Ogden & Cache Valley RR - Layout Construction

[SeeYou190]

ATLANTIC CENTRAL

Kevin, I would hope the entry doors to your house are 36".

The front door is 36 inches.

Interior doors to rooms are 30 inches. Closet doors are 28 inches. The pocket door to the 1/2 bathroom is a skinny 24 inches.

-Kevin

[ATLANTIC CENTRAL]

SeeYou190

 

 

Onewolf

Here's a draft version of the floorplan and basement of the house I plan to build 'up north'.

 

 

That looks like a beautiful place to be.

I had a good friend at work that retired to Tennessee from Florida about 10 years ago, and he is completely happy. The only thing he complains about is the sales tax rates.

 

 

Onewolf

The floorplan was in no way meant to imply it's close to a final version. I would say it's a proof of concept that all my givens/druthers fit in the space. It's amazing how much space it takes when all interior doors/doorways are at least 36".

 

 

36" doorways sound HUGE!

I don't know much about house planning, but the pantry door swinging into the kitchen looks like a bad idea to me. Is a pocket door possible/practical?

-Kevin

 

Yes, I have already suggested a pocket door on the pantry in my PM.

Kevin, I would hope the entry doors to your house are 36".

For interior doors it is larger than usual, but much more wheel chair friendly if one is planning for that.

32" is the more typical interior door width for most rooms. Closets, bathrooms and other special situations can require other sizes.

Sheldon

[SeeYou190]

Onewolf

Here's a draft version of the floorplan and basement of the house I plan to build 'up north'.

That looks like a beautiful place to be.

I had a good friend at work that retired to Tennessee from Florida about 10 years ago, and he is completely happy. The only thing he complains about is the sales tax rates.

Onewolf

The floorplan was in no way meant to imply it's close to a final version. I would say it's a proof of concept that all my givens/druthers fit in the space. It's amazing how much space it takes when all interior doors/doorways are at least 36".

36" doorways sound HUGE!

I don't know much about house planning, but the pantry door swinging into the kitchen looks like a bad idea to me. Is a pocket door possible/practical?

-Kevin

[ATLANTIC CENTRAL]

Onewolf, I sent you a PM.

Sheldon

[richhotrain]

Onewolf

Here's a draft version of the floorplan and basement of the house I plan to build 'up north'.

The basement will have 9' clear overhead.

The preliminary space for the new layout and model workshop is about 30x30 + 12x15 alcove.  That space can be expanded/contracted as needed.

Lots of room there to do lots of good things with a nice sized layout. 

Rich

[Pruitt]

It's a hard thing to dismantle a layout you've put years of your hobby time into constructing.

Good luck! Be sure to keep us up to date on your modeling adventures!

[rrebell]

Used to design kitchens for a living and did trouble shooting for a big box store, so when you are ready.

[Onewolf]

Thanks for the floorplan critique.  The floorplan was in no way meant to imply it's close to a final version. I would say it's a proof of concept that all my givens/druthers fit in the space. It's amazing how much space it takes when all interior doors/doorways are at least 36".

I can definitely soften/angle the closet corner in the master bath, I just need to ensure my very large and heavy residential storage container device can fit in that closet and the door can open. The kitchen cabinet layout is in no way close to a final layout. The software I use has horrible tools for designing kitchen cabinet layouts.

I may add a small prep sink to the island, but again, this is just getting started. 

It took me 10 years to design my current train layout. I've got time to refine the home design/floorplan as there are no builders available to build anything currently.  :)

[ATLANTIC CENTRAL]

I agree with rrebell, there are a few things About that floor plan I would adjust. I will offer some thoughts later.

Sheldon

[rrebell]

First off soften the corner on master bath by cuting into lower closet, amount up to you. 2nd move door to master to be even with family room wall, after all this door leads to your kingdom so the privacy of currant location is not needed and as a bonus the bedroom will look larger. Last you need a prep sink in the island  but many will put the full sink there and if you are going to angle base cabinet in cornder you need to angle upper or the uppers in the corner are kind of wasted space.

[Onewolf]

Here's a draft version of the floorplan and basement of the house I plan to build 'up north'.

The basement will have 9' clear overhead.

The preliminary space for the new layout and model workshop is about 30x30 + 12x15 alcove.  That space can be expanded/contracted as needed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[riogrande5761]

It's a good idea to save lumber.  I saved all of mine, even smaller pieces as I usually find uses for it later.  In fact I saved everything except for the plaster scenery.  It's hard to say if wood will come back to prepandemic prices; plus it will save you money next time around.

