West Texas Joe Ramblings

2011-07-17T18:08:00.000-07:00

Well, I've been busy. The results are posted over in the "SouthWestTrakers" blog.

Jump over there and take a look, okay?

Joe

2011-06-02T15:06:00.001-07:00

These are "Wide Corners," using R414/381mm superelevated curves.

Apartment Corner - pictures 1-6

The track has power feeds, and is glued/nailed down, awaiting some ballast.
The two-lane roadway inside it needs striping.
As for the stairway to nowhere, see #5 & 6.
I still need to add details indluding figures, shrubs and trees.
Note each apartment block is trimmed in a different color.
Block numbers will be added.
The sidewalks are glued down, but the apartments will wait until I add figures.

In #5, the intent is to add a jogging/bikeing trail along the outside ridge.
And #6, well, I need to raise the walkway a bit. And, yes, it will get railings.

Hotel Janet - pictures 7-8

#7 and #8 are glimpses of the wide corner named for my sister-in-law. It is in
the Payne box while I let various parts thoroughly dry. It just barely fits, but
the box is due to be rebuilt a bit larger. In the meantime, the hotel lifts off.
There are trees, shrubs, flowers and figures and other details still to add.

In #8, the track is taped in prep of a glue "seal" coat being applied.
The blue shrubs look more dark green in 'real life' than the blue seen here.

Not shown is the first wide corner, "MGBI Headquarters." That stands for
Mega Greed Banking and Insurance. It needs some figures (they all do!) and the
addition of power feeds to the track. Otherwise, it is about finished.

Speaking of power feeds, these are the first modules in which I am soldering all
internal joints. All modules Old and new) will eventually be so soldered. In
addition, most of my modules, new and old, will get power feeds to a terminal
block. That way, depending on the setup configuration, power connections can
be easily added where needed.

There is a fourth wide corner, as well as two wide junction modules. So far,
various ideas have been considered, but nothing firm has taken shape for them.
When these three are "finished" I will have to get something going on them.

Editing the LSR

2011-05-23T19:10:00.000-07:00

Next month, the local railroad club here in the Lubbock area is hosting a convention
for the LSR Region of the NMRA. Since, due to a combination of circumstances, we
(the TTrak-N modelers) are not able to have a display layout there. The room space
is available, the bodies to set up and run are not. Most are tied up with convention
tasks, while I will be out of town. Oh, well.

So, some of the group thought that we could substitute a slideshow video display of
our recent shows. It seems that a freeware program, IrfanView, has the capability to
use both .jpg and .avi files in a screensaver function. From a hint given to me, this is
proving to be a most useful program. The trick is to save it as an .exe file, not as a
.scr file.

So much for the boring bits. I'm collecting and editing the video files and jpg's. In
the end it will be a large file. So, unfortunately, I'm not sure that the result can be
shared. Oh, well, my masterpiece (ha!) may forever be mine.

Digital fever

2011-05-14T15:43:00.000-07:00

It took a bit of study, but the new DCC system is beginning to m ake sense - and that's scary!

But, with about four hours effort over two days, I now have five DCC locos ready for showtime. The addresses are set, all came with knuckle couplers, and four railroad lines are represented.

So, small steps, but forward, none the less. It's been a good weekend.

Catching up

2011-05-13T17:26:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy 2011 so far. I've participated in three (only?) train shows and helped

with the preparations for the NMRA's Lone Star Region Convention to be held in

Lubbock in June.

Not to mention a fairly busy chedule subbing in middle and high school classes, and

slipping in a short get-away to Albuquerque with Cindy.

I'm thinking that it should slow down sometime, but I don't know. My model railroad

group is getting very active, and it looks like it will speed up over the summer. We have

a show in Wolfforth (a Lubbock suburb) in mid-August, and an invite to join several

other groups in Austin in October. So many modules to finish (and start some, too!)

before then.

Anyway, winter's gone, summer's coming, and I'd best stay busy before it runs over me.

Ah, such is life in the fast lane of retirement.

Missing in Action?

2011-03-22T15:23:00.000-07:00

Oh, my, I'm over a year behind. I have GOT to get back to documenting my drivel and misfortunes.

It's not all bad, I've just been busy with TTrak modeling. My total is somewhere the far side of 30 modules, with a few (ha!) more in process. My friends and I have named our local TTrak group "SouthWest Trakers" and there is a blog starting under that name.

Well, other tasks call. More later - - -

shopping center module

2010-01-09T13:39:00.000-08:00

well, the industrial module with the crossing sidings is taking far too long. the buildings are going together extremely slowly. so, i have set it aside in favor of completing other modules (started and planned) in time for the april show. before setting it aside for now, however, i did test run a loco on it. sweet.

the four new corners are in pretty good shape, mainly needing a bit warmer weather so I can work in the shop. their progress is well along, and should finish without too much hassle.

in the meantime, there are some straight modules on which I can do a lot of the preliminary work. here's some pictures of the first of these, the shopping center. at the least, it has revealed to me what it wants to become. most of the structures came assembled. a couple needed a few details added, and the two center next to the track are very simple tomytec kits.

tomytec kits are partially painted and partially assembled.out of the box. very quick to assemble, just a bit of glue and plop them down.

the next step is to lay out the streets as indicated in the last picture. I've been just painting over the primer with a light gray for concrete. after that, some blacktop for parking around the blue shopping center (four businesses in there.) a few details (mail boxes, sidewalks where needed, dumpsters, etc.) and some weedy spots and a couple trees or so, and it'll be show ready. piece of cake, this one.

the colors turned out a bit funny in these pics. the three buildings along the back are really about the same color as the square part of the office building with the round 'glass' tower. go figure why some color shifted, and some didn't.

so, that's progress for now.

More on the Industrial TTrak Module

2009-11-24T10:08:00.000-08:00

While I've been waiting for the wall panel parts to arrive, I have been checking out the structures using the paper templates. That's when I discovered that I may have miscounted the DPM sections. Oh, well, I guess the three story building on the left may have to be five stories tall. I can live with that :-).

As for the Walthers panels, there will be a few extras there as well. So, in all likelyhood, one or both of the right pair of buildings will get a smaller extra area on the roof.

The decision to make them separate buildings is final. I like the open end of the siding, rather than a dead end 'box canyon' appearance. So, a connector walkway was added between them.

The two glue bottles on the left front are stand-ins for some fuel oil or chemical storage tanks. Otherwise, the pictorial tour around the module should pretty well speak for itself.

Module progress

2009-11-04T15:50:00.000-08:00

The long-awaited Tomix 30º crossing came in today, so I "had" to play with it. The first picture shows the final arrangement of the tracks on a module for an industrial park. Overall, I did have to cut three pieces of track, the Kato 15º crossing, a piece of Kato straight track, and a short piece of Tomix. The cut Tomix piece is between the LH turnout and the 30º crossing.
Cutting both brands is very easy, takes about 5-10 minutes, start to finish.

The Kato adapter between the 15º crossing and the 30º crossing is stock length, but had to have a little of the roadbed 'wing' relieved to accommodate the Tomix crossing's other leg. I'm looking forward to seeing how this one finishes out. The sidings ought to be a bit of fun at shows, eh? One (maybe both?) sidings will enter warehouse type building(s).

The other pictures show the current state of the middle-income apartment complex. Man, the apartment kits have been time consumers, for sure. Finally, today, I got the staircases assembled. Some black paper for a view block, the roofs, and figures will finish them out.

And, you should have a pretty good idea of where I'm going with the module. A two-lane street will be where the vehicles sit. There should be a bus lane about where the green semi sits. Some sidewalks, trees and grass will just about finish it off.

In the back is a Greenmax footbridge kit. It has two in there, but I will build them as a long single crossing the road and tracks to a linear park along the outside edge.

Yesterday I worked in 9th grade English. The kids were pretty good to me. Tomorrow, it's French class, and Friday it's World Geography. I guess I'm just a man of few talents, and master of none . . .

Later,

Joe

Progress on new modules

2009-10-31T19:28:00.000-07:00

Here I continue to go, working on several modules in parallel. I guess I get
bored with sticking to one or two at a time. So, for an update, here goes.
Did I send you links to the videos I shot at the club play day Oct. 17?

The Arkham Hospital module is finished, and made a successful debut at
the play day. The helicopter took a bit of finger damage, but it is repairable.
I received some good comments from club member and visitor alike.

The rest of the modules I used are old ones, with a few details added, such
as figures, cars, etc.

The high rise corner is on its last phase. The final detail parts are in from
Hong Kong, and I should be able to wrap it up rather soon.

The second corner has a pair of the upscale Tomix condos, and a few other
structures. I wasn't liking something about the arrangement on it, so I grabbed
the Tomix 4015 pair of corner shops. It will look better with one of them in that
troublesome spot. Other than streets and a bit of bare ground behind the buildings,
next to the tracks, nothing much more than plop 'em down and go on.

The third corner is the middle income apartment complex. Those dang Greenmax
buildings are finally painted. I tried to over do the details, and had to strip and
repaint a number of parts. Assembly has started, so progress should move
right along there, too. There will be an overhead walkway from the apartments,
across the street and tracks, to a linear park and trail on the outside edge.
Remember, I beveled all outer corners, so there's not much width to work with
outside the ROW.

The fourth corner module is the tenement (low rent) corner. After moving the
buildings around quite a bit, I returned to an arrangement close to what I had
drawn in the planning phase. The sidewalks are laid and painted, along with
the street. I still need to join the tenement buildings back-to-back. It won't
be any problem. After that, it's grass, bare dirt, and details, details. It will
take a little while, but it should be show ready before long.

Arkham Hospital is one of four straights in this new set. Straight #2 in an
industrial area. I'll get back to it in a minute. Straight #3 will have the Tomix
4020 as a cornerstone of the module, the Tomytec Cylindrical Office building,
and one of the pair of Kato 23-408 convenience store buildings, and a grade
crossing. The 4020 will have a large parking lot. It will become a retail superstore
or a cinema. I haven't settled on that one just yet.

The fourth straight is another office collection. I'm thinking the Greenmax 46-6
and 46-7 with the elevator towers between pairs of buildings. That's four buildings
sandwiching two towers. So, there are two towers for elsewhere . . . And, a
couple of the Tomix 4051's for good measure. I have two of the sets, and that
gives me a couple buildings left over there, too. One will go to corner #2.

The modules are all boxed out and primed. Where pre-built structures are used,
I've test fitted them and am pretty well satisfied how they are working out, well
enough to have confidence in the sketches involving kits still in the box. And,
that pile is slowly shrinking, too.

Back to straight #2, the industrial area. I want to have sidings here to give a
chance of doing a little switching during a show. I figured out that the Kato 15º
long crossing would make it interesting, and worked out the arrangement of picture
#1. As soon as the tracks leave the turnout proper, they convert to Tomix for a
different appearance on the sidings. The Kato adapters will need to be shortened,
no big deal. The Tomix 30º crossing on order will fill the needs here, along with
a bit more straight track.

