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Post by runamuckchuck on Sept 18, 2023 20:30:04 GMT
Well now I am more than half lit! Moving on to the roadway/sidewalk/securing building location phase while I wait for some locally out of stock materials. The neatest building IMO is the electronics store with flickering TV set screens I suppose to simulate picture roll on old cathode ray tubes. I was not expecting that. A nice touch for those of us who remember those days. Attachments:
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Post by runamuckchuck on Sept 18, 2023 20:34:34 GMT
Looks great, Chuck. I like the idea of using foam core as your base layer. The Woodland Scenics buildings are excellent. Actually it is not foam core. which I almost bought. This is corrugated plastic just like cardboard, but plastic. We shall see if the air pockets provide any cushioning effect.
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Post by steveoncattailcreek on Sept 18, 2023 21:12:17 GMT
Well now I am more than half lit! Now, now, 'Chuck -- you know drinking and landscaping never mix well (yeah, right!  ) . . .
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Post by steveoncattailcreek on Sept 18, 2023 21:15:35 GMT
The neatest building IMO is the electronics store with flickering TV set screens I suppose to simulate picture roll on old cathode ray tubes. I was not expecting that. A nice touch for those of us who remember those days. I agree -- that Smith Bros. piece is fun! Here's mine, showing off the kit-bashed night-day lighting control option:
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Post by runamuckchuck on Sept 18, 2023 21:28:23 GMT
Very nice indeed. At this point I am challenged enough just getting the stock versions of everything up and running. Kit bashing and free lancing will have to wait until next time!
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Post by steveoncattailcreek on Sept 18, 2023 22:14:31 GMT
Very nice indeed. At this point I am challenged enough just getting the stock versions of everything up and running. Kit bashing and free lancing will have to wait until next time! Well, the truth of the matter was, I didn't have any choice! When I got the piece, it appeared it was missing the bright ceiling LED in the showroom. Later, I found the LED was both there and lit, but only at a very low, flickering level (about like the TVs!). At my request/complaint, WS sent me a replacement light and a replacement four-way 'splitter' board, but I soon found that if I plugged all four lights into *either* board, both the bright LED *and* the replacement dimmed and flickered. However, if I powered both boards separately, and plugged the two high-power LEDs into one, and the other three in the other, everything worked fine! WS was no help in figuring out what was the actual underlying problem, but they *did* agree to send me a roll of their connector wire and spare plug set, and we called it square. I installed the 'replacement' bright LED above the front entrance, used the connector plugs and wire to make a second connection from the control box to the second splitter, and used it to power the two high output LEDs. Since each circuit has a separate pot on the control panel, that allows me to reduce just the bright LEDs, while allowing the other LEDs (TVs, appliances and loading dock light) to stay fully lit! Instant kit-bash! 
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Post by runamuckchuck on Sept 18, 2023 22:39:44 GMT
Necessity is the mother of invention!
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Post by Country Joe on Sept 19, 2023 3:37:10 GMT
Looks great, Chuck. I like the idea of using foam core as your base layer. The Woodland Scenics buildings are excellent. Actually it is not foam core. which I almost bought. This is corrugated plastic just like cardboard, but plastic. We shall see if the air pockets provide any cushioning effect. I think I know the material you are using. I never thought of using it as a base but it should work fine. Is this it? 
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Post by runamuckchuck on Sept 19, 2023 15:32:06 GMT
It looks like the same stuff. Since everything I choose has to be disassembled and stored efficiently in February I have to be mindful of overall dimensions and how I attach things so they can be reused. That can present some challenges. For instance the neoprene roadway adhesive is very unforgiving. My initial idea failed. I am considering placement with the backing in place and using two sided tape removable tape. Either that or just have the weight of the vehicles smooth out the roadbed and keep it in place.
I just set the Lemax redbrick sidewalk roll material this morning using that two sided tape. I am using some of the many vinyl albums I have for weight to set the tape adhesion. Those curls at the end of those roles is quite stubborn. Next time I may just trim it off; or this time if the tape does not work.
Steep learning curve this year with lessons learned to be played/experimented with in the off season. But for now it is damn the torpedos full speed ahead.
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Post by steveoncattailcreek on Sept 19, 2023 17:39:06 GMT
It looks like the same stuff. Yeah, I thought so -- it looks like the stuff used for yard signs, so if you "shop" after dark, the supply is endless and the cost (as long as you don't get caught!) is negligible (basically gas to drive around!)! Seriously, the only issue I'd be somewhat wary of is making sure anything you put on top of the substrate adheres properly, since the surface is slick plastic (I can envision paint or landscaping materials peeling or flaking off). OTOH, it should be completely waterproof, so issues about the cardboard surface of foamboard saturating and separating when covered by water-based landscaping materials should be eliminated. As with anything else, know your materials! 
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Post by runamuckchuck on Sept 19, 2023 22:29:02 GMT
And your limitations!
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Post by steveoncattailcreek on Sept 20, 2023 0:39:00 GMT
Famous last words: "Hey, what could go wrong?" |
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Post by atsda on Sept 20, 2023 22:57:20 GMT
runamuckchuck, I am enjoying your well-described work with the appliance store and other layout features. Alfred
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Post by runamuckchuck on Sept 21, 2023 0:26:46 GMT
Alfred, I wish I could say the same at the moment as this rolled sidewalk material is giving me fits with its' curling at the ends. The two sided removable tape is not doing the job. Until I set the sidewalk I cannot proceed. Plan B about to begin.
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Post by runamuckchuck on Sept 23, 2023 22:25:56 GMT
Well here we have some limited progress. To you more accomplished modelers this may be pretty Mickey Mouse but for my first attempt at a real layout this has been challenging especially since this is a seasonal layout and must be disassembled at the end of February. But enough about me, you will note the addition of roadway, intersections, a few more structures and a straight run of EZ Street along side the Main Street for a work in progress Trolley loop. The back shot of the buildings show parking lots and the nice detailing you get with WS buildings. It also shows the chasm that I have to fill in with the next phase. To give a sense of scale this portion of the layout is roughly 12'X4'. The remaining space is roughly 12'X8'. There will be one large track loop with 096 curves going around the perimeter of the layout for the excursion trains of various types and sizes. Within the Halloween Amusement Park and subsequently the North Pole there will be a separate track to run the smaller appropriate Holiday themed trains amongst the Lemax buildings and accessories. Woodland Scenics wiring is in place and just needs to be dressed up a bit. I am waiting on some WS extension cables to complete the wiring and more EZ Street components before I can complete the trolly loop finish up the town (finally) and move on by adding some additional tables to begin the Halloween Amusement Park portion. |
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) . . .
