Gary, I think I would put a huge industry covering the entrance to, exit from and the turn back curve itself. Make sure it has big buildings in front of the "mainline" with the sidings out towards the front of the bench work. Then you can hide the curve in an "urban tunnel."
Gary! It took me a couple of nights (and an afternoon) to read all the way through from the beginning, checking and reading each link along the way, studying each "fo-toe"and taking in the details, digesting differing philosophies of layout design and suggestions of industries to be included ... and I have come to a conclusion: Gary S. knows what he is doing!
It came to me on page 28 or 29 when there was a flood of suggestions regarding industries to include in the new areas. Some suggestions, the more general ones which spoke more to arrangement of track and structures to address scenery concerns and disguising what you expressed you considered a scenic liability - to "make it disappear," were thoughtful, workable solutions to troubling problems. Other suggestions, although similarly well-intended and just as workable scenic-wise, may be an awkward fit for your layout. Now, please! Let's no one get in a huff! You guys have all been a lot closer to this than I have, seeing it develop on more or less a day-to-day basis, seeing it as it happened and reacting to it in the moment. All well and good!
My input, however, comes from an intense three day study of this building program, initially from the viewpoint of design and subsequent construction and then as an attempt to understand what you, Gary, are trying to portray with your layout. Although many of us may have suggestions for industries that would fit a general industrial area, unless we have an understanding of the industries of Texas, and more specifically the industries of the outer "industrial parks" of Houston, our well-meant suggestions, although interesting industries in general, are not a fit for "close-in" industrial Houston. But hopefully they got your mental juices flowing (even juicier than they were) about industry in your neck of the woods of Houston.
:!:
I am looking forward, now that I'm all up to speed on what has happened so far, to continuing to follow your progress as you work your way around the room ("That boy can really work a room!" ta-da-bum ... tssssss!)
Seriously though, I'm so impressed with the 1:1 scale building that I can't wait to watch how you will fill it up in the next episode of ... "Switching Freight in Houston in One Eighty-Seventh Scale!" :hey:
P5se Camelback Wrote:Gary! It took me a couple of nights (and an afternoon) to read all the way through from the beginning, checking and reading each link along the way, studying each "fo-toe"and taking in the details, digesting differing philosophies of layout design and suggestions of industries to be included ... and I have come to a conclusion: Gary S. knows what he is doing!
Thank you kindly sir! I very much appreciate you reading through the thread too.
P5se Camelback Wrote:It came to me on page 28 or 29 when there was a flood of suggestions regarding industries to include in the new areas. Some suggestions, the more general ones which spoke more to arrangement of track and structures to address scenery concerns and disguising what you expressed you considered a scenic liability - to "make it disappear," were thoughtful, workable solutions to troubling problems. Other suggestions, although similarly well-intended and just as workable scenic-wise, may be an awkward fit for your layout. Now, please! Let's no one get in a huff! You guys have all been a lot closer to this than I have, seeing it develop on more or less a day-to-day basis, seeing it as it happened and reacting to it in the moment. All well and good!
Ya gotta love The Gauge and the folks who participate. I figure I've been around for about 5 years now. Saw alot of changes, people have come and gone, then the big z, and then back again. It has been a good ride. Lots of intelligent and great modelers have taught me alot.
P5se Camelback Wrote:My input, however, comes from an intense three day study of this building program, initially from the viewpoint of design and subsequent construction and then as an attempt to understand what you, Gary, are trying to portray with your layout. Although many of us may have suggestions for industries that would fit a general industrial area, unless we have an understanding of the industries of Texas, and more specifically the industries of the outer "industrial parks" of Houston, our well-meant suggestions, although interesting industries in general, are not a fit for "close-in" industrial Houston. But hopefully they got your mental juices flowing (even juicier than they were) about industry in your neck of the woods of Houston. :!:
Absolutely. We have wonderful modelers such as Steve, DocWayne, and Kurt, just to name a few, and then we have those who are versed in track plans and operations like Charlie B and Russ B and Stein and those guys. I get so much from what they do, great ideas for scenery and planning. And of course a big thanks for Mikey and EZDays for providing the forum. I am leaving out a ton of people who have influenced me... no hard feelings please! I thank all of you!
