Layout Progress Updated: 3-2-15

Great job Lance. Track plan is well done and looks like fun! Have a great time with Big Daddy and thanks for posting!

JohnJr

That is how it's done.  Make a plan and execute it.  You drew it up by hand, laid out your bench work on the floor and got trains running relatively quickly.  It's nice to see a guy actually build something instead of playing around with a computer program for two years.  Well done.  Run some trains and have fun.  I like the plan too, but would add a couple sidings.   Just had to say it.  Cheers.

I'm with William!  You did it.  I also agree, if it was me, I would cut in a couple of sidings before getting too far along.  I mainly just like to watch trains run, but sometimes I want to do a little switching and have hopes of getting a log dump and sawmill some day.  Maybe some other operating industry.

I want to add a yard down the road to it. The layout will be moved to my new house hopefully this summer if I find one and have its own room so I can expand the real estate. This is just working with what room I have now

what did you spend on track for that size.  looks like gargraves? or atlas?  Just wondering because I may accumulate some of this type and ditch my realtrax. is this hard to bend to shape or do you use some sort of tool bender?

 

looks really cool! 

Chris

 

 

       
       


It's Gargraves with Ross Switches. I don't remember quite what I spent but it wasn't too bad. I bought some extra flex sections to practice with and bend. Some turned out okay and others I may redo. Just takes practice. As for the bender...I have a lot of money invested in it (my stomach LOL!) Thanks!

That makes good sense now that you explained.  I will do the same thing, since I won't be able to buy all my track and switches at once.  Get some trains running, then add the yard, sidings later.  

 

If you said earlier you will be moving soon, I missed it or forgot.  What are the size of the pieces of layout that you will be moving?  Oh you're a young guy, you can probably pick the whole thing up and squeeze it through the sliding glass doors.  ;-)

Mark: the 2 sections are 5x8. Built it so they can easily come apart until it gets moved to its permannent area. Hopefully it will be moved this summer.

Not much to update you guys on, temp has been dropping here so I've avoided the garage a bit. Plus, been working 7 days a week to pay for my expensive hobby haha. Hopefully this coming weekend I can get all the switches wired up.

Well I'm sort of back tracking but a room opened up inside so im moving it in the house. The right side of the layout needs to be cut down some to fit but it's better than dealing with moisture etc lol.

Good idea, and now I see how you constructed it in sections for moving.  Very good!

The big move is done! Did I mention I hate lugging around 3/4 plywood LOL.

I have a few supports to do under the table yet but pretty happy how it's sitting.

Also, I had to hack off 2 foot from the right side so I am redesigning the two curves on that side and moving the switches that were up front to the back.

It does feel nice to be inside and work on carpet!

Lastly, figured while I'm still messing with wood I would make a few model railroad "spice" shelfs. Also picked up this license plate frame yesterday which seems fitting

Had to move the 2 front switches to the back since I made things shorter. Went together a lot better than I had planned! Getting use to cutting track now too! I just have to finish wiring in the new section then I finally get to move on to the switches. Things should pick up after this. Being up on the table on my knees is done in short spurts since I have one bad knee to begin with haha.

So far got almost half the switches wired. I decided to go ahead and add in the push buttons so the machines stay lit. Extra wire is a pain in the butt, but it's all coming together quite well and with the z1000 brick powering them they snap real quick! The wire in the pictures is a mess but I'm not gonna button it up until the rest is wired. Believe it or not but I know where they all go haha!

Lance,

Movin' on!...bet you appreciate the carpet now.

 

I don't recall, did you get Ross ready or did you have wire for non-derail yourself?

Lookin good.

Much nicer room!  Coming along there.

 

Thanks for the update.

Just a quick video update...going to work on new sidewalks this weekend so I can start wiring and securing the buildings.

Layout update vid:

Lance,

    Really starting to come together, very nice job!  Now a 2nd & 3rd level engineering planning job is required.

PCRR/Dave

Yeah I definitely want a second level for sure!

Lance, I've really enjoyed your updates as you progressed from plan, to benchwork, etc.  Thanks for the video.

The snow kept me in today so thought I would tackle the mountain. Man is it a pain in the butt being up on your knees haha. Anyways here's some pictures of what I have been up to! The right side is still being designed so that's why its missing lol.

Here, here!  Looks good; keep us posted, & thanks!

A good task for a snowy day!  Looks good!

Thanks guys! Got a little more done on the mountain. A little more plaster cloth and it will be ready for some structolite.

Its good that you have come up with a plan and implemented it. My layout was built over a period of 13 years (now 95% complete) but if you put in only a few minutes of work per day, the train start running quickly and the job gets done.

Finished up the last bit tonight of the mountain. Going to get some struct this weekend and prime it up and start painting. Never knew how fast time flies by when I'm up on the table working LOL.

Looks Great!

Dennis
Piscataway, NJ

On Wed, Feb 4, 2015 at 2:30 AM, O Gauge Railroading On Line Forum <
alerts@hoop.la> wrote:

Looking good Lance.  That's a good way to fill in a corner.

Lance,

   I love home made corner pieces like your mountain, fantastic job!

PCRR/Dave

Lance,

I agree wholeheartedly with Dennis, Johnny, and Dave!  That's a good mountain!

Thanks fellas! Got the last coat of plaster on it tonight. I'm ready to start putting some rock and stuff on it here soon.

Nice work!

 

Peter

Just a quick update, not much has went on. Made some more progress on the mountain. Kind of on hold to finish the rest as I am waiting on the rest of my rock molds to get here. My trees did come in and it was fun "planting" them. They look a lot better in person, hard to catch a good picture with my iphone.

 

Hi Lance • I watched your YT Video, All looks great.
• Cheers from the Detroit & Mackinac Railway.

Decided to take a break from the mountain while I wait for my molds to get here. Thought I'd take a stab at some ballast and I don't think it turned out too bad! I have to order some more from Brennens but I got to use up what woodland I had left.

Molds finally came in! Got some work done on the mountain today. Using the resin casting method and I really like it. Also got a big shipment from Scenic Express and decided to take a stab at trying out some scenery. Some pics:

Looks like those rock molds turned out nice.  Ballasting track is so much fun... NOT!

 

Thanks for the update Lance.

Looks like things are coming along very well!

Thanks fellas!

Got some more done on the mountain tonight. Not sure if I like how dark the black wash went on. It's kinda sorta growing on me but kinda not. Have to sleep on it and see.

I think you'll find when you add the colors, it will look good.

 

You'll see here, start at 2:54.

 

Nice work!