NER Convention Oct. 17-20, 2013

I will be up in Laconia, New Hampshire for the NER NMRA Convention, Tracks to Lakeport. Besides being up in my modeling area, at the height of Fall, there will be a large Free-mo layout constructed on site.

New England Free-mo and members of the Seacoast Division NMRA have a nice point to loop layout planned, and my Woodstown Jct. will be included, just to the left of the return loop in the drawing below:

There will be scheduled Ops Sessions over the layout during the weekend, along with time for free running. I'm looking forward to being there, and if you are going also, please stop by and say hello!

I'll post my usual convention report during the weekend as usual to this web log, so check back for updates.

Picture in MRH Magazine e-mail

This was cool - I posted some of my rock work pictures to a Weekend Photo forum at Model Railroad Hobbyist magazine. They selected one of my photos for the heading in their weekly e-mail update sent out to all subscribers. Neat!

Crawford Notch Scenery Progress

As I mentioned in my post in July, I started on some scenery in the Crawford Notch section of the layout. This section is one end of the layout that curves into staging. The Notch itself and the MEC's Gateway cut through the rocks is where the scenery starts (or ends depending on how you look at it). Having gotten all the basic landforms  in place, I turned my attention to the rock molds that would make up the dramatic entrance/exit for Maine Central freight trains on the layout.

I have a couple of Woodland Scenics molds, but like a lot of their products, I am finding them underwhelming as I do more layout building. They are a great company but I have been finding some really nice alternatives to their stuff. One such item is the rock molds from Sterling Models of Hardwick, Vermont. I picked up one at the Springfield train show and after one casting I knew I needed more of their molds. So I ordered 2 more and after they arrived I started casting rocks for this scene.

I did a few in the mold and let them set up, but I found that it was going to be real tough to just place them into the basic scenery I created. So on the one side, I cut some into pieces and glued them onto the foam, and used Sculptamold to fill in the gaps. On the larger mountain side, I cast the rocks in the mold, but before they totally set up, I pushed them into the scenic base, curving them slightly to fit. The result was that I was able to get to better fit the geography of the scene I created. Here are some pictures:

Here you can see the basic ground cover on the hillside as well as the field behind the tracks. Up front is part of the Rt. 302 highway that will be in the scene.

A look at one of Sterling Models molds and the resulting casting. They work great, clean up easily and have no problem getting castings out of the mold. They are flexible enough to contour to your scenery before fully set and they are strong and have worked great multiple times.

Here is a picture of the prototype and my rockwork castings.

Here is a straight into the staging look that will actually be tough for operators and visitors to see as my workbench will keep people from getting a look like this without really trying. Even still the rock work really helps conceal the train going through the backdrop.

After this set up for a few days, I went back and worked on coloring the rocks. I used the techniques described by Mike Confalone in Model Railroad Hobbyist magazine and the accompanying videos. Basically you use black RIT dye and alcohol to stain the rocks and then oil paints and turpenoid to add colors. Next some chalks are brushed on. It was my first shot using these techniques and I did learn a fe things, but overall I am happy with the results so far. I still am waiting to add some gray and white chalks as I do not have these yet.

With that done I really wanted to get the scene finished, as least around the rock work. So I added underbrush and built some trees. All that remains is ballasting and the addition of some other tree types.

I added a blue sky section on the gray wall to help the scene. Most of the trees are in place although I want to add some pines that I still need to construct.

A closeup with RY-2 reaching the top of the grade at Crawford Notch before stopping at the station to sign the train register book.

A slightly higher vantage point. It clearly shows the kink in my trackwork that I will need to fix before ballasting!

I do want to get back to track work, but this scene has been a lot of fun. I do have scenery on other parts of the layout, but I feel I am still experimenting and finalizing methods. Here I feel pretty happy with the results and look forward to ballast and some weeds to finish it off. I doubt the whole hill side will be tree covered before November, but at least there is enough for some good photos and to give a sense of what the overall look will be like.

Interesting effect

I recently purchased a Nikon DSLR and have started to try out its different features. One is interesting, called a "Miniaturization" effect. I think it is trying to do the one thing we try to avoid in model railroad photography - reduce depth of field.

While taking some pictures of a Conrail Shared Assets local from Camden out to Mt. Holly, I tried out the effect. The train had recently finished all switching work and the crew just grabbed some food across the street in Mt. Laurel, near Larchmont Blvd. First is a regulr shot I took, and then the "miniature" version:

Kind of makes it look model railroad-y. Not sure if I'll use this a lot, but something neat to try after taking some "regular" shots.

