The saga of my ever shrinking railroad

[vsmith]

Looking back at the pages here, theres too much none related stuff, so I prefer a fresh start, so new page it will be...a BIG Thanks to all who contributed, now lets see where the next phase takes us.

Here is a link to the new building log page, which will be located in the Railways Design and Construction forum. I prefer to have any discussions over thar' from here out.

http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/1291128/ShowPost.aspx#1291128

Please do not reply to this topic anymore

I prefer to let it RIP

 

[SandyR]

Vic, that is absolutely the best trackplan that you've ever done. Go for it, man!

SandyR

[Anonymous]

Hey..it's like giving birth!!! Congrats Vic, looking great yet again

Toad in da Swamp

[Anonymous]

Go for it VIC , is this in the garage??? , you will be out of the weather if it rains .   Happy Thanksgiving .      ben

[vsmith]

Muhuhahaha!    Its alive... ITS ALIVE!

http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/vsmith/GarageStudyTRY%20AGAINx2.pdf

 

Translation: screw it! I'm building something anyway...

[vsmith]

Bump (in the night)

I havent been updating this topic for a while now since there hasnt been any progress to update, nor will there be for the time being. Looks like the indoor branch will be shrinking ...yet again.

Its become very apparent that between the ongoing home renovations, yard reconstruction, and my wife order to get our micro car restoration project underway, that I have too many plates spinning in the air. So I have to cut a few things out for the perceivable future until I get alot of these other projects out of the way, the indoor layout is on hold, indefinatly.

But the outdoor layout is still a go, when I have spare time and good weather. I have decided that the outdoor layout will take precident for existing materials like track and that the existing indoor benchwork will be used to hold the power tools for the car restoration, but even the outdoor layout will be of secondary importance to getting alot of these other torns out of my side so outdoor layout construction will likely not begin till well after this summer if not early next year...I wont build in the summer here, too dam hot!

However...all is not lost:

Nevermind

In the meantime, I am planning to keep my skills going on the workbench and with a little something I'm hoping to have ready for the MLS booth at next years BTS (2008)

http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/vsmith/Large%20Scale%20Pizza%20layout_BTS_2008.pdf

A 3'-0" square micro-layout, a "pizza" layout by definition, utilizing the old xmas tree base layout I've had for a couple years now, The old one simply wont work with the wood floors as its very very loud where before the carpet acted as a sound deadener. Without the carpet its a noisy cuss. So I built a new one using a solid wood tabletop and some HLW snap track, its a better deal as it has a felt base and will have felt insulation under the track as well.

So the old base and hand bent track will become a portable Borracho RR display, with foam "mountains" and a small town of very detailed structures climbing the hill over the track. It will have detachable legs and felt pads so it can either be freestanding or set on a tabletop. If it comes out like I hope, it should be a nice draw next year.

This will give me the opportunity to focus in very fine on the interiors, exteriors and street scenes, and to model very small rolling stock and maybe a couple of engines specific for the tiny diameter trackage. I figure even if this is perhaps the smallest layout on the forum, the shear level of detail possible will more than offset any percieved size limitations. I still have plans very long term to resurrect the indoor layout in time.

So...Onward and Upward!

[ttrigg]

Vic;
Like the looks of your plan, am anxiously awaiting more construction photos. The only thing I see that could possibly be considered an error is that it is inside! Seriously keep up the work, and the pictures!

[vsmith]

Well I've been cleaning the track with an light abrasive pad. It works soooo much better know. All track is connected, so it fits right, and I hooked up the powerpack and from one terminal connection I can run an engine to all points of the layout. It should be even better once I connect all the block sections with their own power wires.

-

a few slight tweeks to the plan.

http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/vsmith/GarageStudyDOWNSIZEcurrent_Point2Point_01-07-07.pdf

[Anonymous]

Looks great Vic, wish I could have helped then we could play sooner

[vsmith]

Test laying track...it fits!

Track is VERY dirty, and needs to be cleaned. Then I'll start connecting all the track. Almost every connector need to be either cleaned, or changed.

[ttrigg]

Vic;

Looks to me like you need to start a new thread since your RR is no longer shrinking but growing.  Something like  My shrunken Railroad expands.  Pics are good news, I'm eagarly awiting more progress reports, as many others are, I'm sure.

 

[vsmith]

Brian, will likely be a little busy till after christmas, after that, send me what your thinking about.

[bman36]

Hey Vic,

Awesome! The garage looks terriffic! Nice job on the benchwork too. Was that a TV and a small fridge in the corner of that shop??? Thanks for sharing. Got a small project I need your help with....will email you ASAP. Later eh...Brian.

