JAMO Posted October 22, 2016 Share Posted October 22, 2016 (edited) Hello all! Welcome here. I'm building a O scale 2 rail US shortline layout. I'll try to show you each stage of the building. The company is named "Iowa Central". Obviously, this railway company is imaginary, purely fictitious but I've been inspired by several existing layouts in HO, N and by prototypes railroads. Here is the first part trackplan of my project. Have a good visit and stay tuned for future posts. Edited May 7, 2022 by JAMO Updated trackplan 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-UnitMad Posted October 22, 2016 Share Posted October 22, 2016 Have a good visit and stay tuned for future posts. Certainly will, Jack!! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vanrouge Posted October 23, 2016 Share Posted October 23, 2016 Like the plan Jack, look forward to following this one. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcanman Posted October 23, 2016 Share Posted October 23, 2016 Looks interesting. Another 'follow' from me. Kinda reminds me of Jack Hill's New Castle Railroad. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAMO Posted October 27, 2016 Author Share Posted October 27, 2016 Hello all and thanks for the comments! Context Well, here are photos of the first steps of the building. I began by preparing the space. Previously, I've built a HO shortline here but I stop before to begin the scenery. I was attracted by the narrow gauge and else projects in other scales. Later I would like to make a French branchline O scale layout extension to my existing layout. There is a long time ago, I bought a Atlas RS-3 at an affordable price from e-b... and 2 tanks. At the same time I bought my only brass model from Rich Yoder: a GE44. The RS-3 would be a good chassis for a french locomotive and the GE-44 was modified for the french branchline. The stuff stayed like that during a while. By October 2014, I couldn't resist more to switch to O scale US trains. I was attracted by the dark side! I like the presence of the O scale and US trains in O are cheap (I speak of the common production: Atlas, Weaver, Intermountain, Roco...). So I decided to sell a big part of my N scale US trains (mostly ATSF Kato and M-T collection). And I use the money to buy US second hand O scale models. I don't want to buy expensive models but cheap and I like to upgrade them (I'll show you later). For locomotives, I like "as new" and perfect running models. The layout So, coming back to the main subject, here are photos of the preparation of the space for the layout. It's the first part of a maybe bigger project. I want to start with something not too big. I want to reach my goals. I make the hole in the wall for my previous HO scale layout. The staging yard will be just after the wall. I'll show you later the idea. The pics are speaking by themselves... The wooden deck isn't definitive. I go to put off to obtain more vertical space for the bridge clearance and to have access underneath the layout. ... 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAMO Posted October 27, 2016 Author Share Posted October 27, 2016 The big pipe for air circulation was a problem so I decided to hide it. I don't need any access. In the foreground, you can see the old HO fiddle yard. ... 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAMO Posted October 28, 2016 Author Share Posted October 28, 2016 The track and the turnouts Once the woodwork was done, I started to make my track. Firstly, I made my ties using a thin board of bass wood. My band saw was a great helper to do that job. I downloaded and printed the turnout templates from Fast Track. They are very useful! To build the turnouts, I used "second hand" rails from my stock (Peco flextrack code 124BH) and PCB ties I've made. I know the Peco code 124 rail isn't a flat bottom rail but I have a lot of them in stock. So I decided to use that. No more fees. ... 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-UnitMad Posted October 28, 2016 Share Posted October 28, 2016 I used the Fasttracks templates - a great resource!! What are your switch frogs from? Peco points as well? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAMO Posted October 28, 2016 Author Share Posted October 28, 2016 Yes the Fasttracks templates are excellent. I don't have bought the metal templates: too expensive and no necessary. The paper templates are enough good for me. My frogs are hand made using the code 124 Peco rail. I use a small belt sander to file the rail. It's very useful and easy to do. I solder the rails together to obtain a stronger frog. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanielB Posted October 29, 2016 Share Posted October 29, 2016 Subscribed! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
backofanenvelope Posted October 29, 2016 Share Posted October 29, 2016 +1 and love a bit of handmade track.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAMO Posted October 30, 2016 Author Share Posted October 30, 2016 The rails soldered on the PCB ties, I've made the baseboard in plywood. I use a Fasttrack template I've taped to the plywood. And I've cut the shape of the wooden ties. It's easy now to glue the ties. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
backofanenvelope Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 Very impressive JAMO, and so much easier in bigger scales.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAMO Posted October 30, 2016 Author Share Posted October 30, 2016 Yes you're right, in O scale is easier to make turnouts than in HO and in N/OO9 scales. But it's longer... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanielB Posted November 1, 2016 Share Posted November 1, 2016 I've just started building a 3 way turnout in HO, so I can relate. Yours looks much, much neater than mine though! Nice work Jack. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAMO Posted November 4, 2016 Author Share Posted November 4, 2016 Many thanks to anybody. Next... I've installed the turnout on the ties. ... 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAMO Posted November 9, 2016 Author Share Posted November 9, 2016 The spikes' heads are too long so I shorten them. ... 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-UnitMad Posted November 9, 2016 Share Posted November 9, 2016 Are those the Peco spikes? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAMO Posted November 9, 2016 Author Share Posted November 9, 2016 Yes, they are. They have square shape. It's easier to catch the rail. They don't turn on themselves. And they are very strong: they stay straight. I like them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-UnitMad Posted November 9, 2016 Share Posted November 9, 2016 I managed to bend a few - spiking into hardboard!!! I do like them as well, just a pity the head part is so big (I haven't patience or time to grind them down!!) Just be careful not to push the point into the roadbed right up against the rail, or else the spike will force the rail across as it is pushed home. Guess how I know? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAMO Posted November 9, 2016 Author Share Posted November 9, 2016 It's a lot of work to reduce the length of the head. I've modified 3 packs at this time. Now, I take the time. No problem if the result/the end is far. The pleasure is to model. I guess what you say Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAMO Posted November 11, 2016 Author Share Posted November 11, 2016 (edited) Before to spike the turnouts, I've soldered the wires. Edited November 11, 2016 by JAMO 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAMO Posted November 16, 2016 Author Share Posted November 16, 2016 I tried another method to reduce the spikes' heads. It wasn't faster and better. After the loooong work of spiking... ... 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAMO Posted November 17, 2016 Author Share Posted November 17, 2016 I've made the first part of track which drives to the staging yard. ... 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAMO Posted November 23, 2016 Author Share Posted November 23, 2016 Hi, I've insulated the two rails The result when all the spikes are installed. Views in place. The height of the road isn't ready. It will be installed lower than now. The photo gives an idea of the pics I'll can shoot. The Peco track is there to give an idea of the future track plan. The hoppers are still ready to use! ... 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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