"ALL IN"

Moonman,

I have never seen anyone drill a hole and attach wires to rails that way.  While some would say soldering is better, I like this method.  Even though I was trained as an electronics technician 40 years ago and have soldered a good bit, I always had trouble soldering wire to rail.  I am thinking of giving your method a try.  Thank you!!

Oh, thanks for the correction!!

Ingenerio1, thank you for sharing this method.  Yes, I was wondering about the source of the screws, but I am not ready for the permanent building stage yet.

Darren,

You have the beginnings of a great model railroad.  The well planned design, bench work construction and time taken laying the track will pay off huge with great running trains.

Keep us posted on your progress.  I've really enjoyed seeing your work.

Happy for you and your boys-just wish it was in my basement! 

Darren,

The benchwork and layout look great! Your Layout is coming along nicely. I'm also using Homasote. Keeps everything nice and quiet. Please keep the updates coming.

Andy

With the help of my wife, we painted the Homasote, YES, the wife helped, and I know, I am very lucky!  I also know I should have done this before I ever put the cork roadbed or track down, but I'm not always the most patient person.

I got some cheap paint and had them get it as close to black as they could.

I also couldn't resist setting out the buildings so I can see how they'd actually look on the layout.

We picked up some "sky" blue paint and that will be the next project, to paint the tan wall around the layout blue.  I'm going to leave the green wall alone for now.

Darren

Darren, that made a big difference! You can visualize the scenery. On the sky blue, paint a test area and go away for a while. Then come back and get a first impression. getting the shade that you like will be a pain.

I went with Tibetan Sky from Sherwin Williams in egg shell. I looked at the sky on a perfectly clear sunny day and chose what I thought was the color just above the trees on the horizon. It's very light, but it reacts to lighting changes. Oh, I also put their commercial white primer product on first to get exactly the shade that I wanted. The undercoat definitely impacts the color of the finish coat.

Darren,

It is certainly coming along nicely!!  You are doing a great job!

It's going to be a great layout.  Keep at it!

Great progress!

Peter

Great and very fast progress! What is the size of your layout? Has the project design to post because I really liked your layout!

Hi, great to follow this layout!  Do you have a track plan or photo of the track plan that you could share?

Also, what is the distance from the floor to the top of rail for both levels?

Did you pick that height based on your height or some other factor(s).

Thank you.

Looking good!  Keep us posted.

Darren it is looking great keep up the good work!!

Thanks everyone for the kind words.

Leandro, I had actually started the layout benchwork last October or November, but with three kids it is not always easy to find the time.

Abuelo, I had a few fellow forum members assist me with a track plan, using SCARM, which I modified and am still modifying.  If you scroll back to page 1, I think there is a link to that post.  I started with pencil and paper, and it has evolved from there, but even my modifications start with that same formula.The lower portion is 38" and the upper is 48".  I wanted to be able to work under the benchwork without hitting my head, LOL.  

Darren

Until I looked I had not realized how long it had been since I posted an update, shame on me!  I made some changes to the far loop.  I wasn't happy with two similar loops so I divided them into one upper and one lower.  This division made the main line over twice as long, an added some additional scenery with tunnels, and as you can see from the pictures I added an upper track which will run separate from the main line.

Darren:

You are my benchworking hero.  Thanks for posting these.  I'm going to do some similar work this weekend and you've inspired me.

I have a question: What sort of fascia will you be putting on this curved area?

Will this go all the way to the floor and be curved?

What are your thoughts in this area?

Thanks again for sharing.

Steven J. Serenska

Darren,

Thank you for the update on your layout progress.  It looks like it is coming along nicely!  Yes, time does fly when we are having fun with trains!!  

Question, how wide are your aisles?  Personally I don't need very wide aisles, as I'm pretty skinny for a guy in his late 50s, but I don't want mine to be too narrow for visitors.

I just read and viewed this thread from start to finish for the first time--it's terrific.  Looking forward to more updates as your work progresses.

Thanks for sharing.

This is one of those threads that I can hardly wait for a new update!

You're well on your way now!

It is shaping up to be one fine looking layout.

Thank you all for the encouragement.

Steven, I'm still planning that area, but I was thinking of using masonite down to the main framework, then skirting from there on down.  This way the skirting is at a uniform height all around the layout.  It's all still "up in the air" for that end of the layout.  We'll see, it may be modified as I come up with better ideas or see something that sparks my interest.

Mark, the original aisle width was another one of the reasons I changed that end of the layout, I had to turn sideways to get through there.  It is now, at it's narrowest point, about 22", and then widens out to a more comfortable distance.

Darren

Thank you Darren, 22 inches is good.  Yes, I want to make sure I don't have to turn sideways when I build my next layout either.

Darren - just found this thread and WOW what an inspiration!  Can't wait  for your next report. I am also in the process of setting my layout up after several years of putting it on the back burner, but this Christmas it is going be running one way or the other.  I really like the dark color you put on the Homasote, can you share what color and brand it is?  Thanks...

Mike

Hi Darren,

Well done. Do you have a track plan that you can share with the forum?  What size are the curves on your layout?

Mike,

I purchased the paint from Home Depot, it is Glidden brand, I asked for a cheap flat paint and to make it as close to a flat black as they could, I am happy with the results, especially for $13.

George,

Unfortunately I do not, if you browse through this post from start to finish I think there is a link to another post in which forum members used SCARM, and designed a layout from my original drawings, but I have strayed from that, for various reasons.

I figured I would post some pictures of the layout before Christmas.  I decided to keep the Roundhouse and I have purchased a MRS 28" turntable, expected to be here mid January (Yes, I am excited!)  You can see the upper loop trackwork is almost complete, a few switches and benchwork odds & ends to finish up.  I have to "cut-in" the siding switches and finish the yard/turntable area trackwork, I still need more track.  It's a work in progress, but the plan is to have some scenery started by this time next year.  Hope everyone has a nice Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Darren

I just love your layout!  The design, train room, lighting, and long straight sections make for such a nice looking display of your trains.  Should be fun to operate also !

I think you'll be happy you kept the roundhouse area, the MHRs TT will look great there.  A TT is on my 'must have' list of layout requirements because of detail projects, locomotive storage on the layout and it adds an interesting area for visitors to view.

I just discovered this thread too.  Very nice looking layout and done in a relatively short time compared to most of us.  Can't wait to see more progress.

Art

Darren,

I want to come over and play!!!

You're doing a great job! Keep up the good work and don't forget to document the progress so we can see your layout OGR magazine.

Darren,

Nice progress this year! Looks like you'll be running for the holidays!

I noticed in one photo that the lighting changes how the sky color looks when it is more direct. Keep that in mind when planning the scenery and effects.

Best wishes for the holidays.Best wishes for the holidays

What a great layout.  Merry Christmas.

Very nice, I've just finished reading the entire thread.

Doug

SUPERB!!!

It arrived and though it took longer than I wanted (Nobody's fault, just couldn't get to it due to kids being sick and work) The 28" Millhouse River Studioz Turntable is installed.  I know it has been stated before, but Alan is an excellent person to deal with.  You know when your happy with the box the turntable arrived in, your going to be happy with what's inside, and I am very pleased. 

I have a lot more work to complete before it is operational, but, to me, this was the most difficult step.

Darren

Class act going on there Darren. That's going to be a very nice looking layout. Keep the fun going.

Larry

Darren, It is looking great!  I am glad to see your wife approves too!

Darren love seeing the progress any chance you have a layout drawing in SCARM.  I have three kids and a similar space I would like to see an overall view.

Thanks

Darren, Thank you! Layout is looking awesome. Keep me posted and if you have any questions please drop me an email or call.