More construction - pictures included

[Anonymous]

Jim,
I've been thinking about that and plan to take one of them to the LHS tomorrow and see what I can find to dress them up.

The only thing that's got me is how do you attach plastruct to aluminum?

[mpzpw3]

Perfect! I've been enjoying this thread for awhile. The bare plywood with track stage is the best stage. An open canvas for a painter, so to speak. I wish I had planned as well as you are when I built my layout. Keep the updates coming.

[Jumijo]

Bent,

You made some serious progress! And all of it 3 steps forward, no steps back. Great looking river, and I've always liked those Lionel bridge. Some orange paint will weather and age them nicely.

Your girder bridge is also looking good. If you wanted to add some detail to the sides, try placing some thin plastic strips vertically, every inch or so.

Boy, you really are flying! I'm greatly impressed!

Jim 

[Anonymous]

Brent,

Agree, the bridges do look better black... nice call.  The river looks great too.  I've been lurking and following your progress.  Very envious.  Looks like your gonna have a great layout there.  Thanks for sharing and looking forward to continued updates.

Roland

Roland,
If you are interested, I'm having a gathering at my place on April 19th for the forum members attending York. If you are close by Mt. Airy and are interested you are welcome to join us.

[Anonymous]

Reggie,
My father and I built a large HO layout that we only put up during the holiday but it was only one level. We also designed and started building another HO layout, but it never got further than the benchwork. I also built another O scale layout, but it too didn't make it much further than where I am with this one. Let's withhold judgement till after I get a bit further with this one. Yeah... your layout was crap... LOL!!!!!

All - thanks for the encouragement, it helps to keep the creative juices flowing and motivation high enough to keep progressing.

[USNRol]

Brent,

Agree, the bridges do look better black... nice call.  The river looks great too.  I've been lurking and following your progress.  Very envious.  Looks like your gonna have a great layout there.  Thanks for sharing and looking forward to continued updates.

Roland

[fifedog]

Tres manifique, mon ami!  (got that from watchin' BRAVO channel)

[thatboy37]

haven't been keeping up with your work, but had time to check it out today. man you are coming along quick fast and in a hurry. that is some really nice work you are doing there. makes what i was doing look like crap. quetion for you have you built any layouts before this one. if not you ought to think about starting your own business. but anyways great work and keep it up.

[johnandjulie13]

Hello Brent:

Thanks for sharing.  Your layout looks fantastic.  I love how your river is coming out.  I have a small creek on my layout and anything I can learn is extremely helpful.  Adding stones is a great idea to add some realism to the river.  Please keep us posted on your progress.  I still am holding out hope that I will get to see it in person in April.

Regards,

John

[RockIsland52]

Brent, you do some unbelievable work.  And by candlelight no less.  Did Susieq remind you to make sure the generator could handle the trains as well?  Thanks for the project thread and the pics.

Jack

[kpolak]

Very Nice Brent!  I like the way the river is turning out.

I used to go white water rafting on the new river in my younger days.  We always ended up at that bridge.  Quite a view!

Kurt

[Anonymous]

While Susan was away last week I decided to paint The O'Hare Spans. These are three Lionel Arch-Under bridges that, quite frankly IMHO, don't look all that good in grey. I have always liked the New River Gourge Bridge in West Virginia, so that was the look I was going for when I decided to paint the bridges:











From here they will be weathered using some orangish brown paint I picked up at AC Moore.

[Anonymous]

When you have rivers, you have to have bridges, and since no one makes a double track steel grider bridge you have to make your own.

I started off with a sheet of 1/8 steel from Lowes ($13.00), 12 x 18. I cut this into two 9 x 10 pieces:


Then I took some left over Aluminum U-Channel from the shower door installation and cut it into two 10 inch sections, then cut them in half:


After a couple passes on the bench grinder, I mocked them up:


Edge on view:


Put some JB Weld on the pieces last night. Tonight I hope to clean them up with some brake cleaner then paint with flat black spray paint.

[Anonymous]

Well here's what I've gotten done on the river so far.

I mocked up the bridge locations so I knew where the river could go, then I made rough outline using a Sharpie and just worked the outline till I had something I liked.

Marked and started to cut:


Near layout side of the river completely cut and set on supports:


Edge view of the river:


Mocked up some cliffs using ceiling tiles:


Wanted to get an idea of what it would look like from the riverbed:



Decided I wanted the river banks to be more sloped, so I widened the river cutout:


Started laying some plaster cloth:


Once the plaster cloth was dry I put down a layer of spackle. I wasn't very concerned with the banks and bottom being smooth as they wouldn't be in real life. Then while the spackle was still wet I placed some medium to large sized stones:


From here I need to finish the plaster cloth, finish the spackle, and put down some more stones. Then I'll paint the riverbed a murky green and then put some tan tallus around the stones. Then the banks will be painted dirt brown and covered with ground cover in various shades of green. Then along the river edge I'll plant some tall grass here and there. Once that is done I have to cut the joint between the two layout sections and install clear velume(? window film) on the edges and in the joint, then I'll seal the edges with some clear silicone and start pouring the water material once the silicone drys. I'm going for a wide deep creek look.

