Picked up the 2" foam insulation boards. Boards will be trimmed to fit each bench and the excess will be stacked up and used to build hills etc...
Was going to make this a lift out section, but the connecting benches had too much side to side movement. So, I built a benchtop frame instead. It stabilized things nicely. I kept it narrow to make the duck under easier to utilize. It's still wide enough for three tracks if desired. The loose plan is for two tracks, currently.
Painted another bench today. One bench and the little bridge section to go. Baby steps are still progress.
Bench painting complete. I'll build the A&O peninsula at a later stage. About time to start gluing down the foam board.
Trimmed foam for three base sections, glued the foam down for the bridge section and tunnel section. The uprights are just used to demonstrate the tunnel location. Plans include trimming out and modeling water under the bridge section.
Trimmed 4 foam bases, glued 3 more base sections down. 5 bases down, 1 to go before some stacking and shaping for the tunnel, bridge section, terrain etc... 2x4s are to weight it down while it dries.
Craig, your layout is looking great!!! Don't you like the pink foam? I always thought that when I installed foam on the layout it looks great because it shows a lot of progress in a short time. Keep up the great work. We are looking forward to your next post. Joe
That is a lot of foam, I will like watching how it progresses. I only have a one inch foam base on mine, I didn't have room for a realistic looking run off, so mine is mostly flat.
Bill, this will be fairly flat, though I hope to add in a little rise and fall to and from the bridge section.
I would like a tunnel on mine, I have two cutouts for bridges but little or no grade. That's ok, mine might change after I see how you do yours. That is one of the good things about this site, we get to see how others do their pike.
I don't know how I've missed this thread so far, but I like what I see so far. You and I are at similar points in construction. I look forward to seeing your layout progress from here. Keep up the good work Craig.
Turquoise arrows indicate foam glued down today. Red arrow indicates foam board trimmed today. Determined where I want the grades/risers. One 3.0 percent, a little steep for a RR, but it'll be ok and the other is 2.08 percent. Incidentally, Elmer's wood glue is kind of thick to brush on.
Glued down 7 more pieces of foam board on the 2nd tier. This completes 2nd tier base. Now just foam build up for the tunnel, railbed cuts and terrain oddities. The railyard will remain at the lower level. Risers/grade will be at both ends of the railyard. Seligman will have a small yard, there will be at least one passing siding, and some on the road businesses for switch jobs as well. Intend to use the new Micro Engineering ladder system to optimize the railyard space. Trimmed foam strips will be used to make the "cuts" for interest. Waste not. Lol.