New Modutrak Corners

[AlkemScaleModels]

One section.  Tops are cut from 5' x 5' sheets of Baltic Birch Ply, still fit nice in a minivan with the seats removed.

Do you guys have a track plan for your modular layout?

[mcjaco]

^ Depends on the space allotted and which of us are available.

Typically Bill's New Lisbon modules are the anchor on one of the long sides, and Jamie's Franksville/Caledonia modules are the other side with the others popped in.  Skibbe tries to plan it out so we're in geographical order, but it doesn't always work that way.

[AlkemScaleModels]

^ Depends on the space allotted and which of us are available.

Typically Bill's New Lisbon modules are the anchor on one of the long sides, and Jamie's Franksville/Caledonia modules are the other side with the others popped in.  Skibbe tries to plan it out so we're in geographical order, but it doesn't always work that way.

Thanks. I was trying to get a feel for the overall set of modules that you guys have. We usually had matt draw up our overall plan. Now that he is gone we need to reorganized and I was looking for ideas for modular set ups.

[mcjaco]

I'll let Jamie or Mike jump in with a more complete answer, but I think we're now running 50 feet long and 20ish feet wide.  Bill and Jamie's module take up the bulk of the length.  Then we have a couple sets of modules that are a pair (Techny, The Dells, C&NW Milwaukee Depot), the rest are singles that can be dropped in as needed. 

The set up is typically the same at each show.   

[Sokramiketes]

Bernie-

If you have NSR Sep/Oct 09 on the shelf, there was a basic layout shown in the article.  Otherwise it's basically a loop, the idea with the new corners is to be able to bend the layout into a U.  But otherwise, this is linear midwestern railroading, nothing fancy like the C&O in the mountains.

[AlkemScaleModels]

Bernie-

If you have NSR Sep/Oct 09 on the shelf, there was a basic layout shown in the article.  Otherwise it's basically a loop, the idea with the new corners is to be able to bend the layout into a U.  But otherwise, this is linear midwestern railroading, nothing fancy like the C&O in the mountains.

OK, I'll check that issue. I should have it.

[Sokramiketes]

Made some progress on the Belt Line bridge tonight during the Hawks domination over the Flyers in game 5.







The main span is an Atlas code 55 through plate girder.  They need to let Cory loose with Solidworks more often over there, as this is a really nice, simple model.  It's a 68' span, which seems about right from the only proto photo I have of the bridge, posted earlier in the thread.  The small deck span is over an access road, and was built with an extra Atlas Cd55 kit.  I shortened it, and flipped the orientation of the girders.  The end spans are the old Atlas "Straight Pier Girders" which I cut down a bit, and added more deck detail to with strip styrene. The structural steel piers were the most work.  I cut and hacked pieces out of the Central Valley through truss bridge kit which is a boon of kitbashing parts.  

For the bridge track, I pulled the rails out of the short sections of Atlas Cd 55 bridge track that is included in the bridge kits.  Then I bashed the ties together for the orientation I needed, and then slide in full rail lengths from a spare piece of Atlas flex track so I didn't have any rail joinerd within the bridge sans.  That allowed me to build everything off the track as a true datum.

I still have to put the diagonal bracing under the access road span, but it's shaping up pretty nice for an evening's worth of work.  I think the proportions are there, so I can get this in place and continue carving foam.

[Chris333]

Looks good. I love those new bridges.

[tom mann]

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll290/djs_ank_ak/AirPhotos/Howard_Ave_April_1955a.jpg
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll290/djs_ank_ak/AirPhotos/Howard_Ave_April_1955b.jpg

Dave, do you have any shots of the beerline/gibson yard/snake track like this?

[Dave Schneider]

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll290/djs_ank_ak/AirPhotos/Howard_Ave_April_1955a.jpg
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll290/djs_ank_ak/AirPhotos/Howard_Ave_April_1955b.jpg

Dave, do you have any shots of the beerline/gibson yard/snake track like this?

Tom,

Here you go. I had this lying around from last year when we had a similar email discussion. 
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll290/djs_ank_ak/AirPhotos/8OWT10011_022.jpg
This is from August 1970. There may be some higher res stuff from the late 90s, but my reality doesn't go much past the late-70s.

For those who care, the Milwaukee Road Beer Line runs diagonally across the photo, South is to the left towards the Schiltz and Pabst breweries. Gibson Yard is in the center of the photo, and the Snake Track is located east of Gibson (towards the bottom of the photo) and is characterized by some street running down Nash Street (name after the former auto company that had a plant here) and a number of cool curved building/sidings.

Best wishes, Dave

[tom mann]

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll290/djs_ank_ak/AirPhotos/Howard_Ave_April_1955a.jpg
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll290/djs_ank_ak/AirPhotos/Howard_Ave_April_1955b.jpg

Dave, do you have any shots of the beerline/gibson yard/snake track like this?

Tom,

Here you go. I had this lying around from last year when we had a similar email discussion. 
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll290/djs_ank_ak/AirPhotos/8OWT10011_022.jpg
This is from August 1970. There may be some higher res stuff from the late 90s, but my reality doesn't go much past the late-70s.

For those who care, the Milwaukee Road Beer Line runs diagonally across the photo, South is to the left towards the Schiltz and Pabst breweries. Gibson Yard is in the center of the photo, and the Snake Track is located east of Gibson (towards the bottom of the photo) and is characterized by some street running down Nash Street (name after the former auto company that had a plant here) and a number of cool curved building/sidings.

Best wishes, Dave

Thanks Dave.  Awesome find.

[mcjaco]

Mike needs to stop celebrating the Blackhawks Stanley Cup win, and get us an update!      ;D

[Sokramiketes]

Mike needs to stop celebrating the Blackhawks Stanley Cup win, and get us an update!     ;D

I had a 7 AM meeting with a trustee this morning, figures the game would go into overtime last night. I'm running on fumes...

But, since I'm not one to shy away from peer pressure, I carved some foam and got the bridge in during lunch today.  I changed the bracing on the structural steel bridge supports after uncovering some photos of similar installations on the TM. More truss work instead of the angle iron. Looks a little beefier, and close enough to what was likely out there:



Where's your progress thread Matt???   ;D

[Dave Schneider]

I'll try to type quietly so as not to aggravate your hangover.  I like the changes in the bracing. It did look a little light before, but who am I to be the one to apply peer pressure?

The was one of the oddest cup clinching goals that I can recall...and IMO a rather soft one to have been let in. Great series though and you have to appreciate the humility of Toews...I don't think that he skated more than 5 feet before handing it off to Hossa (who still hasn't scored a decisive goal (for) in a big game...maybe next year).

Congrats to the Hawks.

Best wishes, Dave 

[mcjaco]

Where's your progress thread Matt???   ;D

Oh, I see.  That's how you roll.