Fourth times the charm right?

[mike8693]

Well before i get any farther I'm gonna redo the layout completley once again. The reaching is fine for modeling but not for any repairs to the electrical box. I dont think the electrician would like reaching 3 1/2 feet to work on it so I have "pleaded my case" and have got the go ahead to move the bed but not the fish tank. but i think i can make it work. SO here we go, hopefully ill finish this one. atleast it is just a basic rectangle so i can make my benchwork in a weekend. The way i look at it is ill save money because new wood for benchwork is cheaper than a topside creeper. There is 3- 3 1/2 feet around the layout except for the 4 foot section where the fish tank is (about 18 inches wide, but its enough and if it is too big of a prob. i can always move it when noones home to say no. The yellow line down the middle is the backdrop, the side with the mine will be mountains and the other side flat (no grades) on the yard side the train will go through an undecided factory/ warehouse ( probably my first scratchbuild) and on the other side it will come out a tunnel. The buildings are for the most part undecided and building layout is a basic idea in no way permanent.
Era: mid 60's
Minimum radius: 22 inch
Track: atlas code 83 flex and Fasttrack #6's and walthers #6.5 curved
Main customers: Norhtern Light and Power will get coal from The new river mine, will probably put in some small factories that will be supplied by wood from a neighboring community (maybe a chair and a barrel factor).

I probably will never expand but ill add in an interchange or two. I think im a long way off for getting the go ahead to cut through the wall to add staging. but ya never know....

 

[mike8693]

So the track that runs through the backdrop makes a reverse loop right? would it be overly difficult to wire?

 

[IronBeltKen]

If you're doing DCC you can get an auto-reversing module to handle the reverse loop. Or, maybe you could reposition some of your structures on the mine side so the turnout faces the opposite direction, then you won't have the reverse loop problem.

 

[mike8693]

i have most of the benchwork done and hope fully will be laying roadbed next weekend, here is my most current track plan. All sugestions welcome.

 

[mike8693]

oh just realized a section of track is missing guess i acidentlly erased it but the track that is at 14ft and 7 1/2 ft does go down a foot and connect

 

[NYC_George]

Mike that crossover in the upper right hand corner. You’re making a right hand turn on the inside loop and then making a fast left and crossing over to the outside track. I just don’t think many cars are going to make that quick S transition. I think they should have a little straightaway time then cross over.

NYC_George

 

[mike8693]

thanks for the advice.

 

[NYC_George]

I'll say one thing Mike that was fast.

George

 

[UP2CSX]

Good job, Mike. You need a couple of crossover tracks in the the big yard on the left but otherwise it looks fine to me.

 

[Rico]

That's a great looking layout Mike! You could easily set up the old "MT's in Loads out" scenario where the coal mine and power plant are back to back with two tracks running thru the backdrop.
You've got all the things I like in a railroad, a yard, switching, mainline running, and trains!

 

[mike8693]

I'll say one thing Mike that was fast.

George

Procrastination is my biggest enemy . Ill work on those crossovers. I have my benchworks done (except facia board) and my first coat of mud on. Ill move the furniture around so its not in the way. Ill try and get the rest of mud on today and start painting tomorrow. BTW the shelf brackets will be hidden by mountains.

 

[NZRMac]

Yup procrastination is my biggest problem too, standing out there looking at the darn thing........ I wonder whats on telly?? Oh another evening gone and nothing done!!

Looking good Mike.

Ken.

 

[UP2CSX]

Those shelf brackets are a good idea as long as you can hide them. What's holding up the other side? Nice strong bechwork you've built.

 

[mike8693]

Nothing is holding up the otherside. I used liquid nails and glued two pieces of drywall back to back and screwed them together. It feels pretty sturdy, I dont think they are going anywhere.

 

[mike8693]

Made some more progress. For the facia i went for prefinished hardwood floors at 30 bucks for the entire layout ya cant beat it. I got the base coat of blue down, got about 80% of my trackplan down in pencil and about 1/2 of my roadbed down. I have made a few modifications to the trackplan. One being i moved the mine allittle due to the location of the shelf brackets. I thought of something to add some intrest. Between the mine and the other siding where there is like 7 feet of future mountains im gonna add a siding that leads to a tunnel that is boarded up and long abandoned.

and the places where the backdrop is unpainted will be covered by mountains.

 

[UP2CSX]

Looks like a great start. The line going to the abandoned tunnel sounds like a nice addition.

 

[mike8693]

Things have been crazy and haven't had time to update but here it is as of sunday. I finally got a train running and the switches on the outside loop in. I bought a MRC Prodigy Advance 2 off ebay for 214 inc. shipping, but it will be like 7-10 days before i get it I decided to go the plaster cloth way and not foam, the thought of more blue and pink shavings still make me cringe

 

[Stormfather]

Good thinking with the brackets- wish I'd thought of that before I laid my mountains.

If you wad up some newspapers or chart paper under the plastercloth, it will give it a more rocky, mountainous appearance. That will save you some time down the road when you're doing touch-up on it.