Layout Progress...Never too late!!! "Steel Mill Painted and Weathered" 6/25/24

Thanks Peter!

Much appreciated Mark!

Good Day Everyone! Today's post on the thread is more for opinions and advice on a project I am working on. I am currently preparing the adjacent room to my current layout for an extension and addition. The room will allow me to extend the upper level of the current layout and allow me to run longer trains and also will let the trains disappear for a bit.  Secondly, the upper level to the addition will be 2 Rail, which will satisfy the "itch" I have had for this aspect of the hobby. 

The room is not very large, about 11'X12' which is enough to keep me busy and meet my immediate goals. 

I have provided the design to the extension and my question is do you think that this is a good use of the space that I have for this project? Any comments or suggestions are welcome.

Thanks,

Dave

Two comments:

1.  Are you sure you've left enough room to get completely around your new O scale layout?

2.  Why not make the O gauge reverse loop as small as possible so you can add some "staging" sidings around the loop using wider curves.

Chuck

Hey Chuck,

The way the bench work will be constructed I will be able to reach over and under in most spots. In others, specifically one area I am thinking of, I will need to do a pop up. The staging idea sounds interesting. Can you be more specific?

OK, I'll try to be a little clearer.  First, with the benchwork in the PDF picture, it doesn't look like you will have much room between the walls and the edge of the benchwork.  Might just be my old eyes and "wide hips" talking, but most "experts" (term used in jest) recommend at least 24" to 36" aisle spacing.

Second, put two switches on each side of your balloon loop so that the turnout goes to the outside of the loop.  Then connect the first set of switches with O84 curves and the second set with O96 curves.  Now, you have two tracks to use for concealed staging of trains while the O72 mainline allows for a run-through.  I specifically recommend those curves so that you can run longer equipment and engines through there with minimal chance of problems.  Of course, since most, if not all, of that track will be hidden, you will have to be very careful in the track laying, and you will have to develop a system for identifying occupied tracks to avoid collisions as trains enter.

Chuck

Chuck thanks for the detailed explanation and clarification. Do you believe with the dimensions of my room I will be able to put curves that size in the track design?

Sure, but you will have to remove most of the straight track from your current O72 loop.  Remember, the largest curve I mentioned, O96, is only a little more than 8' in diameter.  Your room is much larger than that, leaving some room for straight track here and there in your "staging."

OK Chuck, thanks for the detailed explanation. I am certainly going to experiment with some of your suggestions. I will be using Flex-track for the most part, even for curves.

Good Evening Guys and Gals,

I decided to post the before and after of the room I will be extending the current layout into. These pics show the paint job and track lighting that was installed. The room is adjacent to the main train room and is 11'X12'.  Though it wasn't a big deal to paint the room and install the lighting after the bench work was built, in the main room, this way saves a lot of time and seems to be the logical way to do things.  

I will begin bench work very soon and post pics of that process.

Dave

The room looks great!

Dave, how does the extension fit into the current layout?

Jan

Dave, Great start! I am still working on sanding mud! LOL

Thanks Mark and Brian!  Brian, I am sure when you get to your bench work all your hard work will have paid off.

Dave

Jan posted:

Dave, how does the extension fit into the current layout?

Jan

Hey Jan, 

I will cut a hole through the wall to connect to the two areas. The upper level of the main train room will be extended into the other room. The top level, in the new room, will be 2 Rail. Does this answer your question?

Dave

Just got caught up on your progress.  Great imagination and scenic skills. 

pennsynut posted:

Just got caught up on your progress.  Great imagination and scenic skills. 

Thank you kindly sir!

Dave, nice track plan. I take it from the plan the upper and lower tracks in the front of the layout will be a duckunder or lift up section???. Looking at that would it be possible to add another switch so you could come into the yard from the opposite direction adding a fourth siding and then you wpould not have to back trains into the yard...................Paul. 

paul 2 posted:

Dave, nice track plan. I take it from the plan the upper and lower tracks in the front of the layout will be a duckunder or lift up section???. Looking at that would it be possible to add another switch so you could come into the yard from the opposite direction adding a fourth siding and then you wpould not have to back trains into the yard...................Paul. 

Paul thanks and your idea is genius. I think I may do that and yes, the entrance will actually be a lift bridge.

Dave

Good Afternoon Everyone. I thought I would post the start of the bench work to the extension of the layout. What you are seeing is the lower level of the extension which is level that will be connected to the upper level from the main room. It is about 39.5" high.

At this point I still need to complete one section on this level, then I will start the upper level which will be somewhat more intricate. 

My goal is to have bench work and track installed in a few weeks, but we'll see. I have an open house in November so maybe I can have trains running by then.

Dave

luvindemtrains posted:

Good Afternoon Everyone. I thought I would post the start of the bench work to the extension of the layout. What you are seeing is the lower level of the extension which is level that will be connected to the upper level from the main room. It is about 39.5" high.

At this point I still need to complete one section on this level, then I will start the upper level which will be somewhat more intricate. 

My goal is to have bench work and track installed in a few weeks, but we'll see. I have an open house in November so maybe I can have trains running by then.

Dave

 

Your benchwork looks professional !   Now would be a great time to apply wall features, even if just skyblue paint.  Good luck with your progress !

Looking good! I don't know, but I think it looks like sky blue already, but then again I am getting old and my vision isn't what it use to be! LOL

Thanks for your wonderful comments Trestle and Mike! Mike you are correct, that is as blue as I'm going to get.

Dave

Here is some more progress on the farm scene and I'm relieved to say it is nearing completion...well at least for the the major elements. It was fun but for some reason getting the figures was a bigger task than I thought. I have added some life to the scene as well as some more scenery. The only thing missing is a little more cattle and some piggies. 

