Hi everyone---last week there were some great contributions to WPF---hopefully this week will be even better.To start the week I found this photo taken from Barney Secord's plane as the daily Niagara Peninsula RR passenger train approaches Christophers Landing.
So, I got to this forum through a YouTube video from The Pixel Depot that took inspiration from a layout here: 59th and Rust
Now I would like to document and discuss my journey into making my own layout.
I am living in Germany and my "play" layout will be modeling a fictional place here, but still decided to post here for the reasons above.
Hoping it could be interesting and would love to get any feedback.
As a kid, I inherited a simple analog layout with one siding that I ended up passing on to my nephew.
Back then, I did barely have the skills to build together a simple plastic kit without modifications.
Frankly, only driving in circles started to bore me to tears.
This time around I have the following:
- a 2m * 60cm baseplate (6,56 foot * 1,97 foot / 78,74 inch * 23,6 inch, what do you use?)
- a V60 small Diesel Shunting locomotive
- Some freight wagons (6 running, 3 needing DC wheels, 5 bought)
- Too many tools, but no clue
The idea for my layout is a small shunting yard a little off the main line.
Once having only a small woodworking shop in the basement of a house, it grew.
Now holding a larger woodworking shop, a brewery, a small good shed and a team track.
Easy to see that this yard is too small for the amount of traffic.
Hoping the pictures want to attach, and happy to no longer be lurking only
Kitty
Don't know if anyone here has assembled one of these, but it's a challenge. There is a step-by-step with parts identified, but no tips on how to keep some sub-assemblies together while waiting to use them in a further step. Looking at the Internet, there are many makers, some look like an hour's assembly time for a five-year old, to hours and hours like with the one I have. This one had 290 parts all wood except for the motor spring, some rods and a bell. No glue, just one suggestion, "if part broke, bring glue". So far I've only broken one part, did not bring glue, just made a new one out of scraps.
This is a sketch of the finished engine, I'm assuming that the wheel on one side of the cab allows you to wind the motor, not sure if there's an on/off switch or what, but I'll find out sooner or later. So far I think I've got about six hours into it, that includes about three hours repeating step 1 about 42 times because there's no way to hold 11 tiny pieces of wood together until you figure out a place for a rubber band that won't get in the way. No estimate time to get it finished, if one part goes in wrong, it has to be disassembled back down to that part . I'm just hoping I get it finished in time to put under the Christmas tree this year....
Here are shots of a typical sheet of laser-cut plywood. Some sheets are thicker than others. I found that out when I made the new part.
Here I am at step 9, only 38 to go. some steps require at least four hands to complete, others, four hands and two feet, like step 10 where I need to mate the two sides, both sides attach to each other with gears and rods.
Well, after seeing how awesome Bruce's pics look every week, I took a page from his book, and updated my photoshop, its amazing how much better a pic can look just by putting a sky in it...
Various HO buildings and structures. Most are kits. Three are already constructed and painted. Prices as noted plus exact postage. Payment by PayPal only.
1) Osborn Model Kits Country Church
Already built from a laser wood kit. Painted: yellow with brown trim and black roof. Extra window glazing included. Dimensions: 7.5” L x 4” W x 5.25” H.
$50.00
2) Tunnel Portals
Two Woodland Scenics double-track, cut stone tunnel portals. Outside dimensions: 8-1/16” W x 5-1/4” H. Inside dimensions: 4-3/4” W x 3-7/8” H. Both painted black.
$16.00 for both or $9.00 each
3) Wooden Trestle
Already constructed from strip wood. Single track. Painted brown. Dimensions: 5” L x 2-3/4” W x 1-3/4” H.
$15.00
4) Coal and Ore Car Kit
34-foot Great Northern Funaro and Camerlengo plastic kit in original box with instructions and decals. Prototype built in 1911 by Haskell and Barker Car Co. Trucks not included.
$20.00
5) Farmers' Grain and Elevator
American Model Builder's laser wood kit #115. Brand new in original box with instructions. Dimensions: 6” L x 5.5” W x 7” H.
$55.00
6) DPM (Woodland Scenics) First Bank Building
Early 1900s neo-classical style bank. Plastic kit #12200 brand new in original box. Dimensions: 5-1/8 “ L x 4-1/8” W.
$20.00
7) Commercial Building Kit
Walthers Cornerstone Merchant's Row I plastic kit. Brand new in original box. Five Main St. stores in one structure. Combined dimensions: 11” L x 5” W x 4” H.
Sending my season's greetings and hope for peace,happiness and good health to the Big Blue family.It certainly looks like it's going to be a white Christmas here in the Great White North---fortunately the Leetown Division always seems to have fair weather.
though this is not an eagle catching some rays but a black vulture at about 400 yards from our side porch. they come here every winter i guess they are true snowbird's .
Jim
So far I've only broken one part, did not bring glue, just made a new one out of scraps. 
No estimate time to get it finished, if one part goes in wrong, it has to be disassembled back down to that part 
. I'm just hoping I get it finished in time to put under the Christmas tree this year.... 
![[Image: 6iEtiee.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/6iEtiee.jpg)