The structures to go here should come out of the Walthers 3-in-1 building kits.
I got both versions of them at a sale in Dallas a while back. It was a case of the
right place at the right time. I wasn't sure just where they'd be used, but structures
in hand are never wrong, eh? I figure the shorter siding may enter a building, the
longer, well, who knows? Stay tuned, details eventually, when I find out what they
are

The rest of the pictures show how I bashed the long crossing so that it would fit
the TTrak 33mm spacing. It didn't take long. The turnouts are #4's. The plan is
to always the through them as trailing point devices. That should minimize any
problems that could occur. And, I will to apply the John Sing tuneups to them
as well.

As a stand alone set, this will be a square about 1240mm on a side. That will
sit nicely on a pair of side-by-side 6' banquet tables. To use them with the other
modules (Allen, Darrell, Cal and mine) I'm also queuing up a pair of the transition
modules.

Transition #1 will have a Tomix 4023 substation inside one curve (my oldest
Tomix kit, by several years) fed by a high line using the Heljan/Kato 23-401
towers stretching across the module. Inside the other curve, A Kato 23-310
building overlooks a set of sewage treatment tanks. This would be used next
to the tenement corner . . .

The other transition may well get an idea I saw at a showing by the Clovis, NM
club. A corner in their HO layout had the track raised above the low landscape
on earth fills. The inside and outside were connected by a vehicle tunnel. The
whole lower area was a campground. That should make a very nice scene, you
think?

There is, also, an overhead station scene with the tram loop under it. That
has become a separate project of its own. The design has pretty well settled
down into a pair of 930mm sections. Together, that forms a 6x scene. However,
I want to clear out these other pieces before starting on them.. I do feel very
good about the design.

Altogether, I'll have about 30 TTrak modules. That's about twice as many as I
can transport at one time in my truck. You, know, I may be building all the proof
needed to have me committed . . . not to mention the several left over structures.

I guess I've rambled on too long. G'night, and remember to reset your clocks tonight.

2009-10-01T19:40:00.000-07:00

I did a count of modules around here today. I really hadn't been keeping track.
I counted the ones firmly planned as well, as I have all the structures on hand
and the scenery settled for them.

35.

Seriously.

35.

Two are TxOutlawOn30. Three are TTrak-HO. 30 are TTrak-N. And when
I say "finished" I mean showable, but probably could use a few more details,
such as figures, etc.

One On30 is finished and the other well on its way. When I get back to it,
it will get a coastal treatment. Most parts are on hand, if not all.

Two HO are finished and the other only needs the scenery details (figures,
vehicles, etc.) applied. All parts are on hand. Darrell Puckett did the scenery
on one, but I supplied many of the details, base and track. And, I store it.

16 are from what I refer to as 'Set 1' of the N modules. Most are finished.
Several could use some 'sweetening,' which is what I am concentrating on
these days. These form a complete showable layout from a 2½ foot circle
to a 2½ foot by 14½ foot loop, and can be configured in an "L" shape
as well.

The others form 'Set 2.' 12 of the final 14 are in various stages. All these
module bases built, scenery planned, and structures on hand. The high rise
corner, the 45° beach corner and the hospital are the first of these.

The final two have been the hardest to figure out, but I think I'm there. In
TTrak, the roadbed base is at least 2¾" above the lowest part of the module
box. In that interval, the plan is to install a tram loop to run around some
under track stores. If I don't have all the pieces, all that I will need is a bit
more Tomix N track. I have the structures, trams (neat little buggers!) and
a micro controller for it. However, the module boxes haven't been started
while I figured out exactly what it would take. These will be a pair of three
foot sections forming a six foot module.

I'm tempted to build it as a single six foot piece, but I probably shouldn't.
I already have a pair of six footers is Set 1, the yard.

Hopefully, no more. No more. Right now, I don't even want to supply
anyone else with blank bases. I've done that about eight or ten times so
far. Enough, already.

At least, I have been building storage and transport frames as I built the
bases, so it is easy to stack and store them. Maybe that's why I didn't realize
just how many I have . . .

Oh, man, put me out of my misery.

In process projects . . .

2009-09-12T16:08:00.000-07:00

Several years ago, I accumulated a box of 8 1/2" x 11" cardboard sheets. I use them, with masking tape, to hold small items for painting. Sometimes, large items, too.

Lately, I've been able to make myself be a bit slower about cutting parts off the molding sprues. By seeing that there are several parts on a sprue that will be the same color, I can mount the sprue vertically and spray both sides, if needed. Much faster.

So, with it being a bit cool and quite a bit humid, I'm not painting, but I am
prepping for a painting binge. I have 21 (yes, 21!) cardboard sheets with parts
from three kits ready to go. These are multiple structures per kit, so there are
a total of 11 structures involved. Or 12, depending on how you want to count.

Two of them will be bashed into a single item, so I count it as 11.

For some silly reason, I generally don't like the 'out-of-the-box' color. Even if
molded in gray, and I want gray, I have to paint it just to change it a bit. Call
it what you will, I still do it.

And, quite often lately, strip and repaint. Hopefully, not so much in the future.
That really slows down progress.

I have one of my new N corners nearly showable. A few details should arrive
this week, such as decorative fencing. The rest of these structures are for the
other three corners in the set. There are a few pre-assembled structures. They
look okay to me, so I won't be trying to do anything major to them.

To be presentable for shows, I'll need a pair of straights, too. One in about 3/4
done, I think. Another is still bare, but for track. So far, it hasn't "revealed itself" to me so I can landscape and scenic it. If it doesn't hurry, I may force a sewage treatment plant on it.

There is plenty to do, and finally it seems that things are beginning to flow. I'm
having more fun now than back in the summer.

2009-08-29T18:43:00.000-07:00

It's the end of August and since it's been a while, an updateis overdue. I've been
working on several modules at once, all for the large radius curve, double track. In
addition, there was a 'just for fun' bash. More about that later.

But first, the modules. The lesser of these is the hospital straight. While there are no
pics at this time, the hospital itself is shaping up. The outer paint job is about finished.
Since it is a rather flexible building, I am adding floors to it for stiffness. Taking
advantage of that, the floors are painted black except for sections that will be rooms
behind the windows. These areas are white. I plan to have figures in the windows of
the rooms. It is progressing pretty well, I think. Pictures in a few days.

The greater module is the high rise corner, the 'upscale' end of the city. It features
three tall buildings around a central plaza. I still have quie a bit of details to add, but
with today's arrival of the palm trees, it is coming together quite like I have envisioned
it.

The small pieces (cars, plaza items) as well as the buildings are not glued down yet.
The cars, yes, they will be permanent. The buildings never will be, for transport and
storage ease and safety. I'm considering not gluing the plaza items as well, so that they
can be rearranged whenever the mood strikes. BTW, the pergola will get benches.
And, obviously, people everywhere.

I want to add scenes to the two shorter building roofs. On one I want a swimming
pool, and a small tennis court (singles size) on the other. Time, all I need is time and
cooler weather.

Among the details still to go will be flowers, a shrubery hedge along the grass above
the tracks (for safety,) yada-yada-yada. The white around the tree bases is still-wet
glue. It should disappear as it dries. The small, empty parking between the buildings
will get bicycles and racks. As soon as I build the racks, that is.

The fun project is a high railer tow truck. I couldn't help myself, I wanted to use Tow
Mater from the movie "Cars." He works out quite well for On30.

He will get a tow bar with a coupler on the back. With it, he can be pushed by a loco
and look like he's towing it in for repair. It should make for a fun scene on the club
layout, eh?

Mid-August Update

2009-08-19T16:48:00.000-07:00

No pictures this time, just a quick update. Lately, I've helped a couple of others with their modules. Also, I delivered a 2x TTrak-HO blank module to Cole, a high school member of the club.

Progress has been made on the first tow of the city scene modules. The high-rise corner is coming along rather well, I think. As I write this, paint and glue is drying on it. Also, paint is drying on the hospital, a 2x straight module. In addition, I painted the black fascia on both of those, as well as the three other new corners. Small steps, but positive steps.

The hospital structure has given me some fits, but it is beginning to cooperate now and I don't think it'll be long until it's nearly finished, too.

When I say finished, I really mean "good enough" to show. Nothing showing bare blue foam or plywood, etc. I don't think that most of my modules are ever completely finished. There's always a few details that can be added, a mini-scene slipped in, etc.

Finally, the mainline terminal and local tram module scene is getting a solid feel to the design. I wanted it to be ready by the October show, but now I'm aiming for next spring.

Allen and I are kicking around the idea of generating a "Did you find ... ?" type list. It'd be a list of little scenes within scenes in the modules. One such example I have is "Did you find Fonzie guarding the fireworks stand?"

Summer is broiling right along, with 100F yesterday and 96F today here in West Texas. Tomorrow, a cool front is supposed to drop us to a balmy 92F - ha! And, the humidity seems to be staying higher than average, too.

School starts next Monday, the 24Th. Right now, I don't have any substitute assignments, but some do occur early, even on the first day. No one likes it that way, but sometimes it happens like that.

That's about it for now. Keep cool, it's still hot out there.

Joe

45-Degree Modules

2009-07-30T11:49:00.001-07:00

Here's a little project that's been festering in the back on my mind.

Lately, we have been getting away from the 'going nowhere' loops to "W-shaped" layouts with small loops of modules on the ends. These show the layout as it was for the July club meeting/fajita fest at a member's place. There seems to be a real pleasure factor in watching medium and long trains snake around a layout. These pictures are sequenced from right to left across the layout.

However, there is a need to handle the 12' yard (two 6x modules) and the as yet unbuilt terminal with passing sidings that will be 6' (two 3x modules) within a show setup. In the "W" arrangement, modules that long will require a bit of space sticking out from a wall. This is problematic in that we try to include as many layouts as we can, and still make the safety people happy with the aisle widths.

After giving it some thought these seemed to offer a solution. By placing the long modules flat against a wall, a pair of small 45-degree corners would then give a 'kick-out' and allow the ends to zig-zag in the "W" shape. I decided to build a pair of small, reversable 45-degree corners for use with the setups. Here's a couple of pics of the two new modules.

I am looking forward to a chance to use these in the future. When, I don't know. Due to insurance reasons, we have lost the large space that had been used in the past for public showing "Playday" setups. I will go ahead and add simple scenery in the meantime.

2009-07-23T14:21:00.000-07:00

An update on the structure progress being made in the shop. With the cooler weather 69F rather than 105+F) I finally got my general contractor (me) up and doing something.

The two tenement buildings (two Walthers kits) are progressing together. Everything seen here is glued in, except the roof. I'm leaving that for later. The stairs and storm gutters are next.

Finally, finished as defined by Walthers. Walthers calls these "background" buildings. Since they are meant to go near or against a skyboard or backdrop. So, they have no rear walls. I am making rear walls from Plastruct brick sheet. Before they are installed, I am considering the installation of partial floors and interiors behind some windows, possibly with lighting.

Certainly, they will need figures on the landings and stairs. Maybe elsewhere, too. I have a couple of the 'Roof Accessories' packages. Right now I'm thinking a large A/C system for the building. That would require a wood walkway from the hatch to the unit. And, that would require a sunbather laying on a towel, eh?

