Announcement tomorrow or the next day. Decision still not made.... Jim
I heard Omphale's Spinning Wheel in the background (if you're REALLY old enough! 10 points if you know the reference!)
Building the Pinnacle Creek Mining & Timber Co. RR
- Thread starter HOexplorer
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I heard Omphale's Spinning Wheel in the background (if you're REALLY old enough! 10 points if you know the reference!)
And saved his finger into the bargain. Win, win.
Bingo! It's actually the theme for the entire 20+ years, not just Orson Welles single year.
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I heard Omphale's Spinning Wheel in the background (if you're REALLY old enough! 10 points if you know the reference!)
HOexplorer
Well-Known Member
Thanks again guys.
Walt, I knew of the 'Spinning Wheel' back in high school. Our music teacher was keen on Saint-Saens if I remember correctly. The music drove us all to cars and girls! Jim
Walt, I knew of the 'Spinning Wheel' back in high school. Our music teacher was keen on Saint-Saens if I remember correctly. The music drove us all to cars and girls! Jim
HOexplorer
Well-Known Member
Chris, I remember the Shadow as well. I'm not connecting the two at this point in time, but just remembering Saint-Saens makes me pretty smart......I think? Also, something about Omphale rings a bell from my studies in Greek Classics. Plutarch I think. Alas, the benefits of a classical education! What is worse is that I'm a Mary Birdsong fan! No wonder I don't feel well. Jim
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Silverton
Member
Jim, I spent two useless years taking Latin in high school. At least these days, Spanish would have been a more practical language. Anyway, I believe Omphale is more in Greek mythology than Roman mythology and some how linked to Hercules. Boyfriend or something. Model Railroading is far more exciting. Are we getting closer to the WORD. Are we going On30 .........are we????
HOexplorer
Well-Known Member
Chris, I wonder if we had the same Latin teacher?
Official word Monday I promise.
Fun stuff finally for me yesterday. On top of my back issues I had a root canal on a tooth that has been infected for 5 days. Can't get better than this! Jim 
Official word Monday I promise.
Fun stuff finally for me yesterday. On top of my back issues I had a root canal on a tooth that has been infected for 5 days.
Can't get better than this! Jim
Railrunner130
Well-Known Member
Well, that's at least a step in a positive direction. Hang in there Jim. Things will get better!
Sirfoldalot
Days Gone Bye!
Well ... I would venture to say that the root canal took your mind off your back pain for a bit!
Lifting one to your speedy recovery ... Maybe even two .. Yes!
Lifting one to your speedy recovery ... Maybe even two .. Yes!
And saved his finger into the bargain. Win, win.
HOexplorer
Well-Known Member
After much soul searching, procrastination, bad backing, I have decided to do "one last layout." I have my wife's permission, always needed because she has the money in this household.
The theme of the layout will be mining again. But sticking to my roots, it will be primarily a 'runner' layout this time. On the current PCM&T layout you will remember I started out with just mining and operations and eventually went to a loop. I'm too broken down to go through that process again, therefore 'runner' layout first and mining secondary and only limited to two sidings at this point. The name Pinnacle Creek Mining and Timber Co. will continue with the addition of "Southern Division." Way south in fact. Location will be some mythical setting in South Western USA. I have done a desert canyon layout before and it won't look remotely close to that 'look.' Maybe I posted a photo of it here? I couldn't find it but this thread has grown so large one must have special powers to remember where the tutorial threads and photos actually are.
If you can picture reddish yellow rock formations with complimentary colors in the ground cover and part of the layout in that color combo with the conifer trees from the current layout you may get some idea of the look I'm looking for. Think Malcolm Furlow on the left side of the layout and more forest on the right side. I will have a small country station and only a few attending railroad structures. I will have an asphalt (metal) road and some vehicles. Much of the mining camp buildings will be reworked with powders to more suit this new environment and the buildings will 'age' about 20 years.
As usual wooden trestles will play an important part on this small railroad set now in about 1939. Not firm on that at this point. I will probably have to upgrade to a DCC and sound equiped 2-6-0 or 2-8-0 loco for the mainline. I hate not using all the geared steam I have, but not all of those loco types will fit on this layout this time around. I may NOT use the "cliff" trestle this time around. That's the one where the train has no where to go except the floor! I think, at this point, I've worn out all possibilities for a repeat as it has appeared on the past three layouts, so I'm not counting on it this time around. That's shown in the lower right side of the plan below.
So other than color, which is dictated by local, what is different? Well, canyons are going to be a difference. The major through the layout canyon will be pretty deep. I'm envisioning up to two feet deep at this point. Like everything else I do these kinds of decisions are made as I go and not really ahead of time. Another item is NOT having a fascia this time. Heresy you say. Maybe, but my idea is that this layout sits near, very near the edge of a more vast canyon, like where we would stand viewing or operating the layout. So visualize the fascia as sloping canyon walls, Grand Canyon like, all full of scenery. It fact there will be no really large mountains/cliffs on this layout. Relief will be more below track level than above. If this all sounds 'different' at best and 'weird' at worst then I'm happy. No one needs to see a layout made like their own or their train buddy's down the street and I don't intend to build one like that. BUT I think you all knew that already.
