The helix construction is done

     Been busy with my helix. I can say that the the construction is done and the only thing left is the wiring. I've put sidings to prevent trains to fall off. I had a test run on both track, forward and backwards at slow and fast speed and it's been a success.

Picture2, the train will be going or coming to/from Montreal (staging)

 Picture3, the train will be going or coming to/from Ottawa (staging)

Picture4, I started working on the frame work for the beginning of the Hawkesbury yard. It's beginning to look a lot like..................... a huge layout

Building of the helix

Been a while but I'm still at it, so here's an update of my layout.

     From my last post, I had left off with the construction start to my helix and now I'm almost done. The first picture shows pieces of masonite at the joints and in between the joints which will have spacers between the levels. The second picture shows the cork bed installed, the third picture shows the frame work that will hold the helix and the fourth shows the helix almost finished.

     I've also been working on some scenery such as finishing the cement factory, starting work on the refinery area and a little town.

 

 

     I've contacted Backdrop Junction and talked with them about matching backgrounds scenery with my layout, such as a river and roads at specific location. So for now I have some files and have been working on Photoshop to blend pictures into their backdrops and once finish, I'll send them back to them to have them printed.

Here's a little movie of my train running up and down the Helix.

Thanks for dropping by....Later

Part 2 of 2 is now underway

     Finally, Phase 2 of 2 as started. I'm starting with the helix so that I can get the heights right. The way I did it was easy for now. I printed a section of the helix, which is a double track being fed from 2 sides. It was equivalent to 1/4 of the helix.

  

      I then used it as a template to cut all my pieces needed. I was able to fit 11 of them per 4 x 8 sheets.

     I then assembled 4 of them to form a level and am now installing the road bed and tracks on each one of them.

     When done, I will bring them down to the layout and assemble them in place and finish installing the road bed and tracks to the connecting joints.

     The following step will be the staging area and then the top layer with the yard and downtown. Lots of work ahead, so I'll probably be busy till year end.

Later

Already a month as gone by since my last post.

     Almost another month as gone by and it seems like not much as been done on my layout, but I swear I did some work. In my defence, I was out of commission for about 2 weeks with a back spasm. So here's a little update:

     First, I had a short on my layout and found out is was a few turnouts, 3 to be exact. I had ordered the wrong turnouts, instead of Insulfrog I had ordered Electrofrog. I did panic since I had no clue of the difference, but thanks to the people here, there was no need for panic. Special thanks to roofintrash who helped me out with a simple phone call.

     Most of the work done was on 2 buildings, the cement plant and the sand plant. They are both assembled, painted and weathered. I still have other details to add such as the office buildings for both and a cement distributor for the cement trucks. I've pre-ordered my cement cars which are due for September 2016. As you can see in the second picture, I've also assembled the extra parts which are for the asphalt plant which I have no use for but will try and use some parts elsewhere.

     I've also work on some lighting for the cement plant and a lighted sign for the flour mill which is almost complete.

I've also had fun installing some miniature people.

Later all.

PS. The sign on the flour mill is for my sister who's been a pastry chef for over 35 years

Update 3

     It's been a month since my last update, but unfortunately, not much can be said

      Besides the 2 buildings I've posted in earlier posts, I finished drilling all the holes for the turnouts. Now I need to install 23 tortoises, well 21 since I already did 2. I'll be wiring Card Edge Connectors so that it will be easier to connect to the tortoises instead of soldering all the tortoises. I encountered my first problem with EBay, never got those connectors I paid for, but EBay reimbursed me, so now I need to find another supplier.

      I've also finished the top part of the layout, so now I can start working on installing those RGB LED Strips

     I've been working on my cement industry but had stop while waiting for trucks to arrive so I could finish how the layout would look like. You know me by now, I don't like building stuff that looks like the picture on the box.

     Still working on soldering the feeders to the track. I've prepared all my terminal strips for my feeders, that way all I have to do is screw it in.

     For the next couple of weeks, I'll still be working on the cement factory, feeders, cement base for the container yard and the lights in the top of the layout.

     I decided to attach the wires of my control to the end of the layout to see if everything was ok ........... and it was, so enjoy a little video of my Canadian Pacific Alco-S2

Later