Congratulations on getting the benchwork done.
That's going to be an impressive layout when done.
I'll be here to follow along as you make progress.

Mike, it's looking good and thanks for the tip on holding off painting the underbody.

Good Morning All,

Thanks for opening and breakfast Tom. After all that I won't eat until supper. Good luck with your appointment today. It seems like you're at step 1 of 1000 to me.

Actually had a decent night's sleep and feel rested this morning. Yesterday I kind of fell through the rabbit hole at the workbench and went beyond the instructions which took up a lot of time. In my next update I'll explain.

Today after floors, yes it's Wednesday again, I hope to attach the loading dock roof.

That's it for me.

I hope everyone has a good day.

Philip, you're throwing a lot of products at this build to get it to stay together.
Hope it all works.
Going to be a good looking truck when you're done.

Good morning everyone.

56 in Lake George, sunshine and a high of 81 later.

ACLTom, thanks for the coffee and breakfast.
Hope it's all good news at the doctors today.
Hope you'll be able to see good enough to post.
If not, hope all goes well with the surgery, speedy recovery and you'll be missed.

Philip, sounds like a good harvest so far.
Building a truck now?

Jerry, I hope shingles were the only thing on the to-do list.

TomO, yes, they are Aspens.
Have you considered a Thermacell to keep the skeeters away?

Larry, hope there weren't any tornados.

Mike, have fun upstairs with whatever you decide to do.

Curt, yup, trains originate in Colorado and it's a 6 hour trip to New Mexico.

How's everyone else.

Gym, Costco and lots of driving were yesterdays activities.
I have a little more than an hours drive to get to the trailhead for Thursday's hike.
Meeting a friend there and we'll do the hike together.
Not sure if Star will go on this hike because it will be an extremely difficult one.
Probably won't be any cell service at the trailhead so there's a good chance I won't be here tomorrow.

One more from the Salt Lick Trail.



Have a great day everyone.

Philip great job so far. I don't know which would be tougher to build, a white metal or plastic vehicle.

Thank you for your very kind words Yannis.

Fantastic scene, for sure it can "time travel" you to another era! Many thanks for sharing!!!

Long overdue (sort of) update. I have been working non stop (family/day-job/renovation allowing) during the last couple of months on building the benchwork for the layout. Something north of 27 tables, with more pocket holes, countersinking, drilling, screws and bolts that i could count. Finally all tables are finished and in place and i am now working on the two swing gates.

Some points:

1. I ll post benchwork photos soon after i tidy up a bit.
2. On the topic of swing gates, by beveling the edge that meets the fixed part of the benchwork, and offsetting the pivot axis, i managed to resolve the "cannot-clear the edge while closing the gate" problem. Feel free to chime in here.

A Question: I think i ll kitbash the 2816 Walthers kit for the diesel house from 3 tracks to 2 (without inspection pits). It sort of sticks like a sore thumb on the original location (marked as Diesel House on the trackplan). My options are:
a. Location 6 (2 stalls)
b. Location 21 (2 stalls again).
c. In either location do without a structure and leave locomotives parked in the open.

B. Another Question: Trying to figure out how to hide a cut on the backdrop where the reverse loop track is... Perhaps a steel water tower or impressive sign or back drop building attracting attention? Originally i had an overpass but i reckon that two is too many overpasses on the yard. Proposed location where i got a small black rectangle next to the reverse loop.

C. Another, another question: I like passenger trains a lot, and perhaps a platform (instead of a whole depot) where #22 is could be a good idea? I am thinking about the Walthers 933-3391 kit (LAUPT platform). I also considered the SB depot but it could consume the scene (by removing the two stub ended tracks of-course).

Here is the final trackplan (i also made the yard tracks parallel to the benchwork edges... slanted looked odd in person).

Thanks for stopping by and for your input!