Free-moN: At Home & On The Road

[fwright]

mcfunkeymonkey

Notice the short connecting piece at the Bullfrog: I'd bend them to a certain angle that allowed for the best force pushing & pulling. If the connecting rod was straight then there'd be some awkward bending and sometime the plastic rod would bend instead of pushing the Bullfrog. Perhaps that was the issue with you HOn3 dude. What we found was that the rods were totally unnecessary! Given the 50" height and 16"-18" width of most modules, anyone could easily reach underneath from either side and move the Bullfrog / Blue Point with his/her fingers. So I took out all the rods and glued either little handles or the sprocket wrenches that come with the Bullfrogs to provide better grip for fingers:

I appreciate the information.  I believe we too had some of the bending instead of pushing due to problems pushing on the far side of the Blue Point.  However, reaching underneath is impractical for us - the modules are 24"+ wide, and we require black curtains hung from the fascia.  So far, the Tortoise has been a very reliable solution, with a few preferring to use ground throws on their modules. 

The only issue with the Tortoise (because we use DPDT toggles on each side for each turnout) is that the toggle handle cannot reliably indicate turnout position.  You have to look at the turnout and/or its stand to see which way the turnout is thrown.  This is not a problem for realistic narrow gauge operations.

It looks like we will be showing the layout (at least a portion of it) at the Kansas City 2014 National Narrow Gauge Convention for anyone interested.

Fred W

[mcfunkeymonkey]

With a show at the Toy and Model Train Expo on March 1 & 2 at the Santa Clara Convention Center http://www.trainexpo.org/
and in an effort to improve operations, I'm building a new insert for Effett Yard.

Old Insert: 2', 15-degree with single track off to Staging Yard O' Necessity (or a branch):



The main issue wasn't backing trains in but having all trains enter the layout in the same direction, especially when that side of the layout was already crowded.

New insert: 3', 30-deg with a wye to staging / branch:



The wye is a separate section to avoid big bulky and because sometimes we don't need it.

Slightly separate note, I'm building two of each section (for inverting and sandwiching between endplates), with the other module adding some needed industries, perhaps something like:



A bit over-packed on purpose: will decide actual plan after finishing the Effett insert.

Started building the module (Effett Yard is flat so no need of foam) and to ensure the ply was flat during construction I screwed two metal shelving channels on top:



Then when building the second one (with ply base lowered 1" for foam) I realized I could place one underneath [Duh] and it'd make space for wires as well:



The channel does make the section ram-rod stiff and flat, but it also effectively eliminates the space for Bullfrogs or other switch machines without some actuating cable action.

For the trapezoidal section I used an 1"-wide strip of ripped ply for the same effect (seen here before cross supports installed):



Will look like this when all assembled and inserted:



The two notches at the end are to allow the clamps to reach up to secure the Staging Yard O' Necessity, which is framed with 1"x2"s (not a standard module).

Clamped the insert between the Effett Yard sections and GorillaGlued the American Tie & Timber GapMasters at the end:



Adjusted the insert until ALL tracks on insert will be level with existing Effett Yard tracks, then drilled alignment pin holes underneath (same holes double for attaching protective endplates), then fit & installed track:



A bit more difficult than starting from scratch, as you can't lay track over the gap and then cut, or use the mirror trick.
Here you must line it up by eye and carefully trim rail to fit both ends and with smooth curve:



Caulk allows enough working time so you can run a long flatcar over the section back and forth before soldering to identify any kinks or bad angles.
I think it worked out pretty well.

Today I'll mock up the wye tracks to determine the turnout templates.
The "top" can be a normal wye but the two leads will probably be custom asymmetric.

Thanks for looking.

[mcfunkeymonkey]

Voice of Experience says: anytime creating a scene with foam, seal off the seams with caulk even if you don't anticipate a water feature (keeps the diluted white glue from dribbling down yr legs like an old drunk):



Installed the 1" foam in the insert mirror module:



Will allow for some ditches and depressed water features.

On the Effett insert, laminated some more ply on the extension side to reinforce clamp and alignment pin areas:



Feeders go in gaps in flex before replacement ties get shoved in.