Where's all the updates?

Well, I have to say I have been pretty neglectful on updating the blog. I had good intentions back in January to keep at it regularly, but lots of other things have kept me busy. This is not to say that there has not been any work on the layout or modules. Luckily, not true, although maybe not as much as I would like (which is usually the case, right?). There have been quite a few of non-train house-projects this year, and then some ramp up in activities with my band (check out Strange Brew), plus a good deal of nice weather that kept me outside more than usual. Anyway, all that aside, here is what has been going on.

My last update showed work in Morrisville installing ground throws. With all those in I moved back to Groveton to get all the track installed, and then all those ground throws installed in the same manner - throwing them from the front edge with extended throw bars. Next I completed the B&M trackage in Whitefield, laying the sidings and tying the mainline into the diamond. I installed the ground throws and also put in some scenery base.

With a lot of track in place, I sprayed Rustoleum Camouflage paint in dark brown to give the track a basic covering. I'll do additional weathering and rail rust later, but this is a a good start, and it not bad even if you never get anything else done. Some pictures:

Rustoleum Camouflage paint for painting track

Groveton with all track in place. Just need to build that paper mill.

The B&M in Whitefield. this siding is for pulpwood loading. Here you can also see one of the laminated layout location signs I made up over the winter.

Further-away view of work in Whitefield for B&M. Two new sidings to the left, pulpwood siding on the right, and the main line to the diamond. All wiring done and ground throws installed.

Next, I turned my attention to some scenery. Although I wanted to keep on the trackwork and get it done as I set a goal, I felt inspired to rough in some scenery in Crawford Notch. This is one area that I want to look mountainous and is the first scene visitors will see when they come in the doorway. Using cardboard strip, I hot glued a basic landform in place, rising to the point where the Maine Central track curves and goes through the notch. I covered this with plaster cloth, then used some sculptamold to fill in areas and breakup any flat sections of foam. Pretty quick, it was all done in 2 sessions, so I don;t feel to bad about the diversion from tracklaying.

At this point I need a basic covering of paint and some ground cover. The actual tree application will take some time, but I knew this and it is really only the other tree-intensive location besides Sheldon Jct.  At least for the November open house it will be quite a different look than last year. Here is the aptly named White Mountains section on the layout:

Got trees?

The start of Crawford Notch, and the end of on-the-layout scenes for the Maine Central to Portland, Maine.

Here starts a transition between Crawfords and Whitefield. The Crawfords station will be on the upper foam section, and trees going down the hill lead to a road scene in Whitefield. The bridge carries the MEC over the B&M which is going to Groveton through a hidden section.

A better look at the road scene to-be. I wanted a good spot for a few structures close to the layout edge, and a grade crossing here with a few buildings on both sides seemed a good spot. Whitefield does have some buildings right at grade crossings like this, so while not an exact replica, it is how the prototype looked.

Next up will be working on trackage in Johnson, Vermont, which is directly behind the camera for Crawfords/Whitefield. this is along the LVRC and is a nice shelf area right now. Need to do a little subroadbed installation and lay track for the talc mill that will be located here. Then track in Sheldon Jct.needs to be finalized. Track is there, but I never really finished it and had the CV industry siding in place. That will leave Lydonville (my useful flat shelf work area) and North Stratford (on an upper shelf, also useful for storing stuff). It is getting closer to all track being in place, but I am behind my goal of getting it in place before summer. But overall, it is progress over six months where I did not get to much time to focus on model railroading.

Trackplan

I thought I would kick off the blog for 2013 with what has been the most requested piece of information people have asked for...a trackplan of the layout. Below is the basic plan. Not every siding and yard track is shown. Some are but most are not.

I am not really into drawing intricate detailed plans. I like to just build as I go. At some point I will refine this plan to accurately reflect each track.And as it is, not every mainline shown is in exactly the correct position relative to the wall for fascia. It gives you a pretty good idea of how things are laid out though.

Please note that the branch up to north Stratford is not shown at all. this would be over top part of the staging, through the wall and then above Groveton and parts of Gilman. This will require a separate drawing so as not to block and confuse the drawing relative to the lower tracks below this shelf.

This plan was drawn using Empire Express software for the Macintosh, a program I have had for close to 20 years. I would suggest right-clicking on image to open it in a new tab or window, and then you should be able to zoom in. Or you could save it to your desktop and open with your favorite image viewing software (I couldn't figure out how to make blogspot show the image larger right here without diminishing the quality). Enjoy!