[Onewolf]

I started removing flex track this morning.  The painted Atlas code 83 appears to still be remarkably flexible and it came up fairly clean off the rigid foam insulation 'roadbed'.  On the other hand the track installed on WS foam road pulled up quite a bit of foam.

Given the stupid high price of lumber these days I'm thinking I will probably save as much of the open grid benchwork sections as possible.

I will also save all the LED layout lighting modules (2x4s ripped into 4 triangles with LED strip lights affixed with contact cement):

[NorthBrit]

It is always sad to read of  a dismantling of a layout;   especially a 'good one'.

I firmly believe anyone going thru such an experience,   'the next rebuild'  will be a far better layout.

 

David

[riogrande5761]

MisterBeasley

I was in the same boat a few years ago.  I got divorced and had to sell my large house with a large trainroom.  I've got a smaller trainroom now, and a smaller house.  The layout is still in pieces.  I just haven't got the enthusiasm to put it back up with all the work that will take.

 

 

Ditto.  In 2008 I got divorced and moved to another state in 2009, and in the middle of a recession to boot.  I remarried in and moved into a townhouse in 2013 and built a small 10x18 layout and moved again in 2017 and am working on a new bigger layout but having a hard time finding hobby time with all the house work etc.

[MisterBeasley]

I was in the same boat a few years ago.  I got divorced and had to sell my large house with a large trainroom.  I've got a smaller trainroom now, and a smaller house.  The layout is still in pieces.  I just haven't got the enthusiasm to put it back up with all the work that will take.

[Doughless]

Doug, sorry to read about the personal setback and the layout coming down.  I was interested in seeing this large layout coming together but also disappointed that it wont.

Sweetwater sound like a nice place to be, and that you have a good sized space for your use.  Onward to more positive things.  I'm looking forward to reading a new thread if you decide to share your layout progress.  Good luck.

[rrebell]

The trouble with marriage is " life is always greener on the other side of the septic tank". People do not plan their relationships, always get a pre-nup.  Back to the thread, sorry to hear that and wondered what happened to you. Been a few large layouts that all of a sudden were never heard from again and these were young peoplew who started the threads.

[riogrande5761]

I had a decent sized layout that was coming along when my first marriage went south.  It was nothing like yours but the principle is the same.  Stability is key to building a sizable layout.  I've moved so many times over the years layouts were just not happening.

Sorry Doug that this large layout is coming down.  I hope you can make further progress when you settle in at the new location.

 

[richhotrain]

Doug, I will add my note of personal sadness to hear your news, not only about the layout, but that 2nd structure, and, of course, the end of your marriage. 

When this thread began 6 years ago, I quickly became intrigued with the project. Building that 2nd "home" next to your personal residence on a cul de sac totally engrossed me and left me fantasizing about my own dream layout.

Now to see it all coming apart is a bit shocking in a vicarious sort of way. I do wish you well in your future plans. Good luck, Doug.

Rich

[Water Level Route]

I'm sorry to hear that Doug.  At least it sounds like you have a good plan for moving forward, and basically all your track should be salvagable.  Looking forward to hearing about your next layout adventure sometime in the future.

[Onewolf]

Unfortunately, I am about to begin the deconstuction of the Ogden and Cache Valley RR layout.  My wife and I got divorced last year and I need to downsize my "life" so I am going to sell my house while the housing market is hot.

I have been working remotely for a software company based near Minneapolis and Santa Clara, CA and it appears that remote working has become the standard in the industry. My plan is to accelerate my planned relocation to east TN, and work remotely from there for another 8-10 years.  I own a nice lot near Sweetwater, TN that I plan to build my 'retirement' house on.  The new house will have a full size (2300 sq ft) unfinished walkout basement and I will be able to carve a nice size out of that for the 'next' layout.  I'm pretty sure the 'next' layout won't be 3+ levels, but I have a couple years to work on the layout design.  :)

It's time to start disconnecting, unsoldering, and saving as much track as possible!  The good news is that all 115 turnouts should be easy to reclaim.  The painted flex track?  Not so sure.

Doug

 

[richhotrain]

Ed, thanks for that info and that link.

I am planning to create a roof top sign that somewhat closely matches the prototype.  The font that I will be using is Monotype Corsiva, so those Plastruct letters won't work.

Rich

[gmpullman]

Plastruct makes a pretty nice set of plastic letters and numbers, Rich. Not the same Roman style that Onewold used but still handy for HO and larger N signs.

https://plastruct.com/product-category/glues-tools-and-accessories/plastic-vinyl-letters/

Several sizes. You want the "plastic" ones not the Vinyl, which is a peel-n-stick type.

IMG_9395 by Edmund, on Flickr

These are the Plastruct letters on my Post Office Annex building.

The "Machine Works" sign in the background was made using "Menu board" type letters used for office directories and, well, menu boards too. Like these:

https://tinyurl.com/yyozto3u

 

IMG_3234 by Edmund, on Flickr

I'll turn this excellent thread back over to Onewolf. Just thought I'd mention the Plastruct letters as they can be handy for modelers.

Cheers, Ed

[richhotrain]

Onewolf

  

richhotrain

Onewolf, what material did you use to create those red call letters (KREW) on the transmission tower?

Rich 

Rich,

I used a 3D printer:  https://robo3d.com/products/r1-plus-3d-printer

Doug

 

Thanks, Doug. I need to look into that process.

Rich

[Onewolf]

richhotrain

Onewolf, what material did you use to create those red call letters (KREW) on the transmission tower?

Rich

Rich,

I used a 3D printer:  https://robo3d.com/products/r1-plus-3d-printer

Doug

[richhotrain]

Onewolf, what material did you use to create those red call letters (KREW) on the transmission tower?

Rich

[Onewolf]

I built a frame for the KREW highway billboard.



And installed the billboard face on the frame.



I built the classic Atlas "Signal Tower" kit with the Vector Cut Enhancement ver 2 package.



After spray painting the first floor walls, using Roberts Mortar, and painting the electrical conduit and junction box.



I'm going to light and detail the interior of the 2nd floor so it needs a....  floor.  I used photoshop to create this wood floor.



The Vector Cut windows are composed of 3 layers of laser cut wood and 2 layers of clear acetate.



And they look good.



I'm using a Faller kit for the interior details.



Priming the interior detail parts.



The yard diagram on the status panel matches the south end of the layout's main classification yard. I exported the yard diagram from my layout design plan in 3rd Planit and then photoshopped it to produce the yard status panel.



The test of the interior space/layout



Starting to add the lighting circuit.



The teenie tiny little nano LCD in the gooseneck lamp that will go over the doorway.



Deciding on the exact location on the layout.  It looks good so far. I still have some Vector Cut wood trim boards to add and I want to add a light in the first floor.



I'm starting to work on Downtown Deco's "DD1009 - Old Warehouses" kit.  I had started the kit about 5 years ago but I was unhappy with the paint job so I reprimed both buildings and started over.  This is what the first building looks like after spray priming white.



And the base color



I'm going to light this interior so I painted the walls flat black and installed a 'wood' floor.



After using Roberts Mortar



After a dark wash has been applied and testing the window/door frame colors. I decided I don't like the light gray door frames so those will be repainted before they are installed for real.



I tried using the "Diamante Shipping" stencil provided with the kit however I failed miserably....



The stencil/paint bled really badly.



Trying to make lemonade out of lemons. I cleaned up the sign as much as possible and then put a light coat of the building's base 'Toffee' color on top in order to try to create a 'Ghost' sign.



Adding lighting



People from central Florida might recognize the "Todd's Tomatoes" signs.... The roof panels are not glued/weathered for this test.



I mounted the Todd's Tomatoes sign on 12x12 wood posts to project it out from the ghost sign.



The ghost sign turned out pretty good.



The second building in the DD1009 kit has boarded up doors/windows.



After the base coat of paint and trim is painted.



After the Roberts mortar was applied but before the excess was wiped off.



After wiping off the excess mortar.



After a dark wash has toned down the bright colors.



Still have a long way to go on this building....

[Onewolf]

hon30critter

Hi Onewolf,

Nice control panel. Pretty good wiring job too. The wiring under our new club layout isn't quite as neat but it works great. Cudo's to our main wiring guy, Dave.

Cheers,

The other Dave

Wiring is tedious work.  For the 17 tracks I had 51 wire runs to install.  I'm glad that's done and it's all working.

[hon30critter]

Hi Onewolf,

Nice control panel. Pretty good wiring job too. The wiring under our new club layout isn't quite as neat but it works great. Cudo's to our main wiring guy, Dave.

Cheers,

The other Dave