Tested out various FT templates to see what fits best: #7 wye at "top," though customs will be needed on insert proper:



Will build one, adjust, ensure smooth (cool?) running, and then build the mirror for other side.

The #7 wye at top was an easy way to get back in the swing of handlaying:



[every time I start handlaying after a sizeable break I find it takes a turnout or two to get back in the swing of things]

Intentionally curved the diverging routes a little wider than needed, as will be easier to bend back into "natural" postion after finishing the other two turnouts and laying in the flex connectors.
Made sure the area up through the frog was smooooooooooooooth and slightly curved, with ties reinforced so I could reposition the curves later.



Two more custom asymmetric wye turnouts to build and install (along with the PSX auto-reverser), as well as cheering on the GS Warriors tonight, Man U on Tues, and Chelsea and Real Madrid on Wednesday.
Good times.

[mcfunkeymonkey]

Alrighty, to build the custom kinda-curved asymmetrical wye turnouts I coated the top of some reclaimed flex with black ink (not sharpie):



Turned the flex over, lined up one route at a time, then pressed the rails down onto the cardstock to create the template:



Sprayed with adhesive and then attached PC board ties:



(There's two inches of straight at the start of all the insert tracks, and that's where the throwbar is, as well as the start of the curves in either direction)

I prefer to build turnouts at my workbench, so first installed the stock rails:



And then went back to visually check things were at least in the realm of okie-dokie-ness:



I say "installed" but really I soldered the stock rails to only 3-5 PC board ties so I could adjust as I built.

Frog and Points and Daaaaable-Check:



Guard rails and throwbar and Tripppppppple-Check:





As the PC board ties are a wee bit thinner than the GapMasters and the Atlas plastic ties, I've found CA'ing 0.010 styrene under the ties brings everything up to level.  Don't need a whole sheet, just a few strips under the sections of PC board ties.

The great thing is to make the mirror-image turnout for the other side I can just repeat the ink-&-press-rails-on-paper trick with the turnout I just built.
At least, theoretically  
We'll find out today!

Thanks for looking.

[mcfunkeymonkey]

Installed the wye and slip switch (slightly carved out space around the switch so the lips sit flush):



No need to wire up the wye slip switch as the PSX auto reverser will take care it, but I did install wire and cut a whole for the frog just in case we wanted to adjust later.

Wiring up the frog while installing the turnouts and slip switch involves a little do-se-doe: wiring red & black wires to switch, solder green frog wire to turnout, install turnout, thread green back up to switch, wire green on switch, install switch.



For the track crossing the section gap I installed two pairs of GapMasters using Gorilla Glue tacked with CA for quick hold:



Then used the regular Dremel cutting disc to gap:





Installed the flex and cut the iso gaps in the turnouts:



Used music wire to hook up the slide switches and (my favorite job!) slid replacement ties under everything:



My fancy masking job:



Spray bomb!



Really wanted to get some basic scenery on it, but it was late and I still needed to wire the who kit n' kaboodle up.

Did I get it done before the show?
Stay tuned to the next exciting episode of Free-moN: At Home And On the Road!

[cont.]

[mcfunkeymonkey]

Tah-dah!



No scenery, but it works!
Adds another foot to Effett Yard, too.

The Toy & Model Train Expo http://www.trainexpo.org/ is in the huge Santa Clara Convention Center (free parking! yeah!).
We have a largest layout yet!

Nils resurrected the Bridge O' Wonder:



Now silver, and repaired from the Deep Impact where the errant Flung Shoe took it out:



And made more progress on his industrial module with structures and LEDs:





He even cut a cool little periscope with mirrors to see into the freighthouse:





Still needs to detail the interior, but a nifty idea to peak inside!

Rick added a fun playground to the CalTrains module, including a small play train as well:



Good layout setup with nice balance of passing sidings, industries, and scenes that flow from one to another:



Tomorrow the show ends at 2, so we'll have a couple hours to actually run a private party and attempt to put some various ops options into play.
Video shoot tomorrow morning!

[-E-C-Mills]

Thanks for posting M.C.  Always great information, tips, and interesting photos.

