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MRH 120 day challenge, Progress report #1 Journals/Blogs
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MRH Author 5,541 posts Michael Tondee MRH Author 5,541 posts
Michael Tondee

I posted some pics over in the challenge thread of where my layout stood the day after Memorial day and what I hoped to get accomplished by labor day.  In no certain order the plan was to finish up track laying and wiring, get the fascia done and get the valance and lighting in.  Anything else was "gravy"!

I had been working on laying out my yard at that point but since I have to buy track as I can afford it, I ran out but I had some hardboard and construction supplies so I switched gears a bit and went to work on the fascia.  This is my first attempt ever at a free flowing curved fascia. I've always built with straight lines before. I tend to do things "on the fly" sometimes and I didn't really consider how I was going to match the fascia curve with the valance but I think I've got that sorted out in my head now. I'm going to either have a sheet of plywood cut into  foot wide "planks" or use shelving boards and lay them on the top edge of the fascia and layout and then trace the fascia curves from below. Then I'll cut them with my trusty jigsaw and use them to make the frame of my valance. Getting the whole deal up in the air without intermediate supports that will mess up the view of the pike is another problem I'm still working on. I just about have to hang the valance from the ceiling but it's a sloped ceiling which complicates things. In the past on my physically smaller N scale layouts, I was able to support my valances from post on the corners of the layout and a few wires hooked to the ceiling. The curves in the valance and the size of this HO pike will complicate things a bit but I'll get it figured out.

Anyway, there's my progress so far.....more to come... I did get a care package with more track from MB Klein today so no telling what the next update will be.  Will depend on my mood what I work on!

Michael

scia%201.jpg scia%202.jpg 

Michael, A.R.S. W4HIJ

 Model Rail, electronics experimenter and "mad scientist" for over 50 years.

Member of  "The Amigos" and staunch disciple of the "Wizard of Monterey"

My Pike: The Blackwater Island Logging&Mining Co.
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Donald Regular poster 181 posts
Donald

Flowing curves

I like the look of your curving fascia.  It's probably more difficult to construct than straight, parallel "hallway" type aisles, but it produces a pleasing appearing.

Do you have any current overall shots of the area?

Will you paint the fascia/valance black like your old layout?

Looks good!

 

Don

Don Underwood

Modeling the Northwestern Pacific

"The Redwood Route"

HO, double deck, 17' x 18'
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Scarpia Prolific poster 2,152 posts
Scarpia

Fascia before track

Do you foresee any difficulty in working on the track/under the layout with the fascia in place?
HO, early transition erahttp://www.garbo.org/MRRlocal time PST
On30, circa 1900  

 
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Michael Tondee MRH Author 5,541 posts
Michael Tondee

Questions....

It's hard to get an all inclusive "overall" shot ....the room is only about 10X13 and the the layout is 8x10 and pretty much dominates the room. I can't back up far enough to get everything in without hitting a wall. Yes, I will paint the fascia and valence flat black. IMHO, there is no better color for fascia and valances. I'm not a big fan of the color green anyway (unless we are talking money...LOL) and grays and browns don't do it for me either as far as fascia/valence colors.  I'm not sure I understand the question about working on the track with the fascia in place. It's readily accessible. Thanks for the comments and questions guys. All input, good or bad, is welcome because it keeps me motivated!

Michael

 

Michael, A.R.S. W4HIJ

 Model Rail, electronics experimenter and "mad scientist" for over 50 years.

Member of  "The Amigos" and staunch disciple of the "Wizard of Monterey"

My Pike: The Blackwater Island Logging&Mining Co.
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BillObenauf Regular poster 463 posts
BillObenauf

Fascia

Looks like you made some good progress, Michael.  You should be proud of yourself!

I always liked the look of curved fascia that followed the track as opposed to straight and squared off lines.  Seems to flow better and doesn't call attention to itself.  As far as difficulties with having the fascia in place now, I think these are the problems Scarpia was talking about:  when you start working on deeper areas, you're going to be dunking under the valence constantly so you don't bump into it with your head.  Same thing with wiring underneath.  I found when I was running feeder wires up through the roadbed, I'd have a hand underneath holding/shoving the wires up while I was standing looking down from the top (like while soldering, for example).  With the lower fascia in place, it's gonna be tricky to do stuff like that.

Just something to think about before you permanently fasten it to the benchwork (if you haven't done that already).

Keep at it...you may DONE by Labor Day!

Bill
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Michael Tondee MRH Author 5,541 posts
Michael Tondee

Fascia is no issue...valances may be

I checked and I can still get under the layout even with the fascia in place. It's not exactly "easy"  but no harder than it was before I put the fascia in place. I'm going to cut the legs short on a stool and add casters to them so I can roll around under the layout while sitting. Had already thought of doing that. I solder my feeders from the top, drill a hole and then drop them and cut them to length once I get under the layout so that's no issue. I do like for my valances to hang kind of low so they may be an issue if I install them too soon. 

Michael

Michael, A.R.S. W4HIJ

 Model Rail, electronics experimenter and "mad scientist" for over 50 years.

Member of  "The Amigos" and staunch disciple of the "Wizard of Monterey"

My Pike: The Blackwater Island Logging&Mining Co.
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