Hey Guys,
Thanks for all of the input - to reply to suggestions/comments:
- @Adriatic - You make some solid points in favor of caulk vs expanding foam. I will likely go that route after reading your earlier post along with @RSJB18's note. I'll dig in on the forums here and look for other posts
- @Ken-Oscale - good point regarding the "S" created by my main crossover routes - I didn't see that during the design phase and honestly didn't notice it on Friday when assembling the track. I'll definitely consider using the O60 turnouts rather than O48s to eliminate that S, if not for this layout, then definitely for the next!
- @Ken-Oscale and @Moonman - Carl is correct regarding the O48 turnouts, they fit with no issue. I knew ahead of time about the 1 3/8 piece and SCARM, I removed it on my O-72 and O-60 turnouts on the "turnout" portion, but even doing that makes the total length of the turnout longer than what SCARM has in the library. Unfortunately I'm currently away on an extended business trip so I won't be able to confirm actual turnout length vs what is noted in SCARM for a couple of weeks. I do know that both my wife and I measured the turnout lengths relative to what SCARM has and I believe both the O-60 and O-72 turnout length is 1 3/8" longer than the SCARM library and there is no removable extension piece on the "pass thru" route of the turnout (only on the turn out portion). I could be wrong on this, again I'll need to wait until I can get back home to confirm.
- @John C. thanks for the advice. I do have two access hatches in the middle of the table which will allow me to access nearly all track and scenery after removing the hatch covers but thanks for your concern! Obviously that hatches will require me to crawl under the table, but it hasn't been an issue thus far and I can definitely reach all the turnouts
- @Boo Man and @John C. yep you both are correct regarding the focus on the mainline operation. For this layout, my goals are to primarily run 3-4 trains simultaneously with some dynamic routes and reversing loops. I definitely would like to eventually have more yard operations, if not on this layout, then the next. There is potential to expand to the other side of the room, which could include a yard and some switching, but at this point I don't want to monopolize the room with trains as we're still moving in, finding space for things, and figuring out how the rest of the house/rooms will be laid out.
Two additional items I need to add to my "next steps" list:
- The backdrop, as @Moonman had suggested earlier. I'm going to start looking through my own photos or considering "pre-made" backdrops. Upon further reflection, I don't trust using my phone's panorama feature, I think I'd be better off using my DSLR camera and taking multiple photos using a tripod and stitching them together that way. I've got to decide between a scenic landscape or a city backdrop - at this point I'm leaning toward city, although not sure which skyline I'd like...
- Subscribe to OGR! I've been buying my magazines ad-hoc but I think it's high time I actually purchase a subscription and help support the magazine and these forums!
One additional question for the folks on the thread here - any tips or suggestions for sourcing or building metal girder bridge and bridge supports for the upper line (blue)? In the past I used wooden dowels painted to look like concrete, and plywood cut with a jig saw for the girder base, which I was okay (I never finished the girder sides), however I'd like to try and build supports that look more like metal lattice (thinking of Chicago's EL supports). I'm thinking for the elevated line using Atlas O rather than fastrack since I don't want ballast on the planned girder bridge.