So there you are for now. I'm taking the summer off from softball to mend my back. Hopefully I won't hurt in on my vacation late this month. I have an Open House on August 28, after that I expect to start the new layout and in my way I will go through the steps again on how this will be done. While the PCM&T was finished in a year, I don't have quite that expectation for the Southern Division. Because I'm essentially scenicing more layout this time it can't be as fast. One last thing I'm not going to use much, if any, stucco patch this time around. I will instead use Sculptamold for rocks and cliffs.
This layout will be HO, but I will also run On30 on it. Hope you all can stick around for another go. Jim
The theme of the layout will be mining again. But sticking to my roots, it will be primarily a 'runner' layout this time. On the current PCM&T layout you will remember I started out with just mining and operations and eventually went to a loop. I'm too broken down to go through that process again, therefore 'runner' layout first and mining secondary and only limited to two sidings at this point. The name Pinnacle Creek Mining and Timber Co. will continue with the addition of "Southern Division." Way south in fact. Location will be some mythical setting in South Western USA. I have done a desert canyon layout before and it won't look remotely close to that 'look.' Maybe I posted a photo of it here? I couldn't find it but this thread has grown so large one must have special powers to remember where the tutorial threads and photos actually are.
If you can picture reddish yellow rock formations with complimentary colors in the ground cover and part of the layout in that color combo with the conifer trees from the current layout you may get some idea of the look I'm looking for. Think Malcolm Furlow on the left side of the layout and more forest on the right side. I will have a small country station and only a few attending railroad structures. I will have an asphalt (metal) road and some vehicles. Much of the mining camp buildings will be reworked with powders to more suit this new environment and the buildings will 'age' about 20 years.
As usual wooden trestles will play an important part on this small railroad set now in about 1939. Not firm on that at this point. I will probably have to upgrade to a DCC and sound equiped 2-6-0 or 2-8-0 loco for the mainline. I hate not using all the geared steam I have, but not all of those loco types will fit on this layout this time around. I may NOT use the "cliff" trestle this time around. That's the one where the train has no where to go except the floor! I think, at this point, I've worn out all possibilities for a repeat as it has appeared on the past three layouts, so I'm not counting on it this time around. That's shown in the lower right side of the plan below.
So other than color, which is dictated by local, what is different? Well, canyons are going to be a difference. The major through the layout canyon will be pretty deep. I'm envisioning up to two feet deep at this point. Like everything else I do these kinds of decisions are made as I go and not really ahead of time. Another item is NOT having a fascia this time. Heresy you say. Maybe, but my idea is that this layout sits near, very near the edge of a more vast canyon, like where we would stand viewing or operating the layout. So visualize the fascia as sloping canyon walls, Grand Canyon like, all full of scenery. It fact there will be no really large mountains/cliffs on this layout. Relief will be more below track level than above. If this all sounds 'different' at best and 'weird' at worst then I'm happy. No one needs to see a layout made like their own or their train buddy's down the street and I don't intend to build one like that. BUT I think you all knew that already.
So there you are for now. I'm taking the summer off from softball to mend my back. Hopefully I won't hurt in on my vacation late this month. I have an Open House on August 28, after that I expect to start the new layout and in my way I will go through the steps again on how this will be done. While the PCM&T was finished in a year, I don't have quite that expectation for the Southern Division. Because I'm essentially scenicing more layout this time it can't be as fast. One last thing I'm not going to use much, if any, stucco patch this time around. I will instead use Sculptamold for rocks and cliffs.
This layout will be HO, but I will also run On30 on it. Hope you all can stick around for another go. Jim
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Sirfoldalot
Days Gone Bye!
Jim, I have marked my calendar for the 28th .. If I cannot make it prior.
I am of the opinion that you will maintain what you have until then?
Also, have something that I would like to email you.
Would you be so kind to PM u're email?
Are you planning to make the details HO scale .. Inquiring minds want to know?
I am of the opinion that you will maintain what you have until then?
Also, have something that I would like to email you.
Would you be so kind to PM u're email?
Are you planning to make the details HO scale .. Inquiring minds want to know?
Railrunner130
Well-Known Member
While I'm sad to see the old layout go by the wayside, I'm intrigued by what you've got in mind. The mine spurs caught my imagination. I'm also glad that you're continuing to build. I think that's pretty important.
outlaw bill
New Member
Have really enjoyed your work so far. Am looking forward to the new build. Just PLEASE watch the back.