A decision as to whether the basement stairs will be installed will have to wait. That would require cutting a hole in the mounting surface. Right now, I don't know if that surface will be the plywood or a layer of foam on it.

The next set of four buildings is a single kit from Greenmax, kit #46-4. They are three-story buildings. The kit has four different front facades, and an assortment of side and rear walls. The facades not only have different styles, but different textures as well.

A nice set to work with, and certainly good bashing material. I chose to paint each building a different color, as all were styrene grey.

There are quite a few detail parts to add to the roof, too, making each one unique.

The final six two-story buildings are a single Greenmax kit as well, #33. The walls are a mix-and match system.

There are 24 wall panels, and six front facades in three styles, cast in gray and white.

Also, there are six separate gables for the walls. A variety of roofs are included.

Looking inside the preliminary assembly, note the small stubs on the walls. These are to align the gables. However, the wall is deeply scored, indicating that it can easily be shortened to one story.

And, the stubs look like good supports for an interior floor, too. Again, I think this is good bashing material.

I painted all the side and rear walls a light sand color to resemble stucco. When I get really, really industrious, I may paint the trim on each.

The facades were each painted a different color to brighten up the scene. How bright depends on how much weathering I do. Probably a lot, to look like a dingy, lower-income area.

So, the structures for the city scenes are starting to come out of the boxes. Once some more of these progress to 'adequately finished,' I will attack the next ones. The sequence should be directed by the order I decide to use in 'finishing' modules. Nothing is ever really finished, is it?

For now, I need to check into interiors and lighting. If I do go that way, the interior walls will need a layer of flat black to stop any light leak-through.

Enough rambling for today.

Some more module progress

2009-06-15T17:11:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pictures to show the small progress I think I'm making out in the shop.

I built eight (!) 2x modules, but Darrell took two, and Cal gets one of these, so only five

are left for me. That's great, because now there are four TTrak-N modelers out here!

I think I'll only need four to start with (and

maybe finish?) so there is a spare. Since I

was going to build so many, I just mass

produced as many as I had material for at

the time. It was much quicker that way.

One saw setup, several passes, and a whole

pile of module kits fall out of the sawdust.

I got to thinking again. Sometimes it just happens. Oh, well. Anyway, it occurred to me that

the high rise buildings on the first of the corner modules would look a bit more imposing if

they were on a raised surface. I looked around the shop and found a scrap piece of 3/4" blue

foam. I cut it to size and shape, and tried a train around it. No good, the cars would scrape

the wall. So, a bit of knife time beveling the slope and the cars now clear fine.

I set the Tomix 4018's on there and looked at it from all sides. I decided the front edge needed

some elevation, too, so another scrap was cut out.

Next, the train was placed in the trench, and given a good look. Something still didn't look

quite right. While I like the low ridge in front of the tracks, it seemed to undo the elevation

of the buildings.

So, a few more foam scraps, and the buildings were elevated another 3/4".

The train was placed back in the trench, and that looked better to me, so this is what I will

go with.

The foam piece will be glued down to the module top, and another piece will be cut to fit on

top of it.

This new piece will have a vertical wall to match the top of the lower piece's outline at the

top of the taper. Since I'm about out of 3/4" foam, the new top piece will probably be 1" thick.

I really like the look from 'pedestrian level' at the base of the buildings.

Finally, I set out to join the two 6x straight modules. Part of the idea for these long modules

is to span between tables. So, they were framed with 1-2" cabinet grade plywood. Even so,

they are fairly light weight, even when handled together. At the last show, we found that,

as separate pieces across a table gap, they were too easily bumped and slid around under

the track. All was new, nothing fastened at the time.

The metal rulers are shown aligned with the

front edge of the front track. Conversations

with the others in the club raised the option

of using them as we did, a 12x long through

yard, or as a pair of 6x stub yards separated

around a layout.

So, I thought about all that, and decided to try this solution. The two sections are bolted

together, when desired, by 1/4"-20 tap bolts. These are the same type I use for the

adjusting feet.

To accommodate the need for track overhang when the modules are separated, and for

snug spacing when joined, I placed a shim plate between the sections. The plate is a piece

of 3/32" ply from the R/C aircraft corner of the LHS.

My plan is to lay track starting from this junction. I will place the initial track joints centered

over the plate. Then, when separated, there is a slight overhang for module joining, and with

the spacer, all can be rigidly bolted tight.

I aligned the modules by standing them on their rear

face, making sure the tops were flush, much like I'd have

to do at a show. Then, after clamping them securely, a

pair of 9/32" holes were drilled through both ends and

the shim plate. Installing a pair of tee-nuts completed

the job. The assembly is rigid, showing no flexing when

handled, and easily picked up by one person.

For tonight, I am storing it on end along one side wall

of my shop.

I still haven't figured out exactly what little landscaping

I'll use. There will be a few structures, but not many.

Currently, I have a Pola single stall brick engine house

and a Stewart diesel servicing facility for fuel, water,

and sand. These will go at one end, where a couple of

stub sidings will be placed. Look at the pictures in a

previous blog for details.

Somewhere along a siding will be a Greenmax car washing station. It'll probably be on the

rearmost, but that's not a given. I may move it in one track for survivability during transport.

More on that in a minute.

At the far end, if I can figure a way to incorporate it, will be a small steam facilities, but that's

in the distant future.

As for transport and storage, I'm going to cut a pair of plywood panels the same width as

the modules (12") and 18" tall. They will be attached with bolts, stacking the two modules.

At 18" tall and just over 72" length, they will fit the bed of my F-150 with the solid cover

closed.

So, that's about it for now. I'm starting to look into the structure kits I stockpiled over the

winter and spring, getting ready for the summer work season while school's out.

Sooo many toys, sooo little time, sooo many honey-do's ...

First test run on the new corner modules

2009-06-10T19:22:00.000-07:00

Today, I tacked the track to the four new corners and gave it a test run.

The first run on the canted track corners
had just bare loco units, no cars. Each
corner transitions from flat to canted in
22.5 degrees, then 45 degrees canted, and
back to flat in 22.5 degrees, for a total of
90 degrees.

The inner radius of the Kato track is
381mm (15") radius, while the outer is
414mm (16 3/8") radius. The short
straight sections between the halves are
62mm, and one is the track power feeder.

These first runs were made with a couple of old Atlas RS-3 chassis units.

After a bit of this, I added three cars
to each train. The next couple of pictures
show the canting of the track rather well.

Finally, just for fun, mainly, I set a Kato
commuter station over the tracks and
ran the trains through it.

So, not a lot of words, just a few pics and
videos. It was a fun thing to do while it
was raining.

The commuter station is one piece of the
city scene I want to build on all these new
modules.

First test runs

2009-06-10T19:17:00.000-07:00

Module progress

2009-06-06T16:19:00.000-07:00

I've completed the framing of the first six modules in the new series. There are four corners and two junctions here, before and after the coat of primer.

Several straights are in the works, partially cut out but not quite ready for assembly. In the process, I am building four modules of various sizes for others, too. Too many things at once. I've got to learn how to say "No" without angering others.

The first picture is before the primer is applied, and the second is while they are drying. It was a warm and partly overcast afternoon, good
for the primer coat.

The second shows the same modules after the fact.

At the last show, Allen H. showed his first set of modules, and a very good set they are. However, he also made a change to the Payne boxes we use to store and transport the modules. He added solid sides and top to the boxes to provide protection from dust and who knows what.
My first three of the enclosed boxes are not finished, but they are much stronger than the old ones. I'll have to rebuild all of them with solid sides, tops and bottoms. I'm not sure about the front covering just yet, but something will be figured out. I used 1/4" plywood, something relatively inexpensive.

The boxes are a bit heavier, but still easy to carry. I have a bad back, so I have to be careful about lifting too much.

Ah, the new modules, all tucked in their beds, whilst visions of scenery dance through my head.

Sorry about that, I couldn't resist.

The corners are squares with a point removed, so they will go in the boxes turned in any direction.

Finally, a view of almost all my TTrak-N modules to date. That's an inside corner against the wall. The far stack has four double length (2x) modules, with a junction sitting on top of it all.

The next stack has four corners in the bottom box, with four single length (1x) straights in the box above. The brass plates on two of these
are for (yet to be built) internal throttles. The flash reflection off them is the source of the streaks on the inside corner.

On top of it all is a piece of foam, holding, at the near end, the test loop for an Easy Trolley circuit I am adding to one of the new 2x straights. The controller for the trolley loop is a Minatronics RU2-1 unit. I am not happy with it.

It has a defective sensing input, and they have no repair service available. I don't know yet,
but I may have to trash it and figure something else out.

Two modules are not shown. They are a pair of 6x straights that can be used as a long yard with three through sidings or as two stub yards. The scenery there is still to be done, but it is progressing.

Well, that's about it for now. Got to go get ready for the mother-in-law's 80th birthday fling tomorrow.

It's time to go "shopping"

2009-05-31T18:05:00.000-07:00

School's Out!!!!

The three week subbing job is done. I enjoyed it, but I am ready to enjoy some time not working. Then, last Friday after the end of school, we went out of town for the graduation of a niece - last of that generation to finish high school.

The plan for the summer is to work in the backyard shop on railroad stuff - going "shopping" as the wife calls it. Of course, there will always be "things" to interrupt, but hopefully not many.

I have the four large corners framed built and about ready to prime and paint. There are the brad holes to putty, etc. I should be able to have the priming done by Tuesday. In the meantime, I've started on the Payne Boxes for storage and transport of the new modules. Since there are a number of new modules in this project, I'm building these as I build the module bases. That way, there'll be a place to store them as scenery begins to progress on them.

I'm not sure how many straight modules will be built. I know there will be at least four double length straights and two junctions to go with the four corners. With this mix of modules, I'll be able to set up as a stand alone, one end of a larger layout, or be in the middle of the (probably) largest form of layout. So, that's at least 10 modules in this set.

With the 15, no, make that 16 modules I already have, and the 13 (so far) that Allen has built, we can set up in any size or shape we want. He has four corners, four 1x and four 2x straights and a junction. I have the same, plus the two 6x straights and an inside corner. Nearly forgot that one, I did. All are using the TTrak Alt (33mm) track spacing.

I have a Ford F-150 with a standard bed and the 'super' cab, with a solid tonneau cover on the bed. With a bit of careful loading, I think I'll be able to carry all this in the truck, enclosed from the wind and adverse weather.

And, one of the new 2x modules will be getting a lower lever with an Easy Trolley loop. See the previous blog entry. It will do more than just run in circles. Initial tests are a success, but I still have more work to do there, too.

Plenty of summer projects, I have. Good, this is.

2009-05-23T19:22:00.000-07:00

Already it has been two weeks since I last posted an update. This time, I have several items to
cover.

First, I have been doing a long term sub job at a high school near here. A math teacher
(my field) was sent to bed by her doctor. She's expecting, and the doctor wanted to be
careful. So, I'm finishing the school year for her. Someone asked if I had to wear a pillow under my shirt. If so, it'd be two - she's having twins.

