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Layout Progress...Never too late!!! "Lionel Legacy PRR SD45's" 4/16/24

L luvindemtrainsOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Hey Guys and Gals,

Over the last two years I have seen and learned some wonderful things on this site. Unfortunately when I started my layout almost ten years ago, I did not know of this site. It would have been helpful, motivating, and inspiring if I did.

With all that being said, I have decided to start a post of the progress of my layout from this point forward. I have posted several progress submissions over the years but would like to put them in one thread as well.  When necessary or asked I will also post some "before and after" pics to give everyone an idea and conceptual insight to what I have been doing over the years.

Because of many personal obstacles, it has taken me all of these years to get to this point in the layout, where I am wiring signals and just starting scenery work. They say patience is a virtue and as anxious as I have been to get things accomplished life took over and slowed me down for a period. I know the next journey on the layout construction will be more interesting because of this forum.

The first post, in this thread, will be the hillside I am creating before installing the coal tipple over the yard.

Thanks and all suggestions and comments welcome.



Dave

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  • Tipple Hillside #1: Will have to add another layer of foam on the back section and two more on the front section. Once that's done I can begin making a mess!
  • Tipple Hillside #2
  • Tipple Hillside #3
Last edited by luvindemtrains
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L luvindemtrainsOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Hi Everyone,

The dimensions of the layout are approximately 25' X 15'. It is an around the room plan which currently features a 6-track yard. The layout has a two track mainline (lower level) and a single loop branch line(upper level). I use Atlas 3 rail track. The layout is not based on any particular area and is freelance. I would venture to say, because of my preferences, the era of the layout would be from the transition era to the present. I know, how do you model that? Big gap, I know, but I like the new and old. 

I mostly use diesel power but have started to become more fond of steam power. 

Here are some random pics of the layout. I also have a couple of videos on Youtube under luvindemtrains.

I also have included the print out of the track plan but there have been a few modifications made to that. Most notably in the upper level (branch line). The three track spur section, to the right, has been re-installed on the lower level. I could not justify keeping it on the upper level. Currently this area is where I have an engine servicing facility but plan to cut through the wall and continue the layout in the adjacent room. When that project begins I will post it step by step. 

Thanks,

Dave

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Images (14)
  • Original Layout Design: Basic Track Plan
  • 193: Fascia Installed but not stained.
  • 196: Fascia Installed and stained.
  • 002: Pre-painted gorge area.
  • 007: Another view of unpainted gorge area.
  • 024: This is after the new bridge was installed and before any backdrops were installed and before I painted the benchwork.
  • 043: another view of bridge area.
  • After Paint and New Bridge: Bridge and steel mill backdrop.
  • Canyon #1: Semi-finished gorge area. Several details including finishing the river have to be done.
  • Canyon #2: Another view of the gorge and its forced perspective.
  • Backdrop Installed #1 (right side): My first try at backdrop installation. My vaulted walls made this project interesting. Thanks for all of the suggestions I received.
  • Painted Benchwork #1: Left side of layout after benchwork was painted. The town will be located here.
  • After Paint and New Bridge #2: To the right is the section that leads to the engine servicing facility and that will eventually go into the next room. You can see a section of the steel mill backdrop behind the bridge.
  • Painted Benchwork #2: This is another section of the left side of the layout.
Last edited by luvindemtrains
L luvindemtrainsOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Good Evening Everyone,

Today I had a burst of energy, after work, and decided to do some more work on the hillside for the coal tipple. First are a couple of pics with me laying out some retaining walls and also the piers I had to install to get clearance for the engines, hoppers, and other rolling stock I will run under the coal tipple.  Next, there are a few pics with the coal tipple in place before carving.

The last few pics will show new stacked foam, in the rear, that covers the entire corner. I got an idea, while at work, and this was what I needed to do in an attempt to execute the idea. The last few pics show both hillsides carved and the front hillside partially painted. I'm feeling pretty good about this and am trying to be as methodical as I can be.

I did fill in the gaps and paint the rear hillside but did not put it in place because the paint needs to dry overnight, before I put it on the layout. Tomorrow I hope to have the same energy and do more work on this scene. I will show more progress in the next day or so.

Comments and suggestions are always welcome.

