Sunday Scenic Showcase December 13, 2020

Hey guys. I am continuing my tour around the layout. I call this scene “The Bridge Area”. Pretty original I think. Featured are (3) Atlas bridges and a water feature. I always thought it looked good to have a train exit a tunnel portal and then cross a bridge or vice versa. I was able to do that on the lower level.

The “top” bridge is a single track Atlas truss. I built it pretty much per the instructions but I assembled the main sections using nylon machine bolts, nuts and washers instead of the supplied plastic pins. This makes for a much stronger bridge. At 40” long, it easily handles my heaviest trains. The “lower” level are Atlas single track girder bridges built per the instructions. The water is Woodland Scenics “murky”.

The retaining walls are made from different thicknesses of MDF. The rocks and abutments are foam castings, carved 2” thick foam, plaster and Sculptamold. Trees are either homemade or from Scenery Express. Figures are by Woodland Scenics.

An old prospector is scaring off a bear attempting to disrupt his claim. Up on the bluff, there is a ranch hand checking up on his cattle.

Enjoy the pics and have a great Sunday!

Donald

Awesome guys!!!! Thanks for sharing

I have continued the construction of the Maine landscape.

These photos show the four control towers on my two layouts. Trumbull Junction was built from a kit by Atlas O and New Haven SS71 was built from a kit by Trainworx – both on my 10’-by-5’ layout. On the 12’-by-8’ layout, I built the North Tower from a craftsman kit and the South Tower from an Atlas O kit.

MELGAR

Alan your models of chemical and petroleum bulk storage and processing are just unbelievable.

Johan more fabulous work on the layout.  Will you add water under that bridge or will it remain a dry stream bed?

Mel great work on the switch towers.  Tower 71 is very interesting.

@coach joe posted:

Alan your models of chemical and petroleum bulk storage and processing are just unbelievable.

It is not only Alan's models that are amazing. His stock of plastic and parts must be impressive, too.

MELGAR

Getting ready to paint these two sand towers. The only difference between them is the height of the sand reservoir. the customer will choose which one he wants. The other will go on my layout.
Joe

Just completed the sand towers

Looks great Joe. So wen can we see an overall picture of your layout? Inquiring minds want to know!

I have just finished wiring track and am now wiring turnout switches. When I moved to my current address I started the layout and was almost done wiring track when I decided to change the track plan. For a complete history of the past and current layout go to https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/.../new-layout-design-2
Joe

WRT to the switch machines I have both Atlas O turnouts and Ross turnouts with DZ1000 motors. I have DZ1011R detectors I am using as turnout position indicators (tape over the IR detector) with either DZ-1008 or Atlas 200 relays. Both systems have their pros and cons. As for cons the Z-stuff blows if 25+ volts is applied (some ACC posts on transformers have over shoot when turned on - I had one CW-80 that went over 35 volts on turn on brfore settling down to 18 volts). The Atlas O are prone to burning out if power is applied too long (actually the plastic surrounding the metal core heats up to the extent it melts and freezes the metal core in place). I am now using the 20 volt handle on an old Lionel KW. As long as you use the handle on a transformer and keep it in the zero volt position when turning on the transformer  there won't be voltage overshoot which helps the DZ stuff but you still need to worry about the Atlas O stuff.

@coach joe posted:

Alan your models of chemical and petroleum bulk storage and processing are just unbelievable.

Johan more fabulous work on the layout.  Will you add water under that bridge or will it remain a dry stream bed?

Mel great work on the switch towers.  Tower 71 is very interesting.

Joe. Thank you. I am gonna add water under that bridge, but before that, everything around the river must be ready.

Johan