I've got about 160 11th graders, mostly in Algebra II. They have finished the state mandated tests as of the first of May, and they are brain dead. These last three weeks are a real exercise in futility.

Oh, well, I'm enjoying it more than many of the kids. And the pay will buy more goodies
for the layout. So for me, it's a good thing, if a bit tiring.

So much for that. Now, for the good stuff. First, the HO project for the club. I had the idea of splicing Atlas grade crossing sections to Kato Unitrack. Kato doesn't make a grade crossing in HO, and we wanted the rerailer action on the TTrak-HO loops, too. The pictures show the almost final results.

I filled in the 1/4" gap under the Atlas with Hydrocal. After it dried, I smoothed, painted and ballasted it. At the show, it proved worthwhile as it successfully rerailed cars on the fly. Somehow, I failed to get a picture of it is action. Oh, well, ...

Next, I did find the time to set up a test loop for my Easy Tram project. Never one to do it the simple way, I settled on the idea of a hidden passing siding. Then, using a Minatronics RU2-1 controller, the plan is to have a tram appear running right-to-left, alternating with a different one running left-to-right.

Concept pictures were blogged on April 13 as the "Tomix Easy Tram Module Project." The trams will have their motors altered by adding a diode in series with them.

I settled on placing the diode between the motor and the right rail, with the anode to the rail, cathode to the motor. This way, only one tram can run at a time. When the controller reverses power, the other tram will run. The Tomix turnouts work sweet as spring switches, too. This is going to be fun to run, fun to watch people "discover" it. The lines tagged in red & white are track power, blue & yellow are system power, and the others are photo sensors. Since I took the picture, proper track power feeders have arrived. When I get a couple of test chassis modified with diodes, I'll run more tests and shoot a video or two as well.

Finally, I started on assembling the first modules for a new TTrak-N layout. This one will feature the Kato super elevated curves. Eventually, the Easy Trolley will be on a straight module, running on a lower level beneath the main lines.

The first modules are the corners. Here's a series showing the various stages.

A quick shot of four corners, kitted and ready to assemble.

The cardboard box in the background of some pics has another 3 1/2 dozen blocks, trimmed and bored for use on the straight and junction modules yet to come, as well as a module or two for a friend.

I made the corner bracing blocks a bit too long, but didn't realize that until after I did the initial gluing. They are already glued to sides, in the back of the photo.

So, a Forsner bit in the drill press and the adjusting feet are countersunk to the same level they will be on the other blocks. After setting up to show the way it all fits together, I realized my mistake and fixed it this way.

By fixing a stop to the cross slide of my old table saw, I was able to quickly rip the remaining blocks to the desired height.

Okay here's the arrangement again, with the trimmed blocks. Assembly proceeded quickly, thanks to Titebond 2 glue and a brad nailer.

This is when I discovered that I made another mistake. I glued the wedge blocks just a bit too far out. The front panel is supposed to fit under the top, but on this corner it'll have to be out front.

Once the glue dries, I can file and sand it into alignment. A little paint and only I will know. The other three corners will be done correctly (I hope.)

Finally, here's a picture of the idea for one of the corners. It's a start. The buildings are Tomix 4018's, with a block of two floors moved from each of the shorter ones to the taller. For more on the idea, look back in the blog to early March, where I did a mockup of some of the modules with buildings.

Well that's about it for now. Once the corners and the first straights are built, I'll be concentrating on building/bashing the structures I've been collecting over the winter.

This is going to be a fun summer project.

Deadline? Well, my club's next big show is usually in October.

End of May update ...

2009-05-23T19:09:00.000-07:00

2009-05-09T20:21:00.000-07:00

Just a quick update from the 'far west'. The show last weekend was a good one.
The first two pictures shows my loop of modules.

The ones with black fascia are fresh rebuilds on old carcasses. These were left from my N-scale meltdown last spring.

In the background is the 12' yard that interconnected my modules with the new set of
modules built over the winter by Allen. He's watched my modules for a couple of years,
and decided to join the fun.

He matched my set of modules with four corners, four single-length and four double-length straights, and a junction.

All our modules use the "Alternate" (33mm) track spacing.

The yard connecting the two loops gave us an outside loop of just over 2 scale miles. It was really nice to see the 12-car Super Chief straighten out and stay straight coming across there.

My previous post has the links to my Youtube videos. Some are HO scale, and some are N scale.

Here's a few HO pictures as well. The first is Darrell Puckett's WW II RAF field.

Next is Cal Korab's tank farm.

Andy Anderson's new loco makes a pass through the sand hills module.

Finally, the ever-popular hobo car.

Today, I cut out the tops and sides for some new modules. There will be four corners,
up to four straights, and a pair of junctions. These are for my super-elevated track
set. So, the corners and the junctions are a bit larger than those seen here. I want
it to be a stand alone layout, and still be compatible with the older modules, too.
I have the overall scenery planned, and have been collecting supplies. The theme? A
dense cityscape all the way around. We'll see just what develops. My target date is
the local club's fall show, usually held in October.

I'm "retired" and work subbing in local schools. Yesterday, I was tabbed to do a "long
term" sub job for the rest of the school year. Very likely, I'll start the fall semester, too. The teacher for whom I'm filling in is having twins, and is due late August. The doctor told her to stay home, so ... I won't be able to make any more progress on anything until June.

The field is math, my certification field. I don't have to work, but I like to teach,
like the kids (usually) and the money buys more RR goodies. Like the Dr. Yellow bullet
train that came the day after tear-down at the show. Oh, well, it'll just have to wait
for its turn to run.

Lubbock Arts Festival train videos

2009-05-05T19:35:00.000-07:00

I shot a number of videos at the Arts Festival. Rather than spending
time to repost them here, I've listed the youtube links:

Youtube videos from the setup pril 30, 2009:

N Scale #1 - Super Chief Coming Across the Yard -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLDLgpSmibI

N Scale #2 - Super Chief Arrives -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pn86Q1-JjuU

N Scale #3 - Super Chief at the Junction -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZR2za5Seuk

N Scale #4 - Super Chief Going Across the Yard -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkhUcf4_Tdo

Videos from the show May 2, 2009:

Lubbock Arts Festival-HO-01.MOV
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8zWc35frWE

Lubbock Arts Festival-HO-02.MOV
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDF2E6Te7wM

Lubbock Arts Festival-TTrak-HO-01.MOV
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5mYOWODGs8

Lubbock Arts Festival-TTrak-HO-02.MOV
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyXa2tlE8k0

Lubbock Arts Festival-TTrak-HO-03.MOV
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOzAYYNxvF0

Lubbock Arts Festival-TTrak-N-AH-01.MOV
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zd9jgq6Yqk

Lubbock Arts Festival-TTrak-N-AH-02.MOV
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_-6U2NifAs

Lubbock Arts Festival-TTrak-N-JP-01.MOV
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogJfKiAqlX8

Lubbock Arts Festival-TTrak-N-JP-02.MOV
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwaW1tl9o3Y

Lubbock Arts Festival-TTrak-N-JP-03.MOV
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Sr_sHd3s0s

I shot a number of still pictures, too. Maybe I'll get time to select some and
post them.

Later.

Sealing Modules

2009-04-22T15:04:00.000-07:00

After using Tuesday to do some necessary tasks around the house, I got back to working
on the modules on Wednesday morning. I touched up ground cover here and there, then
added scrub bushes wherever they looked okay to me, a few trees here and there, and some
flowers.

These are a new item from Noch, and I like the way they look. In the picture, they are the row of five white ones and two yellow ones. There are some red ones in the set, too. I used some of them on another module.

They may be a bit small in HO and larger scales, but they are a nice size for N.

Once this was done, I started the thing I hate most in model railroading ... sealing with water and white glue mixture. I'm very messy, and I feel that I'm ruining everything I've been working on. I know from past experiences that all will be okay, but still that's the feelings I have while doing it.

I sealed five modules today, four N and one HO. There are two more HO modules to do
tomorrow. Once all are done, I'll wind up the proceedings by attaching the track and
wiring (where needed.)

The HO module stack shows the four club single-length straights. They are stored and transported in two Payne frames, two per frame. The upper two modules are tomorrow's victims, uh, subjects.

The third from the top was the one sealed today. The bottom module is being worked on by Jan K. whenever she has time. She's also doing a couple of other modules, so she isn't missing this one right now.

The N stack has the other four modules sealed today. Like the HO modules, there are two of these double-length modules per Payne frame.

On top of the frames sits the junction module. I tried a couple of different ideas for the center depression. I didn't like them, so I did it like it is a dry gulch/lake bed ares, overgrown in grass and scrub bushes.

The junction and the next three frames below it were all treated today.

The bottom module was finished some time back. It is the one that was in the Plano show as a visitor, courtesy of the North Texas T-Trak Group.

Once the last two are sealed tomorrow, it's track time, and the smaller structures (that will fit while sliding the modules in and out of the frames) will be glued down.

If you're not familiar with these frames, they were inspired by a similar item made by Don Payne, hence Payne frames. I make mine 18" high, and usually place the upper module support in the middle, vertically. In some cases, however, I have offset the placement of the support to allow for a taller module above it while having a lower-profile module below. Except for this one fact, all slots are pretty much interchangeable, not module specific.

Why 18" high? That's the clearance under the solid tonneau cover on my pickup bed.

And, I'm going to add a thin sheet of cardboard (from a refrigerator box, for example) to the bottom of each frame position. This won't affect the capacity of the frames at all, but will keep wires dangling underneath from snagging on anything else.

To go to a show, I just slide the frames in the pickup bed, along with a dolly. They make it easy to transport a number of modules. In fact, the frames for the single-length straights and the corners hold four modules. So, they are about the same size as the double-length frames. The four frames fit on the dolly, carrying 12 modules at once.

If there's time, there's also two new 6-foot N modules that need me do something. They may have to be run with just bare paint, but I really hate that. I think I'd rather not show them at all. Their purpose it to be a long interconnect between my TTrak-N lop of modules and those of Allen's. We'll see if they make it to the show or not.

Monday Module Musings

2009-04-20T16:09:00.000-07:00

It's Monday, time to work on the modules some more. Today's efforts focused on adding ground cover and ballast to HO and N modules.

The TTrak-HO module is different from the one in the last post. This one will be The Sheep Pen. If you look carefully, you can see a couple of tracks for a pickup running just behind the track location. The large area to the module's rear, with a greener color, will be the pen. The fence, the sheep, a couple of codgers leaning over to look at them and few details should complete it.

The next are the new 6-foot modules. Today, tee-nuts were glued underneath with epoxy and the first coat of paint applied to the visible surfaces. For this show, I think that a few low mounds of blue foam or Sculptamould to represent open, arid prairie will do. Something cheap and removable for future development. In fact, to point towards that, I have the 'Surveyor Crew' figure set to put out there.
The long term plans for these do involve a scene I've wanted to do for a while, and this will give me the place to do it. What is it? It may be October before it finds its way out.

The Grain Elevator module received grass around the office and weedy ground cover elsewhere. A few details, shrubs and flowers by the office entry, and seal it. Then, just add track and call it done.

