Golden Spike! (or Golden Screw?)

Last Saturdaay, 2019/07/27, my local (even if I'm 40 miles away) had a "Build-a-Thon."  between 18 and 24 people participated in the come-and-go event.

With various people pitching in on various tasks, over two dozen modules were framed, painted, and in some cases, tracked with power leads.  I had committed to one T-junction module.  I had the track laid aside for it, no problem.

As it turned out, some of the off-cut pieces were used to make several unclaimed single TTrak modules.  I claimed one of those, as well.  After getting home, a dive into the barn revealed that I do have the track pieces for the single module. Yea! No track to buy!

No pictures of these just yet, I mean, after all, one Owl Brown box looks much like another, eh?  Next week, it should be applied, and pictures taken then.  Don't expect any surprises, track-wise, just simple one with, perhaps, a (very) short siding on the single.

Now, on to the new Trans-Tropics modules I've been planning. I have the track down on three new modules.

It's been hot in the garage, so only mornings or early evenings are tolerable.  However, these three (of the four) have the track mounted.  All have screws except for the small inner loop in the last picture.  I'm thinking that it will remain loose for easy module joining.  The joints in the Tomix track don't line up with the Kato (default of the TTrak-N world) I elected to go with this compromise.  It shouldn't be an issue with scenery.

Wiring drops for track power, as well as control leads for selected turnouts, are in place.  Tomorrow or Friday, I hope to be mounting barrier strips for track power interfacing.  I really need to do something like this, since Tomix and Kato use so totally different connectors.

Maybe, over the weekend, I can run trains at home for the first time in a long time!

The last of these four modules will probably get its track in the morning, or the next day, family tasks permitting. 

What Happened?

It's been three and a half weeks since I wrote a post.  Where did the time go?

Well, some of it went with the health of her mother.  She has rapid-onset dimensia, and could no longer live at home alone.  So, Cindy went to west Texas (~350 miles) to help her brother select a care facility, and get her admitted.  It's done, but it was a hard time.

In the meantime, I had doctor's appointments (routine follow ups, no excitement) to attend and other things around here, so I didn't go.  At any rate, it hasn't been a time for model trains or planes.

As the dust settles, I'm getting back to a pair of project ideas.  First, since the track that was attached to the double deep modules was pulled off to allow painting the bases, I figured it's a good time to paint and weather the Kato and Tomix track being used in the modules.  I didn't realize just how much track I had on there!

At the same time, the Trans-Tropics Rwy. track is being weathered, as well.

I'm not saying that I do a great job, but at least it doesn't look like it's shinky new out of the package.  Which a good bit of it is, but that's another story for a never time . . .

As for the planes, I'm building a balsa model with tissue paper covering because I just want to.  Also, there are a few "craftsmen style" structure kits for the train layout, so the planes help retrain me for working with wood models.

I'm doing the track painting in the garage, and it's starting to get warmer there.  So, I'd best cut this off and get more done before it's too hot.

The Track Fitting for the Taki-Tiki

Today was a good day for the Trans-Tropics Rwy.  With all the track finally in hand, the initial assembly and fitting to the track to the modules was done.  No track is attached as of yet, but it has been fitted.

The modules, from front to back, are the Trans-Tropics Rwy-10, the -14, the -13, and the -End Loop. No, there's not going to be 14 modules in the set.  The numbers refer to the iterations I went through settling on these track plans.  Obviously, an island - beach type theme is planned.  So, I  painted the module tops in "Riviera Sand" to try to look right in the places where bare sand shows through the ground cover.

Overall, it has gone pretty much as planned. The -14 has a small issue (seen here:)

There's a small gap in the track near the left front.  I'm going to work on that tonight, to figure why the plans and actual track differ. It's just a part of the fun, figuring out where I had a "Doh!" moment.  If this is the worst that happens along this project, then Mr. Murphy is being kind to me.  Ha, like that'll happen.  The rest are as drawn.  Hooray for AnyRail!

With errands tomorrow, and who knows what else later, I'm hoping to have -13's track fastened and powered by the weekend.  Here's hoping!

So, Mr. Ken, this is the plan for the modules you made for me.