mightbe Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 Well, I for one am taking notes. There's something almost surgical about your procedure and I feel ashamed by my own. I can't comment on much yet, but damn; what a process. Precise. Thorough. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
unhooked Posted January 12, 2015 Author Share Posted January 12, 2015 Well, I for one am taking notes. There's something almost surgical about your procedure and I feel ashamed by my own. I can't comment on much yet, but damn; what a process. Precise. Thorough. Thank you very much. To tell the truth, I tend to be a bit of perfectionist because of my job. On the other hand I am trying not to rush things because I like the process of creating. I am also amend things during this process (I also have to admit that I 've changed my initial track plan, the reasons I will extensively explain in a future post). Best Regards!! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
unhooked Posted January 12, 2015 Author Share Posted January 12, 2015 (edited) ...at this point I would like to introduce you a new track stabilization tool that keep track aligned while cutting a large piece of track with a razor saw (I hate dremels/proxxons. Just kidding ). I just could not afford to buy one of these tools at the moment. I never tried a xuron cutter neither, although I feel that it would make a great rail cutting tool. So my father and I created a rail case that holds track in place by just using remnants of the benchwork. And believe me. Beats a lot of commercial tools.. Edited January 12, 2015 by unhooked 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
unhooked Posted April 23, 2016 Author Share Posted April 23, 2016 Well, Hello everybody After a long time no see, I am back with the latest updates of the layout. The progress is slow but it is due to the economic crisis in Greece and bank capital controls which took in place last summer. This situation led to difficulty in purchasing model railroad items from internet, thus limiting the building progress of the layout. Other factors were personal issues but that doesn't really matters. Progress including the track laying at staging, Control panel building, electronic control of the layout, helix construction and many more which I ll analyze at later posts Here some sample pics 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
branchie Posted April 23, 2016 Share Posted April 23, 2016 The layout looks fantastic. So precise and well made. The backscene looks fantastic too. Looking forward to seeing how this progresses. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
unhooked Posted April 24, 2016 Author Share Posted April 24, 2016 (edited) Published on Apr 24, 2016 A Fleischmann Krauss Mafei V221 in N Scale (extensively used by Greek Railways), half the way up the helix testing. Apologies for the poor quality but shooting has been made with an old iphone while controlling the train at the same time. Helix is under construction but will finish very soon. Edited April 24, 2016 by unhooked 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
unhooked Posted April 26, 2016 Author Share Posted April 26, 2016 Installing the fascia and ground level /// Will be finish by tomorrow... probably.. Fascia designed by calculate the contour lines at the cutting point. Fascia pieces made by a laser cutting machine. 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Joseph_Pestell Posted April 27, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 27, 2016 Great layout in the making. Look forward to seeing more of it in future. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
unhooked Posted May 6, 2016 Author Share Posted May 6, 2016 ...closer..! 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_4147 Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 I really like how your layout is developing, will be watching with interest as you make progress Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
unhooked Posted May 13, 2016 Author Share Posted May 13, 2016 A Panoramic view. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
unhooked Posted May 16, 2016 Author Share Posted May 16, 2016 (edited) The city is spreading above the Helix and disguises it. This is an attempt to create a draft paper dummy of the city prior to the final cityscape to study flaws and fails thus leading to a better design. Another reason is that I need this temporary scenery in its draft condition to lay track and run trains as soon as possible. The Final city scape with all its buildings and roads might take months to complete. When it's done I ll just swap the two modules. The design follows the prototype.. For building the dummy I use scrap card stock papers and materials that their cost does not exceed 10 euros. These are the old immigrant houses of Piraeus. The train passes inside creating the world's unique "canyon" Of course there is also the other side to build. Soon will be ready! Edited May 16, 2016 by unhooked 13 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
unhooked Posted May 24, 2016 Author Share Posted May 24, 2016 Dummy almost finished amen 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
westerner Posted May 25, 2016 Share Posted May 25, 2016 I'm thoroughly enjoying this, Bringing back happy memories of many holidays in the Greek Islands. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
