BIg Southern California earthquake hit my layout, cracked the ground and spread it. PICS

[Anonymous]

Hey guys I have decided last night that I am going to stretch my layout out about thre more feet for a longer run and most importantly more room inside of the layout for more than just me. It was a tight squeeze in a cuple of areas that were right next to a pipe or the furnace or hot water boiler. I have resolved that with two steps. I removed the botls on two side of the layout and stretched it out about three more fet. It is so roomy in there now. I have to now fill in the gaps with benchwork and track which is cool for a longer straight track. On the outter side I will be adding a new bridge for easier access than the last bridge whihc just recently started giving me problems so that will need to be addressed soon. Not too hard though. Well here are a few pictures of the layout before and after. Notice the room inside.

nOTICE THAT POLE ABOUT 10-12 INCHES AWAY FROM THE BENCHWORK this is the before of course. And also how close the water heater is too.


Notice the distance now its about three feet away now. I was able for the first time to get a full shot of that area because the chimney is no longer in my way.


This is just before I pulled one end away, but notice it separated next to burger King It must have been on of those California Quakes


And here is it spread apart. I may remove that river section entirely and do that over differently I have not yet decided


Notice how close the cornerwas to the Furnace and that Container thingy on the pipe. I had to squeeze between there to get to that side. Not anymore though. Any ideas on what to do to fill in my gaps now? Let em hear them

[AntonioFP45]

Biggie,

Good work on the terrain that drops down into a roadway with a trestle overhead. Gentle hilly terrain is an eye catcher! I also like the town on the right.

Good job on the lightly clouded backdrop It's not too blue either, giving the impression that it's about mid day. Some modelers tend to have skies that are Deep Blue, giving the impression that it's just before sunrise or sunset rather than during the 9-5 work day period.

Looking at it overall, it definetly says "Western U.S"!

Thanks for showing us the photos. For me it's encouraging as I'm hurting for space yet. An "Along the Wall" layout is what I'm planning on and feel more encouraged now.

Peace out!

This

[tomwatkins]

Biggie, Nice job on the layout expansion. Both the extra length of run and particularly the additional "people room" will be very useful. The layout looks good. I also like the hilly terrain and the light colored backdrop. There are lots of ways to fill the gap. I'd probably build an open grid benchwork section that wolud fit between the existing ends of the benchwork and could be fastened to them. Then I could use risers and plywood for the subroadbed and foam for the scenery base. That's just one way that would work. Other people might do it differently and just as successfully.
Have Fun,
Tom Watkins

[Anonymous]

Hey guys Thanks. I was sitting and thinking that I may measure the lenth where the river is and remove that. ut a piece of plywod that size and frame it. After it is framed with the playwood on the bottom part I will scre the peice to both sides with 3" drywall screws for easy removal one day again. Then it will be roughly 3" deep from the top to the bottom where the plywood is ya know. I will then get a double track trustle bridge and go from there. I will end up redoing my river to a different style and have a vehicle bridge that goes over the river. It will look better because it will not be too high as it is now looking like a canyon. Man I spent well over $75 for all that realistic water I used. Darn. I will probably do alot of this tonight and will post pics. I will also be devizing a new plan for a lift up or out bridge too. That will only be planned over the next days. I want to give more than the 16" of space I had before to get in. I will make more like 20-24" this time.

[Anonymous]

Nice work Biggie Smalls.... just one slight problem.... California Quakes don't open up the ground... Just thought I would let you know.... seeing as I am an expert being from Cali and all.


BTW no flame intended so please don't take this wrong.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by brclem

Nice work Biggie Smalls.... just one slight problem.... California Quakes don't open up the ground... Just thought I would let you know.... seeing as I am an expert being from Cali and all.


BTW no flame intended so please don't take this wrong.

Nor do they generally impact states on the Eastern Seaboard ;) ;) - let's not take the comment too seriously.

[Anonymous]

I am sure they do not open up the ground but you know where i get that thought from? One of my favorite movies. SUPERMAN. Remember when Lois Lane is in here car and the earthquake hits and she has trouble starting it and then gets it started and drives away. Then the gas station she was just at blows up. The crack follows her if I remmeber correctly and opens up underneath the car and takes her down. She dies. Oh no no no!! She does not get her car started the first time. She just stays there and dies. Superman comes too late and is upset and then makes the earth go backward in time. So when I said that I just thought of Superman.

[Anonymous]

LOL..... that's a good explination.... Movie People Doing something impossible.... go figure...

I still like what you are doing to your layout.

[Anonymous]

I recall that superman scene as I have not thought of it for quite a few years. There was not a dry eye in the place.

I like what you have done with the railroad in terms of space, sounds like a win win situation for both trains and people. Having the fabric hanging in front of that stone wall really helps with the back drop.

You have an oppertunity to loosen a tight curve, make some running room for a train, perhaps a new industry or feature you wanted but not have room for...

Take all the time you need to think what you will do with that new found space carefully. Dont rush it, the answer will come to you one day.

It is very rare that improvements in both People and Train spaces are made at the same time. So.. congratulations are in order.

[twhite]

I like what I see of that layout--really nice scenery and backdrop. If you're modeling the West or even parts of the Midwest, I see a sudden gorge right in your 'fault-zone' and one of those neat Microscale Tall (210') viaducts spanning it. That's what I'm in the process of doing on my Yuba River Sub, and those bridges look so COOL! Keep up the good work--I notice that you have an intrusive water-heater, too. Pesky little devils, aren't they?
Tom
Tom