Back in February our new layout's benchwork was completed in just a few days. Since then it has been operational and is now going though the scenery stage. The layout is 6 x 16 feet and is 4 feet high. A planned future 6 x 8 foot freight yard extension will be built sometime in the future.
We decided to use Lionel Fastrack as even though we are primarily an MTH store many of our customers prefer to use Fastrack. Also as the old display layout has RealTrax we now have the ability to showcase both types of track. Curves were another deciding factor, we have O-60 on the outer line, O-48 on the middle, and O-36 on the innermost passing siding. This allows us to test to engines which although marked for O-72 or O-54 may in fact run on the smaller diameters. For example the MTH Premier Union Pacific Challenger was able to traverse the O-60 without much difficulty or problems.
All buildings and structures are MTH with the exception of the grain elevator, barn, and Hobo Hotel.
The scenery base is 1 inch thick insulation board. Our track is in no way attached by glue or nails to the foam it simply sits and has not moved a millimeter since it was laid. To create scenery we use a variety of acrylic paints to first cover up the foam and then use Woodland Scenics ground foam, gravel, etc. Products from JTT Scenery and Scenic Express have also been used to create great details.
Power is supplied from an MTH Z-4000 and of course the DCS has been installed since day one.
Be sure to check out our New Layout Album on Facebook for up to date images and we will of course be posting more photos on here!
https://www.facebook.com/media...156589624&type=3
If you are coming to Cleveland next week for the NMRA Convention be sure to pay us a visit in nearby Oberlin, Ohio and see the layout with your own eyes!