The Main Street module got the ground cover treatment, too. I need to make a sidewalk for a building or two.

Finally, the Junction module. For me, this has been a difficult module to add scenery.I finally settled on a low hill running lengthwise. A dry lake is down in front. The story is that the RR first ran a track parallel to hill, spanning the lake. Later, it was decided to make a cut and connect this track to another line the RR had just purchased.

I plan to "streak" the reddish-brown areas with a lighter color to try to represent erosion of the top soil layers down over the revealed deeper dirt.

Sorry, but that's the best I can come up with at this time. Maybe in the future, the lake will have water.

All modules need details, including trees, scrub bush clumps, and, of course, figures and vehicles everywhere. I'm looking for narrow (1/32" I hope) white and yellow tape for road markings.

That's it for Monday, 2009/04/20.

Module progress, 4/18

2009-04-18T16:16:00.000-07:00

This morning I worked on details for the modules for the show in about 1 1/2 weeks. While it was cool outside (I have no heat in the large part of my shop) I stayed in and glued together fencing for a module. It's not shown this time, but it will be featured in a blog soon. There were a few other sundry items, such as track details, but I won't over-bore you with them. Besides, my memory's not that great.

After it had warmed up some, I spent this afternoon in the shop working on modules. That is, when Darrell wasn't over here. We did "invest" some time in good "discussions" which were "mostly" on rr stuff - ha! The module we are doing "together" is a story for another time.

The main efort today has been to finalize the structures and their placement on two modules, one HO and the other N, and get a start on the groung coverings.

The TTrak-HO module is single wide, and is club-owned. I had asked the club members to donate a few buildings for it. Several have provided more structures than I can use, a happy problem.

After a bit of trial fitting, I settled on the scene shown here. Clockwise, from the bottom center, first we have a switch tower. I know there are no turnouts on the module, but with a little imagination, ...

Then there is a small freight house. Across the track from the freight house is a converted boxcar serving as the local bar, serving, well, don't ask.

Next, the small green one is a set of his n' hers toilets. Behind that is an old general store.

Across the road is the local bank. Obviously, it's doing well in these difficult times.

The red barn has been refurbished into a diner. And finally, on the right front are a pair of oil tanks, for the oil patch here in West Texas. In it's final placement, it will be turned so the ladder is away from the tracks.

Once all this was settled, I started applying gravel, grass, weeds and grey paint (for a concrete road) to the module. Obviously, a bit more touch up will be needed, but good progress was made.

One of the things I wanted to have here is a road that is not square to the tracks, and I did achieve that.

The other module is a TTrak-N module, double length. All I got done there, after locating the pieces, was the gravel drive around the office/warehouse and through the elevator shed.

The return curve's a bit tight for semi's, but that's all the space available. One must assume that the entry drive is off-module to the viewer's right.

For size perspective, if the module were a football field, about half of each end zone would hang off the ends. It is a small space. Some grass around the office, and a some weeds and scrub bushes should finish it off okay.

Module Fest - Spring '09

2009-04-14T20:00:00.000-07:00

For the past few days I have been working on TTrak modules, new and old, N and HO. First, there are three club-owned TTrak-HO modules.

The first has the Atlas rerailer/grade crossings spliced into the Kato Unitrack. If you're new to this, check a previous blog entry for details. At any rate, the TTrak-HO loop will have the rerailer functions that Kato does not provide. The track is just sitting there, not yet fastened.

Certainly, a bit of work will be needed to make the ramps from plywood up to the edge of the Atlas pieces. This module will have a small town with buildings along the road from the front to the rear, probably angling a bit.

Several club members have generously donated more structures than I can use here. The open space behind the tracks is about 19" wide x 20" deep.

The second of the club-owned TTrak-HO modules (not shown) has a 'sand hill' running front to rear, with a small cut for the tracks. It is nearly finished. The third (also not shown) is bare, but will finish out quickly. A bit of 'grass' and a fence, some sheep, and a pair of old codgers looking at them. I have all the pieces and supplies, so it won't take long to finish them.

Then, there are three TTrak-N double length modules. These frames are left over from my teardown a year ago. Since then Allen, a local modeler, has become involved in TTrak-N. This winter he has built four corners, four single and four double straights, and a junction. We had a test day recently, and interconnected his and my modules in an expanded double-loop layout. It was fun. Anyway, that has re-ignited the N fire for me. So, I've pulled these carcasses out and started re-doing them.

The first has a grade crossing and the double cross-over on it. The light and dark gray areas represent gravel roads and business lots. A hedge or two, a little grass, some trees and plop down the structures (I did keep most of them from the tear down) and it's complete. Since it has the double cross-over, I think I will add power connections to this module.

The dark gray is an attempt to capture the look of recycled paving material. I think it turned out a bit dark, but it's okay.

The next also has a grade crossing. The gray is concrete colored paint for streets and driveways. Again, there's the dark gray gravel parking lot. If you look close you can see the names of the businesses that are planed here. On the left end will be a small terminal for the railroad.

The third one will have a grain elevator. Don't worry about the irregular light stripes. That area is under the track, out of sight (all pictures.)

I have found that it is best for me to mark the Kato roadbed outlines, then ballast from just inside the line to the desired width outside. The track is added last, after everything is sealed, and can be easily removed and replaced without disturbing anything else.

The big holes allow the Kato turnout control leads to drop under the module. Some holes are left-over and will be covered by track. Where they are visible, they are plugged and filled. This applies to all recycled modules.

The final module in the old group is a TTrak-N junction, ala the design of Steve Jackson (NVNTRAK.) After seeing Mike Moore's (North Texas T-Trak) junction with a trestle, I knew my trestle had finally found a home after laying around here for a couple of years. The blue foam areas will get a lighter "sandy dirt" color and grass, bushes, etc. The roadbed will get gray and ballast, and the somewhat vertical surfaces along the cut and the washout end will be an experiment. I'm going to try to streak them with a dry brush using the light color, to represent erosion washing down the faces.

Now, for the new. Both Allen and I have ATSF Super Chief sets. He pulls his with an E8 A-B set, as I remember, while I use an F7 A-B-B-A in front of mine. We moaned about the lack of space for such long (locos + 12 cars) trains. I remembered something I had considered once before, and he cut the wood for me. He's a cabinet maker, and has the shop to do precision cuts quickly on sheet plywood.

He cut some 2 1/2" rails from cabinet grade 1/2" ply he had left over. I bought some 1/4" birch ply and he ripped it for me. With this ready to go, today I assembled two new module carcasses. They are 12" wide and 6' (yes, a 6x module!) long.

Yes, the cross braces are not evenly spaced along the bottom. The top was only available in 60" lengths, so it had to be spliced. That located the first brace nearer one end. The other brace is centered from the first to the far end.

Why so long? To create a long, open plains type space. Why 1/2" ply? To be self supporting when spanning between tables, and not requiring one under it. Why 6'? Because I can carry them in the enclosed bed of my pickup, weather protected.

Just for a feeling of size, that's an Alco PA sitting there in SP&S green and yellow.

I've got plenty to do, and about seven or eight working days to do it. I can do it. I did seven modules from bare wood in three weeks part-time effort last year. Several modules need the same thing (adding 'grass' for example) and I can set up once and do them all, one after another. A module finishing assembly line, if you will. The long modules will get only basic ground cover for now. Possibly, by the time for my club's October show, something else will show on them. Or not.

After sub teaching for the last three days of this week, I'll be concentrating on the modules and the show deadline. I am having fun, a lot of fun.

Tomix Easy Tram Module Project

2009-04-13T08:03:00.000-07:00

While I'm waiting on the morning to warm up a bit in the shop, I sat down and began to experiment with the first pieces of the Tram Module Project. Just to review, it is to be a loop of track running a pair of trams (or small trolleys) around some stores. The stores are located on a lower level, under the module's 'community' tracks. This is one module of a set that are to form a cityscape. I'm aiming for an October target date for completion.

Here is building set B (I also have set A) and a pier. Each pier will hold two stores, and there are four stores in a set. The pier I selected is the 'small' pier, meaning it is a few mm shorter than the 'large' pier.

I laid out the pieces from the building set, and began slipping everything together. In all these pictures, I have used no glue. In final assembly, a little will be needed, but not very much. Assembly proceeds from left to right with the pieces laid out as shown.

Begin with sliding the end panels into the pier, followed by the clear 'window' panels. The diagrams on the box are very good, even without and English. Once these are in place, the floor panel is slipped on and the assembly turned upright.

Oops, no floor in the picture. Oh, well, ...

The small exterior panels for the front and rear are slipped in place next. Eventually, a small drop of glue will be used to hold them permanently. It takes longer to tell about this whole procedure than to do it. I noticed the windows seem to beg for interiors and lighting in the structures. I will have to look into this, probably with LED lighting.

Setting the piers in front of a TTrak-N double module, I found that five piers won't quite cover the length, but six are too long. So, five it is.

I then moved up on top of the module base and added the loop of track for the trams.The intent is to run two trams in front of the shops, alternating in direction. The passing sidings are to be hidden in the rear, under structures placed at the upper track's level. I have known that this would require an extension to the front of the module on the lower level. Now, I can see what I had only sketched previously.

After working with it for a bit, I decided (for now, at least) to use all the buildings I have for the piers. That fills four piers. However, I have the parking lot kit for another pier, so all five piers will be filled. I am thinking that I want the parking lot in the middle, and the sensors on the rear sidings for stopping the trams in the middle, too. That will give kids a chance to peek through and see the other tram parked in the rear. They should find that discovery exciting.

Finally, I laid the double track for the main lines on top of the piers. I think I'd better order elevated viaduct sections to go up there.

Okay, soapbox time. While I enjoy what I do, I keep thinking that anything that causes extra excitment in a viewer is something that may help recruit new members to the model railroad fraternity. Hence, most of the rationale for doing this tram scene this way.

End of soapbox.

Here's the rear view, to be hidden from sight.

Just for size and clearance checks, I set a couple of Kato Pocket series steeplecabs on the track to see how it looks. Right now, it looks close but okay. When the final trams are in place, I may need just a skosh more room. If so, I am thinking that the parking lot pier may get a little shaving on each end. It shouldn't take much, if any at all. A couple of support beams on the ends and it should be good to go.

Speaking of going, I've got to put this all away for now and concentrate on the club needs for the show coming up soon.

Mating Kato and Atlas track

2009-04-11T18:25:00.000-07:00

Kato N-scale track includes a rerailer-grade crossing piece, but the HO line does not. We (the members of the Lubbock Model Railroad Association) have found that it would be helpful to have such an item on the club's TTrak-HO layout. So, I set out to graft an Atlas piece to the Kato track.

The first picture shows the initial problem, a difference in "deck height." This is about 1/4",

so I fitted 1/4" square styrene stock under the Atlas piece to raise it. This is slightly high, but that will be remedied in a few moments.

Next, I decided to remove the extra ties at each end of the grade crossing. I think this will make it easier to blend the scenery together.

