- Modular Modeling

Modular Layouts needed for Train Show

Mon, 03 Apr 2023 18:53:06 +0000

Hello everyone! The Lansing Model Railroad Club is looking for modular layouts for the Lansing Model RR Club train show and sale on November 5th in Lansing, Michigan. We are looking for a variety of layouts to help fill out our layout roster for the show. If this is something you or your group may be interested in or would like more information, please leave me a message on this thread or contact the club at lmrc1953@lmrc.org. Please write modular layout in the subject line so the email will make it to me.

Thank you,

Chuck Holman
Layout Coordinator
Lansing Model RR Club

2022 SWD Summer Convention

Thu, 03 Nov 2022 11:03:15 +0000

Again,
in August 2022 the South West Division group of FREMO has made their summer convention in Ubstadt.
This year the timeframe was set in modern era 2000's +

Running looong trains.

Hermosa Beach, a brand new built module by Alain, is a citrus fruit packing station.

The just have loaded the reefer with orange crates.

A crate manufacturer was also modeled. Green truck is waiting to be loades with new empty crates. The planls therefor were delivered by rail.

Next stretch of the main is street running through a quiet suburb, Hysteria Lane or so. Built by Jens.

Then Upper Terminal with it's barge operation is reached. Last year is was a pure plywood district, this year Silvia and Stefan managed it to ballast the tracks, made the water and built the ferry terminal.

Uwe's curvature modules with the scratch built switches were ballasted and some landscape was done.

Happy moonshiners in the Marengo Swamp.

Not so happy ex-moonshiners also in the Marengo Swamp.

Springfield yard built by Jens and still under constuction. This yard has two narrow bends because it is also used as home layout and has to be fit into the room.

7th Street industrial area.

And at least Flats at the end of the branch.

Lutz

2021 SWD Summer Convention

Mon, 09 Aug 2021 09:38:05 +0000

Hello,

there are still possibilities of activities of normal social life in a Covid19 afflicted world. Here in Germany lockdown and assembly ban was suspended and so it was the chance to have a modular convention. The Fremo Southwest Division took the chance and organized it' first convention since October 2019. We had to comply with hygenical and offical orders, but at least we had our modular convention.

Wednesday teh first packets of modules arriving in the hall, some of them were also already built up.

This is Loop Yard just loaded out of the car. Some survival assets of the owner too.

That is what i call planning!

Thursday afternoon the Loop Yard was pretty full of trains. In the foreground the Zepyhr in full length, on the track behind a 12 metres (39.4 ft) through train of covered hoppers.

One of the locos to move those trains.

My partipication of this convention was the reason because i was not active here.

Lutz

Los Angeles Junction Ry Plan-First Module

Tue, 22 May 2018 19:14:01 +0000

Having moved from Bellflower to Santa Fe Springs CA had to come up with a new plan for this apartment. Living in an apartment it will be modular since can't build anything permanent. But wanting to get something going came up with this plan plus switching info. Some will say it's too crowded but the real LAJ is just like this. There's 64 miles of track & industries crammed into a 2 x 5 square mile area. Only going to be doing the LAJ on the west side of the LA River. Will only be doing about 7 Switch Lead, 1 yard & Santa Fe's Vernon Team as it's right next door to LAJ's Fruitland Team. Will also have a staging yard.

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LAJ Switching Info 5-8-18.bmp-001.jpg (Size: 261.05 KB / Downloads: 1865)

LAJ Aerial Map + Switch Leads.bmp-001.bmp-001.bmp-001.jpg (Size: 118.08 KB / Downloads: 2497)

Various T-Trak modules

Mon, 17 Apr 2017 17:39:08 +0000

Some modules I've photographed through the years. I didn't do a good job on notes, so if you recognize a particular modeler or club's work, please speak up! Also, please share any photos of T-Trak modules you'd like to offer up for discussion.

DSC_5571 by Brian Schmidt, on Flickr

DSC_5519 by Brian Schmidt, on Flickr

DSC_5517 by Brian Schmidt, on Flickr

DSC_5506 by Brian Schmidt, on Flickr

DSC_5509 by Brian Schmidt, on Flickr

DSC_5512 by Brian Schmidt, on Flickr

BridgeTunnelTTrak by Brian Schmidt, on Flickr

ScienceCentral11 by Brian Schmidt, on Flickr

Various N-Trak modules

Mon, 17 Apr 2017 17:34:03 +0000

Some modules I've photographed through the years. I didn't do a good job on notes, so if you recognize a particular modeler or club's work, please speak up! Also, please share any photos of N-Trak modules you'd like to offer up for discussion.