Somewhat of a soccer fan myself.  Used to play midfield.  It probably would have been better on my body if I had not ;)

[mcfunkeymonkey]

-E-C-Mills

Thanks for posting M.C.  Always great information, tips, and interesting photos.

Somewhat of a soccer fan myself.  Used to play midfield.  It probably would have been better on my body if I had not ;)

 

 

Thanks, EC.

It's a glorious year for us soccer fans: the British, French, Itallian and Spanish leagues are all a bit shaken up and will make for an exciting finish in Spring, the Champion's League is rocking full blast towards the Final at the end of May, and then June-July is wall-to-wall World Cup Wonder (and in a "good" time zone, too: bars don't have to open until 8 AM at the earliest!)

Back to trains:

Alrighty: here's the video of our layout at the Toy & Model Train Expo!
(Looks mighty nice in 1080p HD, if I don't say so myself  )

There are some new modules and quite a few added details (especially on Rick's CalTrains Station).

Enjoy!

http://youtu.be/U9Zq1u7LpBI

[Seems I still can't figure out how to insert a YouTube video into the post: any tips?]

Thanks for looking.

 

 

 

[mcfunkeymonkey]

With the train show last weekend http://youtu.be/U9Zq1u7LpBI it's back to work so not much train stuff this week.
I did, however, manage to sucker other Silicon Valley Free-moNsters to adopt a bunch of modules (Devil Mt. Return Loop and four pairs of 45's), so now, after almost a year, I have:



Woot!
(Notice I'm not showing a photo of my "still busy" sit-down workbench to the left of it  )

At some point this workbench will become a HCD-sized layout with center scenic divider and valence that I don't have to spend 2 hours each to set up / tear down just to run trains all by myself.
(Though I will be able to separate it into two sections that fit in the back of my car to take to non-Free-moN shows)

It will also not feature a bridge, as I've done so many that I'm "bent" out of shape.

Thanks, all for share all your groovy work as well!
Happy weekend.

[mcfunkeymonkey]

Very groovy show today!
GTE at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, CA.
Seems like we were just here yesteryear!
Oh, wait, we were!
[Look 4 post above!]

Dust. Wind. Dude.

Many fewer modules this round, and only one loop, so it was a point-to-loop (with a wye-to-point in the middle):



The rest of the layout curved behind the camera from right to left, included the Shoofly, Mark's Town, Lockhart and the Staging Yard O' Necessity.

Nils has made some nifty additions to his industrial module, which we placed off the center / locus Effett Yard.
But nobody can see and appreciate his rockin' building & styrene work! or the little periscope to view the trackage inside the large industry!
So tomorrow we will move it to the mainline and replace it at the wye with a simple tail extension:



Recognize that?
Me neither!
It's two, 3' Ikea preformed shelves (I added the bracing, track and wiring) that can act as simple clamp-on tail tracks OR a 6' runaround that I made over 2 years ago and have NEVER used in operation until now!





So the audience will enjoy a scene flowing from Steve's Lockhart, TX into Nils Industrial module:





[that's Scott working the Industrial module: his fingers are so fast, 
he can rerail 
N scale 
with a fingernail.]

and then the Staging Yard O' Necessity will be tucked back into the workspace.

Here's Nils & David F. (railnerd) basking in the glow of both neon beer signage & Rick B's amazing Silicon Valley Cal Train Station module:



So fun times for all!
Hope to get some video footage tomorrow.
Thanks for looking.

[mcfunkeymonkey]

Alrighty: Day Two!

First thing we did before the show started this morning swap a bunch of modules around.
We removed Nils' Industrial module from the wye at Effett Yard and replaced it with the simple Ikea shelf 6' runaround tail:



[I placed my hoodie over the end of the Ikea tail to create some mass for people to see out of eye-corner and thus avoid bumping--it's a single leg!]

Here's what it looked like yesterday:



And we spliced it into the mainline between Steve's Lockhart, TX module and a slew of 45's / Staging Yard O' Necessity:





This way people other than us could actually see all the great detail Nils worked into his work-in-progress (including the periscope in the fascia that allows you to peep into a large warehouse with interior trackage & lighting).
And it also placed the Staging Yard O' Necessity on the interior of our circled wagons and thus (theoretically) reduced the possibility of bumping the narrow yard.

