Hawks NEW "MHO Junction" layout
- Thread starter Hawkesburytrain
- Start date
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Hawkesburytrain
Well-Known Member
Thanks Yannis
Unfortunately I can't take the credit for the track plan, I had someone design it.... BUT I did give my input.
Unfortunately I can't take the credit for the track plan, I had someone design it.... BUT I did give my input.
Hawkesburytrain
Well-Known Member
Almost another month as gone by and it seems like not much as been done on my layout, but I swear I did some work. In my defence, I was out of commission for about 2 weeks with a back spasm. So here's a little update:
First, I had a short on my layout and found out is was a few turnouts, 3 to be exact. I had ordered the wrong turnouts, instead of Insulfrog I had ordered Electrofrog. I did panic since I had no clue of the difference, but thanks to the people here, there was no need for panic. Special thanks to roofintrash who helped me out with a simple phone call.
Most of the work done was on 2 buildings, the cement plant and the sand plant. They are both assembled, painted and weathered. I still have other details to add such as the office buildings for both and a cement distributor for the cement trucks. I've pre-ordered my cement cars which are due for September 2016. As you can see in the second picture, I've also assembled the extra parts which are for the asphalt plant which I have no use for but will try and use some parts elsewhere.
I've also work on some lighting for the cement plant and a lighted sign for the flour mill which is almost complete.
I've also had fun installing some miniature people.
Later all.
PS. The sign on the flour mill is for my sister who's been a pastry chef for over 35 years
First, I had a short on my layout and found out is was a few turnouts, 3 to be exact. I had ordered the wrong turnouts, instead of Insulfrog I had ordered Electrofrog. I did panic since I had no clue of the difference, but thanks to the people here, there was no need for panic. Special thanks to roofintrash who helped me out with a simple phone call.
Most of the work done was on 2 buildings, the cement plant and the sand plant. They are both assembled, painted and weathered. I still have other details to add such as the office buildings for both and a cement distributor for the cement trucks. I've pre-ordered my cement cars which are due for September 2016. As you can see in the second picture, I've also assembled the extra parts which are for the asphalt plant which I have no use for but will try and use some parts elsewhere.
I've also work on some lighting for the cement plant and a lighted sign for the flour mill which is almost complete.
I've also had fun installing some miniature people.
Later all.
PS. The sign on the flour mill is for my sister who's been a pastry chef for over 35 years
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roofintrash
Guest
The structures are looking great and the lighting really adds to them.
It was good talking to you and helping you sort the electrical issues. Now if I could just find your patience for the painting and weathering.
It was good talking to you and helping you sort the electrical issues. Now if I could just find your patience for the painting and weathering.
santafewillie
Same Ol' Buzzard
Lloyd - Did you ever figure out what to do with the extra parts from the sand plant? I have the same kit and I don't know exactly what I can do with them.
Willie
Willie
logandsawman
Northern Pacific history enthusiast
The buildings look really good, Lloyd. Thanks for the update!
Hawkesburytrain
Well-Known Member
Thanks everyone
Nope, still no idea. If anybody can help, do those parts only deal with asphalt? or can they be used for something else?
Nope, still no idea. If anybody can help, do those parts only deal with asphalt? or can they be used for something else?
Hawkesburytrain
Well-Known Member
Hey everyone,
I've still been working on my cement plant for the last few days. I decided to add some more stuff to the plant, so I kit bashed and build a concrete distributor. Still a bit of work to be done such a weathering and a light inside the office with some furniture (if I can find any). Here's a few pictures and a video of me playing with trains in front of the cement plant.
I know they are the wrong freights, the good ones are only coming in September, I think. Also it's the wrong truck parked at the dock.
Enjoy
Later all
I've still been working on my cement plant for the last few days. I decided to add some more stuff to the plant, so I kit bashed and build a concrete distributor. Still a bit of work to be done such a weathering and a light inside the office with some furniture (if I can find any). Here's a few pictures and a video of me playing with trains in front of the cement plant.
I know they are the wrong freights, the good ones are only coming in September, I think. Also it's the wrong truck parked at the dock.
Enjoy
Later all
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Hawkesburytrain
Well-Known Member
Thanks Yannis,
Finally, Phase 2 of 2 as started. I'm starting with the helix so that I can get the heights right. The way I did it was easy for now. I printed a section of the helix, which is a double track being fed from 2 sides. It was equivalent to 1/4 of the helix.
I then used it as a template to cut all my pieces needed. I was able to fit 11 of them per 4 x 8 sheets
I then assembled 4 of them to form a level and am now installing the road bed and tracks on each one of them.
When done, I will bring them down to the layout and assemble them in place and finish installing the road bed and tracks to the connecting joints.
The following step will be the staging area and then the top layer with the yard and downtown. Lots of work ahead, so I'll probably be busy till year end.
Later
Finally, Phase 2 of 2 as started. I'm starting with the helix so that I can get the heights right. The way I did it was easy for now. I printed a section of the helix, which is a double track being fed from 2 sides. It was equivalent to 1/4 of the helix.
I then used it as a template to cut all my pieces needed. I was able to fit 11 of them per 4 x 8 sheets
I then assembled 4 of them to form a level and am now installing the road bed and tracks on each one of them.
When done, I will bring them down to the layout and assemble them in place and finish installing the road bed and tracks to the connecting joints.
The following step will be the staging area and then the top layer with the yard and downtown. Lots of work ahead, so I'll probably be busy till year end.
Later
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Hawkesburytrain
Well-Known Member
Been a while but I'm still at it, so here's an update of my layout.
It's been 2 months since my last update. Working on the layout as been on and off because other things had to be done. Took a day to assemble a BBQ and another day to assemble a gazebo, but the big project was to redo the entire lighting in the basement. Now that my wife's office is now upstairs, the construction continues.