Bill
Bill
Bingo! It's actually the theme for the entire 20+ years, not just Orson Welles single year.
HOexplorer
Well-Known Member
Thanks fellows.
FC, I went on one once and at best could only call the results mixed. I guess the main problem was light headedness. I got really dizzy within a couple of minutes. So after a week I gave up on it. It isn't a cure for my back but it did make the pain go a way for a little while.
Mike, that's what this thread will always continue to be about free info that can make us better modelers.
Bill, thanks, I've never found the cure in the last 35 years. Maybe someday.
RR, I agree. For me just the building is the important thing. I've said many times that I don't know much about railroading. I've been fortunate to be an 'outdoors person' for most of my life and it is fun to try and reproduce those good times. My vacation will consist of fly fishing up the West side of the Sierra to Lake Tahoe and fly fishing the Eastside on the way home. Should be fun. Jim
FC, I went on one once and at best could only call the results mixed. I guess the main problem was light headedness. I got really dizzy within a couple of minutes. So after a week I gave up on it. It isn't a cure for my back but it did make the pain go a way for a little while.
Mike, that's what this thread will always continue to be about free info that can make us better modelers.
Bill, thanks, I've never found the cure in the last 35 years. Maybe someday.
RR, I agree. For me just the building is the important thing. I've said many times that I don't know much about railroading. I've been fortunate to be an 'outdoors person' for most of my life and it is fun to try and reproduce those good times. My vacation will consist of fly fishing up the West side of the Sierra to Lake Tahoe and fly fishing the Eastside on the way home. Should be fun. Jim
Regards the inversion table: It takes your body awhile to develop the "resources" to be upside down. First you should ask your doctor but then (if he says OK) you need to treat it like any exercise, start out with short duration and work you way up. It's not a cure but if used regularly it can make a big difference. I hardly every have any back pain now.
HOexplorer
Well-Known Member
Sherrel, I replied to your email.
The layout is HO and since it is mostly going to be scenery the On30 stuff I have should fit in nicely when I want to play with it. My Porter and Shay both go through Woodland Scenics portals without modification so I'll be okay there. Widening the narrower parts of the right of ways a 1/2 inch will accommodate the larger scale. I will have a small station for HO and will find/build an O gauge station to put on top of the HO one. Maybe build an O gauge wooden engine house for variety. The road, which I forgot to include in the plan will be on the right side of the river canyon disappearing around the hill. We can all assume folks live "off the layout" and use the road to get to the train. This concept makes one's railroad cheaper and prototypically correct because in many backwoods sections of the county the railroads still owned much of the land around their right of ways. I guess the only thing that bugs me about dual scales is how to make the trestles look correctly dimension wise. ie. will the beams look too small or too large when running HO or O. Any thoughts anyone? Jim
The layout is HO and since it is mostly going to be scenery the On30 stuff I have should fit in nicely when I want to play with it. My Porter and Shay both go through Woodland Scenics portals without modification so I'll be okay there. Widening the narrower parts of the right of ways a 1/2 inch will accommodate the larger scale. I will have a small station for HO and will find/build an O gauge station to put on top of the HO one. Maybe build an O gauge wooden engine house for variety. The road, which I forgot to include in the plan will be on the right side of the river canyon disappearing around the hill. We can all assume folks live "off the layout" and use the road to get to the train. This concept makes one's railroad cheaper and prototypically correct because in many backwoods sections of the county the railroads still owned much of the land around their right of ways. I guess the only thing that bugs me about dual scales is how to make the trestles look correctly dimension wise. ie. will the beams look too small or too large when running HO or O. Any thoughts anyone? Jim
Sirfoldalot
Days Gone Bye!
Couple very interesting points that you mention.
Perhaps you should drum up a quick "V" shape depression, build a temporary bridge/trestle that is not fixed in place, so it can be "switched" out for another scale.
Something in between the two, such as S scale, may better serve your purpose.
If you have interchangeable buildings .. You need to plan a larger footprint than just the structure .. To include the difference in sizes of details/ clutter.
I know that this whole ramble is not making much sense, but my mind is way ahead of my hunt and peck iPad keyboard.
I have ten thumbs!
Am looking forward to watching all this come together.
Thanks for the reply .. Even gave me your last name .. As all I knew was Jim!
Perhaps you should drum up a quick "V" shape depression, build a temporary bridge/trestle that is not fixed in place, so it can be "switched" out for another scale.
Something in between the two, such as S scale, may better serve your purpose.
If you have interchangeable buildings .. You need to plan a larger footprint than just the structure .. To include the difference in sizes of details/ clutter.
I know that this whole ramble is not making much sense, but my mind is way ahead of my hunt and peck iPad keyboard.
I have ten thumbs!
Am looking forward to watching all this come together.
Thanks for the reply .. Even gave me your last name .. As all I knew was Jim!
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