Happy Thanksgiving All, Just back from a Thanksgiving week in S.E. Kansas, and had some time on Sunday to try out the complete set of modules. My son helped me set them all up, and it looks like it will take 30-40 minutes to put them together, tweak track and hook up the power. Not too bad. Thanks Gary for the feedback on the fascia. I went ahead and painted most of the modules' fascia a near-black matte color. I will eventually paint the legs as well. One thing I need to be careful of is not scuffing the paint during assembly. Last week, I had finished up installing all of the track power feeders and the DCC bus. After some troubleshooting on some shorts (PC board ties not gapped on my crossover), they all seem to be working fairly well. One of the FastTracks crossovers is a bit tight around the frog, but some filing will fix that. Here is an attempt to make a panorama of the assembly standing in the middle of the setup: Panorama-11-26-18-sm by rjthomas909 posted Nov 25, 2018 at 4:55 PM I was relieved that it all fits comfortably in the garage! It turns out that the SPROG II can only handle one throttle at time with JMRI. Switching between a couple of locomotives, we were able to run over most of the track and push some cars around. Weir-Module-11-25-18 by rjthomas909 posted Nov 25, 2018 at 4:56 PM I pulled out the warehouse from storage to test the structure space, and it looks like it will be OK. This will be the largest whole structure in terms of footprint, other than a grain elevator in Weir. Cherokee Module by rjthomas909 posted Nov 25, 2018 at 4:57 PM Oh, well....back to the garage. -Bob T.
Hey Chris, I believe this was built from the kit: AMB American Model Builders LaserKit General Service Buildin HO Scale Kit #701 http://www.laserkit.com/gallerya.html You can regularly find them on eBay. This is a very good kit that includes a narrow loading platform, so it is good for a relatively narrow space, and you can still have a reasonable-sized building. On the Cherokee maps that I have, there is a freight house just west of the depot and diamond. As that siding is not really prototypical, I am moving the location to there for now. There was also a Kelso Grain where I have located the loco parking, I may exchange that for a cut down (partial flat) grain elevator, not showing the truck unloading. We will see. -Bob T.
Thank you for the link Bob, those are some nice kits!!! I noticed that some of the kits are N scale and would fit in my time era of my layout. Will keep the link for future reference. Joe
Well, missed Workshop Wednesday. Was stuck in Dayton most of the week, so did not get this one close to finished before the weekend. Started painting track and ties and experimenting with track weathering. Young-Mine-Lead-Module-1 by rjthomas909 posted Dec 16, 2018 at 8:16 PM Some track weathering here on the MoPac Interchange: MoPac-Module-2 by rjthomas909 posted Dec 16, 2018 at 8:17 PM The Crawford and Cherokee will have a small wooden trestle on this module: Wood_Trestle_Module-1 by rjthomas909 posted Dec 16, 2018 at 7:57 PM The pink area in this photo is the result of widening the creek a bit for a ~50-ft trestle. I have since painted the area and track as above on the MoPac interchange module. As it will be a relatively shallow creek (we are calling it "Brush Creek" which is close by this area), a good choice might be a ballasted wood trestle as represented by the plans in an old "All Aboard" from the Frisco: https://condrenrails.com/Frisco/Frisco-Museum-All-Aboards/AA1995.su.centerfold.pdf (If anyone has a better copy, I would sure like to have one!) Started with an old Blair Line kit from eBay for a five-pier trestle: Blair-Line-Trestle-Box by rjthomas909 posted Dec 16, 2018 at 8:01 PM And, following the Frisco plans, modified for a 6-pier trestle with some scale lumber and 1/8" dowels from the hobby shop. This resulted in a trestle that is about 55 scale feet in length. Below are a couple of mock ups (piers are not glued on). Wood_Trestle_Mock-Up-1 by rjthomas909 posted Dec 16, 2018 at 8:03 PM Wood_Trestle_Mock-Up-2 by rjthomas909 posted Dec 16, 2018 at 8:04 PM As I was not too careful with the glue, I will have to paint the trestle and add a bit of weathering. This may help with sealing the wood prior to ballasting. Afraid that the glue for ballasting will not be a good mix with the wood deck. I will also paint and add the hex nut/bolt details and install them. Prior to painting, I have been studying this video from Luke Towan: Mr. Towan's version may be a bit too light, but I will try something similar in approach, plus ballast and tracks ON the trestle, of course. I also managed some ground cover and static grass on the MoPac interchange module (not shown). It will soon be good enough for photos, with the tower from the old layout and a small crossing and dirt road. More to come ..... Take care all, -Bob T.
