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Post by g3750 on Sept 8, 2020 0:19:54 GMT
Updated 9/7/2020:
Worked on the track at the west end of the bridge and got it installed permanently (I hope). There is a very mild curve there that I tried to make using 3 slightly bent pieces of straight track. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to do it properly. It didn't look very good, so I took it up and used a small cut section of O-128 between two sections of straight track. I ran the Decapod over it at speed (at least as fast as a Decapod might expect to go) as an experiment. I had to shim sections of adjoining track to get them to the right levels, but it turned out OK. I also ran the Decapod in reverse over the track section as well. I think we are good to go!
Next step is to get the passenger siding down permanently. After that I will move a bit farther west, installing the Wye (Switch #37. Then we will turn our attention to the eastern shore, hanging the conduit, cutting and placing the slight curves there, and installing the track feeders.
More when I know it.
George
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Post by fabforrest on Sept 8, 2020 2:55:47 GMT
Why didn’t you try some flex track for the slight curves?
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Post by g3750 on Sept 8, 2020 12:33:43 GMT
Why didn’t you try some flex track for the slight curves? I did try flex track. I just couldn't manage to bend it properly. I tried to make a jig for that purpose but that didn't go very well. George
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Post by Country Joe on Sept 8, 2020 18:20:34 GMT
Why didn’t you try some flex track for the slight curves? I did try flex track. I just couldn't manage to bend it properly. I tried to make a jig for that purpose but that didn't go very well. George I am not a fan of flex track. I would have done it the same way as you did, George.
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Post by fabforrest on Sept 8, 2020 20:54:47 GMT
“ I would have done it the same way as you did, George. ”
Actually, so would I. Flex track seems cool and I have seen good things done, I fooled around with a piece and could never master it.
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Post by g3750 on Sept 8, 2020 21:33:03 GMT
“ I would have done it the same way as you did, George. ” Actually, so would I. Flex track seems cool and I have seen good things done, I fooled around with a piece and could never master it. I even have the GarGraves video (VHS) somewhere that demonstrates how to curve flex track. Perhaps I should dig it out (Hmm, what will I play it on? LOL). There's an old fable about people bending it around their stomachs. I think correctly bending any flex track takes an accurate and solid jig. And making those is the really hard part, IMO. A buddy of mine is planning to build a layout using Atlas O track. He has 70" and 80" radius curves. His first step is going to be having jigs professionally cut somewhere. George
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Post by Deleted on Sept 8, 2020 22:20:11 GMT
There are several u-tube videos on how to bend Gargraves. Yes to the jig.
Searching “Bending Gargraves track jig” yields a wealth of information including how to make the jigs.
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Post by g3750 on Sept 8, 2020 22:34:59 GMT
There are several u-tube videos on how to bend Gargraves. Yes to the jig. Searching “Bending Gargraves track jig” yields a wealth of information including how to make the jigs. Thank you. That was going to be my next step. George
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Post by Deleted on Sept 9, 2020 1:12:58 GMT
You could use a hot water tank to bend GarGraves track. Gary used this method years ago and it worked just fine.
Cheryl
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Post by g3750 on Sept 10, 2020 15:14:00 GMT
Updated 9/9/2020: Two steps forward, one step back. Last night I came to some conclusions: - The "Spirit of St. Louis" might need an E or F type diesel (A-A set) to pull it. That would be the correct motive power for the era. My preference is the tuscan PRR color scheme. I am casually searching for a set.
- The engine pocket siding near the Steubenville station is too short to hold the correct A-A set. Honestly, I'd love to use a set of passenger sharks (BP20) from Weaver, but I don't own one and am unlikely to acquire one. And they would take a lot of real estate.
- While actually acquiring a set of E or F units is still up in the air, I am going to plan for the future by reluctantly taking up the length of straight track between Switch #42 and Switch #41. That means lengthening the straight track east of Switch #42. It's a PITA but it needs to be done.
Oh well.  George |
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Post by ptc on Sept 10, 2020 15:31:47 GMT
These are issues that in one fashion or another, we all face. I am sure you will come up with as good solution.
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Post by g3750 on Sept 10, 2020 16:54:46 GMT
These are issues that in one fashion or another, we all face. I am sure you will come up with as good solution. Oh, it's not the end of the world by any stretch. Much better to discover this now and make changes rather than after I've applied scenery and buildings to the area. It's just annoying.  George
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Post by g3750 on Sept 13, 2020 21:48:20 GMT
Updated 9/13/2020: So I'm about to rip up the track I laid last week when a thought occurred to me. Just how big will the Steubenville Station be? Will it fit in the allocated space? What will it look like? So I went to the trouble of playing around with Visio and generating what I thought would be a realistically proportional footprint. The real station was enormous. I don't have plans and dimensions, but it was huge.  So I create the footprint and cut it out. It's 9.5" x 4.5". Uh, really?  To represent the above?  I don't think so. I re-examined the area and made a few executive decisions. - Baker's Market, which in the real world was on the west side of 6th Street, is moving to the other side of the street.
- The space it occupied will be used to give the station a larger, more prototypical look.
- All of 6th Street will be moved downward (eastward) to create more space for the station. The station will end up being 30-32" long. Much better!
Here's the new area:  More when I know it. George |
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Post by Country Joe on Sept 14, 2020 19:43:56 GMT
Looks good, George. 30" long will make a respectable size station.
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Post by ptc on Sept 14, 2020 20:30:10 GMT
This is the time to get it right, George. Your plan looks good.
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To represent the above? 
