The Atlantic and Southern Build, Part 1

[ACL1504]

I then cut 1/16" thick cardboard to the width of the road I drew with the marker.





More in a few.

[ACL1504]

I glued the cork roadbed in place with the beveled edge to the out side, same as I would for the track.



When the cork was dry I test fitted the road on top of the cork.





This raised the road to track level and gives me a drainage slope as well. The drainage slope is important here and I'll cover this later this evening.

Continued in a few. It is most certainly Diet Pepsi time.

[GPdemayo]

They big guy is back to work! 

[PRR Modeler]

Tom, Great idea about doing roads. I hadn't thought of doing them that way. Also it has the added nice detail of the edges being textured.

[ACL1504]

Bringing the ground level up was a challenge. I wasn't going to go to the expense of using cork roadbed or any other cork to cover the entire 2 X 13 ft. area.

Blue foam only comes in 1/2" and up thicknesses. I wasn't going to slice the 1/2" blue foam.

I did an internet search for 1/4" foam/insulation and found a product called FOAMULAR. And, it is sold at Home Depot.


http://www.homedepot.com/p/Owens-Corning-FOAMULAR-1-4-in-x-4-ft-x-50-ft-R-1-Fanfold-Insulation-Sheathing-21UM/100320301


I got all excited and went to HD to buy some FOAMULAR. I couldn't find it and asked for help. I was told they didn't sell it in the stores that it was a special order. I'm paraphrasing the conversation I had with the fine (not) HD people.

I said, okay, I want to order some. 

Oh, you can't order it from here. You have to go home and order it through HD on the internet.

You mean you sell it but you don't sell it. But you do sell it on the internet and I can only order it from home and not place an order here at the store.

Yes, that's right.

So I go home, get on the HD web site and this is what I find. This product is not available locally. Go to your local HD store and have it special ordered.

I got mad and called the corporate office of HD. I got to speak to a very nice lady who said I needed to go to the store to place the order.


I said then why do you have it on the web site to be ordered by me.

Well, that must be a mistake.

Hold on a minute.

Okay, Mr. Langford, you do need to order it at the store.

Not true said I. Here is the number of the store when I was told I have to order it off the internet.

Hold on a minute.

Mr. Langford?


Yes!

They will take your order at the store.

Okay, thanks very much. You've been a great help.

I then called the store and was told I can't place special orders over the phone. I needed to place the order in house.

I was thinking what the F---,

Okay, I'll be there in 20 minutes. I hope those idiots are still waiting. That was three weeks ago.


Continued in a few.

[ACL1504]

They big guy is back to work! 

Greg,



Yepper, but not as big when the layout was started. Err, I should say restarted.

Tom

[ACL1504]

Tom, Great idea about doing roads. I hadn't thought of doing them that way. Also it has the added nice detail of the edges being textured.

Curt,

Thanks, it worked out really well and will give my road a little profile. The cork of course will be covered with scenic materials.

Tom

[PRR Modeler]

Isn't it awesome dealing with low wage employees at a big box store. I guess the company gets what they pay for.

[ACL1504]

Isn't it awesome dealing with low wage employees at a big box store. I guess the company gets what they pay for.

Yepper, They will never and I mean never get any of my business.

Tom

[ACL1504]

I found the FOAMULAR at Menard's in MN.

I ordered on line and within 20 minutes I got a response back saying it was shipped.

It cost me less including shipping than what HD wanted it for but wouldn't/couldn't order it.

I got it in four days and it is now in the train room.




Continued later this afternoon.

[BandOGuy]

Side bar to your story, Tom.
Our daughter's nearest big box lumber yard is Lowe's. I've been patronizing the store for 7+ years or so to make improvements around her place. Afraid to look at how much money I've spent there. Friday when I was checking out with a small purchase, the clerk noticed my new PA drivers license with "Veteran" emblazoned on it. After thanking me for my service, she said "you know, as a veteran, you get 10% of all of your purchases at Lowe's?" Me:"Hmmm. That's new". No, with the old MA license, they had no way to know and I never thought to ask.
Guess who gets all my layout construction money after I find a basement.
Gotta' love them big box stores (spoken in pure cracker).

[ACL1504]

Side bar to your story, Tom.
Our daughter's nearest big box lumber yard is Lowe's. I've been patronizing the store for 7+ years or so to make improvements around her place. Afraid to look at how much money I've spent there. Friday when I was checking out with a small purchase, the clerk noticed my new PA drivers license with "Veteran" emblazoned on it. After thanking me for my service, she said "you know, as a veteran, you get 10% of all of your purchases at Lowe's?" Me:"Hmmm. That's new". No, with the old MA license, they had no way to know and I never thought to ask.
Guess who gets all my layout construction money after I find a basement.
Gotta' love them big box stores (spoken in pure cracker).

Chip,

Great story and I also thank you for your service.

That trip to HD was only due to the fact they had what I wanted. Other than that, I've been shopping at Lowe's for past twelve years. The Lowe's people are very friendly and knowledgeable.

All the current layout material is from Lowe's from the smallest screw to the carpet and all in between.

Tom

[ACL1504]

I used a piece of the cardboard and made a pattern for the lower corner.



Some glue, ok, a lot of glue was painted on.



I used the cardboard pattern and cut a piece of the 1/4" foam and glued it in place. You can see even my Diet Pepsi assisted in the task, but not for long.



More in a few.

[ACL1504]

While that little corner was drying, I moved to the area between the wall and track. I placed a full sheet on the area and pressed lightly down on the foam over the track.



I think you can easily see the rail indentations in the foam.



I then cut along the line and test fit the foam to the area.

I used a black marker to make some final cutting lines.




More in a few.

[ACL1504]

In the photo below, you can see Three Fingered Freddy's is set on a 1/2" piece of gator board.




I used a wide Xacto saw to remove the bottom half. There was a small separation line in the foam and it just so happened to be 1/4".

After only ten minutes, I had the bottom half cut off.



Now Freddy's is level with the road.

More in a few.