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brett1970

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Hi all, names Brett, i live in NW Ohio and work for csx. Model Railroading has been one of my hobbies since age 5. Currently i collect 90's and up Lionel.

I have lots of hobbies, my main hobby being woodworking, and collecting/restoring classic arcade games. Lately, the model railroading interests are up, so i thought i'd search for some forums similar to the two i use in arcade collecting. Also looking to branch out a bit in my woodworking, to include model railroading. I have a 4X8 shopbot cnc set up at my house, and looking for some ideas to make model rr related items.

Feel free to let me hear any ideas you may have, look forward to hanging out here! Brett
 
Welcome, Brett. There is lots of talent here that should help to get you started.

What ideas do you have about a layout? What era, what road, what sort of train playing do you want (operations, rail fan running past, mix)?

Do you know about track laying in scale, soldering wiring, power management, shorts management, what turnouts to use, etc?
 
hey! I have somewhat of a grasp on all of those topics, and pretty versed on operational layout. I actually just called two of my local hobby shops, and kinda floored about the lack of knowledge i received!

My ideas i am working with currently, are to manufacture and offer train layouts, that consist of the benchwork, legs, and the roadbed all installed. That would leave the track layout, wirining, scenery, to the end user. I had planned on using 1/2 Oak ply for surface, Birch ply for benchwork and legs, and Hi density foam like you use for home construction, glued to the ply.

Once i program the actual paths of the tracks into my software, i am going to use a V bit to bevel the roadbed, and a flat bit to machine away the excess foam. I can also carve reliefs, to make streets, home foundations, parking lots, ditches, etc.

It would be similar to the modular stuff you can get at the hobby shops, but way cheaper, and each one can be custom made to user specs. Here's some pictures of the stuff i currently make with my cnc:

Atari Quantum arcade cabinet
VP007-2.png


Virtual pinball with a 42" 32" and 19" lcd screens
VP001-1.png

i also make arcade related signs too
signs002-3.png
 
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the ones i do for customers, usually not. Most people order cabinets from me to restore machines they own where the original cabinet is water damaged or beat to death. They transfer thier parts over, and install new art, etc. I have put art on games i've done for myself:

qbert001.png


galaga001.png


misc011.png
 
Nice. I was once gonna buy an Old WWF Wrestlefest arcade game but I ended up buying something else, probably parts for my car at the time or somethin'.
 
I used to restore cars, the last one i did was 3 years and 36K in parts doing most of the work myself. Sold it on ebay about 3 years ago

eleanorshoot006.jpg
 
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