"After further consideration, I'm pretty sure I'm going to take out the "studio" walls and open up the space. That will make more unimpeded room for the layout." See pics from Layout plans 2016 While painting and updating our new home, I hope to tear down the walls mentioned above. Build a sectional style HO scale layout framework representing Seligman MO. Remove the dynamic brake blisters and fans from 2 Athearn GP7/9s and decorate them for Frisco. Paint/decorate 2 GE70T locomotives for the Arkansas and Ozarks. Much more could be attempted and needs to be done, but this is enough of a list to get me started.
I'm embarrassed to say that my goals haven't really changed. I've gone through a model railroading slump lately and I actually had to clear off some cob webs from some buildings and rolling stock. Big "shame on me"! I think my slump is over. I took a trip to my favorite hobby shop today and after purchasing a few items my juices are starting to flow again. I should be able to post some progress soon.
Took most of the "studio" walls out today. A few more pieces and cleanup and there'll be more room for the layout.
Looks like you have a lot of room Craig, Can't tell you how much I am looking FWD to your progress and posts on this thread. You have been so supportive, of so many other people, including myself. I want so much, for you to do good and feel good about your MRR. Please let me know if I can help you..
Thanks, I enjoy the Frisco, 1:1 and 1:87 (the others, too, I'm only modeling in HO), the people, seeing others succeed in what gives them joy and satisfaction, as well as projects/builds in general.
! Congratulations, Keith. I would have pegged you for still being a ways from even an early retirement. Congrats, nonetheless and I look forward to seeing your little slice of SE Missouri taking shape. Craig, the layout room's looking good. I'm finding that after a serious layout room cleaning during our not-ice storm a couple of weeks ago, I have much more mental energy for spending time in the room. Maybe I'll even try to get photos. Jim, welcome back...I'll look forward to a flurry of photos soon. Best Regards,
Congratulations Keith on your upcoming retirement!!! I've been retired since 2002 and have enjoyed it very much for the most part, there was a few years where I was sick but overall it's been good. My layout kept me busy to get through the tough times. May you have a great time with your layout in your retirement and whatever else you want to do. What other plans do you have? Joe
My layout goals for 2017 are... 1. Move to a new home. 2. Redraw my layout plans using the current version as a guide. 3. Start construction of new layout by salvaging what I already have. 4. Module 05 will stay the same since it's complete and hopefully I will be able to add or modify the layout plans to include a module with the Arkansas River Bridge between Ft Smith and Van Buren. 5. Complete the Ft Smith Depot I've been working on. 6. Have the mainline complete by the end of the year. Joe
Ok, technically this doesn't count as part of the layout goals, but, it helps in the process. At the Great Train Show in St Charles, I finally purchased "Frisco in Color Vol 2" (G. Stout) and I ran across and also purchased "Frisco Folks" by William E. Bain. Also, I have contracted electricians to improve the lighting and increase the number of receptacles around the basement when they replace the Federal Pacific breaker box. All this while making progress with Fletcherizing the new, to us, place. We painted the living room, one room down, eleven to go, plus hallways. Lol.
Well, finally giving some further thought to what I want to accomplish this year. A big, big decision: do I tear out my almost-finished "Stage 1" of Olathe and fix the faults that I'm finding in it, or do I just try to fine-tune it? Some of the faults I'm finding: "Humps" in the track. They're only perceptible at eye level, but that's how I like to view everything. The vertical deflections aren't enough to cause uncoupling, unless the couplers themselves need adjustment. A couple of inexcusable spots where I have a curve that immediately rolls into a turnout, creating an S that's prime derailment territory. The "way back there" ATSF line is just too far back for me to easily keep the track clean. I'm almost inclined to just try to fix what I have, proceed toward "Stage 2" of the area around the 29th Street interlocking, where I'd also like to start trying my hand at hand-laying track. I'm fully aware of the pros/cons of it, but it's something I've always wanted to try. An article in a past issue of EAA Experimenter titled "The Vanishing Craftsman: Be a builder, not an assembler" started me thinking again about giving it a try. In the meantime, there's plenty I can do in 2017: Finish 2-3 pieces of rolling stock Finish a plastic-bashed IHC Pacific. Do some feasibiliting on pre-fab track vs. handlaid track materials for the 29th Street area. Tidy up wiring, add additional feeders on the Olathe section. Move beyond the operating session trials/test-runs that I've been doing on my own, and actually get operators in (e.g. my kids and close acquaintances in town who've expressed an interest in "playing trains" and learning more). Actually take some photos and get them uploaded. Keep the workbench and layout room tidied as I wrap up working on the layout and non-layout projects. I find it a lot easier to motivate myself to work when the workbench is relatively clear and I can find all of my tools. These are probably more than I can reasonably accomplish what with many other things to occupy my time throughout the year, but it's a challenge and it's something to which I can aspire. Best Regards,
To follow my layout (not as ambitious as some here) progress, see the new thread. This thread is to encourage myself with a little friendly accountability and to encourage others to do so. The new thread will include the progress as it occurs. It wil be titled "Fletcher's Seligman and Beyond" layout.
