Building my layout, I don't want any buildings, I just want track and be able to run trains without worrying about Buildings.
Farmer_Bill posted:Building my basement empire.
My unsolicited advice, FarmerBill? Do it while you are still young and rough-n-tough, full of vim-n-vigor. Here I am, twenty years after I constructed the first platform for the layout, and I can't say I'd start the whole thing, now, at 71+, that I did back then. (I might be alone in that regard, though.
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I've been working on this for some time - a kitbash mega-motor loco. I settled on a Williams E-7 since it was what I could get cheap (had to sacrifice a dummy A unit). The A unit is 90% done - just needs some finish work (different screws here and there, more interesting shell, and a front coupler). What I've been really putting off is the A' unit, which will still have the four trucks but only three motors - the empty truck will be reserved for speaker and sound unit from Dallee Electronics. As to shells I'm not sure - Williams has more colorful shells available for ~$50 ea (like the Chesapeake and Ohio) and I might just go with that rather than something custom.
A unit stats:
- Williams E-7 shell
- Custom CNC machined frame and truck spanners
- 4x NOS reproduction GG1 trucks w/traction tires
- 4X NOS Pullmor motors
- 2x Dallee 12A reversing units
- Fixed pilot (sits up too high but I'll leave it for now) and rear steps
- Weighs 10.0 lbs
- Drawbar pull of 4.4 lbs (MTH RealTrax)
Pulls like a hoss and runs like a champ. Needs O72 or bigger but I have that on one of my lines. I thought it'd pull more than it does but alas it still pulls pretty good. It's been a great project but WOW do I have a lot of $$$ into it. The CNC stuff wasn't cheap and I went through multiple motor/truck combinations and CNC parts (spanners).
Nice job!Great idea. I love Frankentrain projects like this one.If you ever wanna sell it,let me know.
ericstrains.com posted:Putting off 2 things....
1) Putting "water" in my lake.
2) Adding sidewalks to my town.
I probably need to bite the bullet and just get em done.
-Eric Siegel
Your layout looks great Eric,I have been waiting to see you add more structures,and 'life' to it.That control tower you put up is spot on in excellance'.
I drive truck and go down to the BNSF in Chicago,and they have a new control tower that looks very,very similar to yours.I've been wanting to take pictures of it,but the rail yard has strict rules about taking photos and video,and security patrols it pretty tight.
It is great to be able to see it all happen in real time,the M-1's loading and unloading the containers and trailers!!
Perhaps if I ask permission,they will allow me to take a couple photos of it,but the resemblance to yours is uncanny!!!
That tower certainly added a lot of 'life' to your layout!! So keep up the great work.I've watched it grow since the beginning,and the fact that it is still growing is a testament to your commitment to get the exact results that you envision! Thanks for sharing it with us.-Kenny B.
Unfortunatly,my job interferes with my hobby,so there is much left undone on the new layout.Going to York to get some ideas for tunnels and ground cover.It's rather small at 10x20,but I have 3 mainlines running now,072/054/036.I wanted to be able to run the larger stuff and the old streamliners,so my only requirement was that it had to have 1 072 line. I try to do something every time I get a 58 hour break,but some scenery needs to happen soon.
When I started my layout, I thought it would be cool to cut out a section out of the table and run a couple of bridges over it. Then I could create a ravine of some sort, and include some fake water at the bottom and have people fishing or tubing, or something. Two years later I have a square hole with some flat pink foam board on the bottom. However, it does make a handy place in which to throw crap.
SDIV Tim posted:Building my layout, I don't want any buildings, I just want track and be able to run trains without worrying about Buildings.
That's an interesting approach, Timothy, one I had not thought of. It would be very interesting to see how you execute your plan to have track and no buildings whatsoever. Would you share your progress with us as you execute your concept? May we see it develop as you go along, sir?
FrankM.