unhooked Posted May 27, 2016 Author Share Posted May 27, 2016 now it looks more completed. This is just a dummy. 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bgman Posted May 27, 2016 Share Posted May 27, 2016 (edited) I've just picked up your thread and I must congratulate you, I too will certainly be following your progress. Excellent modelling especially in N scale. Edited May 27, 2016 by bgman Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 27, 2016 Share Posted May 27, 2016 Absolutely fascinating. Superb work. My parents lived in Piraeus for some time (right next to the bus station!) so looking forward to seeing this develop. Well done. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
unhooked Posted May 27, 2016 Author Share Posted May 27, 2016 Thank you very much all for your support. The truth is that I have a long way to go to complete this project taking into consideration the financial crisis in Greece and difficulty in purchasing materials of model trains. Nevertheless I think that as I am building this layout I am seeking and learning and I believe this is the true value of this hobby. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
unhooked Posted May 27, 2016 Author Share Posted May 27, 2016 (edited) A 1961 station view from the footbridge All 4 tracks (2 passenger and 2 freight tracks) are in use. Edited May 27, 2016 by unhooked 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bgman Posted May 27, 2016 Share Posted May 27, 2016 Whilst I do understand your dilemma regarding finishing off the ( excellent ) project I hope it goes some way to help you forget the current situation and gives you much pleasure. Even getting to the stage shown in your video is enjoyable I'm sure Grahame Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
unhooked Posted May 27, 2016 Author Share Posted May 27, 2016 And this is part of the heart of the system. You can see the DCC Booster and 2 of the 3 power districts that I am going to use. All the electronics are kit building from MERG. I really enjoy building electronics. Notice the plexi glass base. It is designed to hold the modules and organise the cables. It is made in a Laser cut machine. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
don Posted May 27, 2016 Share Posted May 27, 2016 Good afternoon Unhooked,seems strange calling you that! i have just been reading /viewing your thread and i am amazed at the project.I dont think i have ever seen a layout planned and built like this before? Everything about the layout has been so well planned and constructed,congratulations. I will be watching your progress with the utmost interest. Don. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
unhooked Posted June 2, 2016 Author Share Posted June 2, 2016 This a detail of the plywood fastening from the inside. There are numerous of these corner metal joiners (I do not know the exact english word for these metal joiners) that supports the plywood base all over the entire layout the majority of them is handmade from plain sheet metal and then drilled. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
unhooked Posted June 2, 2016 Author Share Posted June 2, 2016 (edited) And then... the inspiration came When I firstly decided to lay Peco track code 80 at hidden areas and Peco track code 55 at visible areas in order to look more realistic I didn't have master the art of soldering and didn't know that it might be a more realistic way to present trackage and turnouts that also suit my needs. I really value Peco tracks as I think that it is the most reliable commercial track out there. That's why I used them at staging as well as in the Helix area and never going to rip them off my layout. But in terms of realism? Now this is a field that other brands stands out. Both in profile height (code 55) and or tie spacing (regarding greek prototype which is closer to american than UK). Brands like atlas or micro engineering or the UK based firm, finetrax (though tie spacing is more like British practice) are a good example. After I redesigned my track plan to match the prototype it came out that I needed bigger turnouts (than the largest Peco) and in various frog numbers. #9 was the usual turnout number. I also wanted #8 and #10. Peco code 55 turnouts came with frog angle approx 10 degrees (where I wanted 6 degrees) and frog number at something between 5# and #6. At the other hand american Atlas track came with #6 and #10 frog numbers while micro engineering only with number #6. I then realise that in order to have custom track in the configuration that matches the prototype I have to build on my own. Note here that my yard has track formation that RTR turnouts does not fit. There was another thing that made me skeptical. While code 55 was closer to my layout's scale rail height it was still very tall for a yard track. So I decided to go for Code40 track to all my visible areas with all the consequences (flange compatibility etc). I borrowed from a friend of mine 2 pieces of 45cm Code 40 micro engineering Flatbottom rail and I made a "quick and dirty" rough straight track using for sleepers a few PCB remains of my railroad electronics. The result was stunning in terms of operation (DCC loco and wagons running) and rail visibility. Edited June 2, 2016 by unhooked 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shanks522 Posted June 2, 2016 Share Posted June 2, 2016 Only just discovered your thread unhooked, Very Impressive indeed! I'l be looking forward to more of this. Graham. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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