A Simple Plan (N) [ Phase II ]

[diezmon]

Ok, I've finally got a box of "round tuits" in my possession!  I've begun to  put the new modular layout together in the garage.

Thanks to everyone for helping with the plan:   
See that thread here

The (almost) final plan:



Starting with the leg design.  They're attached with hinges so they'll fold up.  I then have a cross piece attached that slips in to keep the table stable, mable.  That cross piece in the photo is gone.. it looks lame, and just wasn't stable enough.   Instead, I used a piece of plywood near the top of the legs for stability.


The sections are joined and held up in the center with a single set of legs.  Two bolts do the work, which will have larger knobs on them so I can hand tighten/loosen them.  If you look closely you can see my two registration pins outside the bolt holes.  I'm using 1/2" dowels.

cont...

[diezmon]

...cont


The legs mounted and stable!  All the legs have T-nuts and bolts on the bottom for adjustment.   That's my 1/62 scale Spruance RC project watching over the progress.  I wonder if Pete Nolan has room in his harbor for THAT? 


Here you can see the cross members I'm using for stability.  I may have to add more.. it's pretty stable.. but I'm thinking of the crowds who may(WILL) bump into the table! 


Mucho clamping needed to keep that foam nice and flat..   I just read an article about the guy who came up with these clamps.  That lucky #@$!! doesn't ever have to worry about money again. 

I forgot to mention that in my haste to get this sucker going.. I reversed the plan when I first mounted legs to the frame!  So, now I've mirror-imaged the original plan since I didn't feel like unscrewing and breaking all the glue joints LOL

There are larger images in my picasa folder here:

I'll try to keep this thread updated as I go!   We've just received some terrible news about my Dad's health, so this may be my only post for a while.. keep your fingers crossed. 

Tim

[wm3798]

Tim that's a great use of a simple table top without falling into the 4x8 trap.  Looking forward to seeing your progress.

Lee

[Train Nutz]

Hi Tim,
   I like the scetch drawing of your layout and the running possibilities on it. What type and style of trains will you plan to run on it? Also from the pictures it looks as your benchwork is neatly done and squarely built. That will make a big difference on how well your equipment will run once you get your track laid and your trains up and running. Where will you place your finished benchwork when your ready to start your next phase? I hope you have a good place to go besides being in a garage. I've been that route and being in their is not very forgiving to model trains unless the garage is very well insulated and climate controlled.
Good luck on your new venture and will look foward to seeing more pictures of your progress later on.
Train Nutzzzzzzzzz

[diezmon]

Hi Tim,
   I like the scetch drawing of your layout and the running possibilities on it. What type and style of trains will you plan to run on it? Also from the pictures it looks as your benchwork is neatly done and squarely built. That will make a big difference on how well your equipment will run once you get your track laid and your trains up and running. Where will you place your finished benchwork when your ready to start your next phase? I hope you have a good place to go besides being in a garage. I've been that route and being in their is not very forgiving to model trains unless the garage is very well insulated and climate controlled.
Good luck on your new venture and will look foward to seeing more pictures of your progress later on.
Train Nutzzzzzzzzz

I'm a transition era fan, so BN/NP/GN/CB&Q, MILW, CNW will all be seen here.  I haven't decided on most of the industries yet, but it'll most likely be geared around 40' boxcars and hoppers  

Insulated and climate controlled.. that's in the plan 

[diezmon]

Well, the twins were at a birthday party today, so three whole hours of free time to work on things ( minus an hour of mowing )

First, I printed out the plan and had a marathon scotch tape session:



I couldn't find my screen roller, so I had to make my own marking wheel out of a washer.   using the 'ol grinder


The way the plan is devised, is one half (running the long way) will be 1" below the other.  So, I got out the router, adjusted to its lowest speed, and proceeded to make a &#$!-load of foam snow!



I'm going to make my own risers out of scrap foam.  I just can't justify paying what a certain company wants for sheets of foam, when all you need is a trip to Home Depot and a sheetrock saw 

Until next time...

[wm3798]

I really like the way that flows.  This may be the best small layout of the year!
Lee

[diezmon]

I really like the way that flows.  This may be the best small layout of the year!
Lee

why thank you!  But, I had a LOT of help on the plan from the various boards

[bsoplinger]

small layout

Ok, if a 6 foot by 10 foot layout is small, what are the 2 x 4 foot and door sized layouts? Mini? Micro?

[diezmon]

Ok, if a 6 foot by 10 foot layout is small, what are the 2 x 4 foot and door sized layouts? Mini? Micro?

Well, they SAY size doesn't matter

So, tonight was the track riser project.

Start with this:


Then slice on the bandsaw into 1" widths(or whatever height you're going for)


Line a few up, to make cutting the slots go faster: In fact, I got tired of doing them by hand and ended up cutting them on the table saw.. like a hot Ginsu knife through butter!


Tada!  Homemade track risers.. no fuss, no  muss.. and mucho cheaper than those "other" brands:


Then, I just figure my rise, mark my line on the side of a riser, and cut it on the bandsaw for my inclines and started to place my risers around the layout.. PL100 and nails are quite helpful







A few more applied, some sanding, and I should be ready for some track(which came UPS today from N Scale Supply ) 

Giddyup!

[shortliner]

Nicely done so far! Silly question- what size track are you using, code 80 or 55?
Just curious.....

[diezmon]

Nicely done so far! Silly question- what size track are you using, code 80 or 55?
Just curious.....

I'll be going with a mix of ME and Atlas code 55    I might even sneak in some code 40 in a siding or two

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Good man.

[diezmon]

more riser work today

First I finished the complete loops before sanding everything smooth.



Next, time for my little "valley" that will have two curved trestles spanning it:


I have most of the risers in place, now I just need to make sure everything is smooth and level:



Nothing more terribly exciting to report this time around   ;D

[diezmon]

Ah, it's a perfect day to cut and sand more foam.  I love the smell of melting foam in the morning.. Hmm.. technically, I'm making napalm when that happens, ain't I?? 

I'm working on the corner with the tunnels today, trying to figure clearances and access points.

I'd cut and stacked enough to give me an idea of what the tunnels will be like.. nothing permanently attached yet.


Attaching a couple boards gives me an idea where the fascia will be, so things are placed relative to those:


I've got a pretty good idea that this is the final layout, with a bit of trimming.  I don't want to have to make the mountain the access hatch.  Instead, I want to be able to get things via the fascia.


In trying to keep weight to a minimum, I'm cutting away any extra "stuff" I can.. this isn't an access hatch, just a way to lose some weight




that is ONE deep valley  :teeth:


That's all for today.. Time to heat up the grill!