Backdrop

This weekend I finished the construction of my backdrop for the layout. Prior to installing the sheeting I extended a series of 1x2's about 24 inches up from the bench work. I doubled up the ones at each end of a segment piece of bench work. That way if I did have to dismantle the layout, I would not have to pull out my saw and cut my backdrop, and the 1x's would still support the backdrop.

For material I purchased some 1/8"x4'x8' sheets of hardboard called Masonite from Lowe's. The great thing about these sheets are that they are very cheap to purchase (like around $6.50 each). I then had a store employee cut 4 sheets into half length-ways with the big special saw they have. This gave me rips of 24 inches which are plenty big enough for a good backdrop. I then had the employee rip me two halves again to make 1'x8' rips that will become my fascia boards on the front of the layout. From there I started at one spot on the layout and started wrapping the Masonite around until it completed my circle. I fastened it with drywall screws that I counter-sunk with a special bit designed for with my drill.

This is a shot of my old backdrop that I used on my diorama. I wanted to save as much material that I could from that project and use on this layout but it the end it was far better just to replace this panel with a new one.

As you can tell, I did use on little strip of my old backdrop from the diorama which I will repaint over with the new background.

The 1"x2"x24" risers are not the best form of support for this backdrop and I probably would have done it more a structurally sound way to support a upper level of 1x's for lighting and an upper fascia. I didn't feel that I wanted to do that with this layout because I knew that moving was in the near future, and I wanted to make this as light as possible. But, none the less, the risers do work and they do support the Masonite well enough that I don't see any waviness that will be an eyesore.

Well, now it is on to the foam sub-base that will be used for scenery.

Electrical Beginnings

Prior to laying the 1/2 board on top of frame work, I wanted to get some runs in of my power bus. Being that I once before work in the construction industry, I had some 14-2 Romex left over. Everyone said that 14 awg was a good size for a power bus, and since I had some of it just laying in a box, I figured that I lucked out. So I made use of what I had and used the Romex for my power bus wires

Due to the fact that my layout is on the small side, I still wanted to break it up into two power districts, so I ran two lines of Romex. First I located a good spot where I was going to mount my DCC system on the layout and started the runs from there.


After I drilled holes in the bench work, I had my oldest son, Jared give me a hand pulling wire. I really want to get him involved so that he will appreciate the layout even more. This way it can be our layout instead of Dad's.


Here are a couple of photos of Jared under the benchwork giving me a hand:
For now we just ran the runs of Romex for both power districts and we will worry about the rest of the electrical once we have track down and feeder holes drilled.

For those of you who don't know what Romex is, here is a site that can answer that: http://homerenovations.about.com/od/electrical/a/artromexnm.htm


Stay tuned for additional information about my electrical ideas, my DCC system, further plans for wiring this layout.

Bench Work

I have started the bench work for the layout. First off, I took framework from my old diorama and used it as a starting point. The diorama was to 3x5 parts fastened together to create a length of 10 feet. This section will become the Logan part of the layout where I will need the 3 feet depth. The rest of the layout will only be 2 feet deep.

I used 1x4 pine lumber to make up the benchwork. Since I knew that I was going to place sheets of 1/2 inch plywood over the framework, I spaced out the braces a little farther than I would have regularly.

Since I knew that I was going to be moving in a year or so, I built the layout in sections. The largest section was made 3x5 from the old diorama, but most new sections were the size of 2x4 squares. Here is a photo of my work:

You must excuse the mess. I am not the cleanest person out there, or should I say the most organized. If we do stay in this house longer than I think, then I am either installing garage cabinets or shelving.

Like I stated. I used 1x4 pine for the main part of the structure with 2x2 legs and the 1x2 pieces sticking up will be to hold the backdrop. The top of the benchwork will sit at 48 inches high before plywood and foam. My guess is that my track height will be around 50 inches from the garage floor.

Here are some additional photos of the sheathing placed on top of the bench work:

Next it will be onto the backdrop, electrical, and foam board lamination.

Links

I just wanted to post two links to some of my webpages. The first one is my photobucket.com pictures that I have from my old diorama in a slideshow. This was my 3x10 diorama of Muir, Montana which is located on the east side of Bozeman Tunnel. The diorama is now gone as I have saved the bench work, track, and scenery for the new layout.

http://s45.photobucket.com/albums/f77/zgardner18/Model%20Trains/?action=view&current=77e2dc62.pbw

The second one is rrpicturearchives.net. These are photos I took when I was living in Montana. Now understand that my camera was about as cheap as they come so the quality of photos just isn't there. If I knew then what I know now I would have taken photos of the areas that I want to model on this layout. Now I have to rely on Google Earth and other's photos until I get up there again.

http://zgardner18.rrpicturearchives.net/archivethumbs.aspx?id=9521>

Track Plan

I have scanned my drawing of what the layout is to look like. This was drawn freehand.

What you see is a 13x10 loop of the 5th sub starting at Logan, Montana and then working its way around to the Talc Plant in Three Forks. The tracks will wrap back around so that if I want to run a train continuously, then I can. Of coarse it will not be 100% prototypicial but "close enough for the girls we go with" (my dad's favorite quote).

The Logan area will have the main line come in and out of the layout. This will serve as future expansion if there is ever any. I really wanted it for photos shoots of long BNSF, or MRL trains.

The industries that I will be having on this layout are still up in the air. The talc plant is a must and probably the bulk plant (if it works out for the location) but I am thinking of adding a fictional lumber yard spur that starts at the talc plant, which you see on the plan. Those and the Logan area should give me plenty of switching options for my 840 Local.

I'm still collecting photos and data of these industries and honesly I still don't exactly know the names of them just yet. Also I have not mentioned what era I will be modeling until now. I want to really model the year 2005 because MRL was still using a lot of their older fleet but also that was the time when the SD70ACe come to town. Back then the bulk plant was not there so I have concluded that the era will be the 2000's. Good enough for me!

My Dream

Hello everyone and welcome to my blog about my new layout. If you have heard of me and my love for trains you would also know that I have a love for the Montana Rail Link. This love started when I was living in Bozeman, Montana while attending MSU. Since then I have always wanted to start a HO scale layout of some part of the MRL. After two other designs for larger spaces, a 3x10 diorama, I have now taken the liberty of starting a small layout in part of my garage.

As I build this layout I will let everyone follow along as I go through the process. My hopes are to show off my work, of coarse, but also to help others that might be able to learn a trick or two. With this layout I desire to be able to learn a little bit more about model railroading, get my 3 very young sons involved, hopefully enter into some photo contests, and play trains.

As time goes on you will see step by step, through photos, of my layout as it developes from the bench work to hopefully a finish product. So follow along with me on this new exciting journey as the HO scale MRL's 5th Sub unfolds.