Dave, I encountered your posting on your layout expansion project over on idiotbored.com–I don’t get over there very often but I did happen to wander in this morning. Per usual your modeling–as well as your photography–is worthy of singular recognitiion. I certainly hope to see more photos of this expansion. Your posted photograph of the two diesels on the curve approaching the yard throat is worthy of note–excellent composition.
Based upon something you said some time back about the lack of a yard on your layout I suspected that once you got settled in at Offutt that that would be upcoming. You have done an excellent job. I do, however, raise a question: your original lap layout was built on a 36" X 80" door I believe but I got the perception that this expansion utilizes a narrower door. Am I correct in this or does it also use a 36" wide door?
A second question involves the possibility of another expansion. I had an acquaintance who modeled a steam era pike that was operated as a point-to-point layout but there was a lap operation in the center to add mileage to his train run. Is there perhaps another expansion in your future?
Keep up your modeling endeavors and thank you for your continuing service to our country,
Selector, I know that this is a flagrent political statement and it is, undoubtedly, going to attract a “Report Abuse” button from the same individual who raised objections to my Nancy Pelosi “domestic terrorism” quotation of a few months back. I’m a little surprised that that same individual has not taken exception with the Political Correctness satire and the Sarah Palin quotation in my signature. .
What Dave didn’t say is that he got a new toy, an upgraded airbrush! Not only is his layout extremely nice but now he’s getting the rolling stock nice and weathered.
This was my first use of Atlas code 55 track in N scale, and it’s fantastic. I’m thrilled both with how it works and how it looks. Since Atlas’ curved code 55 turnouts have been delayed, I used Fast Tracks for the curved turnouts. The standard turnouts are Atlas #5s and #7s.
Here’s one of those ESM PRR/PC/CR G26 gons on the new layout:
The Enola diesel shop is a pair of Walthers car shops spliced together. I trimmed off some cornice detail and added a flat scratchbuilt roof.
The interior of the shop received Heljan walkways and inspection pits.
First off, I HAVEN’T set up a photo backdrop yet, so… That’s that. Also, there are any number of people, telephone poles, diesel fuel racks, pump houses, sheds, sanding towers, etc. that have not yet been installed. What you see here is the roughed-in scenery.
These are the power toggles to the pit and engine house sheds. This way I can store dead or DC locos with no problems.
Looking down the classification tracks under the Overview Bridge.
The concrete pads surrounding the pit tracks will have the fueling/sanding racks.
There are fuel tanks on the northeastern side of the diesel house just like the real Enola.
Oooh Dave! It’s PERFECT! I’ve never seen such a beautiful piece of work! It’s soo REAL! Man, you know they take points off for posting prototype pictures and saying they’re models… Is that really N SCALE? MAN!
Nice job Dave. I my neighbor wants to buy a sub I have for a few bills and if he does I plan to buy a hollow core door and get something going in N. I’m thinking of doing a close version to the Katy layout featured in MRP (Dallas On A Door, 30x80 door). Your Enola yard pics are making me ponder buying a second hollow core door for a yard. Of course, if I could I would just snatch up your layout, but I don’t forsee that happening. As to comments made about pollitical correctness, forget it. It just makes you sound like a political snob. I may have voted for presidencey this term, but only because I was NOT about to let McCain win if I could help it. Hows that for stirring a political uprising.
I’ll toss in my own thumbs-up. All of your work, new and old, is inspiring.
I worked in N scale long before there was code 55 track, so I laid my own with code 55 rail. It makes a huge difference in the look of N scale. You do great work, Dave. I always look forward to seeing your smiling face next to a post, because I know I can count on wise words and great pictures.
Thanks, Ken… One day I’ll do a video. Re-do, actually. It’s time to update my current one. It would be either half Pennsy or half Conrail, or I’d do one for each era/railroad.
When you do, might I suggest you consider using this song for your sound track?[tup]
Every time I hear it I can’t help but think of a mighty J1 clawing its way up Horseshoe Curve with a long, heavy freight and a couple of snappers on the back!
I appreciate the suggestion. However, O Furtuna, for all of its musical power, as become a tad cliche. Cliche I am not. It occurred to me to use this piece of movie soundtrack music for the next iteration of my layout video:
