@ Charlie I'm glad you like them as much as I do. looking forward to seeing how they came out.
First year review!
and what a year it has been! From 3 blank walls to a fully operational MRR. I’m very pleased with the progress and there is still plenty to do - years and years in fact.
![[Image: ey4AJ2W.jpghttp:]](https://i.imgur.com/ey4AJ2W.jpghttp://)
![[Image: TcDF8vq.jpghttp:]](https://i.imgur.com/TcDF8vq.jpghttp://)
![[Image: aXNa7mz.jpghttp:]](https://i.imgur.com/aXNa7mz.jpghttp://)
![[Image: Q03FKoS.jpghttp:]](https://i.imgur.com/Q03FKoS.jpghttp://)
The layout is more than I ever expected from when I first started on it. It is so nice to be able to walk out a run a train anytime I want. Some of the more notable things I am really very happy with on this layout are:
The light weight bench work from readily available shelf brackets
The upper storage valances - it is what makes the truly nice shadow box affect possible
The LED layout lighting via T5 fixtures
The track plan - it provides plenty of operational interest without a repetition feeling and the developing operational scheme is coming together nicely.
Finger flickable turnouts
Wireless phone throttles
In fact there are only 2 things I would consider doing differently IF I ever have do it again. The first is the Atlas CL turnouts, they work fine but the geometry looks funny to me. I would consider something like Fast Tracks #5. The other is I would consider N scale cork roadbed instead of the HO; it looks too big for my liking.
Whats next? The bridge at Placer Creek is ready to go in - first terrain work! There is a CVT 150’ truss bridge to be built for the Oro River, need to start to make some better detailed mock ups to replace the rough shapes that are there as building stand ins, and, and ………….
Lastly, here is a quick little around video to show how it all comes together and to document the progress of the first tear.
First year review!
and what a year it has been! From 3 blank walls to a fully operational MRR. I’m very pleased with the progress and there is still plenty to do - years and years in fact.
The layout is more than I ever expected from when I first started on it. It is so nice to be able to walk out a run a train anytime I want. Some of the more notable things I am really very happy with on this layout are:
The light weight bench work from readily available shelf brackets
The upper storage valances - it is what makes the truly nice shadow box affect possible
The LED layout lighting via T5 fixtures
The track plan - it provides plenty of operational interest without a repetition feeling and the developing operational scheme is coming together nicely.
Finger flickable turnouts
Wireless phone throttles
In fact there are only 2 things I would consider doing differently IF I ever have do it again. The first is the Atlas CL turnouts, they work fine but the geometry looks funny to me. I would consider something like Fast Tracks #5. The other is I would consider N scale cork roadbed instead of the HO; it looks too big for my liking.
Whats next? The bridge at Placer Creek is ready to go in - first terrain work! There is a CVT 150’ truss bridge to be built for the Oro River, need to start to make some better detailed mock ups to replace the rough shapes that are there as building stand ins, and, and ………….
Lastly, here is a quick little around video to show how it all comes together and to document the progress of the first tear.
Modleing the Jefferson Branch in HO on the Southern Pacific