End of Year Updates

As 2012 draws to a close, I have some updates from work accomplished in December. It has been a busy month with travel and the holidays, but I have managed to find an hour here and there to get some stuff done.

First up was the trackwork in Morrisville. I soldered feeders for the frogs and dropped these to a central spot for attaching to Tam Valley Depot Frog Juicers. Next I installed the Caboose Industries sprung ground throws, which I had on hand from previous layouts and projects. I did not want these to be in the scene or for the operator to try and work their hands across yard tracks to reach them (imagine the throw at the right being reached if it was at the turnout and the yard tracks are full). So these were mounted along the front edge with music wire throw rods routed through brass tube (both from K&S). I have seen this occasionally on other layouts for hard to reach turnouts, and also on one local layout where they were all mounted along the front like this. Installs went pretty easy. Only hard part was routing tube under some track mounted directly to Homasote. In a couple spots I had to remove some plastic from the tie strip under the rail, and also make sure to insulate the brass rod to prevent a short circuit between the 2 rails (using electrical tape). But most places were easy as the track is up on foam roadbed.

 

The ground throws along the edge will be out of site and easy to reach. The brass tubes allow easy movement of the throw rod and will be hidden by scenery. I was asked about using under track controls, like a Blue Point or Bull Frog. First, I wanted to make use the ground throws I already had on hand. Second this spot really lended itself well to quickly and easily mounting them along the front edge. Third, I did not have much space to mount throw rod controls as I put a shelf section under this yard. The rods could probably still be fit in, but it would have been harder and more time consuming to do. So it came down to money (I already had what I needed), time (the ground throws go much quicker in this installation), and final appearance (the rod controls in this area would either not be recessed or not as easy to access for the operator).

Shelf under yard would have made it harder to install throw rod controls, and if recessed would have been harder to reach and operate.

With that complete it was on to Groveton. I completed assembly of the slide in bridge section in front of a closet which will allow the B&M track to cross from under Whitefield over to Groveton. It is wide enough to keep any derailing cars off the floor and also have a turnout here to extend the length of the passing siding and main. The bridge will simply slide into place and hit stops. I will add a piece of fascia to the front and some sort of lock to keep it from moving. Most of the time I do not need access to this closet, and never during an Op session.

I then tried out various track arrangements to get what I was looking for. The the train will need to arrive on the main (at right) and use the passing siding to place pulled cars. When done the loco will need to run around the train to leave. There is also a facing point turnout for woodchip unloading (car spotted there in far end of photo) as well as the passing siding being the interchange track for cars to and from the Grand Trunk. So a little thought ahead of time will be needed for an operator to switch this area. Not too difficult or unrealistic, just more to add to the fun. I removed all the track and installed the Homa-Bed roadbed. I could have used a solid piece of Homasote, but I like the idea that I can scenic the tracks as elevated better this way, plus I still have a good deal of Homa-Bed remaining to use, and no Homasote sections! So again, use what I have instead of buying something new.

I then started to lay the track, transitioning from the Code 100 hidden track to Code 83 and onto the bridge section. I used PC Board ties so I could run the rails right to the edges and keep them as secure as possible. Again, the bridge is not supposed to be moved around too often, but I wanted to make it as easy as possible with no special connector rails. I will need a single plug to power the rails on to shelf section though.

For the PC Boards, I installed flat drywall screws and filed the tops clean to accept solder. I ran the track right across the joint and then marked which ties needed to be removed, and then used latex caulk to lay the track. When dry I soldered the rails to the PC boards. I made up guard rails and soldered these in as well. When all done, I used a cut off disc in a Dremel tool to cut the rail. The result is rails that align perfectly.

Screws ready for PC Board to be soldered in place.

PC Boards installed, and gaps cut in copper to prevent short circuits between rails.

Track laid across joints with adhesive caulk and pinned in place.

Main rails and guard rails soldered in place, and rails cut.

Now it is on to the rest of the tracklaying in Groveton. I have enough track and all the turnouts, so this should continue to move along. Once the track is done, and wired, and the ground throws installed (I think this area also lends itself to this type of installation), I can paint the track here and in Morrisville. But I don't plan to do anymore scenery than that. I want to continue to focus on installing the rest of the track, so it will be on to Whitefield to connect the B&M to the diamond with the Maine Central, as well as installing the couple of sidings there.

