New layout in the works.

nolatron

Member
Yeah, I tempted to say screw it, cancel and ordered everything from Fifer like I should have in the first place. :( wall1
 

nolatron

Member
So long, InternetTrains.com. It's been...."fun", but never again.

I called today to check on my order, and was told their shipment of Atlas track isn't expected to maybe middle of next week. so that plus another week of shipping... I can't wait that long. So I went ahead and canceled after nearly 3 weeks of waiting already.

I'm gonna hit the LHS tomorrow (Friday off, woo!) and probably empty their stock of code 55 #7 turnouts :)

In other good news, last night I opened up the Walther's Double Track truss bridge and 2-3 hours later had it assembled. Very easy to assemble, not a whole lot of parts. Just needs a coat of paint now. Thinking of a rusty black color. Any Suggestions?

I also got my order from Summit in the mail. Started work on the Taco Bell kit. At first I was all "OMG!" at all the tiny parts in the ziplock bag, but assembly looks pretty easy. I'm taking pics along the way and will post once I'm done.

If you get this kit, GET THE ASSEMBLY GUIDE ONLINE! The printed one it comes with is small and it's hard to see the details when they are showing where to put trim pieces. I downloaded the PDF from their website, blew up on the computer and had no problem figuring out what I was supposed to do.

I figure I'll probably assembly done by the weekend and ready for painting. I like that they give some tips on which colors are usually used in the instructions. Picking colors sometimes isn't my best ability.

Once that's all done, I start on the Dominos Pizza kit.

The Refinery is on hold until the weekend. I think I want to blast everything in it's current state (towers assebled, heater assembled, pick rack assembled in 3 main sections, small detail pipes still on spurs) with a coat of Stainless Steel paint before assembling even more into it's final setup.
 

jesso

Member
Cool! I can't wait to see your fast food places.

I am starting to think that I am the only person who has ever actually received their order from internet trains (and mine took over a month).

Hope you can find what you need at your hobby store. Although I am pretty sure that everyone else has better stores near themthan me, mine has a quarter-isle of train stuff and 90% of that is HO. Oh well.
 

nolatron

Member
I usually always go to Papa Ben's. I may roll down to Houston Roundhouse today also to see what they have. I've only been there once about a year or so ago.
 

bigsteel

Call me Mr.Tinkertrain
cool,you made it outta internettrains! im glad yuo did,you wouldnt be waiting two more weeks youd be waiting a year! but im glad your ging to the LHS,i always lve to buy more in-person than on the net.and i wanna see some more great progress :D--josh
 

Gary S.

Senior Member
I usually always go to Papa Ben's. I may roll down to Houston Roundhouse today also to see what they have. I've only been there once about a year or so ago.

Yeah, I like Papa Ben's the best myself, mainly because the staff is completely friendly and helpful and knowledgable and they act like they want me around. They seem interested in my layout and what I am doing. It's cool to go hang out with them. Still, the Roundhouse is okay also.

On the Internet Trains note, I had a bad experience with them last year, and haven't been back. My impression is that they actually have very little inventory, after you order something, that is when they order it from the supplier and then ship it to you once they get it. There was a big ugly thread about member's experiences with them awhile back.
 

bigsteel

Call me Mr.Tinkertrain
oh yeah.1000 post baby! but i cant decide if its a good thing or not though,i either talk WAY too much OR im really not that needed at work :mrgreen:--josh
 

nolatron

Member
hah. It's actually pretty easy to assemble so far. I've got the building done and the roof is halfway complete too.
 

nolatron

Member
Ro...Ro...Ro your... Trains? :)

My latest track plan idea is to take a single track from lower level, cross the doors and wrap around the wall behind the desk.

I'm wanting to wrap the track back around the helix to get allow it to travel back up the helix to the upper level, and/or keep going around in a loop-de-loop on the first level.

The loop shouldn't be a problem, it's just making sure I can get another switch and an appropriate radius curve from helix.

I also though of maybe turning this space into some secondary staging track, and figured this might be a perfect spot for a RO-Ro Train Elevator:

RO-RO Train Elevator Display

A 4-footer would probably fit perfectly in the space, and look great displaying some of the trains.

I've managed to squeeze in 5 tracks on the lower level staging, but having more never hurts, especially if I wanna have a Big-boy or challenger special passenger parked back there with some stacks and auto run throughs.

Anybody ever use of these elevators yet?
 

bigsteel

Call me Mr.Tinkertrain
thts really cool nolatron :mrgreen:.i've never seen that before.its an idea so many people have thought of but never made,and its really cool too.man there are so many ways to "pimp our trains" today sign1.--josh
 

nolatron

Member
Taco Bell is just about done. Just need to finish up the signs and then paint the roof top black.




Also completed the main part to the Marathon Oil industry. Just needs a little weathering around the top of the columns and walkways.




The refinery was purchased back in New Orleans in 2004, glad to see it finally assembled. I picked Marathon Oil as the company as that was the first major project I worked on when I started my current job in 2006.
 

TruckLover

Mack CH613 & 53' Trailer
WHOA Shaun, that Refinery looks SWEET!!!!!!!!! I cant wait to get my hands on mine (2 of them kitbashed together) and build them for my new layout :mrgreen:

Yours looks FANTASIC and so COOL, 2 of them together should be just flat out AWESOME!!!!!!!!! Thanks for the pics, I was hoping I would see someone with the refinery built-up before I started mine :thumb: :mrgreen: Thats the Walthers Kit correct?

Man thats a maze of pipework :eek: :p goldtoth1

BTW, that Taco Bell building looks pretty cool too :thumb: :thumb:
 

nolatron

Member
Thanks Josh.

I thought about meshing to kits together, may still depending on space available.

The Taco Bell came out pretty well, not perfect, but it'll work. I'll eventually start on the Domino's Pizza soon.
 

TruckLover

Mack CH613 & 53' Trailer
Thanks Josh.

I thought about meshing to kits together, may still depending on space available.

The Taco Bell came out pretty well, not perfect, but it'll work. I'll eventually start on the Domino's Pizza soon.

Man, If I could, I would bash 4 of the refinerys together lol but thats where I run into the space thing like you, I could only make the plan with 2 of them in there but hey, im not complaining, its still going to be awesome.

ooooo, the Domino's pizza should be another cool building, are you going to put them both right next to each other or like spread out a lil on a road?
 

nolatron

Member
Started work on the "loop track" for the lower level.

The turnouts will be located right at the exit from the Helix, wrap around and then run behind the computer desk.



Not pictured is the two doors it will have go cross. I picked up a 6' long Heavy Duty Shelf Standard. Pretty sturdy for the length. This will act as the main beam for the bridge span (thanks to Gary S. for the inspiration).

and a view where the refinery will go.

 
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