How bad do YOU want a layout?

Discussion in 'General' started by patrick flory, Jun 30, 2019.

  1. patrick flory

    patrick flory Member

    We have a second house in Pass Christian MS. There is no space inside the raised inside main story for a layout but there is covered open-air space below. It’s two 2x8’s in an L configuration with a possible third making a U. See the photos. It’s out of the rain (if no wind) but that’s about it. See the photos.

    I haven’t started putting down track yet because I have 3 or 400 bux worth of Bachmann EZ track left over from something else I wanted to use on this basically disposable layout but I just cannot find it to save my life. I know the way to find it will be to buy $400 worth of code 100 flex track and Atlas switches to replace it. The day I buy that track, the EZ track will pop right up just like a prairie dog.

    Here’s the challenges:

    1. 2 blocks from the Gulf means salt laden humidity that will kill any electrical components in 2 or 3 years. I know because I had a 1x8 down there before and that’s how long it lasted, no saving switches in that environment. The connection to the power source (removed to inside if not used for any length of time) must be sealed from the air with tape. Bachmann’s rerailer terminal is ideal but the connections must be vigilantly protected. All of this are good reasons to use the toy train track on hand or use the most inexpensive code 100 you can get.

    2. Today was 96F outside. See the photo of my air conditioner. During the afternoon about 20 minutes is all you can tolerate in that before you need to go back inside. Accordingly, Operation Hours are basically 6 to 10 am and after 7 pm. This is from June through October. The rest of the year is temperate enough but there are a few too cold winter days and windy rainy days that mist will come in over the layout. And some days are too windy, cars get rolled down the track.

    3. There can be no scenery besides ballast and basic ground cover, because of rain blowing in, salt gulf air, and patrolling by feral cars and raccoons. The buildings can only be plastic because of this.

    4. For the same reasons, everything must be removed from the layout if you leave it for more than 5 or 10 minutes. Engines, cars, buildings, everything.

    5. Intense surgical scrub track cleaning EVERY week, or more often. Nickel silver rail turns black in three weeks untreated. Operation is impossible if you let two weeks go by. A big layout is a burden in this setting. 25 or 30 feet of track is enough of a job.

    How bad do I want this layout? I’m here 4 days a week since I retired. My layout is in the 3 day a week house in Metairie. So it’s this make-do layout or no model railroading.

    Anyone ever done anything rough like this? My friend in high school had a layout in an unconditioned attic, it probably hit 100 up there but back in those days it didn’t bother us. I’m not so sure about today..

    I want to attach 5 photos but am having incredible difficulty. Can’t get anything done. How can I copy 5 at one time from my iPhone camera roll to a posting?
     
    Last edited: Jun 30, 2019
  2. kenmc

    kenmc KenMc Frisco.org Supporter

    Since you asked (don't shoot the messenger!), you should figure out how to build a layout, no matter how small, in an environmentally controlled and comfortable location in your home. Anything else you will sorely regret. Lacking that, join a club and enjoy building structures and rolling stock for it at home.

    Ken McElreath
     
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  3. gstout

    gstout Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Agree with Ken. Building a layout in a garage is dicey enough unless you are able to seal out the elements. The location you are describing will cause nothing but frustration. A club is your best bet.

    GS
     
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  4. William Jackson

    William Jackson Bill Jackson

    My layout is in my garage, but like they say, I went to a lot of expense to put in a insulated wall, pipe in heat and air. Extra electrical outlets. So it's something to think about, mine works nice.
     
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  5. patrick flory

    patrick flory Member

    Believe it. There is NO space in the 950 sq. ft. house that doubles as “ her “ “storage unit.” ZERO. It’s either down there or nothing. This isn’t basement county and there is no attic.

    Remember Frank Ellison’s Delta Lines? In New Orleans. Seems like it was in area like mine only with a dirt floor. I have concrete.
     
  6. patrick flory

    patrick flory Member

    Our “ club “ here in MS is a joke, it’s only a place for a wealthy TCA guy to display his stuff.
     