Howdy All, A strategy for a modular layout like the Crawford and Cherokee (v2) is to try to concentrate on scenery one module at a time, and get to a respectable level before moving on to the next. This week, the focus was on getting a basic level of scenery onto the MoPac Interchange module shown above with some initial track painting and weathering. With a bit of earth cover, static grass and ballast, the module is starting to take shape. Also added a few small trees and shrubs. Taking out of storage the tower from the previous iteration of the layout, I grabbed a few photos of the current state (with some glue still wet). MoPac-Interchange-Module-Scenery-1 by rjthomas909 posted Dec 19, 2018 at 8:30 PM MoPac-Interchange-Module-Scenery-2 by rjthomas909 posted Dec 19, 2018 at 8:30 PM MoPac-Interchange-Module-Scenery-3 by rjthomas909 posted Dec 19, 2018 at 8:31 PM MoPac-Interchange-Module-Scenery-4 by rjthomas909 posted Dec 19, 2018 at 9:07 PM You can catch in the second photo the edge of a wood crossing, with the road not quite complete. Also, still needs a bit of clean up, planting the building and some more detailing, but I am pleased with the results so far. There are photos showing a gate at this crossing, and I am wondering how far that went back? Would be a nice detail here. There will be a road toward Cherokee on the module adjacent the tower, following the protoype map that I have. The module to the right from these photos will have the ballasted wood trestle. There is some time off over the holidays, so hopefully 3-4 modules will get to this degree of detail, and some road improvements will go in. Merry Christmas All, -Bob T.
...and as it appears today on Google Earth (Still a hint of the interchange parallel to the old MoPac line):
[QUOTE As it will be a relatively shallow creek (we are calling it "Brush Creek" which is close by this area), a good choice might be a ballasted wood trestle as represented by the plans in an old "All Aboard" from the Frisco: https://condrenrails.com/Frisco/Frisco-Museum-All-Aboards/AA1995.su.centerfold.pdf (If anyone has a better copy, I would sure like to have one!) More to come ..... Take care all, -Bob T.[/QUOTE] I sent you a Conversation regarding a better set of plans. Three pages (left, center, right) of scans, but they are way too big to be posted here, or most anywhere for that matter. As they are in a TIFF format, one can scroll in and read even the smallest dimensions.
Bob, I know it's a layout construction thread, but the SL-SF and MKT box cars look great. Keep the updates coming. Best Regards,
Thanks Chris, I do appreciate all the help from the Frisco Nation. My garage is a parking lot of modules this week, all getting ground cover and some scenery. Having a few days off in a row should provide for some measurable progress. Merry Christmas All, -Bob T.
Happy New Year (almost), Made some scenery progress, as advertised above, during some time off this week (and some nice weather in San Antonio). Most recently, the focus was on the NE corner module for the new Crawford and Cherokee. It contains the lead into Weir City and a short siding representing "Young's Mine #2". Here are some before and after photos: Before (Some basic ground layer and track painted) Young_Mine_and_Weir_Branch_Module-Track-Painted by rjthomas909 posted Dec 28, 2018 at 4:23 PM After (Initial scenery and track weathering) Young_Mine_and_Weir_Branch_Module-Scenery by rjthomas909 posted Dec 28, 2018 at 4:24 PM The dark patch on the lower left will become a freshly-cut wheat field, and the gravel area on the right will become the base of businesses along the Main Street of Weir City, KS. These are strategies to hide the seam between sections. In one case, there will be rows of wheat stubble parallel to the seam and buildings will cover most of the other. Set up the "Sky Board" and tried a few shots from a more artistic view point: Weir-Corner-Module-Scenery-1 by rjthomas909 posted Dec 28, 2018 at 4:30 PM Weir-Corner-Module-Scenery-2 by rjthomas909 posted Dec 28, 2018 at 4:30 PM Weir-Corner-Module-Scenery-3 by rjthomas909 posted Dec 28, 2018 at 4:31 PM Weir-Corner-Module-Scenery-4 by rjthomas909 posted Dec 28, 2018 at 4:32 PM Consolidation courtesy of @klrwhizkid and @gjslsffan, caboose courtesy of @Jim James. Cars are all from Accurail (and Intermountain Gondola), with weathering from Yours Truly. Still a few days remaining until the new year. Hopefully, will get some scenery on the Brush Creek module, including the ballasted wood trestle installed. Stand by for more in a few days.....good Lord willing. -Bob T.
