Free-moNebraska

[GaryHinshaw]

Love this shot!   Very nice setup.

[svedblen]

+1  (You beat me to it Gary)

[Mark W]

Very nice...  I know this is crazy, but any chance of making it to to the Portland NTS?

-Dave

Thanks Dave.

I'd love to make it to Portland, even if I could only bring 1 or 2 modules.  Unfortunately there are two conflicts; 
We received an inquiry from the Nebraska State Fair about bringing the group out this year and the dates overlap the NTS.
And even that is uncertain with the amount of time it would require off work. 

Hopefully next year the NTS will be a little closer to the Midwest again and we'll absolutely plan on attending!

[railnerd]

Thanks Dave.

I'd love to make it to Portland, even if I could only bring 1 or 2 modules.  Unfortunately there are two conflicts; 
We received an inquiry from the Nebraska State Fair about bringing the group out this year and the dates overlap the NTS.
And even that is uncertain with the amount of time it would require off work. 

Hopefully next year the NTS will be a little closer to the Midwest again and we'll absolutely plan on attending!

http://www.nmra2016.org

[Mark W]

Well there we go! 

Now the question is will you all be able to make THAT trip. 

[railnerd]

Now the question is will you all be able to make THAT trip. 

not en masse, but perhaps 1-2 modules 

[Mark W]

Preparing for the Great Train Show coming up, January 2nd and 3rd in Council Bluffs. 
This will be our largest set up yet, now that the new "Hobson Yard" is ready to go!

Here's a few progress shots.





Took advantage of the nearly record breaking 60 degree two-days-before-Winter weather to get some color down. 
The mainlines will lighten up just enough as the paint dries that I think these turned out perfect.






Can't wait to do some yard operations at the show!

[M.C. Fujiwara]

Looks awesome!
Nothing like having a massive yard to fill up faster than you can say "Yes, this is N scale."
 

I really like how you have the bypass main curvy wonkey.
Great contrast to the "straight" yard in the middle.
(Any reason you didn't extend the passing siding to the earlier section? Seems like there's space on that side of the seam)

I haven't actually had a chance to use the new Fast Tracks "Copper Head" PC ties (looks like that's what you got).
They same height as Atlas flex ties?

And do you have other double-to-single adaptor modules or is most your stuff double-main now?
(It does make things easier with multiple engineers )

Great work!
Can't wait to see more photos/videos of yr modules.
Silicon Valley Free-moN will be at the Great Train Show at Craneway Pavilion in Richmond, CA on January 9-10: why not just roll those modules on over for the weekend? 

[Mark W]

Any reason you didn't extend the passing siding to the earlier section? Seems like there's space on that side of the seam

This one is mostly based on the layout of BNSF's Hobson Yard in Lincoln, NE.  I also saved enough space so I can upgrade to #10's on the mainlines once they're available again. (Didn't want to invest 500 hours handlaying my own turnouts for this one, so just using Atlas 7s and will be upgrading the point rails over time).   Probably still could have made it longer, but aligning things at the middle endplates to allow for extensions modules will take care of that. 

I haven't actually had a chance to use the new Fast Tracks "Copper Head" PC ties (looks like that's what you got).
They same height as Atlas flex ties?

They're the same under-thickness as the stamped ties, but now with perfect edges all around.  However I discovered that 1 PCB tie, plus rail joiner = exact height of Atlas ties.
So, I simply cut a joiner in half and slip it on the rail end, then solder the joiner to the PCB tie.  I'm experimenting with leaving the rail free floating inside the joiner to see if this aids expansion/contraction without compromising durability. 

And do you have other double-to-single adaptor modules or is most your stuff double-main now?
(It does make things easier with multiple engineers )

I still need to build the lead module to take the 3 tracks down to two on the West end, but otherwise yeah, we got adapters.  Hobson Yard is also conveniently prototypical adjacent to my existing Wye modules, so that's going to be fun too!

Silicon Valley Free-moN will be at the Great Train Show at Craneway Pavilion in Richmond, CA on January 9-10: why not just roll those modules on over for the weekend? 

The Minnesota guys are organizing Indianapolis this summer.  I think it will be our turn to organize for KC 2017.  Then there's NMRAs 150th in Utah down the road.  For reals, we gotta get the whole family together for one of these and break that mega layout record!

[rodsup9000]

The Minnesota guys are organizing Indianapolis this summer.  I think it will be our turn to organize for KC 2017.  Then there's NMRAs 150th in Utah down the road.  For reals, we gotta get the whole family together for one of these and break that mega layout record!

 Hey Mark,
  Just wanted you to know that the NMRA in KC is in 2018.

Oh yea, the modules look great too.

[Mark W]

Got bitten by the ballasting bug. 

Every time I set up to ballast, I cringe at the thought of how expensive Arizona Rock and Mineral ballast is, and how little each bag covers.  But then its SOOOO easy to work with and looks so frikkin amazing compared to Woodland Scenic's Floating Ballast, makes every penny worth it!

I was able to completely ballast Hobson Yard over the past few days.  The goal before the Great Train Show next weekend was to simply have the yard operational.  Turn's out, it's going to be 100% scenic'd as well! 







The real yard for comparison.

[Santa Fe Guy]

Having been involved in N Trak since 1988 these yard modules look amazing, well done Mark. Spare a thought for us when we have to pay for freight plus exchange rate for any good ballast from Arizona.
Rod down under.

[Mark W]

Made my first few Super Trees today; lovin the outcome!  Also my first real attempt at painting water.  Might have gone a little too dark and blue so I may wash it with a muddy brown before applying a few gloss coats.




Dad is getting as much of base scenery complete as possible on the second mountain.  Also picked up about 100 pines from Grand Central Gems. 
This weekend is gonna be the biggest and best show yet!

[rodsup9000]

  Those trees are impressive along with all the dead limbs and debris. I wanted to come up to the show, but have to work. Took too much time off for the holidays. Oh well, I'll see them in KC this summer. Have fun at the show and get lots of pics.   

[Santa Fe Guy]

Impressive.
Rod.