Greenville.. a new layout is started

I am in two minds about whether to continue updating this blog.. I've kind of taken to the irregular posting of videos on Youtube now. Maybe that's just lazy, it's certainly not exercising one part of the brain, as I find writing more than a couple of sentences these days to be something like hard work and reserved for job applications!

Must do better!!

There has been some activity since my last post in June.. the Freemo rebuild is pretty much complete for now and a few of us had an informal get-together to play trains again.. big Freemo meet is due 24 September.

Big news though.. Brett has been put away and I've made a start on the replacement, using all 13 feet of the wall, plus a 90 degree stretch for a potential 'fiddle'.

It will be American HO again, and using my Yellow Pine Railroad. Primarily switching, although I haven't settled on a plan, I know that I will be resisting the urge to fill the new space with track, and will be keeping it simple and plain.. hopefully focus on the overall scene. I am drawn toward Lance Mindheim's approach in this regard.
It may seem a little 'cart before the horse' but as well as deciding on the space before the trackplan, I have already named this project.. "Greenville"

Anyway.. it feels like a bit of a cheat, but the first two entries in the Greenville Diaries can be seen here..

Brett at TVNAM

Yesterday I took Brett along to the TVNAM show at Armitage for my first ever exhibition. Brett was never designed for taking on the road, but my preparation paid off, in as much as it stood at a reasonable height, worked all day and didn't need any tweaking.

Set up and ready to go

Very tiring, but I knew that it would be, as it is a long day on your feet, but well worth it. Great to meet up with friends, meet new people and put some faces to names.

The frame, complete with splayed Freemo legs. Sturdier than it looked!

I was well aware that Brett isn't up to the standard of modelling seen on other layouts, but everyone that stopped and watched was very kind. It was great to hear that quite a few people were already familiar with the layout via forums, this blog or Youtube. In fact, at least two people said that they had been influenced and built layouts with similar trackplans!

My neighbour for the day, Dave Long's Agawam

Millers Crossing

Jez New's layout 'New Field'

I had a couple of invites to other shows.. but to be truthful I'm not sure if exhibiting is something I'd want to get into 'properly' .. as interesting as it was, I think for me the social and interactive aspect of Freemo ticks a few more boxes. But I'm not ruling it out..maybe something little and new for Nottingham next year.. hmm...

Steve is a TVNAM regular - her with Duncan's Mine

Andy talks 3D printing

Anyway, I didn't get to take many pictures sadly, but there a number of great layouts on show again - most were fairly compact when I think about it. For some reason, I didn't take any pictures of the smart Tilley Yard, or the impressive Fort Myers, perhaps the biggest layout on the day. I'll try to rectify that in September at the next big Freemo meet.

Chris Gilberts Florida fleet play on Easter Park

TVNAM is also a bit of a shopping trip usually - loads of great priced stock available, mostly from Anoraks Anonymous. I resisted any new locos and picked up a few more covered hoppers.

Now home I've been looking at my locos, thinking I really need to re-organise. I have a plan. No idea if it will work, but essentially I want to bring some focus to my tiny fleet.

More if it works..

Testing Sheldon

Just posted the third (and final) video capturing the changes that I've made on Sheldon. Nice to play with a 12 foot run, even if it is only a 1 spur fork!

Part 2 is here..

evolving plan.. (and an unrelated video about patching locos)

Trackplanner Guru Extraordinary, Jack 'Shortliner' kindly took a look at the plan and put his spin on it too..

"..added a crossover and siding to Transload area - lets you move any kind of car. Changed brown factory and added paper factory with dedicated starch unload position (see Jack Hills New Castle RR blog) Tanker must be in that position for unloading - make switching difficult as tank MUST be last but one on that siding . Added point gives you extra siding for off-spot cars awaiting inbound to paper factory or outbound to elsewhere"

Definitely adds interest. At this point who knows what will end up being built, but having input from talented modellers and those with an eye for a good plan is very much appreciated.

In other news.. I just uploaded another Youtube video, showing a couple of recent patch jobs..

Progress on two fronts

A couple of days off work and I've felt like cracking on with stuff. As well as setting up Brett on it's exhibition framework to check some stuff.. I've also built a couple of plastic kits for Sheldon and been busy in the garage with bits of wood..

