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Building a Large Model Railroad

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  • Member since
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  • From: Flyertown, USA
  • 640 posts
Posted by Timboy on Tuesday, February 1, 2011 5:34 PM

Long end.  Most definitely the long end.  Wait a minute...  What's the right answer here...  Long end.  I'm going with long end.  Final answer...

Regards,

Timboy

  • Member since
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  • From: Horsham, Pennsylvania
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Posted by woodman on Tuesday, February 1, 2011 2:02 PM

Which end the long end or the short end of homosote are you standing up

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  • From: Flyertown, USA
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Posted by Timboy on Tuesday, February 1, 2011 12:37 PM

Ulrich:

Thanks!  It's been fun.  I'm now wiring up animation devices.  I pretty much consider this build to be the start point for further work and spend the coming months and years upgrading it.  As we all know, a model railroad is never completed.

Regards,

Timboy

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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, January 31, 2011 5:56 PM

Nice !

Thumbs UpThumbs UpThumbs Up

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  • From: Flyertown, USA
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Posted by Timboy on Monday, January 31, 2011 5:53 PM

 

Hello Everyone!

It's been about 2 months since I've posted an update to my Flyer Hi-rail build.  Since I'm now in the middle of some very boring under-the-table shenanigans (wiring).  I thought this might be a good place to do a pictorial recap of what I have built so far.  It's not near done, but some basic scenery and stuff is in place and - as we all know - most importantly of all, I CAN RUN 'EM! Laugh Laugh Laugh Laugh

If you want to take a peek, you can see those pics at:  

http://timmysamericanflyertrains.blogspot.com/

Regards,

Timboy

 

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  • From: Flyertown, USA
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Posted by Timboy on Monday, November 8, 2010 6:45 PM

Guys:

This may not be the place for this post, but it was the end of August when I last posted progress on my Flyer build to this site.

For those on this site who might like to see how it all has been progressing or for simply a diversion, please visit:

http://timmysamericanflyertrains.blogspot.com/

To the rest, sorry for the intrusion.

Timboy

  • Member since
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  • From: Flyertown, USA
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Posted by Timboy on Friday, August 27, 2010 2:50 PM

Guys:  I have made some progress on my Log Loader Mountain.  I now call it Log Loader on Sandstone Mountain.  Here is a pic.

 

 

 For more details, please visit: http://timmysamericanflyertrains.blogspot.com/

-Timboy

  • Member since
    February 2010
  • From: Flyertown, USA
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Posted by Timboy on Wednesday, August 25, 2010 1:34 PM

GUYS:  At great hesitation, I've posted pics of the work-in-progress of my Flyer layout - specifically, Log Loader Mountain.  I don't like posting pics of the ugly part of a build, but there are some guys who like to see the work-up and details on how I'm doing it.  I think I'm experimenting with an interesting technique, but there is a lot more to do before I can attempt to make all the structure pretty.

For pics and more details, please visit:  http://timmysamericanflyertrains.blogspot.com/

-Timboy

  • Member since
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  • From: Flyertown, USA
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Posted by Timboy on Wednesday, July 28, 2010 1:56 PM

Thanks Guys!  I appreciate your support. Thumbs Up  I am having the RR'ing time of my life building this baby.  I'm calling in all the experience I've had to date from a number of disciplines such as my furniture-making hobby, my water-color painting hobby, etc.  If you spot anything in my pics or descriptions that you think are out-of-whack for the unique layout I'm attempting, please don't hesitate to chime in.  I don't know everything.  No one does.  That's why there are these forums for us to share our ideas on.  If you are anything like me, then you probably also run hot or cold on a given aspect of model railroading at any point in time as you progress in your gauge.  SoapBox

Thanks again,

Timboy

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Posted by Allegheny2-6-6-6 on Wednesday, July 28, 2010 9:40 AM

 Tim I have to echo those sentiments exactly, any thing your doing can be applied to any scale of model railroading and I think your posts are as far form offensive as one could be.

Just my 2 cents worth, I spent the rest on trains. If you choked a Smurf what color would he turn?
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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, July 28, 2010 7:22 AM

 Timboy,

no need to refrain from posting here! Aside from some purists and experts of self-acclaim, there are still others, who are simply enjoying to see, what other fellow model railroaders are doing, regardless of scale or non-scale!

Not that I am curious Whistling

  • Member since
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  • From: Flyertown, USA
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Posted by Timboy on Wednesday, July 28, 2010 6:52 AM

 Allegheny2-6-6-6:  First off, thanks!  Now, to answer your question at the risk of offending others on this forum...  The track system I'll be using isn't scale.  Not even close.  The wooden ties will be so big that when I ballast the track up to the top of the ties, it should somewhat mimic the appearance of a graded roadbed.  Thus, I will be at least spared what I estimate to be about a $300 cost for cork (or other) roadbed.  I'll skip posting to this forum when I get to that point - for the obvious reason - but anyone interested can continue to follow my blog.  When I get to the scenery, I may want to post again if I feel I have something worthy of fine-scale to show in that regard.  For right now, benchwork is benchwork - regardless of the build and I believe I have something interesting to show there.  Thanks again and I appologize to anyone I might offend.

Regards,

Timboy 

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Posted by Allegheny2-6-6-6 on Tuesday, July 27, 2010 11:06 PM

 Tim as always very nice work you must have the cleanest train room in America.....lol I have to ask are you planning on putting the track right on top of the Homasote or are you using roadbed then track?  Reason I ask is I recall seeing an article by i think Joe Fugate on his construction of spline roadbed using Masonite splines and he beveled the outer splines to give it the roadbed it's ballast shoulders. I experimented with one section of track that brings my trains up form one grade to the next and realized I like my fingers too much to attempt the 45 degree cut so I opted to put homabed roadbed on top of the Masonite splines.

Just my 2 cents worth, I spent the rest on trains. If you choked a Smurf what color would he turn?
  • Member since
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Posted by Timboy on Tuesday, July 27, 2010 2:35 PM

Hi Guys;

I wasn't going to show any more progress until the whole skeleton was done, but I think there are a couple of interesting things right now after all.  After an intense week of layout building, I have my second dog bone and more built.  The rest of the spline-building shouldn't be quite as difficult.  That homosote was a bugger to work with but I am almost out and ready to switch to plywood for making up splines.

As this build continues, I am still looking for a way to power this layout up with a Flyer vintage AC analog system, modified to do what I want it to do.

More pics and details at:  http://timmysamericanflyertrains.blogspot.com/

Thanks,

Timboy

  • Member since
    February 2010
  • From: Flyertown, USA
  • 640 posts
Posted by Timboy on Sunday, July 18, 2010 7:40 PM

Thanks guys.  I probably won't be posting any progress on this build for about a month or so because it would just be more of the same.  When the skeleton of my new layout is complete, I'll post some pics to show it all.  See you then!

http://timmysamericanflyertrains.blogspot.com/

-Timboy

  • Member since
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  • From: Martinez, CA
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Posted by markpierce on Sunday, July 18, 2010 12:51 AM

I like the subdued intensity of clouds like this.

 

 

Mark

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Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, July 18, 2010 12:10 AM

 Wow, Timboy - that is going to be an awesome layout! I wish I had the room for something like this! Eager to see the next report on your progress!

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  • From: Flyertown, USA
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Posted by Timboy on Saturday, July 17, 2010 10:24 AM

  Sir Madog:  Oh!  I understand.  Here are a few pics of my most recent progress. 

Unfortunately, I probably won't be posting any more progress on the skeleton of my new layout.  The reason is that the second dogbone will be pretty much identical to the first and all that remains after that is to connect them via a 40-foot shelf along the rear wall.  When I have the entire skeleton completed, I'll post pics of that.  Then will come the track-laying and I won't be posting pics of that - for reasons I stated earlier in this thread.  I'll then resume with scenery building.  Thanks for your interest! 

Regards,

Timboy

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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 17, 2010 9:36 AM

 Timboy,

I am a lazy guy. I know that clicking on your link is not much of an issue, but there is a reason why I don´t like to do it. I know that MR´s pages are fairly safe, but unfortunately not all. Quite a lot of the links in here give me warnings, so that´s why I stay out of them.

Posting a picture in here is not much of an issue - this is why we have this platform - sharing our work, not only posting a link.

