The Atlantic and Southern Build Thread Continued, Part 3

[ACL1504]

Tom


It's great to see you back at it - there are sure a lot of words of wisdom in the last few pages. There is enough tips for a couple 500  model railroading tips books in your layout build threads.  I really enjoyed your discussion of train length and layout size.  I've visited layouts where a train was in two or three towns at the same time.

John,

Thank you, it's good to be back modeling and working on the layout. I also appreciate you taking the time to post a few comments.

I really do believe train length should be proportionate to the size of the layout its running on. Nothing looks worse than a layout with one train in three cities in one length.

Tom 

[ACL1504]

This is very cool Tom, as I have never done anything like this.

Curt,

Thanks for stopping by. This is a fun project and will be rewarding when finished. You can borrow the jig and do one for the practice if you so desire. I'll supply the rail. 

Tom

[ACL1504]

Pretty neat.  I enjoy hand laying track so I'm following along with great interest (and a desire to get back into laying some track).

Bob,

Thank you for stopping by. It does test one's soldering skills and is actually a neat project to do. Not sure I'd want to do an entire layout building the turnouts and all but this one is fun.

Tom

[ACL1504]

A couple of questions.  Is the solder paste like a flux or a true paste that holds the rails in place while you solder?  Do you bend the rail in the jig itself? 


Jeff

Jeff,

Yes, it is a solder flux. I couldn't think of the word "flux" last night so I used "paste". Sorry for the confusion.

I use the jig to check my bends. Basically I've been bending by hand and test fitting as I go. I'll use the jig to get it close and then place the rail in the jig for the final fit.

Thank for the questions and for checking in.

Tom

[ACL1504]

Here's a progress photo from this morning.



This afternoon I finished the crossing.



It wasn't as hard as I imagined so building a turnout should be a walk in the park.

More in a few.

[ACL1504]

Continued -

[ACL1504]

Included with the jig are two pieces of Quick Sticks. These are laser cut wood ties and the completed crossing fits over the Quick Sticks.





Once the crossing is glued to the wood ties the excess material will be removed.

More in a few.

[ACL1504]

When I placed the 30 degree crossing over my roadbed it didn't fit. Well, it did fit on one section. I used a paper template I thought I printed to scale.

Fixing the cork roadbed will be an easy fix.

In the photo below, the crossing fits best in this position. So I'll only need to move half of the roadbed.



The next photo shows the "not the best fit" for the crossing. It also shows the wood ties.

[ACL1504]

[BandOGuy]

Don'tcha love it when a plan come together?

[ACL1504]

You're welcome.....glad to be of help. 

Thanks, I appreciate the help.

Tom

[Bruce Oberleitner]

Looks very cool uncle Tommie.  Keep up the good work my friend!

[MAP]

Nice work on building the crossing Tom.  You make it look real easy...of course the templates help, but still, to me it's a complicated affair that would have me huddled in a corner whimpering 

[NKP768]

Very nice Tom - I've always thought that hand laid track when done right is the most impressive aspect our hobby - and this is impressive.

Doug

[ACL1504]

Don'tcha love it when a plan come together?

Chip,

Yes, but this one will require only a small change in the plan.


Tom