Building the Pinnacle Creek Mining & Timber Co. RR

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I am starting a new layout, too. I sold my 4x8 a couple weeks ago and thinking about suspending an oval track around the dining room , just at the level of the top of the doorway, of our rental, something I can take apart. Maybe space it a half foot or so out from the wall.

I saved most of the buildings and rolling stock. I think I will just have parallel tracks and a few little village or work centers with the sawmill, residential area, and/or mining area as wide spots.
 
Jim, just a quick thought. In reference to duel scale and also you mentioned the "Furlow" look and feel, sometimes he would use N scale in the background and HO in the foreground as far as structures and scenic trees and the like to give more of a forced perspective. Well, some how, maybe you could use HO for your base gauge, and O gauge in some extreme closeup foreground work. Just a thought. But I am extremely excited about your new project. As usual, you drive, and us back seat drivers will feed you ideas....as if you really need them. - Chris
 
Chris, Good points. I understand Furlow's idea of forced perspective. Remember that his railroad wasn't made to be a working 'layout' it was commissioned as a photo site. Trains could only go so far if they moved at all. Because I build to photograph I can appreciate his photo layout.

I don't think I want to go two scales always present for the simple fact that it would bug the hell out of me from the "realism" stand point. Having a building twice the size of HO near each other would freak me out. Actually, I'm not comfortable at all with the forced perspective concept. I use it's less intrusive attributes by building scenery smaller and less detailed toward the rear of the layout. Having a O engine house and a HO building 3 feet behind is wrong. It is uncomfortable for viewers and ALWAYS needs an explanation from the layout builder. I've see this done on some pretty large layouts at train shows and frankly it always looks weird. I like my more subtle way that doesn't evoke gut wrenching reactions from the general public. How's that? Jim ;)
 


Logandsawman, Generally more fun to start over I find. I'm sure your partner is all aboard with this new layout concept? When you make some progress give us a photo. Welcome, Jim:)
 
Sherrel, I've thought about replaceable trestles. I guess I could design it so they simply 'roll' towards the inside of the layout leaving the track suspended until the next scale bridge is moved into place? I think that would work on the river canyon bridge but not the big trestle I'm thinking about on the left side. (not show in plan) Thanks, Jim:)
 
Stoker, I will measure my timber and see what size it is. Someone mention S scale. I will check that out too.

As for your layout it looks like you're off to a good start. The black lettering on the dark blue is hard for me to read. Does it say Fold down? Anyway, what is the width of the blue area? Doesn't look like I would fit through there! Jim:)
 
My wife's birthday is July 5 to celebrate I bought me a new camera. Canon SX 260 HS. It is a year old as far as Canon release date and there is now a 280 HS. The only difference is the 280 has wifi. Don't need it and it is a big time battery eater. I got the camera because it is compact, (shirt pocket), but has a 20x optical zoom. So far all outdoor testing has been perfect. I don't know all there is to know about this camera except that what I do know impresses me. Not an easy thing to do.

Below is a familiar photo I took with it. Except for cropping this photo has nothing done to it. I'm impressed. Only light is through the skylight tube and I feel all the colors are accurately portrayed. The camera retains Canon's usual 12.1 MPs because of the sensor size.

In the layout room I primarily got this camera for it's video qualities. Stereo sound, 1080P HD, and you can shoot in slow motion. I haven't filmed anything yet, but all you have to do is press one button and a way you go. Jim:)

Cliff Bridge Again.jpg
 
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Hey Jim,

Your last photo of the sequioa semprivens, trestle, and steam setup makes me a little envious. Thanks for the encouragement. It will be a couple weeks before I start acquiring materials, but it seems like everything goes really fast. My sweetheart is fine with my railroad, as long as I don't spend all the money. Most everything I do is labor intensive, which is how I like it.IMG4615.JPG

Check out the inside of my sawmill. More later, Dave (logandsawman)
 
Dave, Fantastic sawmill. I'm envious. You should be proud.
As for semprivens, I think you mean meant sequoia sempervirens. Doesn't really matter except these are not the trees I modeled. If anything I wanted them to look like Douglas Fir. My actual intend was to make generic conifers so they could never be wrong or inappropriate in a set setting. Thanks, again for the great pic. Jim :)
 
Stoker, I get it. If you decide to leave out the 'water' I would recommend sawing off those 90* corners. Easier navigation for humanoids.
Thanks for 3/16 info for S scale.
If you leave the pier and water make sure your scene will hang down and hook at more than a 90* angle. Take it from someone who's tried. Jim:rolleyes:
 


HOexplorer said:
Sherrel, I've thought about replaceable trestles. I guess I could design it so they simply 'roll' towards the inside of the layout leaving the track suspended until the next scale bridge is moved into place? I think that would work on the river canyon bridge but not the big trestle I'm thinking about on the left side. (not show in plan) Thanks, Jim:)
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Hey, Jim .. I knew that what I was thinking did not write properly. Stoker in thr very next post sort of nailed what I was thinking .. Possibility of using a mixture of HO and S scale.

My suggestion was supposed to be .. Make a -practice like- six x twelve scenic valley and then build a couple different bridges in order to see which would look better. Hope this is more easily understood.
 
Sherrel, I does make more sense now. I've thought about it and I will probably build the layout bridges in S scale. Jim :o
 
Stoker said:
@ Jim: I had first actually intended to build an L of 2 - 4x8 sections (walk around island), and then decided afterwards to go the "Full Monty" of the full around the room layout. Otherwise, I would probably have done something to shave off those 90 degree corners. As it is, I am fine. Seriously. I actually thought it was going to be a problem, but it isn't. If it bothered me I would fix it, but it is fine as is.
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Have to be careful of those sharp corners if you're in the habit of walking round the layout in the "Full Monty".
 
Just so that I do not get busy and forget it:
Wish for a Happy Birthday to your Spousal Unit tomorrow!

My Spousal Unit's mother is celebrating her 93rd today. She's moving around pretty slow, but her mind is sharper than mine!
We will go over to her place a little later.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY TO ALL!
 
Jim, here is something else to add to your thought process.
When I was a young lad, my mom would visit her sisters in Shreveport, LA. My aunt lived about 1/4 mile from the fairgrounds where this building is located. I would walk to it every time we were in town just to marvel at the dioramas, each was maybe 8 feet long and no more than 24-30 inches deep. The dioramas are modeled so that when standing in front, no matter if you looked to the right or left, it would appear that you were looking to infinity. It's sort of hard to see in the photos, but all of the structures, autos, wagons, rail cars, and even figures are all constructed on an angle (I forget the name of this) rather than the way that we normally build. It was unbelievable to me that so much detail could be achieved in such a small space. These were constructed in the 40's without all the tools and modeling supplies that are available to us now days.

Thought this may be something that you may want to use in a few places.

http://flsem.mmcchosting.com/page/dioramas-louisiana-state-exhibit-museum
 
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Sherrel, Most folks with 'artistic' talent can make a "silk purse out of a sow's ear" as the saying goes. While artists/modelers back in the day may not have had access to easy modeling supplies they surely had lichen, which I hate as a modeling item, and dyes for saw dust, twigs for trees and assorted other stuff. Good for all those folks.

This museum sounds like something I should see. Unlike many of the top guys in model railroading scenery endeavors I am more than willing to appreciate the work, and even try an emulate, the work of others. No problem for me to praise their fine modeling. I try to be my most unforgiving critic. I don't know it all, and I'm always willing to learn. Thanks for the link. Jim :)
 
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Hi Guys, I can barely walk these days so I'm on my back most of the time. I'm doing a small Z scale project and you know what? I think it is too small for me now. :confused: Jim
 
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