Hello everyone, I am new to this forum, and thought it would be appropriate for my first post to be a photo tour of the N scale layout I am currently working on. I've only been in MRR since March or so, and only recently have I begun this layout... here is my progress:
Here is a 1:1 trackplan (Plan #1 from Mike's Track Plans) on top of the already completed benchwork. It just consists of a 2' x 4' piece of plywood with 1x2 strips around the perimeter and one down the center for added stability. The sawhorses are tempory.
Here, you can see the lower level area with the track and roadbed already in place. Where you see the faint wavy line is portion of track that begins to climb at a (not quite 4%) incline:
In this shot, you can see part of the second level temporarily in place (that whole section of foam can be removed and lifted out, as I still need to work on stuff beneath it) and an indication of where I plan to put a timber trestle bridge, that spans the lower branch with a timber truss bridge:
Here is the same, but from the other side. Here you can see another proposed bridge that leads off of the layout and into your imagination. You can also see more clearly the wavy line where the inclined track will be:
This is a progress shot of the truss bridge. At this point, it still needs "shoes" and to be stained:
Here is the first stage of the curved timber trestle, with the already completed truss bridge in its place. The trestle is attached to a piece of cardstock that can be removed when I'm ready to do the scenery in that area (to keep it clean) and then it will be glued down permanently.
Here is a closeup of the trestle, after cross bracing is put in. At this point, the stringers, ties, and guard rail timbers still need to be put on, and the whole thing stained:
Here is a closeup of the completed trestle (minus rails - can't do that part yet until I do the surrounding scenery) with focus on one of the two water barrels. This is my favorite picture, to date:
And, lastly, here is a shot from a cool angle. In the distance, you can see the Heavy Mikado (a Kato C&NW #425) engine:
Thanks for taking the time to look! Opinions/Suggestions are welcome!
-Alex
Here is a 1:1 trackplan (Plan #1 from Mike's Track Plans) on top of the already completed benchwork. It just consists of a 2' x 4' piece of plywood with 1x2 strips around the perimeter and one down the center for added stability. The sawhorses are tempory.
Here, you can see the lower level area with the track and roadbed already in place. Where you see the faint wavy line is portion of track that begins to climb at a (not quite 4%) incline:
In this shot, you can see part of the second level temporarily in place (that whole section of foam can be removed and lifted out, as I still need to work on stuff beneath it) and an indication of where I plan to put a timber trestle bridge, that spans the lower branch with a timber truss bridge:
Here is the same, but from the other side. Here you can see another proposed bridge that leads off of the layout and into your imagination. You can also see more clearly the wavy line where the inclined track will be:
This is a progress shot of the truss bridge. At this point, it still needs "shoes" and to be stained:
Here is the first stage of the curved timber trestle, with the already completed truss bridge in its place. The trestle is attached to a piece of cardstock that can be removed when I'm ready to do the scenery in that area (to keep it clean) and then it will be glued down permanently.
Here is a closeup of the trestle, after cross bracing is put in. At this point, the stringers, ties, and guard rail timbers still need to be put on, and the whole thing stained:
Here is a closeup of the completed trestle (minus rails - can't do that part yet until I do the surrounding scenery) with focus on one of the two water barrels. This is my favorite picture, to date:
And, lastly, here is a shot from a cool angle. In the distance, you can see the Heavy Mikado (a Kato C&NW #425) engine:
Thanks for taking the time to look! Opinions/Suggestions are welcome!
-Alex
) But it worked in my favor, and not against it, as 3.75% is not as bad as 4%! Preliminary tests had my mikado pulling 6 of my heaviest cars up a 6% incline, even at slow speed settings, so pulling 2 or 3 (all I got room for) up 3.75% should be a breeze!