A Small Town That Could Be Anywhere

[sailormatlac]

Thanks Stein, it's easier when you follow the path traced by many talented people here.

Continued the station. I used foamcore for bracing with some pine strip wood for the corners. Now I'm ready to work on the roof, which is going to be a little bit trickier.









Matt

[Mike Kieran]

Matt, I am absolutely loving this thread. You have a great plan going. I'm glad that my layout gave you some ideas. I'm following this thread eagerly to see how you progress.

[sailormatlac]

Mike, then a few more pictures won't hurt!

Work progressed this evening on the station building.

Added thick paper corner planks, glued the bow-window in place with it's decorative details and scratchbuilt roof brackets from 1.5mm styrene sheet and Grandt Line's bolt details. I then sprayed everything with a coat of red oxyde primer because it is likely to be near the prototype practice. Windows will be painted cream.















The roof is just a temporary template. I'll make it overang a little bit more. Rear wall isn't protected by the roof. I needed more clearance for the station street/team track. In this respect, I'm following Broadalbin station once featured in August 1979 MR issue about Fonda, Johnstown & Gloversville.

I should get the remaining tracks tomorrow. I decided to use PECO code 83 tracks, looks better than the code 75 because the ties are finer. However, I'll keep the Setrack turnouts.
Matt

[sailormatlac]

Looks better with windows.





Matt

[sailormatlac]

Did some work on the station this morning. Added the brackets and made the roof. Some structural reinforcement was added to gables. Now I'm puzzled about what material to use to make 3 tab asphalt singles... Lots of stuff available, but hard to decide. Suggestions welcomed.









I also started to lay some track. About 80% is done. It was my first time using PECO flextrack, worked quite well. I need to get my deck bridge as soon as possible if I want to complete the layout.





Matt

[BR60103]

Matt:
I used wet+dry sandpaper the one time I did shingles.
But it needed an awful lot of cutting and your roof is bigger than mine.
   

[sailormatlac]

Matt:
I used wet+dry sandpaper the one time I did shingles.
But it needed an awful lot of cutting and your roof is bigger than mine.

Yes, I thought about this method, but as you pointed out, I'm not sure I will remain sane after the shear size of the endeavour! But I must admit it looks pretty good. The sand paper has the right asphalt shingle texture.

Matt

[sailormatlac]

I did some operation on the layout this morning using what was in place. So far, everything worked perflectly and Code 100 to 83 transitions were flawless thought I had to rework one a little bit near the oil dealer turnout. Next time, I'll increase the layout height at 52'... 42" is so low... bad for the back, bad for the look.

Matt

[sailormatlac]

Today, I completed the oil dealer track so most trackage is now usable for test.



I also built a table extension to place the layout top at 55". I used wood leftovers and made a temporary structure. It will also free so space to place the DCC station and other things like that. Frankly, it's a little bit high, but you really get the feeling of getting into the scene (just like when I was a kid and we had our small 4' x 4' layout). I can reach easily all siding since they are located within 12 inches from the fascia. For the moment, that's OK. I just want to move forward. Maybe I'll build better legs, drawers, shelves later. If I need to work on the layout at table top height, it can easily be done.





I took a few shots at eye level just to give you an idea. It totally kills the "continuous loop" look. Also, I don't see the need to make a high dividing tree line between houses and the industrial district. Really effective as it is and a few trees should handle the rest. I can see a lot of photographic potential out there.











I also ordered the PowerCab. I plan to feed the layout with DCC and regular DC to run most of my older locomotives. The runaround will be useful to break-in locomotives. Hope to get it within two weeks. Next, the most important job will be to build the bridge and paint the track before winter.
Matt

[sailormatlac]

Found out during the week end that my orders placed at Walthers weren't processed... No big deal, just more money in my pocket and less in theirs! I like it that way. Anyway, this order was crucial because I needed my ME 30' deck girder bridge.

I took my first ever Central Valley girder bridge and shortened it about 40 ft long. Doesn't look bad and in fact, I love it better! If I had a place for it on the main layout, I think I would use it! ;-)



EDIT: Piles are scratchbuilt and reused from a previous aborted (again!!!!!!!!) layout... The bridge itself was built when I was still a high schooler and found its place on most different layouts I ever built since then.

Matt

[secondhandmodeler]

Matt, nice work on your layout and especially the buildings so far. Your table on table scares the heck out of me though! That's just asking for trouble!

[sailormatlac]

Matt, nice work on your layout and especially the buildings so far. Your table on table scares the heck out of me though! That's just asking for trouble!

Thanks!

I know I'm taking risks! ;-) Anyway, I'll remove it because it's a little bit too high to work on scenery and tracks so far.

Matt

[Sumpter250]

"BR60103" wrote: Matt: I used wet+dry sandpaper the one time I did shingles.
But it needed an awful lot of cutting and your roof is bigger than mine.-------
Yes, I thought about this method, but as you pointed out, I'm not sure I will remain sane after the shear size of the endeavour! But I must admit it looks pretty good. The sand paper has the right asphalt shingle texture. Matt

If you want to see the lunacy of individual shingles? - - - go here - - http://www.the-gauge.net/forum/viewtopic...=37&t=2932

[sailormatlac]

"BR60103" wrote: Matt: I used wet+dry sandpaper the one time I did shingles.
But it needed an awful lot of cutting and your roof is bigger than mine.-------
Yes, I thought about this method, but as you pointed out, I'm not sure I will remain sane after the shear size of the endeavour! But I must admit it looks pretty good. The sand paper has the right asphalt shingle texture. Matt

If you want to see the lunacy of individual shingles? - - - go here - - http://www.the-gauge.net/forum/viewtopic...=37&t=2932

And I was gathering my courage to make them out of 600 grit sandpaper!

Joke aside, I tested the Procab NCE DCC starter set today... Pretty neat for a small layout! A 45 minutes switching fun followed.

Matt

[Mike Kieran]

Matt,

I am absolutely loving this thread. Your pictures are helping me to envision my layout. Thank you sooooo much.

As far as stability is concerned, I would definitely spread the legs out wider. For adjusting the height, you could attach some pipe to the legs and have it ride inside a sleeve with preset heights to attach a pin (like those old pirate movie telescopes). The piping could even be pvc pipe. I've seen them use it for holding concrete slabs to walk on.