Tehachapi, BC

[CRL]

Of course we’re overreacting... Duh 🙄

This is TRW.

[peteski]

Consider the possibility that he did it on purpose just to jump start your efforts to reach 30,000 posts.
(And did you mean to say world renowned astrophysicist?)

I don't need a jump start - I can do handle that just fine on my own, and I also doubt it. 
As far as the other thing goes, the fact that English is my second language, and that I was hookt on fonix, shows up.

[Cajonpassfan]

This was an interesting ideas exchange (for which I'm responsible).

I find it quite amusing that a world renowned astrophysicist, whose IQ is probably way higher than anyone here, and who wouldn't think of doing just "good enough" job when it comes to research about the Universe, doesn't mind cold solder solder joints on his toy train layout.   

Well, I don’t find it amusing... “doesn’t mind cold solder joints (plural) on his toy train layout”? Sez who? Really?
Yes, Gary maybe a brilliant scientist, and he’s building a rather impressive home layout. And it works, too. Being successful in that endeavor also means being intelligent about how to allocate talent, and limited resources, time and energy and focus those on things that matter.
Like building things rather than talking about them ad infinitum
Why not make the point and move on?
Otto K.

[GaryHinshaw]

No worries mates, this is Railwire.  Keep calm and carry on.

-gfh

I'm in London now, so picking up a bit of the vernacular. 

[robert3985]

Way back when, I used to solder my feeders directly to my power buses.  Since I have a portable layout composed of a few easily detachable sections now, I decided to use real 3M Scotchlok IDC connectors and smaller diameter sub-buses which the 22AWG solid core feeders attach to.  The 14 AWG sub-buses attach to the 12AWG power buses.

I solder the feeders to the bottom of the rail foot of my rails after flattening the tip and bending it approximately 90 deg. after tinning it, then I use gap-filling CA underneath were the feeders come out of my splined Masonite subroadbed to secure them in place so there is near zero chance that they'll pull off the rail foot.

I've eliminated all other solder connections on my power carrying wiring on the layout, except at the terminals on my Tortoise switch motors.

I have several sizes and wattages of soldering irons as well as a good temperature controlled station, and a 250W American Beauty resistance soldering station, so soldering isn't a problem as my father (the electrical engineer) taught me to solder various things when I was a kid.  I also have several gas torches when the pieces get big, but I rarely use them since I got my resistance soldering station.

I've heard the horror stories about using "suitcase" IDC connectors, but I have not had a single problem with my properly sized 3M connectors in the 10 years since I installed my new DCC wiring on my layout.  This is in direct contrast to the problems I had with my old soldered joints on both Ntrak modules and my later club layout sections before I ripped everything out and did DCC wiring.

Soooo....the way I get excellent and robust electrical joints is to bypass soldering in about 85% of instances by using 3M IDC's, which I highly recommend.

And...Ed's engines and cars are amazing!  Your ballasting and track is also amazing, and so is Tom's excellently weathered car.  Loved the photos!

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[MK]

No worries mates, this is Railwire.  Keep calm and carry on.

-gfh

I'm in London now, so picking up a bit of the vernacular. 

More like:

Keep Calm and Continue Drifting. 

[John]

Even this very rudimentary scenery treatment goes a long way towards improving the appearance of the layout.  I can't wait to have time to start tackling the central peninsula and the tunnel district.

Well, take a light year off from measuring interstellar background radiation .. and sling some plaster

[GaryHinshaw]

I'm finally back from my latest travels and it's time to get back to work on the layout.  After running trains around for the first time in 5 weeks, I decided I was really tired of looking at the benchwork in the central peninsula:



So I took some chewing gum, baling wire, and a roll of kraft paper and did this:



(This scene is very loosely based on the Tunnel 2 area as seen here, for example.)

I started with kraft paper because it's super quick & easy, and I wasn't really sure how I was going to manage this scene given some of the compromises I had to deal with.   Paper lets me experiment relatively easily.  The biggest question in my mind was how to manage the central ridge towards the middle of the peninsula.  On the prototype, the distance between Tunnel 2 (on the right) and the crossing of Tehachapi Creek and Bealville Rd (red line on the left) is a mile or more: the crossing is way off in the distance in the linked arial photo.  So I had to bring the ridge down enough to reasonably accommodate those features without looking too squat.  I also had to decide how much of the access hole in the middle to keep open, both for access, and so that operators can see some of the staging yard below.  This treatment leaves the back half open.  (I will cover the portion immediately to the left of the red line though.)

The portion indicated by the green line is especially crude because the fascia is just temporarily clamped in place.  The goal for today is to try and redo that part with foam and to then cut & install the fascia permanently.  Eventually I'll redo everything with foam, but I'd like to get a session or two under my belt to see how operators manage with the staging yard covered.

[GaryHinshaw]

Foam chips are starting to fly again.  I made a bit of progress this morning carving foam along the edge of the Tunnel 2 peninsula:



I'm not 100% sure I like the profile along the fascia, but I'll live with it for a while before I skim coat it:



I'm trying to take care to include the service and fire-break roads that are so prevalent in California ranch country:



Here's an angle that shows up in quite a few proto photos:



Hopefully it captures the essence of it, albeit without the final texture and colour.

[James Costello]

I'm trying to take care to include the service and fire-break roads that are so prevalent in California ranch country:

Hopefully it captures the essence of it, albeit without the final texture and colour.

Sure does! 

[jagged ben]

...

Here's an angle that shows up in quite a few proto photos:



Hopefully it captures the essence of it, albeit without the final texture and colour.

Hopefully?  You're nailing it so far.  Except how are you going to keep the fascia out of the background?   
Options:
- take the photos more from this angle.
- photoshop
- build that foam out and up a few inches!   

[GaryHinshaw]

LOL.  I did have that angle in mind when laying out the peninsula:



(Crappy photo, but you get the idea.)  Alas the edge is still visible, as is the upper deck, so Photoshop it will have to be.  But it looks like it will be a cool angle to watch trains from as they drift into or blast out of the tunnel. 

[strummer]

2 things come to mind:

First off, your idea of using kraft paper as a temporary covering is brilliant.

Secondly, your abilities with a knife on that foam is terrific.

All very inspiring...thanks for the update.

Mark in Oregon

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I'm digging it man.
I love the temporary stuff too. It's amazing what doing that does. Slapping paint down has a similar effect too.

[JSL]

Thanks for the updates! As always everything looks top notch in all aspects of building your empire.