[vsmith]

Hi T, Long time no read where ya been?

Naw, the branch names are holdovers from the large fixed layout. I have been contemplating adding a detachable roll away fiddle cassette of some sort to the diamond but so far its still just an idea.

 

[ThinkerT]

Oh, I still drop by now and again. Once I make sufficient headway on another project, I intend to get back to my indoor cata-err-layout.

I have been contemplating adding a detachable roll away fiddle cassette of some sort to the diamond but so far its still just an idea.

Thats what you keep telling yourself *now*...but the real plan, of course is a series of interlinked 'portable'/'movable' modules.

I found Dougs layout in this subforum to be extremely interesting...especially since he wedged it into about the same amount of space as your larger layout before its demise. Great things are possible in this scale without huge amounts of space.

 

[vsmith]

I guess I can say that the scenery is done, well for now:

















You can see some of the scale "junk" in these pics, I have always found typical model RRs to way to clean and pristine
for my tastes as almost every real railroad I ever have been to (outside of Disneyland) was always littered with junk and trash. So even though my layout is impossibly squashed and foreshorted till its almost infront of its own back, its still got more detail than alot of other layouts I've seen

Its the little details that make this fun...

Even got a short video of the layout to date:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfbM0pUP8_I

The train is a cheeser Lionel job I got on extreme sale for $30 at Big Lots, found out why as the drive was busted but it was fixable, so now I'm experimenting with seing what its potential is.

 

[xo18thfa]

Vic: Great job overall on this layout. It's clear you had a strategy and vision throughout and it paid off. It appears you solved the mystery of "Jack the Ripper" too. It was Princess Leia and R2D2 hiding in the shadows all along.

Thanks, Bob

 

[leftyfretguy]

Just Great!
This is one of those builds I have watched closely since the begining and still look foward to updates. You are almost ready for another layer. Maybe an underground mine train if you are running low on space...
Will heartland mini series cars work on the 20" diameter track?
again, great job!
Matt

 

[vsmith]

I have to face a few facts…

…the biggest being that my layout is once again, proving to be too large for my given circumstances. I’m really getting tired of this but between the growing need for more storage space, family issues, my new interest in Marxism (Louis Marx) and the fact that even though its mobile, my layout still literally eats ½ the garage open space…I really can’t keep the layout as it is. I think these problems have been apparent since I took up the fixed layout and began building the mobile layout. Model train layouts regardless of scale, tend to be enormous space eaters. It was the primary reason I dismantled the bigger layout, and this layout is about as small as it can get using R1 track. It’s just that now as I’m moving more things around between the house and the garage that this cannot be ignored again. I don’t want to just drop out of LS altogether, so instead I’m looking at taking down the lower 5’6” part of the mobile and doing probably what I should have done from Day 1 of dismantling the fixed layout, and that is focus 100% on the 3’ square micro layout, I never had any problems when that was all I had. I figure I can reuse 80% of the structures and 100% of the details and figures, the biggest issue facing me is the fact that there is still a sizable chunk of my roster that will never fit on the micro, so another round of sales will be coming up but I do plan to try and rebuild a couple of my favorites that wont currently fit. I seam destined to build micros. First thing to do is a complete photo documentation of the layout as is, then start test fitting structures onto the micro, get ready… I have a feeling this new layout is going to look insane before I’m finished with it. This is going to be quite a challenge…where’s the shoehorn?

Here I go… again…..

 

[ThinkerT]

Vic...you just can't win, can't you....

 

[vsmith]

But I keep trying.

On one hand its incredibly frustrating as this will be the X-teenth time I've had to rebuild this thing, but then its a real challenge to take the whole scenic appeal of the lower level and transfer it to the micro... including the bridge.

 

[Madman]

Vic, I have been toying with building an indoor switching layout. Maybe that would satisfy your needs. Say on half a sheet of plywood, 2' x 8'. My inspiration came from the usual winter Railway Withdrawal Syndrome, or RWS as it's know to a very few. I like to operate trains from a comfortable position, usually seated. My garden railway is more of a display of operating trains than an operator's railway. And at this time I don't want to change that. Your layouts have given me the remaining inspiration, along with your locos. I have been browsing the 7/8s scale forum for more ideas. Those guys do some really nice work.
So it might be a thought for you. It takes less room than a circle of track, and you can even do as one fellow I know. He had his HO layout suspended from the ceiling on cables. He raised and lowered it with the push of a button.

