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Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to track-laying we go! Journals/Blogs
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Prolific poster 1,234 posts kcsphil1 Prolific poster 1,234 posts
kcsphil1

Wednesday afternoon and thursday were family time - eating, playing, eating more. Friday I had to work (!) but managed to watch my LSU Tigers win against Arkansas, going 10-2 for the year and retaining the coveted Boot trophy. Sadly, Auburn didn't help me out on Saturday, loosing embarrassingly to Alabama. So now I have to lean on Georgia (bleh) in hope of a Sugar Bowl bid with Bama down in flames.

So Saturday before football I got several major jobs done off the Honey Do List, which meant I could do some serious track laying on Sunday.


The loco and cars are sitting on the L&A/KCS/BRS yard ladder. From the left you have main/through track, A/D track (which will access the UTLX dome via a 3 way switch), 4 tracks for sorting and classification and a short caboose storage track - which my ever expanding crummy collection needs.  I laid the track on the outdoor foam mounting tape roadbed system that David K Smith wrote up about 15 years ago in MR, and I gotta say I like this for installation even more then caulk.   Of course, if you need to reposition it's a bear - the stuff really is that sticky.

I still need to lay the passing track to the left of the main (which is where the prototype has it), and continue on around the bend. To finish, all I need is a left hand code 55 #7, a code 55 wye, and (if I'm feeling randy) a code 55 double crossover for the approach to the Kidder Morgan Transfer dock.  I have a code 70 Shinohara crossover I got a while ago, but it's missing several point rails and at least one stock rail.  Haven't decided whether I need to put out a call for repair work, or just hunt up a new one.

Philip H. Chief Everything Officer Baton Rouge Southern Railroad, Mount Rainier Div.

"You can't just "Field of Dreams" it... not matter how James Earl Jones your voice is..." ~ my wife

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arthurhouston Prolific poster 1,154 posts
arthurhouston

Geaux Tigers

Well off to Orlando, and wait until next year. Contact me I have a couple of tip to give on laying track.
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rfbranch Frequent poster 588 posts
rfbranch

Camper Tape?

Phil-

Is that the same thing as camper tape?  I read about it in a MR Planning a few years ago and it sounded pretty good.  It was the best tested material for sound deadening according to the author.  It piqued my interest as a result.  On layout #2 (whenever that is) I want to use the same foam board/tape combo you are so anything you can share I'm interested in hearing about.

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~Rich

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Proto-Freelanced Carfloat Operation, Brooklyn, NY c.1974
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kcsphil1 Prolific poster 1,234 posts
kcsphil1

It's 3M outdoor sign mounting tape

it's grey in color, covered in a red backing, and comes in various roll lengths at the bg box stores.  Sticky as all heck.  About half the thickness of cork.

Philip H. Chief Everything Officer Baton Rouge Southern Railroad, Mount Rainier Div.

"You can't just "Field of Dreams" it... not matter how James Earl Jones your voice is..." ~ my wife

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kcsphil1 Prolific poster 1,234 posts
kcsphil1

moving forward

No pics this week.  I spent more time testing the new track with a variety of long and short cars - the Bluford 86' autobox is actually a pretty good turnout problem detector.  Still need to clean the track, but it's all working well.

I started laying a major scenic feature - U.S. Highway 61, which is known in Baton Rouge as Scenic Highway (even though it originates downtown within the Large Exxon Refinery).  It's 4 lane divided up in the part of the parish I'm modeling, so it will be rather substantial.  I've also got my version of the Hard Hat laid out (banner printed) and I spent some time on this website (from the modern road tunnel thread)

http://www.kurumi.com/roads/signmaker/signmaker.html

making road signs I finally figured it out).  Finally, I am doing a Blair Line laser cut wood modern billboard - the BLMA one is too big for the space, and I bought this one years ago.  We'll see how it takes paint.

Philip H. Chief Everything Officer Baton Rouge Southern Railroad, Mount Rainier Div.

"You can't just "Field of Dreams" it... not matter how James Earl Jones your voice is..." ~ my wife

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jfmcnab Frequent poster 589 posts
jfmcnab

Hwy 61

Good luck Philip. Can't wait to see what you come up with.

I've got similar space issues with the BLMA modern billboard. I'd be interested to see what you do with the Blair Line one.

James
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kcsphil1 Prolific poster 1,234 posts
kcsphil1

Mine's N Scale

But I assume their HO version will also share similar qualities.  I am a tad concerned about the paint causing warpage since it's wood and all.

 

And thanks for digging up that link to the sign maker - it really worked great once I figured out how to print it.

Philip H. Chief Everything Officer Baton Rouge Southern Railroad, Mount Rainier Div.

"You can't just "Field of Dreams" it... not matter how James Earl Jones your voice is..." ~ my wife

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TTX101 Regular poster 484 posts
TTX101

Thanks for the link!

The Kurumi Java tool is great for nice looking, printable highway signs.  I could do it in PowerPoint, but this is so much faster, and gives pretty good results for HO scale.  Now I've got some wood sewers that would look pretty good painted silver, for overhead sign gantries . . . Great!  Thanks for another unfinished project on my bench!  (But truly, thanks thanks for posting it - this is a great tool for adding atmosphere to highway scenes)!

Rog.38

 
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