BIG NEWS for bryan9664

[Anonymous]

Big news!!! [:0][:0][:0] My parent are getting a new shed for the lawn and garden care and they said that I could have the old 8 x 12 shed. The shed is big enough to have a 8 x 12 x 8 layout in the shape of a "C". I can also put a 4x8 layout in the middel of the shed. WHAT A DEAL!!! [:)][:)][:)]

Feel free to help me with tips and [?]'s

THANK YOU MOMMY AND DADDY

YIPEEEE [:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]

[Anonymous]

Big news!!! [:0][:0][:0] My parent are getting a new shed for the lawn and garden care and they said that I could have the old 8 x 12 shed. The shed is big enough to have a 8 x 12 x 8 layout in the shape of a "C". I can also put a 4x8 layout in the middel of the shed. WHAT A DEAL!!! [:)][:)][:)]

Feel free to help me with tips and [?]'s

THANK YOU MOMMY AND DADDY

YIPEEEE [:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]

[Anonymous]

Alright! Just remember to leave rail gaps for expansion and contraction unless your shed is heated / air conditioned. The Texas climate can be brutal on trackwork. Also you might want to put a coat of flat varnish on all your benchwork to minimize the effects of humidy changes.

I've never tried a layout in an outdoor shed, maybe others could lend some experience here???

[Anonymous]

Alright! Just remember to leave rail gaps for expansion and contraction unless your shed is heated / air conditioned. The Texas climate can be brutal on trackwork. Also you might want to put a coat of flat varnish on all your benchwork to minimize the effects of humidy changes.

I've never tried a layout in an outdoor shed, maybe others could lend some experience here???

[Anonymous]

I will second your advise on Texas weather. In 5 years on different model rail road forums, the guys in Texas seem to have the biggest weather challenge affecting layout integrity.

[Anonymous]

I will second your advise on Texas weather. In 5 years on different model rail road forums, the guys in Texas seem to have the biggest weather challenge affecting layout integrity.

[Anonymous]

How does the weather efect modeling oudoors?

[Anonymous]

How does the weather efect modeling oudoors?

[Anonymous]

Byran,
Go to the shed very early in the morning one day. LOL ... force yourself out of bed. Then go to the shed around 2:00 in the afternoon and tell me what you find in terms of heat. Also humidity can be an issue.

Layouts expand and contract in extreme heat and humidity. Tracks will tighen up and warp, or open up and be a problem. The heat is more a problem than the cold.

Byron,
Go for your dream, just ask lots of questions of guys who live in Texas what they do. Due to the larger forum participants at Atlas, I know there are a number of guys there, so chose your appropriate scale and ask how weather can affect your layout, and mention where you plan to put your layout. Post it in the Atlas forum.

[Anonymous]

Byran,
Go to the shed very early in the morning one day. LOL ... force yourself out of bed. Then go to the shed around 2:00 in the afternoon and tell me what you find in terms of heat. Also humidity can be an issue.

Layouts expand and contract in extreme heat and humidity. Tracks will tighen up and warp, or open up and be a problem. The heat is more a problem than the cold.

Byron,
Go for your dream, just ask lots of questions of guys who live in Texas what they do. Due to the larger forum participants at Atlas, I know there are a number of guys there, so chose your appropriate scale and ask how weather can affect your layout, and mention where you plan to put your layout. Post it in the Atlas forum.

[Anonymous]

How can I keep the problem from happing?
Maybe getting this shed is a bad idea.

[Anonymous]

How can I keep the problem from happing?
Maybe getting this shed is a bad idea.

[Anonymous]

Talk to guys who have their layouts in a shed to see what they did. I didn't express myself very well in the last response to your. There are move guys from Texas at the Atlas forum. Post your question in the HO and N forum as it will get a wider audiance. Don't panic, but don't take your shed for granted either.

[Anonymous]

Talk to guys who have their layouts in a shed to see what they did. I didn't express myself very well in the last response to your. There are move guys from Texas at the Atlas forum. Post your question in the HO and N forum as it will get a wider audiance. Don't panic, but don't take your shed for granted either.

[Anonymous]

Now wait 5 months and go out to the shed again early in the morning. There may be frost on the rails. A small electric heater set to run all the time might be a good idea to keep the temperature at least above freezing. Frozen condensation tears up prototype roads, you will experience first hand some of the real prototype problems that are usually only experienced by garden railroaders. But at least you don't have to worry about rattlesnakes in your tunnels. Or maybe you do - is the shed snakeproof? Also spiderwebs, bugs, birds, squirrels, etc.

In summer the humidity of the daytime condenses at night, we call it 'dew'. This can collect on your railroad and may cause rust, corrosion. You might want to bring all your rolling stock indoors when not actually running them. And maybe wipe the rails with Wahl oil once in a while to repel moisture.

Don't let this discourage you, though. Many of us old farts would love to have the space you have. And when you have become an expert in the art of outdoor small scale garden shed railroading, you can write a book.

[Anonymous]

Now wait 5 months and go out to the shed again early in the morning. There may be frost on the rails. A small electric heater set to run all the time might be a good idea to keep the temperature at least above freezing. Frozen condensation tears up prototype roads, you will experience first hand some of the real prototype problems that are usually only experienced by garden railroaders. But at least you don't have to worry about rattlesnakes in your tunnels. Or maybe you do - is the shed snakeproof? Also spiderwebs, bugs, birds, squirrels, etc.

In summer the humidity of the daytime condenses at night, we call it 'dew'. This can collect on your railroad and may cause rust, corrosion. You might want to bring all your rolling stock indoors when not actually running them. And maybe wipe the rails with Wahl oil once in a while to repel moisture.

Don't let this discourage you, though. Many of us old farts would love to have the space you have. And when you have become an expert in the art of outdoor small scale garden shed railroading, you can write a book.

[Anonymous]

The shed has a window and if I leave it open rain can't get in but cooler air can. Does that make a difference?

[Anonymous]

The shed has a window and if I leave it open rain can't get in but cooler air can. Does that make a difference?

[Anonymous]

Here's a link to Atlas, I'll tell you what.

I'll start a thread there for you, you just have to come over and read it.

Lets see, I'll call it "Layout in a Shed - Help"

Since you are in HO I will post it there, in the Atlas HO forum:

http://forum.atlasrr.com/default.asp

Sometimes if I have something challenging me I will post my question to a number of different forums. I am working a problem that I was concerned about, can more than one engines be in a reversing loop and work. I have a giant reversing loop with lots of stuff happening in it. So, I posted my question to the Digitrax site and to the Atas DCC forum. Having lots of responses generally can give you some options, or help clarify the issue for me.

So I have start the "shed" thread for your at Atlas.

[Anonymous]

Here's a link to Atlas, I'll tell you what.

I'll start a thread there for you, you just have to come over and read it.

Lets see, I'll call it "Layout in a Shed - Help"

Since you are in HO I will post it there, in the Atlas HO forum:

http://forum.atlasrr.com/default.asp

Sometimes if I have something challenging me I will post my question to a number of different forums. I am working a problem that I was concerned about, can more than one engines be in a reversing loop and work. I have a giant reversing loop with lots of stuff happening in it. So, I posted my question to the Digitrax site and to the Atas DCC forum. Having lots of responses generally can give you some options, or help clarify the issue for me.

So I have start the "shed" thread for your at Atlas.

[vsmith]

Before you do anything in there, if its a metal shed I would seal all the little gaps and openings those things are notorious for, frame the inside walls and ceiling of it with 1x 3 strip lumber so that you have a 3" space against the walls and ceilings,stuff as much R-11 Batt insul or rigid foam insulating panels as I can get into the 3 space and cover it with wood veneer paneling, ya' know the kind people fini***hier basements with. If yo can insulate the doors the better, the install a small A/C unit or a good fan. otherwise you will be smoking hot (and might actually melt plastic) in the summer and spitting ice cubes in winter. Texas aint that far off from Southern California temperature wise. Its a lot of work but 1x's are cheap and Batt insulation is cheap and the veneer panels are cheap and you wont need that much to finish a 8x12 shed. I'm in a garage and I will be installing an A/C unit there cause it get mighty hot even with a fan, a metal shed? ever seen "Cool Hand Luke"?

[vsmith]

Before you do anything in there, if its a metal shed I would seal all the little gaps and openings those things are notorious for, frame the inside walls and ceiling of it with 1x 3 strip lumber so that you have a 3" space against the walls and ceilings,stuff as much R-11 Batt insul or rigid foam insulating panels as I can get into the 3 space and cover it with wood veneer paneling, ya' know the kind people fini***hier basements with. If yo can insulate the doors the better, the install a small A/C unit or a good fan. otherwise you will be smoking hot (and might actually melt plastic) in the summer and spitting ice cubes in winter. Texas aint that far off from Southern California temperature wise. Its a lot of work but 1x's are cheap and Batt insulation is cheap and the veneer panels are cheap and you wont need that much to finish a 8x12 shed. I'm in a garage and I will be installing an A/C unit there cause it get mighty hot even with a fan, a metal shed? ever seen "Cool Hand Luke"?

[Anonymous]

Here is a response from the Atlas forum; basically it echoes the above:

Well, in Texas, he's got to have an air conditioner in there. Just to give an example to those not familiar with the weather here -- It was 111 degrees today in Dallas. Inside a sealed shed it would be over 150 degrees. And it will likely get in the teens in winter, so a heater is necessary too.

Building a layout in those kind of conditions in an uninsulated room will certainly not be easy. But I know I'd have given it a shot if my parents had gave me a shed at that age.

You'll definently need to make the space liveable before any real layout work can begin. If the shed has a window, that's perfect for an airconditioner. If it doesn't, he'll have to cut a hole in the wall of the shed and likely brace it a little, as a shed's walls really aren't very load-bearing.

An small air conditioner can probably be had for $100 at a garage sale. A heater, maybe $50, and not nearly as crucial as the A/C.

Not trying to be negative, having a shed would be great. Just being realistic, as it's not only important for track and layout to have good temperatures, but it's necessary to really enjoy your hobby. No one wants to bake, literally, when working on their trains

[Anonymous]

Here is a response from the Atlas forum; basically it echoes the above:

Well, in Texas, he's got to have an air conditioner in there. Just to give an example to those not familiar with the weather here -- It was 111 degrees today in Dallas. Inside a sealed shed it would be over 150 degrees. And it will likely get in the teens in winter, so a heater is necessary too.

Building a layout in those kind of conditions in an uninsulated room will certainly not be easy. But I know I'd have given it a shot if my parents had gave me a shed at that age.

You'll definently need to make the space liveable before any real layout work can begin. If the shed has a window, that's perfect for an airconditioner. If it doesn't, he'll have to cut a hole in the wall of the shed and likely brace it a little, as a shed's walls really aren't very load-bearing.

An small air conditioner can probably be had for $100 at a garage sale. A heater, maybe $50, and not nearly as crucial as the A/C.

Not trying to be negative, having a shed would be great. Just being realistic, as it's not only important for track and layout to have good temperatures, but it's necessary to really enjoy your hobby. No one wants to bake, literally, when working on their trains

[der5997]

Bryan: Seems like a whole lot of rain on your parade [:(] I'm sorry that there's been so much to dampen your enthusiasm, and the thrill of getting the shed. Also, the remedies suggested for the very real difficulties you will face in your climate don't sound very cheep for a young teen budget.

How about this:-

If you design your layout as modules these could be moved out of the shed if some of these disasters strike.
If you build just one module to begin with you can test the shed to see just which of the many scenarios outlined in this thread actually happen. Then you can see what is easier, a major building fix, or a removable modular set up that can escape the worst of your seasons.

Follow Rick's thread in the Atlas Forum, that should give you lot's more information. (Thanks Rick for doing that BTW)

Just some thoughts, and I hope this whole thing hasn't got you down. [:D]

[der5997]

Bryan: Seems like a whole lot of rain on your parade [:(] I'm sorry that there's been so much to dampen your enthusiasm, and the thrill of getting the shed. Also, the remedies suggested for the very real difficulties you will face in your climate don't sound very cheep for a young teen budget.

How about this:-

If you design your layout as modules these could be moved out of the shed if some of these disasters strike.
If you build just one module to begin with you can test the shed to see just which of the many scenarios outlined in this thread actually happen. Then you can see what is easier, a major building fix, or a removable modular set up that can escape the worst of your seasons.

Follow Rick's thread in the Atlas Forum, that should give you lot's more information. (Thanks Rick for doing that BTW)

Just some thoughts, and I hope this whole thing hasn't got you down. [:D]

[Anonymous]

I whent in the shed just recently wasn't as hot as I expected. There is a window and it was partly opened.with opened at full it would be alot cooler.
The shed is waterprof.
I live in Lampasas Texas 60 miles from Austin and 70 miles from Waco.

Rick. I had a little trouble with the registation at Atlasrr.com. I will have to contact you through this fourm.

[Anonymous]

I whent in the shed just recently wasn't as hot as I expected. There is a window and it was partly opened.with opened at full it would be alot cooler.
The shed is waterprof.
I live in Lampasas Texas 60 miles from Austin and 70 miles from Waco.

Rick. I had a little trouble with the registation at Atlasrr.com. I will have to contact you through this fourm.

[Anonymous]

Click on my name, at the side "rsn48" and it will bring up my profile. In the profile you will see a way to send email. Send me an email. My email address is [e-mail] I decided to give it to you here as the hotmail address I use is public through many forums.

[Anonymous]

Click on my name, at the side "rsn48" and it will bring up my profile. In the profile you will see a way to send email. Send me an email. My email address is [e-mail] I decided to give it to you here as the hotmail address I use is public through many forums.