Don't do like I did. Put a ceiling and good lights up. I use can lights with CFDs. If they get a little more affordable, I'll replace them with LED Daylight bulbs. Lots more light. Also paint the walls. I can still do that except for a band where the layout is attached. I sat on my butt for two years and then went crazy building instead of preparing the area. I considered renting a sprayer and painting the overhead all flat black like a theater. Maybe should have done that. If I keep up, I'll be taking the layout down one of these days. Having an inspiration problem brought on by old age. I've been thinning the engine roster also. Losing old and close friends has taken some wind out of my sails. First Joe Collias almost two years ago and last month lost Frank Willis who was my right hand man on the 1522, fired for me and was half owner of Tinker Town. I'm running out of friends and family!
Looks like you are ready to install the two layers of insulation foam. Your layout looks great, Bill. Please check out this thread before doing anything else. http://www.frisco.org/shipit/index.php?threads/modeling-scenery-elevation-with-insulation-foam.7771/ Joe
The blue foam is down and the Masonite backdrop and border. My friend Steve Christensen designed the bench work. Ron Williams, another friend, master of many layout design's, laid out the track design and operating plan
Chris, you wrote: I'm almost inclined to just try to fix what I have, proceed toward "Stage 2" of the area around the 29th Street interlocking, where I'd also like to start trying my hand at hand-laying track. I'm fully aware of the pros/cons of it, but it's something I've always wanted to try. An article in a past issue of EAA Experimenter titled "The Vanishing Craftsman: Be a builder, not an assembler" started me thinking again about giving it a try. Here's my response. I have recently completed all of the track work on our new Birmingham Terminal Division layout, reusing much from the old layout and making much new. Most of it has been hand laid, and I have found great satisfaction in doing it. Now that the layout trackage is complete, I would like to bequeath all of my track laying tools and supplies to a good home of someone else who would like to try it, but there is virtually no one in the hobby today who is interested. My hand laid track has operated virtually flawlessly, much better than the commercial stuff. One caveat: all of the frogs and points are live and switched, so you have to cut gaps to isolate them from the routed trackage to use DCC, but that's no big deal. If you would like, I can send you a CARE package (how's that for dating myself?) with the following materials, which will certainly give you a great jump-start into hand track laying. - About 25 completed code 70 frog and point assemblies, remaining ones that I have left over from the old layout. Almost all are #5 rights and lefts, plus a couple of #6s. They are well proven for operation. I also have a supply of guard rails for turnouts that I made. - 4 Kadee three-point track gauges to hold the rails in place while spiking. - 3 18-inch wood tie strip laying fixtures, for mainline tie spacing, branch/yard spacing and bridge ties. - a supply of Campbell bridge ties, stained. - an insulated plate with cutout fixtures for making from scratch, #4, $5 and #6 switch frogs, all code 70. - a sizeable quantity of code 70 rail joiners and code 55 rail joiners. - clear sheet switch templates for #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, and #10 right and left switches. - a container with about 2000 spikes. - about 20 used Kadee uncoupling ramps. In addition, I have about 40 Scale Shops switch machines left from my old layout that I don't need on the new one, along with instructions. I would sell these for $4.00 apiece if you are interested. Everything else is free to a good home. The reason I'm posting this here instead of sending you a private message is that, if you are not interested, someone else might be, and I would make the same offer to him. Let us know. Ken McElreath
Ken, I'll raise my hand. There are areas on my layout that will lend themselves to some hand-laying. When I am good, I will pass them on in the same way with the caveat that your name be forever associated with the tools. As for the turnout motors, I'm set with Tortoises, servos and Blue Points.
