My new Layout

[Lynnb]

Yes I understand you mean just the box walls. Will have to see , right now I'm going to concentrate on getting all the plaster cloth completed.

 

[Lynnb]

Its been a fairly productive couple days.
This is what I came up with for boxing in the scene.

After adding a bit more cardboard strips it was time to get at the plaster cloth somemore.

Can;t go wrong with this stuff

I thought I'd try some plaster cloth on the corners just to smooth the edges , came out sort of ok

Testing the water fall which I had misplaced and it showed back up

Test fitting the trestle. Shows level although bents base to risers clearance is something I will have to figure out.

Next step will be applying a skim of tuf coat to the hill area to give strength before applying rock molds.

 

[montanan]

Looking real good. Waiting to see future updates.

 

[Johne230]

Nice job Lynn it looks like it grew there.

 

[logandsawman]

Really a deluxe scene!!!! better the bents a tad short than long-- I think easier to fill than cut.

Great work!!!

 

[beiland]

Thanks Tony, this type of layout benchwork is new to me so easy as I go. I don't know if they would refer to this as cookie cutter or not but sounds ok to me. I always referred to cookie cutter as in when you cut a sheet of plywood to make an incline, hey wait ya I did do that to make the incline rail and road on the other section. The wiring and electronics is much easier this way for sure although believe me I envy the guys that use strictly foamboard as it would be so much nicer to be able to cut a river in. As for the visualizing trust me I struggle, the way I see it is I have some rather large diorammas that definitely can only fit in certain areas so that helps but 2 other things is when I do the plan in xtrackcad I place most of the larger structures running rail to them as well as bridges and rivers so that helps but also I will take a picture of a certain area and then take a photo of a structure and then let the imagination kick in.

I believe where I saw that this is your sixth layout?
Have you ever had occasion to build one utilizing mostly foamboard??

I'm contemplating a new 'round the wall' layout with one island projecting into the center area, and looking to learn.

I collected a large bit of info on foamboard construction some number of years ago, but have not had a chance to really review it until recent retirement. I still have yet to read the info.
Brian

 

[beiland]

Thanks John, you know what comes with rivers of course? And I likes my bridges. Gotta figure out how to cut into the benchwork to fit in a large trestle, but no rush.

Boy I have a great photo of that sort of thing from a little club layout up in Frederick, Md,....but don't know where it is on my computer.

Here is a link to that club, but I don't see a link to photos of their layout?
http://fcsme.com/main.htm

 

[beiland]

Did some photoshop work. I have the lower level at the waterlevel figured out and mounted, taking a bit more figuring then I anticipated for the upper area.View attachment 46690

Sure wish I could find that photo for you from the Frederick layout. If I remember correctly it required much less 'frame work' down at the bottom of the chasm

 

[beiland]

Was up late last nite and pretty much got the trestle complete. I'm still undecided on whether I will add sway braces. Also attempted to even pickup a nbw and needless to say my mobility skills and sight are nothing what they use to be. May attempt to cut the trestle into the existing roadbed today to at least have that part done and have the trestle removeable for scene work.

NICE trestle. Did you glue most of it together with the "pliobond" ? Has that worked out OK?

 

[Lynnb]

NICE trestle. Did you glue most of it together with the "pliobond" ? Has that worked out OK?

Thankyou The only place I used the pliobond was to glue the rail down to the stringers, I only use Weldbond white glue for pretty much everything.

 

[Lynnb]

Sure wish I could find that photo for you from the Frederick layout. If I remember correctly it required much less 'frame work' down at the bottom of the chasm

I tend to over build and over think no matter what, but if you find the photo please do post it.

 

[Lynnb]

I believe where I saw that this is your sixth layout?
Have you ever had occasion to build one utilizing mostly foamboard??

I'm contemplating a new 'round the wall' layout with one island projecting into the center area, and looking to learn.

I collected a large bit of info on foamboard construction some number of years ago, but have not had a chance to really review it until recent retirement. I still have yet to read the info.
Brian

Although I have never done an entire layout using foamboard as I find foamboard tends to lead to flatness and I've grown accustomed to not going down that avenue. Also quite a while back when I made the dcc investment I at the same time switched over to using tortoise switch machines and have always struggled with the mounting of the tortoises when it came to foamboard but have learned on this style of layout that it is possible to mix plywood and foamboard , plywood as small as is needed on risers for the tortoise and turnout mount and foamboard for filling around. I have also realized that once the tortoise and turnout is securely mounted that the flex track could then be fastened down to virtually any type material, most important part is the turnout with its tortoise switch machine needs to be secure for good operation and the rest just falls into place.
Saying all that, if you have a good supply of foam board all ready then you would probably want to use it but at the same time decide on what type of benchwork would work best for the style of layout you want ie lots of river bridges mountains etc then you may want a L girder or open grid as this would be most friendly for this type of layout compared to a solid flat top. Have you taken a look at HoExplorers layout ( Jim ) he tends to make up the rules as he goes and tries all kinds of different techniques kinda like I do. http://www.modelrailroadforums.com/...ing-the-Pinacle-Creek-Mining-amp-Timber-Co-RR

 

[Lynnb]

Thanks Montanan, John230 and logandsawman for the comments.