  7. William Jackson

    William Jackson Bill Jackson

    The one I was in Florida, was the same way. One guy had some real nice HO passenger equipment and got mad if anyone else run their stuff. It's a problem, everyone has their own thought about scenery, equipment and time period. I have give up on clubs, but good luck trying.
     
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  8. patrick flory

    patrick flory Member

    30C63A0B-C52B-4DDC-9D8C-DFE48F369421.jpeg Looks like I can get one photo up at a time. After that I appear to be allowed no more in this post. This is 3/4 of the L. My “air conditioner “ is visible. This view is looking toward the street. Codes won’t let this downstairs space to be enclosed any more than the lattice, to let flood water run through without taking the house down. We had 14’ of water here during Katrina, 4’ above the ceiling in the picture, and 4’ in the living spaces above. We were the last house standing in the neighborhood.
     
  9. John Huebner

    John Huebner Member

    Figure this might not be a "popular" answer...but have you considered a small switching layout in G-Scale? You can go Battery/RC in G-Scale easily, track cleaning issues disappear (Blackened Brass track looks prototypical!) ...just a thought. Not a lot of Frisco stuff in G-Scale, so you'll be repaint/kitbashing, but that's fun as well...and a few cars look like a long train...Bachmann track isn't going to hold up there for any length of time....even most of the Bachmann G-Scale track won't...but LGB and USA Trains should hold up just fine...
     
  10. patrick flory

    patrick flory Member

    If I had the money I might go dead rail large scale. But I’m very heavily invested in HO and even have s collection of maybe 100 or so blue box quality cars for a layout just like this.

    This is a disposable layout. It only needs to last a couple of years before we move on. I already even have the track (somewhere).
     
  11. Iantha_Branch

    Iantha_Branch Member

    I'll throw out an off the wall idea: wire a locomotive directly to a power supply and don't rely on the rails for Electrical contact. Then you could go buy the cheapest brass track you could find to make a small switching layout.
    There are power packs out there small enough to essentialy be a walk around throttle. Ill see if I can find an exampke
     
  12. Iantha_Branch

    Iantha_Branch Member

  13. patrick flory

    patrick flory Member

    It is 98F outside right now. Great weather for spray painting structures. Built in oven! The paint completely cures in just a few hours! You can do two thin coats a day!

    I have a few plastic industrial buildings I bought before I knew about better kits and before I understood that they wouldn’t fit on my regular home layout, too big. You’re familiar with all of them- the same molds were used by many different people- the “pickle factory “, the “brewery “, the “ grading tower”, a couple of others too. They are good enough for the layout where they are going and when painted with spray bombs in realistic grays and tans they do a creditable job. It will take a few weeks to get them all painted and assembled but by the time cool weather gets here in October they ought to be ready to place on the layout and get the track in the right place. Hopefully I’ll find my track by then.
     
  14. patrick flory

    patrick flory Member

    745BF0A7-B836-4C0D-A7D1-A6BB37C8036A.jpeg

    First train. Track down temporarily trying out track plans. It was below 80F yesterday and raining but under cover it was a beautiful model railroad day.

    Every day find something new to work out. The latest hazard came up
    This morning when some one started mowing grass a couple of yards over. Can’t leave the engines out with that dust in the air.
     
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  15. patrick flory

    patrick flory Member

    We are having a cold wave. 91F was the high today so I operated the little semi outdoor layout after a several week hiatus . Operation was pretty flawless on the 30% of track that is down.

    I know that serious modelers don’t care for Bachmann EZ track, but in this setting it’s the best option, accommodating little irregularities where the table tops meet. When ballasted and painted this track is generally acceptable, the code 100 rail height can be hidden fairly well with overballasting and weeds typical of the branch lines that are all I’ve ever modeled. One thing that does bother me is the very fixed geometry of EZ track that precludes the somewhat wandering aspect that branchline track can sometimes have. One day I’ll have a code 70 layout with handlaid track in the most visible areas, but not yet.

    The problem I am having, and didn’t anticipate, is that the table tops sag. A problem related not to being outdoors but rather to not very careful construction 4 years ago. There’s not much that can be done other that shimming the track up over the low spots but it’s an engineering problem that can be solved. I’ve done some of it already and the high iron got higher, actually looks pretty good.

