Freelance 2012

[alcanman]

Hi Reinhard,

Looking at the 2 photos of the layout together, I guess I prefer the Sandersville Railroad pic because of the sloping roof over the tracks which helps to disguise the corner of the layout.

That would work well on a shelf layout disguising the corner of 2 bedroom walls. Thanks for the idea.

Mal

ps. I read the 'Trains' article last night and there's a great pic of SW1500 #1100 (your model) street running thru Tybee St in Sandersville.

[faraway]

.. I prefer the Sandersville Railroad pic because of the sloping roof over the tracks which helps to disguise the corner of the layout....

Mal, I agree but I could not find a prototype in SoCal for such a sloping roof that would make sense with my scenery. So far the tree in the corner has the job to "hide" the corner.

[faraway]

The summer 2012 rework has been started

I got to far away from my original theme "Vernon" with the last changes. To get back "on track" a 5" wide street will run in the center of the layout with the yard in the foreground (e.g. Downey yard), a street running track in the center (not found in Vernon but nearby) and a track running parallel to the road serving industry in the background (e.g. Seville Ave).
In a later step it is planned to build industries more close to prototypes found in and around Vernon.

ps. removing the ground cover is really a mess....

[modelsof1900]

Street running is a fine theme, I think. I'm looking forward awaiting the changes with many pictures.

[sailormatlac]

I'm surprised by your modifications pace! I was absent for less than 3 months and couldn't recognized your layout. Getting familiar again with it, it's changing again! Not that I complain, it's just a good occasion for us to see you at work and develop new fine structures and scenery! Managing a "small" switching layout probably gives you a lot of flexiblity in this respect!

Thanks for sharing!

Matt

[Tyson Rayles]

"ps. removing the ground cover is really a mess.... "

Yep!
I like the idea of the street running!

[jwb]

For what it's worth, Pentrex has a "Street Running" DVD that gives many examples of contemporary street running, including in California, Texas, Alabama, and Georgia. At one time, the Southern Pacific main line ran down Alameda Street in Los Angeles, but it was gradually eliminated and substituted by trackage rights on the UP East Bank line, starting in the 1930s.
A very little bit remains in the Warehouse District.

[faraway]

The road base of blue foam has been cut and glued in place. The gap to the tracks got a first layer of plaster (Heki #3344). It will set over night and sanding and filling and sanding and filling and sanding and..... will be the name of the game for the next days.
The fine white plaster produces extreme fine dust when sanded to be found everywhere.

I learned that plaster that makes it on top and over the rail should not be touched until it sets. It can be removed like stones later easy but produces a mess when cleaned up while still white slurry.



About six hours later is the first plaster patch set and got initial sanding. Some more filling and sanding will be required tomorrow and some more days.

[faraway]

Third layer of filler applied. Will hopefully set until later this evening for another sanding session.

[fwwrmodeler]

I like it.

[Tyson Rayles]

Looking good, how do you plan to concrete/pave between the rails?

[jwb]

The way you have things set up is very similar to the former Bull Ring-River Station yard area at North Broadway in Los Angeles. This was out of service by about 1990 and eventually replaced by the Gold Line light rail.    

[sailormatlac]

Reinhard, do you have a close up picture of the turnout area? I'm really curious how you're working around the throwbar.

So far, it looks awesome.

Matt

[faraway]

Reinhard, do you have a close up picture of the turnout area? I'm really curious how you're working around the throwbar.

So far, it looks awesome.

Matt

The throw bar is in a pocket on both sides. You see the old hole of the switch stand on the left. They will be covered later with a sloppy glued lid. I will fill the area between the rails later with a strip of 0,45" wide 0.06" thick blue foam. That will exclude the throw bar.
I know the switch would fail soon if I hide the throw bar to well


The road got a first layer of diluted black paint. It reacts very different on blue foam and white plaster. I am happy my eye sight is not good enough to see that details daily while operating the layout. It would make me very nervous :o

Some time later is the center glued in place. It is very visible how different the paint is accepted by the blue foam and the plaster.


Close to midnight, first test run and final photo of the day


and the switch from a more friendly point of view


the final switch and it's "client"

[faraway]

The way you have things set up is very similar to....

That reminds me of an unsolved problem. How to setup traffic sign etc.?
The yellow and blue car are on the old road. The red one on the new road with the tracks running in the middle. Three tracks are running through that small area. The lower one is a through track and needs good protection. The other two serve industry only. However, no crossing gate will fit between lowest and middle track. May be throwing flares on the road is good enough. Some traffic sign and road marking will be required for all three.