Mid-August Update

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

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.

First test run on the new corner modules

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.

Module progress

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"

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.

Easy Trolley + TTrak-N design progress

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 ...