I can then move onto the last local areas needing trackwork (besides the mainlines which are in place), Johnson, Sheldon Jct., Lyndonville, and North Stratford. But I do not have to get these done before holding an informal Ops Session, one to just get people acquainted with the layout and run a portion of the train schedule. My goal last summer was to do that during this winter, and with Morrisville and Groveton in place, I think that is feasible. So the goal will be sometime in February or March to do that. Here's hoping I can keep that New Year's Resolution!

Open House Pictures

The layout was opened for two days in November and I had about 80 total people come through, less than last year (when a newspaper article covered the open house), but still a good number with some new people and some regulars. As usual I always forget to take pictures while people are visiting. I just get busy talking to people while also keeping an eye on the running trains. But with the layout all cleaned up I did take some pictures after the last visitor left. For those that could not make it this year, these pictures will help convey the current state of building progress.

A view of Hardwick on the LVRC, but I don't think I have ever took a shot from this angle. Looking back east towards the quarry, the track heads back to St. Johnsbury. The grain elevator is the scene with the Central Vermont at Sheldon Jct. (the LVRC west of Hardwick, reversing back under itself).

Speaking of Sheldon Jct., here is the CV trackage there, with LVRC in the background. I still need to finalize this scene track-wise and then ballast, etc. The trees were done temporarily way back as I tried to figure out how I wanted the colors to look. I like the way it photographs. I probably will not change that until the rest of the layout scenery is well under way.

The LVRC arriving in St. Johnsbury yard. I put in some temporary telephone poles for the open house, but I would remove them for an Op session as they would surely be in the way. The foam scenery here makes it easy to just pop them in and out.

A look at the farm scene and Fisher Bridge along the LVRC. I tried a new angle here, so it should look familiar but somewhat different than previous pictures I have posted.

Now to some of the unfinished areas. For the first time, I mocked up some buildings in Lyndonville using structures I built for the module. This large flat area is great as a work space while working on other areas, but it was nice to start to get an idea in my mind how this scene will look and tie into the surrounding scenes. Buildings like the warehouse will help hide the CP track entering staging behind it (hard to see as it dips below the bare plywood). The CV engine is in CV staging for St. Albans and will be totally concealed from view.

For the open house I staged a B&M local on the isolated track representing the B&M line from Woodsville up to Groveton. (The bridge in the background is the MEC Mountain Division track). This B&M track is not yet connected to the diamond at Whitefield, and also does not yet cross a drop out section to get into Groveton. So even though it is wired, you cannot really run any trains on this line yet. But I wanted to convey what this track represents for visitors who ask. I found that I did not have a spare B&M engine 'hold' the cars on this grade, so I pulled out an old Athearn custom paint job I did circa 1984. I have no plans to operate this locomotive as it does not run very well (and is not DCC equipped), but it was fun to pull this out an look at it. Interesting to see how my modeling has improved over the years!

Nearby the B&M track I started to think about how I would represent some of the town structures in Whitefield. They have a modest 'downtown' block with some neat wood and brick buildings like these two shown here. Located near the front of the layout will allow a good look at these structures and their interiors. I just have to think about separating it from the MEC Crawford notch scene immediately to the left and above (never enough room to separate towns and areas on a model railroad). A road will cross the B&M here and wind up grade towards the backdrop.

Morrisville on the LVRC has all its track in place and is wired up, as mentioned in earlier posts. The goal now is to get the ground throws installed and wires to the frogs for powering. I plan to use Caboose Industries ground throws located along the front edge and frog juicers for the turnouts. This is the next "action area" I will focus on coming out of the open houses.

Groveton, NH is another area that will get major attention in the weeks ahead. For the open house I mocked up some track and structures to get a feel about how this scene and the paper mill will fit on the layout and how it will be operated. I am looking forward to getting track in here as I think it will be a great operating job for those that like switching. Above is the North Stratford, NH scene, where a MEC local will interchange with the green engine of the North Stratford Railway Company. That will probably be some of the last track I install on the layout given its isolated area and non-critical element in the Ops plan. But I will do the trackwork and scenery there before any scenery or structures go in Groveton.

One final picture, here is the double ended staging yard behind Whitefield and Crawford Notch, for the MEC and (at far end) CP trains. A lot of people were interested in how that was set up and what it looked like during the open house. As demonstrated here I can pop up behind the back drop to access all the tracks and turnouts in this area. The other parts and end will be accessed by a step stool and reaching over the backdrop. I can reach all areas in case there is an issue, but I hope to have "good" operators" who will not cause problems on the staging tracks :-)

Photos from NEFF RPM

I had a good time attending the Northeastern Fallen Flags Meet back in September. The event in Bridgewater, NJ occurs annually, and I hope to attend again in the future. I got to see a lot of great models and talk to lots of great people, some I knew and others for the first time.