 

[Dave Meashey]

Gosh Dan, I don't know. Vic's layout is like a wedding cake that was created for a couple of rabid train enthusiasts. Maybe it could be squeezed between the rafters when it was aloft, providing the garage has rafters. It's just that that glorious little layout has a lot of vertical real estate too.

Best ot luck Vic,
David Meashey

 

[vsmith]

2 x 8 switching layout woulndt do me, all track and no scenery. Nope its consolodate, condense, cram, then crush. Besides doesnt the idea of taking 30 square feet of layout and compressing it into about 10 square feet sound like a real challenge? Beside all you need is the right tool:

 

[vsmith]

The end for the "wedding cake" layout:

Months to build - Hours to dismantle. As of tonight the upper pizza has been safely set aside, all the track is up and the raised platform has been taken apart, the ballast has been the toughest stuff to get up, but its slowely coming together

The foam has been kept aside, I will try to reuse as much of it as possible

 

[ThinkerT]

That is depressing. What do you have to do to get even quasi decent space for a layout? Maybe you should look into one of those around-the-walls-near-the-ceiling layouts? Stake a claim to an odd corner of the front or back yard? There must be *something*....

 

[vsmith]

Depressed? why? Theres no reason to be. I've had a blast building it, now its time to try the next thing. The basic problem with large scale is that it is, well, LARGE. Even smallest R1 circle eats up about 20 sq. ft. to do anythiing remotely complicated eats up even more, its not just in LS, even the most basic 4x8 layouts still require adiitional walkway space so the 4x8 in reality is 7x11, thats a small bedroom, or 1/2 a 2 car garage. So it really does boil down to avaialble space and how best to use it, I've decided to cut this down, because I really need the space back to do other things. At least I finished this layout which was a prime goal. I'm happy with the results, I learned a great deal about scenery and layout building and if I did it once, I can do it again. I'm actually quite taken with the challenge to squeeze everything into the Pizza layout, then I've got something in mind. The only regret I have is that no one besides me and my dog ever got to see it up close in person.

 

[Paulus]

Auwks! I have to admit this came a bit as a shock for me too... Such al lovely little layout...
But you are right; it brings a nice challenge to build a new one (looking forward to it already!) and there must be a ton of lesson learned on building the layout.

The only regret I have is that no one besides me and my dog ever got to see it up close in person.

You could put it (edit: the next layout) on display for short periods on for instance the local hobby shop, library, the retirement home living room, the hospital pediatric ward. It must have some automatic operation (for instance a simple press button to let the trains run a few rounds). And you have to be very aware that it never comes back without any trace of damage. But many will love to see and admire it!

 

[vsmith]

Got the base cut to size, added new 1x6 trim boards around, the Pizza is in place, because of the way the base is built I moved the fiddle yard to the side and placed it on a removable cassette. Coming together very fast, Heres the latest sketch:

I realized I've gone backwards in time, back to early on the life of this layout when I added a small addition to the side , now though its got a much better support base and alot more experience under the belt.

Pic from long ago. Come full circle it seams to be right back where I started. New pics soon as I can.

 

[xo18thfa]

I like this one a lot Vic. One question. On the lower level (upper right on the plan) it appears the track goes over a trestle them into the tunnel. What happening on the other side, lower left?

Bob

 

[vsmith]

Update:








New 1x6 trim boards around and painted, added new cassette on the side, working on making a new girder bridge section to go over the steel trestle side.

 

[vsmith]

Posted By xo18thfa on 15 Feb 2011 06:46 PM
I like this one a lot Vic. One question. On the lower level (upper right on the plan) it appears the track goes over a trestle them into the tunnel. What happening on the other side, lower left?

Bob


Bob thats the back of the layout, the latest pic shows how the upper town is in relation to the track going under it. not much to show back there, its where cars are moved on and off the layout

 

[Dave Meashey]

Vic;

It's really looking good. I'm really going to miss the train lovers wedding cake, but you have to do what you have to do. And I am also guilty of a reawakening affinity for O gauge tinplate. I'm trying to limit it to track under the Christmas tree.

I can't really say too much about downsizing layouts, as I don't have anything at present. I slap track down in the living room or on the carport sometimes, I run on other clubmembers' layouts, and I help out with the club displays. That is enough for the "train fix" at present, but Someday - - - - ! I have to resist putting something on the ground again. I can get down just fine - It's the getting back up. The next layout will have to be at least 30 inches off the ground. Just have to win the lottery (fat chance!).

Best,
David Meashey