Tehachapi, BC

[MDW]

Gary-

Just devoured my copy of MRP 2021..... besides showcasing your layout & the TRW shoutout, it was one of the most well written layout articles I’ve read in years.   
Awesome work!

Michel

[chuck geiger]

Nice TRW shout out on Ken Patterson with one of our guys last year. We should be like Classic Howard Stern
and get TRW on as many sites as possible BABABOOEY

[wazzou]

Nice TRW shout out on Ken Patterson with one of our guys last year. We should be like Classic Howard Stern
and get TRW on as many sites as possible BABABOOEY

Start a podcast.

[John]

Start a podcast.

way to much work !!

[GaryHinshaw]

Just devoured my copy of MRP 2021..... besides showcasing your layout & the TRW shoutout, it was one of the most well written layout articles I’ve read in years.   
Awesome work!

Michel

Thank you Michel, much appreciated.  As much as anything, my goal was to tell a story.  Putting thoughts to paper was an excellent opportunity for me to take stock of where I'm at now, relative to my pre-layout expectations.  Still a long way to go though.

IDK, is it really that simple?   We think of TRW as 'free', but would there be any sort of copyright concerns?  Also, would anyone posting to one of those threads have to give express permission to quoted, and/or be referenced as a contributor, co-author, or whatever...?   Would posted pics be of sufficient quality for print (ownership questions notwithstanding)?

Oh, I was thinking of build threads where the work being presented was largely the product of the OP.  Things like DCC sound installs, 3d printing projects, your Dash-9 detailing project, or any number of sub-topics from various Layout Engineering threads.  As much as I like the forum format, there is something to be said for thoughtful, edited "print" content that tells a single story.  Articles that emphasize the "maker" aspect of model railroading might attract a whole new cohort to the hobby as well.

[AlkemScaleModels]

Gary,

Great article in MRP 2021.

I showed your MRP article to Alicia and she said, "I remember that layout."  That and the pizza afterwards.

Bernie
www.usmrr.blogspot.com

[GaryHinshaw]

Thanks Bernie.  I remember that visit (and pizza) well!  My regards to you both.

I finally picked up my print copies today and was delighted to see that your fine backdrop article was adjacent.  Coincidentally (perhaps), both articles featured BNSF GEVOs in the lead photo.

[BCR 570]

Congratulations Gary - your layout joins a growing list of Vancouver layouts featured in MRP so our area has fared well.

Tim

[propmeup1]

pretty cool. I like our Horseshoe Curve out here in PA but the Loop is very cool.

[Specter3]

Gary

Anything going on with the layout?

[GaryHinshaw]

Precious little, alas, but thanks for asking.  Once COVID hit, the impetus to make progress for ops sessions kind of fizzled.  Aside from building a few more signals, the layout has sat mostly idle.   My overall motivation has not diminished however, as I have been focusing on rolling stock upgrades with my new 3d printer since last December.  (It's very addictive.)

That is likely to change soon as it appears that VanRail'21 will likely occur this September (assuming the US border reopens), so I really need to get back out there and remind myself how to boot it up!    Hopefully, updates will follow soon thereafter.

[ednadolski]

@GaryHinshaw what do you use to glue the S+S ballast?  Judging from the pics it seems that your gluing does not darken the ballast much at all.

I've been using a mix of 2x water to 1x Modpodge (plus a few drops of dish soap), applied w/a pipette after first wetting the ballast thru w/alcohol. However that seems to darken the ballast a lot, and it doesn't lighten up much (if at all) when it dries.

(Sorry if this has already been mentioned, i did seaarch but was unable to find anything.)


Thanks,
Ed

[ednadolski]

@GaryHinshaw what do you use to glue the S+S ballast?  Judging from the pics it seems that your gluing does not darken the ballast much at all.

I've been using a mix of 2x water to 1x Modpodge (plus a few drops of dish soap), applied w/a pipette after first wetting the ballast thru w/alcohol. However that seems to darken the ballast a lot, and it doesn't lighten up much (if at all) when it dries.

(Sorry if this has already been mentioned, i did seaarch but was unable to find anything.)

Aha, found it!   Looks really good, I'll have to give that a try

Nothing special about my gluing technique: first spray with alcohol (I use 99% diluted a bit with water), then apply diluted matte medium in a dropper bottle.  While the glue is drying, I clean the tie tops of stray ballast with a toothpick, especially the area around the Pandrol clips.  One other thing: when I drip glue on the second coat of ballast, I don't drip it directly on the central ballast ridge, but rather between it and one of the rails.  Then, it wicks into the ridge without disturbing it too much.

[GaryHinshaw]

Ah, you're faster than I am -- I've been absent for several weeks, so just seeing this now.  Sorry.

My ballast is definitely darker after gluing, but not enough to bother me.  I have a gallon jug of pre-mixed matte medium I got from Scenic Express at least 15 years ago(!).  It's about to run out, but I may be able to get the rest of the mainline done before it does.  I need to get back out to the Shed and get to it.

[GaryHinshaw]

Given that there have been no substantive TBC updates here in nearly 18 months, I think this shot provides an apt metaphor for my (lack of) progress:



We received nearly a foot of rather nice powder last night, making the steps to the layout more suitable for sledding than anything else.  Despite this, some progress is being made, and I hope to have a few updates over the holidays.