Layout construction started

That’s a big step Jack, congratulations. Good thinking in taking care of the walls with clouds and sky blue paint. Are you going to use foam board on any flat areas?

Jay

Foam board - not sure. Homasote maybe. I know it is messy to cut. Must be something 1/2” thick.

Benchwork looks good. If the flat areas need to support only lightweight scenery and structures, you might consider extruded pink foam for the base.

Picture shows the north end of my 10'-by-5' layout. There is a 1/2-inch plywood base topped by 1-inch layers of extruded pink foam. Except for the bridges, the track is laid on cork roadbed glued to the foam. Extruded pink foam is not messy to work with and can be stacked and easily carved to make lightweight scenery.

MELGAR

The foam board makes for easier landscaping too. You can carve gullies, streams, recess structures, etc.

Looking good! It's only been a few years since my dad and I were at that same point in our layout, but it feels like it's given me decades of memories already.

Don't wait too long to run trains either! We started running as soon as the first track loop was closed, hardly a 'complete' layout but exciting.

https://ogrforum.com/...4#184861143571005274

I’m already have the urge to run some trains. I’ve got to get the upper loop done to run my larger engines.

@Jack L posted:

Foam board - not sure. Homasote maybe. I know it is messy to cut. Must be something 1/2” thick.

Homasote can be cut with a knife or "smooth" saber saw blade to minimize the mess.

Jack, that looks like a great start!  I agree, the painted walls look great!

I've finished the framing. I built the wall on the left a while ago adding some outlets and extended a wire out to connect to outlets in the future platform framing. You can see the yellow wire coming out along on of the joist. It connects to a switch and then on to outlets on either side of the aisle-way. I wanted a 'kill' switch so if something goes wrong and can cutoff the power to everything in an instant.

Congratulations Jack, that’s a major milestone.

Very good looking, Jack.

Progress continues on my layout. All of the elevated lines are in place except for a 70" long truss bridge that will cross about mid-way back proceeding from the left across the bridge to a Y track for turning trains around. Once that is in place, next will be the 'flat lands' - maybe.  I'm thinking I may do the mountains/plateaus at the elevated lines leaving out sections of plywood so I can more readily access the areas.

The upper level will be a double track main with two cross-overs and the Y-track. It is 10.75" above the framing at the post on the left and goes up to 13.29" along the right wall. The maximum grade is 1.60%. In the forefront of the picture you can see the line coming off and dropping down and ducking under the upper level on the right finally connecting to the lower level in the back right. The grade on this line is 2.50% which is the maximum grade on the layout.

Nicely done!

Peter

I like your progress, Jack!  What are you planning for the tracks crossing the access opening in the foreground?

Two truss bridges will cross the aisle way in the foreground. One will be a single track structure and the other will be a double track crossing. They are both 40” (160 scale feet) long.

I used the Atlas double track bridge for mine.  With some thick plexiglass attached to the underside for stability so I can lift up one end and walk through.

I don’t think there’s any commercial availability truss bridges that are 40” long. So, I’ll need to build them myself.

Everything so far is looking good @Jack L!

The Atlas add on kit converts the 40” single track Pratt truss bridge to a double track bridge.  Buying new gets a little pricey.  I was fortunate to buy mine used, already built.

https://shop.atlasrr.com/p-230...idge-add-on-kit.aspx

Expensive indeed, around $600 for two kits plus add on. No thanks. I’ll buy used or build it myself.

I thought you would say that and I agree.  I would not have bought one new either.

Did you use any software to design your layout or did you hand draw it? Either way could you share the design? Thanks!!

I used an AutoCAD compatible program - CMS Intellicad. I’ll create a PDF of the layout and post it tomorrow.

This is the overall layout design I am using.

The black track is the lower level and is basically flat. The magenta track is the connection between the lower and upper level track. I call it the Mid-Level. The blue track is the double track upper level and varies between 10.75" and 13.29" above the framing. The red track are custom cut sections of track.

The following three drawings shown each of the three levels separately.

I used the CAD program to design my layout because I wanted to be able to get coordinates for any point on the layout and be able to translate that to the actual layout. On the bottom left of the drawing for the Upper Level 0,0 of the coordinate system is called out. I marked out a grid system on the framing from which to measure and locate any point.

I am a retired structural engineer whose area of practice was highway structures like bridges, retaining walls, etc. We used stationing along the alignments which were also the profile grade line.  I used that same system for designing my layout. On each level drawing you will see Stations, Elevation, and in some cases coordinates for points along the track.

Jack, that is a really well thought out plan!  That is great you can use your background in structural engineering and CAD to plan in a very detailed and precise manner.

@Jack L Thanks for sharing! You put a lot of time in your planning and I'm sure it's gonna come out great!

@Jack L posted:

I've finished the framing. I built the wall on the left a while ago adding some outlets and extended a wire out to connect to outlets in the future platform framing. You can see the yellow wire coming out along on of the joist. It connects to a switch and then on to outlets on either side of the aisle-way. I wanted a 'kill' switch so if something goes wrong and can cutoff the power to everything in an instant.

Great beginnings Jack!

For the truss bridges I need for my layout I decided to purchase a 3D printer, design the truss, draw in ICad in 3D, export the STL files, use Cura to generate the gcode files, and then print out and assemble the truss. I've completed on of the 40" trusses I need. Photos follow.

Jack, that truss bridge looks great!  It is certainly strong enough to carry an engine as the 4th photograph shows.  Considering you already have the printer, the bridge cost very little compared to my Atlas 40" double track truss bridge I bought used.