West Ivy

[ocalicreek]

Howdy Gang!

This will be the construction thread for the small layout I'll build in the interim between moving in and being settled (at which point I'll build the layout as planned here - <!-- l --><a class="postlink-local" href="http://www.the-gauge.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=1290">viewtopic.php?f=46&t=1290</a><!-- l --> )

I got tired of calling the smaller layout the Four-by-Six all the time so I made a passing comment to Loren (Nomad) that it needed a name. His creative brain churned out the name Ivy. You Roman numeral fans may be able to figure out where it came from. I added the 'West' since ridge or hill or creek, etc. just didn't sound quite right to my ears.

Basically it's a 4'x6', HO scale, standard gauge 'display layout' (read: continuous loop). There are no real operations to speak of, only a passing track that serves a more scenic function by offering a place to display equipment or keep a second train handy so I don't spend so much time taking equipment on and off the layout. There's also one siding located off the passing track which again, I suppose could be switched but really is there as a scenic feature, just for the diorama attached to the siding.

Last weekend I managed to build a set of rolling legs to fit under the layout base and this week I've been taking stock of what materials I've already got. I had, at one time, imagined I might use Bachmann EZ track (steel rail) but testing revealed the need to clean the black crud off the rails often, whether dry or 'wet' (light oil on rail, a la Wahl Clipper oil). Since that time I have stripped the code 100 NS rail off some old TruScale roadbed and plan to use it. I have a few wooden ties as well as a few #6 turnouts (also TruScale).

Along with the lumber for framing the legs I purchased a 4x8 sheet of pressed fiber board (celotex) for roadbed. Homasote is tough to come by up here and this was available readily. Construction adhesive will hold this to the foam base, and yellow carpenter's glue will hold the ties to the pressboard. Rail will be spiked by hand. Turnouts may be relaid from the TruScale solid base onto turnout ties on the layout - at least the hard work of building the turnout rail is done.

More to come - Photos will follow soon!

Galen

[viperman]

:needpics:

[nomad]

Loren

[ocalicreek]

...so I'll post some tomorrow! (7/4)

Nice thing about a rolling layout in a garage...on a sunny day it can go for a little roll into the driveway to take advantage of the natural light! (another reason to paint my engines BLACK!!!)

Galen

[ocalicreek]

First off, just the layout all covered in foam chunks in my messy garage. For those of you following my other planning thread, you can see the water heater in the upper right side of the image.

[albumimg]1131[/albumimg]

Galen

[ocalicreek]

American Tool & Die. Might become 'Acme Tool & Die'...we'll see how tricky it would be to kitbash/condense the sign kit.

I started this diorama 5-6 years ago from an ERTL/RDA kit. The smaller stone building is the boiler house. It will receive an old grayed wood addition around two sides for additional character (and to make it look less like what came with the kit...already it's still too similar). There is a loading grate in the tracks for a hopper of coal.

The larger brick building had been a fairly boreing, basic rectangle. I shortened the long sides by 1/4, enabling me to make the loading area with three large doors and creating a more interesting L shape. The clapboard addition is scratched above the short wing of the L, and the second floor on that wing has been painted inside to be an office...perhaps. I'm not thrilled with how that came out.

Basically the building is done, but still needs additional detailing and weathering. It will receive a box car load of raw metal, tool parts, shipping crates, etc. and ship out a finished, machined product.

Again, it's less about operation (so no car cards to pull or set out, etc.) and more about scenic function. I contemplated even making the siding non-functioning but my oldest likes to see cars switched around so it'll work for his sake.

[albumimg]1132[/albumimg]

More to come!

Galen

[ocalicreek]

These are the aforementioned turnouts. Upon further thought, I think I'll gently remove the rail from the old solid base/ties and mount that on new individual ties. I only need one L (which is good, cause I've only got one) and two rights.

Speaking of which, the track plan is really too simple. I have been drawing it in XtrkCad but have come up frustrated on a couple points. Perhaps tonight or tomorrow I may get to sketch the plan full size on the pressboard roadbed and get a picture of that to share.

[albumimg]1133[/albumimg]

Galen

[nomad]

Hey Galen, progress!

Loren

[viperman]

I like those buildings!

[MasonJar]

Andrew

[ocalicreek]

Loren, viperman & Andrew, thanks for checking in! I managed to make a little progress this weekend, as hoped. As I was planning out the track full-scale I realized one of the turnouts is going to have to be slightly curved...this was the trouble that XtrkCad was pointing out to me, I now see. That'll be a first for me, laying a curved turnout. I can lay the loop and most of the passing siding, then fit the curved turnout in place.

Pictures to follow.

Galen

[LiveSteamer]

Galen it is looking good so far. Keep the pictures coming.

[Steve]

Galen
Sorry I'm late.....I've been busy with summer fun and haven't done any modeling in over a month!

I am excited to watch your layout unfold. I agree about rolling it out for some natural light...that should make for some spectacular pics.
Looks like you're off to a great start!

Keep posting, my friend

[ocalicreek]

[albumimg]1135[/albumimg]
[albumimg]1134[/albumimg]

These two pics show the current status of the layout. Lines drawn are the track route, with the only line missing being the connecting track from inner passing siding to outer mainline just before where the industrial spur is located.

The brick arches will be a rail overpass over a road (quite narrow, so warning signs will need to be made!). This is the road that runs from the low-rent district, across the river, under the tracks then to the station on the corner of the layout nearest the arches. The station will be (most likely) a two-storey brick structure sited below grade, with a curved platform along the tracks.

I've had these arches for years now in the scrap box...picked them up in a lot of kitbashing fodder. They're actually filled with what I believe is Durham's water putty. Hmm... One photo shows where the levels for the low road and river bed will be located, drawn hastily on the side of the foam.

Thanks, Steve, LiveSteamer, et al, for stopping by and offering your encouragement!

At some point I will begin cookie-cutter work on the roadbed where the river will be located. It will pass under the main and passing siding on the corner near the station, cross the layout at an angle, then pass back under the single main just beyond the turnout for the passing track. It'll be easier to see than describe! :?

Galen

[viperman]

Looks and sounds like its shaping up decently. Looking forward to more progress