Superior & Seattle Railroad Build (Volume 2) Started 2/25/17

[PRR Modeler]

Looks really good.

[jimmillho]

John,
I like the Grey shingles the best.

When you get done with the chalks, I think they will look Awesome.

Jim

[S&S RR]

Any other color shingles would turn grey, anyway, with all the coal dust.


dave

Dave


Yes - I believe you are correct.  Looks like a need to order some more grey shingles so I know I'll have enough.

[Janbouli]

I like 3 and 4 , but they will all look good.

[S&S RR]

Looks really good.

Curt


Thanks - the window castings should really help balance it out.

[S&S RR]

John,
I like the Grey shingles the best.

When you get done with the chalks, I think they will look Awesome.

Jim

Thanks for stopping by the thread and the words of encouragement - we will see how they look on the building.

[S&S RR]

I like 3 and 4 , but they will all look good.

Jan


I understand why you like the way 3 and 4 look - blend right in with the rest of the structure - and I can blend some chalk in to get that color if the grey doesn't look good on the building.  I'm looking for some contrast - I can never tell until I see it on the structure.

[Janbouli]

I like 3 and 4 , but they will all look good.

Jan


I understand why you like the way 3 and 4 look - blend right in with the rest of the structure - and I can blend some chalk in to get that color if the grey doesn't look good on the building.  I'm looking for some contrast - I can never tell until I see it on the structure.

Yes , exactly John, for contrast the grey will be great.

[S&S RR]

I completed one half of one building with the grey shingles today. Here is a photograph before weathering and pigeons.

[PRR Modeler]

Great job. The shingles are awesome.

[GPdemayo]

Looking good John.....

[S&S RR]

Thanks Greg and Curt.

[S&S RR]

Update on the track work testing:  I started this build thread with the idea of posting all the things I wished I had read on someone else's thread before I started to design and build my second layout.


So here is a lesson learned.  Minimum main line radius 36 inches with #8 turnouts is the new standard on the S&S RR.


Previous standard: 28 inch minimum radius with #6 turnouts.


The reason: I want to be able to run steam locomotives reliably.


I just ordered the curved turnouts I needed to implement this new standard. After running trains for a couple weeks the only place I was having troubles, and only with the steam locomotives, was with #6 turnouts and curve radii below 34 inches. I changed out a 7 1/2 curved turnout that caused a few derailments with the steam locomotives with a #8 and the problems went away.


FYI: 7 1/2 curved turnout has a 32 inch and 28 inch radius
       8       curved turnout has a 36 inch and 32 inch radius


Switching out the turnouts is going to cost me a few EXPO dollars and a few days work but I think it will make big difference to the running of the layout.  It is a little challenging in places "this is a mountain layout" but I have decided to take this little step backwards.  If you are reading this thread making notes for your layout "this is a big deal".

[S&S RR]

One more note on the minimum radius issue.  If you read the manufactures specifications on the locomotives I'm running they all say minimum radius of 18 inches.  Maybe at yard speed. 

[S&S RR]

I made some progress on the Mackenzie Build, today.  I finished adding the walls so I could do more of the detailing on my workbench before I plant the diorama on my layout.