August Update

Well I have not got done as much as I wanted to but there has been progress. I finally bit the bullet and update my Digitrax system to Radio Control, bought a DT402D throttle, UT4D throttle and UR92 panel receiver. This is a huge thing to me as I'm a cheap SOB. So now instead of messing with my old throttle I am finally able to run trains quickly and easily.

I also purchase as GP40-2  from a guy from the http://dieseldetailer.proboards.com/ site I belong to. He had been working on RMPX 6411 which was sold to the FWWR.  I worked out a deal with this gentleman and with some work will be the next locomotive to work on the layout.

As for the layout I got the next section of roadbed down. this will cover the end of the Everman branch as I have modeled it.

This area will cover the following industries: Everman Paper, Ft Worth Lumber, Delta Steel and Green Bay Packaging.

I also started to lay track for the Miller Brewery leads.

The peninsula will be added when this track work and basic scenery is done. The peninsula will be a large blob approx 60" x 60" so working on this area will be tough. This will have a few leads for switching that include: tank car unloading, grain car unloading, plastic car unloading and the warehouse.

Track work continued around the corner towards the above area, hope to have all track down by this weekend.

Well that's it for now.

July update

Well its official, I'm now over the hill. On the 13 of July I got a huge surprise for my birthday, 3 of my 4 children and there families came to TX to help celebrate me making it to 50. I also was able to talk to my son station in Okinawa, Japan serving in the USMC. Its been a long time getting all my family together now that everybody has become adults and left TX, been trying to convince the wife of the same thing but no bueno. Anyway let get an update on the layout since the last time.

Track work has proceeded, most of the yard is laid:

I also removed the last of the track from the old layout from the far wall:

I ended up removing most of the old benchwork to be able to redo it following the new plan. In the past people have asked me the sequence on my bench-work so here goes.

Attach double slot bracket to wall and attack appropriate shelf:

 Attach 1x4 to brackets using door shims to level things out:

Glue 1" pink foam down to 1x4 stringers using Loctite Power Grab adhesive:

Lastly attach ceiling tile to top of foam. That it easy and quick.

I also added another peninsula which will represent the end of the Everman Branch lead.

 So yes progress continues and hope to get more update done soon.

Progress - Take 2

Well progress has commenced. Been a while since I update this blog so here goes. Over the past couple of months been working on the new revision of my Everman Job layout. With the acquisition of my youngest boy's bedroom a new layout has been designed and construction has commenced.

I tore out old portions of the layout to make way for new revision. I'm trying to reuse most of the existing layout around the wall. A hole was cut into new room for pass thru for new yard.

The new room's bench work has been installed.

Foam and ceiling tile has been put down for a base just like I did in other room.

Backdrop and lighting installed.

   

 

Ive started laying out the track plan out and cork has been installed.

 

Track is starting to get laid

Well that gets us caught up for now.

A new begining

Well for the past few months been trying to run some trains and having some problems with my design. After the light bulb in my head turned on, I realized it was how some of the industries were switched per the prototype. Also with my youngest went away to the Marine's I negotiated a land deal and Ive acquired another room. So let the expansion begin.

Here is a copy of the new track plan:

This entitles removing all track and redoing all the peninsulas. But this plan improves what I was trying to do all along. Let the destruction commence.

First scenery delivery

Been a busy month. My youngest graduated from high school and has just left for boot camp in CA to become a Marine. Its weird to have all 4 of my children out of public school and starting there young lives. After making a couple of purchase from both Arizona Rock and Scenic Express I have some scenery supplies.

Now with some supplies in hand, scenery shall now commence. Not sure how far this shall take me but I have a feeling not very far.

My latest accusition

On a trip to Ft Worth stopped by one of the Local Hobby shops to get some supplies. After talking about my layout to them they said that they had one of the latest FWWR engines. I was under the assumption that Athearn had done the graphics incorrectly. But low and behold they had done them write. So after working out a deal I purchased this:

Now if Athearn could only get the details rite it would be fantastic. Only things that I need to add are Tsunami, couplers, replace the cab , nose, battery box's, and other misc details.  Well maybe I will get to this soon and get it off the self.

As for the layout working on drawing up building plans so construction can begin and scenery started.

April Changes

Well been a busy month but not as much done as I had hoped. I got the backdrop finished and painted, FINALLY.

I've run some trains and ran into a couple of Operating problems with my yard and after looking at some photos that I had taken I decided to move the peninsula that RTP was on. Here is a photo of the prototype:

Here is what I have done so far:

By moving the peninsula this opened up area aisle  so that I could add bench work for Bunge Oil. So here is the beginning bench work addition.

This addition will give me the room to better represent this industry. The tank unloading tracks will move a couple of inches to the right so the area between the siding has some room, trying to compress the area I had made the tracks too close together this new space will be much better. I will also be able to model the storage tanks and the building better as shown: