29/OCT/2017, 9:44 PM.
.
The experimental track planning cardboard layout is no more.
This thing came down surprisingly easy. I have removed over a dozen layouts, and none were done in 5 minutes before. Maybe there is something to building a layout out of cardboard.
Now it is on to the next project.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
I added the rest of the buidings and scenery.
I am so happy with the way this experiment turned out. I cannot wait to build the actual layout now!
SeeYou190 richhotrain Kevin is a nut case!. You will find very few people who know me that would disagree with you.
richhotrain Kevin is a nut case!.
You will find very few people who know me that would disagree with you.
And, of course, I was joking when I said that.
Rich
Alton Junction
richhotrainKevin is a nut case!
When I am in hobby-mode I am like a obsessed man on a mission. I have spent days in a row working 16 hours each day on hobby projects when I am motivated.
I have found that I can do ANYTHING in 14 days if I set my mind to it. When the girls were teenagers and into CosPlay, boy did we build some fancy outfits. They have benefited from my "nut case" as much as anyone.
: When Games Workshop released the Tau army about 10 years ago, we bought four "Army Boxes" of them, and my middle daughter, one other guy and I spent four days working 20 hours a day to get them all painted. She showed up at a Game Tournament with a FULLY PAINTED Tau army that had only been released days earlier. It was nuts!
My friend Randy and I built an N scale 13 by 8 display layout for the Scale Rails of Southwest Florida annual train show in 1992 in 3 months from a pile of wood to 100% finished, including a transport crate. This was in my dining room for that six months.
My wife sees no benefits, but she plays along nicely.
The Winter Wolf E-L man tom Absolutely fascinating, Kevin! Hello, I have known Kevin for about 20 years. This thing he built is fascinating, but it is no where near out of the ordinary for him. He sent a link to this thread to a whole bunch of his wargamer buddies. He wanted us to know what he was doing while he was not at the convention last weekend. Kevin is part of our wargaming circle in South Florida. He is an absolute fanatic. He builds things like this all the time, then just tosses them away. He spent about two months building a photograph quality 20 foot long model of the Atlantic wall. We used it once, then he threw it out. Kevin brought a brand new, fully painted, WW2 army to eight consecutive tournaments in a row one season. Painting eight different armies in one year is insane, but he did it like it was nothing. His workshop is papered with "best painted" awards he has won through the years. Some from very major events. He claims to be a wargamer, but he is not. He lies. If he was a wargamer he would bother to learn the rules and try to win. Wargaming, like his trains, is just an outlet for this unstoppable need and hunger he has to build things. I do not understand his trains, nor do I know much about them, but it amazing what he does. He models entire trains at once, just building and building and building. He has a 1/8 scale engine in his garage he has been woking on for a few years. Supposedly it will be something he can ride, I don't know. It looks like a lot of work. He built an entire village in 28mm scale for one event, then donated the whole thing to Omniverse Hobbies in Fort Myers. Then, just a few months later, he did it again and donated the second village to Dark Side Comics in Sarasota. He won the "iron painter" contest six times in a row at Dark Side. This is an event where you paint an entire model unit it 24 hours straight. It is almost impossible to finish, and Kevin won it for three years straight while producing foreground quality models. You guys have one heck of a talent on these message boards with him. Please do not take hime away from us. Tournaments just are not the same without him. Respectfully, in health and prosperity, Thomas
E-L man tom Absolutely fascinating, Kevin!
Hello, I have known Kevin for about 20 years. This thing he built is fascinating, but it is no where near out of the ordinary for him.
He sent a link to this thread to a whole bunch of his wargamer buddies. He wanted us to know what he was doing while he was not at the convention last weekend.
Kevin is part of our wargaming circle in South Florida. He is an absolute fanatic. He builds things like this all the time, then just tosses them away. He spent about two months building a photograph quality 20 foot long model of the Atlantic wall. We used it once, then he threw it out.
Kevin brought a brand new, fully painted, WW2 army to eight consecutive tournaments in a row one season. Painting eight different armies in one year is insane, but he did it like it was nothing. His workshop is papered with "best painted" awards he has won through the years. Some from very major events.
He claims to be a wargamer, but he is not. He lies. If he was a wargamer he would bother to learn the rules and try to win. Wargaming, like his trains, is just an outlet for this unstoppable need and hunger he has to build things.
I do not understand his trains, nor do I know much about them, but it amazing what he does. He models entire trains at once, just building and building and building.
He has a 1/8 scale engine in his garage he has been woking on for a few years. Supposedly it will be something he can ride, I don't know. It looks like a lot of work.
He built an entire village in 28mm scale for one event, then donated the whole thing to Omniverse Hobbies in Fort Myers. Then, just a few months later, he did it again and donated the second village to Dark Side Comics in Sarasota.
He won the "iron painter" contest six times in a row at Dark Side. This is an event where you paint an entire model unit it 24 hours straight. It is almost impossible to finish, and Kevin won it for three years straight while producing foreground quality models.
You guys have one heck of a talent on these message boards with him. Please do not take hime away from us. Tournaments just are not the same without him.
Respectfully, in health and prosperity, Thomas
I decided not to reply but kept asking myself, Why?
Now I know. Kevin is a nut case!
In all seriousness, though, once you understand the background, as elegantly explained by Thomas, it all makes sense.
Now, the question is, will Kevin write an article for MR mag and, more importantly, will he follow through and build the actual layout?
Keep us posted, Kevin.
Kevin, we all know of a model railroad shop that used to be in Tampa and they did exactly what you just mentioned. Don used to hold two swap meets a year. Didn't cost a penney for you to come setup a table and buy/sell/trade with other model railroaders. Don also occasionally had model contests. He also had a "adult day care center" filled with hobby magazines. You cold take a brand new magazine off the shelf, sit down and read it cover to cover. There was also a work area for working on your models and it even included a airbrush paint booth. Now THAT is how to run a hobby shop. Unfortunitly the new owner did not see fit to do any of these and as we all know, there is no longer a model train shop in Tampa.
The Winter WolfHe won the "iron painter" contest six times in a row at Dark Side.
Good heavens Dak, do I need to get you a cheerleading outfit? Oh, and welcome to the best forums on the internet. I have been here 4 months and been treated nothing but kind. Not a troll to be found in here.
Thank you for the kind comments. Although, that just sounded like a long way of saying "Kevin is a terrible wargamer".
Honestly, this cardboard mock up, from start to complete in 7 days is the craziest big project I have ever taken on. This one took 100% commitment to getting it done. Also, I have never completed a project where I learned so much.
I wonder why Model Railroad hobby shops don't hold events to get people in the store and spending money? There must be some potential for social hobbying in Model Railroading.
Just to be honest, I won Iron Painter six times in four years. I only had five victories consecutively.
E-L man tomAbsolutely fascinating, Kevin!
Absolutely fascinating, Kevin! I wish I had the time to produce a mock-up of a layout on that grand a scale. As a true believer in using mock-ups, this really takes the guesswork out of layout building. it would be great to see an article on this in MR Magazine.
Steven OtteCheck your inbox.
Steven,
The email address you provided did not work.
I never understood your apprehensive feelings, but it looks like you have accomplished what you wanted to do. Good deal! and an invite for an article for MRR magazine ! Good job! I'll look forward to the future article!
I used mock-ups for the structures.
The mill and food plant.
The completed structure.
The plastic plant:
The completed structure:
I had the track figured out, after I built the space I needed to store our Tubberware boxes of family / seasonal decoration stuff
Mike.
My You Tube
Nice.
LINK to SNSR Blog
Day 7, Post 2.
Well, it is finally done. One of the main concerns was there be ample photo spots on the layout. Here is a quick photo tour of a few scenes.
I believe I have accomplished all my goals for this week.
In previous threads I have mentioned how apprehensive I have been about starting this layout, and now all those uneassy feelings have been put to bed. This layout design can be everything I want it to be.
SeeYou190 Here I am on the last day. I added paint to the cardboard buildings this morning, and now this project is about 99% complete! I finally made it! This has been an exciting rush of work. All I have left is some touch-up paint, add some loose chunks of stand-in scenery, and take some pictures.
Here I am on the last day. I added paint to the cardboard buildings this morning, and now this project is about 99% complete! I finally made it! This has been an exciting rush of work.
All I have left is some touch-up paint, add some loose chunks of stand-in scenery, and take some pictures.
Hi, Kevin,
I hope those pictures you took are high-resolution, because I've sent you a PM about possibly writing an article for us. Check your inbox.
--Steven Otte, Model Railroader senior associate editorsotte@kalmbach.com
SeeYou190Oh well... this has been just as much fun.
Indeed. It looks like it was a lot of fun to build.
SeeYou190I put my Kato NW-2 on the track. This little gem runs so very well (like all HO Kato diesel locomotives), and it will coast for 4" on the flywheels. SURPRISE #2: It would not make it across the crossings. I inspected everything and found the trip pin on the factory installed X2F couple was catching on the crossing frogs. . . I cut off the trip pins with a pair of diagonal cutters, and now it flows through the crossings with no issues.
I use a pair of jewelry pliers to bend the 'hose' up to the proper height because they are all low compared to the Kadee coupler gauge. There is a special tool marketed to do it as well.
Day 7, Post 1.
Day 6, Post 2.
Adding a bunch of cardboard buildings. The roundhouse was getting lonely. He showed up on day two, then no one came around to join him until today.
Now time for more paint... again.
dieseldocWar games taking a back seat for a while
Actually, I was supposed to spend this vacation at the Historical Miniature Gaming Society convention in Orlando. The hotel tried to stick it to me when I modified my reservation, so I cancelled my participation. The DBA tournament won't be the same without me, and I missed my chance to participate in the new release event for the new edition of Battlelore hosted by Richard Borg. Oh well... this has been just as much fun.
Now for a Wargaming "mash-up", here a is an armoured Polish train on the cardboard layout:
OK. No more inter-hobby mash-ups for me. That European train looks too silly in front of a North American roundhouse!
Was there ever an American armoured military train similar to this?
Kevin, a very interesting concept. Looking great! Glad to see you are focusing on some model railroading again. War games taking a back seat for a while?
cuyamajust to keep the terminology straight, those are crossings, not crossovers.
I edited the post and fixed the offending terminology.
Yes, this has been a very fun week.
It looks like you are having fun, which is the Prime Directive. But just to keep the terminology straight, those are crossings, not crossovers. I see that you referenced them correctly elsewhere in your post.
SeeYou190 I am most interested in the double crossovers where the industrial track crosses the double mainline.
Layout Design GalleryLayout Design Special Interest Group
Day 6, Post 1.
I started functional testing of the layout today. I broke out the old reliable power pack and hooked it up to the model layout. I am most interested in the double crossings where the industrial track crosses the double mainline. The trackwork goes straight from the crossings to a 22" radius curve with no tangent or transition track.
I could have done all this testing on the table top, but this way is just so much more fun! It is kind of like running a real layout.
I tested my early Life Like Proto 2000 SD-7 first. It went through everything pushing and pulling freight cars with no problems. Then one of my Stewart F7 B units was put on the track, again (unsurprisingly) no problems.
Then I went for broke and put one of my Sunset Heavy USRA 2-8-2 Mikados on the rails.
SUPRISE! Even with all those plastic frogs, no flywheel, and only picking up electricity from one side of the tender, it went back and forth through those crossings with no electrical or stalling problems. However, when backing from the 22" radius curve into the crossings, the trailing truck became derailed every time. Hmmm... I guess either there will be no Heavy Mikados switching the industrial tracks, or I will need to modify the locomotives to make the trailing truck swing out a little bit more.
Then I tried what should have been a slam-dunk. I put my Kato NW-2 on the track. This little gem runs so very well (like all HO Kato diesel locomotives), and it will coast for 4" on the flywheels. SURPRISE #2: It would not make it across the crossings. I inspected everything and found the trip pin on the factory installed X2F couple was catching on the crossing frogs.
I cut off the trip pins with a pair of diagonal cutters, and now it flows through the crossings with no issues.
I find this all very interesting. I did not think the locomotives would run so well though back to back Atlas crossings.
The plan is to build these crossings on solid clad PC board and make them solid metal rail with insulating gaps through the centers of each crossing as described in a very old edition of How to Wire Your Model Railroad. This should give positive electrical pickup for even small locomotives. I believe I will need a 4PDT switch to control the crossing. The crossing would then be concealed under pavement as a roadway to the roundhouse would go over this trackwork.
That is still the plan. I cannot test my smallest locomotive, a United 2-6-2, because it is paint right now, but I am so pleasently surprised at how well my locomotive roster performed over this pair of Atlas plastic frogged crossings.
Day 5, Post 3.
This is what the whole project looks like so far.
Not bad for a five day effort. I have stayed busy on this, and I am right where I wanted to be.
I am relieved that the yard throat starts soon enough for there to be plenty of room for four yard tracks before the layout needs to turn again.
Day 5, post 2.
Paint sure makes everything look better. The additional 6 inches this corner will get when the layout finally gets built is badly needed. This was a good lesson learned before I built a wall!
Day 5, Post 1.
Starting on the scenery in the second corner. I have the plaster cloth down now. Paper Mache will come as soon as it is firmed up.
I was smart enough to put plastic over the rest of the model this time before I made another huge mess and had to repaint everything again.
Live and learn.
Lone Wolf and Santa FeThe roundhouse and turntable look good for cardboard mockups. So does the bridge.
Thank you for the compliment.
The bridges look really good as stand-ins. The long bridge will be a Central Valley Pratt Truss Bridge, and the shorter bridge on turn 2 will be a Campbell Howe Truss Bridge.
I know the truss patterns are incorrect on both stand ins, but I wanted to make them easy to cut out.
Day 4, Post 3.
Began laying out the second corner. I found I will need to make the layout 6 inches wider. This will take it to 7 foot 6 inches. This leaves only about 4 feet of width for the staging yards and reverse loop behind the wall.
Time for bed. I hope to get as much done tomorrow as I did today.
Geared SteamGreat idea Kevin, nothign like seeing it "as it is" to make sure your satisfied.
I am surprised at how satisfied I am with some of the features. I really thought I would hate the cut-down roundhouse, but now that I see it in 3D, I really like it. The structure looks truly massive in five square feet.
I also got the chance to redesign the interchange track with the COPPER CANYON RR. The way I drew it did not allow for the planned photography location.