I recently purchased this modular layout from a friend who had lost interest in it. His loss my gain. It is a variation of the Jan., 2001 Wildcat Central built by another friend of mine here in central Florida. The scenery was applied to represent the southwest. I intend to expand the layout and add the necessary scenery to represent the southeast, say Georgia or South Carolina. Here is an image taken after the modules were assembled for temporary operation.
The remaining photos can be seen in my photobucket account here
The fridge is always full. My friend who built this layout is very skilled and I am fortunate to have been able to get hold of it. He will also be helping me to expand it and re-scenic it to suit my needs.
Seems like a well done purchase, with both parties happy! Congratulation! Sorry for not being able to just come over, take a look and have a beer - it is just a little too far! [:D]
Well, looking at the photo I plan to come toward where the photagrapher was on the left side with a 2’ wide bench about 16 more feet and then a dogbone curve and come back down the same side and tie back into the existing outer loop. I drew it on Autocad and have photographed the drawing.
I’m curious, just looking at the one photo here on this forum, I don’t see how it is being supported.
I’m also curious as to your thought on the height of the layout as it stands now. I know more conventional thought says about 48 to 56 inches works well, but I notice lately, my legs get tired easier when I stand at my layout for a long period. I’m actually starting to wonder if having a layout much lower, like rolling office chair height like your pike is now, isn’t actually the way to go. Probably tougher to have a duckunder however. Nothing’s perfect I guess.
Do you have any thoughts or plans as far as the height of the layout and the method of support?
I suggest you expand the layout by lengthening the top and bottom sides instead of the extension as planned. That way, one avoids the constant ducking/crawling to be close to both new and old parts of the layout. You would have greater length to add a decent-sized yard and more industrial trackage, if desired, as well as lengthening the mainline.
I am disabled and although I can stand I spend a lot of my time seated so the rail height is set at 38-1/2". The layout is temporarily supported on legs but it is hinged on the left side and we plan to install an overhead beam and use block and tackle to raise the right side to a sufficient height so I can get to my carport without ducking under as I am having to do now. the new portion will remain fixed in place, We expect some joining problems and will probably have to move all rolling stock to the flat portion before making the lift. I plan to install shelving and drawers under the benchwork on the left side to store extra rolling sock and model railroad supplies. The final plan is still flexible and may have to be modified as reality dictates.
I will have extra stools for guests to sit on while operating the layout. Suggestions are welcome and may or may not be incorporated.
My apologies, I didn’t detect your disability from the submitted photo. Your height of 38.5 inches may be suitable for many other modelers as well, including their guests. Hinging the layout might make that height more of a comfortable option for many modelers. I think a lot of us would like to learn from your progress in that area. It looks like the area on the left has staging so storing/moving the rolling stock in that directon before the lift seems like a natural thing to do anyway before you start an operating session.
Your situation might also make for an interesting project/article for MR to explore. Even as the general population ages, the way in which you confront and conquer issues may help all of us.
Talk about being at the right place at the right time!!! Good for you Bob! That’s an excellent start to a great finished pike. I wish you many pleasant hours of moving freight!
I can’t do as you suggest, I think. The exit from my house is toward the back of the room and has a flat deck and a ramp down to carport level.
I don’t like duck unders very much either due to my physical condition. Having said that certain constraints combined together to create the situation I have. The original Wildcat Central, which was the basis for this layout is 12’ x10’ and a modular design. The room I have to put the layout in is 28’6" x 10’6" with no option to alter it. I helped the builder of this layout 8 years ago to construct it and when the opportunity came to acquire it I debated for several weeks the pluses and minuses of trying to adapt it to my space. My plan was originally to build a 28’ long 30" wide shelf layout with a dogbone on each end to allow continuous operation while having a spur to switch several industries scattered around the layout. There would have been no duck unders. The track height was to be 38-1/2" so I could work on the layout and operate it from a sitting position. The Wildcat Central as built by my friend has almost a thousand dollars worth of material involved not counting the labor. I paid about half that much to the owner that no longer wanted it. Initially we contemplated just using portions of the existing and then adding new benchwork to get the design I mentioned above. We decided to try to use the layout temporarily as is while the remainder of the benchwork is built ( so I could run trains immediately. While the addition is being built we will be adding greenery to easternize the layout more to my liking. Finally when the new portion is constructed and the basic scenery added we will remove the outer curve and connect the new pieces. At least that is the plan for now. We have hinged the existing portion and will use block and tackle to elevate one side to about a 30 degree angle which will allow me to exit my home use my ramp and get to my carport. Temporarily I am exiting the other side of my h
I was looking in old issues of MR and found a layout in the Dec. 1975 issue called the Marquette and Independence RR. Had I not purchased the one I now posess I believe it would have suited my space and needs perfectly. I still believe with a little ingenuity we can make what I’ve got a great operating layout.
Some progress has been made regarding access to my carport. The basic hardware for my hoist has been fabricated and installed. I am awaiting delivery of a block that is needed to provide the necessary mechanical advantage. Here are some shots of the initial phase of the installation.
This is the first of probably 400 trees I need to prepare to bring this layout back east.
