| 10/16/04 |
Roadbed started |
| I can thank Florida's
recent hurricanes for the impetus to get this started. My
neighbor donated a bunch of plywood cutoffs from making
storm shutters so I figured it was a sign from above.
After getting them cut to rough size and placed around
the layout for the lower level, I realized it would be
easier to transfer the layout printouts to Homasote® then use those cut
pieces to cut the plywood to final size. Here's some
views of the penninsula: the pieces are cut and some
spliced but not set to elevation. |
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Laying out
trackwork
I am using PlanIt3D*
Involved trackwork is printed out in strips which are
taped together and traced to the Homasote® with carbon paper.
This is the throat of one of the lower loops and is 2
wide of 4 lengths of 8½" x 33" (3 sheets
of fanfold) paper or approximately 1½' x 11'.
The connecting curve
at the top will be drawn directly to the Homasote® using a stick with
a nail on one end and pencil on the other set to the
curve radius indicated in the program.
This area is about the
last to be laid out for the lower level.
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| 10/18/04 ...Today's
session finished laying out all the remaining Homosote® and getting a lot of it
cut to size and even some of the sub-roadbed. |
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| Want straight track? This
is a laser level set on the track centerline. There are
marks on the block to align to the centerline and the
offset of the light beam. Just align the roadbed until
the beam is on the offset mark. Repeat up and down the
length of the track and voila - straight track! This
method also works great in setting the "offset"
to make easements. |
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| 10/29/04 ...Today's
session finished gluing down Homosote® except for about 25' of
single track for the approach to the upper level |
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| 11/18/04
...I finally finished setting the
elevations for the lower level and am beginning to lay
out track. |
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| I started with the mid-point of the
lower level where the tracks cross as they head to the
loops and the upper level. |
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I use a clamp to hold the Tortoise in
place so I can position it to get the proper travel then
screw it down. |
| 11/28/04
...I'm getting close to finishing
tracklaying on the lower level. Just this on either side
of the penninsula. |
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| Some wiring is in and the
NCE DCC has been installed along with the PS-Revs and
PS2s so I have been able to run a little to get the feel
of it. Once I finish the track on this loop, I will be
able to run continuous as I put in an extra pair of
turnouts below the crossing to allow for loop-to-loop
operation. |