Dunham Studios amazing "Combo Layout"

Clarke added photos of "how it began". Note the hand (artist) painted backdrop.

It was quite something to see as an additional section was added and adaptations had to be made to keep the look consistent. The add-ons included a second (and larger) turntable section. I'll post some of the scenery and track solutions later.

Barb and the track plan viable.

Beautiful layout and great photos of changes made in action!!

How many guys did it take to lift that section that is on end getting worked on?

This layout, when originally built in 2001, had to be able to load down a Bilko brand cellarway.  That meant 53 x 24 x 96 inches when you figured all the angles.  Which means that that section, half of a 16 foot-long layout unit, was 48 x 22 x 96.  A tight squeeze.  Since we always consider weight as a serious factor in construction, the section was built in layers to keep the plywood weight down.  Still, it's easier to handle with four men, though two can easily move it around on a flat floor.  As you've probably noticed on our other posts, it's much easier to work on the wiring with the layout section in a vertical position.  In this case, because of intervening years and DCC progress, we had to mate an older Diode-Matrix automatic turnout control system with the newer all-DCC "mini-panel" DCC turnout control method.  This proved to be the biggest nightmare of the whole conversion process.  This and the fact that when combining the two layout sections, the "Eastbound" and "Westbound" tracks wound up at different track elevations than before +0" and -5", all due to the addition of that Seaport Section that Barb mentioned before.  This resulted in  the re-design of all three main Control Panels as well as the re-design of the two Turntable Controls to suit the new Walthers 90' Digital Turntables---a sixteen year jump in electronics.  More later.....

We actually finished the beautiful Combo Layout and it shipped (trucked) out yesterday (Friday)in a 53' tractor trailer heading to its home in Florida. Our crew  of three will meet the truck on Monday and begin to reassemble it. I took well over 100 photos of the disassembly and loading of the truck and posted them on our Dunham Studios facebook site. I'll try and catch up on my thread here but it will take some time. Meanwhile, if you're interested visit Dunham Studios facebook and take a look.

Barb

Roy took a couple of photos of the layout as a whole. Hopefully you'll be able to get a feel for the scope of the project when you see them.

Barb,  it's really been quite eye-opening to see the way in which Dunham Studios builds these layouts to be "portable" -- regardless of the layout's ultimate size.  Most of us grew up as traditional model railroaders reading about Linn Westcott's L-Girder benchwork methodology, so we've adapted that style of construction to our layouts over the years.  More often than not, that usually means we're building layouts that aren't going ANYWHERE but the place in which they're built.  And for most folks, that simply a given.  But in your case, your team builds these layouts to be portable out of necessity -- to deliver them hundreds or in some cases thousands of miles from your studio.  It's been very enlightening to review your picture threads that show how different platform sections all come together to give these layouts a long lifespan that was never even imagined when the original owner(s) contracted you to build them.  Magnificent!!!

David

Fantastic 

Loading out the combo layout. This is the "Readers' Digest" version, but it will give you an idea of what was involved. By the way, we did fill the 53' trailer. The layouts went in the front on load bars, 3 levels high. The base was attached to one side. The frames to the other. And the cyclorama sections were in the center towards the rear. We load with the "first out" pieces to the rear of the truck so they can go in in an orderly manner. My next posting will be the Load-in in Florida.

Barb

If the "Readers' Digest" version doesn't do it for you, take a look at my facebook posting on Dunham Studios Facebook. I put even MORE photos there.

And stay tuned for the Load-in in Florida, coming soon. (If you can't wait, see above.)

Barb

The Florida Load-in.

And here we are at the Load-in at the client's home in Florida. I wasn't there but Tom Deierlein who was there loading in (along with Fletcher Conlon and Mike Burke) was took these pictures. And a big "thank you" to you Tom. Anyhow this gives you an overview of the Load-in and the layout itself as well as detail by detail studies.

Barb