 

[beiland]

Although I have never done an entire layout using foamboard as I find foamboard tends to lead to flatness and I've grown accustomed to not going down that avenue. Also quite a while back when I made the dcc investment I at the same time switched over to using tortoise switch machines and have always struggled with the mounting of the tortoises when it came to foamboard but have learned on this style of layout that it is possible to mix plywood and foamboard , plywood as small as is needed on risers for the tortoise and turnout mount and foamboard for filling around. I have also realized that once the tortoise and turnout is securely mounted that the flex track could then be fastened down to virtually any type material, most important part is the turnout with its tortoise switch machine needs to be secure for good operation and the rest just falls into place.
Saying all that, if you have a good supply of foam board all ready then you would probably want to use it but at the same time decide on what type of benchwork would work best for the style of layout you want ie lots of river bridges mountains etc then you may want a L girder or open grid as this would be most friendly for this type of layout compared to a solid flat top.

I have not invested in any base materials yet, so I'm still open to fresh ideas. I just recently was back up in the DC area and had the occasion to do a 'home tour' of a very interesting 2-layer around the wall layout that basically varied in depth from 6 inches to 30 inches, ....that was all cantilevered from the backdrop wall supports. It's surprising the amount of scenery that can be had in those relatively shallow depths, and easy of getting to all of the wiring underneath. I'll post a few pics if someone wants to see.

I previously had an Atlas plan "Central Midland" that was a very interesting and compact layout, but I had to do a lot of climbing under it to get to things, and my advancing age precludes wanting to do that again.

Have you taken a look at HoExplorers layout ( Jim ) he tends to make up the rules as he goes and tries all kinds of different techniques kinda like I do. http://www.modelrailroadforums.com/...ing-the-Pinacle-Creek-Mining-amp-Timber-Co-RR

Thanks for that link, I will try to look thru that subject thread when I get a bit more time,....and I will search for that photo(s) on my external hard-drive a little later today

 

[beiland]

ROADBED

In your experiences of building a number of layouts, have you ever had occasion to utilize anything but cork as a roadbed material?

 

[Lynnb]

ROADBED

In your experiences of building a number of layouts, have you ever had occasion to utilize anything but cork as a roadbed material?

I've always used cork roadbed exclusively although I know a lot of the modelers have used other materials that work for them. When I find something that is readily available I tend to stick to it. This would probably be a good topic to get everyones views and I'm sure you will get a good variety of input.

 

[beiland]

I've seen subject treads on this roadbed subject, ....I just wanted to explore whether you had tried any others,...as you appear to be quite handy at putting a layout together fairly quickly,...and with good style.

Have you had occasions to shim under the track, or the roadbed, to alleviate dips and crests, or to get some super elevations? I ask as it does appear that you prefer to NOT have a flat layout. If you do 'shim', how and what materials?

 

[Lynnb]

I've seen subject treads on this roadbed subject, ....I just wanted to explore whether you had tried any others,...as you appear to be quite handy at putting a layout together fairly quickly,...and with good style.

Have you had occasions to shim under the track, or the roadbed, to alleviate dips and crests, or to get some super elevations? I ask as it does appear that you prefer to NOT have a flat layout. If you do 'shim', how and what materials?

Thanks for the nice compliment. I started this layout last spring, I tend to go in splirts and when I stall to do research I can easily be stopped for a couple weeks at a time so I definitely could not say I work quickly. I have had occasion to shim under rails on other layouts to get a reliable rail and used what ever suited the bill like cardboard or even a folded in half piece of paper, in the long run the shimmed track would get ballast anyway so the shimming would never be seen again. Generally I would shim if the track heaved up or dipped down causing not so much a derailment but more an issue with uncoupling.

 

[beiland]

Boy I have a great photo of that sort of thing from a little club layout up in Frederick, Md,....but don't know where it is on my computer.

Here is a link to that club, but I don't see a link to photos of their layout?
http://fcsme.com/main.htm

The club president just sent me a link to two of the photos of their layout that I was referring to:

http://fcsme.com/photo/FCSMELayout2004/images/page1.html

http://fcsme.com/photo/FCSMELayout2004/images/page51.html

But neither of these photos show the framing support of the area. I still believe I have a couple of better photos, but I'll have to do some real 'soul searching'....ha...ha
Brian

 

[Lynnb]

The club president just sent me a link to two of the photos of their layout that I was referring to:

http://fcsme.com/photo/FCSMELayout2004/images/page1.html

http://fcsme.com/photo/FCSMELayout2004/images/page51.html

But neither of these photos show the framing support of the area. I still believe I have a couple of better photos, but I'll have to do some real 'soul searching'....ha...ha
Brian

Thanks for the pics very nice.