Taylor, you weren't around the last time I went through the trackplanning process were you? I came up with idk how many plans and freelanced railroads. it was, a very creative process. this time it jsut kind of wound up boiling down tot he amount of space etc I could devote to the railroad.
John, I've tried laying Atlas code 55 flextrack, and also code 80. It really is important to practice man, otherwise, well, you're going to end up with some CRAPPY trackwork. personal experience is not kind. And I've dealt with parents in bad moods plenty of times. wait until they're in a good mood, and mention about the flextrack and sectional. Also mention the price difference between geting this track and getting new ME and Shinora track.
Tyler, thanks for the idea of practice. I'll see about getitng some code 80 flex, I already have some sectional. I'd rather not mess up the nice ME track that's $22 for 18 ft. >.<
Sawyer Berry
Clemson University c/o 2018
Building a protolanced industrial park layout
TrainManTy Push long cuts of cars over it, run at different speeds, etc, to make sure that track is bulletproof.
Push long cuts of cars over it, run at different speeds, etc, to make sure that track is bulletproof.
Um, well, funny story. With my current roster, I can only have a one car train.
I kinda get what your saying here. Test the track before I make anything permanent, file the cut ends nicely, and play around with the track before I do anything. I am most positive that my father, who left the house fuming today, would not take kindly to me buying more stuff just to play with. For one thing, ME track bends and stays, so its not like it will bend back and I will have to hold it. So are those the basics?
~G4
19 Years old, modeling the Cowlitz, Chehalis, and Cascade Railroad of Western Washington in 1927 in 6X6 feet.
IVRW Which reminds me. I read through the WS Modurail manual (Ive said it many times before, but cudos to them for astoundingly complete instructions), and confirmed my suspicions that I next have to lay and wire track. I will be laying ME code 70 flextrack with ME and Shinohara Code 70 turnouts. I have never laid flextrack before. Any tips or pointers?
Which reminds me. I read through the WS Modurail manual (Ive said it many times before, but cudos to them for astoundingly complete instructions), and confirmed my suspicions that I next have to lay and wire track. I will be laying ME code 70 flextrack with ME and Shinohara Code 70 turnouts. I have never laid flextrack before. Any tips or pointers?
Eeesh! Learning how to lay flextrack by starting with expensive (and exacting) ME and Shinohara Code 70 is A BAD IDEA. Buy a small box of cheap Code 100 Atlas flextrack and a bit of Atlas snap-track (to practice connecting to non-flextrack like switches, but cheaper than using real switches) and try laying some curves, straights, etc. Don't solder yet, just lay different configurations and get the feel of working with flextrack.
When it comes to laying the real stuff, take it slow. Make sure to clean up the cut rail ends with a file otherwise it will come back to haunt you (especially with Code 70). Gaps at rail joints are NOT ACCEPTABLE. You want this track to be the very image of perfection. Once you're all done, put in several hours of train run-time over each section of track before you solder the joints. Push long cuts of cars over it, run at different speeds, etc, to make sure that track is bulletproof.
Trust me, I've learned all this the hard way, and spent hours and mucho $$$ fixing it and doing it over. And that was with Code 100, which is much harder to screw up.
I agree Joe. Thats one of the reasons I dismantled the IVRW. It ballasted most painfully. Unlike what I have heard with EZ track, the Atlas Snaptrack ballasted surprisingly nicely, except for in between the rails. The thing I observed was that since the plastic came up so high in between the rails, the ballast was annoyingly swept out from between the rails when the paintbrush for getting them off the ties came through.
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Before I forget, what do you all think of the "Great Oregon Earthquake" issue in the BWC (Bradwood Chronicle)? You cant find the link to the BWTC below.
Hey Joe,
I don't think the ez track is too bad but like its the only thing I have used. you can buy cheap power sources anywhere for the meantime, but the nyour spending money you won't have later on. Your link doesn't work to the pix but sounds like a fun project.
Bear Down!
Taylor, the EZ Track was so bad, I just wanted to get rid of it ASAP. Once I get the benchwork built, I can set up a temporary loop using the track I bought from Tyler. That is, if I can find a power source... Hmm...
Tyler, yeah, I have thought of that. That's been a slight factor in why I've been leaning towards NEU... But I've still got a while to decide.
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My stuff from IMW shipped today, so I should have it around Wednesday-Thursdayish.Still don't know about the Atlas Gensets. Soon enough...
Oh, kinda random, but I've decided what else I'll be adding to my NJT roster, in addition to the PL42. Since NJT operates Metro North equipment in pool service, it would only be fair to represent MN in my fleet. I'll have a Metro North F40PH-2CAT like the ones that are currently being rebult by Progress Rail Services. I'll have to kitbash the extended cowl and paint it, so it will be a fun little project. Dunno if I'll be doing 4908, but here it is just so you guys can get a taste of it (BTW, it says F40PH-3C, but NJT's official paperwork calls it a F40PH-2CAT) (photo not mine):http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2200021
4913 (ex-NJTR 4123) is almost done, and 4907 (ex-MNCW 4191) is heading out to Kentucky as I type this.
Ok, I'll stop before I go too far into prototype. I'll save that drivel (yay vocab word!) for Teen Railfan Place...
My Model Railroad: Tri State RailMy Photos on Flickr: FlickrMy Videos on Youtube: YoutubeMy Photos on RRPA: RR Picture Archives
Sawyer,
The same thing happens to me all the time. Say i'm going to do something, pplan it and end up putting it aside. Don't give up though!
Joe, your schedule is even more packed than mine!
idk though, I may get started on the benchwork before rugby season. See, the problem is around here, you can mention a project, start planning, be ready, and then not get to it for several months. So I'd have to annoy the HECK outta my dad to get this going before I'm too busy to get around to it for a while.
Taylor, if I went double deck I'd probably add a third one for staging. but there's no way I could afford that much benchwork or track.
ns3010 So my school is having their college fair this weekend, so last night I decided to look at the websites for the schools that will be there that I will look at (I'm going into engineering, maybe civil). So far I like Northeastern and Clarkson, both of which will be there. I still have about a year to decide, but still, scary stuff!
So my school is having their college fair this weekend, so last night I decided to look at the websites for the schools that will be there that I will look at (I'm going into engineering, maybe civil). So far I like Northeastern and Clarkson, both of which will be there. I still have about a year to decide, but still, scary stuff!
If you're stuck between Northeastern and Clarkson, you might consider that within a few blocks of Northeastern are trolleys running in the middle of the street, and another two blocks from there is a huge concrete trench carrying a subway line, commuter rail, and the Northeast Corridor! Betcha can't get that at Clarkson!
I know your old layout is gone but you didn't save anything from it to put on the new one or make a temporary one? Just wondering, doesn't matter if you did or didn't, I just thought that you would. Oh well.
Im done for the night
The Watchinson Secondary layout is long gone (almost a year). The Lackawanna Cutoff construction will begin sometime this fall/winter, whenever I get the track.
Coincidentally, in the real world, New Jersey Transit is rebuilding the Lackawanna Cutoff to Andover (Phase II to Scranton is still way off). After being pushed back due to environmental issues, work is finally supposed to begin on the MOS in November.
Hey Everyone,
Sawyer, Sounds pretty busy, guess you can make it that long. I'm sure you will have so much stuff that when you lay the track you will already need more staging.
Joe, Sounds sweet, and what happened to ez-track you had?
John, That sucks! Atleast ya have someone who can do it and have a shay to play with.
Sawyer, I know what you mean about being busy! I'm going to Wildwood next weekend, then my mom's college's homecoming the next weekend (also gonna check out the college then, more on that in a minute), then our homecoming the weekend after, my Eagle project as soon as I can get that started, hockey in November, then Lax in March, and then in May, I'll finally have some free time before I go down the shore for summer in mid/late June!
John, the only thing is that once I get benchwork done, I'll hit a dead end for a while. Dunno when I'll be able to get some track (thought- if I can go to the train show in October and need money for there, then MAYBE I'll just get some track for Christmas. I can wait till then... [I'll just work on my rolling stock fleet for now]).
I just took the shay apart and found that it wasnt plug and play, so Ill have to get somebody to install the decoder for me. Got to go to dinner, so sorry for the short message, bye.
Taylor, any time.
Guys, I will last until March. Reason I think I'll have to wait that long is I won't have the capital I want to start the layout until sometime in December at the earliest, and then rugby will have picked up. and rugby starts in december. I'm projecting during rugby season I'll be so occupied with rugby and school I won't have much time for a model railroad. then when rugby lets up in march I'll have spare time and will have been saving, so hello layout.
And yes I will last. soccer reffing and planning the layout will last until october, then I can get a few more cars and have some weathering projects (even while saving for benchwork and track I'll be building my car fleet). For my b-day I may ask for a U23B and the paint and decal maker to get started on the C&S locos. Then that'll be a project for a while. and then when rugby kicks in that's basically my other hobby.
Joe! Get the benchwork up asap, because it's the biggest thing you can do. Once you get it up, the enormity of tasks will be greatly diminished and you will be able to accomplish a lot for every time you go to the "Train Dungeon"
Sawyer, is there anything that specifically limits you to march? If I were you, I would suffer from knitting rather soon. (As I discovered with my broken leg, You know a Model Railroader has suffered from a lack of exposure to Model Railroading when he takes up the hobby of knitting. Spending three months in a chair was very boring).
