Ogden & Cache Valley RR

[Onewolf]

I finished patching/fairing/sanding/fairing/sanding the screw holes and seams. Wiped it down with a damp rag and now it's ready to prime.



This is the current proposed template for the helix control/display panel.



After 2 coats of primer. All of the 'pink' wall panels will be eventually painted the same color as the room walls and the helix enclosure: Sherwin Williams "Gauzy White" SW6035.



2 coats of primer. I use two coats of Zinser primer on the masonite because the Masonite is very dark and it has a glossy finish.



After painting the enclosure the Sherwin Williams SW6035 'Gauzy White'.





I have removed these (removable) backdrop panels in order to paint their backsides the Gauzy White wall color.

[PRR Modeler]

Looking good. I like the color.

[Mkrailway]

You are one crazy builder!!! It would take me a year to do what you have done in a number of short months. It looks amazing as it stands, but when it it done it will be unbelievable.

[Onewolf]

I've painted some of the wall panels that drop from the ceiling the room wall color 'Gauzy White'. On the right side here I have attached a strip (pink) on the end cap that I need to caulk and paint.  The view while on a 3ft step ladder:



I plan to install 1" trim molding along the top of the wall panels at the ceiling joint to hide the gaps.

[Onewolf]

Starting to work on the next upper level wall panels. Patching/fairing/sanding and then primer/paint.



I have six sections of track in the lower/middle levels around the center platform where turnouts on the mainline connect with service/spur track that will be mounted directly to the foam base. They require transition sections of roadbed to drop down from the 3/16" Woodland Scenics 'mainline' foam roadbed. I use cork roadbed for these tapered transition sections and they are 24-26" long. I will add caulk at the end of the cork to finish the transition.



After I painted the next (right) section of upper wall panels.



It looks much better (finished) looking with the ugly pinkish panels painted room wall color.



I painted another section of the upper level wall panels. They are on the left as you enter the room.





I also painted the raw cut edge of the plywood base roadbed of the upper return loop and the perimeter 2x4 risers that support the plywood/foam base of Franklin, Idaho above.



Eventually I am going to have to decide what color I am going to paint the fascia masonite. It will probably either flat black, dark brown, or dark green.



The (sort of) visible portion of the upper return loop and staging track loops. It's not visible when standing on the floor in the main aisle.

[PRR Modeler]

Great work.  How about painting it a UP color? I painted mine Tuscan Red.

[jbvb]

My own fascia is black, but I've seen dark green and visually it worked well.  But I don't know if a color other than black or dark neutral gray would affect the color balance of photos.

[S&S RR]

The layout is looking great. I saw the posts on facia color and thought I would throw in my 2 cents.  I decided after lots of experimentation to go with a very Dark Forest Green - it's what I liked the best for framing of photographs.

[engine909]

I am going to throw in my 2 cents. One hell of a job brother. Well done.  Excited to see more.
ed

[Onewolf]

I took about two months off from the layout construction to deal with purchasing a property in TN, and then prep boat/trailer/dive gear/UW photo equipment/etc for two weeks vacation in Marathon in May and then 'paycheck' work got extremely busy late May and all of June. I started back on the layout construction about two weeks ago.

When I needed to purchase more Foamular rigid insulation sheets for above the upper return loop Home Despot was out of the 3/4" sheets so I bought/used 1" sheets. The 1" sheets are much stiffer and they had some 'bowing' that I could not eliminate when I glued them down. Therefore I had to make 'cuts' through the slight rises in order to flatten them for track laying. You can see the 'cuts' beyond the turnouts.



Using caulk to smooth out the rough foam.



When I originally designed the layout I wasn't sure whether I was going to model the Union Pacific from Pocatello towards Butte or the Oregon Short Line from Ogden to Cache Junction and the Cache Valley branch line. Since I chose Ogden/OSL/Cache Valley I subsequently redesigned the double track mainline as it leaves the Ogden yard closer to the prototype.

Before redesigning and rebuilding the mainline track as it exits the Ogden yard where the single track mainline represents the OSL.



Theorizing how a #8 right hand and #8 double slip switch might work to provide a turnout leading into the Oregon Short Line.



After pulling up the old track and foam road bed.



Gluing down the Woodland Scenics foam roadbed using DAP DynaFlex 230.



I used the opportunity of laying another mainline track to flatten out a slight hump in the homasote for the existing mainline track.



Working on laying the new inside mainline track.



Installing the 'inside' mainline track.





Gluing down the new Oregon Short Line mainline track.





The new double track mainline as it runs behind what will be the turntable/roundhouse area.



I finished caulking the edges/seams of the lower and middle level foam and painted them to hide the purple/pink foam insulation color. I also began placing the service spur track in these areas as well. I also painted the bracket that supports the middle level shelf. I need to install/paint the brackets for the other two corners.



I am using Micro Engineering code 70 track and Micro Engineering code 70 #6 turnouts for the service spurs. I still find the Micro Engineering track to be extremely difficult to get smooth flowing curves (compared to the Atlas and Peco flex track).



The 'right' mainline track is electrically isolated with a 16" stretch of 'dead' track and will be setup as a DCC programming track. The 'left' mainline track is electrically dead to minimize chance of locos running off edge of layout.



Closeup of the OSL interchane Walthers #8 double slip turnout.







The outskirts of Brigham City will be located on the left.



I finished laying the track and turnouts for Franklin Idaho at the end of the Cache Valley Branch above the mainline upper return loop. I still need to fill in missing ties where flex track joints are.

[S&S RR]

Welcome back - life does get in the way of building a RR at times.

[PRR Modeler]

Looks great. I really like the double slip setup.

[ACL1504]

Doug,

Wow, even being off for two months you have still been busy on the layout. The work is wonderful and looks fantastic. I'd hate to be the one to add scenery to it all.

Really fantastic and I love the #8 double slip switch. Great job sir.

Tom

[cuse]

Doug,
Wow. Looking good!

John

[JusticeCity]

It looks you are having fun.