Love the photos, keep them coming!
Did the CBQ have any major interchange points in Wyoming?
Update: 28 July 2018
Today is a red-letter day on the layout. The first track has been laid!
It isn't much - just a couple lengths of flextrack. But it's a start.
This is part of the mainline through Casper, which drives the location of the entire yard and engine facilities.
Once the caulk dries (by tomorrow morning), I'll have a better idea if this approach is going to work (I think it will). Then it's off to the races!
Mark P.
Website: http://www.thecbandqinwyoming.comVideos: https://www.youtube.com/user/mabrunton
Nice cleatwork! I think the progress is reasonable, Mark, unless you're watching reruns of MASH the rest of the time.
Update: 24 July 2018
Work is progressing, albeit slowly. The Casper yard benchwork is almost complete, including the sky backdrop:
Next will be fastening the foam down and starting to lay track!
Update: 16 July 2018
Crandell, I don't plan on ever trying to take up the masking tape. It will just have to wear off!
The benchwork is now well underway, at least in the Casper area:
This is two of the three sections for the Casper yard.
It's taken this long to get the benchwork up because we were on a family trip out west for a week. After standing next to the benchwork I think it's too high, so I'm going to lower it about 6 inches. Then I'll get the final section for Casper built and install the backdrop in this area. Then it will finally be on to tracklaying!
Very nice, Mark. I'm glad someone else has found the masking tape method useful. It has made the world of difference in my construction of a sensible bench system. Later, it's a bit of a pain where the sun don't shine, though, when you go to lift it off the painted concrete if, like I tend to do, I leave it in place for close to a year and walk on it several times.
My wife and I marked out the benchwork outlines on the floor using masking tape. What a big help in visualizing what is going to be built!
Then we began adding 1X2 stringers to the wall studs to support the backdrop, and test fit the first section of backdrop in place. The backdrop on this wall was salvaged from my first layout here, and also was used briefly on the layout in Allendale, SC. It will work fine with a little bit of touch-up:
And finally, yesterday we built the first of the L-Girder support frames:
Construction is finally underway!
I also put together the very first of what I hope will be long string of monthly layout update videos:
The past several days I've spent cleaning the train room, especially the floor. While it can in no way be considered "spotless," it's at least clean enough for masking tape to stick.
Here's a couple of shots of the room right now:
Tomorrow down will go the benwork outlines. Then construction starts in earnest on the Casper area.
Finally I'm going to start building a layout again!!
Mark, the ceiling is looking real good. It is a great photo because it shows the contrast between the darkness inside the joists and the brightness reflected from the panels.
I probably should be doing this in my own basement, especially since I have now completed the installation of a series of LED recessed can lights, but my wife fears that a ceiling will lower the height of the basement and make it appear too confining.
Rich
Alton Junction
Mark:
Thanks for the information on the LED lighting panels. Sorry it took me so long to acknowledge your answer.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Update: 23 June 2018
Work has been progressing on the basement ceiling with the installation of LED panels and white plywood panels that cover the joists. I haven't posted because pictures of painting plywood panels are anything but interesting. Still, enough progress has been made now to share a snapshot:
The installation of one more LED panel and 4-6 more plywood panels back near the gas meter will allow me to start on the Casper area of the layout. That will bring a halt to mandatory ceiling construction for a bit. Unless my wife overrides that and insists on a steady pace on the ceiling.
(And she pitches in and helps with the work quite a bit)
Thanks everyone, for the very kind comments!
Dave, here's the data on the LED panels I'm using:
1ft x 4ft Flat Panel LED - 40 Watt - Dimmable - 4000 Lumens - LumeGen
The source is Lightup.com. Their customer service kinda sucks - it took over two weeks to get the first two panels, and their warehouse is right across the Delaware River from me (standard shipping is next day, I'm so close). I didn't mind the delay all that much, but whenever I checked the order status I was told "Shipping tomorrow!" That went on for about ten days. Still, at $40 a pop, it was worth that hassle.
I've ordered four more. We'll see how long it takes to get those. Estimated delivery at time of order Sunday was this coming Friday.
Meanwhile, work on the ceiling continues...
Hi Mark:
Good video! You are a lucky man to have so much space available for your layout!
I'm curious about the LED lighting panels. Our club has a need to add more lighting to the layout room. I have never seen the LED panels that you are using. Could you provide a few specs, i.e. power requirements, where you got them, etc.?
Thanks,
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Thanks for the update and video, Mark. You have a great deal to work with, and lots to do. I would not finish/refinish the floor. As you say, it's already painted three or four times over. I would use rubber matting or interlocking tiles only where I will be walking and standing. Also, the walls look as if they have been wet at times, so you might want to take a hard and sober look at perimeter drainage if it exists. You are very wise not to place structures intended to be permanently in place against all those bad spots and plumbing/gas lines.
I sincerely wish you great, constant, and enduring success and happiness on this vast undertaking.
-Crandell
Mark, I plan to hit the Report Abuse button for two reasons.
One, you have confiscated the entire basement without your wife's knowledge.
Two, you have your wife's consent and that makes me jealous.
I only have 1/3 of our basement for my layout.
The video is great, and it is quite easy to view on my laptop using Windows 10.
I find your project interesting and relevant since I am in the process of rebuiding my layout in an unfinished basement. While I do not get water in my basement, I have painted all the walls (poured concrete) with 2 coats of Drylok as a moisture barrier. I have also sealed the concrete floor with a concrete sealer. I have not finished the ceiling, but I am in the process of replacing a series of suspended fluorescent fixtures with LED recessed can lights (54 across the entire basement).
You have quite a project on your hands. I understand your impatience between "finishing the basement" and "starting the layout". I tried to do both at once and finally gave in to finishing the basement (Drylok, sealer and LED lights) before going any further with the layout.
