Railfan Alex Packer, I am assuming those ideas were for your layout, right? If not, I wouldn't be able to model a coal plant in Northern Quebec. There are quite a few mines, but definately not coal.
Packer, I am assuming those ideas were for your layout, right? If not, I wouldn't be able to model a coal plant in Northern Quebec. There are quite a few mines, but definately not coal.
Yeah they were. However, the coal mine idea I picked up after I took the layout down. The one with the feed mill (don't have any reefers, yet) I had working. Didn't know about their not being coal in Northern Quebec.
Vincent
Wants: 1. high-quality, sound equipped, SD40-2s, C636s, C30-7s, and F-units in BN. As for ones that don't cost an arm and a leg, that's out of the question....
2. An end to the limited-production and other crap that makes models harder to get and more expensive.
Well, it definetely wouldn't connect to your layout over the shelf and desk. It WOULD be the layout over the shelf and desk, and it would be sectional (connects to your friend's section to make the bigger layout for shows). Let me illustrate my benchwork ideas:
This is the base. It has the surface (plywood, if you want foam it will go on top of this) that is 7 (or 8, or however long your layout is) by 1 1/2 feet deep. If you want 2' deep, that's fine too, you'll just have to adjust the dimensions. This base has 2-by-4s screwed to the bottom. The one in back is flush with the back of the layout surface, and the front one is set two inches back from the front surface. Each end of the 2x4 ends two inches away from the ends of the layout board. The back one has eight holes drilled in it, shown in the illustration. The layout is the same on both ends. The front one has four holes, also shown in the illustration.
The backdrop will attach to the back, bolted onto four of the holes. It will have holes matching up with all eight holes in the 2x4s, but only four (the inside two on each end) will have bolts in them. The bolts attach with the nut end inside the benchwork.
When used as a module (a section of your show layout) it will have legs bolted to those extra holes. The bolts will go through the outside holes on all four corners, and on the back will also go through the backdrop through those extra holes I mentioned.
When used as a home layout mounted above your shelf and desk, it will sit in this structure which is attached to the wall or however you plan to mount this. It is exactly the dimensions of the layout board, except it is a 1/2 inch deeper. I've highlighted it red in this illustration.
The layout simply drops into it like this. The extra 1/2 deeper allows for imperfections and the bolt head that's attaching ther backdrop on. Remember that the 2x4s are two inches away from the front and the ends? This is to allow for this support structure.
Any questions? This would probably work for your friend as well, because he can attach the layout support structure to his wall or he can set it up like a module.
Tyler's idea is great. That would work out pretty well.
As much as I hate to say this phrase, I will anyway: Still nothing new. I have a band midterm exam this Friday and all other six exams are next week, so it's been busy. If I finish my homework early, maybe I could finally finish the road and whatever else I get to.
My Model Railroad: Tri State RailMy Photos on Flickr: FlickrMy Videos on Youtube: YoutubeMy Photos on RRPA: RR Picture Archives
Packer Didn't know about their not being coal in Northern Quebec.
Didn't know about their not being coal in Northern Quebec.
Sorry, I meant Southern Quebec. There are a few isolated mines way up north. To my knoledge, none are very big, and none are rail served.
And wow! Ty, you've put a lot of work into that! Thank you so much!
Did you do the drawings on your dad's iphone?
Your plan really sounds good. I'm not sure Jules has space for a layout, but I think it would turn out fine anyways. I really like your idea. It helps my home layout come along as well, because I really wasn't sure how I was going to mount that to the wall anyhow. I guess me and Jules need to really sit down, come up with an idea, and start drawing some track plans. It would be the perfect time to start now, with exams being over in a week. School work should be pretty light for the next couple of weeks.
Alex
Nope, I'm back on my computer again. I can sit up without head support fine, except a few things are still hard, like getting dressed (pulling clothes over my head still hurts) and lifting heavy objects.
I made the benchwork design using Google Sketchup, a free 3D CAD program. It took only about an hour to create the various models and take the screenshots.
I'm looking forward to seeing your track plan ideas!
Well, I got all the pieces for my pikestuff multi-purpose building cut (I'm building it at 10 ft. high, so had to cut on the lines to get them to fit). I'm going to build it as is (still blue and white, no paint) b/c it'll be easier and I'll have it built sooner. Will probably get most of the work done Friday, and finish it up Saturday. Then I'll get to work on my DPM Trackside Transfer kit. I have to paint this one though (SCL Hopper beige for trim, probably a color I want to use up for brick).
Sawyer Berry
Clemson University c/o 2018
Building a protolanced industrial park layout
Tyler, that link to the Google CAD program is the coolest thing I've seen in a while! Here's what I managed to whip up in an hour and a half. If I can do it, anyone can! Two 3D shots of my prospective layout.
OK, I'm going to download that! Thx for the link Tyler!
Jeez, what happened over the weekend while I was gone! Tyler hope your okay!!! Hope he's with you!!! The reason I've been gone for a while is because I have been playing with my Trainz!!! No not a spelling error a game, A more fun version of your guyz silly CAD although I might download that, well, here are some screen shots of a possible canidate 4x8 layout that I may build.
