The kidney...

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Is no more.

Yesterday I picked up my 2" styrofoam from FV Vleck (http://conrail1285.com/news.asp?storyid=71) and got to work on closing the gap between the two end loops on the shelf layout.

In order to hang the brackets and get to the area, I had to move the kidney, and since I don't really have anywhere else to have it sitting "in situ", I decided its time had come.

I plucked all the trees off it, and flipped it over on its side.

It's still in fine shape and waiting for a good home (I've mentioned it to Brian, but if anyone else is interested, we may all be able to come to an accommodation), but is now treeless.

The Trees:


The Layout:


But this is all for a good reason (pardon the horrible photo):

[Philip H]

glad to see progress.
Sad to see the kidney go.
Hope it finds a good home.

[davefoxx]

It was certainly a sad day in Rising Sun when the Virginia Central was also scalped of trees and shoved in the back of Brian's pick up.  Although I gave the trees to Brian, we pulled them off, so that he wouldn't leave a Hansel and Gretel-style trail of model trees to Centreville.  The last time I saw the layout it was "nude."

But, there was much solace in that it found a good home and would continue to survive in some form (i.e., the cornfields of Iowa  ;D) without just being consigned to the county dump.  Approximately a year or so later, I don't regret that decision.  I miss the layout at times, because the "peanut" doesn't really fulfill my need to run trains, but I know someday I'll have room for something new.  And the skills I developed building the Virginia Central will help me build the next hopefully great layout.

Sorry to see the kidney go, but bigger and better things are expected to fill its place in your basement.

Dave Foxx

[Dave V]

R.I.P. The Kidney.  It gave its life for a good cause.

[RockGp40]

Still figuring out the logistics of how to get it here. Ed, do you think it will fit in the back of a 2010 Santa Fe?

The pick up is still in the deadline until I can get a muffler/exhaust on it.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Hmm, I don't know, it's 3x8 and about 6" tall. Check the measurements on the car, and let me know.

Here's how it came home:

[sirenwerks]

The kidney is dead! Long live the kidney!

(I never figured out why they wanted something that was dead to live long, but maybe that's why we have so many zombies in the world now?)

[Ed Kapuscinski]

BRAINS!!!

or is that BRY/IANS!?

I'm feeling good about this though, and am looking forward to making more progress (while Apple's busy fixing up my laptop).

[Zox]

Hmm, I don't know, it's 3x8 and about 6" tall. Check the measurements on the car, and let me know.

Here's how it came home: (image omitted)

If that's a standard-height door, it should be 6' 8", not eight feet. (Unless you extended it in some fashion after the purchase.)

That could make a significant difference in transportability...

[Chris333]

Not that it matters right now, but is that foam pink? and it is uniform thickness throughout?  The pink stuff can vary a little bit, like when butting 2 pieces together.

P.S. I killed two kindeys (door layouts) earlier this week.

[davefoxx]

If that's a standard-height door, it should be 6' 8", not eight feet. (Unless you extended it in some fashion after the purchase.)

That could make a significant difference in transportability...

You're right.  It's 6' 8", as was my door layout.  The back of the Ed's Volvo is not that big.

[DKS]

Not that it matters right now, but is that foam pink? and it is uniform thickness throughout?  The pink stuff can vary a little bit, like when butting 2 pieces together.

Yes, I've found this to be true as well. Best not to rely on foam being consistent thickness. In most situations it's probably not enough to worry about, but as Chris notes, it can be most apparent where sheets meet.

[wm3798]

Geez.  The Kidney's been transplanted, the Chaffee Branch has been dismembered... There's nothing left of my early interwebs years!

Lee

[davefoxx]

Is no more.

Yesterday I picked up my 2" styrofoam from FV Vleck (http://conrail1285.com/news.asp?storyid=71) and got to work on closing the gap between the two end loops on the shelf layout.

Ed,

I forgot to mention earlier that the 2" x 2' x 8' tongue and groove sheets are readily available in my area in the big box stores, if you need more and have a supply problem.

Dave Foxx

[davefoxx]

Yes, I've found this to be true as well. Best not to rely on foam being consistent thickness. In most situations it's probably not enough to worry about, but as Chris notes, it can be most apparent where sheets meet.

This is so true.  On the Virginia Central, after I laid the cork, I discovered two severe humps at the joint in the foam.  In one spot, I had to grind down almost through the cork roadbed to level the bump.  By modeling drainage ditches on each side of the roadbed, I was able to hide the loss of the roadbed, and you would have a difficult time finding those "flat" spots now.  But it was disheartening when first I discovered it.  I know to keep an eye out for unevenness now.

DFF