Monday, January 28, 2013

The Car Shop Build Part 2

Build Update 1/28/2013

The Car Shop Micro is progressing at a good pace.  I cut, fit, and glued down the track.  I have also constructed a basic single track traverser using a piece of 1 inch foam and a wire hanger for the handle.

The display box is made out of 3/16 inch foam core board.  The front of the display box features a proscenium arch.



The display box is temporarily tacked to the layout base with T-pins.  I need to glue pieces of 1/4" square styrene strips to the four corners of the box and cut out another piece of foam core board for the lid.

I will also add a couple of walls of foam core board to hide the traverser and the traverser entrance tracks.

Until next time,
Tom

Sunday, January 20, 2013

A Small Diorama

Alright! With all the development going on with Shortline Modelers, I have finally found time to work on a small diorama. (OK, it's really an attempt to catch up to Ian.)  I have a long way to go but I thought I would share the progress.










The shed kit is a modified O Scale lineside shack from Kitwood Hill Models. The tarpaper is construction paper and I added 2x6 framing as I am building it with the door and window open.


Model Rail Radio Shelf Layout Contest 2013

Website Link
The only requirement is the layout be no bigger than 60 inches by 18 inches (fully assembled including cassettes, traversers and sector plates). They can be smaller than this. The track plans can be in any scale. Track plans can be submitted with backstory if required. The track plans should have some operational interest. There is no height limit on the layout.

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Just For Fun

Please be sure to cast your vote in our Blog Page Opinion Poll (see right panel).

Remember, it's all in good fun!!

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Some thoughts about a Car Float Layout

It's no secret then that I am quite taken with that image of the Naksup wayfreight on the car float. Plenty of inspiration to be had in that photograph. Short prototype length trains in a small space. I figured you could fit the design in about four feet in length in HO scale. I also figure that you could probably fit the concept into an APA box in Z scale.
But before I get too carried away with the scheme lets look at what you'd get in your small space layout. The trackplan is as simple as it gets. Two sidings. You don't even really need any switches. That is the root of the problem with the scheme. If you look at the layout from the point of view of a person who has no idea of what the layout is about would see a locomotive push and pull cars on and off the car float. Not terribly exciting, I'm sure you'll agree.
We need something more to lift the layout above the ordinary. To make people want to take a closer look.
How about making the car float move? Not too difficult a task for some clever modellers I'm sure. I bet there's several different ways to go about making the carfloat move. Those who know me will know I believe in operating features to lift the visual appeal of small layouts.
That would really make the layout different. But where would the carfloat go to? It would have to go offstage somewhere like the trains appear from offstage. I'll leave you to think up your own schemes I have my own ideas.
But when it comes down to it you're still only shoving wagons on and off the car float not terribly interesting operation for the operator.
So lets make a bit more of the shoving of the cars on and off the car float. Take a look at this image of the dock at Woodfibre British Columbia, there's a small yard right alongside. This is a promising development. This could be a very interesting way of going about building on the scheme. Operation would be considerably expanded over the original concept. A locomotive brings a cut of cars into the yard where it is sorted prior to being loaded on the car float. A loaded carfloat arrives, the cars on the float are changed out for those on the dock and the carfloat leaves, then the locomotive leaves with train that was on the float. Sounds pretty good doesn't it?
That's just my thoughts, thats how I would approach the idea.

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Car Float Evil


I don't intend to be evil .. I really don't. I found this really neat photo on Facebook of a small car float and shared it. It is a perfect model railroad car float - two tracks long and holding six cars ... or five cars and a loco .. or .. four cars a loco and 'something else'.

Honestly .. I just wanted to share .. I meant no harm. The problem is that 'unintended actions generate consequences . For that I apologize to everyone.

My first response to sharing the photo was from Ian -

"No kidding, this is a micro layout waiting to be built!"

Then .. the other shoe dropped ...

"I'm thinking the float could work out at 32-34" long 6" for the car float apron. A little length of scenic " run up track. You could fit all you need scenically in a little over four feet.OK, off downstairs with a ruler and baseboards... "

Oh my. WHAT HAVE I DONE?