Thanks,

Dave

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Images (8)
  • Hillside Uncut with Retaing Walls #1
  • Hillside Uncut with Coal Tipple #1 Rotated
  • Hillside Uncut with Coal Tipple #2 (close up) Rotated
  • Foam Uncut #1
  • Foam Uncut #2 (closer)
  • Foam Cut #1
  • Foam Cut #2
  • Foam Cut #3
Last edited by luvindemtrains
L luvindemtrainsOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Good Afternoon Guys and Gals,

I have been working to get as much done around the Coal Tipple as I can this weekend.  Here are some progress pictures. Not quite finished yet but got a lot done.

Once I get to certain point with a scene, I move on and come back to it. This allows me to come upHillside for Coal Tipple #1[April 2018)Hillside for Coal Tipple #2[April 2018)Hillside for Coal Tipple #3[April 2018)Hillside for Coal Tipple #4[April 2018) AdjustedCoal Tipple Progress #1[April 2018)Coal Tipple Progress #2[April 2018)Coal Tipple Progress #3[April 2018)Coal Tipple Progress #4[April 2018)

with ideas for more detail.

I am going to start the town scene this evening and will keep everyone posted every step of the way.

Comments and Suggestions welcome.

Dave

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Images (8)
  • Hillside for Coal Tipple #1(April 2018)
  • Hillside for Coal Tipple #2(April 2018)
  • Hillside for Coal Tipple #3(April 2018)
  • Coal Tipple Progress #2(April 2018)
  • Coal Tipple Progress #3(April 2018)
  • Coal Tipple Progress #4(April 2018)
  • Coal Tipple Progress #5(April 2018)
  • Coal Tipple Progress #6(April 2018)
Last edited by luvindemtrains
L luvindemtrainsOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Thanks Mike! I'm working on more foliage for the area and a trim here or there on the hillside (rear). Once that is done I will concentrate on making the area a little more "dirty".

I'm getting closer to ballasting and "coaling" the tracks but will save that to I get the area just about where it looks finished. I am having to lay across those tracks more often that I want to do when I have the tracks rocked up. 

Oh yeah, I need to wire it up as well.

Dave

Last edited by luvindemtrains
L luvindemtrainsOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Hey Everyone,

I have started to plant some "greenery" on the layout. Mostly vines, but some trees as well. Here is a pic update on some of that work as well as what I added around the coal tipple. You probably can't tell from the pics but I need to also weather the retaining walls in front of the steel mill backdrop. They are still a little to "clean".

Dave

Vines #1Vines #2Vines #3Vines #4Vines #5 [Coal Tipple)Vines #6 [Coal Tipple)Vines #7 [Coal Tipple)Vines #8 [Coal Tipple)

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Images (8)
  • Vines #1
  • Vines #2
  • Vines #3
  • Vines #4
  • Vines #5 (Coal Tipple)
  • Vines #6 (Coal Tipple)
  • Vines #7 (Coal Tipple)
  • Vines #8 (Coal Tipple)
L luvindemtrainsOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Here is a start to my town scene ala "Dave Minarik". I wanted to capture a scene of a small Northern town where part of the town is on a hillside. This was a regular site in my youth and a great way to bring "home" to my layout. 

First you see where I traced out the main section of the town. I then built up 4"(two sections of pink foam stacked) and then cut to form. Next, I lined the roads and sidewalks that will run through the area. The final pictures shows some cut-ins for buildings. 

The next step will be to cut in the roads and trim the edges to depict rock sides. On the left of the road that crosses the railroad tracks I am considering another piece of foam and a bridge that connects the two sections.

As always suggestions and comments are welcome.

Dave

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Images (9)
  • City Scene Foam Placement #1A
  • City Scene Foam Placement #2
  • City Scene Foam Placement #3
  • City Scene Foam Placement #4
  • City Scene Foam Placement #5
  • City Scene Foam Placement #6
  • City Scene Foam Placement #7
  • City Scene Foam Placement #8
  • City Scene Foam Placement #9
Last edited by luvindemtrains
L luvindemtrainsOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Hey Guys and Gals,

It's been a while since I posted but here we go. This post is an update of the town scene on the layout. Most of the buildings are in place and the road system has been completed. I have begun installing sidewalks and some greenery and "pinkery" has begun to grow. 

Future work in this area will include building up the areas outside of the platform. I will need to put some buildings up on the other side of the main street. I will be installing a backdrop of a town scene that will give the town some more depth and I need to continue working on the small industrial area on the other side of the truss bridge in front of town. 

