Conrail Joe Posted December 21, 2017 Share Posted December 21, 2017 Hello everyone! New guy on the forum! I was directed here by AlcanMan, from youtube. It seems like a great active forum. My name is Joe. I'm 41 years old from Rhode Island. I'm a fulltime college student on my way to a masters and an eventual Doctorate in clinical psychology. Why full-time college now you ask? Long story short, I used to drive a tractor trailer, but had a stroke in 2015, leaving me unable to drive commercially. As an Army veteran the VA has a rehab program to retrain me for a different career! I've loved trains since I can remember. I have had a few completed layouts over the years, but have been layout-less for almost ten years.....yes ten!!! I have gotten my fix weekly by attending operating sessions with a great group of guys, on their layouts. I also belong to a modular group, and attend operating sessions at a large club layout, the Providence Northern. I'll be posting up pictures every week of some great layouts I get to operate on! The main reason why I have been without a layout is my fear of boredom with a small layout. I've realized that if I was bored with a layout then it would mean i HAVE a layout, which is better than not having one! Following Alcanman's lead, I've decided to start with the same foot print... 9' x 15". I do have room for larger, but less is more right now! I'm debating between either the palmettospur as he has done, OR closer to home the Providence & Worcester Railroad's Slatersville running tracks. here's a description of the area. It's an end of a branch line, with a team track (with dock) a possible propane dealer, and a spur that goes into a building. I plan on freelancing the industries, but trying to stay as true to the prototype as I can with the track plan. Last Picture is the track plan. I will have a staging cassette at the left end. 17 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conrail Joe Posted December 21, 2017 Author Share Posted December 21, 2017 I've hit the ground running and have the benchwork completed. I will post up those pictures tomorrow. It's train night tonight, so I'm on my way to an ops session! 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prof Klyzlr Posted December 22, 2017 Share Posted December 22, 2017 Dear Joe, Love the plan as described, and the trackplan as shown, (I see a Walthers "Buds Trucking", and single-lane overhead and standalone cross-buck combo in your future...)however I'm prompted to ask, do you intend to build it "dead straight and parallel to the edge" as shown? Looking at the overhead satellite view, I'm struck that it's almost a "ready to go" shelf layout plan as-is,and the broad gentle curve is inherrently intriguing in both proto and model form...(with a "curve radius" measured in 10s of actual-feet, un/coupling on the curve should not pose any issues) Can't wait to see how this layout-build progresses :-) Happy Modelling,Aim to Improve,Prof Klyzlr 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcanman Posted December 22, 2017 Share Posted December 22, 2017 Welcome Joe. It's great to know you've started building your layout. The location looks interesting, I can just imagine P&W power switching the spurs. I'm a big fan of the 3 switch Inglenook track plan. In fact, I've rebuilt Marlborough to the same track arrangement. Look forward to seeing your progress. Mal 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-UnitMad Posted December 22, 2017 Share Posted December 22, 2017 Welcome aboard, Joe. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conrail Joe Posted December 22, 2017 Author Share Posted December 22, 2017 Dear Joe, Love the plan as described, and the trackplan as shown, (I see a Walthers "Buds Trucking", and single-lane overhead and standalone cross-buck combo in your future...) however I'm prompted to ask, do you intend to build it "dead straight and parallel to the edge" as shown? Looking at the overhead satellite view, I'm struck that it's almost a "ready to go" shelf layout plan as-is, and the broad gentle curve is inherrently intriguing in both proto and model form... (with a "curve radius" measured in 10s of actual-feet, un/coupling on the curve should not pose any issues) Can't wait to see how this layout-build progresses :-) Happy Modelling, Aim to Improve, Prof Klyzlr Thanks for the welcomes! You make a great point, I agree it would be more aesthetically pleasing to the eye if it followed the broad gentle curve like the proto-type does. Thank you for pointing that out! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conrail Joe Posted December 22, 2017 Author Share Posted December 22, 2017 As promised from yesterday, the benchwork pictures! I decided to stray from open grid with pine 1" x 4"'s and use cabinet grade plywood. I wanted the shadow box effect, without any braces exposed holding up the canopy/roof. My pet peeve is dust. It drives me insane seeing dust on any of my equipment or layout. Using 5/8" thickness plywood, I cut out 4 "C"'s, that would be the skeleton and back bone of the benchwork. After messing around a bit cutting out a few pieces, I realized how incredibly strong the plywood is. I decided to go with a size of 2", as opposed to the normal 3 1/2" i'm used of using with traditional pine 1" x 4"'s. I dusted off the table saw and cut a few of the 1" x 4"'s down to 2" to match the plywood size. Overall size is 9' x 17", with an operating surface of 9' x 15". The outside height is 18", and the inside height is 13 1/2". Using a small skewer I can comfortably uncouple cars. Don't mind the multi colors of the wood, (recycled wood from previous layout ventures!) I'll be running out to the hardware store today to buy some paint to cover that up! As soon as I get it presentable, I'll be bringing it up to the living room, and out of the garage. I'll let the pictures do the rest of the talking! Not sure why the pics are sideways.... 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-UnitMad Posted December 22, 2017 Share Posted December 22, 2017 A cracking location find, as well!! Lance Mindheim would be proud of you!! Who says Inglenook plans aren't prototypical??!! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conrail Joe Posted December 22, 2017 Author Share Posted December 22, 2017 Welcome Joe. It's great to know you've started building your layout. The location looks interesting, I can just imagine P&W power switching the spurs. I'm a big fan of the 3 switch Inglenook track plan. In fact, I've rebuilt Marlborough to the same track arrangement. Look forward to seeing your progress. Mal Thanks Mal!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conrail Joe Posted December 22, 2017 Author Share Posted December 22, 2017 Reworked the track plan to include the gentle curve. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
