What I have been doing for the past 10 months

Very interesting and ambitious.

 

One question: hopw come you have what appears to be red insulation in certain areas of the wall, but not in other areas? What is the rationale?

 

Thanks,  Mark

Thanks Jared for sharing what you have so far.  Keep us updated as you progress.

Mark,

The wall that contains the pink foam has a board that runs along the top of the ceiling that is the same thickness as the foam.  That way there is one smooth surface to build next to.  The other walls don't have the pink foam because I didn't build all the way up against the wall.  You can't tell in the picture, but there is about two feet between the tables and the one wall.  Eventually the wall that has the pink foam will continue to the left and the other side of the stairs.  I just haven't gotten that far yet.  I don't have a large enough vehicle to buy whole sheets.  I have to find someone willing to help.  Everything else I was able to cut and get into my car.

Very nice, keep up the good work.

 

 

Jared: Where in Lake City does an aerospace engineer work????My wife's from Jax originally and we may be moving back again next year when I retire in January. If that happens, maybe I can help you out sometime. (I'll be retiring from "aerospace").

Larry D.

Larry,

 I work at Timco Aerospace at the airport in Lake City.  Any help would be appreciated if you do move back to the area.  Having someone to share this with would make it more enjoyable.

Wow, that is some serious construction! I don't think the walls of my house have that many studs! Impressive!

I see a fair bit of benchwork lying on the floor that is subsequently lifted up upon the legs. How did you manage to raise the tabletop framing onto the legs? (realizing that this is a general layout-building question, but your pics brought the process to mind)

 

---PCJ

Thanks for the replies guys.  Being an engineer, I may have over designed it.  As for the benchwork, I took it one section at a time.  I clamped a section to the control center, added my 2x2 legs, bolted them in place after leveling that section, and moved onto the next.  Working by myself, made it quite interesting trying to get each section leveled.  I had several quick bar clamps, the kind you squeeze to tighten.  Each of the sections can be unbolted and moved if I ever have to leave.

Looking good, Jared! Please keep us posted as it progresses.

It looks real good Jared. I like the way you are doing your bench work. I bet you have it planed that so should you ever decide to move it you will be able to take it apart in sections.

The cabnet you built was a very smart idea it will give the layout a central point for people eys to be drawn to, instead of the typical unbroken curtain.

 

Well good luck with it and keep us posted as things develop. 

 

Thank You,

Mario E.

Great work! I am anxious to see its progress.

 

Please, keep us posted.

 

Thanks for sharing.

 

Alex

 

wow WOW WOW !!!

 

I love it when a plan comes together. Keep us posted

 

And keep up the good work!

 

Just a suggestion, if you are using Ross switches you may want to use gargraves track. The really are a good fit together for the right price.

 

 

Well it took me several months to save enough money to purchase the switches I needed to finish the outside loop.  The biggest purchase was the double crossover which needed to be located first before I could lay anything else.  I had ordered them from Bob, but when he got sick, he was unable to complete the order.  Took awhile to find someone else to offer the same great deal he was giving me.  Anyway, this is what I was able to accomplish over the Memorial Day weekend.  The NASA car and PA HW passenger are my two longest cars.  Hopefully there will be enough clearance if I ever get longer ones or longer engines for that matter.  I ended up having to cut several supports to make room for the cars to clear.  The masonite will go all around, I just hadn't put the rest up yet.  I wanted to start laying track instead.  I have my sky blue colors picked out, but will wait to paint until I pull the track back up after trying it out and then laying cork.

 

On another note, how do you go about updating the message title to show updates have been made to this topic?  I know several of you do this when making updates to your layout posts.

Jared, This is quite an interesting thread and generous of you to share your progress with us. Judging from all you've done so far, you must have a huge sense of accomplishment every time you work on your layout and go upstairs after finishing that day's effort. This is going to be fun, watching you succeed.

Frank

Hi Jared very impressive, please keep us posted
Looks great.

Thanks for sharing, Alex

Looks great Jared, keep up the good work and thanks  for sharing.

Hi Jared: What a surprise, I live in Lake City for about four years or so, and of course I would like to meet with you, in fact, I call you about half a hour ago an leave a message in your answer machine, I have a phone call from Bill, he was in my train room on May 28 and took pictures of my layout and posted in this forum, I am like you: building a layout, we have to meet so we can run some trains, my control is DCS and Lagacy (unfortunately my remote and base are under repairs in Ohio), give me a call when you have a chance or shoot me an E-mail, hava fun with your project.

Maybe the next time I pass through Lake City I can check out the progress on your and Churu's layout. I hope you guys can get together and share your hobby.

Thanks for the comments and encouragement everyone.  Moonson, you are correct in the feeling I get of the sense of accomplishment.  It's hard to pull myself away each time I work on it.  I keep telling myself, that's enough time to stop, but I always find some other little thing to work on.

 

Churu, got your phone message.  I'll send you an e-mail also.

 

Bill, would be nice meeting you also the next time you come through.  We've actually e-mailed before in the past.  I asked about your circuit diagram for the X-10 camera.  Still haven't built one yet.  Figured it was best to have a layout first.

 

Just finished laying more track on the middle peninsula.  Will have to take more pictures tomorrow after getting back from the hobby store in Jacksonville.

 

Jared

Basement in Florida?  Who knew?  Congrats for coming up with a great layout plan and then actually doing it, very impressive.