A quick check shows that the joint is lining up rather well, I thought.

Next, I glued the styrene to the grade crossing, one piece under each rail. I later had to trim it back a little, but that may not be necessary in all cases.

The ends of the crossing were opened up a bit around each rail. Again, this may not be necessary in all cases. I did it to give me room to solder power feeds to the bottom of the joiners.

Then, a bit of careful sanding brought the Atlas down to the desired height to match the Kato.

Okay, now for the Kato part. First, remove the Unijoiners from the track piece. You will save them for later, right? Carefully examine the base of the rails at each end of the section. On one end, there are small 'dimples' in the rail flange that lock the rails to the roadbed. I call this the 'locked' end. The other end I call the 'loose' end.

Using Atlas rail joiners, connect the locked end of the Kato to the Atlas, and solder. Do this at both ends of the Atlas crossing. The railheads should be in alignment. If not, a little filing will clean it up. In my case, the alignment was almost perfect. It is certainly closer than I often see Atlas-to-Atlas across module boundaries.

Next, since this is to fit a particular length, I needed to trim one of the Kato pieces to a custom length. This is where soldering the locked end comes into play. The length I needed is twice the length of a Kato straight. With a full length on the left of the Atlas, I butted another Kato straight against that as a measuring stick. They are touching under the Atlas plastic.

I selected a place near the middle of the overlap, as shown by the pencil point, and marked it as my cut line. I have found that the joint will be much less visible if the ballast is kept and the cut occurs on the edge of a tie. The exact position of this cut is not critical. Being near the middle, however, helps keep it away from the Kato Unijoiner sockets on the track ends.

The cut line is transferred to the bottom of the track piece.

Then, placing it in a miter box, I cut it with a razor saw. Cut only the plastic! When the saw reaches the rails, stop.

The loose end will now slide off the rails with little to no effort. Clean up the cut ends.

Realign the track and the reference piece, and align the loose piece just cut. These are the only pictures where I used the alignment markings of the work pad.

The end of the locked piece is used to mark where to cut the loose piece to length. If in doubt, cut it a shade long. The loose end can always be sanded to precise length before permanently attaching it.

Once cut, slide the loose piece back on the rails and check the joint for tightness and the overall length for fit.

Remove and sand it as needed, rechecking periodically.

When satisfied with the length and fit, turn the track over and glue the joint. Sometimes I add a little scrap of styrene across the joint, but it isn't necessary in a good, tight fit.

When the glue is dry, flip it upright, trim the rail ends flush to the roadbed with nippers, install the Unijoiner (you did save them, right?) and install it.

Install in place, finish off the scenery, and enjoy your grade crossing/rerailer.

I have one last comment. Kato is code 83, the Atlas I used is code 100. Using the Atlas code 83 crossing may make it a little easier. I only had access to the code 100's through my LHS, so that's what I used.

Easy Trolley + TTrak-N design progress

2009-03-19T19:28:00.000-07:00

I have had a little time to work some more on the 3d mockup of an idea for an Easy Trolley loop.

For reference, see blogs of Mar. 6 and Mar. 13 for details on the structure mockups.

The idea has been to have the trolley loop run beneath the TTrak module main lines on a double length straight.

At the same time, I've been figuring out 'large' corners for the super elevated track. The track curves are 99mm larger in radius, so a larger base is needed to hold them.

These two ideas have merged into a single cityscape. It will form the end of a loop of modules.

The corners are 18" (~460mm) square. The width of the whole end is 60" (~1525mm.) This will perfectly fit across a pair of folding banquet tables. This is the first picture.

The second picture shows a close-up of the center module. The structures drawn there are for Tomix under track stores, etc.

Thanks to Jeff Reynolds, Doug Coster, and Bill Robb in the Yahoo Tomix Group for their advice and assistance determining the measurements for these pieces.

In all these pictures, one square on the graph paper = 20mm. That's about 10.5 ft, prototype size.

Since I am helping with a show at a local library, I "borrowed" a couple of donated books (with permission) that were about the right thickness to represent the module base. The books themselves have no significance.

Here's an oblique view of the overall scheme. The solid orange blocks represent trains on the parallel main lines crossing above the shops, and the trolleys on the loop below.

The rear view shows the passing siding I want to use. My goal here is to have two trolleys or trams alternate direction across the front. I think this will be interesting for viewers to try to figure how it is done.

The control for the trolley loop will come from a Minitronics RU2 Controller I got a while back. It is new, and came from an individual who sold it very, very cheap.

The overhead view may give a bit more clarity to the track plan. TTrak above, Easy Trolley below.

Finally, a low level front view of the center module.

My approximations for dimensions aren't exact, of course, but I think they are close enough to give a pretty good look and feel to the project.

Right now, I've got other things to finish for the club before the May 1-2 Arts Festival show. It's one of our biggest showings of the year, exposure-wise.

Once that show is over, construction can begin. I'm trying to allow plenty of time, and setting my club's typical October show date as the target. If all the structures arrive, with no cancellations or extended back orders, maybe ...

My First Easy Trolley Design

2009-03-13T20:16:00.001-07:00

Today, I baby-sat three 1-1/2 hour high school classes. They were good, but had no work
to do on the day before spring break. So, while they talked and played games, I spent a
lot of time drawing and figuring.

I have come up with a simple demo loop for an N-scale traction line on a module with 'normal' TTrak tracks. The loop has a passing siding along one side. From the beginning, I had planned for the loop to run under the main lines.

To fit it on a standard-size double module (24" long x 12" deep) some games had to be played.
Rough sketches were encouraging, so I made a measured drawing today. The main lines will be relocated approximately 1-5/8" towards the rear. So, the module itself will extend this far forward of 'normal' modules.

The loop uses very small 4" (103mm) radius curves. One long side of the loop is out
front, and the other with the passing siding is 'hidden' around back. The scheme is for the loop to run through a couple of tunnel portals in a stone wall. Between the portals, in the wall, under the main lines, are to be a couple of shops and a small parking lot. The trackage will appear to run down the middle of the street in front of the stores.

I asked on the Yahoo N Traction group, and the small Tomix turnouts (all the loop trackage is Tomix) will work fine as spring switches right out of the package. By using them this way, anything running CW will always take one siding, that running CCW will take the other.

I want it to have two trams, different colors, clearly different. Then, from the front, one will appear, run R-to-L and disappear. Then the other will run L-to-R. They will alternate. With the passing siding hidden, it should be entertaining, eh?

The controls for something like this are trivial. I plan to put a diode in each tram, in series with the motor. That will make it run only one way. By facing the trams in opposite directions, and flipping track polarity (a relay, or an H-chip) the trams will take turns. A simple sensor in each passing siding detects when a tram 'arrives' in its siding and flips the power.

Simple, yes? Imagine someone walking up, seeing one run past and expecting to see it
again when the other shows in the opposite direction.

I'll probably order the track over the weekend. This should be a very fun module.

Junction Module Rework

2009-03-10T11:47:00.000-07:00

I decided, after seeing an N-scale junction module done this way at the Plano show, that I wanted a trestle on mine.

I attacked my TTrak-N junction module this morning. After pulling up the track, I took a jigsaw to it. Then I glued in some blue foam.

Uh-oh, I forgot that it needs to be ready to go on Friday - and I'm working Thursday and Friday!

Well, it won't be anywhere near finished by Friday, but I can slip the track back on it. It won't be pretty, but it will run.

Maybe it'll be a good show-n-tell for visitors, eh?

The pictures will give you an idea where I am going with it. Before Friday, I'll scoop it out with my big hot wire cutter. It'll take longer to set the cutter up than to do the job.

By the big show on May 1-2 it'll look decent, with some scenery, maybe a couple of low hills, too.

Sometimes things would go better if I tried to think just a little ahead, but where's the fun in that?

Joe

Module progress for upcoming shows

2009-03-09T18:16:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking about the setup for upcoming shows. The first (and smaller) show is next week's library show for Spring Break. The other is the Lubbock Arts Festival, May 1-2, 2009.

We (Allen and I) have several options.

Option 1: Set up one simple layout, two loops of track, combining modules from both of us. Let it stretch as far as there is room for tables. This uses only space along a wall, without much depth.

Option 2: We combine modules for a single setup, with the junctions in the middle. Still only using
the wall space we would be set up like this drawing. I think nearly everything we have built to date would fit on a couple tables, except for the four corners removed for the junctions. That would give three loops of track.

Option 3: Option 1, set up as two separate layouts, on two separate tables, yielding four loops. Maybe, we could mix modules between us.

Option 4: Option 2, but hold out two straights. Then, these straights and the extra corners could make a separate little layout,with two loops. Overall, five loops of track.

My junction module still has no scenery, but it will by the Arts Festival, as will my inside corner. That will open up some more possibilities. Well, they will have some kind of ground cover as a minimum, something more than bare paint on plywood.

Now, for the HO stuff. There are four TTrak-HO single modules needing scenery. I have been making progress on scenery on the first two of these modules. Track power connections will be added during this time. I figure they will be ready to show at Arts Festival, too.

The other two will be picked up after the library show. Right now, they are the only track power connections for that layout. So far, I have scenery ideas coming together for three of the four ...

And, Darrell is working on a double module for me. It will be a WW II RAF fighter base.

Joe

PS - I'm planning new TTrak-N corners for the larger curves. But, that's a summer project. My target for showing is the Fall season (Oct.?)

Cindy's day

2009-03-09T18:13:00.000-07:00

Cindy had a tough day helping the kids cope with the loss of two of their classmates.
There were a lot of tears shed, a lot of comfort given and received.

It was tough on her. I'm sure the kids at the school are better off for her having been there.

Tough Day on the Wife

2009-03-08T18:41:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow will be a tough day for my wife. She subs in some of the area elementary schools.
Last Friday (3/6) there was a wreck near Lubbock that killed six, including some students where she regularly works. She remembers them as good, bright kids.

She has been asked to come to the school in the morning to assist with the kids while the teachers have an early meeting to help perpare them for working with the kids. She may only be there an hour or so, or she may be there all day. It all depends on how things go. It could be that she stays to watch various rooms while teachers concentrate on individual students who need the attention.

So, I'm asking that you say a prayer for Cindy, the kids, and the whole Willow Bend Elememtary School.

Modular Musings

2009-03-07T19:47:00.000-08:00

Today, I spent the day working on modules. Some are to be used in about a week at the small show in a library during spring break, March 16-21. Most of the others are being readied for a showing at the Lubbock Arts Festival, April 30 - May 2.

In the short term, I'm doing minor repairs and adding details to several TTrak-N modules. I currently have several such modules, enough to set up a complete loop on a 2½' X 8' table.

Another local modeler, Allen, has been building some modules as well. We have put them together to form a larger double layout in a recent test. We are ready for the show.

In the middle term, I am beginning to resurrect three TTrak-N double module boxes left over from last year's teardown. I hope some scenery ideas will present themselves soon.

I have decided that four TTrak-HO modules the club owns need some TLC. The modules are about 20" wide, and have about 20" behind the tracks for scenery. They have been getting knocked around in storage, and have no scenery on them. Just plain, bare, black modules. Since I'm the guy who built the first modules for the club, I've felt the need to make them look better.

