Table Complete

Shown here is the table (upside down of course) As of its completion it was originally a 4' x 8' but now a 8' x 8' with extensions. It turned out well and it will the base of the new layout. We will make the track (modules) still removable so we can do shows and other things and we are planning a show for Late February early March so look out for that.

Wiring

Looks great but before you flip it over drill holes though 1 x 4 for the wires. Will be a lot easier now.

Some more construction pictures

Main construction will start

Main construction will start the 14th so look for more stuff then.

Today is the day of a first

Today is the day of a first meeting for the school club. We will be assembling as many kits as we can so look for some photos later (and we can't judge most of them because most people have had no experience with trains what so ever)

Some kit building

sorry about the blur

I may have to steal that

I may have to steal that blurred photo, it looks like a young Leroy, if you read the club blog and go to our links you will see Leroy in action and read about him.

Sure, just for info (if it

Sure, just for info (if it was clearer you would already know) it is a Roundhouse Kits Illinois Central Caboose that we got many of (roundhouse kits) from microscale along with some custom decals.

"Fun" Project

A very "fun" project we have coming up soon is installing Kadee couplers on 100+ different cars. They will still be body mounted Talgo couplers but it's better than Horn Hooks and we most likely won't be doing any long reverse moves. 

Video From Summer (testing)

A coal train (this is all of the ones we had)

Second Meeting Today, Better photos this time

Built two of these for the club:

http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/23815

See my past blog entries for more photos on those.

Now have to build one of these:

And now a rant from our sponsor:

Well guess what I have something for you guys to learn today, An 8'x8' table will NOT fit in a 9' space with safe walking space on either side. There was miscommunication between the VP and Librarian (no names mentioned) which caused us to move all of our stuff (huge table pieces and 8+ boxes) from storage to the library yesterday expecting to build the table, and guess what. Someone somewhere messed up meaning we have no place for it!!!

And on another different note: 6th graders are extremely grabby. We ended up having I think three extra boxes of stuff that we didn't need upstairs because they wouldn't take no for an answer. (then later that same kid kept trying to let me, let him paint a BLACK engine with light colors and no plan at all). This club has become chaos! If anyone has some tips please help I need it!!

We all have made that discovery

at one time or another. You may find four 2' x 8' tables easier to manage.

As for chaos, that's what committees are for. You need to have a meeting with everyone who is interested and sort out rules and responsibilities. Kids will put up with rules if they help make them. Give everyone a job-- you are managing director, but you need department directors, station agents, engineers and crew. Departments are things like track, cars, engines, buildings and so forth. Station agents are in charge of a specific area, like a town or engine facility. Engineers have to take a class in safely driving a train.

As for the kid who wants to paint a white loco black, let him. The worst that can happen is a bad paint job, and he will learn a lot from the experience.

pqe

Someone brought there kit back..

..weathered and looking great, all that needs to be done is switch it (along with 99+ other cars) over to Kadee Couplers.

 Stick to a 4x8 table, it's

Stick to a 4x8 table, it's all you have room for - you may eek out a 2' leg, but this is what it is.

Sadly our modules are 6'x7'

Sadly our modules are 6'x7' so that is the smallest we could do, and the 8'x8' table has already been invested in.

My weathering attempts beginning:

Yeah,

good point. I have come up with a solution and will go more in depth later.

New Idea:

First Session

We will work on building car kits, building kits and converting the cars from Horn-Hook to Kadee Couplers. We will also work on weathering using Pan Pastels weathering sets.

Second Session

We will then begin on scenery, we will do the modules along with some foam "insets" with small scenes to add interests. 

Let me know what you think of this idea and look for some weathered pictures of these coming later:

Weathering By Me

Heavy weathering:

see this thread for more pictures

More photos!

Wow, I'm jealous!

If those scenic details are really on the club layout that was just a tabletop a few weeks ago, with grabby 6th graders around, then I salute you, you have accomplished a great deal! Fantastic, keep it up!

Jeff Allen