The Lehigh and Hudson River coming to life!

[asciibaron]

i spent a few evenings this week getting the benchwork assembled for the staging yard and Warwick, which sits above it.  here is a shot of benchwork and the height testing - i think it works very well.  i have a riser solution that will support Warwick, but i need to cut some wood for that.  i might get to it on Sunday. 



 

[wm3798]

Nicely played!  Onward and upward!

L

[asciibaron]

Nicely played!  Onward and upward!

couldn't have done it without you and Brian.  

here's a shot taken from just under eye level looking down to give you a sense of what it looks like with Warwick at 57.5" from the floor.



and here is one at eye level from 3 feet away

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Lookin good man. Lookin good.

[davefoxx]

Steve,

If the wife is frowning upon the construction and the size of the layout, consider doing things that reduce the "visual impact" of the layout.  In your first picture, there are table legs against the front frame, which can be easily kicked and leave rough framing exposed (these, I realize may be temporary for testing of deck height).  Perhaps a wall bracket, which would be mostly concealed by the fascia would be a better choice.  You could also paint the wall bracket the same color as the wall, if any of it is still visible, or add a skirt under the fascia.

Recommendation number two would be to get a painted fascia put up as fast as possible to give her an rough idea of the finished product.  I would guess that it's the unfinished look of the framing that may have her second guessing her decision to let you take over the room.

Otherwise, congratulations on getting started.  Keep up the good work.  The fun is just beginning.

Hope this helps,
DFF

[tom mann]

"I spent the whole day at Lee's and all I got was a layout propped up by a bicycle"

 ;D

[davefoxx]

"I spent the whole day at Lee's and all I got was a layout propped up by a bicycle"

 ;D

Tom,

Coincidentally, I was going to write in my previous post, "Hey, put down the trains and get back on that bike that's doing nothing but holding up the layout, tubby!"  But I decided to play nice and didn't post that.  Uh... oops, I guess I just did.

Dave

[asciibaron]

laugh all you want, my layout is powered by the bike!

[sirenwerks]

laugh all you want, my layout is powered by the bike!

Is that why it's moving so slow?

[sizemore]

laugh all you want, my layout is powered by the bike!

Is that why it's moving so slow?

It powers the WAFFLER!

[asciibaron]

got the new gang box installed for the light switch i need to move.  now i just need to run some wire and connect up the light switch.  once that's finished, i can complete the benchwork framing and start working on the roadbed.  i picked up some drop ceiling hangers and scoped out some light fixtures for above the layout.  i might be able to pick up two this weekend - then i need to sort out the wiring for them.  



so much work goes into getting the layout space together, never mind the work on the layout.  this weekend should be quite productive and i'm hoping to have the Warwick town framing complete.

[wm3798]

Amen to that...  It took me 4 years to get from the bare lightbulb and crumbling plaster to the first segment of the layout being installed...

At least your walls were there!

[asciibaron]

light switch is moved. both 11' sections are in place.  need to get some C clamps to finish the benchwork - i can't hold the cantilevered sections in place and drill holes for the bolts. 

i had waffles for dinner.

[sizemore]

light switch is moved. both 11' sections are in place.  need to get some C clamps to finish the benchwork - i can't hold the cantilevered sections in place and drill holes for the bolts. 

i had waffles for dinner.

We don't care about your dinner, we don't care to READ, POST PICS!

T

[asciibaron]

testing the upper and lower track heights - the front track will come out of staging and climb 7" in nearly 18 feet.  it will be a constant grade with a 4.5 foot passing siding at mid grade, roughly where these shots were taken.  the upper track drops down 3" from Warwick and levels off for about 6 feet and then drops down the remaining 4" to the staging yard.






i'm still working out how the upper and lower will cross to the right of the photo area.  once i get all the benchwork in place, i can start sorting it all out in cardboard.  i still need to get some C clamps so i can finish the cantilevered sections.