Engine Shed Build

[Demay]

Simon and Crispy,

Your engine shed looks fantastic.  Did you write down or document the process and materials used?  A beginner like me could certainly benefit from some easy to follow instructions.

Once again, great job, and thanks for posting the photos. 

 Joe

[simon1966]

Thanks Joe,

I think all the key materials and steps are detailed above in the thread.  If there is any step that is not clear and you would like additional information, let me know.

You can also follow it on my picture trail location  http://www.PictureTrail.com/gid22884416  I just added some text to make sure the materials are described.

[Demay]

Thanks Simon.  I'll follow your picture trail and see where it leads me.

 Joe

[rtraincollector]

Its detail instruction like this that Intrest me and would love to se on a regular basis in ctt mag or subscribers only area

 

[simon1966]

I am glad you enjoyed it.  I too really like to see projects shown in a step by step sequence.  There are so many great ideas out there that I almost always learn something. 

 One thing I really need to do with the engine shed is to put insulating pins on the rails leading into the shed and then wire up a double pole, double throw switch (with a center off position) so that Crispy can park his engines and not have them take off on him when he is running the rest of his layout. 

[kpolak]

Great work Simon annd Crispy!

Make sure the switch is rated to handle your maximum fuse value.

Kurt

[simon1966]

Thanks Kurt, good point.  The currents are certainly quite a bit bigger than in my normal HO so I will be sure to select an appropriate switch.

[dwiemer]

When you make those insulated track sections, you could also have a light that is on in a nearby structure to indicate that the track inside has power.  One of the tips and tricks books has a similar idea where they have a orange light inside a local switch tower that comes on when power is on in the local rails.  You could have it light say red for right track and grean for left.  Another idea would be to have a light over each door that will light if the track for that door is powered.

Great results.  Fine work and ideas.  Thanks for sharing.
Dennis

[simon1966]

Thanks for the tip Dennis, that is a good idea.  Since I am going to allow each of the shed tracks to be powered independently, and since, at least in the short term, the shed is going to be moved around a fair amount as it is not going onto a permanent layout any time soon, I will look into keeping any wiring self contained.  Perhaps a pair of exterior lamps over the doors?

[dwiemer]

Exterior lights over the bay doors would work well.  Size wise, the HO lights with the green shades would probably look impressive.

Dennis

[fifedog]

Nicely done.

[Ole Timer]

Simon ... had to stop by again to check out the rescent work .... lookin good guys .... are you going to add any work benches or anything to the inside .... maybe a pot bellied stove ? You can grab a handful of engine parts off of midwinterauctions on Ebay to put inside for a couple of dollars ... makes them look like a real working repair area .... maybe even a few around the building too . Just an idea ....   you and your son are doing a fabulous job ! 

 RT ... open to only subscribers  ????  All man let it be open to everyone ...   ..... think about it ... why ?

[simon1966]

So I thought we were finished!!  Ha!  Funny how project grow and keep on going.

Lighting, details, and possibly some exterior signs are a coming!

 

Thanks for the additional feedback.

[Hudson#685]

Simon,

You and Crispy did a fantastic job not only on the engine shed but building a stronger bond between father and son. It is something he will look back in years to come.

John

[rtraincollector]

just got done rereading this whole thing picking up more tips for the future still say ctt should do articles like these and have it where others can give some ideas or tips also to the articles.

 

[simon1966]

I am glad you enjoyed the thread.

Well a bit of an update, but no pics to go with the update.  I put a nice UP Herald on the back of the shed.  I got a nice tip about photo-shopping an image to fade it out, and then printing it onto tissue paper that I had taped to the front of regular paper in the ink-jet.  It worked great and now looks like a painted on sign on the wall. 

I also installed the LED lighting over the shed doors.  Using a diode bridge and appropriate resistors, the LED's illuminate as track power is applied to each of the tracks.  The shed tracks are isolated with plastic joiners with power being fed via a DTDP knife switch.  This allows Crispy to kill power to both tracks with the Knife in vertical position and then route power to which ever track he wants, with the appropriate LED lighting up to show the powered track.

[Brutus]

Great job - looks great, it's obviously very functional, and you did wonderful work - thanks for sharing!

[cnw1995]

 What a great ides - to print on tissue taped to paper.

[simon1966]

I'll try an get a photo knocked out later of the sign, but getting the white glue onto the tissue paper and handling it was not all that easy.  I messed up a few before getting it onto the wall.  The ink bleeds through the tissue so it really looks like it is painted onto the surface.