, you really save a ton of cash over the long run.
I've really jumped into this head first. I'm learning a lot and have manned up the courage to re-wired locos to accept LED's and one in particular I rewired to accept an 8 pin NMRA socket. Even modified a frame to make the last one work which was a bit of nail biter for a newb like me. However, I once read on a mountian bike board on learning the basic skills of bike mechanics, the author said, "Think of each screw up you make and every part you break as tuition towards the cost of your education."
I'm doing the best I can to put all of the good knowledge I've learned along the way to good use.
As requested, here are a few more pictures.
Nice looking track work! Like to see more pictures
A) Where are your other posts located -- I'd like to backtrack and follow your progress.
B) How long have you been hand laying track - it looks good! Did you start off hand laying or switch from some other method, e.g., flex-trak? If you switched, why (not intended as criticism), and how much longer does it take to hand lay vs., say, flex-track?
Thanks!
From the far, far reaches of the wild, wild west I am: rtpoteet
Hey folks,
I've been pretty busy and have a lot completed since I last posted. All of the yard track work and loco facilities has been completed. I just need to paint PC ties on the turnouts and ballast them. Here is a couple of pics.
Reminder. My trackwork is hand laid.
Enjoy your week!