RRCanuck wrote:I've never really shared layout pics until now, partly because I'm new to the forum, and partly because the high level of skill I see here is a bit intimidating. None of my friends are railroaders, so the only people who've seen this layout are non-hobbyists. Anyway, I guess I'll take the plunge now. These are from a 15 x 29' layout that is about 90% complete (meaning that bare wood at least is gone) after 4 years of effort. Still have about 10 square feet of plywood to cover, and then the "superdetailing" can begin.Cheers.
I've never really shared layout pics until now, partly because I'm new to the forum, and partly because the high level of skill I see here is a bit intimidating. None of my friends are railroaders, so the only people who've seen this layout are non-hobbyists. Anyway, I guess I'll take the plunge now. These are from a 15 x 29' layout that is about 90% complete (meaning that bare wood at least is gone) after 4 years of effort. Still have about 10 square feet of plywood to cover, and then the "superdetailing" can begin.
Cheers.
Hello, everyone. Even if we forget the first class modelling I see in them, it is also obvious that many of you are exceptional with cameras, composition, and lighting, too. Unfortunately, I am not there, but I keep trying...
Tom, this is the Trix Mike. I sure like this engine.
This second is from the other end of the same trestle, but this time it is the Niagara.
Finally, this is a shot I took standing outside the basement, after dark, and pointing through the basement window. You see most of the layout. The trestle is at the bottom right, out of view.
Keep your photos coming, gents and ladies. I know many of you are making good progress, so I would be happy to see it.
-Crandell
Hoople wrote: Good thing you didn't take the two trestle pictures at the same time...I SMELL A CORNFIELD MEETING!
Naw, he would have blown the trestle first ala G. Adams.
It's nice to get a scope of the project Crandell. Looks about done to me. When you going to start the next one?
Chip
Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.
RRCanuck wrote:
RRC, The dramatic lighting of the first two photos really gives the feeling of being in the great outdoors. What is you light source? We are anticipating more pics.
Sue & Larry
Anything is possible if you do not know what you are talking about.
WOW, good job everyone... I am impressed! Keep the pic's coming... I will post mine soon...
Brian
Thanks everyone for the words of encouragement. I'll contribute a couple more pics to the thread. The sky in the second pic is courtesy of photoshop - I have backdrops but for the moment the sky is monotone blue - just one more project that I need to tackle at some point.
To answer the question about lighting - two of the pics previously posted used natural sunlight, which explains the effect. There's a window near those scenes and on a sunny day, at this time of year, the light just happens to shine that way. Regrettably I can't pretend to claim that the effect is due to my photographic prowess. (My layout is a bit unusual because it's upstairs and not in a basement or garage - had to knock a wall down between two bedrooms but it's a small price to pay ; )
SpaceMouse wrote: Looks about done to me. When you going to start the next one?
Looks about done to me. When you going to start the next one?
Ha, you funny guy!
I still have a ton of trees to make and place, the Danby Sawmill to assemble, the mine to set up properly and to detail, and I have a bare yard, as you can see....no rusty rails, ties, barrels, huts, steam lines, and so on. Plus, I have not really played with the entire system. In fact, I took that fellow's suggestion and provided staging off the layout over the past two days...what a difference in clutter that makes. (That observation should be my swearing-in statement to join the "Okay, I get staging," converts club).
I don't want to start something like this for several years if I can help it. I like what I have, and will try to keep happy with it.
Crandell,
Thanks for showing the crossover again. I was trying to describe it. Is it a lift up, or is it permanently in place?
Sue
Sue, believe it or not, even at that oblique angle, the entire span is a swing-down. As you see it, the barrel locks are under each of the two corners of the span, at left, and my reversing unit is on the other side of the bench frame member closest to that left end of the span. The barrel locks are near the reversing unit. The two hinges are on the right end of the span. When the barrel locks are released, the unit swings down, and I can even lever it up so that it is tucked up against the nether side of the right hand module on which it is hinged...to keep me from bangin' it with me hips and elbows.
