Which System, NCE?

Mark:

Operation scheduled to begin 2017 (joke).

This project has been a series of engineering puzzles starting with how to solder feeders without your track looking like Dresden after the attack.
What has held me up and slowed my progress was how to do the track in the streets going up Santa Fe Street. I have what I beleive is a workable solution. I found one box of the parts made by Walthers (out of production) of concrete track inserts. I am using these as patterns and cutting my own out of .20 plastic with shims to raise to track height. I thought I would make the streets concrete, but about two weeks ago Ron White told me he remembers they were brick. You can find what is left on some sidings and they are concrete. So I have decided that the streets will be brick with concrete around the track, similar to what the Walthers kits represented. Solved.

I also had an issue on how to model the 12th Street Viaduct, a distinctive structure that identifies the scene. I found a resin bridge sold by a hobby shop in Bonner Springs (Lucky Irishman) that has the curved piece of the bridge structure that I can use as a starting point. Solved.

My next quandry are my locomotives. They are bright, shiny black plastic GM&O and undecorated. I don't trust myself to repaint these in a more work a day looking Frisco. I have asked around for repainters in the KC area, so far no luck. Not solved.

I also have the issue of all the brick buildings, with a few distinctive ones
like the Crooks warehouse and the curved back Rudy Patrick building.
Trying to scratch build all these would take the rest of my life and building them from DPM panels would cost the GNP of France. I may try the route of photo's Photoshopped and mounted on Gator Board. Not solved.

So, I would say two months to have something that looks like a railroad with some operational capabilities. But please remember this is a modest effort not comparable to some of the fantastic railroads in KC, like Ricks.
My goals were:
1) Based on some prototype with at least one recognizable feature.
2) A railroad I like, of which Frisco was one.
3) Shelf around the room and at no time the plywood pacific look.
A large dose of Lance Mindheim here (great website).
4) Not the center of my universe in time and money.
5) Lots of operational possibilities, like working the Armour plant.
Keep a couple of people busy for a couple of hours.
6) Stay focused, don't buy something just because it comes out.
So far pretty good except for the FM switcher in BY which was
a Tulsa locomotive.

So far, I think I have met my objectives, but there have been challenges.

Thanks for asking, and since you directed me towards the West Bottoms you may get the first throttle.

John

 

John, I just did a street system that represents the Frisco here in Wichita in the Mosley street warehouse area. This was a street of brick with the tracks inserted and believe me, I had the same problem you face with how to do this. I found a product by a company called "The N-scale architect" in their' Model builder's supply line'. This consist of two sheets of 11" x 14" white styrene sheets per pack and the cost is about $20 a pack depending on your hobby shop. It is available from Walthers. They have several different styles available. To help with clearance problems fro the flanges, I took loose rail and glued it to the ties using "Barge" brand glue. This is a product that is about .020 thick and very easy to use, but you face lots of fitting and filing. You might want to check it out and I could mail you a scrap sample of the material I have left.

Also great for constructing buildings.

 

Congratulations !!!!!! Welcome to the world of DCC. I knew you could do it.