Just my My 2 cents

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  • From: Flyertown, USA
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Posted by Timboy on Saturday, July 17, 2010 6:20 AM

 Sir Madog:  Hi & thanks for asking.  I'm not sure what you mean about not wanting to jump back and forth (from here to where?).  I have a lot of pics and details from the planning stage, through the destruction of the previous layout to the current state of the rebuild at this site: http://timmysamericanflyertrains.blogspot.com/

Regards,

Timboy

  • Member since
    April 2003
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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 17, 2010 3:51 AM

 Timboy,

How about sharing some picture with us here in this thread! Frankly, I am not so keen about  jumping back and forth.

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Posted by West Coast S on Friday, July 16, 2010 4:41 PM

What's cool is my "mood room" idea, based upon vintage photos I intend to replicate the effect of being in the valley surrounded by the Coast Range mountains, by use of a 180 degree photo backdrop and walk in secenery I hope to convey the impression of thousands of acres of orchards as far as the eye can see.  Also, how about scenery you could walk over?  A clear Plexiglass platform would allow me to continue the scenery onto the floor, might have to give some thought into this.

Dave

SP the way it was in S scale
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Posted by Timboy on Friday, July 16, 2010 6:45 AM

 West Coast S:  Cool!  I hope you start a thread on this, so we can follow your progress!

-Timboy

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  • From: Los Angeles
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Posted by West Coast S on Thursday, July 15, 2010 1:16 PM

I'm designing a S scale layout that will occupy most of  a 80 X 40 utility room, the trick for me is to keep it simple: benchwork no wider then 32 and solid top table construction for the most part, with this much room I don't have to contend with complicated designs or double decking, I will use my time tested material of welded steel tubing for the benchwork, reducing material requirements, cost and greatly speeding up construction. I'm exploring the possibility of a mixture of handlaid turnouts and special work with flex track as an additional time saver. 

Eventually I will have two branch lines, anchored by a 10 track yard between , there will be a secondary 5 track interchage yard serving an independent shortline and the U.S. Navy. I've decided to go with a point to point design after much consideration, with the modeled portions of the SP Coastline assuming a secondary importance as a feed for two reverse loops that will double as stagging . Per car movement reports, both these branches could generate 150+ loaded reefers at the height of packing season, my goal is to emulate these movements as closely as possible.  

Dave

SP the way it was in S scale
  • Member since
    February 2010
  • From: Flyertown, USA
  • 640 posts
Posted by Timboy on Thursday, July 15, 2010 6:25 AM

 Texas Zepher:  I'll no doubt be using foam on this layout in lots of places - especially sheer vertical rock faces where it would be difficult to hang a plaster-soaked anything.  There will be some real scenic challenges for me to try to pull off to disguise and/or hide things; also some areas that need pushed back or brought forward, visually.  I think track lighting will also play a key role in creating some visual illusions and effects.  Lots to learn.

 Allegheny2-6-6-6:  Thanks!  I spend time cleaning as I go - a habit I got into doing projects around the house while wife is at work, so she doesn't come home to a mess.  I spent the morning yesterday cleaning and reorganizing my work space/materials to start in on the other dogbone.  Just constructing the skeleton on this build is taking quite a long time.  Ah well, time is what I got the most of.

-Timboy

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    March 2007
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Posted by Allegheny2-6-6-6 on Tuesday, July 13, 2010 11:35 PM

 I'll say one thing you do nice clean work, my train room ain't never been that clean.......lol nice job so far

Just my 2 cents worth, I spent the rest on trains. If you choked a Smurf what color would he turn?
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Posted by Texas Zepher on Tuesday, July 13, 2010 7:45 PM

Timboy
Texas Zepher:  I'm happy to clarify.  I meant realistic in terms of how the scenery looks.

Yes when you get that far I highly recommend extruded foam for elevated areas.  I have found foam so much easier to work with than the old plaster over a frame.   I am able to produce scenery that looks just as good in a fraction of the time.  The only thing I use plaster for anymore is certain rock molds that I put on top of the foam.

  • Member since
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  • From: Flyertown, USA
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Posted by Timboy on Tuesday, July 13, 2010 7:20 PM

 Hamltnblue:  When the tracks are laid, they will be about 28-30" radius curves; tighter than I would like, but that's the best I could achieve.

Thanks,

Timboy

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Posted by Hamltnblue on Tuesday, July 13, 2010 7:08 PM

Looks good

What is the radius of those curves?

Springfield PA

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