BayBridgeModule by Brian Schmidt, on Flickr

CanalModule by Brian Schmidt, on Flickr

StoneLoaderModule by Brian Schmidt, on Flickr

DSC_5528 by Brian Schmidt, on Flickr

DSC_5529 by Brian Schmidt, on Flickr

DSC_5533 by Brian Schmidt, on Flickr

Downtown5 by Brian Schmidt, on Flickr

Trainfest 2015 modules by Brian Schmidt, on Flickr

Trainfest 2015 modules by Brian Schmidt, on Flickr

Module construction as per HOTrak

Tue, 02 Feb 2016 01:06:55 +0000

This diagram shows the main components (from bottom to top) frame, support, and foam.

The dimensions:

Foam - 2" thick extruded foam, 22.5"W x 3'10.5"L

Support - 1/4" plywood, 22.5"W x 3'10.5"L
Cut the supports for underneath from the rectangles cut out of the middle of the support layer plywood.

Frame is constructed of 1x4 or 1x5 (nominal) pine. The end plates are the full 24" width, with the sides 3'10.5" (since 1x wood is actually only 3/4" thick).

Glue and screw the wood frame together. Using a large flat surface like a table or floor, turn it so it is "upside down" and fit the foam in to the bottom. This will ensure that the top is flat when you turn it back over.

Fit the support rectangle in against the foam, and glue with something like Gorilla glue that will bond the foam to the wood. Be careful because the Gorilla glue expands as it cures, and can push things out of alignment.

Lastly, add the strips up against the support layer.

There are many ways to wire, connect track, and join the modules together. Some people add alignment pins and so on to ensure they go together precisely every time.

Andrew

module.jpg (Size: 74.44 KB / Downloads: 1289)

Freemo Extravaganza 2015 (UK) Photos

Mon, 28 Sep 2015 09:55:02 +0000

The largest Freemo* meet yet in the UK happened this weekend. Great fun was had by all, it all mainly worked and we met old friends and made some new.
The setup

Overall

A couple of nice shots

The rest of the gallery of pics is here
See also this thread on the RMWeb forum for other pics and info
*Freemo is a UK modular spec for North American prototype models)

Ballast on module joints

Mon, 04 May 2015 15:43:17 +0000

Hello, I´m building modules and using bridge tracks to joint those modules. Now I´m starting to ballast my tracks and I´d like to know how do you ballast your tracks on module joints. So how to ballast track on module joints?

Transition over module gaps (cross posted from tips & tricks

Mon, 06 Apr 2015 11:08:37 +0000

Cross posted from tips & tricks (hope that's ok, maybe this is more appropriate section anyway)

I'm back to building my baseboard but stalled on choosing a method for module connection and track transition. I could really do with some advice from those more experienced than I.

My layout is modular to allow it to be moved when I move house. However it will probably stay up for a year or more. I have an aversion to really obvious module joins. I can cope with a fair amount of time necessary in setting up again at new property including some rework on the track at joins as I'll use PVA glue for adhering the track direct to plywood baseboard, ballest will be adhered with dilute PVA. That should allow me to rewet and nudge the track if necessary.

I don't have a lot of experience with modules so I had planned to follow an approach used often in the UK for exhibition layouts. DCC components baseboard dowels and bolts with wing nuts. The track cut right at the baseboard join with brass screws or PCB sleeper and soldered. However I'm now wondering if I'm over engineering this for my purpose.

Option 1

PROS: fast set up, accurate realignment of track, ballest fixed right up to module end
CONS: accurate drilling and initial alignment paramount, more obvious module gap?

So I thiigh again and looked at ending the fixed track before the module ends and using a transition section of rail that can be dropped in. The idea being, I understand, is a higher tolerance in module alignment. I could then use clamps or just bolts to secure the baseboards together.

Option 2

PROS: higher tolerance to misalignment aka my bad building skills, less obvious track gap?
CONS: concern over robustness, trouble with fixing ballest on transition track piece.

I would quite like to minimise the work I need to do, especially if accuracy is so crucial. As this is semi-permenant it's important to me that I disguise the module gaps and track transitions as best I can. I had though that I may bridge the gaps with thin styrene sheet extending a way onto each module where it can be disguised. Then cutting it when I move and repair it somehow. Possible it could only be lightly glued to the baseboard allowing removal so it can be replaced entirely.

