2018 Christmas Layout plans done

Walt, if those are to be reversing loops on the green line, you will have to change to direction on the switches on one of the loops.

Looks like you have a "loaded for bear" layout. Should be a lot of fun.

walt rapp posted:

not sure why i'm creating this post since my thought is 'who cares?'

 

I always enjoy seeing your Christmas plans, Walt.  Thanks for taking the time to share them.  

Walt......always love to see what you come up with....you have great skill as a modeller.

Peter

walt rapp posted:

not sure why i'm creating this post since my thought is 'who cares?', but here i am anyways.

I have my plans for my 2018 Christmas layout finalized - wiring, scenery, homasote placement, everything. 

Walt, we care! Always interesting to see yours and everyone's layout ideas and then watch them to completion.

Looks like a very nice and well thought out plan! I really enjoy looking at other's track plans and seeing what they are doing for layouts. I'm green and it helps me with ideas. I also admire everyone that is dedicated to doing all this for Christmas or other holiday layouts, just like clockwork every year right on time. It gives the rest of us (me anyway) incentive and inspiration! 

Another nice Christmas layout from you Walt. Look forward to seeing it in action.  Nick T. 

Yes, please post pix when you have it completed. It's a very interesting and unique plan.

Great work again Walt. Amazing effort you put into this each year.

I can't believe its almost Christmas again.....

Nice design, looks like a lot of action with all those loops.

Thanks for sharing.

russ

Walt,

Your plans look like they were made with fun in mind.  I always enjoy seeing them and the photos from Christmas that will be coming!

Norm  

Norm posted:

Walt,

Your plans look like they were made with fun in mind.  I always enjoy seeing them and the photos from Christmas that will be coming!

Norm  

Unstated, but it is my #1 goal EVERY year..  Good catch on your part Norm!

tripleo posted:

Walt, if those are to be reversing loops on the green line, you will have to change to direction on the switches on one of the loops.

Looks like you have a "loaded for bear" layout. Should be a lot of fun.

HOLY SMOKE - how in the world did I miss that?  Thanks for finding my error.  Boy, I got some hard thinking to do now.

Walt,

I love that you come up with a new and different layout each Christmas.  I look forward to watching your progress and of course the final result.

Christmas is only 72 days away and it will be here before you know it.

Let me be the first to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas & a Happy and Healthy New Year.

Thanks to triplo finding the shortcoming in one of my track's design, I was able to easily correct it by doing exactly as he suggested by changing the orientation of 2 of the switches.  I'll post a new diagram shortly.

Maybe I"ll mention 2 other things just for general interest:

1. the layout is 14 feet wide and 11 feet deep.

2. the 2 tin-plate tracks are both command control DCS.  The 2 inner set of track are traditional power, meaning non-command.

I'm so happy now that I actually did create this thread because without tripleo giving a serious look at it I wouldn't have found the flaw in my design until I ran things for testing and then having to tear things up to fix it.  The forum comes thru again!

Be back in a day or 2 with a picture of the altered design, even though it's a minor change

- walt

updated version - only the small change of the 2 switches.  Thanks again tripleo!

walt rapp posted:

tripleo posted:

Walt, if those are to be reversing loops on the green line, you will have to change to direction on the switches on one of the loops.

Looks like you have a "loaded for bear" layout. Should be a lot of fun.

HOLY SMOKE - how in the world did I miss that?  Thanks for finding my error.  Boy, I got some hard thinking to do now.

I have a friend who did that because he was running a streetcar/trolley on that line and it then required operator input to reverse. Looking forward to the build!

Walt, your Christmas layout looks great. You will have a lot of fun building it and running it. Please continue to post pictures of your progress and when its completed.

Love it!! Looks so cool!

Fun.  I will enjoy watching this come to be, operating through the Christmas season, and in the Christmas 2018 Layout Memories!  

AAH, yes, it's all about 2018 Christmas Layout memories Jeff 

Thought I'd post an image of the VERY expensive custom tools that I use.  No software for me, just these VERY expensive tools:

My 'Grid' is based on 1" = 2'.  So I found washers and other round objects that match exactly to 27", 42", 54", and 72" curves based on that ratio.  The cardboard piece on the left is for 45 degree angles coming out of curves , such as after one 27" or two 54" curves,  while the one on the right is for use with 42" curves allowing for coming out after one curve or 2 (30 degrees on one angle, 60 on the other).

Like I said, VERY expensive stuff 

- walt

walt rapp posted:

Thought I'd post an image of the VERY expensive custom tools that I use.  No software for me, just these VERY expensive tools:

Like I said, VERY expensive stuff 

- walt

Leonardo da Vinci would be proud Walt!!