Of course more details in the town itself will continue. The buildings need wired up and some detail work needs to be done on a few of them. There are a couple of spaces I need to add a building or two and I think the town may need a parking lot. The roads need lined and weathered. I still need to install more sidewalks, plant more foliage and trees, and add other elements present in a town. Eventually human life will find its way in the small bustling area. 

Lastly, I have decided to put an access hole under the platform. The platform will not be secured to the bench work and my frequent trips atop Midtown will not be an option as more scenery gets completed.

All comments and suggestions are welcome.

Thanks,

Dave

 

Town Scene #1 [phase 2) Completed

Town Scene #5 [phase 2)

Town Scene #2 [phase 2)

Town Scene #3 [phase 2)

Town Scene #4 [phase 2)

IMG_0221[1]

IMG_0215[1]

IMG_0217[1]

IMG_0211[1]

IMG_0220[1]

IMG_0218[1]

IMG_0219[1]

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Images (12)
  • Town Scene #1 (phase 2) Completed
  • Town Scene #5 (phase 2)
  • Town Scene #2 (phase 2)
  • Town Scene #3 (phase 2)
  • Town Scene #4 (phase 2)
  • IMG_0221[1]
  • IMG_0215[1]
  • IMG_0217[1]
  • IMG_0211[1]
  • IMG_0220[1]
  • IMG_0218[1]
  • IMG_0219[1]
Last edited by luvindemtrains
L luvindemtrainsOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER
Mark Boyce posted:

Dave, I like the town not being on a flat plane but the streets go up to different levels.  Nothing is flat around here that is for sure.

Mark,

Yes, I know. I used to travel to Weirton, WV regularly and I take my inspiration from there. Most of the homes and businesses are on a hill. I know this is a regular view in much of the Ohio Valley area. My great aunt's home was on a hillside and the steps that led to the house were so steep I always thought I would fall going up and down them. 

Mark BoyceMark BoyceOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Yes, Indeed!  Our older daughter and her husband own a house that you walk down steps from street level to the first floor, there is a walkout basement below that, with a crawl space below that.  We owned a house like that along a country road at one time, and our first house had 20 steps down to the front porch, then that many again down to below the garage in the basement.  We are at the tip top of a hill overlooking the town 300 feet below, so we don't have those problems, but sometimes it seems like a bobsled run down to town in the wintertime.  

L luvindemtrainsOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER
Mark Boyce posted:

Yes, Indeed!  Our older daughter and her husband own a house that you walk down steps from street level to the first floor, there is a walkout basement below that, with a crawl space below that.  We owned a house like that along a country road at one time, and our first house had 20 steps down to the front porch, then that many again down to below the garage in the basement.  We are at the tip top of a hill overlooking the town 300 feet below, so we don't have those problems, but sometimes it seems like a bobsled run down to town in the wintertime.  

YES!!!

L luvindemtrainsOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Hi Paperboys,

I apologize for the late response.  

Anywho, I simply used a combination of steak knife and dry wall knife, and actually a metal paint can opener. 

I used the steak knife and dry wall to do the various carving of the foam, usually starting with dry wall knife. Then I take the paint can opener and randomly notch out sections of the foam. 

I plan to do a video using this technique, even though there are many on Youtube.

I hope this helps!

Dave

Last edited by luvindemtrains
L luvindemtrainsOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Good Evening Guys and Gals,

Took a break from the town scene which helps me with taking that scene to the next level as I observe and critique it for a few days. 

Did some more work on the farm scene. I had to create terrain to cover the bottom of the backdrop where there is a slight space between it and the bench work, placed the farm house and barn and started the gravel road. The next step is to do more with blending ground cover, especially around the barn,  a small pond close the the house, trees, a cornfield and other vegetation, and of course what is a farm without farm animals. I also need to weather the barn and paint over the signage on the rooftop (sorry Menard's)! As always when I add those features I will post the results, but this is where I am as of this evening. 

Good Evening and I hope everyone had a great weekend!

Dave

FARM SCENE PHASE 2 #2

FARM SCENE PHASE 2 #1

FARM SCENE PHASE 2 #3

FARM SCENE PHASE 2 #4

FARM SCENE PHASE 2 #5

FARM SCENE PHASE 2 #7

 

 

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  • FARM SCENE PHASE 2 #2
  • FARM SCENE PHASE 2 #1
  • FARM SCENE PHASE 2 #3
  • FARM SCENE PHASE 2 #4
  • FARM SCENE PHASE 2 #5
  • FARM SCENE PHASE 2 #7
Last edited by luvindemtrains
L luvindemtrainsOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Good Day Everyone! Today's post on the thread is more for opinions and advice on a project I am working on. I am currently preparing the adjacent room to my current layout for an extension and addition. The room will allow me to extend the upper level of the current layout and allow me to run longer trains and also will let the trains disappear for a bit.  Secondly, the upper level to the addition will be 2 Rail, which will satisfy the "itch" I have had for this aspect of the hobby. 

