Fun video - Summer heat down in the hollar

GREAT STUFF as always.......I am sitting here in my office.....look at the window and can look almost to Spruce, Slaty Fork and the Elk river......you have really nailed the look of this area. Thanks!!!

Looks great! Good to see you back and posting again. 

Impressive modeling.  

Last time I was in Strasburg VA, the weeds were thick and even some small trees between the rails. 

Farmer_Bill posted:

Impressive modeling.  

Last time I was in Strasburg VA, the weeds were thick and even some small trees between the rails. 

I used to work for NS and caught the local E95 at the time that worked the branch often. We used to switch RR Donnely (Strasburg Press)  and down to Edinburg. Connection rails to CSX are severed. Branch rails have some rust now and I haven't seen anything but a Hi-rail on it in a long time.  South of town towards Woodstock the crossing lights are covered and rail track has weeds and trees as you mention.

Joey, I love your work!  Thanks for sharing.  But if you could do just one tiny little itsy bitty thing....  Please, please, PLEASE get your microphone out of the birds nest.   It hurts this old mans ears.   On my computer the bird chirping is louder then anything else in your videos, but that's just my ears.

On a side note, I am adding a small On30 line to my O gauge layout.  Maybe one of your videos has the answers to my questions......

1) Could you tell me a good name in On30 track (Peco in my searches, appears to be good track), or should I just cut out ties (I don't really want to) in HO track?  Is Flex OK in On30.  (Been using Gargraves flex in O gauge for years with no issues.)

2) What do you feel is the tightest curve I could install without any derailing issues?     (I have a tank engine & a 4-4-0 steamer & tender.)

Thanks.  Keep up the great work & best in your new life of marriage.  I loved married life!

Dennis

I am mightily impressed by how very few "tell tales" there are to indicate that this is a model and not a full-sized railroad.  Beautiful craftsmanship, sir.

WOW what a fantastic looking layout.   Outstanding video thanks!!!

That is the best I have ever seen. The slow starts and stops are amazing.

Rod Miller

Too real! Fantastic!

Peter

Hartman posted:

Joey, I love your work!  Thanks for sharing.  But if you could do just one tiny little itsy bitty thing....  Please, please, PLEASE get your microphone out of the birds nest.   It hurts this old mans ears.   On my computer the bird chirping is louder then anything else in your videos, but that's just my ears.

On a side note, I am adding a small On30 line to my O gauge layout.  Maybe one of your videos has the answers to my questions......

1) Could you tell me a good name in On30 track (Peco in my searches, appears to be good track), or should I just cut out ties (I don't really want to) in HO track?  Is Flex OK in On30.  (Been using Gargraves flex in O gauge for years with no issues.)

2) What do you feel is the tightest curve I could install without any derailing issues?     (I have a tank engine & a 4-4-0 steamer & tender.)

Thanks.  Keep up the great work & best in your new life of marriage.  I loved married life!

Dennis

Thanks all, it's a lot of fun!

Dennis, 

1) Although I have primarily hand-laid the track on my On30 layouts (including turnouts), this version (#3) of the Spruce layout was built in short time a couple of years ago and I use Micro Engineering On30 flextrack and turnouts. I like the tie spacing and size better than that of the other brands that are available. Personally,  I do not  like the look of HO track used for a 1:48 scale layout., but some folks use it.

2) Some of the stock Bachmann On30 locos such as the 4-6-0's and 4-4-0's engines will go around 15" radius and I have had 2 axle locos such as Porters and Davenports go around real tight curves. Other locos such as the 2-8-0's work best with 18"+. With that, it's how tight a curve will allow the pick ups to still have contact more so than the tight radius binding the wheels. My advice, if you have tight curves and you have locos with DCC Decoders in them, be sure to add the keep alive units to them. It will ensure that they keep moving.

I can't help you with the bird sounds!

Joey

Really good work there!

Hartman posted:

1) Could you tell me a good name in On30 track (Peco in my searches, appears to be good track), or should I just cut out ties (I don't really want to) in HO track?  Is Flex OK in On30.  (Been using Gargraves flex in O gauge for years with no issues.)

I used Micro Engineering and though it looks great, it's comically fragile. I had to replace two turnouts (out of 12 total) from points snapping in two when I was installing the blue points underneath the turnouts. Not a good % for reliability. If I had to do it over again, I'd have used Peco track for sure.

Joey_Ricard posted:

Some of the stock Bachmann On30 locos such as the 4-6-0's and 4-4-0's engines will go around 15" radius...

They will? 

My ten-wheelers will bind between the corners of the tender and backs of the cab at curves much broader that 15". Heck, even with a single 20" curve (my mainline radius is 24" minimum), I have to set the drawbars at the furthest distance to keep them from binding.

Simply Outstanding!!! You have a great eye!

Your backdrops are unbelievable.

Thank you Joey !!

Enjoyed the video very much!

outstanding, amazing how the layout blends into the mountain background

Steve

Thursday we traveled to Weston WV to visit the Insane Asylum.....On the way we stopped by Sharp's store at Slaty Fork WV and saw Tom. This store has been around for many years and has belonged to distant family. 

Back in these woods is a rail line that they want to restore to service as part of the Cass, Durbin and Elkins system. Hope they do.......

One reason I show these is so you can see how spot on Joey's model building is......

WOW!!!!!   The BEST EVER!!

When it comes to On30 modeling, my friend Joey certainly ranks among the very best. And it is a group populated by superb craftsmen/modelers and their equally superb layouts. I am continually amazed at the high level of modeling seen on the layouts pictured on Facebook groups and in Narrow Gauge & Short Line Gazette, among other places.

There will definitely be an On30 line on the new O gauge layout I am planning. It will serve (primarily) a yet-to-be-determined industry of some type. I sold a good amount of On30 recently, prior to my impending move to a new home, but kept all the DCC and sound-equipped models for use on this next layout.