It’s been quite a while since I’ve posted an update on my layout as it’s been a busy few months (combine summer yardwork with the birth of our first child in August, it’s been a lifestyle adjustment!  And guess which one has taken more adjusting) but as the days have gotten shorter and the nights cooler I’m turning my attention back to my layout. 

Construction

In response to the article in Volume 4 concerning more realistic windows, I would like to offer the following advice concerning the use of transparencies.

In my last blog entry, I posted a cancellation of my September Op session because of a mystery short.

So now that Issue 4 is out the door, I'm back to working on the layout again - and I've solved the mystery short.

I first had to 0-5-0 remove all the trains from staging so I could look for things on the track, make sure I could find all the feeders, etc. Did that - and found several lose parts from railcars laying around (ladders and brakewheels) but nothing that would cause a short since they were all plastic.

                                             PHILADELPHIA TO HARRISBURG DIVISION, PART 1

Layout Element - Hartford High Bridge

I;ve been putting down plaster cloth in preparation for doing some roadbed work. It is going slowly as this is just the first application. I want to cover the finished portions of the benchwork and it takes a day between applications simply because I don't want to do too much at one time. Obviously I could do alot of this at any time but the plaster cloth needs to be cut and laid in 12" x 8" sections that overlap to some extent. When the first layer is done, a second layer will be installed.

Here are all the Molds I'll be using to cast my walls for my HOn3 Rio Grande Southern Roundhouse and I built 1 of the 6 interior Roof supports with scale lumber 12X12 up rights and 45 degree supports and 2X12 that will have nut and bolt castings added later as well as the 4X12's used for the base supports around each of the legs. Also The Base which will have the top of the pit area still to be cut out. see Photos below