This is the 4 foot extension for Sheldon.. it's a foot wide, rather than the standard 18", as we found in our group that as long as the compatibility was there at board ends, the difference in width for these joining pieces wasn't too much of an issue. Although I ordered brackets and feet for this, they turned up today and the 50mm feet aren't going to cut it, so I've pinched the 100mm feet from my short end 

It's just going to be a straight signle track run of 4 ft, providing a switch lead for the spur at Sheldon, and a bridge to the next module. If necessary, I might make up small triangle bits to match up the ends with 18" boards. 

Scenically it's going to be pretty plain - fields, possibly with some fencing etc.

I've also been giving some thought to the room layout, the replacement for Brett. Pete over on RMWeb, made some good suggestions on my first draft, and I've incorporated them here.. still not the final version - that will be whatever gets actually built, but some good ideas so far.

Freemo overhaul

Our Midlands freemo group has 'paused' for a few months, the next meet won't be until the autumn as it stands at the moment. However, after our last meeting, I decided to make some changes to the existing modules. Sheldon and Cooper seemed a little small, with the benefit of experiencing the operations we've been able to run, I decided to;

1. Scrap Cooper. For now.. longer term I may well come back to version 2 later.
2. Use the 'Cooper' board to extend Sheldon.

The modules have taken up residence in my garage for the last few weeks as I've spent the odd evening or Sunday morning doing a bit. 

I've made a point of capturing progress on video, and I'll be uploading part 2 today. They.. or I guess I should now say 'it' isn't finished yet.. but I'm quite pleased with how it's come together so far.. feels a lot more plausible.

Part 1

I realise that all this has done is to extend the elevator spur by a few feet, probably allowing another three spots for switching, and also lost two further 'industries', but I think the feel of it and look of it is as important for me, and I think the pay-off is worth it.

By the way..As a means of research, I've spent time browsing Google Maps and Streetview. The little town of Fairland in Indiana has been a goldmine for me. (although the houses in my Sheldon are looking a little more run down)

Thinking Ahead.. Brett extended or replaced

Freemo stuff has pretty much dominated any railway modelling this year.. but bubbling away in the background has been some thinking about the space I have at home, and what I could do with it.

Brett is 8 feet long and originally sat on a shelf in a smaller room. It's now on a wall which is 13 ft and there is potential to extend along two more walls, adding another 8 and 7 feet.

As much as I like Brett, there is an urge to start from scratch.. I miss the creative process of building stuff as I don't churn out the micros like I used to. Also - although I could swap things around a little, and use the current 'team' track as the entry point, it would feel a bit of a bodge. Brett is due to be shown at TVNAM in June (first time ever exhibiting anything for me!) so I might look to sell/scrap it about the same time.

So, the available potential space is;

• 7 feet. This is above my desk and Mac, so needs to be something fairly easy to operate.. I'm thinking of a yard or staging but unsure of the wisdom of that..
• To the right of that is a run of 8 feet. This is a stud wall, and the first few feet are also over my desk, so I picture a fairly narrow and straight run.
• Finally, another 90 degree turn to the right into the final 13 feet.

I intend to continue using rack shelving to support the layout , and most likely at a height of around 55 inches off the floor.

Period-wise I think I'll keep with a 'modern' theme.. although 80s/90s more than current day I think.

I'm fairly keen to re-visit my first interest in American Railroads, and go back to New England - Rutland territory.. perhaps a fictitious shortline which has connections with the VTR and/or Green Mountain, or perhaps even become part of the Vermont Rail System.

Beyond that - deciding on specific industries, scenes etc.. no decisions.

An early draft of the kind of plan I'm considering..

Obviously the plan needs work. I think the top half came from a Lance Mindheim drawing. The 'staging' would most likely make use of curved turnouts to make best use of the space on the corner. A stub ended yard is fine too, as I can use a switcher to release trains. 

I would like to get even a simple loco stabling area in somewhere, but I am also trying to keep things simple. Who knows.. I may end up building something completely different to this!!

Another Youtube Freemo clip - Cab Ride!!

At the last meeting of the Midland Belt Freemo group, I brought along a newly acquired little cheap micro DV camera. I had no idea if it would work, but we blutacked it onto one of Dan's flat cars and pushed it around the layout.. and waddyaknow ?!?

Exhibiting Brett?

Brett was always intended to be a home layout, I built it in a lightweight fashion to sit on rack shelving. I have been asked a couple of times if I'd like to exhibit it, which is very flattering, but have baulked at the thought of putting it 'out there'. I've never exhibited anything and unsure whether it's something I fancy doing, especially on my own. Also, I wasn't sure how much work would be needed to get Brett to a show.. I need some way of supporting it, displaying it..

Anyhoo.. recent Freemo building has given me a little more confidence in knocking bits of wood together, so when Nick Palette asked if I'd like to bring Brett to TVNAM, I couldn't really say 'no'!

This weekend I have built two simple wooden frames, using my existing Freemo legs, and a test erection (ooer) shows me that it should all work okay. I need to enlist SWMBO to make a curtain for the front of the layout, and make a few tweaks, but all systems are go!

Unless I spend much more time and money, I won't be displaying Brett with lights or sound.. and because my normal viewing angle is about a foot higher than that which I'll be showing it at TVNAM, I'd like to tidy up a couple of details on the layout before then too.

As to the longer term.. I don't intend to start hauling Brett around shows, even if I get asked. I have my doubts that a day on my feet, plus the noise, the travel and lugging about will really appeal to me. TVNAM is an exception as it's such a specialist show and has a community feel to it.

What I might do is actually try to sell the layout, I've already started making plans for a new one, extending around the walls.. early plans look this but are subject to change..

900 switching, sounding off..

I'll hopefully post an update on progress on the Baldwin AS16 soon. In the meantime, spent some time tweaking the Cvs on the Tsunami chip I installed into the Atlas RS36 and I'm enjoying how it sounds.. I took it for the latest train on Brett and posted a video here..

New Premises for Wolowitz & Hofstadter

I quite enjoyed building and painting the brick building for 'Wolowitz & Hofstadter'.. the industry on my Freemo module 'Cooper'. However.. I've felt from the outset that it looks a little out of place. It's the kind of building I imagine to see in perhaps a more built-up area and the Freemo modules do have a rather more 'out of town' feel to them generally.

I decided to act on this nag and to modernise the premises for W&H.

The original building

New building starts to take shape

Despite initial worries about the ubiquitous Pikestuff kits all looking the same, Google Street view at least does seem to suggest that these buildings are indeed all over the place and quite often look exactly like the kits - colours and all!

I picked the 'Diamond Tool and Engineering' kit but knew that it would probably need some surgery in order to fit the space on the module.

In fact, I ended up halving the width of the building.. which lead to a slightly long and thin looking shed, but I think it looks plausible enough. I also cut a couple of extra doors, so that railside would have some loading facility.. I intend to relay the concrete/asphalt area around the industry so care will be needed to ensure the height is right.

Although it's unlikely to be seen, I've added a very basic interior to the building where the two story windows are to suggest an office above a reception area.

It would be quite nice to add a couple of security lights to the walls, I'll have to see if I can bodge something.

the front

Railside

Once the glue has dried thoroughly, I'll paint the concrete base and perhaps add some very light weathering before adding signage, then it's to the module to get it set in position.

Brett from a different viewpoint

Well, a couple of different viewpoints actually..

A view along the layout, as the local arrives

From the left hand side

Although it highlights the code 100 track, I like this angle

Boxcar ready for collection at Smith & Hogg

Getting the order ready in Northwest Lumber

September.. Revving up for Freemo

Not been posting regular updates on this blog, I know. However, I do try to occasionally post on Youtube too.

I recently uploaded one to show my two latest loco purchases..

At the moment the focus is mostly on getting ready for next weekend - Big Freemo meet in Armitage, home of the TVNAM show.

Here's a plan for the meet.. Sheldon and Cooper are both there on different branch lines..

Hopefully will have lots of pictures and some video to post after then :-)

Cooper gets greened

I decided to concentrate on one Freemo module before I move on to the other. Over the last week or so I've been scattering grass material, drenching in PVA, cursing, making buildings, painting, sanding, filling, cursing, and nearly giving up..all over "Cooper"

My intention originally was to hold back, keep things fairly sparse, as that seems to work best in the Freemo environment overall. I've been spending a lot of time in Google street view around the midwest - noting the lack of fences and number of trees around the lines I was following. However, as I was bathing Cooper in a shower of green material..I was worried that the module was all getting too busy, with the trees and different textures, but today I'm fairly relaxed about it. 

I certainly don't intend to do too much more.. it's just a case of finishing off the ground colouring in the areas of hard-standing, and a few small bits like a bit of clutter around the warehouse, signage etc. Then clean up and test the track again before putting it away and starting on "Sheldon".