My concern with option 2 is how to ballest the transition piece so it blends in with the rest of the track. As it needs to be removable and the fishplates/track joiners need to be easily moved after a year. Has anyone had any experience with this?

I am of course willing to consider other options but I'm keen on using my recent found motivation to get the bench work up in the spare room and lay track:-) it doesn't come often to me for a variety of reasons!

I appreciate any advice.

Kind regards,

Steve

Fremo Southwest Division Meeting Mutschelbach 2014 (Germany)

Mon, 02 Jun 2014 10:15:47 +0000

Hello!

Last weekend and it was a long weekend because Thursday was a Ascension and the following Friday many people took one their holidays. So there were 4 days in following of free time.
So the Fremo Southwest Division set up a module meeting in Mutschelbach near Karlsruhe during this time. As the name tolds the Southwest Division "plays" mainly in the US southwest.

Still busy at work setting up buildings, scenery details, vehicles and at least rolling stock.

More of these?

Lutz

OK Free-mo First Group Setup!!

Thu, 08 May 2014 17:47:59 +0000

Over the weekend of May 3rd & 4th of 2014 the OK Free-mo group had their first setup here in OKC. Some of the members of the group had setup with other groups for other events, but this was the first time just our group setup. As of right now we have no club modules, they are all individually owned and are in various stages of completion. We operated the layout as a point to point with as many as three operators running trains at once. The setup went well and we had trains running by the time the doors opened on Saturday, there were no issues to speak of and people were interested to watch us switch cars instead of go around in circles really fast.

Here are a few photos of some of the modules at the show:

This is my module based on a location in along the Deschutes River in Oregon

This is a module featuring an elevator and transload facility:

This is brush creek

As you can see some modules are a little more complete than others

Conecuh Valley T-Trak Layout

Sat, 22 Mar 2014 02:33:43 +0000

A picture of my T-Trak layout from a recent show.

Modular railroading in Plymouth UK

Sun, 16 Feb 2014 08:44:50 +0000

Yesterday I attended our monthly NMRA-BR division meet in Plymouth, all very pleasant.

During our meets, we set up a modular layout , based on the specs of RS Tower and NMRA-BR. Depending on availability the layout varies a bit each month, but yesterday the layout was made up out of:
Mike Ruby's 11th Avenue module
Our club's Lipson Junction crossing module
Peter Lloyd-Jones' Lloyd Yard.
Pete Saunders' Rocklin
and a storage yard called 'Western Yard' (which is one half the of the storage from our old oval shaped layout 'Anson' ).

Yesterday I operated a train headed by two SP GP9's, originating from Western Yard, with approx 9 cars. It ran via the crossing to 11th Avenue, dropped off 4 cars, and picked up 4 others, then back via Lipson Junction towards Lloyd yard, set out 3 cars, pick up 3, onwards then via the Junction and cross over to Rocklin, also here 4 cars were set out, and 4 picked up, and finally back to Western Yard.
We operate with prototypical speeds, and under dispatcher control, so clearance had to be requested in order to travel to the next destination. This results in the above sequence taking approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Here is a very short video made of some traffic at Lipson Junction. The turnouts and signals here are under dispatcher control with the aid of JMRI running on a laptop and connected to the DCC system. (you can see the dispatcher Peter LJ in the background behind his desk, somewhat hidden by the depot building).

http://youtu.be/_P1ILJ_ATD8

Koos

TREE POINT a small layout module

Wed, 05 Feb 2014 14:41:36 +0000

Over on another forum I took part in a layout design discussion, and introduced a couple of concepts for a small switching layout.
The layout is based on the modular standards we use in the UK currently, developed by the NMRA-BR and the RS Tower crew.

I will copy the first couple of posts about it here to bring you up to speed. :-)

I have named it Tree Point, WI.
Tree Point is a name generated by a 'random' place names generator I found online, and sounded good. It also sounds like '3 points', which is the exact number of points/switches/turn-outs on the layout .

It is designed as an End board, and can only be extended in it's current design on the left hand side. The boards will be build to the NMRA-BR spec for module boards which means they are 18" wide , and have the main track dead center (in this case only on one side). (By the way these specs were based on the RS Tower spec).

I haven't completely decided on the grain elevator industry. A mock up will eventually prove if there's sufficient space for it. If not I'll change it to something else. The Corn Syrup is a 100% definite, and the team track / loco spur I am also pretty certain off. The overpass is probably not happening either...

industrial Park V2B extended teamtrack and loco parking spur by K2K Koos, on Flickr

Koos