malletman
Alcohaulic
Now that I am living back where I grew up and active with the local model RR club again, I decided to push the "reset" button and build a new layout. Many here have seen the pics of my little 55" by 33" Marklin layout with catenary ect. It is all gone now, only a bare wood table top remains now. The new layout will still be on that small table, but this time it will grow upwards a bit instead of being a flat table top. The local club I belong to is based around operation and interchange amoung members home layouts and the club layout. I desired to join in with the interchange operation with an old friend and the club layout, but at the same time I really lack the space for anything more than a 4x8 layout and it would be land locked on all but one side, making any modeling or problem solving a major issue. I decided to go back into narrow gauge modeling in HOn3, modeling a small fictional branch line off the C&S main line. I have picked up an old PFM/United C&S 2-6-0 that I am reworking with a new can motor and getting painted. I have also aquired some rolling stock kits, turnouts and I ordered a bundle of Micro Eng weathered flex track from the local hobby shop this week. I am planning an over and under, twice around basic track plan. Track will climb up, circle around and bridge over hte lower line, then go back down again, only gaining enough elevation for the bridge to clear the Ridgeway "bear trap" cinder catcher atop the little moguls stack. There will be a few small industries to switch, a coal and sand bunkers to replenish for the locomotives, a local passenger mixed train taking diggers to thier gold mines in the mountain. An old friend in the club has HOn3 on his layout and many years ago I went thru considerable trouble to retrack the whole logging town with dual gauge track and turnouts and hand lay a third rail down the main to a yet to be completed interchange track hidden in the mountain on the layout. Most of narrow gauge part of this track work has been out of service for some time now. So I have my work cut out for me to reactivate this track. Not sure when I will start actual track laying on my layout, for now I am working on equipment purchasing and getting the little mogul remotored. I am hoping to use a Roundbell Hobby repower kit to improve operation. I may try to paint it on my own, if not Josh over at Blockchoise will get the chore of painting the little beast. Time to get over my fear of using oil based paints in my airbrush, acrylic doesnt seem to hold up to well on brass from my experience. Only have 2 colors to shoot, engine black and a graphite smoke box. I will get some pics of the new equipment soon. Any other narrow gaugers feel free to chime in. Cheers Mike and Michele T
