Well, to be honest, i don't think i'm too confident that i'll be getting any of this done the way i had hoped. It is becoming increasingly difficult to find the parts i wanted to use.


I'm considering just building a dumbed down catenary set up just so that i can finish in time for the end of the contest, but i figure Its probably better to build things the right way instead of the wrong way.


As it stands, i plan to build more of the code 100 rail K-braced bridges. I'll buy a smaller code of rail for the actual "K" of the brace, and build some catenary at the turnouts. Until recently, i had no idea how to wire one properly, so I'd rather experiment now and see how it all works, and then try and build some super accurate stuff at a later date.

I did some experimenting with some thinner wire, small enough to accept the Tichy insulators.

I'm going to try and get practice doing the turn outs, so i will be building at least that, so keep an eye here for what i do. I think my goal will be one complete turnout, and about three feet of straight track wired. if i do it right, i can probably re-use the wire when i build new structures.

I'm going to try to order the supplied i need to build 1/4 of my layout's mainline, and i will make that my goal for this summer challenge. If i had been able to get the parts sooner, i almost certainly could have had the whole layout done by now.

that said, i have some special tricks up my sleeve to aid in construction. i'm constructing two more jigs.

one has a series of grooves cut into a wood surface to accommodate the different sizes of H- column and T shapes so that my structures can be even. the other is a raised platform so that any wiring i have to do "in the air", can be held securely as i work, such as the areas around crossovers.


it kills me, its not even a lack of skill or ability or time, its just no parts! I almost thought i'd give CNW 1961 a run for his money as far as soldering is concerned.

then again, i still have time.... if i do get those columns, i'll have to catch up.

I finally put in the order for the nice stuff, but i know it won't get here in time, so i'm going to build a module with what i have. the way i see it, you can make pretty good cheap catenary the way i'm going to be making it. hopefully i'll be able to start by tommorow, and i'll have a couple feet worth of working overhead.

No time to post picks, because i'm gonna be spending all today and tommorow finishing this thing!


I have the base board and one 4-track K-brace complete. I have the assemblies for two more K-braces, and i'll be checking how much wire i have so i can pick up some more tommorow.

I should have a good 4-foot section of the NEC in HO, minus some details like insulators.

I'll install the track tomorrow, and then the wires., and hopefully i can get the wiring over the switch right and fast enough. It will be a speed run, but i think you guys will like it!

wish me luck!

Didn't get enough luck, lol.


the second K-brace catenady bridge collapsed, and now there are some non-model train related issues.

thats what you get when you wait to the last minute. On the other hand, i didn't want to just put together any old thing. If i had a couple extra days, i might have finished it. At the same time, i don't want to use to many materials on mockups and side projects, so i guess i'm out for this one.

You still have a few days left. Give it your all and see what you get.

e-paw Wrote:You still have a few days left. Give it your all and see what you get.

I thought it ended when summer was over, which is tommorow.

If it is over tomorrow does that mean oops wait it is 12:50 I should say today. If it is over today does that mean I have to present what I have now or can I work on it today and present it tomorrow? In other words is it over now 12:54 AM or do we have one more day?

Lester Perry Wrote:If it is over tomorrow does that mean oops wait it is 12:50 I should say today. If it is over today does that mean I have to present what I have now or can I work on it today and present it tomorrow? In other words is it over now 12:54 AM or do we have one more day?

either way, i can't finish, lol. i can't seem to find my camera, so i can't even photograph what i do have done. Its kinda making me upset to be honest. I waited to long trying to get other supplies, and by the time i decided to just use what i have, it was to late. I probably could have got it a bunch done if not for a series of life's usual interruptions. If i had started what i was doing now (and i could have) like, last month, this would not be a problem.

whatever, at least now i'm not in any rush anymore.

I did finally get all those brass H-columns and things a couple days ago, but by then i had already switched gears to using the rail as my material of choice for this contest.

I think i'll just make a separate thread and continue the catenary work. I know people are interested in it, and i'll just dump all my catenary knowledge if that can help people get started.

Lester Perry Wrote:If it is over tomorrow does that mean oops wait it is 12:50 I should say today. If it is over today does that mean I have to present what I have now or can I work on it today and present it tomorrow? In other words is it over now 12:54 AM or do we have one more day?

Hey Les,

the challenge officially ends September 22nd according to Mikey

Trucklover Wrote:

Lester Perry Wrote:If it is over tomorrow does that mean oops wait it is 12:50 I should say today. If it is over today does that mean I have to present what I have now or can I work on it today and present it tomorrow? In other words is it over now 12:54 AM or do we have one more day?

Hey Les,

the challenge officially ends September 22nd according to Mikey

lol, wow, i just posted and you beat me. If you say thats the case, i might have a shot. gonna have to put Halo on hold tommorow.

Green_Elite_Cab Wrote:lol, wow, i just posted and you beat me. If you say thats the case, i might have a shot. gonna have to put Halo on hold tommorow.

LMAO, Halo can be addicting

Well, i thought i might be able to get more out of the way today, but classes held me up. I only really had time to finish one more catenary bridge ( i still need to build another, but its ready for assembly), and I layed the cork and most of the track i needed.

If it really ends tomorrow (assuming i can still work tomorrow, Tuesday), then i think i can get it done, since hanging the wire is a simple matter of just soldering it in a few places, and i only need to make one more new wire section, which should be no problem with the jig i have.

the only thing I'm still contemplating is the messenger wire, the wire that gives "catenary" its name, because it curves. there are multiple ways of making it. One is to pre-attach this catenary to the wire. This could be done, since i have fixed catenary bridges, but I wonder if it would be faster to instead hang the wires first, then do the catenary in the air. the downside is that doing anything in the air can be pretty tough, and might put un-due strain on the system.

in fact, now that i think about it, i'll just start the curve on the board, and just have all the messenger wires and their connecting rods put together before hand. that way, it reduces the risk of heat harming the rest of the structure, and makes it so that i only have to solder in two places for each wire on each bridge when i do install the wire (at the connection of the messenger with one hanger, and where the trolley/axillary wire contact the "V" hangers. It might take more time the measure, but it seems like a safer bet. besides, other than a crossover (which need's its own wires anyway), there are no curves, so there is no reason to do anything fancy.

there is also "Box" catenary at the turnouts, but I'm thinking i can build that separate and install that into the main system after the main wires are mostly up. I'll just have to leave the pull off wires un-anchored, so that i can pull it tight after the supporting box catenary is up.

If the crossover is a pain, i'll just hang them as straight sections. technically, i have to start with that anyway, so I'll see how complicated it gets. i also need to find my camera.

ARGHH! I've did it. I've got some nice looking catenary up. its not as nice as i'd like, but here is my progress. I REALLY should have got my butt in gear much earlier. First up will be the pictures of the stuff currently hanging on the layout, and last will be some 4 track NEC stuff i built, though it is not finished.

some wires are kinked because a light fell on it, but its still holding, and it looks OK.







E60MA and Acela on my unfinished NEC diorama thingy





All together now with my Kit-build contest on the right

Looks amazing to me. Especially the fact, that it's been scratchbuilt.