It takes a lot of dedication to do what you did! Bravo! I think the electric fence would itself be very entertaining! LOL
Regards,
Timboy
Did a lot more work on my layout and took it to the Worlds Greatest Hobby show in St. Paul, MN. You can find a lot about it on my blog:
http://briansamericanflyer.blogspot.com/2010/11/some-work-and-train-show.html
It's not transferred yet, it is not actually even there. I just superimposed the image over it. When I do it I plan to sandwich a piece of paper with the track plan on it between two thin sheets of Plexiglas.
Nice design and nice carpentry work!
Lil B,
Very impressive control panel. How did you transfer your track plan to the plexiglass?
Thanks,
George
I finished building the Control Panels. All that is left to do on them is paint, Plexiglas, and to wire them. Where the frame is, that is where there will be a track plan and there will be hinges at the top to allow access to the inside. Next to each frame is space for a transformer. The flat part on top will be for accessory control buttons. This splits into two pieces which bolt together. The whole assembly bolts to the table.
Here is what it will look like with the track plans installed:
I now have all of the feeders to the track connected together and with connectors on them where the sections come apart. I ran an engine over the track and it ran great and constant all over. Next is to wire the accessories and build the control panel. Only five days to the train show, but I am sure that I can finish it by then.
Today I finished building the rack that holds the layout for transport. It section of the layout will slide in. The control panels and legs will go on top.
Lil B: I think you have a GREAT start on a classic American Flyer layout! It is an incredible amount of running track and sidings on that expansive layout. Just wait till you have all your accessories and buildings put on!
I now have all of the feeders installed and most of the track nailed down.
Even though I am not a flyer guy, I gotta say....WOW! This is a truely neat layout...Please show us more!
Currently all the track is where it should be. I had a couple pieces left over, but everything fit together fine so I guess they weren't needed. I also set the mountains up on the board, they are 55" to the top of the mountain from the floor. I set out all of the accessories to make sure that they fit and make adjustments. Next is to test all the switches and solder all the feeder wires.
More on my blog:
Brian's American Flyer Trains
I worked on the mountain some more today, I cut it apart and plastered the tunnel faces. My younger brother helped me by cleaning all of the track with a wire wheel on a drill press, so all of the track is very clean now. Now I've got to figure out how it goes back together.
That is one dynamite layout !
Tempts me to tear out my current HO scale layout and expand my piddling little AF layout.
Where were you a few months ago when we complied an American Flyer Enthusiast List on this forum?
LOL
Rich
Alton Junction
LilB: Okay. I REALLY want to see how this all turns out! Don't make me tear up my layout that I have been working on since May!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE quaint American Flyer layouts!
Here's the current status of the mountain:
It will just sit on top of the grass. I still have some work to do on it, like painting the tunnel portals and finish cutting the carpet on it. The board that is visible in front of the mountain will not be there I was going to use it a a brace but decided not to.
As I remember this design has a rather extensive mountain segment. How do you plan to finish that part and integrate it with the carpeted section?
I have figured out what is wrong with my brain! On the left side nothing works right, and on the right side there is nothing left!
Lil B: That's great! I am actually envious of you! I was sorely tempted to do a "classic" American Flyer layout - the way it seems that you are headed. Nice post. Nice pic. Keep feeding us. American Flyer Guys are hungry - very hungry. LOL I just love the way you have off-handedly mentioned scraping off the unwanted stuff. Spoken like a true handyman who is focused. You are in the zone. I get that.
Well, I changed my mind on the foam. It was going to be too difficult to ballast the track and it was going to be very expensive too. So I decided to strip the foam off and put carpet down instead. So I scraped off all the foam and then planed off the liquid nails. If you are going to use liquid nails to hold down foam, use the name brand liquid nails, it held the foam better than the other one. I scraped everything off upstairs, then I took it apart and took it downstairs. The process was pretty quick and I was able to put it back together by myself. One I had it all together I finished scraping off the liquid nails. I then put the carpet on it and lined it up. Then I stapled it down and cut each seam. Next is cleaning and painting the track.
Lookin good!
What a neat looking layout! Nice design.
Jim
Lil B: I'm following your thread with keen interest. It's GREAT to see someone build an American Flyer layout. It looks like a track plan that you can have a lot of fun with and you are off to a nice start. Keep posting those pics of your progress! OBTW: I have put a link to your blog in my blog - for people who like to stay current on such things. LOL
http://timmysamericanflyertrains.blogspot.com/
-Timboy
I like the way you have mapped out plenty of running room for operating yet managed space for "on the board" sidings, landscaping, and operating accessories. This plan is quite ambitious. I'll keep drooling.
Jack.
IF IT WON'T COME LOOSE BY TAPPING ON IT, DON'T TRY TO FORCE IT. USE A BIGGER HAMMER.
LilB - I like the flow of the twice around dogbone on the interior line. Lots of operation (something my layout lacks) built in, will give you years of enjoyment.
Thanks for sharing.
Here's a better track plan than that last one:
Here's the Track Plan of my layout:
Thanks for adding a link to my site, I'll be sure to add one to your blog on my blog once I get it all set up.
It looks like you have great start. I will keep checking back to see your progress . This can go on for years. I know, I started 3 years ago. I did a cabinet top layout 5 feet by 16 feet. I needed the extra storage space. My blog is a work in progress, like my AF train layout. I'll do a link to your blog so you will get some more posts. That will give you something to do in your spare time.
Have a great week end, AZ-Flyer
http://az-flyer.blogspot.com/
“Tell me and I’ll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I’ll understand.”
AZ-Flyer@American Flyer Cabinet-top Layout (5'x16'): http://az-flyer.blogspot.com/
For your LED-switch problem, use an alternate-action pushbutton switch. Radio shack sells several types, which they call "push-on-push-off".
Bob Nelson
I got some more track work done today and have marked out where I am going to put each industry.
Here is what goes where each number is and what cars are to be delivered there. 1. Oil Drum Loader, Two gondolas 2. 751 Log Loader, Two log cars 3. Electromagnetic Crane, Two gondolas 4. 785 Coal Loader, Two-Three coal cars 5. Oil Depot, Three tank cars 6. AC Gilbert Factory (like the one on the 2nd floor layout of the Gilbert Hall of Science) with Baggage Loader, Six Box cars 7. Talking Station
You can find some more info about what I have done on my blog:
Brian
I did some more trackwork today, I now have most of it inlaid in the foam.
In the photo you can see they yard, it has all of the cars in it that will go to the various industries on the layout. I plan to make it so one person can make up trains in the yard while another delivers the cars.
Thanks for all of the comments and I have lots more pictures coming. I planned this with portability as a top priority and overdid almost everything. It's going to be interesting the first time that I take it to a train show. The club that I am part of has offered to help me though. It is not going to be easy because my train room is actually a loft in my pole barn. 13 feet up. I was able to take up the 4' x 7' sections up by myself, so going down shouldn't be too hard if there is a couple of people to help me. Once it is down it will be easy to transport. I have an enclosed trailer that the train layout will fit perfectly in. I am going to make something to hold the 4' x 7' sections on top of each other and there is plenty of room for everything else that I take too. Also, I am going to post some pictures of some engines that I recently worked on soon.
My loft with my railroad crossing sign and lights, the lights do work too. There is a stairway on the left leading up to the loft and in the left of the picture is the trailer.
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