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RRR began construction on a semi-permanent track today. It is just a simple loop with a passing siding and stub track. The assembled trackage will be about 5' across and 10' long. The first roadbed logs have been sawed...just waiting for my %&#* batteries to be charged...didn't stick them on the charger after my last use. Erg... _________________ '48 Farmall Cub "Black Cat"
Mamod TE1A "Kayenta"
Wilesco Traktor
Wilesco "Old Smokey" roller
Red Rocks Railroad
Mamod SL "Los Dos"
Accucraft Ruby
Cool, I wish I lived where one could use an outdoor layout year round, and I wish I was able to get down low to operate one that low too. _________________ Non Impedite Raditioni Cogitationis
Cool, I wish I lived where one could use an outdoor layout year round, and I wish I was able to get down low to operate one that low too.
Well, this is going to be elevated 3' off the ground, so it should be accessible to all who wish to steam (and have locos that can handle R1 curves).
During construction of the frame, I have made the unfortunate discovery that our local lumber yard stocks poor quality lumber. I bought 3 2"x4"x10', one 2"x4"x12', two pieces of 7/16" MDF and 3 2"x2"x8'. Two tens would form the long ends of the frame, and the other would be sawed in half to form the two short ends. The MDF would form the subroadbed, the 12 footer would be cut for legs and the 3 2x2s would be cut to form crosspieces. Well, I soon discovered that the side boards were warped like mad. I could not get things straight...but with some angle ties and screws I am close enough. I then got to making the stringers. The first one I put up to measure had a terrible twist in the middle, and right around a knot as well, so the *(%$ thing broke clean in two. I guess I probably didn't want that as a crosspiece anyway then.
So I've got the frame pretty much built (except the legs), and I'm in the process of screwing down one piece of MDF to the frame. Before I ballast the tracks, I'll lay down plastic to protect the MDF. I'll also put some sort of siding around the outside to keep the edges protected, and then paint/seal the exposed wood. Ran out of daylight, but here's pictures of what I've got so far...
Here's some images to give you an idea of how much some of these boards have warped:
Here's a view of what my underdeck looks like:
The next couple pictures show the rails in something close to their final positions - mocked up, as it were. The rails are going to be ballasted down, so that should help out with whatever wonkieness expresses itself from the warped frame. I can add or subtract ballast to make the rails themselves as even as I can.
Hopefully I'll get the rest of the MDF screwed in tomorrow and can do a test run on the mocked-up tracks. If I get my camera batteries sorted, maybe you all can get to ride along? _________________ '48 Farmall Cub "Black Cat"
Mamod TE1A "Kayenta"
Wilesco Traktor
Wilesco "Old Smokey" roller
Red Rocks Railroad
Mamod SL "Los Dos"
Accucraft Ruby
The MDF or as I used USB should help a lot with holding the side framing material straighter, I chose to build my indoor set up with 4 foot or less lengths to avoid the warping that is going to be found in all dimensional lumber these days, the longer the board the more twisted it will be. Plus when built in smaller modules, it can be taken apart and moved with much more ease.
I will eventually need to replace the track with better quality track, but I only have about $40 invested in all of my track including the turnouts. _________________ Non Impedite Raditioni Cogitationis
I will eventually need to replace the track with better quality track, but I only have about $40 invested in all of my track including the turnouts.
Hey, not bad! I'm using old LGB track from back when I lived in CA and we ran our Playmobile G-scale trains around the Christmas tree. Been putting the same track around our tree for years now, but with Los Dos running and the Ruby nearly there, I needed a bit larger space and something somewhat permanent so I could run and test without having to take the time to set up track. This also eliminates all the hassle of steam oil and water getting on stuff indoors. Outside it'll naturally weather the layout! _________________ '48 Farmall Cub "Black Cat"
Mamod TE1A "Kayenta"
Wilesco Traktor
Wilesco "Old Smokey" roller
Red Rocks Railroad
Mamod SL "Los Dos"
Accucraft Ruby
Be careful using MDF outdoors. Make sure it is well sealed, especially at the edges, as any ingress of water will cause severe damage very quickly.
