Time for a new one...
My Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/JR7582 My Flickr Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wcfan/
How about a link to the old one also?
http://cs.trains.com/trccs/forums/t/154415.aspx
Well guys, I'm once again changing the plan of my layout. This time it's because the amount of switches drove the price of the track WAYYY to high, so now I'm going to jsut focus on the Mullins area, but redesign it to maximize industrial switching while keeping it to about 10 or 11 switches. there will be two legs for scenery, and then a liftout staging area in between that will one day have switches added to it for two stub-end tracks facing each way.
Sawyer Berry
Clemson University c/o 2018
Building a protolanced industrial park layout
Sawyer: Could you maybe post the new plan (that is, assuming you made a few changes)?
Well, I guess I'll post the first photo of the month. A Tri-State Railway bay window caboose rolls through Watchinson on a TSRy test train:
My Model Railroad: Tri State RailMy Photos on Flickr: FlickrMy Videos on Youtube: YoutubeMy Photos on RRPA: RR Picture Archives
The only thing I've been doing recently is getting the list of parts together to complete that Bicenntenial SD40-2, and listing some stuff (unused engines, buildings, etc.) on ebay.
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.
Joe, sure thing. Also, how about a few pics I took a couple weeks ago outside:
here's the new plan:
also, the first version of that plan:
That's one heck of a long lift bridge, Sawyer! Stability is really going to suffer, and you're going to need a really good system for anchoring it at the ends. But since, knowing you, you're probably going to come up with a couple hundred different plans before you actually start building, we can tackle that if / when you get to it!
I made significant progress on my staging yard and lift bridge this week. I laid track in the staging yard and added a safety fence to shield the trains against the long drop as well as stray elbows.
The staging yard can hold 4 full-length trains.
In addition, I added the safety stop that cuts off power to the staging yard, bridge, and both approach tracks when the bridge is up. After two failed attempts using metal contacts (getting them to touch was a hit-or-miss scenerio) and momentary switches (reversed functions; bridge is up train goes, bridge is down train stops!) I finally hit on the solution using a default-off button. Now I have good contact, the switch triggers easily, and the train stops when the bridge goes up!
Photo lights are really useful when taking photos under the benchwork! The tiny little pin is the button itself, with the wiring visible below. It's actually a complete mess down there, with a lot of remnants of old wiring from the two failed attempts before that. I ended up only isolating the inside rail, since with no ground, trains won't move. So I have a lot of redundant wires down there. The large dowels are my method of keeping the bridge in alignment.
Switches are coming tonight by UPS (a modeler's best friend!) and then I'll lay track over the bridge. Then I need to invite Greg over to cut the rails over the gaps with his Dremel. Xurons leave too big of a gap...
Tyler- Nice work on the staging tracks.Sawyer- The new plan is MUCH better! Although when I was looking at the plan again, I also realized (even before I saw Tyler's comment) that the lift/drop bridge is waaaaaaayyy too long. No need to redo the plan just for that, but keep that in mind when you build the layout. I'd reccomend going no more than three feet long, but even shorter if possible.
This was my first ever paint and decalling, about 3 or 4 years ago.
Alex
My plan was to have a 2x4 be the main support, running down the middle, with two side curtains on the side etc. I'll probably shorten it to 3 feet and have soem more swamp.
Well, I learned several elssons custom painting today; numero uno being to order paint from Walthers through my LHS, not buy it off my LHS's shelves.
GG- That's pretty good! My first decaling job was the Bakery. 4100 will probably be my first paint/decal job.Sawyer- Or you could just order the paint direct from Walthers... That's what I always do. Whenever I go to the LHS, its for something I need right away/just don't want to wait (like when I needed something for a History project) or if I'm not looking for anything in particular (I want something, but not sure exactly what).
TrainManTyThat's one heck of a long lift bridge, Sawyer! Stability is really going to suffer, and you're going to need a really good system for anchoring it at the ends. But since, knowing you, you're probably going to come up with a couple hundred different plans before you actually start building, we can tackle that if / when you get to it!
Joe-I order it through my LHS to avoid shipping charges. Costs me the same, jsut no shipping. and hey, money goes into local business, etc., etc.
Well Tyler, I can't just sit idle on a plan now, can I? I bent the mainline and changed the industries up, so now it looks WAY more interesting. However, it still uses 8 turnouts. Also, shrunk the lift-out to about two and a half feet or so.
with just the track:
with captions:
Happy (belated) 4th!
Sawyer- The new plan is much better. Gets enough going on, without overcrowding (DON'T CHANGE IT AGAIN!!!!!)
Made $40 tonight, so that's 40 closer to an iPod. Once that's taken care of, maybe I can go back to buying stuff so that I can maybe finish the layout (or more importantly, get some cars to pull on said layout...)
Unless girlfriends or food gets in the way, I'll have enough money to order track by the end of August. The Benchwork has unwarped, and is now able to be built upon. Maybe later this week I'll install legs and the foam. I need to bring the bag of excess pink foam down from Boston, and eventually get some hardboard, however I'll wait until I get a couple expressnets and the car forwarding system (after X-mas) before I do that. That will come last. My schedule is track by the end of August, September-December buildings and scenery, X-Mas DCC/Electrical, and then 2010 I can collect rolling stock/locos, and possibly save some money up for a car or get a job.
Alex... I have a big trash bag of excess pink foam that you're welcome to if you can find a way to fit it on the train ("omg!! it's a bomb!!!" ) or somehow get it home...
