More work as been done

     It's been a week, so it's time for a new update.

     Only got my wood Friday so it was a slow week, but a busy weekend.

     

     While waiting, I decided to work on the the track framework elevations. Even though the design showed a flat track, I wanted to put some elevations, so needed to do lots of calculation to keep the slope at a max of 2%. Also the design is a double track, but I wanted the tracks to spread out before they each hit the bridge, so I can put a rock outcrop between the tracks. Even with these changes, the rest is still intact................for now.

      On the weekend, I finish the length of the back wall for the framework under the tracks.

 

     I'm printing my track plan in sections, here's the first peninsula.

     Working on the second peninsula. This one is a long one, measuring about 16' long and between 4-5' wide. Once this is done, this whole part of the layout is what I'll be working on till my wife moves out of her office in May. Then I will start on the second half of the layout.

     So I've got plenty of work waiting for me. So far 70 1''x4"x 8' and 900 screws. I pre drilled before every screw so that the wood wouldn't crack. I've got this useful drill bit/screw bit flip, saves lots of time. Oh and everything is level and sturdy.

     Will try to make a video next week explaining the layout.

Later

A bit more work done

     Manage to do a bit in the last 3 days. I've got about 20% of the frame work done and about to run out of 1x4, should be getting some next week. The peninsula you see, still needs to be secured to the rest of the layout, than I will be starting on the long peninsula. This layout is so much better than my first try, I have lots of accessibility everywhere on the layout, there's no place I can't access.

      To diversify my work, I'll be working on buildings (in a box) and bridges (from scratch), will post when I get started

Here's a video of what's been done so far.

 

Later

It's been a while, but I'm back

      Went on vacation and came back with a man's cold which lasted a bit more than a week, therefore another delay. BUT, now that all the walls have been painted, wood is in, work as now began on the new layout. I'm only 52 days of my supposedly starting date, but things should be on a roll now.

      Little things left to do, but nothing urgent. Still need to put molding along the ceiling edge and my wife will still use her space till till April/May, besides, I have lots to do before reaching her area.

Here's 3 pictures to get you started.

     This is the area I will be concentrating to start with. I know I should be starting with the first level (staging level), but since it's at the other end and includes my wife's office, it can wait.

 Later

Latest update of the NEW layout

Latest update:

      I'm a bit off schedule due to a few unforeseen problems, but will be ready for November.

      This is the before picture. I had to take all the wall boards down, the brick wall and brick floor.

     The after picture. Next week will be the painting. I'll have so much work to do in building the layout, that the office you see in the second picture, is my wife's office which will move upstairs probably at the end of April, unless the building of the layout goes fast.

     The following week I'm on vacation for 10 days and when I get back on the 4th of November, I'll be starting on my new layout. In the mean time you can all enjoy this little video of my new layout.

     

     See you all at the beginning of November for the start of my new layout.

Later.

Bad news, but Good news

It's been almost two months since my last post.

     For the past two months, I've had a furnace installed plus all the duct work and a new hot water tank which are all connected to propane. Electricity is very expensive in Ontario versus Quebec. I also took down my entire layout .............. yes, everything is gone, but I did manage to save about 90% of it.

     Why? The main reason was that it wasn't an operational layout and access was limited. While building the layout, I found myself working off the layout since I couldn't reach areas. Another reason is that with time we all get older and having to go under the tables everyday is not easy.

     During those two months, I had plenty of time to think about that decision. I contacted someone I met in model train forums, he's known as the Track Planner (Bill). We had back and forth conversation on the ideal track layout, such as access, operations, logistics and he will be designing my NEW layout.

     There's so much to learn about this hobby. I was told by model railroaders who've been in this hobby for a long time that a layout is always work in progress and that by your third layout, you should of accomplish a satisfying layout. Since I'll be working on my second, I hope to prove them wrong and stop at my second try.

     Here's part of the mess, my storage and part of the basement that still needs to be redone (removing the brick wall on the right, redoing the walls in gyprock and removing the ceramic tiles to be replaced by the same type of wooden floor)

 

I'll be starting a new section in the blog once I get started on my new layout

Hope to see you all later

Later