Worked out well!
Still Point to Loop in a giant inverted "G" from Devil Mountain:



All the way around to Lockhart, Industrial & the SYON:



The wackiest arrangement was having Bridge O' Wonder next to Effett Yard:



But work out well, and turned Effett into a kinda Dunsmuir.
Yes, big steam at Effett!



Too bad they're both too big for the 8" turntable  

Actually, the wackiest image was some SPF's Pensy train traversing our California landscape:



Or maybe the fly washing the windows of the new modern buildings on Rick's Silicon Valley CalTrains station module:



But a change in perspective can do just the trick:



Thanks for looking.
Hope to have a short video cut together soon!
Happy Thanksgiving week  

[HO-Velo]

M.C.,  

Tons of impressive work!  Sorry I missed the show.  Like a football game, nice seeing it on TV in the comfort of one's own home, but there's nothing like being at the game.  Will you folks be setting up in the Richmond Craneway again this coming January?

Thanks and regards, Peter

[mcfunkeymonkey]

Peter: thanks for kind words.
In terms of Richmond, I did put in the application to be at the show (enough dudes said they'd be there) so we'll find out.
Not sure if I'll be there my self but would like to: Craneway Pavilion is an amazing venue (see below) and it's a great show right on the water.

Nils has also done a great job on the Industrial module & adds more magic each month.
He's rocking out his "Bridge O' Wonder" a bit better with each show:



Still needs a lot of rocks, talus, grout, trees, etc., but a very imposing module & a fan / group favorite!

Alrighty: here's the video of the Silicon Valley Free-moN layout at the Great Train Show (formerly GTE) at the Alameda County Fairgrounds November 22-23.

 

Includes a quick run through the layout, some switching scenes, and then some paradoxical, universe-warping model railroading whackiness that'll make you shake your head and say, "Oh, those freakin' funny Free-moN froods!"

After sunrise, the main source of lighting in our corner during this rainy weekend came from the neon beer signs at the snack shack next to our space, so please pardon the "dimmer" sections of video.

One bright moment: fellow forum friend & modeler eric220 showed up to run a crazy Pennsy Key steamer & consist, and he kept talking about module ideas, so we think we've brainwashed another Free-moNster 

We were missing our other return loop (Wye Knott) as well as quite a few other fab modules & modelers this weekend, but it was a great group of people on both sides of the layout, and it's always wonderful to get excited with friends, fellow modelers and first-timer suckers enthusiasts.

Hope you enjoy, and hope you're able to come out to the Great Train Show in Richmond, CA January 3-4, 2015.
http://www.greattrainexpo.com/shows/2015Richmond.html
A beautiful historic building, loads of light, many groovy layouts, a happy new year for all:


[From our January, 2014 show]

Thanks for looking.
Happy Thanksgiving all!

 

 

 

["JaBear"]

mcfunkeymonkey

......but it was a great group of people on both sides of the layout, and it's always wonderful to get excited with friends, fellow modelers and first-timer suckers enthusiasts.

In light of a phone call I had this evening with the Club Captain seeking my advice on how to deal with the shenanigans of some of his fellow executives at the local club of which I am no longer a member, long may the Silicon Valley Free-moNeers continue their wackiness and Fun.

As usual a great watch, always good to see the improvements to the various modules, though that work gang at Sonoma seems to be taking an age with that bridge.

Once again thanks for sharing MC,

Cheers, the Bear.

[tin can]

MC:

Thanks for sharing your inspirational work.  Always a treat to see what you and your compadres are up to...

[mcfunkeymonkey]

This past weekend (Jan. 3 & 4, 2015) Silicon Valley Free-moN ran a layout at beautiful Craneway Pavilion in Richmond, California.



We had a space of about 30'x35' in which we set up a loop-to-loop layout consisting of about 30 modules providing about 250 feet of mainline circuit.

We had the fortune to have two new modules join the layout:





Nils' "threw together" this 90-ish degree mountain module a few days before the show.
It's just pink foam on two endplate boxes with styrene fascia.
The mountains are just carved foam and paint / drybrush.
Very light!

