N Scale Hi Rail - Retro Hollow Core Door Layout

[OldEastRR]

Thanks for the link to the videos. One thing while watching them: have you ever thought about darkening the shiny wheels on locos? the steamers, actually. Maybe not the drivers, but the lead and trailing truck wheels? Or would that ruin the nostalgia? I think it might look pretty good, myself.

[nkalanaga]

It would look better, but would also ruin the nostalgia.  That's the way things looked 50 years ago!

[Doug G.]

It would look better, but would also ruin the nostalgia.  That's the way things looked 50 years ago!

Already been done by using Unitrack.

[nkalanaga]

True, but Unitrack doesn't look that different from neatly ballasted track from the early days.  The rail and ties are about the same, but the ballast is neater than most modelers managed.

[wm3798]

Already been done by u[sing Unitrack.

I used Unitrak on the yard, which is designed to also work with my TTrak modules, thus requiring the Kato products.  Form follows function in this case.



Here's the ballasted transition between the Atlas snap track and the Unitrack at lower left near the girder plate bridge.  The color is a bit off, but once the scenery goes in around it I think it will be fine, especially once the rails are painted and some weathering is applied.

Lee

[nkalanaga]

You could also say that it represents recently built, repaired, or reballasted track, which is why it's a different color, and looks neater.  Not all track in a town, prototype or model, has to be the same age.

[wm3798]

Precious little work on the layout, but the Crew Lounge continues to blossom.


I used a faux stainless paint to convert the $15 dishwasher from white.  It's remarkably effective stuff.  The butcher block countertop is stained, and the cabinetry is set.  I just have to put the finish on the countertop and screw it down, color correct the white receptacles, and make the plumbing connections, then it's Martini Time!

I did run some trains across the room while I was tinkering... just to keep the update on topic...




Lee

[sizemore]

I did run some trains across the room while I was tinkering... just to keep the update on topic...



Lee

Was that the 0-4-0 from the neighbors Wonder Emporium?

The S.

[wm3798]

Indeed it is!  It's the fourth one I have on the roster.

I was just giving it a spin earlier this evening! 

Oh, and by the way, the bar is, for all intents and purposes, OPEN!  I made the final connections to the sink and dishwasher this afternoon.

Tomorrow I'll start relocating the kitchen to the basement, and by the end of the weekend, the scaffolding will be up in the living room!

Lee

[sizemore]

Indeed it is!  It's the fourth one I have on the roster.

I was just giving it a spin earlier this evening! 

Oh, and by the way, the bar is, for all intents and purposes, OPEN!  I made the final connections to the sink and dishwasher this afternoon.

Tomorrow I'll start relocating the kitchen to the basement, and by the end of the weekend, the scaffolding will be up in the living room!

Lee

Excellent on both! I am almost ready to put the bathroom in down stairs. Trains in two directions and I can use the loo, living the dream.

The S.

[wm3798]

Ready for Happy Hour!



Plus running some trains...

Lee

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Pans and glasses up!

[OldEastRR]

Is this wye/turntable section permanently attached to the original layout?

[wm3798]

Semi.  I still have to pull the layout away from the wall to properly install the wye legs in the back.  Presently they are functional,  but loosely tied in, which is problematic for my articulated steam and a few other old warhorse.

I may also rebuild the connections to the layout to use Unitrak.  You just can't beat it's dimensional stability, plus it can work the same way the TTrak modules do when it's time to put the toys away.

I have set it up so the requisite reversing circuit is isolated on this module, so all the hairy wiring and yard control can be semi percent as well, then just use the Kato connectors to attach the TTrak standard yard modules.

Hope this clears it up.
Lee

[wm3798]

Invested in a bit more infrastructure.

This will add considerable flexibility to the yard, once I figure out how to wire it.

Lee