I hear you on the plane kit, I'm currently super-detail painting a Revell Snaptite A-10 Warthog that I built back in 1999 while I have some break time due to my lack of model train stuff to mess with right now.
Yeah, well the hard part is that an airplane require so much glue and precise fitting. It usually ends up ruining the paint job. With a drab A-10, you can get away with it. With a B47 with that shiny Natural Aluminum finish, forget it. I think next time i should build the plane (save the cockpit glass) and then paint it.
So, abandoning the passenger-oriented Northeast for a simpler freight line? Might be more interesting in the long run anyhow, although considering all the passenger equipment you have, a few commuters might still be necessary:mrgreen:.
I know! but it looks like i'll be stuck with the 22"r oval i have. I might still run passenger trains just for the heck of it on the addition if i can, but another issue that pops up is not only do you need to make track arrangments for the commuter trains, but because almost all of my commuter stuff is electric (needing overhead), it really hurts the airspace over the tracks. True, i do have a bunch of NJ transit Diesels, and i suppose they could use an excuse to be run. I'd like to have atleast a double stack intermodal train, and that WON'T fit under the wire. I've seen them do it, but i know the railroads cringe at the short sections on SEPTA where they had to (in fact, i think they took down the wires and shifted the commuter track over just so that the double stacks could get through in places)
I think i could fit autoracks in there, but i'm not sure. I have plenty of pictures of PRR/PC/CR GG1s and E44s pulling open style autoracks from the former GM and Ford plants on the Northeast corridor (trains i'd really like to model if i ever get the chance), but i haven't seen any modern enclosed type on the NEC (i'm sure this is because once they closed electric freight, they shifted everything to other lines where possible.
Here's a tip for the autorack if you can't fit them all in: use a mirror at the end of a track and keep at least one tank car there. If you place it at an angle, it should create the illusion of more racks. Maybe make them interchangable with workers at different spots to change things up now and then, maybe?
It will still look weird to pull away only one autorack. I was thinking of using the mirrors for the car lot though. There are huge parking lots where they keep all those imported cars that closed down the aforementioned GM and Ford automobile plants in NJ. a Mirror would probably help there. Good suggestion!
I'm still puzzled why you want to, in the limited space you have, try to run the LARGEST pieces of freight and passenger equipment in a layout that would require sharp (less than 30" radius) curves!? You may like these pieces of equipment, but it probably won't satisfy you seeing them looking cartoony taking #6 switches and less than 26" radius curves.
because i'm MAD! *cues thunder and lightning*. In all honesty, I really don't run the largest frieght. The only locomotives regularly parked on my layout for actual running is probably my 44 tonner, my U23B, GP38, GP40-2, and when i finish them, my GP15-1s. I've got a U28B and a couple SWs that could use decoders, but other than that, i do run the small stuff. I only keep the big stuff on the outer oval, and even then, i'm feeling the burn. My older Walthers SEPTA cars can't handle 22" curves (the more recent NJ transit cars have no trouble though).
I haven't run my autorack in years, except for around the christmas tree, and maybe once for a photo on the layout. I have a bunch of six axle power that is collecting dust, and if its not conrail, its in an even sadder state. I have a beautiful BNSF SD75M that gets pretty much no action, and i like that locomotive. This is part of the reason i want an addition, because i think i can get away with a 30" curve. Its really bad to call it an addition. THink of it more like a totally new layout conjoined with the old one.
Personally though, 26" curves and #6 switches don't look all that cartoony to me. For the most part, i'm sure they'll be fine, especially for george roberts printing and the oil refinery, because industrial trackage like that typically has tight curves. You'll never really get rid of that cartoony look, because in real life, a tight curve for a mainline is 13 feet for an HO scale radius. As long as i can say "good enough" i'm fine.
That is one reason why I decided to model the early 1950's. I'm about the same age as you, and I never saw that decade, but the variety of interesting rolling stock, their dimunitive size, and interesting and appealing visual design has kept me hooked.
I was considering this as well, but then i realized that i could never satisfy myself with 1950s equipment. because I love the electrics, the only thing that would really be available to me would be GG1s, and maybe some MP54 EMUs. Everything else, like the P5s and FF2 boxcabs and all those juice jacks are only available in brass. While nothing is cooler than a triple headed GG1 freight thundering down the corridor, that would be just about all i could model. Besides, GG1s aren't that small (they are still bigger than the modern diesels for the most part), so size goes out the window.
I have considered modeling the modern era, but I can't stomach watching my modern locomotives screeching around 24" curves. The only way I could plausibly model the modern era is if I used 4 axle power and 50' freightcars. I'd imagine that you can agree with that.
Yeah, thats pretty much what i limit myself to (some of my hoppers are alittle longer, but its not so bad that i can't run them). Like i said, i have the bigger stuff, but it collects dust, and nothing that cost me that much should ever collect dust!
However, i think i can get away with those curves. I mean, i'll go for the biggest i can get on the mainline, but like i said, i'm not to concerned about sidings.
I have an idea sketched out that i think i can do to fit in the bigger curves so you don't have to cringe to hard!