The NPPX - A ‘Beer Can’ layout on a shelf

[chuck geiger]

[ednadolski]

Ed, if you want one of my K-Mount brackets to put that sucker UNDER the layout, I'll be more than happy to print and mail ya one.

Thanks, I did not know about these.  For this one, the actuating wire runs thru a small brass tube embedded in the surface of the layout (and there is 2" think of foam under all that) so it's easier just to leave it as-is.

Ed

[ednadolski]

Taking a bit of a break from the construction, for some switching action with a little help from the subwoofer sound.

(Sorry for the wobbly camera work... I'm not very good at filming with one hand and running the train with the other.)

Ed

Edit: fix broken YT link.

[robert3985]

Taking a bit of a break from the construction, for some switching action with a little help from the subwoofer sound.

(Sorry for the wobbly camera work... I'm not very good at filming with one hand and running the train with the other.)

Ed

WOW!  Had to watch it twice!  Just fabulous....!

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[ednadolski]

For reference, I found the links to the Lance Mindheim reference page and the RS AOT part (it show out of stock, but does list the specs):

https://www.radioshack.com/products/radioshack-audio-output-transformer
https://lancemindheim.com/about-us/wireless-headphone-sound/

Here are the AOT specs, in case the RS link ever goes away:

Part Number    2731380
Impedance    1kHz, 1V, 0mA DC
Input    1 Kohms ± 10%
DC Resistance (Input)    70 ohms ± 20%
DC Resistance (Output)    0.62 ohms ± 20%
Frequency Response    300 - 10,000Hz ± 3dB
Insulation Resistance    >100 Mohm @ 100VDC

Ed

[ednadolski]

The NPPX gets a staging yard.   Still a bit of wiring to do, and could also use some better lighting.





It's probably overkill for such a small layout, but I already had the track on hand and the space for it, so I figured, why not?

Side note, I used a laser level when installing the shelf, which really made the job a lot simpler and faster.


Ed

[ednadolski]

I'm thinking of cutting in a second spur track, probably to service a lumber/building materials dealer:






I do like the look of the elongated S-curve.  Note the gap between the centerbeams, the idea there is that the crew will have to spot the cars with some space between them so that the fork lifts can cross in between there.

 I also like the idea of adding an operable door in the side of the warehouse, but I am not sure if there is a way to make it so that a cut of cars could be coupled/uncoupled inside.  A removable roof seems intriguing, tho that would seem to make it trick to build the operable door.  (I'm not using MT couplers, so a magnet spot in there doesn't seem like it would work.)

I'm not sure that the bulkhead flat is quite righteous as a load/unload spot. It might be a bit too close to the other track, otoh I could see it it being designated as a single-sided access location (so a centerbeam could not go there).  Maybe some Jersey barriers...?

Ed

[packers#1]

I definitely think adding another spur would be a good addition and I like the idea you have for it; I really dig the amount of space you have there for everything to just breath!

[ednadolski]

Work has started on cutting in the new turnout.   I had to be careful not to trim away too much of the existing track.





Cheers,
Ed

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I really like it. I also agree about dropping that closest spot. Let it breathe.

I think you still owe me an email about backdrops, right? Or do I owe you a reply?

[ednadolski]

yep, breathing/uncrowded is one of the goals for this effort.

Let me get back to you about the backdrop -- I'm still looking for a good sky pic.  I was going to try some drone shots but haven't had time.

E.

[Hawghead]

Keep the third spot just use it to spot a box car.  Box cars are often used to haul wood products like plywood.  Additionally I would put the new switch in and take the original off the main line and put it as an inside switch for the spur going to the front of the building.  I think the railroad would try and avoid having two main line switches to serve one industry especially so close together.

Scott

[ednadolski]

Thanks @Hawghead , that's a great point about the mainline.  In my instance the straight track really isn't much of a main line, in fact it's the end of an industrial spur, so both tracks off to the left of the layout are for car spots.  The train only enters/exits from the right side of the shelf.

Here are a few more in-progress shots.  I tried to use the shortest rail joiners that I could manage, so that they fit between ties without any extra spacing.

This second turnout was a bit more troublesome that the first.  Some of the ties are misaligned; also I did not initially use enough Pliobond to attach to the wood ties, so I had to go in and re-glue some significant parts of it. I found it a little tricky to get the needle tip dispenser between the rails/tieplates and the ties, and to avoid applying too much of the Pliobond.  Another thing with this construction method is that the entire turnout tends to develop a bit of a bowing along the length of it.  I think this is due to thermal expansion of the rail when soldering it to the etched tieplate fret.  Fortunately it is not hard to flatten out during installation.

I do really like the look of the long centerbeams on the elongated curve on the new spur.










(I am starting to wish that I had made the shelf a few inches deeper -- but that would have required some of that pesky planning ahead.... )


Cheers,
Ed

[ednadolski]

Progress has been slow, but the new turnout is now hooked in and operational.










Time to go get that ground cover filled back in.....


Ed

[ednadolski]

Paving in progress.... yep, quite a mess....

Not sure if I can justify paving between tracks 1-2 and/or track 1 and the front fascia, as I'm not really thinking of those as load/unload spots.






Ed