a new mini HON3 layout started

[Doctor G]

Bill,

That is very nice. Maybe you could post some pics when you get the tree up??

Tom

[Bill Nelson]

I got home from work this morning at about 7:15 I got some wire and fabricated up the pieces I needed to add to power to the passing siding tracks. there is still a small section of track missing on the outside track, but with both tracks powered, the inside track completes the double loop, and I can run trains!


After I got the track working #1 son Forrester, home from graduate school; started to assemble the tree. While I was working with the wires, he told me how he ****ed at soldering; and I taught him the secrets of using flux, and tinning the surfaces before hand.


I have had trains under the Christmas tree many times in the last 57 years. this is the fanciest yet, and I have just started.

I'll post another photo when the tree is decorated. we are going to go light on decorations, as we are all tired and lazy


Bill Nelson

[Bill Nelson]

Back home from work at about 7:45 Sunday morning I did some dishes, and then put the lights and tinsel on the tree, which may be all the decorations it gets this year. I plugged up the little NCE DCC power cab, and now the little consolidation has much better speed control and I can ring the bell , blow the whistle, and make it his.

I'm going to have to make more hollow scenery to hide the Christmas tree stand better. If you look out the window you can see the trestle approach for the old L&N Memphis line's Cumberland River Bridge

Bill Nelson

[Doctor G]

Beautiful

Merry Christmas Bill

Tom

[kennyrach]

Layout look Fantastic so far just make me thinking of doing small one in on30 but i only have 10' x 5' space for now so looking for some track ideal

[Bill Nelson]

Thanks Kenny,

When I started thinking about a portable, I was thinking about making a sectional On3 layout. My On3 shay takes a 19 inch radius as an absolute minimum, and will only do that when the steam engine is on the outside. MY ON30 climax I intend to spread to ON3 will do 18 inch radius.


the plan I kept gravitating to would have used four three foot squares to make a six foot by six foot layout. all but two of my Hon3 locomotives will do a 16 inch radius, and I thought Making the smaller layout would get me in less trouble with the local authorities, who are highly doubtful of any need for a small layout when my 14 foot by 22 foot attic is full to the gills with trains. Mainly I was wanting something portable to show off, and wanted to experiment with foam scenery.


You do a lot of planning with your fine model buildings, If you put that kind of planning to work on a layout, You'll get good results. With 10 x 5 you can layout kraft paper, and plot the track plan full size to avoid surprises.


When I do track planning for a specific place I start by drawing a scale drawing of the room on graph paper; make a lot of copies, and then experiment with bench-work shapes when I have a shape I like I make copies of the bench work plan I like, and then use drafting tools to experiment with possible track plans. I take a lot of time with it, as it's a lot easier to change or fix any problems when they are just lines on the paper.

Bill Nelson