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It's time to begin adding the second track level. Roy starts to space out the risers to roughly set the % of rise. (John is working in background on wiring for another layout which I'll try to document in another thread.) 2nd level platforms waiting to be installedAs you can see from the track plan lying on the platform, the track goes beyond the Basic Layout itself. We're already building a set of platforms (below) for the addition which will hold the switching yard and turntable ( attached by a trackboard umbilical cord).Basic Layout, 2nd level going upBasic Layout, 2nd level right side

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Images (3)
  • Basic Layout, 2nd level going up
  • Basic Layout, 2nd level right side
  • 2nd level platforms waiting to be installed: Wrong title. These platforms are for the turntable & switching yard which are attached by trackboards to the Basic Layout.

SELECTION-OF-DS-STOCK-GRADE-&-PLATFORM-SUPPORTS

Hi Guys,

This post is especially for John DeAlto, but also especially about how we do things here.  When you build as many layouts, and in all styles, I tend to carry around in my mind a series of "qualifications" such as "Hi-Rail", "Scale", "Traditional" and "Fantasy".  I could use these uprights (which came right out of our parts box), in the Hi-Rail, Traditional and Fantasy groups, but not in the others.  There are other, more realistic, solutions that can serve exactly the same purpose, as on our NYC/Long Island layout (see our separate OGR Forum thread for that). That's just my thinking.  As you can see there are several different approaches here, including the "little guy" who functions as the edge detail on a platform face to complete the sense all the risers on the layout have set.  You'll see this happen on this project, later on when we get to the upper center level.   Note that the Grade Angle has been cut into the top member of all the supports.

Clarke

clarke@dunhamstudios.com

PLATFORM-UPRIGHT-DETAIL-WITH-TAPECLOSEUP-OF-'STACKED'-SUPPORT-MEMBERSPLATFORM-UPRIGHTS-ON-GRADE----GRADE ANGLE-CUT-ONTO-TOP-MEMBER

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Images (4)
  • CLOSEUP-OF-'STACKED'-SUPPORT-MEMBERS
  • PLATFORM-UPRIGHT-DETAIL-WITH-TAPE
  • PLATFORM-UPRIGHTS-ON-GRADE----GRADE ANGLE-CUT-ONTO-TOP-MEMBER
  • SELECTION-OF-DS-STOCK-GRADE-&-PLATFORM-SUPPORTS
Last edited by Dunham Studios
Seacoast posted:

What are the dimensions of this layout and what size curves are you using?

Hi George,

The main layout is just less than 18 x 18 feet and the Turntable/Yard area is approximately 4 x 18 feet with a slight bump out on the yard's return loop.  The ruling radii are O72 & O-63 to the Upper O-54 level.  All levels are interconnected so that you can run to any loop/level from the Yard/Turntable area and return.

Clarke

JPC, as the title of the thread states this is a "basic" layout. Good custom builders work to a number of price points. This layout appears to me to not using 3D CAD or CNC machining from a 3D CAD file. The carpentry work here is well done and appears to be a good and cost effective approach for this layout.

I am having a layout built that would be considered "way beyond basic." It is completely modeled in 3D CAD and all the structure was CNC cut. The appearance and assembly is completely different from what is pictured here.

Quite untrue, Tom.  There is no "better price point" than computer aided design and CNC routing.  If you had followed this thread from the start, you would have seen that this is all 3D designed and all CNC cut.  In fact, because of the CNC side of it all, we've been able to adhere the rugging to the plywood before cutting on the CNC router.  Further, we were able to precisely draw the track and turnout locations on the rugging after mounting it on the plywood using the CNC to draw the lines with a Magic Marker directly on the rug.  "Basic" or no basic, you can't make money by cutting out the technical side of it. 

