mlrr
Member
Posts: 66
Primary Railroads: Amtrak, Metro-North, MARC, METRA, New Jersey Transit, VRE
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Post by mlrr on Jul 8, 2015 6:27:27 GMT -5
Hello Everyone! I know it's been a while but things have been even more busy since I've popped the big question. This includes co-locating and finding a place that suits two people's needs. My needs (as everyone here can understand) were a bit more unique and there was some drama associated with this due mainly to incompetence on behalf of a particular realty company. ANYWAY, I've been making slow but steady progress on the new layout which is intended to last for quite some time until I eventually get the space for my dream layout. Below are a couple of teasers of things to come. I'm pretty excited about how things are taking shape so far. More information provided via the link in the signature below.
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Post by mttrains on Jul 8, 2015 17:19:43 GMT -5
MLRR, I have had the same experience with a realtor. Our needs are different. Nice work though and looking forward to seeing more.
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Post by backshophoss on Jul 8, 2015 19:55:45 GMT -5
I hope you made your layout somewhat moduler,so if you move again,you can move the layout (in sections) as well. Hopefully you have your workbench up and running as well. Moving is never fun or easy! What you have up and running looks real good,hang in there!
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Post by acelaphillies on Jul 8, 2015 22:17:30 GMT -5
Looking good MLRR! And congrats on the engagement! I read your news post on your website. Nice job finding the prototypical height for those platforms. If you ever wanted to add some more super detail to your platforms you could add these yellow band decals to the edges: I remember seeing them a few years ago in MR. I have never seen them used, probably because they are so expensive, but they do look good! www.wheelsotime.com/accessories/
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mlrr
Member
Posts: 66
Primary Railroads: Amtrak, Metro-North, MARC, METRA, New Jersey Transit, VRE
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Post by mlrr on Jul 9, 2015 6:12:57 GMT -5
I hope you made your layout somewhat moduler,so if you move again,you can move the layout (in sections) as well. Hopefully you have your workbench up and running as well. Moving is never fun or easy! What you have up and running looks real good,hang in there! Thanks for the compliments everyone! Backshophoss; my last five layouts have been modular. The previous version of the layout had some flaws that the new Walthers Amfleets exposed and since I wanted to alter my direction slightly, I thought it prudent to start from scratch again (although I recycle alot of material for the new layout). I've always planned my layouts so that they could be more easily transported for a move. Once the trains are running (themselves I might add ;-)), I can focus on the work bench and start cranking out the models that need to be finished (remaining MARC cars, P42 sound installs, etc.) Thanks for the reference. Looks tempting but I'm happy with the Line-O-tape that I'm using. Believe it or not, I've eyed this stuff years and promised myself that I'd use this on the next layout. It's also nice and flexible so it follows contours pretty well.
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Post by backshophoss on Jul 9, 2015 17:13:55 GMT -5
What are the plans for the "stored" E-60's? Believe American GK used an Athearn U-Boat drive from the U-30c model,with the old style outside bearing wheelsets/trucks. Just make sure Mr Gunn doesn't pull the pans off! Acela:Thanks for the link to the ADA strips in HO,might be installed on a HO scale version of a Railrunner(NMRX)platform
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Post by antoniofp45 on Jul 10, 2015 8:47:04 GMT -5
Nice shots! Always sweet seeing NEC equipment. Stored E60s? Would enjoy seeing those in action. Mechanically, the American GK units were/are strong pullers but the drives are quite noisy. If you're taking the DCC/sound route, might be worth it to upgrade the drive. I still haven't had a chance to go through my unit. I'm looking forward to it as I'd enjoying hearing the sound of a Nathan P-01235 horn coming from it! I miss those giants: www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSOU-EV7l3Y
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Post by acelaphillies on Jul 10, 2015 18:47:12 GMT -5
Thanks for the reference. Looks tempting but I'm happy with the Line-O-tape that I'm using. Believe it or not, I've eyed this stuff years and promised myself that I'd use this on the next layout. It's also nice and flexible so it follows contours pretty well. Sure thing, if you have something you like that's cool too! The Line-O-tape also looks like it comes in a big roll--great for doing lots of platforms! The walls that you have set up now look good as well. That is a pretty neat setup that you have described, with your station being easily removable on top of the tracks. I never really thought of that, but it is a perfect solution for modeling large city stations where the tracks are generally hidden. It will look really good once you build your city scenery like you are planning to as well.
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Post by jers2709 on Jul 12, 2015 19:15:23 GMT -5
Congrats! We're going through the same process now, we just put an offer on a place with a half finished basement.
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mlrr
Member
Posts: 66
Primary Railroads: Amtrak, Metro-North, MARC, METRA, New Jersey Transit, VRE
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Post by mlrr on Dec 21, 2015 12:34:23 GMT -5
Some more new photos of progress. The first curve has been ballasted. The Acela Express revealed some imperfections int he track work which I fixed immediately last night. The small town is starting to form by way of Merchants Row II and V. You'll note the color tone shift in concrete ties. I use Atlas Code 83 on Curves as opposed to Micro Engineering due to the difficulty in bending the ME track. I've tried and it's nearly impossible to flex. I also used the Woodland Scenics track painting pen. It does a good job of brushing up against the rail clamps the rail the prototypical appearance of the rail being thicker than it actually is. Moving forward, if I have a larger layout, I'll likely go all Atlas to save $$$. One of the key things to point out below is that I'm glad I removed the secondary entrance to the mid-line hard. This allows for a continuous straightaway without its ballast beeing interrupted by a turnout. Additional turf will be added behind the buildings up to the tracks. I'll also put up some sort of chain linked fence at some point as well.
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Post by backshophoss on Dec 22, 2015 3:05:07 GMT -5
When the club owned "Twin Arrows" module was redone,we used ME's code 83,radius was 36' on main 2 and 33'on Main 1,"wood" tie version,had no trouble bending the flex track to the radius standards we use.The roadbed base is Homosote,sanded level after the code 100 track was scrapped,the rails had been damaged/patched a few times since the original build with the code 100 30+ years ago.
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Post by acelaphillies on Dec 23, 2015 12:35:39 GMT -5
Looking good! I wonder how long it will be before manufacturers start producing concrete turnouts in all sizes? For modern modelers it is becoming a necessity.
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Post by slowfreight on Dec 23, 2015 16:00:24 GMT -5
Looking good! I wonder how long it will be before manufacturers start producing concrete turnouts in all sizes? For modern modelers it is becoming a necessity. Aren't concrete-tie switches more the minority on non-passenger railroads? IIRC, most freight railroads were using wood ties under switches along concrete-tie mainlines...but I could be mistaken.
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Post by backshophoss on Dec 23, 2015 19:17:42 GMT -5
Wood ties seems to be the standard for switches,at least for Herzog,they maintain the track for NMRX. Believe only Amtrak uses Concrete ties for High Speed(ie;long)switches.
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Post by acelaphillies on Dec 23, 2015 21:58:26 GMT -5
Yeah, you are right, concrete turnouts are much more rare than concrete track. That said, they are used on the Northeast Corridor. After doing some internet browsing I read that they are also used on some heavily traveled freight routes. I wonder if they will become more common in the next decade.
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