    The track cleaning problem has no arisen yet as severely as I thought it might. Will have to figure out better lighting too.
     
  16. patrick flory

    patrick flory Member

    I’ve not posted anything in a while for a hundred good reasons but this is worth it.

    You folks with space for indoor layouts should give thanks. My layout under the house just went through Hurricane Zeta last week. We were away when it happened and came back to find the town torn to pieces. The power was back on fortunately but around town all the traffic lights and signs were down, roofs blown off, and 40’ cabin cruisers floated 1/4 mile inland in a couple of cases. The harbor was entirely wrecked. Our house took some cosmetic damage and had no leaks but half the roof is shot and needs replacing. And the yard is covered with 6” of everyone else’s tree leaves and twiggy branches too big to run the mower over. So there’s a days long job.

    BUT!!!!! The layout survived with no damage at all! It’s behind lattice so the 100 mph wind was reduced before it hit the layout. I had left some paint spray cans and some loose scenery lichen on it and that stuff didn’t even move. The floor area was full of leaves and I blew all that stuff out thinking I was done.

    Not quite. I knew I had to clean the track but I was unpleasantly surprised by how rough and crud-coated the track was. My normal cleaning by running a piece of cork roadbed over the rail did nothing. Neither did scraping with a wood ice cream bar stick which always worked before. The rail is covered with black spots and feels possibly slightly pitted in places. My conclusion is that salt spray from the Gulf two blocks away coated everything. I was never going to use abrasives on the track but will need to now, it appears, and need to be rubbed well with vig-gah as JFK used to say. So, out will come the unopened Bright Boy I’ve had for 12 years in reserve. I have probably about 30 LF of track so cleaning will take the better part of a day.

    There. Back to radio silence.
     
  17. klrwhizkid

    klrwhizkid Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    Patrick, I am glad your domicile survived as well as your railroad. I know the Gulf Coast has been inundated this year.
     
  18. yardmaster

    yardmaster Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    Glad that things were spared the worst, Patrick.

    We have friends in Waveland MS who were clobbered by Katrina. Seeing the town two years later...it was shocking even then.

    And indeed, you demonstrably want that layout badly!
     
  19. patrick flory

    patrick flory Member

    Well, not that one particularly. I’d much rather have an indoor one but that ain’t happening right now.
     
  20. patrick flory

    patrick flory Member

    Please note! This is NOT political! BUT! I am NOT CONCEDING!!!! :coffee::LOL::ROFLMAO: That’s right! I’m am NOT giving up on this layout!:cool: I’m like a bulldog on a mailman’s, well, you know! :LOL::ROFLMAO:

    I was on the verge of giving up on the layout and throwing all the track away. But then, this morning, after sleeping on things and closely examining the track, I decided that a very hard core cleaning should at least be tried before admitting defeat. I know everyone has their favorite method but this was an extreme case that needed extreme treatment.

    I don’t like abrasives on track but soft core rubbing with a piece of cork roadbed did nothing. You could really feel the roughness of the rail through the roadbed piece. So I started a four step program. The first was high pressure abrasive block rubbing. I started with a used Atlas block but discovered it was worn and that a fresh Bright Boy was much more thorough and quicker. Second, I brushed all the track with a large paintbrush to remove the largest crumbs. Third, I blew off the remaining microstopic partiscules with canned keyboard air. Then, finally, I ran a damp rag down every inch of every rail to remove the remaining grit. What was surprising was how black the rag got while rubbing the rail. I suspect it was residual oxidation than collects the second any cleaning operation occurs. But, the rail had a surgically clean shine.

    The moment of truth came with the test run of a locomotive. GLORY HALLELUJAH TIME! It ran better than it ever did before! The track has never been this clean before. Oh man. I really want a layout here in MS and mine has survived a hurricane, can’t get much worse than that, it has survived to run again.

    I am thinking about some defensive preventative measures though. Like cleaning engine wheels after every session, only using less valued engines, and putting disposable plastic wheels on the rolling stock for use on this layout only.

    All I can say is that it’s great to be back in the game.
     
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