I presented my clinic on Free-mo modular railroading and had my module set up in one corner of the large gym building. I did not get to attend any other clinics this time as I was busy talking to people and operating the module most of the day. Thanks to Geert Marien for helping man the module so I could get away for my clinic and to look at some of the great models on display. Here are some of my pictures.

My Woodstown Jct. module set up and operating for the day's event.

Geert Marien operates a train while some young model railroaders look on.

Lenny Harlos from Thoroughbred Models tests out one of his sound equipped custom weathered locomotives on the my module.

The date for next years event has not been set yet. Check the web site below for more info on the event as well as additional pictures.

http://www.hansmanns.org/neff_rpm/

October Timonium Pictures

Another fun time down at the train show in Timonium, MD, with the guys from Capitol Free-mo. I arrived early Saturday morni ng and most of the layout was already set up from Friday night. An obvious gap in the layout indicated where  I needed to put my modules. By 9am we had trains rolling on what I think might be the largest Free-mo layout we have assembled as a group. Here is a picture of my module fully set up within the layout. You can see the new interchange shelf I built in the foreground. I also have a clamp on shelf, which is actually left over L-girder benchwork! I plan to make a proper and painted clamp on shelf before the next show. It comes in real handy.

Woodstown Junction in the Capitol Free-mo layout.

Even though I bring a stool, my legs get mighty tired after two days of this show. As you can see the layout goes on a ways. in the distance is the Steel Mill modules of Jim Musser, as well as some interesting curved sections. Way off but unseen is a staging module Jim built just for this show. This made operations possible and we did run some car card and waybill ops on Saturday. The next picture is a reverse look at my modules. There is only one long module on the layout after mine, beyond the truss bridge, Boston Street, which will feature car ferry operations.Up front on the left you can see my in progress corn syrup plant. Once completed, this first section of the module set will be complete, minus a few more scenery details which can always be added.

I used a piece of styrene to represent a parking lot that helps conceal the gap between section 1 and section 2. Here you can see the basic piece with a little weathering. I need to add a guard rail, parking stops, and lines to finish it off, but it does a good job so far. The ice machine is from Nick & Nora, a neat little detail item. The 7up machine is just a photo printed and glued to a styrene block.The GP40-2W is by Atlas which I weathered. One of the reasons I decided to build the modules is so I could run some newer equipment like this that does not fit on the layout (circa 1980).

Speaking of hiding module joints, before the NEFF show, I took time to rebuild the ends that mate between sections 1 and 2 and also put in alignment pins from C&L Finescale. this helped get a better flush finish so I could run the scenery to edge better, and also allows for easier set up and alignment. With that done I want to work on securing my rail ends to PC tie boards and run them to the end to eliminate the fitter rails. Heer is is a look at the new ends.

New birch plywood added to the end and alignment pin hardware installed.

This is the hardware I used, ordered from England.

One other interesting note from the Timonium show. One member is on a work assignment in Afghanistan but was able to construct a module there using available materials and some shipped in scenery and track. He boxed up the module to send back home and when he got back he brought it to the show. Just goes to show you that if there is a will to do some model railroading, there is a way!

I took video of the layout from my iCar and you can check that out on YouTube:

Capitol Free-mo Layout, October 2012 - http://bit.ly/Ricq1w

Free-mo at NE Fallen Flags RPM, Bridgewater, NJ

This weekend I will be up in Bridgewater, NJ for the annual Northeastern Fallen Flags Prototype Modelers Meet. It is Saturday, September 29th from 9am to 6pm. Check out the web site below for more info.

http://www.hansmanns.org/neff_rpm/index.htm

This will be my first time attending this event. I was asked to bring my Free-mo module and also give my Intro to Free-mo clinic.Hope to see you there!

November Open House Dates

The annual model railroad month open layout tour throughout NJ, PA, DE and MD is in final preparations. this year my layout will be open on Sunday, November 4th and Saturday, November 10th, both days 12 noon to 5pm.

More layouts, including ones you can visit nearby me on the same days, are always listed on www.modelrailroadopenhouse.com

I hope you will be able to stop by and say hello!

Fall is in the air - must be Model Railroad Month!