All, of us in the business have different professional backgrounds and different technical approaches.  Mine comes from fifty years in Stage Design.  As  result, I would rather die than have an Architectural CAD approach to my designs or construction.  It is limiting and un-artistic, and I regret the direction it has taken American Architecture.  As this is architecture "writ small", the same applies here.  Check Page One of this Thread.  That's where all the 3D and CNC stuff is.

The difference in construction appearance you've noticed is that we use construction techniques from the Broadway Theater.  Everything in a Broadway Set has to break down into "truckable" sections.  This is a lesson well learned, but not applied by all in the hobby.  As a result, we've been able to install large and complex historically accurate layouts through tiny third story windows in 17th Century Farmhouses and Historically Certified California homes as well as the huge 32-train multi-gauge Station At Citicorp Center layout, which had to pack, section by section & piece by piece, into two 53 foot tractor-trailers and then assemble over a weekend into a thirty-foot-high Victorian Station Building with all those trains and all those layout sections inside.  Year-after-year for more than twenty years.

Last edited by Dunham Studios

Clarke, I have followed the thread from the start. I am really pleased you are taking the time to post these pictures to encourage others to contact you about a layout. There are many who would like to have a layout that either do not have the time or skills to make what they want. I think you offer a viable solution for many of them. Our hobby will benefit.

Regarding the CAD, I saw the screen shots and the plotter, I guess I did not recognize the program. I thought it was 2D with 3D rendering capability. I still do not see the CNC equipment. Apparently you are saying the plywood layers and other shapes were CNC cut. Keep the posts coming.

For Tom's question raised about the CNC Router, it's my fault. I didn't think the picture I had was 'sexy' enough, but take a look. Here's Fletcher, our computer guru at the router on this project. I may be able to scrounge a couple more photos as I go into other projects. At the moment we're working on 4 projects at once so I occasionally miss a day of photo ops and let things slip by. Sorry. (I do promise to start at least 1 more thread on a more complex layout...or 2.

BarbStraightforward Layout Fletcher with platform topsSubway layout, Fletch & Kim watch platform tops being cut

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  • Straightforward Layout Fletcher with platform tops
  • Subway layout, Fletch & Kim watch platform tops being cut

We haven't exactly been hiding the CNC Router, but Barb didn't consider it to be "worthy" of a featured photo.  We'll take care of that ASAP.  It shows up a lot on our Website (www.dunhamstudios.com) on a lot of our HO Scale Layouts.  In terms of the design programs, there are several that, working together, provide a much more integrated and powerful design solution than an ordinary CAD program.  Notice that the track location has been routed into the platform tops in this particular layout.  We feel that it gives a more "Scale Appearance" that way.  Also, we will often lay indoor-outdoor carpet between the track and the plywood as a sound-deadening factor.

But now that you mention it, you should know that it joins a Computer-Driven team of The CNC Router, plus the large Laser-Cutter and three generations of 3D Printers.

Fletcher lifting off cut-away portion.Fletcher explaining a cut in the platformThe brains giving directions to the routerClose up of router working.Router at work cutting track depression.IMG_0163

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Images (5)
  • Fletcher lifting off cut-away portion.
  • Fletcher explaining a cut in the platform
  • The brains giving directions to the router
  • Close up of router working.
  • Router at work cutting track depression.IMG_0163

John Doty is laying track on the auxiliary section of the Basic Layout. This section houses the Engine Storage. and is attached to the Basic Layout by a track bridge. Notice that the indicator lines are marked for placement of the center rail.Although this part of the layout has its rugging and T-111 base, it still has to be painted.John does trackwork on engine storage areaEngine storage area of Basic Layout.

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  • John does trackwork on engine storage area
  • Engine storage area of Basic Layout.

Tilting the platform on edge makes it easier to work on. John is marking the underneath where he'll drill to insert the wires to the track. On Friday, John installed the 30" turntable into the next auxiliary section of the Basic Layout. Meanwhile, Delia's assembling the second level for the Basic Layout itself while Roy is finishing touching up the painted edges of the trackboards.