So, I'm doing minor repairs to them and adding scenery. I want them to look decent for the Arts Festival. The first of the four now has a hill running front-to-back that's about 3" tall. That's about 22' tall, in scale. The tracks run through a cut. I covered the hill with real sand, and will be adding scrub bushes and cactus to it. Simple, but at least it's something.

The second is a bit more ambitious. I'm building it as a Christmas tree farm. I have all the stuff for it, and warm weather is helping me be able to work in the shop. I'm having fun!

The third of the modules will get a simple small town scene. I'm planning a single street running front to back with structures along both sides, a few trees, and so forth. Several club members are donating buildings for it.

As for the fourth module, well, so far I'm as blank as it is. Hopefully, something will "reveal" itself soon. Nothing exotic, nothing difficult, just something better looking than a bare picec of plywood painted flat black.

And, I have my two TTrak-HO double wide modules. One is almost finished, the other is a ways from that. I have almost all the materials for these as well, but if I don't get anything else done, they are at least presentable enough to show.

There's one more TTrak-HO module to mention. I'll own it, since I've supplied all the kits, but Darrell is building a WW II RAF fighter field on a double-width module. He has assembled most of the kits (aircraft, buildings, ground support equipment) and is ready to start bringing it all together.

In the long term, possibly for show in the fall, there's the Trak-N modules mentioned in my previous blog. Right now, I just think and plan on them when I'm at work.

Somewhere in all that, there's On30 ... whew! No wonder I almost feel overwhelmed!

Maybe some pictures next time.

Shopping Cart Bug?

2009-03-06T20:35:00.000-08:00

I think I found a bug in the shopping cart some vendors use on the Internet. I placed an order for some kits this week, and I think something happened that may really delay the order.

Thinking back, I'm reasonably sure the catalog said two were available when I clicked to add it to my cart. Then, in the cart, I changed the quantity I wanted. To three of them. The cart allowed it to happen. Another item was also added.

I finished the process, paid with PayPal (as they wanted) and closed out. Shortly after, I received an automatic reply confirming the order for the items I requested, in the quantity I requested.

If I'm right, the vendor may hold my order for however long it takes them to get one more from the Far East. I've checked my account, and I have not been charged with the sale at this time.

Oh, well, hopefully all will arrive eventually.

2009-03-06T09:26:00.000-08:00

I ordered some Kato N-scale super elevated track recently. It is the V11 set, which forms a complete 'squeezed' loop when assembled as they show it. It would cover almost 4'x'8. Since it arrived, I have been thinking of ideas to use it in a TTrak-N module set.

The last few days, I have pretty well settled on a cityscape theme. So, with some time on my hands in conference periods while I sub-teach, I began making some drawings. After that, I ordered a few (ha! – thanks, tax refund!) building kits to populate the modules. It was a guess as to just how many would be needed, but I think I may have guesses very close.

The large corners require two tables side-by-side for setup. Looking at that, I settled on an arrangement that uses two corners and a double length straight between them. These will fit across the two tables perfectly. The straight is a normal-sized TTrak-N item.

Fresh drawings were made on graph paper at a scale of 20mm per square. After that, I proceeded to construct a mockup of the planned model. The next two pictures show the overview of the idea. The tall buildings, outlined in orange, are 9-story Tomix 4018’s. Yes, I splurged a bit when I found a really good buy and ordered three of them.

The middle height buildings (in green) are 3-story. The two longer ones are apartment buildings (Greenmax 44, two in a kit) and the others are Greenmax 46-4, four per kit.)

There are six two-story buildings outlined in blue. All six are in one Greenmax 33 store set kit. Four are shown on the back of the center straight. And finally, there’s a pair of pedestrian bridges from one Greenmax 46-3 kit.

From what I've seen in pictures, all the structures are generic enough to pass as 'Western."

The left corner will have a plaza in between the buildings, and maybe parking behind them. The parking area should seem to “extend” beyond the module.

I've been told by other modelers that the buildings snap apart by floors, and can be recombined to create shorter and taller ones. This could be fun!

The heavy curve lines (all pictures) are the track centerlines. Light lines just outside of them mark the roadbed edges.

In the center, on the straight module, I’m looking into using a depressed area with shops under the tracks. The Tomix 4103 Dual Track Underpass Shops and Tomix 4106 Dual Track Underpass Car Park have been ordered for this space. I will have to play a little game with the tracks, as Tomix uses 37mm and Kato uses 33mm spacing between the centerlines, but I think it can be worked out okay. Interfacing the two brands is not a problem, as I already have the adaptors for it.

The right corner has apartments and numerous stores on it, with maybe a small playground just inside the tracks. Both corners will get grassy ‘parks’ on the outside of the tracks.

Probably, there will be no parking visible here.

A theme for the other two corners needed to complete the loop hasn’t even been considered just yet. Anyway, once the big show at the Lubbock Arts Festival on May 1&2 is over, it’ll be time to make sawdust and spread glue.

There’s still a lot of details to be worked out. All the buildings (except the 9-story ones) have been confirmed as having been shipped. So, soon it’ll be time to start building the modules and fitting everything together. To make the big corners a little lighter and simpler to fill with scenery, I think that I will cut off the outside corner when I build them.

A couple of final comments. These new corners will not replace my existing ones, just add to the collection. And, now that there is another TTrak-N modeler in the Lubbock area (Allen), we have begun connecting our modules together in a larger layout. This is done by using junction modules. The larger corners will require a larger junction to match. No problem, already designed. It was a piece of cake.

New in N scale

2009-03-06T09:17:00.000-08:00

Since the track has larger radii curves (99mm larger.) new, larger corner modules are required. I have seen what some others have done, and I reached the same conclusion. The large corners will need to be 18” square.

The last few days, I have pretty well settled on a cityscape theme. So, with some time on my hands in conference periods while I sub-teach, I began making some drawings. After that, I ordered a few (ha! – thanks, tax refund!) building kits to populate the modules. It was a guess as to just how many would be needed, but I think I may have guesses very close.

The large corners require two tables side-by-side for setup. Looking at that, I settled on a scene that covers two corners and a double length straight between them. These will fit across the two tables perfectly. The straight is a normal-sized TTrak-N item.

Fresh drawings were made on graph paper at a scale of 20mm per square. After that, I proceeded to construct a mockup of the planned model. The next two pictures show the overview of the idea. The tall buildings, outlined in orange, are 9-story Tomix 4018’s. Yes, I splurged a bit when I found a really good buy and ordered three of them.

The middle height buildings (in green) are 3-story. The two longer ones are apartment buildings (Greenmax 44, two in a kit) and the others are Greenmax 46-4, four per kit.)

The six two-story buildings are in blue, and are all in one Greenmax 33 store set kit. Four are on the back of the center straight. And finally, there’s a pair of pedestrian bridges from one Greenmax 46-3 kit.

The left corner will have a plaza in between the buildings, and maybe parking behind them. The parking area should seem to “extend” beyond the module.

In the center, on the straight module, I’m looking into using a depressed area with shops under the tracks. The Tomix 4103 Dual Track Underpass Shops and Tomix 4106 Dual Track Underpass Car Park have been ordered for this space. I will have to play a little game with the tracks, as Tomix uses 37mm and Kato uses 33mm spacing between the centerlines, but I think it can be worked out okay. Interfacing the two brands is not a problem, as I already have the adaptors for it.

The right corner has apartments and numerous stores on it, with maybe a small playground just inside the tracks. Both corners will get grassy ‘parks’ on the outside of the tracks.

There’s still a lot of details to be worked out. All the buildings (except the 9-story ones)
have been confirmed as having been shipped. So, soon it’ll be time to start building the modules and fitting everything together. To make the big corners a little lighter and easier to fill with scenery. I think that I will cut off the outside corner when I build them.

And, a theme for the other two corners needed to complete the loop hasn’t even been considered just yet. Anyway, once the big show at the Lubbock Arts Festival on May 1&2 is over, it’ll be time to make sawdust and spread glue.

Update - making use of the warm weather

2009-03-04T07:43:00.001-08:00

Yesterday (Mar. 3, 2009) morning I was helping give the state-mandated tests at a local school. It's very rigidly scripted procedure, quite stressful. So, when I got home, I needed a bit of stress relief.

In the afternoon, with temps in the mid 80's, I base coat painted a new module (thanks to Allen for the construction), ballasted three (including the new one) and scenery coated one. All of these modules still need a coat of black around the sides.

The new module is a TTrak-HO double (~40" wide.) It is to become a WW II RAF Fighter field. This module is mine, but Darrell has put a lot of 'sweat equity' into it by building the kits for it. And, he will finish the module as well. He is another local modeler here in Shallowater.

The second and third modules are TTrak-HO singles (~20" wide.) They are club owned. With a display coming at the local Arts Festival, I just couldn't bear to see plain, bare modules with no scenery at all sitting there. Far too ugly.

I apply my base scenery coat (ground foam, ballast, etc.) by painting the base color (supposedly 'bare earth') rather thickly and sprinkling the material onto the wet paint. Then, I tip the module and recover what doesn't stick. I get a good even coverage by doing this.

The first of this pair of modules has a hill about 3" (that's ~22' scale) high, running front to rear. It's made of some white beaded foam I was given recently. Nasty stuff, I'll stick to the blue hereafter.

The tracks pass through a cut. The coating I used here is a bit different. Rather than ground foam, a mixture of sand and fine rock pellets was used. They were scraped up locally by Darrell. I think he 'liberated' some of the excess around a new baseball field. Next is adding a bit of scrub brush and some cacti, seal it all and it will be done.

The third module is to become an Christmas tree farm. It will take a bit more work, bit I believe I have everything I need to finish it. I have some neat figures, including a man with an axe. The plan is for the rows of trees to have a missing tree every so often. The harvested tree stumps will be round toothpick fragments, lightly stained or painted.

All these modules will be finished with a final coat of black around the sides.

Also, I'm working on my other two TTrak-HO double modules, the 'esses' that have been displayed in the past. Cactus and scrub plants are being added to one, and the campground scene is (far too slowly) evolving on the other. Again, all (or almost all) items are on hand, awaiting their turn in all my 'spare time.'

When I scrapped an N layout last year, I kept four module bases, all doubles. One has been rebuilt as a double trestle scene. It's shown in the storage and transport frame. All the modules mentioned here, except the RAF double, have a frame already built for them.

I've decided to resurrect the other three TTrak-N double modules. Right now, I have no idea how these three will be sceniced. They do need a new base coat of paint to start with, so maybe later today...

Another local modeler (Allen) has begun to build some TTrak-N modules. So, I'm no longer alone out here in this format. We recently got together and connected some of his modules with some of mine and had a blast running trains across them.
Here's a couple of pictures of the fun. That's Allen in the first one. My modules are on this end, his on the far end.

In the second picture, note the Super Chief running the outside track. The engines are down at this end, while the Obs car is still in the middle of the straight at the top of the picture!

Between the two of us, we have several more modules ready to run. The table we used that day just would hold this little setup.

