Thanks

Thanks for sharing.  Keep us posted on the progress.

Joe

What is the theme

What is the theme of the new layout. I noticed that FEC boxcar. 

Bill Michael

holy crap batman

that's a big boxcar....lol

Theme

The theme will be the Northeast, B&M RR working on the end of a branchline. FEC RR boxcar I had to have it. I am a big fan of the FECRR. I have a big collection of FEC RR running gear and rolling stock in HO scale.

Last night I painted the "Big Boxcar" in primer so that it will be ready to be painted black this weekend. Photos will follow. 

Very nice

Looks like a very interesting layout Nick.  Do you have a specific era in mind?

Era

At first I wanted to model late 40's and early 50's. But as time goes on I would like to modernized it amd move it to the 80's and 90's. The layout will be as if B& M will still be running as B&M, not as Pan Am . I have two motors that have the black livery colors with the red stripes on the nose, the 44 tonner and a SW 9. They all have can motors and uses very little amps. Great runners and all have sound decoders. The power will come from NCE.  So I am using those "OLD ENGINES"  as the work horse on an end of a  branchline. The new layout will be using #5's turnouts so I will have the ability to use longer cars.

Nice shelves!

3/4 A/C Plywood?

New layout

I am looking forward to seeing your progress on your new layout. Will you be reusing most of the buildings from the old layout or making new ones. I am also believe you do not need a lot of room for fun operational O scale layout.

shelves/layout

Shelves are made out 3/4 plywood-furniture grade. All the wood are glued and screwed. It is not going any where. You don't realize it until it is too late, but as you build it, it gets heavier and heavier.

Buildings: I will be using most of my flats from the previous layout. The full size buildings I won't be able to because of the shallowness of the layout. But that's ok, like I learned in the Corps, "you have to improvise and adapt."

Great looking

That's good old 3/4 Birch plywood. Makes great looking cabinets.Did you make those yourself Nick ? I just finished making some for my wife, with the help of the Kreg drilling jig. Easy and fast way to make shelving quick and sturdy. I made all of her shelving adjustable using shelf brackets that fit into 1/4" holes drilled in 1" increments into the side of the cabinet the full height. Looks like it gives you lots of storage.

Michael

cabinets

Yes I made them myself, save a lot of $$$ when you make it yourself. I thought of doing the shelves adjustable BUT the way things are at my house, they don't respect the layout and I saw the writing on the wall, moving stuff to adjust the shelves I saw my layout having small earthquake trembles so I decided to leave things "permanently" if you can catch my drift. I have to look out for the layout. So sometimes it is better not to give choices to the family members. Here is a photo with the primer one:

Great!

That's great, Nick! I want to do a 2-rail O-Scale layout someday!

2-rail O-Scale layout someday

Well Pete, I hope this will motivate you to be able to do it soon !!!  

Awesome!!!!!!!

Cannot wait to see more...My layout is 2 x 20 so I would love to see your track plan.

Michael

Waseca, MN

Progress

Here are several photos of the cabinets done (almost). I have put one of the buildings and several cars to get an idea what is going to look like.

On top of the cabinet is going to have a sheet of homasote and that is where the actual track nd buildings will be.

Here is another photo from a different angle:

Track Plan

Michael I am still studying and trying to finalize the track plan. I know that several members that model in O scale and have shelf layout have posted several different track plans that are excellent. It will probably similar to those considering that the amount of real estate that you have to work with is limited. Definitely it will have a runaround track. Your layout will have four more inches of width which that would be very useful. My biggest issue that this room is kind narrow.

Thank you for the support

It is what it is

Nick,

You do what you have to do, right?   The basement room my layout it is in is 15 ft wide so there is some room.  I have not had much luck finding track plans designed for a shelf layout in O scale.

Michael

Inspirational

My new residence will have a 14' x 11' spare room for my O scale layout.  It will be interesting to follow your progress.

Thanks, Bob D.

Nice

Looks like it's going to be nice.

My problem is that while I love O scale I didn't want to just have a switching layout when it was all said and done. Also, I wasn't willing to give up extra living space in our basement just to have a bigger layout.  I'm planning an N scale layout for the same space and I'll even be able to run passenger trains

N Scale

Switching Layout in a large scale - Great

The look and feel of O scale can not be beat.  Watching smaller scale trains run round-and-round is not my cup of tea. A well designed switching layout can keep you (and other operators) occupied for a few hours.  Planning  the approach to an industrial area can put your brain to work. Which order to do  I make the pick-ups and set-outs - how many cars can I take with the locomotive on a run-around?    Yes you can do this in a smaller scale - but I have found over the years derailments are usually minimal with O.  And the amount of details that you can incorporate in O can have your visitors looking and being amazed.

Here it is with the homasote

Here it is with the homasote installed on top of the cabinet. The front trimming has been installed also but I need to re-shoot the photo to see it better.

O scale shelf construction

Yeah buddy, that is some benchwork, ain't going anywhere! 

I think putting the homosote  on top is really satisfying.

Looking good. Nice.

Transfer (Pierre)

One step closer

Pierre (Transfer), good to hear from you, glad to see you online. I hope this will motivate you to start your layout.

The homasote is installed on top of the cabinet with a front edge to give it a finished touch. I guess I am ready to start laying track. May the fun begins.