Large Scale Central

"The Original" Kittom Lumber Co.

Other Scales O / On30
#1

Back when I modeled in HO scale I had a fairly large fictional layout that depicted the logging outfit of the Kittom Lumber Company in the 1930s. It was set in Eastern Tennessee and took up a big portion of the basement of the house we were living in at that time.

It was a lot of fun but the kids grew up and moved way and we moved into a smaller home. As the eyes got weaker I wanted to try my hand at larger scales. Without the basement for a larger empire and selecting On30 as my next modeling adventure I decided to build some mini layouts.

What follows is a pictorial history of the construction of “the original” Kittom Lumber Company. This will be the story of a backwoods outfit in Kentucky or Tennessee that was the starting point of the lumber empire that would come in the 1930s. The era I’ve chosen to model is 1900– 1910. Rough temporary trackage is a hallmark of these logging outfits. The early geared locomotives are just starting to come into favor and there is some primitive steam powered log moving equipment.

As this is a ” mini" layout there is a fairly simple track plan. The overall size is 48 inches by 30 inches.

I am also trying to break from traditional wooden bench work and the layout will be constructed of Styrofoam and aluminum structural pieces. I have already been to Lowes and loaded up on essentials.

Also I am breaking from the past and will model this layout in the dead of winter. I am fascinated by the modeling techniques that re-create patches of snow, ice, and bare trees. This little mini will allow me to throw out all the stops on scenery construction and creativity. I hope to learn many new techniques.

Thanks for looking and I hope to add to this story on a regular basis.

Doc Tom

#2

Good luck Tom. Looks like fun with new challenges. A nearby friend is building a new HO layout using 4" high density foam as the base with 1x3 wood framing. It’s looking good. He’s a excellent modeler as you.

#3

Good to see you again Doc. I’ll look forward to all the installments(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)

#4

Dave Marconi said:

Good to see you again Doc. I’ll look forward to all the installments(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)

Me too!

Doc, I’m all about unconventional bench work myself these days!

Look forward to the progress !!

#5

Thanks Guys.

Good to be back and you all are so supportive.

Rooster here is how I am going “unconventional”:

I am using 2" aluminum channel around the base of the mini layout.

Construction adhesive at work here to secure the foam panels to the channel.

Hoping for strength,rigidity and light weight.

Squared aluminum tube will be mechanically secured to the frame of the base to give it a “backbone” and allow for passage of wiring.

The whole layout will sit on top of a industrial grade plastic cabinet from Lowes.

Interestingly the cabinet has some built in grooves at the top that fit the square tubing nicely. A nice surprise.

I hope this little guy is light and robust enough to take to train shows.

Doc Tom

#6

Welcome back Tom!! Interesting subject, looking forward to the build and your great story telling as well.

Like Rooster, I am looking forward to how the build goes together with a unique structural technique. Only caveat, make sure any holes in the aluminum tube that wires pass through are well rounded. If there is the smallest sharp edge, the vibration of traveling to shows will find it and generate a cut wire. Use of rubber grommets would be advisable.

Bob C.

#7

Bob “IA3R#7” Cope said:

Welcome back Tom!! Interesting subject, looking forward to the build and your great story telling as well.

Like Rooster, I am looking forward to how the build goes together with a unique structural technique. Only caveat, make sure any holes in the aluminum tube that wires pass through are well rounded. If there is the smallest sharp edge, the vibration of traveling to shows will find it and generate a cut wire. Use of rubber grommets would be advisable.

Bob C.

Thanks Bob. Good to be back.

All wiring will be in the center area between the two square aluminum tubes and will not go through them.

Agree that cut aluminum has some sharp edges. Did a lot of “deburring” on the cut channel and tubing with a file after making the cuts with a hacksaw.

Doc Tom

#8

Well after the liquid nails set up the bricks were removed and here’s what the base of the new On30 mini layout looks like.

Corners were mechanically fastened with Sheetrock screws. Liquid nails is good stuff but always feel better when structural pieces are “glued and screwed.”

Next up the square tubing “backbone” of the layout was placed and secured. Used the E6000 glue for metals that I learned about in my Garden Rail Roading days to “G&S”.