Finally, I bought a bash kit from Backwoods Minatures. It's the Side Tank conversion for a Bachmann Porter. The parts have been washed and are ready for primer coating. That will not happen until after the Lubbock Arts Festival show on May 1 and 2. All modeling work is pointing towards having modules ready, so other things will just have to wait.

It's getting warm, so I'd best post this and get back to the shop for another day of modeling. It's a tough job, but someone has to do it .

TTrak Module Storage Frames

2009-02-20T19:28:00.000-08:00

After some time of transporting TTrak-N modules to show setups as a set of individual modules, I saw a frame for carrying them built by Don Payne. While his frame wouldn't work for me (too tall) it did inspire the design I now use.

I have some limits that I had to include in my "Payne Frames" as I call them. First, the maximum height I can use is 18" (46cm). This is the clearance under the rigid bed cover on my pickup. Second, I wanted them to be 'reasonable' in size and weight for ease of handling. Third, they had to protect the modules, especially the exposed Unijoiners on the end of the modules.

My first attempt didn't take this last point into account, and I was never satisfied with them.

So, a redesign was done. These pictures show the revised design.

I made them as a three layer structure, capable of holding two layers of modules. For the first frames, I made them long enough to hold four modules. The first picture shows four Alt. (33mm spacing) corners nestled in their frame. The other frame holds four single straights, about 12" (31cm) long and 8-1/4" deep (21cm.) Together, this is a small layout in two easy to carry packages.

The wood strips that form each loop are wider than the track overhang on the end of a module. I made them 3/4" (~18mm) square. The exact size is not important, so long as as it is bigger than the overhang. This is a key part of the protection.

The openings in the wood loops are slightly larger than a module, so that it settles down in the opening there. In the second picture, note that on the bottom of the left side is a piece of Masonite running from front to back. A similar strip is on the right side of the opening. The module rests on this pair of strips, held in place by the wood loop.

The three loops in a frame are spaced apart by strips of luan plywood. I used what I had on hand that was light and cheap. They are 18" long, the maximum clearance I can have in my truck bed. I placed two strips on each end and the back, at the corners. In addition, narrow strips were added in the middle for extra support.

The third picture shows The frame for the four straights. Since the straights are smaller than the frame is also smaller than the one for the corners. Noting this, I added extra strips to the top of the larger frame for the corners. These show in the first picture. They allow me to stack the smaller frame on the larger one for storage.

By the way, the brass doors on the lower straights were installed by Don Payne when he built the bare boxes. The intent is to add built-in throttles for the two track loops. I am collecting parts for this addition ...

Also note in the third picture that the middle loop is not placed half way between the top and bottom. This was done to accommodate the taller tunnel module.

This week, as weather has been warm enough to work with glue out in the shop, I built five more frames.

Here's nine loops for three more frames. The smaller six are for two frames, holding four TTrak-HO single modules. These are club-owned modules These modules are approx. 20" (51cm) x 28" (71cm), quite a bit larger than the N modules. The construction, however, is the same. The Masonite strips are clearly visible here.

Note the top loops do not have the Masonite strips. Rather, I braced the corners with 3"x3" thin plywood gussets.

This is a view of one of this pair of frames as the construction is completed. It gives a good overview of a typical complete frame.

Since these frames only hold one larger module per level, the rear center strip is wider for more strength.

Here's the two frames for the four TTrak-HO single modules. These club owned modules are the power feed modules for the loop when it is setup. Two of the modules are in the lower frame.

I am going to take these four bare modules and apply some basic scenery before our next big show. That's May 1-2 at the Lubbock Arts Festival.

The last picture shows the frame I built for my TTrak-HO double modules. This is a large structure. The modules it holds are about 40" (100cm) wide. It is manageable, but I really think that it is about the practical limit in size for these things. It is built like the others, just bigger.

Finally, not shown are two more TTrak-N frames. Each holds two double modules, approx. 24" (62cm) wide by 21" (31cm) deep. I didn't feel that there was any need to add the pictures of these frames. They are about the size of the First frame shown, the TTrak-N corner module unit.

So, that's what I've been doing when I could this week. I did get to work (sub. teacher) two days, and I got the income taxes out of the way, too. All in all, a good, productive week for me.

Summary for now

2009-02-08T12:31:00.000-08:00

Well, January's gone, and the Plano show with it. I had a great time, taking a
module for TxOutlaws On30 and an N scale module for North Texas TTrak
group as well.

I'm not getting much done in the shop right now. Last week I was in a middle
school. The 6th, 7th and 8th graders wore me out every day. This week, I'll
be in the high school on three different days. It should be a bit easier.

I have 'inherited' a pair of TTrak-HO modules. A couple of older gents built
the basic units but have no interest in scenery, so here I go again ...

Cleaning the shop is also a priority. Once again, I've got several projects running
in parallel. Some are On30, some are HO, and some are N. By now, I had hoped
to be a 'single-scaler," but it's just not going to happen. Oh, well.

Slowly warming weather sure helps. I can get an hour or two of time on some
afternoons that I can't during the cold days. Of course, I'm sure that winter isn't
over by a long shot, but I'll take any good weather I can get.

Brrr ...

2009-01-27T19:43:00.000-08:00

Man, it turned cold! And with the precipitation, it's really a small ice storm. There's very little moisture other than a little sleet and snow, and a bit of that melted and refroze.

Work in the unheated area of the shop is not going to happen until it gets warmer. And, the past few days, Cindy and I have been fighting the flu or bronchitis or whatever the current "universal infector" is. Cindy and I did get flu shots last fall, early in the season. Anyway, we are both on the mend, and are recovered enough to get back to work subbing in the schools.

Cindy slid through the ice to school today, and tomorrow's my turn. Yippee. At least it is a delayed start time.

The TxOutlawOn30 Yahoo group has had a couple of discussion items going since the Plano show. One concerns the secure placement of the track ends on the foam-based modules. I have an idea I'm going to try on mine.

That brings me to the other item, the module construction contest. I think that this will be the perfect time and forum to try out my idea. As soon as I have something to show and tell, I'll post it here and on the group, too. In fact, if it works on the new module as well as I think it will, I'll have to find a way to retro-fit the Yellowhouse Switch module without major demolition. :-(

So, I'm sitting here, beating the keyboard, listening to "Classical Pops" channel on Sirius XM off the dish tv system, and slowly working on the resin kits that are staring at me ... I guess I'd best sing off and grab the hobby knife.

Plano Show Return and Cleaning the Shop

2009-01-22T18:15:00.000-08:00

The trip to the Plano Train Show was long, tiring, and well worth it. I had a great time, got to put names and faces together, and buy some "goodies." Cindy and I drove half way home and spent the night in Abilene. The last 200 miles on Monday morning was easy, and we arrived about lunch time.

Today (Thursday) was, finally, a warm day. I got to work on cleaning the shop. After all the "carnage" that has happened in there the past few months getting ready for various things, it almost need sanitizing!

Anyway, I made a good start at it. In the process, some useful pieces of plywood were uncovered. There are eight pieces of plywood, eight feet long by 11-1/2" wide. Four are 1/2" and four are 3/4" thick. By ripping these into 3-1/2" wide strips, I should have the basic frame pieces for the start of a HOGRR-based home layout. I'm working on the detail drawings for fitting it into the available space.

If you're not familiar with the HOGRR (Heart Of Georgia RR) concept, it is a design that cuts a 4x8 plywood and rearranges it into an 8'x9' (approx.) layout. By making the benchwork 12" wide, it is the same square footage as the 4x8, but is more open. Look up the Yahoo group sometime for more details.

Anyway, there's a LOT more cleaning to do, but I'm beginning to see a small glimmer ahead. I just hope it's not the light of an oncoming train ;-) .

Heading for the Plano Show ...

2009-01-15T13:07:00.000-08:00

Here's the newly-decaled train headed for Plano across the Yellowhouse Switch module.

There is much detail work left to do on the train cars, but I'm happy with what has been achieved thus far.

These three side dumps are also to make the trip to Plano with loads of potash in them.

The two large cacti just to the right of #74 are used to mark the gaps in the track, needed for electrical purposes.

The potash loads are fresh from a wash in India Ink, then sealed with Dull-cote. When dry, they drop into the side-dump cars.

Each of the three is different in detail. They are very neat set of castings from Firebox Models.

Right now, the only visible animal on the module is this bull by Arrtista. A nice, heavy metal casting, it really makes the module work in my view.

I plan on adding a couple of varmits at a later time. Otherwise, the module is nearly finished. I'm following a "less is more" philosophy here.

Modeling along the YCS RR

2009-01-14T15:26:00.000-08:00

I've been forcing myself into a state of increased concentration the last few
days. It hasn't been easy, as my "retiree attention span" seems to be
getting shorter, but ...

As a result, several things have progressed (not finished, just progressed) to
the point I feel comfortable taking these four items to the Plano show on
Jan. 16-17-18.

1. The Porter Cab Forward has been lettered and numbered. It now shows
"YCS" and "16" on the cab sides.

2. The 15' flatcar (with the JD 'Waterloo Boy' load chained on it) now sports
"YCS" and "59" markings. This one that may be considered very close to
being 'finished.'

3. The combine/caboose bash proudly displays "YCS" and "94" on the side
of the baggage area walls. It also is close to being done.

All of the above have been treated with decal set, dried, and sprayed with
Dull-cote. This is a first for me.

4. The resin kit tender for the cab forward is assembled and runnable. The
light for backwards operation shows brightly at the appropriate times. With
couplers. They have been a real problem.

The loco and tender still need grab irons, steps, and numerous miscellaneous
detail parts applied, but they are together.

Also, there are several resin kits that are beginning to move along, now that
the (common) coupler issue seems to have found resolution, thanks to an email
from Mr. TxOutlaw himself, Don Culbertson.

Among these resin kits are a couple of 15' boxcars. I played a hunch a while
back while ordering parts for other things, and got four Grandt Line S-scale
reefer hatches. I think they are a perfect fit, so one will be a reefer. Also,
there is a 15' caboose. I'd say these are approximately 60% done.

Other items not even started are, well, never mind.

I'm looking forward to the show, but I'm looking forward to being back, warmer
weather, and more shop time to continue modeling along the Yellowhouse
Canyon Southern RR.

Who knows, maybe even starting a home (non-modular) layout. Will wonders
never cease?

Opening musings

2009-01-07T19:41:00.000-08:00

It's Wednesday, January 7, 2009, and this is my first effort at anything like this.

The purpose of this blog will be, primarily, to record my slow and unsteady progress in the building of a home model railroad layout in On30, with the construction of secnery and rolling stock using materials and techniques that are relatively or completely new to me.

It will also be a place for reports concerning the maintenance and expansion of the portable TTrak-N layout module set I currnetly have.

A bit of TTrak-HO will also creep in here, as the local club had me start that system for them after seeing the TTrak-N layout.

Finally, and I'm not sure why I did it, but there is a small (no pun intended) infestation of T-scale (1:450) around here, too. Oh, well, so much for the sanity of a single scale ...