This coming week I will be posting some progress on the extension of the layout which will included completed bench work and installation of track. Stay tuned!

Dave

Dave, The farm looks great!!!!

Thank you Mark! The first area on the layout where there is life.

Dave I am with Mark Great looking! But for me it looks like to much work dealing with hey, corn, feeding the darn cows and pigs! I love it but I think I will stay with fishing! LOL

It’s a great start!  

mike g. posted:

Dave I am with Mark Great looking! But for me it looks like to much work dealing with hey, corn, feeding the darn cows and pigs! I love it but I think I will stay with fishing! LOL

I think you might be right Mike and I will stay with my dog.

Hi Everyone,

It has been a while since I posted. I have been back and forth between the main room and more bench work in the second room. Not much work done in the main room since working on the farm scene and getting it cleaned up for my open house, which by the way went very well. 

However, quite a bit has been done on the layout out extension. I have completed the lower level (3Rail) and trains are running. I got a good start on the upper level (2Rail). The bench work is done and as you see in the pics I have begun to lay track.  The roundhouse and turntable are in the correct place but it looks like I will need to cut into the homasote to install the turntable so that the whisker tracks leading into the round house are flush. This is interesting to me considering the turntable was made to sit on the surface. I assume this is because my  turntable was a conversion from 3 Rail and it simply sits higher. There is a pic of the girder bridge awaiting installation of the piers you see. I actually will need to trim them down about a 1/4 of an inch. 

Once I cut the track that goes inside the roundhouse, install the track in the yard, and install a lift bridge, I will hook up the NCE and get trains running.  I'm hoping to get this done before Christmas. 

Though the extension is in a smaller room I have some creative ideas that if I can pull it off, will give this part of the layout some character.

I actually have some footage of the extension build as well as other updates to the layout. I just need to get in the trenches and do some editing and get it posted. Stayed tuned for that but don't hold your breath, lol. 

As always, comments and suggestions are welcome.

Dave

Looking good Dave! Keep up the wonderful work! Its going to be nice to see the footage you have on hand when done with the edit!

Thanks Mike! Have a great Thanksgiving.

Dave

Thanks Dave. I sure hope you have a nice thanksgiving with your family! Don't eat to much cause you might get the urge to do something on the layout!

Looks great, Dave!!  Thank you for posting!!

Thanks Mark!

mike g. posted:

Thanks Dave. I sure hope you have a nice thanksgiving with your family! Don't eat to much cause you might get the urge to do something on the layout!

Then I'm going to stuff myself like the turkey, lol! Layout here I come.

Good Evening Guys and Gals,

As promised, I will be doing daily layout updates this week. That means work, work, work! I have a goal I want to reach by this coming Saturday, so I am going to take you on the journey with me until I reach that goal. Today adjustments were made to the bench work to have more contour in the real estate.

The first pic shows "a hot mess" as the magic is unraveling. The area you see to the left will be a small river that eventually runs into a small lake. To the left of the river will be a two lane dirt road for light traffic. 

Pic #2 you see at ground level shows HO tunnel portals. The one in the foreground will be a bridge for the dirt road. The second is an overpass/culvert for the 3 rail traffic. Both are crossing over a small river. There is a third bridge, located on top right, also for the dirt road. That bridge will go in the left back corner you see in the first pic by the drill.  I apologize for the black spots. My bench work is my temporary work bench and the inside of culverts and lining of the underside of bridges needed to be sprayed with flat black paint. That will all disappear before the week is out.

Pic #3 shows the turnout that was just installed this past Saturday. The goal was to get all track laid before scenery work began. I fell short of  this task as the installation of lift bridges did not happen. I still need to weather both turnouts that were installed. The other is located in the area to right not pictured.

Pic #4 shows custom bridge abutments that will support a small girder bridge. These have to be painted but turned out fine. Scraps were used to level out the abutments but will be covered in scenery before it's all said and done. I will add bridge shoes and girder plates to finish this up.

Pic #5 shows another aerial view of the river/lake area. You can also see the second bridge a little clearer. The two HO retaining walls you see against the wall are placed in the area that several of them will be located in, hence the last two pics. I have several more of these to make before I can call it quits for tonight. 

Tomorrow the task is to begin roughing in land forms, covering with plaster cloth, and some rock carving.  See you then!

Dave

Dave, that is a lot of work going on.  I like the concept of the scenery, (river, lake, dirt road, overpasses)  The castings look great!  It can be a messy job for sure.  I see one support leg under the widest part of the lake I believe.  How much plywood overhang are you leaving past the supports.  I am thing=king of doing the same thing.  If all that is out in the aisle over the aisle is lightweight scenery, then I should get away with no supports very close to the edge.  It's kind of like the idea of L girder, where a few inches of tabletop can be cantilevered beyond the edge of the support.  Not a lot, I'm sure. 

Good Morning Mark,

In some areas the overhang is as small as an inch and in one area it actually is about 9". This is due to the contour of the plywood. There will be fascia all along the edges of this area as well.

When the bench work was modified more bracing had to be installed to maintain its integrity. Along with that one support leg, shown in the pic, I can climb on the bench work with no problem. I did have to shim that particular leg because it had "sunk" into the carpet after months of initially being built. 

Here is a pic of the under side of the lake area. Try not to get dizzy looking at them. The last three pics show various areas of overhang of the plywood in the lake/river area.

Dave

Dave, looks like you have a good start on an aggressive plan! I hope your able to keep with what you want to get done this week! I will be fallowing along to see your progress! Good Luck!