Yeah, I am going to be painting it with a sealant and then covering it with plastic sheeting. An advantage to living where I do is that we usually don't get more than 4" of rain a year, so water damage is not the biggest concern. _________________ '48 Farmall Cub "Black Cat"
Mamod TE1A "Kayenta"
Wilesco Traktor
Wilesco "Old Smokey" roller
Red Rocks Railroad
Mamod SL "Los Dos"
Accucraft Ruby
Be careful using MDF outdoors. Make sure it is well sealed, especially at the edges, as any ingress of water will cause severe damage very quickly.
Yeah, I am going to be painting it with a sealant and then covering it with plastic sheeting. An advantage to living where I do is that we usually don't get more than 4" of rain a year, so water damage is not the biggest concern.
Jeez mate. I wish we didn't get so much rain here.
Honestly, I wouldn't be too upset if we got a bit more rain. I love it being dry, but every time storm clouds roll into the area, they drop their load on the lake, or the cliffs nearby. Page usually doesn't get hit. _________________ '48 Farmall Cub "Black Cat"
Mamod TE1A "Kayenta"
Wilesco Traktor
Wilesco "Old Smokey" roller
Red Rocks Railroad
Mamod SL "Los Dos"
Accucraft Ruby
Well the tablework is completed, with one coat of paint on it. After it dries in an hour or so I'll lay the track back out for a test run. I think I'll need to have a central leg too, since there seems to be some sag.
John, I've got enough plastic to do just that, but I'm starting to have second thoughts on that. If I lay plastic, even with it pulled taught, it'll be harder to keep the top of the layout steady, since the plastic can move around back and forth. Considering where I live and what I want to model, there will be a lot of sand involved, so I'm wondering how well everything will stay put on top. Any thoughts? _________________ '48 Farmall Cub "Black Cat"
Mamod TE1A "Kayenta"
Wilesco Traktor
Wilesco "Old Smokey" roller
Red Rocks Railroad
Mamod SL "Los Dos"
Accucraft Ruby
IT really gets on there and I see that the reverser was not fully thrown, I do see you having a lot of fun with that, _________________ Non Impedite Raditioni Cogitationis
IT really gets on there and I see that the reverser was not fully thrown, I do see you having a lot of fun with that,
Yeah, it can move pretty fast, but once it seems like once it reaches "steam equilibrium" (is there such a thing?) it chuffs right along at a relatively decent speed. I'm going to end up getting a steam regulator, though, so it can be a bit more controllable. If I start it steaming going uphill (there is a slight grade) then my the time it starts heading downhill it is approaching that equilibrium, and doesn't seem to want to derail (right away).
Since the tracks aren't ballasted, they started moving after a couple laps and I had a couple derailments related to that.
I had another run this evening and things went well again until the rails started shifting again. I had one derailment right at the end of my run...and Los Dos ended up taking a 3' header to the rocks. Eee. The cab got slightly bent, but other than that, no apparent damage. Guard rails (cleverly disguised) I'm thinking...
In other news, I think the Ruby is mostly sorted! I pulled the valve block and found my problem - it wasn't flat. A little bending and shaping the steam lines, and I got it pretty much level on either block. Put things back together and tried it out on blocks. A whole bunch of water primed out of the stack, but when that finally cleared the wheels span both forward and reverse! I could adjust the speed with both the gas and the throttle. What a great and gratifying experience! I'll run it a couple more times on blocks before I put her on the rails (plus, I don't want her taking a nose-dive). Excitement central for me and the railway today! _________________ '48 Farmall Cub "Black Cat"
Mamod TE1A "Kayenta"
Wilesco Traktor
Wilesco "Old Smokey" roller
Red Rocks Railroad
Mamod SL "Los Dos"
Accucraft Ruby
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Engine of the Month December Rob's
Accucraft "Ruby" Locomotive Kit 2008 / 2009
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