The room is not very large, about 11'X12' which is enough to keep me busy and meet my immediate goals. 

I have provided the design to the extension and my question is do you think that this is a good use of the space that I have for this project? Any comments or suggestions are welcome.

Thanks,

Dave

 

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P PRR1950OGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

OK, I'll try to be a little clearer.  First, with the benchwork in the PDF picture, it doesn't look like you will have much room between the walls and the edge of the benchwork.  Might just be my old eyes and "wide hips" talking, but most "experts" (term used in jest) recommend at least 24" to 36" aisle spacing.

Second, put two switches on each side of your balloon loop so that the turnout goes to the outside of the loop.  Then connect the first set of switches with O84 curves and the second set with O96 curves.  Now, you have two tracks to use for concealed staging of trains while the O72 mainline allows for a run-through.  I specifically recommend those curves so that you can run longer equipment and engines through there with minimal chance of problems.  Of course, since most, if not all, of that track will be hidden, you will have to be very careful in the track laying, and you will have to develop a system for identifying occupied tracks to avoid collisions as trains enter.

Chuck

L luvindemtrainsOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Good Evening Guys and Gals,

I decided to post the before and after of the room I will be extending the current layout into. These pics show the paint job and track lighting that was installed. The room is adjacent to the main train room and is 11'X12'.  Though it wasn't a big deal to paint the room and install the lighting after the bench work was built, in the main room, this way saves a lot of time and seems to be the logical way to do things.  

I will begin bench work very soon and post pics of that process.

Dave

Empty Room #1 [Train Room)

Empty Room #2 [Train Room)

Empty Room #3 [Train Room)

Empty Room #5 [Train Room)

Train Room Extension [Phase I) #5

Train Room Extension [Phase I) #4

Train Room Extension [Phase I) #3

Train Room Extension [Phase I) #2

Train Room Extension [Phase I) #1

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  • Empty Room #1 (Train Room)
  • Empty Room #2 (Train Room)
  • Empty Room #3 (Train Room)
  • Empty Room #5 (Train Room)
  • Train Room Extension (Phase I) #5
  • Train Room Extension (Phase I) #4
  • Train Room Extension (Phase I) #3
  • Train Room Extension (Phase I) #2
  • Train Room Extension (Phase I) #1
P paul 2OGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERMEMORIALIZED MEMBER

Dave, nice track plan. I take it from the plan the upper and lower tracks in the front of the layout will be a duckunder or lift up section???. Looking at that would it be possible to add another switch so you could come into the yard from the opposite direction adding a fourth siding and then you wpould not have to back trains into the yard...................Paul. 

L luvindemtrainsOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER
paul 2 posted:

Dave, nice track plan. I take it from the plan the upper and lower tracks in the front of the layout will be a duckunder or lift up section???. Looking at that would it be possible to add another switch so you could come into the yard from the opposite direction adding a fourth siding and then you wpould not have to back trains into the yard...................Paul. 

Paul thanks and your idea is genius. I think I may do that and yes, the entrance will actually be a lift bridge.

Dave

L luvindemtrainsOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Good Afternoon Everyone. I thought I would post the start of the bench work to the extension of the layout. What you are seeing is the lower level of the extension which is level that will be connected to the upper level from the main room. It is about 39.5" high.

At this point I still need to complete one section on this level, then I will start the upper level which will be somewhat more intricate. 

My goal is to have bench work and track installed in a few weeks, but we'll see. I have an open house in November so maybe I can have trains running by then.

Dave

First Phase of Benchwork TRII #1

First Phase of Bench Work TRII #3

First Phase of Bench Work TRII #5

First Phase of Bench Work TRII #4

 

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  • First Phase of Benchwork TRII #1
  • First Phase of Bench Work TRII #3
  • First Phase of Bench Work TRII #5
  • First Phase of Bench Work TRII #4
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Tags: building a town, detailing buildings, Painting hydrocal buildings, downtown deco, O Scale South, O Scale Model Railroad Club, 2-rail model railroad club, Model Railroad Club in Atlanta
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