Connected to Nils' new module is our other recent addition. Ryan W. and his two sons have been working on a 13'-ish module featuring the passing siding at Azalea / Mott (north of Dunsmuir, CA https://goo.gl/maps/4KRSe ):



[That bow in the passing siding is intentional, as the track swings out around a signal on the prototype]





Scenery is in progress, and eventually will have a fourth section in the center to create a lap siding, which will be great considering that people seem to be running longer and longer trains!

Effett Yard, which used to have the longest sidings, now has some of the shortest!



Looks like someone will have to build another insert to expand capacity!

Earlier in the year we attempted to have an "Ops Development session" in which Paul Ingram shared his card system he designed back in the early 80's for his modular N-scale group.
A very interesting afternoon, in which we found out who really liked Ops and who liked to just run trains.
Eventually a group of us will reach critical mass and have a real Ops session, and Scott F. is leading the way by creating his own car-cards, which he brought to this show:



He took photos of each of his cars, which helps N-scale identification immensely.
As you can see, we need some clamp-on card boxes:



Ops will also require actual coordinated running and jobs like Dispatcher, which might take awhile for all members to buy into.
Personally I think two-man crews (Engineer & Conductor) would help, especially as we've found it's very difficult at shows to talk and drive trains at the same time.
We're still more Anarcho- than Collective, though we still seem to be able to put on a pretty good show.

So last weekend was a great show at a great venue with great light (which, of course, disappeared the morning I wanted to shoot video!).
Very much enjoyed running trains with my fellow Free-moNers/Free-moNsters and spreading the Gospel of N Scale and Free-moN.

Probably my last show for a long time: this year are many conventions, both local (PCR in Newark http://www.pcrnmra.org/conv2015/, National N Scalehttp://www.nationalnscaleconvention.com/ ) and National (NMRA in Portland, OR http://www.nmra2015portland.org/ ) but family and work issues will prevent me from taking part.
(After many years of freelancing, I really want to find a job with a creative group of people that gets me out of the house, which will cut down on my modeling time).

I've sold some locos and gifted all of the Free-moN modules I've built to people in SVFMN who will be participating in some of the conventions, so at least my work will be reppin' me and allow for better layouts at the shows.
(We're trying to get FOUR different Free-moN groups to create an uber epic Free-MONSTER layout up at the National Train Show in Portland... wish I could be there!)

I did keep Shoofly and a few 45's as photo dioramas and in case I'm able to make a show in the next year or two.
But my garage is SOOOOOOO empty it's amazing!

The only modeling I'll be doing is finishing the HO layout I started for my friend who passed away earlier this year--his widow and son would like it for the grandkids to run and remember grandpa.
I also have a shelf micro-layout idea swimming around in my head, but we'll see...

Thanks for following along on my Free-moN adventures.
Definitely a worthwhile modeling endeavor, and I've had the honor and pleasure to meet up and become friends with a great group of gents.
It's also been fun watching "Free-moN Fever" spread and see Free-moN and other modular groups pop up across the country.
The Free-moN Force flows strong!

So I'm proud to present our most recent show video (which looks much better in 1080p!):

Thanks for taking the time to follow (and comment on) this thread: your constructive feedback is always appreciated.
Happy New Year!

[HO-Velo]

Hey M.C.,   Made it down to the Craneway Sunday A.M.  Delightful day by the bay and was a real pleasure seeing the Silicon Valley Free-moN in person.  Of course there were lots of other layouts and tons of great modeling to enjoy.  

Was looking forward to seeing your shoo-fly module with those beautiful California rolling hills, valley oaks and vineyard and it did not disappoint.  Was also hoping to cross paths with the Mcfunkeymonkey himself, but alas it was not to be.

Thanks and best wishes,  Peter

[mcfunkeymonkey]

Thanks for the kind words, and glad you could come to the show!
Sorry we didn't get a chance to chat--perhaps next year :)

More photos and updates on others' modules and upcoming shows can be found on our Silicon Valley Free-moN Facebook page.