Bob, great job, you are making fast progress on your layout, wish I could do that. I've been slow because my legs have been giving me problems, hard to walk sometimes. Good thing most of the modeling jobs can be done sitting down. Joe
Thanks Joe. Wish I was closer. Would be glad to lend you a hand. Maybe a stop on an upcoming trek to S.E. Kansas. -Bob T.
Bob, your welcome to stop by anytime, I'm retired so my hours are flexible. My phone number and address will be in a PM soon as I finish this post. Joe
Happy New Year All, With the holidays coming to a close, thought it was time for an update before heading back to the daily grind. Over the past two weeks, I was able to work half-days (mostly), giving some time to work on the layout. The weather in San Antonio cooperated (mostly) and the garage was a comfortable working environment, even able to work with the doors open at times. Yes, the best time of year to live in South-Central Texas. Progress: Four modules have had significant progress on scenery. From the current plan: Modular-CnC-Cherokee-to-Weir-2019-01-05a by rjthomas909 posted Jan 6, 2019 at 7:32 AM I have been working four of the modules across the north side that are mainly countryside scenery. This means lots of static grass, trees, a trestle, and ballasting (and more ballasting). During all of this, I reviewed the Sanborn maps and Google earth images of the area and started the layout of roads and structures for east Cherokee. Shown on the updated plan are the locations of Magnolia St. and 2nd Street, along with some structures. They will be placed on this module: Layout-2019-01-05e by rjthomas909 posted Jan 5, 2019 at 6:13 PM And you can see that the ground work is proceeding. There will be 3-4 houses and a small market facing 2nd street, which will be "Ascanio's Market". Not sure when they arrived in Cherokee, but as they sponsored my Little League team, I thought it appropriate. It looks like my next few Workshop Wednesdays will include structure building for the houses still needed here. Growing up, my Grandfather's back yard connected to the MoPac in Carona, KS. We had a small railroad tie bridge to the line, and would walk it on Sundays. Hopefully, I can recreate that type of scene here. The three modules to the east of this point now have respectable, if not complete scenery: Layout-2019-01-05f by rjthomas909 posted Jan 5, 2019 at 6:12 PM I think this is the longest straight stretch of track I have ever had on a layout. Layout-2019-01-05a by rjthomas909 posted Jan 5, 2019 at 6:21 PM (Sorry for the blurry photo. I need some tutorial on photography or a better camera.) You can see in this photo the recently-cut wheat field on the left. This was done with the new Woodland Scenics static grass, which appears a bit light in the photo. It will get fence posts and barbed wire soon, as well as a few places along the right-of-way. A few more trees have gone in, and I have worked the landscape around the ballasted trestle (gray areas are terraforming of the landscape to meet the edges of the trestle with tinted sculptamold). Layout-2019-01-05c by rjthomas909 posted Jan 5, 2019 at 6:15 PM You can see that it still needs water poured as well (and vacuumed). I have left the scenery away from what will be the water's edge for now. I will be doing some test pours of various water products before going all-in here. Well, that's it for now, I hope you all had a happy and healthy holiday season. Layout-2019-01-05a2 by rjthomas909 posted Jan 5, 2019 at 6:22 PM Take Care, -Bob T.
Looks very nice Bob. Great progress. I’ve had very good luck with the Woodland Scenics deep pour water for what it’s worth. I think that is what Bill used too.
Thanks! I will give it a try. Do you know if it heats while it sets up? I am concerned about melting foam. Also, can it be tinted? -Bob T.
Yes it warms up but no danger to foam. As long as you have the foam sealed with paint or something for your creekbed. It is clear but can be tinted. Or the ground work can be shaded to give the illusion of depth through the clear pour. Good luck, let us know how it goes.