long island jack Posted December 22, 2017 Share Posted December 22, 2017 To me shadow boxes are the best design for a narrow layout, it seems to show the layout of better, who said an inglenook can't be interesting, will follow this thread! Ray 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conrail Joe Posted December 22, 2017 Author Share Posted December 22, 2017 A few hundred yards down the line there is a run-around track. You can't see it on aerial photo due to the trees. This will be the next phase..... 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conrail Joe Posted December 22, 2017 Author Share Posted December 22, 2017 To me shadow boxes are the best design for a narrow layout, it seems to show the layout of better, who said an inglenook can't be interesting, will follow this thread! DSCN0642.JPG Ray Wow! That looks excellent Ray! Thanks for sharing! I only hope mine comes out that nice! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conrail Joe Posted December 22, 2017 Author Share Posted December 22, 2017 I was trying to post some pictures of last nights op session on my friend Don's P & W 25' 45' double deck Ho scale layout, but I cant seem to figure out why my pics are loading side ways! Instead I'll throw a link to a cab ride on his layout! All the scenery is complete, this video was shot five years ago. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0xghKrQjcY&list=UUTFR3r0maEy-cwkPtwnMYFg&index=30 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcanman Posted December 22, 2017 Share Posted December 22, 2017 Great progress. It's nice that you have the option to extend and include a run around later. I enjoyed the cab ride on a layout of such quality and very much liked the P&W power. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conrail Joe Posted December 22, 2017 Author Share Posted December 22, 2017 Made it to the home depot and bought some paint. The season I will be modeling is late november, my favorite time of the year. For a back drop color, I chose the lightest shade of grey I could find. I also bought some flat black paint for the legs and fascia, so no bare wood will be exposed. Up next is installing the lights. I have (5) 6" flourescent lamps. I know I'm new, and apologize in advance, but could be as kind as to explain to me how to post a picture without it being rotated? Thanks~! 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prof Klyzlr Posted December 22, 2017 Share Posted December 22, 2017 Dear Joe, Guess you are taking your pics with an iwhatever? If so : - Try to take the pics with the phone oriented "right way up" (Apple try to be clever and "auto upright" all images, Unfortunately this mechanism more-often-than-not causes "double negative" rotation,thus getting it wrong) - Disable "auto rotate" mode - throw the images thru even a basic image-editor and resize/resave them "in correct spec" before posting FWIW Happy modelling, Aim to Improve, Prof Klyzlr Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortliner Posted December 23, 2017 Share Posted December 23, 2017 (edited) Welcome Joe - Like the look of your plan, and look forward to seeing it progress. For an image editor/resizer try Irfanview (freebie) and follow the Profs advice (he's "da man") Best Jack Edited December 23, 2017 by shortliner Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcanman Posted December 23, 2017 Share Posted December 23, 2017 Made it to the home depot and bought some paint. The season I will be modeling is late november, my favorite time of the year. For a back drop color, I chose the lightest shade of grey I could find. I also bought some flat black paint for the legs and fascia, so no bare wood will be exposed. Up next is installing the lights. I have (5) 6" flourescent lamps. I know I'm new, and apologize in advance, but could be as kind as to explain to me how to post a picture without it being rotated? Thanks~! Nice work. Interesting that you are going to model 'late November'. Presumably that means no fall foliage and leafless trees? I once tried some fall foliage but wasn't entirely happy with the results. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conrail Joe Posted December 23, 2017 Author Share Posted December 23, 2017 Nice work. Interesting that you are going to model 'late November'. Presumably that means no fall foliage and leafless trees? I once tried some fall foliage but wasn't entirely happy with the results. Transflo 17th Oct 2013 005.JPG Your presumption is correct! I've been a long time fan of Mike Confalone's Allagash layout, and his scenery. My last diorama I made was middle of winter in the Kenai Mountains of Alaska. I'm a big fan of the Alaska Railroad! I'll post up some pics once I mess around with a pic editor!! Ps....I like that pic!! 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conrail Joe Posted December 24, 2017 Author Share Posted December 24, 2017 (edited) Here’s some pics of my Attempt at modeling the Alaska Railroad in the loop district. HO scale 2’ x 8’ x 4’. Edited December 24, 2017 by Conrail Joe 14 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dullsteamer Posted December 24, 2017 Share Posted December 24, 2017 Very dramatic! All the best, Mark. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortliner Posted December 24, 2017 Share Posted December 24, 2017 (edited) That is an amazing piece of work! Reminds me of the late, great, John Allen's Gorre & Daphetid In its later days, with the floor-to-ceiling mountains and canyons Edited December 24, 2017 by shortliner Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcanman Posted December 24, 2017 Share Posted December 24, 2017 Wow? That is some spectacular scenery. Great work. I just noticed the 'Railroad Alaska' TV series is being re-run here in the UK. I must watch again. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
scouser Posted December 24, 2017 Share Posted December 24, 2017 Wonderful modelling on this journal, well done☺ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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