As for me, I have successfully moved to Utah. The layout is here unharmed. Yesterday, I went out to the Hobby Shop and got some WS and Kato figures to pose in photos for the Bradwood Chronicle. I picked out figures for Fred Bradley, Walter Woodard, and Chief Engineer John Gardiner. I hope today to rebuild the stands and to unwrap the two remaining modules. And, of course, homework.
Hey everyone,
Joe i'm glad your back! Sounds like you have been really busy.
Sawyer, thanks for the words and oh man March, long time, can you last that long?
-Taylor
Joe, glad you're back man! sounds like the layout will be begun shortly!
I got my article for MRN written today (lord I love monster energy drinks :D ). Check out the November and December issues for a lot of detail about my upcoming layout.
Speaking of which.....
plans continue to change. No, not on the design, but about the CSRY and also construction dates. I'm guessing sometime in February or March I'll begin the new layout. If I have to bet march, since rugby season ends at the end of march. Until then I'm basically collecting and saving for the new layout.
Hey guys, finally made it back.
After I got my computer back, my internet stopped working, so I couldn't get on for a few days. But I'm getting a new computer in the very near future, so that should help!
Here's what's going on on the model railroading front:1. Today was my last day of work. I've been waitering for the past several weeks, so I've been making more money, which means I can finally buy stuff. But today was our last day for the year (we closed at 3), so that'll free up some time (although I'm going to Wildwood next week, and I'm hoping to begin my Eagle Project in October, so there goes my weekends for the next month).2. If I can find time this week, my dad and I can cut the first sheet of plywood. If time allows, maybe we could also run to Lowes and get a second sheet and some foam.3. Thursday night, I placed an order for some stuff from Island Model Works (FINALLY!). I bought a PL42AC shell (to go with the drive I'm getting for Christmas), PL42AC decals, and 3 sets of Comet V decals (don't have the shells yet, though). I went big on the decals because their license expires in a few weeks, and IMW will not be renewing it, so it is the last chance. Don't know when the stuff will come; depends on if Joe has any of the PL42 shells cast already (it's a small company, so most of his castings are done as needed).
4. Next up will be roadbed and track. I will need a lot, so I will have to buy a bit at a time. My IMW order cost about a hundred bucks, and I'm hoping to attend the Mass Transit Modelers show in October, so the first order of track will have to be small. If I can get enough to get the main loop up and running, I'll be happy.
Well, I've gotta do homework, so I'll catch you guys later!
Taylor, hey, just keep working on it, your skills will improve and as they do go back and improve the old sections to reflect your new skills and continue building them.
Well today's plan:
I've pretty much relegated myself to the armchair modeler/collector for the time being. I'm pushing back my projected start date for the new layout. I do believe I will begin work on another photography diorama. there are a couple of pics on railpcitures.net that really caught my eye.
Shoot me an email to let me know when that is. Many of my upcoming weekends are empty.
Tyler, whenever my next long weekend is we should have a work session for tree making, quarry building, etcetera. It'll also be fun to run some GP15s.
Alex
Tyler, You better start making those trees because my subscripition is up in may 2011 and who knows what the World will be like then! LOL JK
Sawyer, fine I guess i will stay with my own layout that is horrendeous, wish I could restart but no way right now.
Taylor, I'm sure man.
Tyler, yesir you deserve to be in MR
I haven't edited my webpage in forever, I'm planning on something new whenever I get around to it, something much more radical. probably
Much better, John! I bookmarked the site so I can keep up to date as the layout progresses.
modelbnsfer Tyler, I have decided that you deserve to be in MR. Just my but i'm sure others would agree.
Tyler, I have decided that you deserve to be in MR. Just my but i'm sure others would agree.
Hahaha thanks! I do plan on writing an article on my layout and submitting it to Model Railroader. I just need to get my Supertrees built and planted!
Hey John,
Alot better and safer and is still just as nicce!
Okay Guys, try the link now. I have changed the website according to your suggestions. Tell me if there are any other things I need to change or may I post it to the world on two different forums, two yahoo groups, and one website?
Sawyer, Are ya sure, my last offer, I would be happy to go to N scale for a nice finished layout that works.
John, Really nice site but way to much personal info, those more then facebook asks you.(wouldn't know for sure, don't have one.
Taylor, thanks man, but I think I'll stick with this layout. My problems now are benchwork, getting micro-engineering track, and acquiring components for wiring. my lofty start goal is november; odds are it will be as late as Spring 2011. My plan is also to acquire more locomotives while there are still killer deals out there.
John, site looks good, but I agree there's too much personal info. might jsut say you're a teen and mention only the state on your site.