Barbturntable installed in auxillary Basic Layout platformDelia setting up platform for 2nd level on Basic LayoutRoy painting platform edgesplatform top with track in placeJohn marking wiring points on back of platform

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Images (5)
  • platform top with track in place
  • John marking wiring points on back of platform
  • turntable installed in auxillary Basic Layout platform
  • Delia setting up platform for 2nd level on Basic Layout
  • Roy painting platform edges

Please excuse the lapse. My camera wasn't working correctly. Here's Mike Burke working on track in center section of Basic Layout. The left side "teardrop" (the second level) has not been installed in the photo below. On the right side in the photo with John Doty you can see both levels.Now it's pretty much a question of finishing the track laying, wiring 'er up and watching 'em go! (It should be that simple!) Oh yes and getting the fascia on and painted.

BarbMike laying track on center of Basic Layoutleft loop lower level with track laid.tracks under tracks on Basic Layouttracks under tracks on Basic Layouttracks under and overright loop basic layout with tracks laid

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Images (5)
  • Mike laying track on center of Basic Layout
  • left loop lower level with track laid.
  • tracks under tracks on Basic Layout
  • tracks under and over
  • right loop basic layout with tracks laid

Sorry for the delay. Clarke  has been working at his 'other life' as a Broadway/Opera Designer readying his set model for a meeting on "Candide" (which Hal Prince is directing at the Rose theater in New York in January before it heads for Paris and other cities worldwide that are celebrating Leonard Bernstein's 100th birthday). The electrical/electronic part of the staff  has been working on the complex track wiring of the Basic Layout but I've neglected to follow along with pix missing shots of the layout upended vertically with the guys wiring it. Now back in its horizontal mode here's where we are.

BarbJohn Doty programming train for Basic LayoutJohn Doty testing train on Basic Layouttrain with cleaning car on 2nd level track of Basic LayoutLayout controls for Basic Layout

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Images (4)
  • John Doty programming train for Basic Layout
  • John Doty testing train on Basic Layout
  • train with cleaning car on 2nd level track of Basic Layout
  • Layout controls for Basic Layout

The turntable for the Basic Layout's auxiliary section finally arrived (after a wait of several months) and John got right to setting it up. (Note how he worked with the section in vertical mode so as not to have to keep crawling around underneath.) The turntable has been bolted in place and is ready for Roy to 'rug'  its platform after which John will give it a whirl (so to speak).

BarbJohn working on installing turntable on Basic Layout auxiliary platformturntable in verticle modeBasic Layout auxiliary section turntable in place

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Images (3)
  • John working on installing turntable on Basic Layout auxiliary platform
  • turntable in verticle mode
  • Basic Layout auxiliary section turntable in place
Dunham Studios posted:

The turntable for the Basic Layout's auxiliary section finally arrived (after a wait of several months) and John got right to setting it up. (Note how he worked with the section in vertical mode so as not to have to keep crawling around underneath.) The turntable has been bolted in place and is ready for Roy to 'rug'  its platform after which John will give it a whirl (so to speak).

BarbJohn working on installing turntable on Basic Layout auxiliary platform

Nice work. We have a Ross turntable and it works great. I wanted to pass on a suggestion, though, that you install a "slip ring" underneath it for the wires. It allows electricity to pass to the track (and bridge if you want) on top, but prevents the wires from eventually twisting over time. We put one under ours years ago and it still works great. You only need a small piece of wood across the bottom beams to mount it in. I'll post a photo when I go to the club this weekend.

Last edited by AGHRMatt

Hi George,  In this case, there is no scenery at all. So, partly for the look and much for the sound-deadening qualities we use carpet, this time a high quality, low pile indoor-outdoor type.  If there were to be scenery we might well use an even flatter/no pile industrial type carpet that quiets everything and also takes scenery well.  Whatever combination works for the job-at-hand, but with Hi-Rail and Conventional O Gauge Trains, layout "quietness" is a major consideration for us.

 

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