The Carolina Sandhills Lines in HO Scale

[davefoxx]

This isn't exactly my first day on the job, guys.  I'm presently running an HO scale train on a HCD!  I've got much more room than that for the designed layout.  I also only have two locomotives, five freight cars, and a caboose.  I don't think I have to worry about purchasing too much, and, as I have pointed out upthread, I'm very aware of what rolling stock I can use and what I don't need to fall sucker for.  My experience with the similar track plan in N scale allowed me to see what cars I use and what became shelf queens.  I will do everything in my power to avoid the temptation to buy something just because somebody slapped Seaboard System on the side.  I plan to stop at five to six locomotives and perhaps two dozen cars or so (I will want a few more than the layout can fit to swap out for interchange).  That's a fraction of the size of my N scale fleet.

DFF

[crrcoal]

So, the roster is slowly growing.  Because I'm not changing era or locale, these cars are very similar to what I have/had in N scale.  I was ecstatic to find the Southern waffle box car.  What I'm not going to do (I hope), but I did in N scale, is to purchase more cars than I need.

DFF

I hear ya, especially that last part. I said the same thing yet the collection still grows LOL.  I have two of the new Moloco PC boxcars heading my way
Really looking forward to seeing SBD 3.0 come to life!

[peteski]

DFF,
You should change your signature image to [ Guests cannot view attachments ] and also add "A proud H0er" to the text part of your signature.

 

[davefoxx]

DFF,
You should change your signature image to (Attachment Link) and also add "A proud H0er" to the text part of your signature.

 

Too funny.  I might take you up on that.  At least the "Proud HOer" part.

DFF

[davefoxx]

The Seaboard Central 3.0 is off and running.  Thanks to the good folks who kindly paid for some of my N scale rolling stock, I was able to order approximately $750.00 in Walthers turnouts, Atlas flextrack, cork roadbed, rail joiners, and wire from MBK.  If all goes according to plan, I'll attempt to start purchasing the benchwork components this weekend.  You might think that I jumped the gun on ordering the track, but I'll need the turnouts to lay out the track plan on the plywood.

For benchwork, I'm considering building an L-girder frame that supports 1" x 3" or 1" x 4" joists that will be assembled into layout sections that are each no larger than a HCD.  When we removed the Seaboard Central 2.0 a few days ago, that HCD layout fit up the basement steps and back down the hallway without too much difficulty.  If the layout sections were any bigger, though, that would begin to pose a problem.

DFF

[davefoxx]

I hear ya, especially that last part. I said the same thing yet the collection still grows LOL.  I have two of the new Moloco PC boxcars heading my way
Really looking forward to seeing SBD 3.0 come to life!

@crrcoal,

Holy cow!  I just saw the HO scale Moloco cars online.  They're beautiful, but even at MBK, they're approximately $50.00 or more per car!

DFF

[coosvalley]

The Seaboard Central 3.0 is off and running.  Thanks to the good folks who kindly paid for some of my N scale rolling stock, I was able to order approximately $750.00 in Walthers turnouts, Atlas flextrack, cork roadbed, rail joiners, and wire from MBK.  If all goes according to plan, I'll attempt to start purchasing the benchwork components this weekend.  You might think that I jumped the gun on ordering the track, but I'll need the turnouts to lay out the track plan on the plywood.

For benchwork, I'm considering building an L-girder frame that supports 1" x 3" or 1" x 4" joists that will be assembled into layout sections that are each no larger than a HCD.  When we removed the Seaboard Central 2.0 a few days ago, that HCD layout fit up the basement steps and back down the hallway without too much difficulty.  If the layout sections were any bigger, though, that would begin to pose a problem.

DFF

Don't forget that in HO you have several choices in track size, and some code 75, code 70, or even code 55 sidings will add a sense of realism when used for spurs and the like...

@crrcoal,
Holy cow!  I just saw the HO scale Moloco cars online.  They're beautiful, but even at MBK, they're approximately $50.00 or more per car!
DFF

Yea, HO can be expensive, but the detailing on out of the box models is sometimes downright incredible...

[davefoxx]

Don't forget that in HO you have several choices in track size, and some code 75, code 70, or even code 55 sidings will add a sense of realism when used for spurs and the like...

Agreed, and good idea!  I'll look at the sidings as the layout progresses to decide where to use lighter rail.