[ChiefEagles]

btw - when are you coming to Bal'more to visit Fife and me?

How's April sound?! My wife's cousin and I are are heading to York. He got a good deal on a room at a Holiday Inn Express somewhere close by the meet.  Gonna be fun!

Jimmy 

Might be able to save you some $$$.  I am probably at the same hotel and have two double beds and sofa bed.  Executive suite with microwave and frig.  Wife is more than likely NOT going.  You are welcome to share the room.  You and Mary's Cousin can flip to see who gets the sofa bed.  My room is free as using some of my over 100,000 points with Holiday Inn.  Let me know.    

HUMM, No answer.

[ChiefEagles]

btw - when are you coming to Bal'more to visit Fife and me?

How's April sound?! My wife's cousin and I are are heading to York. He got a good deal on a room at a Holiday Inn Express somewhere close by the meet.  Gonna be fun!

Jimmy 

Might be able to save you some $$$.  I am probably at the same hotel and have two double beds and sofa bed.  Executive suite with microwave and frig.  Wife is more than likely NOT going.  You are welcome to share the room.  You and Mary's Cousin can flip to see who gets the sofa bed.  My room is free as using some of my over 100,000 points with Holiday Inn.  Let me know.    

[PostwarMan07]

wow....is about all I can say.  I really like your trackplan with the reverse loops, multi levels, and switching.  Makes sure you'll never be bored running trains on that layout.  Cant believe you got to where you are so quickly and still have great results.  Keep us posted!

[Anonymous]

btw - when are you coming to Bal'more to visit Fife and me?

How's April sound?! My wife's cousin and I are are heading to York. He got a good deal on a room at a Holiday Inn Express somewhere close by the meet.  Gonna be fun!

Jimmy 

Jim,
Check your email.

[Jumijo]

btw - when are you coming to Bal'more to visit Fife and me?

How's April sound?! My wife's cousin and I are are heading to York. He got a good deal on a room at a Holiday Inn Express somewhere close by the meet.  Gonna be fun!

Jimmy 

[Anonymous]

Well...Here's a 10-minute sketch...Hope it makes sense.

I see! Thanks a bunch!

I guess a concrete slab would look good under the bridge footings... lots to think of now.

[kpolak]

Well...Here's a 10-minute sketch...Hope it makes sense.

[fifedog]

You may want to refer to some photos on the Western Pacific for inspiration, especially around the Keddie Wye area.  Also, pictures from Pittsburgh and all their bridges help me from time to time.  If you just need a little span, use a simple under deck girder to bridge that gap.

[Anonymous]

Chief,
I hear ya! I am fairly confident that what you see will be working. I need to get the rotary switches and DZ-1002P switch controllers ordered. Then I can start wiring the blocks and switches.

The scenery won't be done, but it may be started by then.  Planning to pickup quite a bit at York - ballast, Atlas Double Track Pratt Bridge, animated neon sign, Ross yard switch, and maybe some ERR upgrades.

[ChiefEagles]

Brent, better work hard as you have to have it ready when we all come by after York.   Keep up the good work. 

[Brutus]

Looking great, 88!  If you can't find that RCS yard switch you were talking about on the 'pot, I think one of my LHS's has one - I don't know the price, but they are pretty much MSRP.  It's Electrictrains on Page in St. Louis.  http://www.electrictrainoutlet.com/

[johnandjulie13]

Hello Brent:

It looks like you are really moving!  I love seeing all of those trains on the layout.  Sorry to hear that you are being held up by a lack of switches.  Speaking of switches (turnouts), I am still having some issues with my Atlas switches and my Dad (an old Navy electrician) came up with a great solution without me having to take out the switches and perform some soldering. 

Keep posting pics!

Regards,

John

[Anonymous]

Great progress, Brent. You are really flying!

I just slapped my 2 bridges down with no regard for realism. I can't help but chuckle when someone notices and says that they aren't realistic! I couldn't care less! They were good enough to get published in a magazine!

Jim 

2 Steps forward, three steps back this week. Not having the switches and the realignment of the transition leg set me back a little.

I'm not trying to model real world scenes, but I do want the layout to have a certain realism with a toy touch - if you know what I mean? Since this scene is RIGHT on top of you I want to add some details that you really have to look for to see... I have something up my sleave that if it works out will be really neat... hope to have it ready by the time the forum members stop in for a visit... btw - when are you coming to Bal'more to visit Fife and me?

[Anonymous]

Kurt,
I like the idea, but I'm having problems picturing it... if you know what I mean?

I guess I need to do some research and find something that I like.

Hmmmm...

[Jumijo]

Great progress, Brent. You are really flying!

I just slapped my 2 bridges down with no regard for realism. I can't help but chuckle when someone notices and says that they aren't realistic! I couldn't care less! They were good enough to get published in a magazine!

Jim 

[kpolak]

Not sure what to do with the abutments... need recommendations please. I was thinking that I could make piers out of some 5 quarter stock then paint them concrete color and weather them, behind the bridge I was going to install some 1/2 stock and paint concrete as well... thoughts? 

Great progress!

The bridges look like they are spanning a gourge.  How about ramping up the sides with rock formations to meet the bases of the bridges?

Kurt