If you are interested in it because of a need you have, I would be pleased to take some more detailed photos and send them as attachments to you directly, or post them here, as you wish.
selector wrote: Sue, believe it or not, even at that oblique angle, the entire span is a swing-down. As you see it, the barrel locks are under each of the two corners of the span, at left, and my reversing unit is on the other side of the bench frame member closest to that left end of the span. The barrel locks are near the reversing unit. The two hinges are on the right end of the span. When the barrel locks are released, the unit swings down, and I can even lever it up so that it is tucked up against the nether side of the right hand module on which it is hinged...to keep me from bangin' it with me hips and elbows.If you are interested in it because of a need you have, I would be pleased to take some more detailed photos and send them as attachments to you directly, or post them here, as you wish.-Crandell
Please do post some more pics and explanations of it, most probably in its own thread titled, say, "selectors swing down reverser"...or something. MANY many MANY would appreciate it I'm sure! What a novel way to "stretch" a layout! It beats having a dumb old flat bridge in its place!
Thanking you form all
-G .
Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.
HO and N Scale.
After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.
Hey Spacemouse.....
Oh, so that is what you were making. It is really shaping up great.
"You do good work Charlie Brown".. So says Snoopy >>>>>>>>>>
Scratchbuilding is the greatest, don't you think???
LM&E Div. of the Western Pacific
James:1 Verse:5
from Saskatchewan, in the Great White North..
We have met the enemy, and he is us............ (Pogo)
lastmountain eastern hogger wrote: Hey Spacemouse..... Oh, so that is what you were making. It is really shaping up great."You do good work Charlie Brown".. So says Snoopy >>>>>>>>>>Scratchbuilding is the greatest, don't you think???LM&E Div. of the Western PacificJames:1 Verse:5
Thanks,
Scratchbuilding has it's place for sure. It certainly gives you a bunch of freedom.
RRCANUCK, your delusional , your layout is really nice, We gotta see more of it. Everything just works together beautifully. You rank right up there with some of the best around here from what I see.
Jerry SP FOREVER http://photobucket.com/albums/f317/GAPPLEG/
Very good work everyone, as usual. I haven't had much to post here lately, not that I haven't been looking at all of yours.
Here are a couple of pics of my new line of Catipillars
I stillneed to get a couple more depressed flat cars for the hydrolic shovel. Mike
45T-2 wrote:
Thats pretty good. And the style looks familiar....
Heres my contribution. New shots of an old unit.
"Being misunderstood is the fate of all true geniuses"
EXPERIMENTATION TO BRING INNOVATION
http://community.webshots.com/album/288541251nntnEK?start=588
ARTHILL wrote: Nice progress Robby. I have been mostly making mess this week also. All I made was trees and you have seen enough of them I am sure. I did run across these pics again. I will model this someday.
Nice progress Robby. I have been mostly making mess this week also. All I made was trees and you have seen enough of them I am sure. I did run across these pics again. I will model this someday.
Art--
Is the top photo part of the infamous "Highway of Death" in Bolivia? Sure looks like it!
Tom
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!
Thanks !
I just "KNEW" that there was a prototype when I was building my layout (here is an early under-construction picture).
a progress photo of one corner of the new layout. This is the gravel company transplanted from the old layout and some scenicing started. J.R.
Here's more progress on my grade crossing-did scenery tonite-glue still drying. And I also super elevated the curved approaches to said crossing(don't know if the photos picked up the "lean").Just finished this around midnight , got pics up as soon as possible.
Sombra, the hi-rail truck is an old Magnusen/Walthers model.
Bapou, the Walthers signal controller is just plain old photosensors, nothing fancy.
Rich
As for me, well, "I've been workin' on the railroad".... Yeah, this is a cross post (from the layout construction forum), but oh well....
For those interested in a different, simpler, (and better, in my opinion) method of laying track, try the following method. I use Butyl Sealing Tape, which is used in sealing doors and windows in mobile homes and campers, and for sealing joints in steel buildings. This stuff is pretty resilient, it absorbs sound and vibration to a certain extent. This roll shown below is the second one I've use on the layout so far:
This wasn't a new roll when I took the picture. Anyway, the first step is to lay out the track center lines using conventional methods.
Now, roll off a piece of the tape, in this case, to the end of the track.