This is great stuff so keep us informed as to your progress. Looking forward to your updates.
I've posted a video introduction to my train room:
https://youtu.be/u3GgopJujHQ
This video is an introduction to the home of the new CB&Q in Wyoming. It shows the basement room which will house the layout, gives a tour of where various locations (towns, scenic highlights, etc.) on the layout will be positioned, and also discusses upgrades being done to the room itself.
The video may not default to an HD format, but you can change it to the full resolution if you wish.
Notes:
If anyone has any suggestions for improving future videos and the soon-to-begin monthly updates, please let me know. Comment here or send me a PM.
Take a look at the back of these fluoresent fixtures! This represents about 10 years of dust and dirt filtering down from the rooms above (click on the picture to see it larger. The smaller version tends to wash out the dust).
Over time this stuff would all wind up on the layout. Good argument for putting up a ceiling...
Over the past week I built one more set of L-girders, these two being eight feet long.
After that I tackled the ceiling and the room lights.
I picked up four new 2'X4' sheets of 1/4" plywood for ceiling panels and painted them bright white (glossy). Here's one ready to install:
I finally received the two LED panels I ordered about three weeks before. I wired one up and temp installed it to test its color and light output. Both looked very good. A side note: The folks are Lightup.com are not very fast, and their customer service is rather abysmal, but at $40 a panel their price can't be beat!
The center fixture here is the first to be replaced. It's a ballasted fluorescent fixture that draws 80 watts for two bulbs. The LED panel, which only draws 40 amps and is about 15% brighter, is laying across two L-girders in the lower left (the thing with the blue back):
Here's the temp install of the LED panel for testing:
Here's the panel final installed with the ceiling panels in place (obviously I need additional ceiling panels on the right side):
And here's a closeup of the final mounting method - four extra-wide mirror mounting clips. Since the LED panels are very lightweight, these clips are more than sufficient to secure the LEDs in place. A bonus is their price - $3 at Home Despot for enough clips for two LED's:
Next step is to mount the second LED panel to the right of the first (in the third photo of this post), and complete the ceiling panel installs in that area. After that I'll continue with framework construction for the layout. The plan is to finish the ceiling over every section of the layout as a first step to starting that section (it's much easier to do that without having to climb over benchwork!). I'll be working on Casper for some months before proceeding out onto the mainline, so ceiling construction will temporarily end shortly.
Water Level RouteOut of everything else that need to be done when moving in, you spend time starting benchwork? Good man!!
Or a very understanding and long suffering wife?
I moved into a home last November but my wife has a list of things that must be done first. Even after that, as much as I would like to start benchwork, I want to have the basement finished to a decent degree or I'll regret it later.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Mike
If anyone is wondering, I did get started on construction yesterday, but I only had about half an hour in the evening. We're still unpacking and settling in, and doing a lot of landscaping work!
Here's the sum total of yesterday's progress - two 10' L-girders fabricated. Still, out of humble beginnings...
Brunton Nope. Every few years an inch or two of water gets into the basement when the water table rises temporarily. I would have to dig out the floor and put in a french drain to stop that. Not worth the expense.
Nope. Every few years an inch or two of water gets into the basement when the water table rises temporarily. I would have to dig out the floor and put in a french drain to stop that. Not worth the expense.
Shame, it would improve the RR room environment by tons. But isn't there a water resistant drywall you could put in and add a layer of plastic on the back side; also only bring it down low enough that it doesn't come into contact with any water on the floor. Does the sump pump not keep up with the water that does come in?
Finally!
After several years of waiting, planning, waiting some more, and replanning, today I took the first step in actual layout construction. I bought some lumber at Home Despot that I'll use to build the L-girder supporting framework. Cost: about $150.00.
Construction should begin tomorrow - a few days ahead of my estimate June start date.
I've been spending some time detailing out the benchwork for the Casper area of the layout, where I'll be starting construction, while I wait for the LED fixtures to install in that area.
The benchwork for the layout is going to somewhat modular in design, with a bottom supporting L-girder frame. Resting on that (possibly attached through a simple cleat or two) will be grid-construction boxes (three in the Casper area) upon which the "money" parts of the layout are constructed.
I hope that made sense.
Here's the L-Girder supporting base for Casper (typical 1X4 +1X2 construction). This diagram is idealized - the actual L-girder lengths will vary somewhat to allow for some overlap for rigidity, and to securely support the grids on top:
On top of that will go the three grid "boxes" (built out of 1X3's):
And just to show how it should all fit together, here's the track plan superimposed:
Or I may scrap the modular approach completely and just go with standard L-girder benwork throughout.
7j43kNope. I envision two parallel saw cuts in the concrete. Then break it out. Then dig out some dirt. Then lower the pipe... Ed
Ed
Good idea, though. Thanks for the suggestion.
Nope. I envision two parallel saw cuts in the concrete. Then break it out. Then dig out some dirt. Then lower the pipe. Then fill the new hole with concrete. With just a little care, the access hole for the pump should be just fine. And then you put a cover in the hole. And you have a "smooth" floor. One thing to absolutely remember is to put a union in the sump, so that you can get the pump out when there's a problem.
Doesn't look monumental to me, especially if it improves things.
If the saw cutting is a problem, you can roto-hammer a series of holes, and break it out.
riogrande5761I was too lazy to read through all the text. Are you putting up studs on the outer walls you can put dry wall in?
BTW, any relation to the maker or creator of this? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brunton_compass
7j43kSeems to me, if ya were inclined, you could lower the horizontal run a few inches by cutting/breaking out the concrete. The you have a walkway. Ed
Seems to me, if ya were inclined, you could lower the horizontal run a few inches by cutting/breaking out the concrete. The you have a walkway.