I won't be able to bring it to Boston for you, since while I'm getting a ride to Lexington, I still have to take the bus, Red Line, and Green Line to get to the Museum of Science, and it would look sort of odd carrying a massive trash bag full of pink insulation foam up to the Volunteer Services Office where I store my bag while on duty...
Joe, it's about to be changed. however, this time, at the suggestion of the folks at nscale.org. All I'm going to do is stretch it out for an 8x12. Basically, jsut add more mainline run.
Track is all laid and glued on the lift bridge! The joint on the staging yard side is already cut, and I'm waiting until both the glue attaching the track to the lift bridge and the glue used to ballast the approaches on the layout side (I don't trust track nails to hold the tracks within 1/16" alignment when they're just driven into 2" thick foam...) to dry before I cut those joints.
I haven't decided whether I'll use a hacksaw, a Xuron, buy a razor saw, or bite the bullet and have a friend with a Dremel come over to cut four lousy joints... I'll probably go with the Xuron and hope the crushed end doesn't interfere with train movements. I'll have to do some careful work with a file.
So I should assume you're not dead, and that I don't get your trains! Aw...
So I was IMing before, and we started discussing my layout. The suggestion came up that I should maybe consider rebuilding my layout. This was suggested to me once before (Tyler suggested it, IIRC), but after thinking about it, I had decided not to.But now that it has come up a second time, I'm thinking that maybe I should. I can adopt a better track plan that is better suited to operations, and has more room for industries. I can also redo the track, this time with actual roadbed, and flextrack with concrete ties. If I do do this, then I can also get wider radius curves, which will make the Comets and MultiLevels look and operate better. I can also install feeders around the track to help with pickup (as of now, there is one set of wires going to the track, and trains speed up in some places and slow down in others). While I'm at it, I can also get a better DCC system, such as a Prodigy Express or Zephyr.On the other hand, I've already put some work and money into this layout, and it will all be gone if I start over. But I could probably sell the E-Z track and use the money to buy flextrack, and maybe have a little money left over (E-Z track is way more than flextrack).
The more I think about it, the more I want to do it. But I would wait until I get some more money and stuff. I could just stop working on the current layout, and just operate until I'm able to build the new one.Am I thinking this over too much? Should I do it, or is it not worth it. I'm driving myself insane thinking about this, so I am BEGGING for input.
Joe, completely forget about it for a day or two (at least until your mind is rested), then list the pros and cons, then go with what makes YOU happy man, it's a hobby, lol.
I can tell you I will be doing NOTHING on my layout plans etc. this wqeek. I came home almost DEAD from soccer camp, lol.
Some of the trailers I've bought recent have arrived. I never realized how much of a pain those collapsable athearn hitches are. Had to enlarge the hole in them and file a little of of the trailer pins to get them to rest on the hitches. I have another 6 coming soon.
Ty, The hacksaw would be a good bet. If you have a cut-off tool or grinder with a thin disc that would work too, but might be a bit cumbersome if it's a tight space.
Alex, remind me not to let you have any of mine if something happens to me. lol (Actually, I'd probably better off doing that since my bro would use them for target practice, and my sis would probably paint them pink and have all sorts of glitter on them.)
Well, thanks to Alex forcing me into rebuilding my layout (thanks), I have this to present:EDIT: The picture isn't showing up, so here's the link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ns3010/3701033133/sizes/l/in/photostream/
It's the trackplan for the new Watchinson Line. I actually like this a lot better, because it makes the mainline longer, has room for two industries instead of just one, makes the station more accessible for trains, has more room for a larger yard, and has room for more scenery, such as a larger downtown and a river (which is on the right side of the layout, but I forgot to color it).The main table is 4x10 and a 1/2 (48"x92") and the L-shaped extension is 3x10.5 (2 squares= 1 foot). Minimum radius is 21" (although the curve on the extension is 18" because that's all I had room for. However, this won't matter because I can just put a speed restriction, both because of the curve, and because of the yard). Turnouts are no. 6. And there are no grades.
I'm open to questions, comments, and suggestions. And once again, thanks Alex!
Yeah, well I'm exhausteder...
After some suggestions and comments, I made some much needed modifications to the plan:
The major changes were made to both yards (changing and removing tracks), changing the 21" curve to 20.5" radius, and drawing the turnouts correctly.I'm still here for comments and suggestions
You know how you can tell how your commute is bad? When it requires you to ride on every form of ground transportation in use in the area! Foot, bike, car, bus, light rail, subway, and commuter rail. I got up at 5:30 AM yesterday, and got home at 10:30 PM. I literally covered 110 miles yesterday, about 2/3 of it on public transportation. And I have to do the same thing next week on Wednesday and Thursday!
Sounds like you had fun!
I got back to the LRV after you left. None of the guys there knew you, but they knew me! When I got back to Riverside they had just finished getting it on the trailer!
TGIF!!!!!! Anyway, a few weeks ago I ordered an Atlas Trainman Covered hopper at my LHS. If it's there, today I may buy some of my track that is needed. Joe, as said on other forums, get larger radius curves and more industries. My layout is having an identity crisis. I don't know if I want to model Norfolk Southern, or my freelanced railroad. UGGGGGGGGGG..... BTW, have fun Tyler!
Ty, you forgot segway and moped.
I was planning to around and pick up supplies today, but a case of food poisoning is holding me back.