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Jeff Kraker explains his "less is more" theory

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  • Member since
    April 2010
  • 23 posts
Posted by coaltrain on Friday, April 16, 2010 10:57 AM

here is the build thread for #25, the Mantua boilered MDC old time 2-8-0.

http://www.railroad-line.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=14664

Jeff

photos http://s91.photobucket.com/albums/k304/70NovaSS/RandS/
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Posted by graftonterminalrr on Friday, April 16, 2010 12:47 PM

Yep, that's the one. A fantastic bit of modeling using "found" parts, or components that people wouldn't immediately consider in this day and age.

I have two similar locomotives; a GSB Rail SD40-2 getting detailed to the nines, and a 1957-built Revell SW7 (actually an NW2) that I've detailed as a CN NW2. Still runs using the original motor and rubber-belt drive, too.

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Posted by Paul3 on Friday, April 16, 2010 4:37 PM

Dear Mr. Kraker,
I was the one that made the comments about newbies with sectional track, how hard can it be to lay track down, and all that (again, I'll state that I hadn't read the article at that point).  I could not understand how someone who attempted to run trains could not make them go for more than a few feet even after 5 years of working on it, all while blaming the size of the layout.  So I questioned it, and you have answered (which I wholeheartedly respect).

Unfortunately for your article, MR's editors chose to use "Less space, better layout" and "Less space, better railroad" as titles without even so much as a question mark.  If the article title said, "Less space, better railroad?", then I bet that other thread wouldn't have started out like it did.  This has implied that your opinion is that a smaller layout is a better layout just because it's smaller, which you have since cleared up.

Keep up the excellent work on your new On30 layout!  I look forward to seeing it in MR in the upcoming years.

Paul A. Cutler III

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  • From: Corpus Christi, Texas
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Posted by leighant on Friday, April 16, 2010 9:15 PM

Hooooo, boy!  These were the pitchchures I was wanting to see.  I read your article 3 times, pondered over the track plan 6 times, and ran two imaginary operating sessions in my head. 

So thanks for the extra pitchers. 

 

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Posted by coaltrain on Saturday, April 17, 2010 6:37 AM

once I cashed the check the article was all theirs and how ever they decided to edit it is out of my control.   I can see why, in these economic times, they decided to take the spin they did.  I did go back and read my article again and it does explain the situation I was in but I think it was in about one or two sentences and the point my get overlooked easy.

photos http://s91.photobucket.com/albums/k304/70NovaSS/RandS/
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Posted by PASMITH on Saturday, April 17, 2010 9:33 AM
coaltrain

here is the build thread for #25, the Mantua boilered MDC old time 2-8-0.

http://www.railroad-line.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=14664

Jeff

Based on the crane in the background, this 2-8-0 may not have a specific prototype. It might however make a nice SP C-8 or 9. Peter Smith Memphis
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Posted by IVRW on Tuesday, April 27, 2010 2:13 PM
Jeff, I just want to say your layout has been inspirational. I am sorry to hear it has been torn down, but I understand why. You did a spectacular job, and I love your results. If this layout is this good, I can not wait to see the next one. Please, please, please! keep us posted on your progress.

~G4

19 Years old, modeling the Cowlitz, Chehalis, and Cascade Railroad of Western Washington in 1927 in 6X6 feet.

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  • From: On the Banks of the Great Choptank
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Posted by wm3798 on Tuesday, April 27, 2010 2:21 PM

 Jeff,

Great article, and an outstanding layout.  But geez Louise!  You've given us enough material here for four more articles!  Don't spill your candy in the lobby!

Thanks for sharing this information.

Lee

Route of the Alpha Jets  www.wmrywesternlines.net

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    July 2007
  • From: Pottstown PA
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Posted by rdgk1se3019 on Friday, April 30, 2010 2:44 PM

coaltrain

here is a shot that shows the engine service area when I first built it.  When I first built it I though it looked a little plain.  Also, the turntable was the 1st gen Walthers turntable and it did not work well at all.  when Walthers came out with their ready built turntable I purchased one with the idea of just replaceing the turntable, that night I had most the engine terminal tore out with a plan to redo the track arrangement, I wanted the look of a busy and crowded engine terminal that was trying to fit in everything they needed in a space that was too small, plus show an expansion for a "new" diesel service track that looked pretty freshly installed.

before

after the remodel.

 some of the new structures included sand, house, oil tanks, fuel tanks, lots of power poles, ice house, oil house, cinder hoist, and blow down drains.

Blow down drains (CNW design)

Ice and oil house (Interstate RR design)

storage shed (Accurail box car)

Sand house (Walthers with scratchbuilt sand bin)

misc photos

Wow.....what a difference the before and after pics are.....the after the remodel pics look as if there is more life to them.

Dennis Blank Jr.

CEO,COO,CFO,CMO,Bossman,Slavedriver,Engineer,Trackforeman,Grunt. Birdsboro & Reading Railroad

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Posted by shortlinerail on Thursday, November 2, 2023 11:46 AM

Great Layout, In what issue of MR was your HO Scale trackplan published , I have a 5X16 foot space and want to see what you did.

Tom Hirsch

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Posted by riogrande5761 on Thursday, November 2, 2023 12:06 PM

Thirteen year necro!

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

Moderator
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Posted by tstage on Thursday, November 2, 2023 12:34 PM

THIS is the type of necro threads I don't mind seeing again.  Beautiful modeling! YesStick out tongue

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

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Posted by gmpullman on Thursday, November 2, 2023 5:44 PM

tstage
THIS is the type of necro threads I don't mind seeing again.

   Yes  Yes  Yes +1

I somehow missed this first time around. Great photos and modeling ideas here.

Regards, Ed

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Posted by kasskaboose on Thursday, November 2, 2023 7:20 PM

Interesting concept.  Why the old thread?  How does this happen?

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Posted by gmpullman on Thursday, November 2, 2023 7:51 PM

kasskaboose
How does this happen?

Someone does an online search (Google or one of the others) and invariably there are forum topics that are returned in the results. Some engines allow you to click on 'Show more results from site: cs.trains.com' and dozens of forum replies may come up and not only for Model Railroader but for any of the other Kalmbach magazine forums as well.

Some people are annoyed by bringine up older threads, others find it OK. A new member might not immediately see the particular date of the original thread or simply choose to ignore it.

Personally, I don't mind seeing an old thread resurrected. Likewise I don't mind seeing older books on library shelves. I'm glad my library doesn't throw out all the books that might be a year or two beyond its publishing date.

shortlinerail
Great Layout,

Welcome Tom!

Cheers, Ed

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Posted by NorthBrit on Friday, November 3, 2023 5:45 AM

gmpullman
Some people are annoyed by bringine up older threads, others find it OK. A new member might not immediately see the particular date of the original thread or simply choose to ignore it.

Personally, I don't mind seeing an old thread resurrected. Likewise I don't mind seeing older books on library shelves. I'm glad my library doesn't throw out all the books that might be a year or two beyond its publishing date. 

Cheers, Ed

I agree wih you, Ed.

I have 'pinched'  many an idea  from old books and threads.

David

To the world you are someone.    To someone you are the world

I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought

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