New layout progress (Some scenery)

I'm digging the retro-look Norm!

Thanks man. That industrial look is pretty trendy now so I'm trying not to overdo it..

cant wait to see your track plan.  Have fun sure this will be as spectacular as the last one.

Looks good Norm, hope you post your progress as you go.

Dan

Omg!!! Awesome. So glad your starting a new layout. Are you going to be doing your blog too? I hope so. You are a big inspiration. Place looks promising. It's going to be a cool look. Very exciting.

Thanks guys. I can't believe how much work has gone into this so far. It should be worth it though when it comes time to start building the layout.

 

The worst task so far was spray painting the ceiling black.

 

Next on the agenda is the installation of track lighting for the layout then I will move onto the backdrop. Benchwork won't start until those two major tasks are complete. Somewhere in there I'd like to get the workshop set up too. I am really looking forward to having a new shop.

Sweet Norm. It's going to be an exicting ride.

Wow! The whole thing is going to be fantastic!

 

I'm jealous.

 

Jim

Great space.  Your decor so far screams cold war era hidden bunker to me.  Great for a post war layout.

wow im jealous of how much space you have!

Nice Norm. The Cold War Industrial look of your room deserves a 1950's Steam to Diesel   transition era layout.. Looking forward to your new layout updates.

Looks fantastic Norm,

 

bet your really excited.

 

Is there a story behind findind them Lampshades, or was that the easy part? I really like them alot.

Thanks Patrick, yes I am pretty stoked. All the track lighting is up and I have a line of work lights up too. I moved some plumbing around and might do a bit more.

 

The general non-layout lighting consists of industrial style items from Menard's and Ikea. All the exposed wiring in the layout and chillout area is done with MC cable. I looked around for vintage fixtures but with this stuff being popular now it was just too much money. Menard's has a few nice pieces in their Farm and Barn Series made by Patriot Lighting.

 

Eventually I will put up some of my railroadiana and beer signage. Not sure if I want to display trains on the wall. They just become dust magnets.

 

Looking good Norm... I'm way behind you on getting my basement ready.. they are just digging it tomorrow

Great looking room I'm just getting started myself,I am having a hard time with a good track plan.

That's true if one uses open shelving.  Hard to avoid the dust issue.  HOWEVER, you might want to consider a couple (or more) closed wall display units to show off particular favorites on your roster.  Because I really hate having to dust my trains, I have a good number of closed display cases in various locations throughout my home.  These are very nicely done wood wall cases with sliding acrylic doors on the front.  They are available in a variety of finishes and sizes, and are, in my opinion, reasonably priced (prices also include shipping)..  Most of the ones I have came from Trackside Displays in Pennsylvania. 

 

You might want to check them out at http://tracksidedisplays.com

 

I have a good number that I use for O scale, and also a couple of very large ones that I use for a part of my G gauge collection.  I am very happy with the quality of the construction, and their packaging for shipping is nothing short of phenomenal.

 

I really could use a few more, but I've pretty much run out of wall space.  The joint already looks like a train museum.

 

P.S.--  It was great to see you at York, my friend!

Norm,

 

It's all been said before. Looks Great so far!

 

Please, keep us layout challenged forum members posted on your progress.

 

Mike R

Thanks Allan for the shelving advice. That is worth considering. I do have a bit of an investment going in Glenn Snyder shelves though. I may be able to hang them up but not until most of major benchwork construction is done.

 

I have been playing around with some 3 rail trackplans based on my past layout. Here is one that is L-shaped with a two track main and a freight switching branch. I have to be honest and say I'm just a loop runner. I like to run big steam so an oval design like this gives me maximum straights and curves. There are no grades on the mains but it might be worth trying to grade separate the front yard an inch or so, and maybe even step up the spur along the back wall.

 

This plan gives me old layout back with a chance to make the distances seem even greater along the mains. I can space the scenery out a bit more with the added 14 feet in length. I gain a bit more depth compared to the old layout but not much. I am liking the stretched steam era engine yard as opposed to my old folded one. I am stuck with duckunders but I like the depth of scenery this design offers. I also get to raise the layout height a bit compared to my old one.

 

I am definitely open to ideas if anyone's willing to take a look. I also have an around the walls rough plan with the engine yard coming down as a peninsula. I like it for the fact there are no duckunders. I have written off staging at this point but wouldn't mind a plan that might allow for it to be added later.

 

Some things to note - my center beam is actually offset about 22" in favor of the layout width. I am keeping the layout at least 3' away from the support columns (shown as black dots).

 

I attached the RRT file. I am running v4.02.

 

Norm,

 

I am going to paint my basement cielling black this summer. Can you offer any advie? I think I am going to spray it. Is that what you did? Anything you would do differently in terms of that job.

 

Thanks.

 

Dennis K.