Hope you enjoy.
Cheers!

[mcfunkeymonkey]

Wow: over a year since my last post on this thread!
And from the same show, too.
(They're starting to mush together in memory)

Silicon Valley Free-moN rocked the wonderfully-lit Craneway Pavilion (the old Ford plant) in Richmond, CA January 9-10, 2016.
(I also brought my daughter's & my "Alameda Belt-in-a-Box" 1'x6' switching layout, but you can check that out in my "Summer Shunting Shelf Layout" thread).

We had about 20 modules (no Bridge O' Wonder this year  but a new tunnel / aqueduct module by Robert Tobys) creating a big "C" of about 300 feet of mainline circuit from one loop to the other & back:



It was raining all Saturday & grey most of Sunday, but a few rays of sunshine flooded the floor early Sunday morning, so we were able to get a few good photos:















And the requisite video (with new music? mayyyyybe  ):



It's in faux 4K if you have the equipment.
The sun disappeared pretty quick, so sorry that most of the layout is in shadows.
So it goes.

But very groovy show: lots of people--especially kids--and everyone had a fab time.
And we beat our previous record by breaking the layout down & being packed & gone in LESS than 1 hour!
Yeay Silicon Valley Free-moN!

Thanks for looking.
Hope to see you at the next show (Sacramento in Feb. maybe?)
Cheers.

[HO-Velo]

MC, Thanks for sharing the photos and movie. Shucks, missed Richmond this year, last year made a day of it and visited the nearby Rosie the Riveter museum.

Wow, a one hour knock-down, that's fast and furious!

Thanks again and regards,  Peter

[mcfunkeymonkey]

Thanks for the kinds words, and sorry you couldn't make it.

We'll probably be up at the Great Train Show in Sacramento in February, but I think they charge for parking.
& the view out the building isn't as BayTastic :)

[mcfunkeymonkey]

So it's been awhile since I've posted, but I have dropped by & lurked from time to time.
& every time I do & see all your fab work it makes me want to get back into the garage & get modelin' again.
But life, work, stuff happens, & the only model railroading I've done is to make a client's layout disappear in a day.

So it goes.

However, I do have a new project to share.
(Just not one of my own )

Fellow soccer-nut & friend Steffan is a professional filmmaker / videographer / artistic badass who creates a series of shorts on interesting passions & people called (a)muse.
& 4 years ago when he started the series, he went with what was lying around: my model railroading.
4 years later, after him completing other episodes first, we actually finished it last weekend.

Personally I hate hate hate being in front of a camera, so I apologize in advance for the talking head parts.
Thankfully Steffan put the piece together less about me & more as a celebration of model railroading in all it's wonderful wackiness & community.
There's a bunch of train show scenes, too, thanks to Silicon Valley Free-moN for letting us shoot at a few shows.

So I'm excited to share the short with you, you who have had a hand in much of my own model railroading learning & enjoyment.
Please enjoy! despite the headlights being out in a few scenes 

 

[It's a lot better on a big screen in Full HD!]

[& with the sound off  ]

[HO-Velo]

M.C., Delightful movie, full of insight and a grand tribute to the hobby.  And you did good in front of the camera, seriously.

Thanks and regards,  Peter 

[ROBERT PETRICK]

Hey MC-

Forget about all the great model railroading demonstrated or referenced in this thread for a moment: the great photos, the great narratives, the great demos, the great links, the great videos (and, yes, the great latest video). I like the little animated smiley-face-icon-gif thing. The hubcap on the right drinks until he drops and then takes one more flat swig just to make sure . . . nice!

Thanks.

Robert 

[mcfunkeymonkey]

Thanks for all the kind words!

Will pass along to Steffan, who deep-dived this hobby & really made an effort to portray many aspects of the hobby & convey the joy of it.

To see a lot of the modeling in the video, you can head over to the National Train Show at the NMRA National Convention in Salt Lake City July 12-14. Many Silicon Valley Free-moN modules (in turquoise) are joining Voltron-like with other groups in an amazing display of Free-moN Madness!

There's a slim chance I might make the 10.5-hour drive to SLC, so maybe I'll see you there!