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Portable Layout Building Log

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Posted by ttrigg on Wednesday, June 17, 2009 7:55 PM

You're gonna need a few of these, but smaller

Tom Trigg

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Posted by vsmith on Tuesday, June 30, 2009 9:27 PM

Work on the new base has commenced, this is the back side, not that it matters at this stage

I'm going to lose the double storage track, its too wide overall, besides I can add storage tracks inside the layout under the upper level supports. Powerpacks will be moved to pockets at rear of scenery

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Posted by vsmith on Sunday, July 5, 2009 12:03 PM

upper support in place

Storage track installed under support

Pizza set in place

now I need some foam, need to do something with that back wall as well

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Posted by vsmith on Tuesday, November 10, 2009 11:01 AM

OK time for an update here:

Well believe it or not the 4 ½ x 6 ½  proved to be TOO LARGE!! but not by much.  I want to expand to On30 down the line so that means I need to create room for it next to the pizza, so after much pondering and thinking, to get the needed space I abandoned the side track expansion of the pizza (not a hard decision after I tried moving the then 3’ x 4 ½’ layout by myself, it ceased to be a portable layout) and decided to minimize the still under construction lower level. I wasn’t really gaining anything with the double loop setup so up came the track and out came the Multi-master, after cutting off about 12inches from each side I now have at 4 ½’ square what has to be the smallest G scale indoor layout in the world!

Overall view

The front side

Right side

Still pondering the left side

View of the town & siding

Even has a fiddle track at rear.

I also lowered the pizza level about 4 inches for better accessibility. It even has block control (well, why wouldn’t it?) and the upper pizza is still removable, in fact the whole shi-bang is potentially a completely mobile layout.

I’ve always been more into the modeling that the running of stuff so this works for me, simplicity in its purest. Still quite a bit to do this winter scenery-wise, as you can see the “saga of my ever shrinking railroad” is still alive and kicking…

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Posted by vsmith on Tuesday, November 17, 2009 8:07 AM

Blue foam underway:

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Posted by vsmith on Monday, November 23, 2009 12:16 PM

http://gold.mylargescale.com/vsmith/Portable%20Layout%20Revised%204x4.pdf


Made a small addition, a fold down section, doesnt effect the storage area of the layout yet I get another continuous loop for the dinky stuff. Already built it, just need to run a power wire to the new siding, looks like I'll have to hook up the BTE so I can walk around this thung.

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Posted by vsmith on Monday, November 23, 2009 11:54 PM

Finally figured out what to do on that left side

Folding leg at the drop leaf on the left side

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Posted by ttrigg on Tuesday, November 24, 2009 8:52 PM

I see everything EXCEPT a point to point trolley! Laugh

Tom Trigg

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Posted by vsmith on Wednesday, November 25, 2009 8:12 PM

I kinda lost the initial when I dropped the side section on the upper pizza, beleive me at 3 x 4 1/2 the upper pizza was almost unmovable let alone portable. So I had to drop it, so the upper went back to being portable again at 3x3 and with the shrinking of the lower level I've had to rethink my goals yet again. So with the drop leaf section and the rear track acting as a "sort of" trolley run, the potential is still there.

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Posted by vsmith on Wednesday, December 2, 2009 10:54 PM

Some progress pics, finishing up the carved and textured foam on the right hand sideneed to add a couple more bits and caulking before I hit it with the paint.

Along the front added carved and textured foam to the front side as well

Next is to do the left side foam scenery, I like the left hand fold down section and am considering adding another on the right hand side that will fold under the tabletop for storage

The biggest problem I'm having are the darn low tempuratures, I glue down stuff then have to wait 2 or three days for it to dry completely, makes progress terribly slow. Why do I only seam to be doing this stuff in the middle of winter.

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Posted by vsmith on Tuesday, December 8, 2009 11:18 PM

More progress pics, foam at left side done need it to warm up a bit before I can paint. 35F here tonight.

Added the other fold down section on the right hand side, I'm back up to 6'-6" wide once again, but I can trim off almost 2 feet to store the layout

I will be doing some wiring it up like a Christmas tree that Trek's Scotty would be proud of. It will able to run like another part of the layout but I can also isolate the rear line on its own power and will add an LGB auto-reversing unit. Yes Tom, the trolley line is back Wink

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Posted by ttrigg on Wednesday, December 9, 2009 7:41 PM

vsmith
Yes Tom, the trolley line is back Wink 

Sounds like you are having fun.  I should have time to have fun starting next month.  You know how Christmas is in retail, busy x 3. Six 10 hour days per week.

Tom Trigg

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Posted by Ray Dunakin on Monday, December 14, 2009 12:14 AM
It's been a while since I last checked on your progress. It's really looking good! You've done an amazing job with an extremely limited space. BTW, can you email me your mailing address? I've got something I want to send you. raydunakin at aol dot com
 Visit www.raydunakin.com to see pics of the rugged and rocky In-ko-pah Railroad!
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Posted by Ray Dunakin on Friday, December 18, 2009 12:13 AM
Vic, can you resend me your mailing address? Sorry for the inconvenience. Apparently my computer ate the last email you sent.
 Visit www.raydunakin.com to see pics of the rugged and rocky In-ko-pah Railroad!
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Posted by vsmith on Saturday, December 19, 2009 9:54 PM

OK message sent

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Posted by vsmith on Friday, March 5, 2010 10:25 PM

Few update pictures

I extended the fold down wings on each side to accomodate R1 curves, still folds down and stores in the same space as before, but those 21" dia curves were just way too limiting. Now I can at the least run just about everything still left on my roster.

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Posted by ttrigg on Friday, March 5, 2010 10:47 PM

R1! You actually have the room for R1! That means running something with more than two axles! Next thing we know you will be trying to run a Mallet.

Tom Trigg

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Posted by dwbeckett on Saturday, March 6, 2010 10:57 AM

I remember seeing a 2-4-4-2 was that yours Vic??

Dave

The head is gray, hands don't work , back is weak, legs give out, eyes are gone, money go's and my wife still love's Me.

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Posted by vsmith on Saturday, March 6, 2010 12:06 PM

Nope not one of mine

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Posted by IRB Souther Engineer on Saturday, March 6, 2010 8:20 PM

You're out of control (in a good way, of courseBow)... I love what you' ve done with such a simple trackplan, or what was a simple trackplan!Smile,Wink, & Grin

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Posted by vsmith on Saturday, March 13, 2010 9:23 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Py7RejJ1ZPM

Progress video showing layout to date

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Posted by dwbeckett on Sunday, March 14, 2010 10:25 AM

I like it

Dave

The head is gray, hands don't work , back is weak, legs give out, eyes are gone, money go's and my wife still love's Me.

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Posted by IRB Souther Engineer on Monday, May 3, 2010 3:33 PM

Can you tell me how you built that loco from the two Macks and the Aristo power trucks?

I saw it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkhX1XDMVXw

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Posted by vsmith on Tuesday, May 4, 2010 4:40 PM

http://cs.trains.com/trccs/forums/p/145216/1611909.aspx#1611909

Please go to the above link. Sorry but I deleted alot of pics from my files, but the text gives a good enough description to get the idea how it went together, this has since been sold

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Posted by IRB Souther Engineer on Tuesday, May 4, 2010 4:56 PM

Ya, it's too bad- only two pics show. Thanks anyway.

Maybe you can help me here: http://cs.trains.com/trccs/forums/t/173465.aspx

you sure seem to like those Macks.

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Posted by ttrigg on Tuesday, May 4, 2010 7:15 PM
IRB Souther Engineer
you sure seem to like those Macks.

Yep, he thrives on the "Mack". Only two axles, and the tight curves he pulls pretty well limit what he can drive. Vic has mastered the "kitbash" of the Mack and produces many "one of a kind" treasures.

Tom Trigg

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Posted by IRB Souther Engineer on Tuesday, May 4, 2010 7:20 PM

He's the "King of Macks"BowBowBow

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Posted by vsmith on Wednesday, May 5, 2010 5:23 PM

I prefer the "King of Macking" Tongue

Brits and younger forum memebrs will get a chuckle out of that one Whistling

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Posted by IRB Souther Engineer on Wednesday, May 5, 2010 7:06 PM

Look at page 46 of the June 2010 mag. This layout will be like that one soon.Laugh

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Posted by IRB Souther Engineer on Wednesday, May 5, 2010 7:40 PM

Vic, when you bash a Mack do you buy the Mack "whole" or is there somewhere you buy just the parts you need?

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