I later took out all the weeds because it was eating at my FPS.
I know that my home road is a shortline, but we bought the old GP40 off of CSX and they left it on the interchange with the other cars.
Trains.com was being a female dog... extra post....
My Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/JR7582 My Flickr Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wcfan/
Extra Post...
Extra post...
green_elite_cab Anyways, AS far as your layout goes, i'm sure you don't need two helixes. Have you considered double tracking the first helix? I'd like to see your plan, and the space you have. as long as you have enough room for return loop, you can get your mainline to go back onto your helix, and have them seperate in a convenient way. I have two Ideas, first the easy one, then the hard one (which isn't so much hard as it requires some work). 1). Many railroads would have a branch or something that can serve as an alternate route in case the mainline is too congested or some incident forces traffic to be diverged. It is only logical that you can make an excuse for your branchline to be the "detour". Just give yourself some sort of hidden staging for the through trains that pass by every once in a while, and you're set. 2.) I personally dislike helixes. they take up to much space for almost nothing in the way of a layout, other than giving the train some extra "distance. What i would do is combine them, but loose the helixes. i'd make your bottom deck a mainline operation, and you can focus more on the scenery there. If you can hide half of this deck, just make it staging for through trains. then, have a "tunnel" that goes to your branch, but have a track elevator (these can be easily constructed and can hold a reasonable train done right), and then just make your upper deck the branchline where you do the switching. It would give you so much extra space, assuming you've got enough room, but if you have room for a helix, then you have room to do the suggestions i have provided. Also, i'm assuming its no accident that your reporting marks equal "Win". thats awesome. good luck!
Anyways, AS far as your layout goes, i'm sure you don't need two helixes. Have you considered double tracking the first helix? I'd like to see your plan, and the space you have. as long as you have enough room for return loop, you can get your mainline to go back onto your helix, and have them seperate in a convenient way.
I have two Ideas, first the easy one, then the hard one (which isn't so much hard as it requires some work).
1). Many railroads would have a branch or something that can serve as an alternate route in case the mainline is too congested or some incident forces traffic to be diverged. It is only logical that you can make an excuse for your branchline to be the "detour". Just give yourself some sort of hidden staging for the through trains that pass by every once in a while, and you're set.
2.) I personally dislike helixes. they take up to much space for almost nothing in the way of a layout, other than giving the train some extra "distance. What i would do is combine them, but loose the helixes. i'd make your bottom deck a mainline operation, and you can focus more on the scenery there. If you can hide half of this deck, just make it staging for through trains. then, have a "tunnel" that goes to your branch, but have a track elevator (these can be easily constructed and can hold a reasonable train done right), and then just make your upper deck the branchline where you do the switching. It would give you so much extra space, assuming you've got enough room, but if you have room for a helix, then you have room to do the suggestions i have provided.
Also, i'm assuming its no accident that your reporting marks equal "Win". thats awesome. good luck!
Well, I can fit one reverse loop, but I don't think I can fit another one at the opposite end of the layout. I'll only have a maximum of 4, maybe 4 and 1/2 feet, to have a reverse loop. The height of the layout is fairly low too, as it needs to stay under a breaker box. The Second level was just going to be a staging level. I'd like my layout to be a photographic video layout, but also have a main line and switching operations, with out cramming in everything and making it unrealistic. Scenery is something I'd like to work on. Humm, a lot of things to ask for in one layout. I may need to cut something out, or switch to a different scale, which won't be happening. I'll get the dimensions of the room/rooms soon.
We heard you the first time Jordan! No need to post 12 million times!
As for track planning, I would like to get together soon, but with exams, it can be a little tough. But like I said, after exams, there should be a good two weeks of relaxation.
We don't go to the same school either, so no chance of taking 5 minutes to discuss it. It's too bad we don't go to the same school, cause I think this would make a pretty awesome grade 11 personal project! We'd just have to make up some baloney on what the purpose of doing the project, besides it's fun. I don't think too many people at school would think it to be fun...
Railfan Alex We heard you the first time Jordan! No need to post 12 million times!
But it's very important and must be read!!!!! (Just kidding, Trains.com wasn't being very nice today...)
I painted my RDC's black!
Not Really... I was testing out the weathering on the two RDC's that are going to be stripped anyways. I'm ditching the Proto 1000 paint, and giving it Alclad for a more realistic finish. Anyways, I like the gray effect in general, and will probably use a similar method when painting the UNDER bodies of locomotives... No, I don't feel like painting any LVRC equipment black!
Guilford Guy
Geez Alex... And you thought MY locomotives were dirty!
I don't think I've ever seen a passenger train that dirty. Scratch that. Here's one that's even dirtier.
Still nothing accomplished. Got band exam on friday- the most annoying phrase you could ever think of is stuck in my head!!! And the six others next week. However, I have Monday off, which I'll probably spend studying anyway, and next Friday is make-ups.
Hi guys,
Time to start a new edition of this thread. Please feel free to do so and link back to this one.
Thanks,Erik