Stuart, I've looked at that 14 second clip a couple of times and having a bit of a time trying to figure it out. Was the camera tilted 90 degrees? I found the build thread on the building and it looks like it was some excellent work. http://www.railroad-line.com/forum/t...TOPIC_ID=19156

Don't be a stranger, we need to see more of your handiwork!

Jim

Well if the mechanics don't work there is always that girl to open the doors.

Mind you a better choice!!

Well Jerry, she sort of is a mechanic. She'd twist you around like a screwdriver. That is 'Alexa' a female wrestler from the WWF. Worldwide Wrestling Federation not the WorldWide Wildlife Foundation although the jury is still out on that.

Jim

Cool project!

:up: Looks good Jim'... :up:

Very cool, love your projects!

Thanks! The cameraphone was shooting straight down from the open roof, with the door toward the left. The whole structure has since been installed on a friend's layout, I'll try to get some photos up.

Ray, Ted, Dave, and Stuart, thanks for checking it out. It won't make thje April 30th deadline, but it very near finished. I'll still post final pictures and a little video when it's done.

Jim

After changing my mind for the umpteenth time, the project moved to a module. This is the first module I've ever attempted so I've got a lot to learn. This is one of the 30" X 48" variety modules. My buddy who has a great woodshop and I built the framework for the module. 2" 250 PSI construction foam is the module base. Laying out the turntable and roundhouse was challenging in that small space. The largest problem was the 5 stall roundhouse was just not going to fit with the mandatory restriction in place for module design. Two stalls were wacked, and the roundhouse had to be rebuilt.

Oh, another surprise was that modules use code 100 rail. After I built a code 83 #5 turnout, that was a bummer. New code 100 #5 built, time to move along. After carefully following my blueprint drawn on a napkin with a Sharpie, I started.

The plan was simple, TT on one end, roundhouse on the opposite end, turnout off the main to the turntable. In 46-1/2" of actual track length, there isn't room to have both an ingress and separate egress rail to the turntable. So, I ended up with a turntable goesinta/goesoutta rail. 22" minimum radius curve and a #5 turnout.

First up after putting a coat of paint over the ugly pink foam was to paint the rail.


Masking off the rail to be painted.


Using that portable battery operated airbrush made painting the rail very easy and fast.

The cork roadbed been put in place, and glued down with Loctite clear adhesive in 'caulking' tube. The same adhesive would be used to glue the track to it. Stuff is amazing, and it dries clear in about an hour. The foam will rip apart before the glue bond will break. I fabricated a 1/4" plywood pad for a Tortoise to be mounted to, through the foam. Mounted the Tortoise and dropped it through the hole created for it. Excavated a 1/4" deep drop in the foam, and the Tortoise assembly mounted flush with the top. Checked out that operation, and mounted the turnout over the actuation wire.




The Atlas flex track was being persnickety about making that 22" radius smooth.





Moving the turntable over a bit was not an option, so a little convincing to make that 22" radius was needed. I used a 22" faststick to force the curve, held it with a T-pin and a couple of spikes.



I then 'hammered' the held track and roadbed with straight white glue after shimming the lead-in rail with a .75mm shim I printed.



I then packed the location with course ballast and waited 24 hours.



After the 24 hour delay the track wasn't going to move again.

With that problem solved, it was a matter of lining up, shimming, and tweaking the spur rails to the roundhouse and a engine service facility track, and a crash track in the event of a runaway locomotive coming off the main and doing a full gainer off the module. The 'cinder' track won't be powered, so if someone runs a loco through the turntable, it'll never get to the edge.



Another angle



Everything was looking good until....the GP40 came off the 22" curve and promptly hooked its railing with the guard rail on the turntable bridge. about 2 hours later the new version of the guard rail was redesigned, printed, and cemented into place.





Clearance problem solved.






On to the animation and electronics installation.

Jim

Jim,

Lookin' good! Nice you can fix the challenges as they crop up.

Round house is looking good as well.

Scott

Thanks for the nice comments Scott.

Jim

Very nice, Jim.

It doesn’t look easy fitting a turntable to a module.

Mike

Thanks Mike,

I probably could have gone a few more inches closer to the end, and that would have made that radius a little longer to the TT. But, the only other TT I've seen on a module was a 6' module, and they had it hanging out there like an appendage. No roundhouse just a turntable. [:-boring].

Jim

Jim great job!!

Thanks Jerry, A lot of self inflicted challenges.

Jim