As it seems my Free-moN modules have now become my “home layout”, thought I’d start a new thread featuring the whole kit-n-keboodle rather than individual modules.
'Twas a busy weekend: on Saturday I set up all my modules in my garage to
troubleshoot,
see it if fit in my garage (a “California Basement”) and
run trains!
Only took about a kabillion hours to get everything going, but once it did…!
And then after a very scary drive down in infamous 880 in rain pouring so hard I couldn’t even see the UP yard next to it https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=37.790057,-122.257394&spn=0.004612,0.010568&t=h&z=17 we set up in the Boy Scout headquarters in San Leandro for the NMRA PCR meet.
Funky space in an awkwardly-angled atrium, but nice rockclimbing wall backdrop:
http://youtu.be/ouMm4lUzJQw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouMm4lUzJQ
The whole layout was all my modules plus Scott’s Moss Beach 2’x4’ and Eric’s “DCC/JMRI-in-a-Box” command station, but many members (and non) brought trains and iPhones, so it was a rock 'n rolling train day for all!
OK, gang, it’s Friday and I’m going to give everyone homework for the weekend. Watch these videos, with the computer speakers on to catch the sound track.
This isn’t just good, it’s downright inspirational.
This weekend I took advantage of the wife & kids gone on a trip to Monterey with the in-laws from Japan to set up a slightly different configuration in the garage and “troubleshoot” (i.e. excuse to run trains):
Given that this is most of my rolling stock, I just I’ll just HAVE to get more:
Biggest issue is the “dip down” at the module ends as the PC board ties are a bit slimmer than the Atlas flex ties.
Will need to go back and slip some 0.02" styrene under the cork at the endplates and relay the rails.
Not a huge project but one I wish I had done when I first built them (ignorence is not bliss, yadda yadda).
Tried to show some different angles from before so I won’t oversaturate the market and bore you
Everything will get put away for a couple months until the Jan show in Richmond, CA, probably.
Guess that’ll give me space to finish the 45’s and build some more curved modules
Last few days I’ve been performing “reconstructive surgery” on the 45 ends.
The PC board ties are thinner than Atlas C55 flex ties, and, in my haste, I didn’t sand down the main section of cork enough when laying track, so the rails make a slight descent down at the ends.
Nothing most trains can’t (and haven’t) rolled over, but put two 45’s together, and that dip becomes a trough that longer steamers get stuck on with the pilot and tender holding the drivers spinning over the rails.
So, somewhat similar to those buttcheek implants (and it is at the butt-joint!), I slid in a styrene implant under the roadbed at the endplate.
The incision:
The implant of 0.02" styrene:
[I used a healthy amount of Gorillia Glue to secure]
The clamp & cure:
[Not a lot of pressure from the clamp, just there to keep things even while the GG expands and cures]
The result:
You can see a little GG seeping out the side.
Nothing a little scenicking can’t fix!
But now the track is even across the whole module and, more important, across two or more modules!
Perhaps I should expand my layout design service to include some reconstructive and cosmetic surgery? “Yardgoat Styrene Surgery”
Hmm…
Between fun family frolicking and house cleaning (Japanese thing: whole house must be spotless before the New Year, as evidenced by my workbench:
), haven’t had a whole lot of train time (but dang if the garage ain’t purdy!).
Have been slowly working on the other set of 45’s, which involve concrete roads, “big” industries and a lot of detail.
First tacked some forms for the concrete (lightweight spackle + craft paint + water: Lee Weldon’s Moonshine Recipe) pour:
Then poured.
Didn’t mix enough, so thought I’d just pour & mix on the fly:
FAIL!!
Actually worked out alright: just used an old brush to mix the colors in the lightweight spackle toot-sweet, and it settled alright:
If you do use lightweight spackle mixed with paint & a little water, the trick is to pour more than you need, LET IT CURE, COMPLETELY, and THEN sand it down to a nice evenish surface.
In this case (garage, very cold nights) it took 2-3 days to completely set enough for sanding.
Chopped & Frankenstein’ed a couple “curved” buildings, one will have a concrete loading dock, the other door-to-door:
Excuse me for asking what I’m sure will be an embarassing question; but, what does Free-moN mean? Obviously we’re talking N Scale. Is there Free-morHO or other scales?
