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They indeed can be hard to find. I once sold two of them for $75 each. The Shinohara double corossover is a lovely piece, and has operated flawlessly on my layout, connecting two main lines. I did cut the outside rails in the middle so that I could block the four corners to separate blocks. It...

My 90-ft turntable came with a full-sized template for laying out the tracks. Did yours? I will be running 3 tracks into a roundhouse, and have these and 8 others at 10-degree angles around the turntable. For the 90-ft version, the tracks are nearly touching each other at the lip of the...

I intend to add LEDs to show which of the tracks has power, provided through the 2P12T switch. I still do not see the need for the reversing loop, as the table (bridge) track, the storage tracks, and the leads to the turntable will all be wired to a single block, and run from one controller. If...

In designing my layout, I originally tried using Atlas RightTrack, but only for a basic prototyping, as it was too limited on the selection of turnouts. I can't afford AutoCAD, but did the final (as-built) drawings in Corel DRAW. I will be using these as base drawings for adding electrical...

I am poised to install the 90-ft version of the same turntable. I do not think that a reversing loop is necessary, actually. The power to the bridge is supplied by the turntable control box (I assume that this is the same for the 90-ft and 130-ft versions). For the power to the tracks (I will...

This issue surely is not limited to model railroading, of course. As an environmental engineer, what bothers me is outsourcing to countries that have lax (or nonexistent) environmental controls. We end up exporting our pollution. It comes back to haunt us, of course, since we are all living in...

Aha! There's your problem. And, although I expect many folks on this forum can empathize, there's not a lot we can advise... :)

I've got a Walthers Shinohara code 83 double cross-over on my layout, and have had no problems whatsoever with entire trains tracking through it. It's a lovely piece, if a bit pricey. Even a showpiece of the layout. And steamhead's right: If you wire all four switch machines together, the...

I think the LED idea is a good one. I have used them to good effect on my control panel and have plane within the layout. The tricky part is getting them wired up correctly, with appropriately-sized resistors and such. But, once working, they would be a great indicator for the reversing loop.

My honest opinion is that they are unrealistically uniformly orange. When trees turn color, they go in stages, usually starting at the top or extremities. I'd suggest doing them mostly in green, then adding a bit of orange on the edges for a more realistic look.

Is there a creek, arroyo, or other watercourse near you? If so, look for the superfine-grained deposits. You need a fine silt. Oven dry it and see how it looks.

I think the 1/64 cars look too big, and most of the cars are not really scaled to the prototypes, anyway. Usually, the tires are way oversized. The 1/84 true HO scale vehicles look way better.

How about diagnosing stuff? For example, I have an engine which seems to run one truck but not the other. Should I just open 'er up and look for a loose wire or something? I should just use my diagnostic skills and not be afraid of messing it up, I suppose. Like replacing my first clutch in a...

Hey, Tom. Check out my suspended layout. See the URL in the sig.

All - I've had a rash of locomotive issues lately. One Athearn was repaired under warranty (they did nice quick service). An Atlas is in their repair shop in NJ now: $42. Two more Athearn locos are in need of service. One has a grinding noise, and the other I think is driving only one of the...

Fred - Most of the turnouts, naturally, are in the yard, which will be serviced by shorter engines, so the suggestion of at the very least powering these frogs is wise. I neglected to say which type of turnouts I am using: They're all Walthers Shinohara code 83 nickel-silver, ranging from #4 to...

I have finally completed the as-built drawing of the layout, though it is still waiting on working up the turntable/roundhouse. The rest is pretty darned accurate - certainly good enough to begin documenting the wiring and placing the scenery. The whole thing is 6x10 ft. I tried to pack a lot...

Yes, Lynn, I was going to suggest a bit of soap as well, to break the surface tension of the water.

Have her visit my web site. I love that arrangement!

I would be heartbroken if I had to dismantle a permanent layout, like if I moved. I have another approach: A table layout that can be hoisted up and out of the way. So far, it has worked out well. Check it out at the web site in my sig to get the idea.