HOn3 Rio Grande Southern First District 1938-1945

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Good. Go cut some lumber.

[Dave V]

Good. Go cut some lumber.

I know, I know...  Better to start building now and have to fix or change things than to wait.

And yeah, the "sting" of yesterday's appointment is wearing off and I'm trying a new medication that supposedly should help...  I just need to start f**king building.

The other "feedback loop" I need to break is the trestle/track loop.  I feel like I need to build trestles first because I'll be using a foam base and won't have a plywood roadbed to allow the track to "fly" over the proposed canyons and ravines.  I do have all the lumber I need and the proper jigs.

"If I just build a couple trestle bents each night..."   

[DKS]

So, it sounds like you're thinking along these lines:



It's rotated so Rico faces out because the long wing would be on the left, which wouldn't work given the space constraints. And if Rico is still protruding too far out, then the bottom left corner can be cut back more, since there's nothing there.

[Dave V]

So, it sounds like you're thinking along these lines:



It's rotated so Rico faces out because the long wing would be on the left, which wouldn't work given the space constraints. And if Rico is still protruding too far out, then the bottom left corner can be cut back more, since there's nothing there.

Exactly!  That’s it!  Sawpit and Lizard Head are completely out of order but that’s fine.  I’ll just use different scenes.  In fact...  Lizard Head just became a staging track and I’m putting that side against the wall.  Sawpit can be the approach to Lizard Head without the passing siding.  I think we have a winner!  This I can build without suffering too much paralysis.  It captures all the necessary bits and keeps directional purity through Ophir and Rico.  That right hand passing siding—if against a wall—is a perfect staging track representing Ridgway or Durango (depending on direction).  This plan leaves the alcove window unobstructed.  It can be built in 3 sections.

DKS, thank you!

[DKS]

Lizard Head just became a staging track and I’m putting that side against the wall.

I hope you don't mean literally against the wall--that would create some access issues. But closer to the wall would work, as it would afford more aisle space around Sawpit. Also, you could probably slide the whole layout toward the window, since it sounds like you wouldn't need regular operating access to the top right lobe. And speaking of staging, would a third track offer any benefit?

DKS, thank you!

My sincere pleasure, to be sure.

[Dave V]

I hope you don't mean literally agains the wall--that would create some access issues. But closer to the wall would work, as it would afford more aisle space around Sawpit. Also, you could probably slide the whole layout toward the window, since it sounds like you woldn't need regular operating access to the top right lobe. And speaking of staging, would a third track offer any benefit?

I was thinking right up against the wall but maybe an 18" access would be good...that way I still have 30" on the other side.  And yes, a third track is perfect.  That long  loop *can* go all the way back to the wall.  But I do like the size of the layout as-is...it's more likely to "fit" someplace else if it comes to that.  Then I can slide the whole layout back a bit so it doesn't intrude into the entertaining space.

I'm loving the "less is more" look here...

EDIT:  LOL, I'd drafted this iteration the first week of September:

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Similar...but I think your plan works better.  My plan was too ambitious and would look too crowded.

[DKS]

Good luck, man, and start making sawdust! Anxiously waiting to see progress.

Edit: that earlier draft is spooky. It also suggests the notion that the Bridge 45A wing could perhaps be stretched a foot longer to provide a bit more breathing room for the big trestle.

[DKS]

[Dave V]

<mic_drop>

Boom.  Done-ski.

Will start planning the benchwork structure and scoping materials forthwith.

I've been on the fence about forgoing any sort of plywood table top.  I think I'd like to use stacked foam straight onto joists on L-girder and then do a nice, sweeping 1/8" Masonite fascia.

[DKS]

I think I'd like to use stacked foam straight onto joists on L-girder and then do a nice, sweeping 1/8" Masonite fascia.

FWIW, this is exactly what I would do.

[lashedup]

Dave, just read through this thread and from my own experience, just start building.     You'll be so glad you did and you'll be able to start right away building, making progress and very soon running trains.

I went back and forth forever on things and once I started building the momentum starts flowing and you can go back and forth with a number of different things to keep you going in different directions with the overall goal in mind. Plus DKS has put together something I think will look great and give you options to play around. The reach in on the 4x8 might be the only thing that gives you fits from time to time, but that is probably more determined by the height of the layout as well.

I'm not in the same situation as you regarding a possible move soon, but I am building the layout in such a way that dismantling it will be easy and leave no trace on the house itself. With that in mind I'm cantilevering a lot of it (also to get storage underneath) and to give me the flexibility to raise or lower it or even strip it down to the original studs to do something different. If you know you're potentially looking at a move, then pick your spots in the scenery where you could easily use a roto tool to cut through generic scenery down to a joint. Attach your joint points as David drew them with bolts through the framework and you'll be good to go.  I'm also trying foam for my road bed in my mountain section. I'm not dealing with any turnouts there and no one is standing on it, so I can keep everything a bit lighter.

Good luck!

[Dave V]

Just to show that I am serious this time, I’m test fitting track and structures at Rico on a 4’ x 7’ air hockey table. I know I have an extra foot to work with in reality, but I have to make some tough decisions about where the north yard throat happens. It may behoove me to invest in more curved turnouts.  I think I'm going to have to use some #4s in spots too.  Was hoping to avoid them because the Shinohara ones, though cheap and readily available, aren't DCC-ready.  The extra work will be worth it of everything fits.

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Sorry about the sideways picture… I’m just so tired of it happening that I’m too lazy to fix it this time.

[wazzou]

Good idea using the right side faceoff circle for a turntable.   

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Do yourself a favor and use some plywood sub roadbed. You're going to have some issues with mating if it's sectional if you don't.

Foam's desirability drops rapidly as the complexity of its use increases. The farther you get from just gluing it to the top of an HCD, the worse things get.

[Dave V]

Do yourself a favor and use some plywood sub roadbed. You're going to have some issues with mating if it's sectional if you don't.

Foam's desirability drops rapidly as the complexity of its use increases. The farther you get from just gluing it to the top of an HCD, the worse things get.

Thanks for the warning!  It’s certainly not meant to be as portable as the JD or moved as often...but every little bit helps.  Hopefully there will still be enough give that when the plywood contracts the foam can absorb a bit of the motion.