I started a new project that will combine both my Free-mo and a display layout. My plan is to build a layout that when I move again can be loaded up and taken to my next location without having to tear anything off the walls. I also could take it to shows as a stand alone layout or even connect to a set of Free-mo modules and participate in a Free-mo event. The layout I am building is going to be 18" by 13' long and will be designed to be able to be put together to form a box for easy carrying. Since i do not have a huge amount of space and even less time I am taking small bites on this project. As my workspace is the garage and I prefer to work in a more climate controlled area I will be working on the layout one scene at a time. Each scene will be 17" wide and lenght will vary from 2' to 3' depending on the layout of the track. As the scenes are completed I will put them together to finishing the whole layout. When all the scenes are done I can blend all the pieces together, finish detailing and have a complete layout. I am not sure how well this will work, but I am going to have a good time doing it.

Here is the oveall plan of the Display Layout:

not bad, but members SteinJr helps better

Here is the first section I am going to be working on.



This part of the layout will feature the Lelco lumber company loading shed, woodchip loaders and the Haines Beer Distributors. If I only even get this one section done at a minimum I will have a neat Mico-Layout. I started with the plywood base, attached the track and dropped all the feeder wires.

With the track work the in place and quick overspary of brown I moved on to buildings.
The first building I worked on was the Haines Distribution this is an interesting building with its staggered front and small part that is where they unload railcars.


With the basic building figured out I turned my attention to the Lelco building.

The Lelco building is a farily large building with corugated metal sides.

Here is a picture with both buidlings in place

Here are some cars on spot:

Hey Greg, fun to see you starting a project again. Looking forward to it's progress.
Are you mounting the track directly on the plywood, or will you use some form of noise insulation (cork or foam) roadbed?
Just curious.

Cheers, Koos

Koos,

The track is adhered directly to the plywood using DAP adhesive caulking. This is the ower end of the spur the next section will be partially be on N scale cork and the end will be on HO scale cork.

Ok thanks, just curious. I guess the problem of sound insulation is largely a non issue on a switching layout. You'd normally never reach speeds high enough, and trains long enough, to start getting annoying, masking your sound decoder sound, or even disturb a neighbor living below.

Koos

With the kind of good quality track you guys are using, plus extras like additional power feeds and such, it's definitely worth using some kind of insulating roadbed while your at it. Even on my switching layouts, I can hear the difference immediately.

I have never really noticed much of a sound different on the layouts I have run on except the ones that are finished vs. the incomplete layouts. It seems the incomplete ones are louder, not sure if they are actually louder or you just notice it becasue of the lack of visual stimulation. I have noticed that the speed of the train will affect the noise level, but mostly when trains are running to fast do they make to much noise.

I agree Greg, on some sections of my own layout the track is laid direct to ply, fibre board in some areas, and on cork road bed over ply in others. There is no discernible difference in sound between them once scenery is applied.

Cheers,

Kev

more work an the Haine Beer Distribution building...

More work on the Lelco Spur focusing on the structures. I have the basic building done and the base coat of paint done. I still have a bunch of painting, details and work before it is done. I am still trying to decide how detailed I am going to get on this build.

Kev1340 Wrote:I agree Greg, on some sections of my own layout the track is laid direct to ply, fibre board in some areas, and on cork road bed over ply in others. There is no discernible difference in sound between them once scenery is applied.

Cheers,

Kev

Couple of weeks late but,what the hey?

I agree.I will be spiking my track directly to the wood instead of the planned Woodland Scenics 12" x 24" foam road bed sheets.

Why?

Glad you ask.

Most urban industrial branch lines doesn't have any road bed and is usually in fair to poor condition..That's my goal for Slate Creek.

Nice little structure Greg, I like the ramp, gives some personnality. SP&S has always been a road I liked.

I supposed completed layout scenery help absorb a lot of sound. Just like an empty room is full of echo and the same room with furniture is not.It's only a factor among many others.

Matt