   

[vsmith]

Pics....finished garage

Benchwork started, basic 1x4 stringer construction

Benchwork finished, OSB topping.

Track test layout next.

[vsmith]

Finally.......finished insulation and building shelves, Contractor finished off the last of his contract and...

-

Started on the benchwork last night.

-

Got the south leg of the layout framed out. More lumber tonight to finish off the rest. Havent taken any pics, wanted to clean it up for better pictures. Will have pics by this weekend.

[vsmith]

Today recieved final approval from the building dept. -

Wheeewww! I was worried cause I already hung the OSB board on the walls. He could have hit me for nailing spacing but he was more interested in my Honda N600 than my OSB board...

Still have more work to do, almost done with the last of the attic insulation and I'm hoping to get the major shelves and cabinets done by next weekend. Studio still need the sliding door, but I'm not going to sweat it, thats her pet project.

Try to get some pics tommorrow.

[John Busby]

Hi Vic

Don't forget the zebra striped train sized door so you can join the indoor and out door railways together

regards John

 

[SandyR]

Vic, I like the new trackplan...it gives much scope for operation, and there's more room for scenery. Much better without the loop!

SandyR 

[ttrigg]

Vic;
Looks like there is plenty of potential for some good action in the limited space.

BTW, you forgot one item, the hide away bed, unless your easy chair is a full recliner.

[vsmith]

OK update...before we head off to visit relatives for Turkey Day.

 

Garage is 95% done, right door now in place. Electrical done, drywall done, only got a few pick up items with the contractor and awaiting the sliding door, should be ready to start benchwork by Xmas. As for the layout....

 

...its shrunk again![:0]

 

Decided to go point to point, too much has to be accomodated in the garage so I'm keeping most of the old layout design but dropping the loop, which was really small to begin with.

 

http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/vsmith/GarageStudyDOWNSIZEcurrent_Point2Point_11-19-06.pdf

 

It will also be higher, 40"-48" min, so I can store my bikes under the benchwork, and the last pooper is that I was planning to put my workbench into the new studio, I was told in no uncertain terms that it aint gonna happen. So I'll be putting a workbench in the garage area. I can still use the studio space for storage and display put no paint/thinner/airbrush/glue/burning plastic/burning wood/burning resin fumes will be tolerated in the new studio

 

Oh well, there was always a very good chance I would always end up in the garage, thats why I had it insulated in the first place. So...SWMBO gets most of the studio, and for me its time to start planning the *second* living room -aka- my workbench area.

 

Lets see, TV, radio, fridge, easy chair.....

 

See ya Friday

[Anonymous]

Ask Matt, because that is about normal in construction for something to screw up, leased I had it once a week.

William 

[vsmith]

Insulations is in, drywall tommorow.. Roll up garage dorr went in today...only wrong door, not the one we ordered...Grrrrrr will this ever end?

[kimbrit]

Hi Vic,

Consider me updated, very nice indeed!

Cheers,

Kim

[Anonymous]

Vic I like the outdoor one but that is just what my gut is telln me. Plant a tree by the trash cans. 1/2 c.

William

[vsmith]

In a quandery lately, I can't seam to decide whether to rebuild the previous version of the indoor layout or go with a smaller more compact layout I devised...

 

http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/vsmith/GarageStudyOverlay%20Model%2010-27-06.pdf

 

The PDF shows both, the top layout, which is a slightly enlarged reincarnation of the last layout, its longer, more spread out and looks more prototypical correct. The downside is that its more spread out, and does eat alot of real estate due it being esentially a point to point layout, and I can only run very short trains

 

The lower layout, is much more compact, still has a lot of operational aspects, has a longer loop, and fits better in the garage with all the other things that are going to be going on in here. The downside is that it looks very much like a glorified Lionel layout.

 

I have a few more things to consider as well, like rebuilding a car in the same garage space and the area that will require, and having a wife get fumed over having 2 layouts.

 

There IS a possibility of only being allowed one, which one will depend on certain variables, the outside one is next to the neighbors trash bins, so plus in my favor.

 

I still plan to have something inside that back corner of the garage, even if its just the 4x6 I started with 3 years ago

[Anonymous]

VIC

Looking good ,i wish it was in my back yard , thanks for shareing the pictures .  BEN

[Anonymous]

Vic,

Awwwwwwwwhhhh could not get .jpgs to open!!

William

[bman36]

Hey Vic,

Awesome...things are really coming along. Nice to know that there is still room for an outdoor line. Keep us posted. Later eh...Brian.

 

[vsmith]

Update

Monday there was just a slab...today:

Heres where the workbench will be

The indoor layout

Heres where the outdoor layout will go