It all went together nicely and the tubing fit perfectly in the grooves on the top of the Lowes plastic cabinet.

I like the look of the burnished aluminum and think it will go well with cold colors of the layout in winter to come.

Now, the fun begins…building scenery. Put down some liquid nails adhesive and start building up layers of cake.

The Guys at Lowes were a big help ripping the 48"X30" slabs of styrofoam on their big wood cutting rig. We had an enjoyable time talking about their generational modeling activities using foam “dragons, snakes and warriors” carved from foam block and made on 3D printers. This just might be the future of modeling making.

Thanks for looking. Doc Tom

#9

yes, today’s fantasy and its offsprings does not combine well with trains. (save Harry Potter)

is the base of the cabinet wide enough? did you make any “tumble tests”?

#10

An excellent foundation Tom. It looks ridged and will supported. 4’x30" should provide enough space for inventive modeling. Looking forward to seeing more as you proceed.

#11

Korm Kormsen said:

yes, today’s fantasy and its offsprings does not combine well with trains. (save Harry Potter)

is the base of the cabinet wide enough? did you make any “tumble tests”?

Hi Korm,

Maybe the youngun’s will come around to trains…particularly all the very cool electronics packed in to these little beasts.

Yes, the cabinet is wide enough. The whole layout is about the same size as my other mini the Haitian sugar train and it never fell over over the past several years.

While the aluminum base looks stout it is all as light as a feather and can be picked up with one hand. So no “top heaviness” to speak of. How it will go once logs start getting harvested is anyone’s guess.(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)

Doc Tom

#12

Rich Niemeyer said:
An excellent foundation Tom. It looks ridged and will supported. 4’x30" should provide enough space for inventive modeling. Looking forward to seeing more as you proceed.

Thanks Rich. One thing nice about these “mini’s” you can get to the modeling part pretty quickly as the small size makes for a quick frame up of the layout.

Doc Tom

#13

Tom

This looks very interesting , even if Rooster likes it! (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

I am looking forward to this build! (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-tongue-out.gif)

#14

I’m going to follow this with interest. Aluminum, huh? Fascinating.

#15

Oh wow Tom This is going to be so much fun to watch. Thank you for sharing.(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif) And I see the sugarcane layout in the background.

#16

More than enough support Doc! Love it !!

Now were really gonna eyeball your layout macro photography …(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

#17

Steve Featherkile said:

I’m going to follow this with interest. Aluminum, huh? Fascinating.

Yep, ALyoominiyouum.

Think of it this way. I am recycling all the beverage containers you all used on your hot Garden RR’s this summer.(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)

Doc Tom

#18

Great cartoon Tom. Really looking forward to seeing what you come up with. You never disappoint, and a winter layout ought to be a welcome change from the summer heat. I think that’s one of the really neat things about outdoor railroading. You can have winter and spring. Even all four seasons if you are a talented gardener. I’d say you are off to a nice sleek looking start.

#19

Think of it this way. I am recycling all the beverage containers you all used on your hot Garden RR’s this summer.(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)

Doc Tom

Not mine. I saved mine for future building projects.

#20

My next steps are to enlarge the HO layout plans from Carl Arendt’s very nice micro layout website to On30.

In HO the layout is 18" X 48". I widened it to 30"X48". I picked a 30 " width to be able to get it out and through doors and hallways if I did take it to shows or train clubs to exhibit.I had to use some math to make the conversion in size and scale.

I was helped greatly by PECO templates of their On30 turnouts http://www.peco-uk.com/page.asp?id=tempO165

I downloaded the full sized templates and using spray adhesive mounted them to foam core board. These were then cut out as in the picture.

I need two wye, 3 left hand and 1 right hand turnouts.

Using the templates, some math and a grid pattern I was able to transfer the layout plans to one of the 30"X48" foam panels.

I noted one area of concern in the “valley section” of the layout.The tail from the engine house is pretty short and I will need to slide the real track around to add a few more precious inches. Fortunately, there is only one locomotive on this layout, the short wheel based On30 Bachmann Heisler.So I think I get it all to fit snugly.

Thanks for looking. Doc Tom