“Free-mo” stands for “Free-module” or “Free-modular” and is a set of standards for module endplates, single-track main, and wiring, with pretty much everything else in between the endplates up to the modeler (thus the “free” part).
Free-mo (HO) and Free-moN started in space-challenged Europe but has become popular in the US, with “clubs” (usually more like “groups” than official “clubs”) in many cities around the country.
Free-mo & Free-moN, with a taller benchwork height (Free-moN is at 50") and single mainline, focus more on realistic scenery and operations than other modular standards like NTrak (whose low benchwork and 3-mainlines sometimes gives it a “toy racetrack” appearance). Free-mo modules also have no backboard and the mainline is centered at the endplates, allowing modules to be “flipped” or set up in any order to fit almost any space.
The group that I roll with, Silicon Valley Free-moN, is based in the San Francisco Bay Area. When I started building my first module (The Shoofly in Sonoma) a year ago, there were about 4 guys involved. Now there’s around 10 or so, and at our last show we had over 200 feet of mainline running:
FreeMo N is actually the North American variant of the European “FREMO”. FREMO stands for “Freundeskreis Europäischer MOdellbahner”, translated Friendship of European railway modellers.
Thanks, Ulrich, for both the kind words and for the translation!
Funny how here in the U.S. we think of “Free-mo” as standing for “Free Modular” while the best part about it–running trains with good people–is in the original FREMO!
Alrighty, been slowly creating some industries / industrial scenes on two of the 45 deg modules:
The two modules can join together to create a short through siding / runaround.
The industry on the far module will be a freight house:
While I’m still trying to figure out what these two will be:
One (the two-story thing) is rail-served and kinda like a furniture factory (Three Bears Furniture?) [hmm, forgot to put the awnings up over the loading docks], while the other is a truck-served fenced lot.
Thinking pipes or just piles of dirt, rocks, gravel, fertilizer ???
Any suggestions appreciated!
Did put a couple of posters up on the smaller building, so thought I’d make another “How To” video:
Thanks for the video Tip! and keep those updates coming. With all your modules, it won’t be long before you can circle the outside of your house with the layout.
Considering the house we’re in is one of 6 units semi-connected together, it will take A LOT (pun intended) of modules to circle the outside!
The good news is that I figured out how to unbolt & remove the passenger seat as well as the back seats, so looks as though I’ll be able to take all my modules–including the four new 45 deg ones–to the show in Richmond, CA next weekend.
That’s 3 of the 7 wires of 22 gauge stranded spun in a drill until tight, painted and then CA’ed to the awning and to Grandt Line rectangular NBW details mounted on the brick.
Up close it looks a bit thick for the job, so next time I might use 30 gauge wire or just 2 strands of the 22.
From a couple feet away it looks alrighty and “good enough” for now:
Still debating about putting up an awning on the trackside loading dock:
Probably will, though this one will be of weathered corrugated metal.
'Bout time for some more dirt, ground foam, static grass & bushes!
Thanks
Two days until the show and almost at the point where I can bring these two 2’, 45 deg modules with at least a basic scene, minus moocho details.
The local watering hole finally opened up:
Seems as though the barkeep might have had a few before sign-painting.
(Either that or he’s as poor a speller as me )
But at least one “industry” on the modules now has a name.
Behind the Loose Caboose you can see my latest loco acquisition, Central California Traction #60 (GP-7), which I hope to be my first successful foray into diesel detailing.
As of now it’s still new outta the box:
though I’ll put in MT 905 Z scale couplers before the show (that much I know how to do).
The freight house on the other module is almost done:
Though I really need to do something about the brightness and brown-ness of the “concrete”.
Really stands out when you put the modules together:
As soon as the ground cover / static grass / ballast dry I’ll add more tufts and bushes and maybe a few trees.
Eventually there’ll be another small building across the tracks from the freight house but I’m not going to be able to get to that before the show, methinks.
The building is full of great light and great layouts, from scales Z to O, so come on down today and check it out (hey, free parking!).
Hope to see you there!
Today will be filming day, so later I’ll post photos and video of the whole layout, including our newest module: Nils’ 8’+ “Bridge O’ Wonder”!!
)