From my last post, I had left off with the construction start to my helix and now I'm almost done. The first picture shows pieces of masonite at the joints and in between the joints which will have spacers between the levels. The second picture shows the cork bed installed, the third picture shows the frame work that will hold the helix and the fourth shows the helix almost finished.
I've also been working on some scenery such as finishing the cement factory, starting work on the refinery area and a little town.
I've contacted Backdrop Junction and talked with them about matching backgrounds scenery with my layout, such as a river and roads at specific location. So for now I have some files and have been working on Photoshop to blend pictures into their backdrops and once finish, I'll send them back to them to have them printed.
Here's a little movie of my train running up and down the Helix.
Thanks for watching and all comments are welcome.
Later
It's been 2 months since my last update. Working on the layout as been on and off because other things had to be done. Took a day to assemble a BBQ and another day to assemble a gazebo, but the big project was to redo the entire lighting in the basement. Now that my wife's office is now upstairs, the construction continues.
From my last post, I had left off with the construction start to my helix and now I'm almost done. The first picture shows pieces of masonite at the joints and in between the joints which will have spacers between the levels. The second picture shows the cork bed installed, the third picture shows the frame work that will hold the helix and the fourth shows the helix almost finished.
I've also been working on some scenery such as finishing the cement factory, starting work on the refinery area and a little town.
I've contacted Backdrop Junction and talked with them about matching backgrounds scenery with my layout, such as a river and roads at specific location. So for now I have some files and have been working on Photoshop to blend pictures into their backdrops and once finish, I'll send them back to them to have them printed.
Here's a little movie of my train running up and down the Helix.
Thanks for watching and all comments are welcome.
Later
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roofintrash
Guest
Looking good Lloyd. Was just thinking yesterday that you haven't updated us for a while. Good to see you have the whole basement now too. Looking forward to seeing your next phase.
logandsawman
Northern Pacific history enthusiast
Hi Lloyd, I really like the cement plant! The road coming in there is quite realistic as well! Thanks for updating us.
Hawkesburytrain
Well-Known Member
Thanks everyone,
Yes it's been a while, but now that I've got the whole basement to MYSELF, I'm really looking forward to finishing all the bench work and track laying so that I can have a continuous running train while I'm working on the layout. My goal is to have the continuous running train done by December.
What's up next, finish the helix. start the staging area and then continue the main layout.
Two major changes were done to the plan
1) There are two entrances to the helix. At the top, the entrance is heading to Ottawa and the bottom entrance is heading to Montreal. They will both end up in the same staging though. Also, at the bottom of the picture, the second track from the wall seems to end at the view block, but in reality, it goes to a HUGE industry which will cover the entire top of the helix. Also, at the end of the peninsula a paper mill was added.
2) I needed some sort of bench work to be able to weather my fleet, fix couplers, wheel sets, etc. Therefore I had a track added that would go directly to my work bench. There will be a garage door to simulate a train garage from the layout. It will also be the programmable track and testing track. At the other end of the bench work, (with time) it will be a dispatcher's corner (computer corner).
I think I don't need any more changes, but since this is a model railroad hobby, who knows!!!!!
Yes it's been a while, but now that I've got the whole basement to MYSELF, I'm really looking forward to finishing all the bench work and track laying so that I can have a continuous running train while I'm working on the layout. My goal is to have the continuous running train done by December.
What's up next, finish the helix. start the staging area and then continue the main layout.
Two major changes were done to the plan
1) There are two entrances to the helix. At the top, the entrance is heading to Ottawa and the bottom entrance is heading to Montreal. They will both end up in the same staging though. Also, at the bottom of the picture, the second track from the wall seems to end at the view block, but in reality, it goes to a HUGE industry which will cover the entire top of the helix. Also, at the end of the peninsula a paper mill was added.
2) I needed some sort of bench work to be able to weather my fleet, fix couplers, wheel sets, etc. Therefore I had a track added that would go directly to my work bench. There will be a garage door to simulate a train garage from the layout. It will also be the programmable track and testing track. At the other end of the bench work, (with time) it will be a dispatcher's corner (computer corner).
I think I don't need any more changes, but since this is a model railroad hobby, who knows!!!!!
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Lloyd the progress looks great.
The work on the helix is very inspiring. It got me thinking about using one or two on my next layout (when moving houses).
I was wondering while reading through, (and apologies if i haven't caught glimpse of the info), do you plan on operating on your own? (Trying to figure out layout sizes for 1 operator etc...ie not building something too big)
Again congratulations on the inspiring work!
The work on the helix is very inspiring. It got me thinking about using one or two on my next layout (when moving houses).
I was wondering while reading through, (and apologies if i haven't caught glimpse of the info), do you plan on operating on your own? (Trying to figure out layout sizes for 1 operator etc...ie not building something too big)
Again congratulations on the inspiring work!
Hawkesburytrain
Well-Known Member
Thanks Yannis,
At first I thought of operating by myself, but when I decided that I was going to build a layout and had the entire basement at my disposition, I said why not go big right away instead of bits and pieces at a time. When the person who designed the layout told me that with that size I would need 4-5 people to operate the layout, I have no choice in finding people to do so or it will take me weeks to to an operation session....lol
My layout is about 180 feet of double main line with 2 towns and about 15 industries, yard, staging area and a train station.
Hope this helps.
At first I thought of operating by myself, but when I decided that I was going to build a layout and had the entire basement at my disposition, I said why not go big right away instead of bits and pieces at a time. When the person who designed the layout told me that with that size I would need 4-5 people to operate the layout, I have no choice in finding people to do so or it will take me weeks to to an operation session....lol
My layout is about 180 feet of double main line with 2 towns and about 15 industries, yard, staging area and a train station.
Hope this helps.
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