Cooper is supposed to be on the edge of town. One spur feeds a team track, from which I removed the ramp as it just didn't look right. On the other side is Wollowitz and Hoffstetter, I hope to get a semi or trailer to park in the yard, along with a few dumpsters. Next door to W&H is a small house with it's lawned yard and swimming pool.

A few pictures of progress so far..

overall view

Wollowitz and Hoffstetter

Along the module - team track to the left

Approaching Cooper

Too many trees?

The team track

crew

People are rare sight around Brett, it's such a quiet little backwater. This morning however I caught the YPRR crew switching the elevator. They were running no 36, the BL2, newly out of the shops at Fiddle Creek..

TVNAM 2015

Yesterday I was at 'the' show for American railroad modellers, held each year at Armitage, TVNAM.

I've been to the show a few times and always enjoyed not only the modelling, but the almost social club aspect.. as Nick, the organiser put it, it's a show for enthusiasts, by enthusiasts.. not really one to compare with your typical club model railway exhibitions, run in scout halls and sports halls up and down the country every weekend.

The main room

Midland, Ohio. Nick's O Scale layout

Midland, Ohio. Nick's O Scale layout

Midland, Ohio. Nick's O Scale layout

Florida Springs and Hacienda Avenue

29th Street Wharf

29th Street Wharf

29th Street Wharf

West Allen Street, micro layout

I didn't get many pictures of the great layouts on show I'm afraid, I don't tend to bother too much these days as my camera skills aren't really up to it. Much better pictures will be up on RMWeb and other blogs today, I suspect.

Woodsville

Woodsville

Anyway - this year, our little newly formed loose band of "Freemo' enthusiasts arranged to display in the large side room. In the week leading up to the day there was a series of emails and rough plans drawn up, trying to work out how to best arrange the various modules that we now knew would be there in the room, to give us some kind of running and be accessible to the paying public.

We starting setting up around 8 o'clock, an element of shuffling and seeing how things fitted came into play. By the time that the doors opened at 10, we had the modules up. It took a little longer to fully work out some electrical issues (one of the modules was built to a different standard and a bit of electrical tinkering was required), but we were running trains and answering questions all day.

The Freemo Room!

Very tiring, but good fun. Hopefully may have sparked the interest of one or two visitors.

Personally it was a relief to know that my modules worked ok, although it also highlighted a couple of minor things for me to adapt (checking the rail ends height on Cooper and perhaps arranging to bolt the legs in place rather than relying on the push fit.)

I put together a short video here:

Freemo modules get 'tested'

Actually, this was a genuine testing session, rather than just an excuse to play trains!

TVNAM is coming up in a couple of weeks, and I want to make sure that the modules are working okay - track clean, no electrical foibles.. that they join up alright etc. 

I did need to re-solder one of the track ends. (Which involved nipping out to buy a new soldering iron!) Why I chose to solder to screws I don't know.. never done it before and eventually I'll replace these with copper clad instead.

Anyway - clearly a lot more to do as regards scenics.. and I'm not 100% about using the brick building for Wolfowitz and Hoffstetter, but for now they are working and that's what matters most.

No pictures today - just a video..

Passing on August Yard?

Some time ago, I built a little American N scale layout called "August Yard'. Although I get rid of most of the layouts I've built, this one has stayed with me as a favourite. Looking at it now, it's not fantastic I know, and with the things I've learned since that time, I think I could improve on it - but it was fun to build, the first American themed layout I had built, and one that gave a lot of pleasure to operate too.

All 4 feet of August Yard

If I remember rightly, the train consisted of a loco (my Rutland RS1) and three random cars,which entered the scene from the hidden fiddle track at the rear. These were spotted, and cars removed, according to dice throws.

It is only 4 feet long by around 8 inches deep, originally built on top of a pine shelf from the local B&Q. As such, definitely a 'micro' and was featured by the late great Carl Arendt in his book 'Small Layout Scrapbook' (for which I was incredibly flattered).

Anyway, I have sold all of my N scale stock, including the Rutland RS1 which started it all off, and the time has come to part with the little layout. I'd rather not break it up for scrap, so I'm offering for free to anyone who is interested and can collect from Nottinghamshire, or the TVNAM show at Armitage in June. 

Hopefully somebody might like to get some play out of it before it meets the great layout scrapheap in the sky.



I can't test it but know it was all working fine last time it was used and it has been stored in a dry garage in it's dust box since then. And anyway, it's free!