Now, remove the wax paper backing strip, and lay the tape alongside your center line. Once it is properly positioned, press gently to adhere it. It's reasonably forgiving, you can fairly easily pull it up for repositioning.
Now, repeat for the width of your track. This tape I used is about 3/8" wide, so I used 4 strips for HO scale. Use 2 for N scale, or use wider tape (mine was free, so I used what I got).
If you need to test fit the track, use the wax paper backing strip to keep the track from sticking while you do your checks.
This is a good time to mark the edge of your turnout. Also, mark where the throwbar is.
Now, remove material from under the throwbar area. Ideally, mark this beforehand, and cut the tape so that you don't have to do this, but since I was taking pictures, I forgot.
For the diverging track, taper the strips until you have the 4 strips of width for the track.
The roadbed is now ready for track. Since this will be an electrically insulated piece of track, notice that I have already attached feeders to the track, and (not shown) drilled holes through the plywood for them.
I haven't used much of the roll for this project so far.
Now, carefully align your track, making sure to align the joiners properly, and gently push down into place. Carefully feed your wires through the plywood, gently puling them through if necessary. Make sure the track is still aligned properly, and everything looks good. Now, firmly push the track down (but don't use too much force), and it will adhere to the tape below. At the same time, the tape will adhere to the plywood below it.
If, at some point, you realized this is like using AMI Instant Roadbed, well, it is, but this stuff isn't NEARLY as tacky, and can be removed (and, if very careful, reused) without too much trouble. I haven't ballasted yet, but on a test piece of track, I simply pressed the ballast onto the roadbed, and it sticks, although not a very thick layer. Conventional ballasting methods should work just fine. You can bevel the edges of the roadbed either using your finger, or a roller of some kind, or just skip it.
I hope I've given enough for you to consider trying this method. Feel free to ask any questions I may not have addressed.
Brad
EMD - Every Model Different
ALCO - Always Leaking Coolant and Oil
CSX - Coal Spilling eXperts
galaxy wrote: selector wrote: Sue, believe it or not, even at that oblique angle, the entire span is a swing-down. As you see it, the barrel locks are under each of the two corners of the span, at left, and my reversing unit is on the other side of the bench frame member closest to that left end of the span. The barrel locks are near the reversing unit. The two hinges are on the right end of the span. When the barrel locks are released, the unit swings down, and I can even lever it up so that it is tucked up against the nether side of the right hand module on which it is hinged...to keep me from bangin' it with me hips and elbows.If you are interested in it because of a need you have, I would be pleased to take some more detailed photos and send them as attachments to you directly, or post them here, as you wish.-CrandellPlease do post some more pics and explanations of it, most probably in its own thread titled, say, "selectors swing down reverser"...or something. MANY many MANY would appreciate it I'm sure! What a novel way to "stretch" a layout! It beats having a dumb old flat bridge in its place!Thanking you form all
here. I have a very similar situation - bridge span at an oblique angle.
This might be unusual - pictures of car cards. Thanks to Wolfgang Dudler's great site, I tried my hand this morning at making my first set of car cards using an Excel spreadsheet - easy.
Sssh! Also using my wife's paper cutter ... and as soon as I can locate her ... er ... our supply of card stock
Regards,
Great shots as always.
One of the scratch builds I'm working on.
Karl.
Brad, believe it or not, I had thought of that a while back. I don't know why I didn't pursue it...maybe because I knew I'd have to buy more than the 95%, and now dated, roll that I have had lying around during our RVing days. Also, I recall thinking that it wasn't going to be wide enough...anyway, thanks for the photo essay. I really hope it works, and that you report back in a few months to let us know if you are still happy with your choice.
Karl, that is quite the product you have there. Tell us about the stencil or sign...how did you manage that? Nice construction, of course....like we have to say it, and all....
i have got my pics now. i'm not a good shot. i don't know how to make them "show up" but i'll give you the link. if you all want to help me learn how to make them "show up" that would be great!
#1 ccurail: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\My Pictures\Jacobs pics\IM001391.jpg
#2 walthers: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\My Pictures\Jacobs pics\IM001389.jpg
same hopper: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\My Pictures\Jacobs pics\IM001390.jpg
Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum