Idaho Belt Freelanced plan

[basementcalling]

Work progresses slowly, but steadily. Finally finished most of the particle precipitator after a couple false starts on the exterior ducting. It's still not perfect, but perfect is the enemy of progress. The PVC aisle at Lowes provided the basic shapes for a few Venturi filters and possible pipes or stacks. Combining PVC pieces in the aisle muttering "Too tall" or "That's it" gets you weird looks from the contractors.

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I also found a way to add some bracing to a bin from Glacier Gravel while exploring other opttions. This will eventually be part of the structure over one end of the rotary kilns, which are ready for addition of tire rings and weathering.

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A side view of both shows some flaws but we are rolling with it.

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Hoping to get a solid week on the layout after school  closes out in 11 days, but who is counting.

[basementcalling]

Vacation is here along with humidity you can swim in, so I made some progress on the paper mill scene. Judge for yourselves. Feel free to point out what you like or think could be improved.

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This is an overview of the scene. This is how it appears as you walk into the basement. Below is the reverse angle view back up the main aisle that leads from the stairs to the rear door into the back yard.

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I decided to start prepping for track instead of detailing buildings. I need to get some sub assemblies of the mill off the work area and onto the layout so I can keep working. ☺ I decided to lay a sheet of cork down for the entire mill area. I had some that I had unrolled and started flattening 6 months ago so it was more than ready to go down. Being in a hurry I used up a sample can of Spray 77, sprayed on the cork outdoors after one try at coating the shelf inside drove me from the basement for the night. Nasty stuff, but effective. The cork is going nowhere. The mains through here will be on HO thickness cork, with the siding on N scale cork, and spur tracks transitioning to just track on the flat sheet.

Not sure yet if I want to "permently" attach buildings or just have them sit in place secured by landscaping. I am trying to plan for some LED lighting options I hope to work on next month.

That's it for now. The rotary kiln continues to fascinate and vex my efforts to allow for animation, so thus the motivation to lay some track.

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[Bendtracker1]

Not sure yet if I want to "permently" attach buildings or just have them sit in place secured by landscaping.

Looking like it's coming together ok.
Personally I see no real need to permanently attach the buildings to the layout, not like they're going anywhere like they would on a module.

So far none of mine are fixed in place.

[basementcalling]

Looking like it's coming together ok.
Personally I see no real need to permanently attach the buildings to the layout, not like they're going anywhere like they would on a module.

So far none of mine are fixed in place.

I have Catzilla attacks to consider.

[basementcalling]

After a week away in dreary, humid, rain on me every day Florida, I returned to do a bit of work tonight on the Idaho Belt at the paper mill. I'd been tweaking the track plan for this area because while the prototype mill this layout is based on is on a branch that sees no through traffic inside the mill, my version will. And that makes me wonder about the placement of my power plant spur and the pulpwood spur.

First, they are on the main, not off the siding, so at some point the mill switcher would need clearance to use the main through town to switch these locations. On a busy model railroad this could be problematic. Second, the two turnouts face each other (lower right in picture), so the switcher would not be able to work them both without a run around. I have one in the location, but it is off the siding. If mainline traffic diverts through the siding while the switcher works these spurs, what would be the best way to protect the ability of mainline trains to move through without interruption? Right now, I am thinking of two options.

1. Move the pulpwood track to the chip area, though this would not really allow either the chip pile or pulpwood pile to be as large as desired.

2. Authorize the switcher to work each spur, but do so at separate times, so mainline trains would need to run on the siding track to give the switcher clearance to do so.

3. Have another train other than the mill job drop off and pick up cars from these two locations. Another local could drop coal hoppers and pick up empties, and a second train from the local short line that will have traffic rights could drop the pulpwood loads and pick the empties. This could create some interesting congestion in the area though with the mill switcher working - possibly wanting to leave some cars on the passing siding as it does so, and the other trains needing to get clear if a through train is scheduled.

Given the set up, I tend to think a prototype mill crew would figure a way to work both spurs by venturing onto that side of the mill complex once to save moves, other ideas are welcome.

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The black is the main. The siding is green. Mill trackwork is orange. The two spurs in question are bottom right in gray.

Advice?

[GaryHinshaw]

I actually rather like the arrangement you have there and don't think it is too problematic.  If the dispatcher can manage the mainline traffic without needing the siding during times when the mill job is working, he/she should be able to work around it.  When the mill job is switching the red tracks, it should have rights to the siding, so mainline meets would have to occur elsewhere.  When the mill job is working the grey tracks, it would have rights on the mainline, and the dispatcher could run through trains in and out of the siding (and again manage meets elsewhere).   You're correct that there would likely have to be two incursions to the mainline to manage the trailing and facing point moves, but I think that adds interest. 

My Edison packing house district has a similar challange with trailing and facing point moves on both sides of a double track main, but I borrowed the arrangement from the prototype:



I'm looking forward to running it someday....

Just noticed that you started another thread on this topic in the N board. -gfh

[basementcalling]

Thanks, Gary. I double posted. Longer more detailed discussion in thread "Crossing the Main" in the N scale board.

[basementcalling]

Not much basement time today.

Been spray bomb weathering track. Still a few kinks in removing it from railtops, as my wood scraper methods keep peeling it off the sides in a few places. Need shades for the shiny spots. Auto primer on the sides, followed by straight down application of the camo weathered wood.

Also borrowed one of Robert3985's tricks and removed every 5th tie from some Atlas flex. Had to split the remaining 2 tie pairs, but it clearly makes the track look more spur worthy. This one needs bleaching on the ties.

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Then I had to put a couple LBF 60 high cube paper box cars on the storage track.
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[M.C. Fujiwara]

Still a few kinks in removing it from railtops, as my wood scraper methods keep peeling it off the sides in a few places. Need shades for the shiny spots. Auto primer on the sides, followed by straight down application of the camo weathered wood.

The Rustoleum "wet sandable" dark grey auto primer takes a good day to two to fully cure, and then does peel off more readily than normal paint.
That's why I've switched to Valspar "Blindfold" (found at Lowe's) as my go-to poor man's Grimy Black:



(It's the 51st Shade of Grey )
Is thinner and allows details to show through, and doesn't peel away from rails like auto primer.

If you do stick with the auto primer, in order to prevent stripping: allow it a full day or two to cure, and then lightly sand the railtop until metal exposed, then use the bright boy.

Randomly spray bomb some quirts of lighter grey, brown, and red oxide for more "weathered" track.
I love painting track in less than a Simpsons episode.
Wish ballasting could have such a decent-effect-vs-time-spent ratio 

[basementcalling]

The Rustoleum "wet sandable" dark grey auto primer takes a good day to two to fully cure, and then does peel off more readily than normal paint.
That's why I've switched to Valspar "Blindfold" (found at Lowe's) as my go-to poor man's Grimy Black.

(It's the 51st Shade of Grey )
Is thinner and allows details to show through, and doesn't peel away from rails like auto primer.

If you do stick with the auto primer, in order to prevent stripping: allow it a full day or two to cure, and then lightly sand the railtop until metal exposed, then use the bright boy.

Randomly spray bomb some quirts of lighter grey, brown, and red oxide for more "weathered" track.
I love painting track in less than a Simpsons episode.
Wish ballasting could have such a decent-effect-vs-time-spent ratio 

M. C., I'm using the rust colored primer, but I've had the issue with all colors,  including poor mans Grimy Black.  I haunt the spray paint aisle at my Lowes.

I've been scraping immediately after painting, as soon as I walk back indoors. I've been trying to avoid sanding or using a bright boy so I don't scratch the rail tops. Might need to wait a few more minutes.

Weathering the concrete tie flex is going to go much slower because of the need to mask.

[basementcalling]

Productive weekend that saw progress from paper (or computer monitor) to layout.

Trackwork rework. Crossover in. 22.5 degree crossing works. Eyeballing some spacing issues, but liking this look.

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The power plant does add a nice visual interruption to help separate the mill complex into two halves. It also helps contrast the severe scenic curve in mid mill (75 inch radius) with a few straight lines. The middle of the mill with the power plant on the wrong side of the tracks also helps create a linear canyon for the railroad here, and the straight lines help contrast with the 75 inch radius scenic curve in mid mill needed to keep the aisles here between 38 and 48 inches to handle the operator traffic, and let me get the old washing machine out when that  day does come.


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Super elevating curves can be super complicated. The first one needed to match the slope on the Kato dual concrete tie super elevated curved sections I used to bullet proof the hidden single loop helix here. My HO cork roadbed turned out to be the right height to perfectly match the ME C55 concrete tie track, but only with the OUTSIDE rail of the Kato track.    Sanding the cork ensued with much mess.  Then I could solder the C55 rails to the UniTrak with crimped rail joiners after pre curving the ME track. That joint is under the auto rack almost under the sky hoard.

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I like the stepped elevation look to the above photo. The car tops stack in with the recycled paper spur, and the  the warehouse roofline has 3 levels too. That was by design, which required hacking up the Walthers mill building so the low level roof would not be against the backdrop. Worth the effort I feel, as it should draw the viewer into the scene more completely, This whole scene is 58 inches from the floor, except where the main descends to enter the hidden loop to the other side of the peninsula. At that height, roof lines will matter as they may be eye level for many.

The complex arrangement of tracks and turnouts going into the warehouse and storage yard still needs real world fine tuning. Something is not lining up the way it does in Anyrail. It is probably the size of the warehouse kitbash, which came out larger than I drew it in user objects I suspect. The different dimensions are throwing off the angles for the tracks running out of the turnouts, but I have some space to play with.

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One last parting shot of the overall scene. The yellow UP auto rack is 5 feet away, and  it's close to 12 feet to the towering cordless drill forest weighing down some glued track overnight to be sure it goes nowhere. This is the last thumbnail. Why it won't show in line is beyond me at 1am.

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I hope more to follow this week.

[basementcalling]

More paper mill work this weekend.

Warehouse roof almost complete. A few pipes to glue down and another lift to finish, but AC position set (with duct work coming to hide  a seam), vents installed, and the paint finally as I like it. Did two attempts, but this is white spray bomb with Rustoleum  blindfold and primer sprayed on from a distance to add a gravely texture, and the multiple light misting of a cheapo Wally World $0.99 white that doesn't cover in one coat to hide most of the two previous coats of weathering. It shows through, but just enough to give the well worn impression I wanted. I gave up on a fancy rust pattern I found on Google Earth as a photo print out. Just couldn't get it to look good at 10x12 inches in size for the entire roof.

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The other task for the weekend involved adding a pit for unloading coal at the power plant, and the roof over the spot. I am also making one from unused kit webbing parts for covered hoppers on the paper building, but tackled this one first as it will be out of direct view from the aisle.  It went well, and the option to dump a live load could be added as there is a real pit in the benchwork under the grate.  It was a snap to cut out, as I simply removed the add on benchwork for the power plant and the Saber saw went to work. Still needs some painting obviously and a man way along the building wall.

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As you can see, the track is about 90% down in this section now, with just a couple spurs left to attach. The two tracks into the paper loading dock will be gapped so the warehouse is removable in case of accident at the additives track. A productive week of work. I also made several more backdrop attempts, but am now wondering if a continuous 10 feet of backdrop is really needed, when about 4.5 feet of that image will be hidden behind the 3 large buildings (pulp mill, recovery boilder, chip silos, and fourdrinier building). Smaller images to fill that fill in the spaces behind the modeled buildings could add to the industrial menace look I am after just as effectively I think.

We will see.

[sirenwerks]

Peter,

I noticed something about the two trak siding into the warehouse you may want to consider.  The top roofline terminates basically terminates in the middle of the inside track.  I may be wrong about this because I am not a structural engineer, but I think that would require a load bearing element (columns?) that should exist right down the middle of the track.

Bryan B.

[basementcalling]

Peter,

I noticed something about the two trak siding into the warehouse you may want to consider.  The top roofline terminates basically terminates in the middle of the inside track.  I may be wrong about this because I am not a structural engineer, but I think that would require a load bearing element (columns?) that should exist right down the middle of the track


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It does, Bryan. I went to find a better picture to be sure it wasn't the camera angle. I plan to have beams running across the loading bay, but I am not a structural engineer either.

[basementcalling]

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