DFF

[basementcalling]

The Seaboard Central 3.0 is off and running.  Thanks to the good folks who kindly paid for some of my N scale rolling stock, I was able to order approximately $750.00 in Walthers turnouts, Atlas flextrack, cork roadbed, rail joiners, and wire from MBK.  If all goes according to plan, I'll attempt to start purchasing the benchwork components this weekend.  You might think that I jumped the gun on ordering the track, but I'll need the turnouts to lay out the track plan on the plywood.

For benchwork, I'm considering building an L-girder frame that supports 1" x 3" or 1" x 4" joists that will be assembled into layout sections that are each no larger than a HCD.  When we removed the Seaboard Central 2.0 a few days ago, that HCD layout fit up the basement steps and back down the hallway without too much difficulty.  If the layout sections were any bigger, though, that would begin to pose a problem.

DFF

My box of goodies arrived yesterday, Dave. Glad to financially support SC3.0. When is the stockholder's meeting and what is the projection on our dividend?

[crrcoal]

They arrived the other day and are absolutely amazing! And yes they are very pricey! Kleins isn't even discounting them. That being said, small layouts like you and I are building are perfect for highly detailed RTR cars like Tangent, Moloco and Exactrail are producing. Huge layouts not so much unless one has really deep pockets. But with the cost of sound units these days why not have some nice cars to go with them?

I also look at it this way; if in O scale that's pretty much a standard price and in HO still cheaper than brass. Scared to death to try weathering them though. Will definitely need to practice on some lesser quality cars I have first.

@crrcoal,

Holy cow!  I just saw the HO scale Moloco cars online.  They're beautiful, but even at MBK, they're approximately $50.00 or more per car!

DFF

[davefoxx]

They arrived the other day and are absolutely amazing! And yes they are very pricey! Kleins isn't even discounting them. That being said, small layouts like you and I are building are perfect for highly detailed RTR cars like Tangent, Moloco and Exactrail are producing. Huge layouts not so much unless one has really deep pockets. But with the cost of sound units these days why not have some nice cars to go with them?

I also look at it this way; if in O scale that's pretty much a standard price and in HO still cheaper than brass. Scared to death to try weathering them though. Will definitely need to practice on some lesser quality cars I have first.

I absolutely agree.  I hope to limit the purchases to only cars that I'll need for the layout and minimize the impulse purchases for shiny objects.  This way, with a much smaller fleet in HO scale than I had in N, I can spend a few more dollars on high quality cars and locomotives.  While HO could be a lot more expensive than N, because I'll need less, I can buy what I need and hopefully still spend far less than I did in N.

DFF

[davefoxx]

My box of goodies arrived yesterday, Dave. Glad to financially support SC3.0. When is the stockholder's meeting and what is the projection on our dividend?

Thanks, again!  By the way, I can just see how our stockholder meetings will begin: "My name is Dave, and I'm a proud HOer." 

DFF

[mu26aeh]

Ah, yes.  Hello, I represent Mantle Ridge Holdings and would like to replace leadership with Harrison Hunter.  He will make this a profitable railroad from the beginning. And we only ask that he get $200 million dollar salary, and please put a vote to the shareholders that the SC 3.0 pay out an $84 million dollar bonus to cover what he lost by voluntarily coming out of retirement to run your railroad and make you even more money.  Remember,  you have to spend money to make money.

"In breaking news after the Mantle Ridge announcement, SC 3.0 has bought back all shares of the railroad and will go private.  "

[basementcalling]

Thanks, again!  By the way, I can just see how our stockholder meetings will begin: "My name is Dave, and I'm a proud HOer." 

DFF

You can always deny you are THAT  Dave.

[Missaberoad]

It's all fun and games till Hunter Harrison takes over in a hostile move and sells all the Walthers track to boost stock prices. 
edit:

Ah, yes.  Hello, I represent Mantle Ridge Holdings and would like to replace leadership with Harrison Hunter.  He will make this a profitable railroad from the beginning. And we only ask that he get $200 million dollar salary, and please put a vote to the shareholders that the SC 3.0 pay out an $84 million dollar bonus to cover what he lost by voluntarily coming out of retirement to run your railroad and make you even more money.  Remember,  you have to spend money to make money.

"In breaking news after the Mantle Ridge announcement, SC 3.0 has bought back all shares of the railroad and will go private.  "

Lol I completely missed this... Great minds I suppose