Hi Gary, Good change....Just jump in and do it. If you don't like something, change it, I already have made one curve wider and it was 4 track, It's like being your own little king. We get things done because no permitting is required....

Charlie

I certainly knows what that feels like, except on a much smaller scale. I've reworked a couple areas as well, however never moved an entire bridge! hock:

I love the look of that long stretch of track going down the wall. What a phenomenal feeling of distance it creates.

Gary,

The change makes sense, and it's great that you could make it so easily. I was rereading the last couple pages and came across this again:

Quote:...theoretically, the only place that trains will be handled is at the interchanges between operating sessions. All uncoupling will be done with magnets and will work perfectly, there will be no derailments, no unwanted uncouplings, and the locos will never stall.

You know, why not? I know you wrote it somewhat tongue-in-cheek, but it's really possible if you work carefully and methodically, to make this a reality on any layout. This may be more easily accomplished on a smaller layout with fewer chances for derailments, smaller number of rolling stock, etc. but is not out of the question for a layout of your size.

Consider some public layouts built by custom model railroad companies. Aren't they made to do just that - operate flawlessly all the time? They wouldn't be in business long if their product didn't work well. Why not our layouts too?

Glad to see you working on the layout again.

Galen

Gary, you are right, better do these changes now when it is still easy. Good to see you back at working on your layout again. I missed your progress reports the last few weeks.

...

...and don't forget to take the camera with you to the layout "house"...

I appreciate all the replies, guys. I actually have been working on train stuff, just haven't been hanging around Big Blue. :oops:

Along with the SLC reefers and making the changes to the layout, I have been working on the Chase Bank building which will go near the Wayside Bridge.

Steamtrains Wrote:...and don't forget to take the camera with you to the layout "house"...

Here ya go...

[attachment=19967]

[attachment=19966]

biL, I used to do electrical work in Southwestern Bell buildings all the time. You're right, very few windows.

The front of the bank is "fancied up" with glass doors and such, but that won't be modeled because it is up against the wall. The other side of the building that can't be seen in the photos is the drive-through windows. I am modeling a portion the canopy over that, but the angle of the building precludes doing the actual windows. There are a few lights and conduit on the back, one side has a ladder up to the roof, and an air conditioner and conduit on the roof, all that stuff will be added.

With the tracks toward the front of the shelf, the building in the back, and a 6-foot chainlink fence and trees and brush between the tracks and the building, it should make for a nice scene.

Gary, the Chase sign for the bank looks great. Are the letters purchased or did you make them yourself? How about the blue logo, it looks like it could be rather easily made with a chopper and some styrene then given the proper blue paint color after gluing it together. I like your changes. This is one thread I always go to when I come to Big Blue to see what you have accomplished since I was here last!

Russ, always appreciate your interest and all the info and suggestions you have provided over the months.

I made the letters from styrene strip. First, I took a piece of .010 sheet plastic as a base and drew the letters on that. Then used .040 x .125 strip pieces to form the letters. Then after the glue dried, I cut the .010 sheet around the letters. Did the same thing with the logo. Here's a pic of the installed sign:

[attachment=19968]

The ladder and cage is a commercial piece, it is rather crude and I really should build one out of brass wire, but just didn't have it in me today.

Gary,

That looks very very nice,

If the safety cage really bugs you check out the ones from Tichy in plastic or the new photo etched ones from Walthers....

Keep up the great work!!

Gary S Wrote:Russ, always appreciate your interest and all the info and suggestions you have provided over the months.

I made the letters from styrene strip. First, I took a piece of .010 sheet plastic as a base and drew the letters on that. Then used .040 x .125 strip pieces to form the letters. Then after the glue dried, I cut the .010 sheet around the letters. Did the same thing with the logo. Here's a pic of the installed sign:

[attachment=19969]

The ladder and cage is a commercial piece, it is rather crude and I really should build one out of brass wire, but just didn't have it in me today.

Looks great, Gary. I agree on the safety cage. That ladder and cage will serve as a "stand in" until you build a good one. I think the problem is that a safety cage for a ladder is typically made of 1/8 inch thick steel strap, and you just can't make plastic to that scale thickness without compromising strength. When the plastic is thick enough to have the strength needed, it looks like you used 12 inch thick rail to make your cage.

Fantastic job on the Chase sign . The strcuture looks great as well. I like those no-frills or even plain ugly structures that no one would think of modeling. Somehow they give a layout a very realsitic appeal.

Who made the brick sheets you used for the bank?

Greg, thanks for the tip on the Tichy ladder. And it is not that expensive either!

Russ, good point, I'll let the ladder be a stand in for now, and will look into getting a new one. I need to spend some time on the tichy website and get a bunch of stuff, again, as the prices seem reasonable.

Kurt, thanks for the compliments. This building is just a part of the entire scene that is being modeled and even though the building is plain, it should, as you mention, contribute to the overall effect of realism. I do plan on modeling all the little insignificant details which are around the building.

The brick sheet is Walther's that I found on sale on-line, but don't remember where. I stocked up on it and have quite a bit left for future buildings. Only bad thing is the brick sheet was not tall enough so I had to splice it, and it is rather obvious where the horizontal splice is. The height of the track in this area, along with the fence and bushes in between should distract the viewer from the obvious seam.

I also purchased some "cmu" plastic pieces, unfortunately they are rather small, meaning many splices for a big building. Someone really should make brick and cmu sheets in 4 foot x 8 foot sheets!