Current events

Major headway being made in the construction department is leaving me very optimistic and hopeful, i can finally see some light at the end of the tunnel.  This was a 4 day weekend for me, gun season is piratically a holiday. But having Monday off the goals heading into the weekend where set high.
Friday


The shortest track holds two
 C44-9W's and 25 coal cars



Reconstruction of hidden staging behind the backdrop was due up if anymore progress on the backdrop was to be made. All of the track their was previously used, some improperly gaped and was the first track installed to get trains up an running and some had seen its fair share of bumps. I intend to have block detection and signals. So the insulating gaps at the turnouts are placed far enough back so no equipment can hang into the turnout without that turnout being shown occupied. 

With the track fixed the backdrop could be hung and muding proceeded.

Saturday
Not much time into the layout Saturday. Did some cleaning up in the room and wired the staging tracks.



Sunday

 My goals for the weekend where to place hardboard above the top level lighting, give that area a more finished look, finish drywall work, and paint the yellow room something other then yellow.
By Sunday the drywall work was nearly finished, so my next agenda was to give the upper level lighting a finished look. The first thought was a drop ceiling with the frosted plastic stuff. First glance at parts seemed reasonable, but after a quick estimate i realized that i wouldn't be going that route. Instead i simply painted the visible bench work and hardboard flat black.

Leaving Sunday the hardboard was cut & painted, half the bench work painted and only one more drywall seam to finish up.

Monday

The goals of the weekend where all met i am extremely pleased with how everything turned out. Painting of the room is done the backdrop is up most is primed and only one joint to finish sanding and muding. But finally it looks like something!

Progress on the Kirtland Route

My how time flys, I found little of it to spend on the layout over the summer.

I know the golden rule is to not make the bench work deeper than one can reach. I made that mistake in both corners! I corrected one of the corners by moving the backdrop away from the wall allowing access to the back of the loop and one end of the staging.

As for more of an official update:

 I am closing in on finishing the bench work, only need a few more boards. also a few more sets of lights and then I will be done with bench work and lighting! In the meantime work will commence on the backdrop.

Light bulbs on over the Kirtland Route

Lighting is everything!

This is the first serious layout that I have built. So of course it must have great lighting. After shopping around and pricing everything out I decided that not just lighting was important but the cost(s) that comes with it (Now and everyday they are on). The CSX Dixie Line has come up with a great and easy to follow How to Lighting page. I like the idea he has come up with, but I need 30+ fixtures, placing them a little more then 2 feet apart. Using Jamie's fixtures puts me around $160. That's more then I am willing to pay for lights, so off to google I went!
I searched many sites, found many options, none cheaper then the idea Jamie came up with. Then, while strolling threw Wal-mart I came across the cheapest lighting option I could find. They offer some $6.50 double flood lights, they are a bit more then the single sockets I found at Menard's for 2.99 but come with wire nuts and offer a great way to mount to the layout with out buying anything more. I drilled a 1/2" hole and inserted the end that orginaly threaded into the base of the flood light, it is a snug fix but I am going to glue them also. The bulbs also come from Wal-mart,  75w warm light, energy efficent, $.97.
My lighting system will cost around $126.00 or about 4.25 per fixture. (still to much in my mind)

   My trip to Menard's resulted in crossing paths with some 1"x4" x 6' pine. At only 1.15$ per board its very effective, cost efficient, easy to use and greatly to my surprise none of it has split while sinking screws. It is not the highest quality lumber. but, Doing some digging and eyeing up the boards, I had no trouble finding some that are "good enough" They come in all different lenghts and withs but 6' fits in my car much better then 8'.

I have no idea how i could see what i was doing without the lighting. Its amazing how much better they make the layout, locomotives and freight cars look, I never noticed the detail in some of my freight cars. Especially the few quality ones I own.

I purched a new Fox Valley BNSF GEVO on ebay last week. it is and amazing looking locomotive and runs just a good as it looks, cant wait to buy another one!

 

I have completed the area on the other side of the drop down bridge. Here the track sneeks threw the wall into a small stageing inside the closet

I set up some trees here to see how well the backdrop trees i painted would look togather. 

I cant wait till I can get some secenery done.

Next to do is to set up some lighting I've been putting this off but before I can proceed much further this will need to be completed.

Folding bridge in place

 

The drop down bridge is finally installed and works well. Had it not been for a post on the CSX Dixie Line about building a folding bridge, my wouldn't be done yet but it was a very easy install and works great.

 

I did have one problem that im not real excited about. One of my turnouts landed on the seam for the drop down bridge i very well couldn't cut it in half so i was forced to let it overhang an inch. being that the switch over hung i have no place to install a manual ground throw, so i had to use an electric switch. as longs it don't get  snagged on anything their shouldn't be any troubles.

 

In other news I was forced to change the inbound track work around the Coal mine. I aparently mesured incorrect and my inbound tracks were to short. Leaving the end of the train out on the main line. The change ended up working out better all aournd.  My in bounds now run behind the coal mine instead of in front next to the out bounds from the flood loader. if you scroll down you can see how it was originally planed.