The outhouse is done, as is the shack too. Next up scenery and I started that today as well. Since this outhouse is currently in my house, would it be an indoor outhouse? The shack/crew house/office/whatever it is called is ready now. Bird’s eye view of the scenery so far. The ground cover is potting soil to simulate chewed up ground from the logging work. I think it works out pretty ok. There will be a little green added here and there as I complete more of it. Trackside view of the structures.
This is the last update on this layout for a few days. It needs to dry completely before I pour the water and make the waterfall. I planted a few tree stumps and finished the scenery today as well.
With the RT4 layout officially finished and soon to be delivered to it's new owner I am once again working on the 2x4 travel layout. Imma put the Kiddie layout on the side for a few, but that will get some love here soon. I still need a name for the 2x4 layout, I don't want to keep calling it the 2x4. I am not sure where I want to model, most likely something like the PNW since I live there and I know what the area looks like. My home layout which will be 5x3 ish will most likely be from the South West, like my T-Trak modules. So the layout got some love tonight like I said, it was painted brown so no more Pink Prairie land, I drilled most of the holes for the wiring, and cut out the base for the upper city to live on. I decided to make the upper deck removable to access the tracks in the tunnel area rather than make doors to access the area. I think it will work out pretty ok. As for the holes that I couldn't drill, that's because I do not have a 1/4" drill bit long enough. I will venture out tomorrow and see if one of the local hardware stores has one, or one close in size. I also purchased a TCS LT-50 system to use as the command station for DCC operations. This should be a perfect system to use as the layout will only be running one locomotive at a time and wireless doesn't really matter all that much on something this small. The ability to switch to DC mode will be provided as well using my MS-02 switch, which I now have the new boards, they look great, I will assemble one here soon and see how they do once built. Sorry no pics tonight, my iPad died so I am typing this out on my new Raspberry Pi 5 that I may be using in another project. I may just keep it as a desktop computer, it works pretty good as such, way better than the previous models of Pi did.
Nice work on the 'out-going' layout and will be following the soon to be renamed 2 x 4 layout. Wonder if you have looked at DCC-EX at all. Looks like a natural for you and your abilities. The command stations can be built for way under $100. The newer TrackManager addition can give you DC and DCC from the same WiFi command station and the ability to use a phone or WiThrottle (JMRI) throttle to control a DC or DCC loco..... https://dcc-ex.com/trackmanager/index.html#gsc.tab=0 Here is a video showing some of that.... The video also shows some of the 'automation' options available but one doesn't need to go into that. They can take advantage of changing blocks (if you want more than one) back and forth between DC and DCC and running either type of loco on those blocks with the same throttle. Sumner
I have thought about it and I just may be building one here in the near future. I have been getting into custom building more and more of my own equipment lately and you are right, this is right up my alley.
Show is over, I had fun, ended up with a new G scale locomotive and some wooden reefers and a bulkhead flat car with pipe load. But more importantly I was playing with N scale trains all weekend. The RT4 layout was delivered to its owner and he was extremely pleased with it. He wasn’t expecting the detail or creativity I put into it. He was expecting a small hill with tree stumps only. Here is the last pic I’m going to post of it, it has its Shay running on it pulling some log cars. There is a hidden figure on it as well, but it was added after this pic was taken.
Yes he was. He added a Squatch to it as an Easter Egg for people to find. He was not expecting a pond or a worksite shack. I really wanted to find a steam tower skidder like the one at a museum near us, but I couldn't find a model and didn't have time to build one.
