Deerfield Beach, FL

[alcanman]

Hi,

Recently, I felt that the time had come to abandon my layout, CSX Palmetto Spur. This layout had been the most satisying and long lasting of all my small layouts.

However, like many who build small layouts, as soon as a layout is built thoughts turn to something new.

Sometime ago in Lance Mindheim's blog he recommended a Youtube site with videos of South Florida trains made by a young railfan, Tolga (brickbuilder711). A recent
video showing CSX Miami Sub O717 Ft Lauderdale,FL - Deerfield Beach,FL local switching small industries proved to be the inspiration I needed to start a new layout.

As a starting point I chose 2 industries, both in Deerfield Beach, FL, - Sun Sentinel is a regional South Florida newspaper and their processing plant receives newsprint
in Hi-Cube boxcars. Publix is a supermarket chain and here they have a plastic bottling plant receiving Plastic Pellet hoppers. To perfect industries for a small layout.

I wanted a different track arrangement from Palmetto so included a run around track with a couple of trailing spurs. Here's the track plan.

   

Thanks to Tolga for permission to use info in his blog and here is a link to his excellent video.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://youtu.be/lKVGTXN0LxI">http://youtu.be/lKVGTXN0LxI</a><!-- m -->
regards,

Mal

[faraway]

Mal, that looks promising. Tolga's trackplan look good too.

[FCIN]

Mal;

Sure hated to hear that Palmetto was abandoned, but as you know, we do like to come up with new plans now and then. I'm sure Deerfield Beach will be even better! Good use of your available space and a nice choice of prototype based industries!

[alcanman]

Mal, that looks promising. Tolga's trackplan look good too.

Thanks Reinhard,

The track plan is mine, the video is Tolga's.

I'll be staging the train on the right side of the layout, similar to Palmetto, the train emerging, partially hidden by the 'urban concrete canyon'

   


regards,

Mal

[faraway]

... The track plan is mine,...

Mal, I was referring to this one http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BmOFZZaR2tk/Tx...+final.bmp from <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.modelrailroadforums.com">http://www.modelrailroadforums.com</a><!-- m -->. Is that your too?

[alcanman]

... The track plan is mine,...

Mal, I was referring to this one http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BmOFZZaR2tk/Tx...+final.bmp from <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.modelrailroadforums.com">http://www.modelrailroadforums.com</a><!-- m -->. Is that your too?

That track plan is Tolga's. Sorry, I mis-read your post. I wish I had space to include all those industries, it is a good track plan.

Mal

[fast car]

Mal,

I'm sorry to hear that the Palmetto Spur is going away. Getting tired of a layout after it's completion has never been a problem for me since I usually get bored before it's even 50% completed. This is probably the major reason I limit my layout construction to spring, winter and fall. I have yet to purchase a locomotive that will run my Miami River layout.

I have been emailing Joseph Kreiss who has a novel idea for making his own palm trees. Joseph models the "Big Island" railroad in Hawaii but the palm trees would be at home in California or Florida. I just need to find the right materials.


<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://mrr.trains.com/How%20To/Articles/Scenery/2010/01/Modeling%20coconut%20%20palm%20trees%20on%20your%20layout.aspx">http://mrr.trains.com/How%20To/Articles ... ayout.aspx</a><!-- m -->

Good Luck in your new undertaking. I look forward to seeing photos.

Larry

[alcanman]

Thanks Larry,

A shame that you haven't been able to progress your Miami River layout, it looked great especially the 'Pink Warehouse.

I recall Joseph Kriess' 'Big Island Rail' from MR Jan 2012, a superb layout. His palm trees are excellent. My palm trees come from this source, here in the UK, they ship worldwide

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.themodeltreeshop.co.uk/acatalog/Products_with_Optional_Extras.html">http://www.themodeltreeshop.co.uk/acata ... xtras.html</a><!-- m -->

I hadn't really intended starting a new layout until the Fall when Palmetto would have been 2 years old. Fall/Winter are usually the main seasons for my modelling activity.

However, a combination of inspiration from 'Big Blue' , Youtube videos of South Florida trains, and miserable April weather, here in the UK led to me building a new layout.

So far, benchwork has been completed. My usual method of 3ins x 1ins timber frame, topped with 1/2 ins (12mm) MDF and 1/8 ins cork floor tiles. The MDF provides rigidity and
the cork enables Peco track pins to temporarily hold the track until it been finally positioned and can be glued in place.

regards,

Mal

[shortliner]

Mal - if you want to have a go at palm tree making, here in UK, a couple of addresses for you

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.ukcardcrafts.com/ourshop/prod_1403286-Dark-Green-Feathers-Size-Small-Stella-Crafts.html">http://www.ukcardcrafts.com/ourshop/pro ... rafts.html</a><!-- m -->

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.papercraftsformen.co.uk/moredetails.asp?itemid=2960&group2id=2451&subxgroupid=2451&xgroupid=53&id=2451">http://www.papercraftsformen.co.uk/more ... 53&id=2451</a><!-- m -->

Best
Jack

[fast car]

Thanks Larry,

A shame that you haven't been able to progress your Miami River layout, it looked great especially the 'Pink Warehouse.

I recall Joseph Kriess' 'Big Island Rail' from MR Jan 2012, a superb layout. His palm trees are excellent. My palm trees come from this source, here in the UK, they ship worldwide

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.themodeltreeshop.co.uk/acatalog/Products_with_Optional_Extras.html">http://www.themodeltreeshop.co.uk/acata ... xtras.html</a><!-- m -->

I hadn't really intended starting a new layout until the Fall when Palmetto would have been 2 years old. Fall/Winter are usually the main seasons for my modelling activity.

However, a combination of inspiration from 'Big Blue' , Youtube videos of South Florida trains, and miserable April weather, here in the UK led to me building a new layout.

So far, benchwork has been completed. My usual method of 3ins x 1ins timber frame, topped with 1/2 ins (12mm) MDF and 1/8 ins cork floor tiles. The MDF provides rigidity and
the cork enables Peco track pins to temporarily hold the track until it been finally positioned and can be glued in place.

regards,

Mal

Mal what do you suggest as a suitable size palm for HO? I was thinking in the 90-120mm range. The Model Tree Shop has very nice items. Unfortunately it is the shipping to the U.S. that gets the price jacked up. If shipping is reasonable, I will give them a try. I wanted to purchase a Deans Marine container ship to use in my layout but the shipping was extreme.

The pink warehouse is completed, but I usually wait until I have a few things to show before I post.

Larry

[alcanman]

[

Mal what do you suggest as a suitable size palm for HO? I was thinking in the 90-120mm range. The Model Tree Shop has very nice items. Unfortunately it is the shipping to the U.S. that gets the price jacked up. If shipping is reasonable, I will give them a try. I wanted to purchase a Deans Marine container ship to use in my layout but the shipping was extreme.

The pink warehouse is completed, but I usually wait until I have a few things to show before I post.

Larry

Hi Larry,

I used both 90mm palm trees and 120mm on Palmetto and I think they look just about right. The 120mm are slightly higher than the warehouses.

   

[alcanman]

Hi,

Layout Update

Wiring has now been completed and, following satisfactory testing, track has been glued in place. The track was then painted and ballasted.

I've also recently purchased a few cars which are typically seen at the local industries and in the consist of local switcher CSX O717.

First, a pic of CSX O717 nr Ft Lauderdale (thanks to Tolga)

   

Next, a Walthers 64ft plastic pellet hopper (Publix) and a Walthers NS 50' Hi-cube paper boxcar (Sun Sentinel)

   


Next, an Exactrail TTX boxcar and Athearn CSX Covered Hopper (for dry bulk unloading at Transflo)

   

Of course, to correctly operate O717 I need one of these units

   

regards,

Mal

[jwb]

Some inspiration for your FBOX and NS boxcars -- nothing stays untagged these days!        

[alcanman]

Thanks jwb,

Looks like I'm gonna have to bite the bullet and start tagging some cars.

ARMN reefers, particularly,seem to feature some very artisic graffiti. They are often included in O717's consist, for regular customer, Kingston Cross Dock and Cold Storage


Mal

[Brakie]

Mal,Thanks for the update on your new layout.I like it.

For what its worth your Palmetto Spur videos gave me cause to stop and rethink the modern ISL designs for small ISLs and I decided to redesign Slate Creek and add facing point industry switches with a runaround track.This will add to the operation value of the layout. Its still a straight forward design and far from a time wast-ah,ahem, saver.