Over a year since the layout was torn down when the house went on the market.  This weekend I will start building the benchwork in the new train room!  Last weekend I hung signs and railroad memorabilia which cleared working space but also started making the space feel like a real train room!  

First, an introduction of myself: you can call me Brock (or Hey You, if you prefer).  I've been reading here regularly, but commenting little.  Over the last few months, I've been getting back into model railroading for the first time since my early teens, when I had a Ye Olde 4x8 that my dad built for me.  Unfortunately, that got sold during a move, and I just never got back into building something to replace it.  That is now changing.

For those of you who have been following along with the drama of our basement reconstruction, including the loss of the Grimes Line, I’m glad to say that we’re finally back in a good place space wise. Which means construction of a new layout can begin. Which means it’s time to share my plans.

Presenting the CRANDIC’s Hills Line, under IAIS lease...

I'm planning to begin work on a couple of sections for a layout. I'm currently considering hand laid or kit built turnouts. I'm looking for feedback on three subjects.

1. Central Valley vs Proto/87 kits.

2. Hinged (pivoting) point rails vs frog-to-point full rail vs replacement point rails connected with a soldered rail joiner.

3. Power routing with jumpers made from circuit board ties vs copper tape.

Thanks.

William L

Well my 2 weeks off has come and gone and I am back on the road for another tour at work. I feel like some good progress was made on the layout with some positive results. I wanted to figure out some building designs and get a feel on how I can create what is in my head.

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I just finished making a video on the box fan that I added a 16x25 furnace filter holder on.  This is to help out with dust control while I build the walls and work on drywall.  I am also thinking of keeping these fans on 24x7 for dust control once the layout construction begins.  I know there is nothing worse than having dust all over your scenery and track work and I am hoping this will reduce if not eliminate this problem.  Let me know what you think and enjoy!

Jeremy Brown

Santa Fe - High Desert Division How to Videos:

During a livestream on Facebook today, Rapido announced several new products, including the Alco RS-11, MLW RS-18, and Tempo passenger cars (coach, cafe lounge, club car) in HO and the Dash 8-40CM in N scale. The RS-11 and RS-18 will come in several different versions - I think I caught that there would be six different undecorated variations available. Also shown was the packaging for the upcoming N scale Turbo train, an early paint shot of the HO Royal Hudson, and the upcoming N scale 53 foot well car.

Since my last update I have moved and a couple years went by. I put my two modules together front to front with the pink styrofoam in between them. They are both 2’ by 4’ plywood pieces.  I wrapped them in plastic movers wrap and then ignored them for awhile in the basement . Now I want to get back into modeling. I put them on the kitchen counter and noticed that the plywood is warped on both of them. I don’t want to throw them out and start again.