I am looking forward, now that I'm all up to speed on what has happened so far, to continuing to follow your progress as you work your way around the room ("That boy can really work a room!" ta-da-bum ... tssssss!)
P5se Camelback Wrote:Seriously though, I'm so impressed with the 1:1 scale building that I can't wait to watch how you will fill it up in the next episode of ... "Switching Freight in Houston in One Eighty-Seventh Scale!"
Thanks again biL. It is impressive that you made your way through the entire thread.
I am planning on getting tons of work done this weekend. I have the basic design for the long 38 foot shelf completed, so I just may get all the roadbed down. Another project I have is to fabricate and assemble all the pieces for the uncoupling e-mags. Gotta get that done before I can lay track.
I went back over the last number of pages for review but I couldn't find the answer to this question ... what is the dimension from the face of the wall to the C-L of the lighting fixture? :?:
You've got a nice bright room there and I'd like to emulate it. 8-)
So keep on building and keep on posting pictures and paragraphs, 'cause I m watching and reading, hoping to learn something! 8-)
biL, sorry for the delay in replying. The light fixture centerline is 24" from the wall. The shelves for the most part are also 24", so the fixture is centered over the outside of the shelf.
I've been getting alot accomplished this weekend, will post some photos tonight.
Russ Bellinis Wrote:Gary, I think I would put a huge industry covering the entrance to, exit from and the turn back curve itself. Make sure it has big buildings in front of the "mainline" with the sidings out towards the front of the bench work. Then you can hide the curve in an "urban tunnel."
Russ, sorry I overlooked replying to this. I like your idea of disguising the curve with structures - but I think I will put a twist to it. Instead of a large industry "tunnel", I am considering putting a neighborhood there with houses and lots of tall trees to break up the curve. Since I have so many semi-large industries already, I think a neighborhood with some 2 story houses and the tall trees may accomplish the same thing as you mention. On the other hand, a huge industry would work too and is still under consideration. Thanks for the thought!
Some progress photos from today. Got the design of the long shelf finalized and finished the roadbed a couple hours ago. The design is rather lacking in the creativity aspects, but it is probably right on target with what a real railroad would have in an area like this. There will be 5 industries here, with buildings similar to what Kurt has modeled.
Here are some pics taken during the installation.
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I still need to add cork sheet under where the buildings will go. I would normally not put roadbed for the spurs, would just extend the cork under the buildings out, but my materials estimation was askew and I wound up with way too much roadbed and not near enough cork sheet, so I am trying to make it all work out.
those photos make your layout room look HUGE. That shopping cart almost looks like a toy
BTW, we won't ask where you got it
I'm about to get to the nitty-gritty on the layout - Laying track which includes installing the turn-out controls and the uncoupling magnets. I still haven't finalized the plan at the peninsula though.
The shopping cart has a couple bad wheels on it - rubber is missing - you know, clunkity-clunk clunkity-clunk. It was in a dumpster behind a shopping center. Figured I could get some use from it instead of it going to a landfill.
The peninsula is 65" wide - so if I put the track in 5" from the edge, that leaves a 55" diameter = 27.5" radius. Since I will be running only cars 50 foot and less with 4 axle diesels, I can go with an even shorter radius than that. So instead of running the track in a perfect curve following the outer curve of the peninsula, I am going to experiment with some straight track mixed into the 180 degree curve. I think this may also help disguise the turn.
Now for progress. Has been slow the last couple of days, but I did get most of the needed turn-outs modified to my liking. First, I installed a screw into the hole at the frog and soldered a wire to it so i can route power to the frog with my switch controls. Second, I soldered wires to the points and then to the rails so they have good electrical contact instead of relying on the Atlas "brad pivot."
The modified turn-outs ready for the layout:
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Tedious work, all that soldering, but it'll go a long way to keeping you sane and save a heckova lotta heartache having to fiddle with shorts & dead spots.
Looking forward to seeing how the new industrial area turns out. Heck, just looking forward to any sort of progress. It's all great!
Galen
Thanks Galen. The turnout work and the electromagnets have been tedious, but I'm glad I have it 90% complete. When I start laying track, I won't have to stop and solder then... nothing but trackwork! Well... cutting holes for the turnout controls, holes for the emags, spaces for the permanent mags, holes for the feeder wires, etc.
Other things beckon tonight and Saturday, but hope to get some time in on sunday.