...well it's SUPPOSED to be , so we'll see .

After tearing down my old steel mill layout a couple of years back , I had the itch to build something smaller , no duck-unders , something I could actually finish in my lifetime , etc .....soooooo....

Scale - HO

Era - 1940's ( but I think a couple of my early switchers didn't arrive until 50's ...have to check on that )

Style - Point to point

Dimensions - 3' x 20 ' but that is a bit simplified because I will have jetties sticking out in the dockside area making it wider than 3' in some places .

Setting - dockside , train ferry unloading , classification yard , nearby factories to drop at , small town off to one side requiring further drops .


Terrain - It won't be flat so I won't go "tabletop " , rather I'll use open grid .

Benchwork - 2x2 legs , 1x4 girders , 1x2 reinforcement .

Power - Digitrax ......about 12 locos or so including a couple of box cabs , small steam , early diesel switchers and one or two industrial trolleys .

Structures - lots of false fronts .

Time required to Build the thing .....HA ! HA!

Wish me luck !

Terry

Best wishes Terry! Sounds like a fun one!

"something I could actually finish in my lifetime "


Couldn't agree more TJ, I tore down the room size layout and went to 14 square feet and I'm enjoying the hobby again. I'm looking forward to following this thread!

Lots a' luck..!!

And don't forget the pictures....

Good Luck and happy building Terry. I too am looking forward to pictures of your progress.
Charlie

It looks like I'm going to need some extra wood for the benchwork . In the past I've used 1x4s for the girders with 1x2's angled to the legs for stability . I'm wondering if I can use 1x2's for the girders as well , to save $$ .....think it will work ? I'm not using plaster up top for scenery or any other heavy items that I can think of . If it's going to be "iffy" I'll buy the more expensive 1x4's like before .

Thanks , T

When in doubt................... Be bad to find out after the fact that you shoulda used 1x4's.

I see your point ....maybe I'll compare the cost of 1x3's too.

T

Terry, I used 2X4s on 16 in centers. They are not that expensive, and another option may be 2X3's. They had some nice ones at Home Depot last week and I picked up 4. I can't remember exactly how much they were but I'm sure they were less than 2 bucks each. some of the 1X3 and 1X4 is pretty ugly unless you pay for premium and 2x3, or 2x4 is sometimes cheaper than the good 1 by stuff.

Charlie

Do you have access to a table saw? You could rip 1x3's out of 1x6's and probably save a bit of money.

Charlie B Wrote:Terry, I used 2X4s on 16 in centers. They are not that expensive, and another option may be 2X3's. They had some nice ones at Home Depot last week and I picked up 4. I can't remember exactly how much they were but I'm sure they were less than 2 bucks each. some of the 1X3 and 1X4 is pretty ugly unless you pay for premium and 2x3, or 2x4 is sometimes cheaper than the good 1 by stuff.

Charlie

I was in HD last week looking precisely for 1x4's and was shocked to see the poor quality of their stock. A few years back when I purchased the lumber for the first stage of my layout, it was really great quality lumber, with barely a knot here and there. Now you literally get lumber with bark patches on it....

Sounds great! You'll have to keep us updated with pics.

i know the feeling, great ideas,GOOD LUCK wait for the pics!

The other route I might go is to look for used wood .....we have another expressway being built and hundreds of homes were expropriated so there should be a decent supply of wood somewhere . Atleast it will be dried out and won't bend .

I don't have a table saw for ripping 1x6's but I could have access to one . I think I'll head out and do a little "fact-finding" today .

T

Used is good!