Large Scale Central

Watts-Myniss Mine

General Discussion
#1

Some of you may remember my mighty 5x8 tabletop layout. When we moved in here last March I had more room, so I added a spur along the other wall. Then I got busy with other stuff and it sat, and sat, and sat, unfinished, collecting junk.

A couple weeks ago my ex informed me that my son, his wife and young twins will be coming out from Philly for Christmas week… AND they wanted to see the trains run! Okay, time to get off dead center… First on the agenda was the mine structure. Bear in mind that the shelf is only 10" deep. Keeping with the “company town” theme, I started with another Piko house (actually the church/school). I built a wood base to get it up in the air, and a flat for the back wall. Then to match the siding on the Piko kit I covered much of it with individual boards (actually coffee stirring sticks from a local convenience store-- hey, they were free) . I may add a brick or stone face to the base. I haven’t really decided,and I need to make signage as well. And, yes, it is going to be lit.

Any suggestions?

#2

My suggestion, Mik, is to keep at it…you is doin’ fine…!!!

#3

Mik,

Looks like you are off to a great start. I would suggest some form of track underlay. Track attached to bare plywood produces an annoying sound to me.

#4

Thank you Fr, Fred.

Jack, I thought about it. But floating the track in the ballast helps. Plus I usually run at a creep, if it takes a minute or so to make the circuit the layout SEEMS bigger. That’s also why there are tall (2 foot) trees and other things to serve as a view block.

Glen Miller usually helps hide the rumble as well. My grandfather always had big band music playing when he ran his Lionel trains, so it just feels “natural”. I think it’s better than crappy OEM sound systems anyway.

#5

Glen Miller, what a wonderful idea.

“Take the ‘A’ Train”

"Chattanooga Choo-Choo

and others… :smiley:

#6

That sound I could enjoy, rather than the NOISE most insist on cramming in other’s ears…

#7

…Sounds of Glen Miller in the background, would make for a wonderful afternoon in the back yard or shop…of course played at a low volume.

#8

I also planned on building a gas well to put along the back edge (about 3" wide ledge) so that it would block the fact that the world simply, well, ends. Then I thought a bit more, and decided to make a small oil well instead (just the pump, not the derrick – I’d LOVE to build one of those, but don’t have that kind of room). I originally envisioned something along the lines of a 4HP Myrick Eclipse with attached pumpjack, but I didn’t have the proper sized dowel for the cylinder (trying to build something without buying anything I didn’t already have)…Soooo, then I made do with what size I had (3/4") , and found a couple spare cast iron toy wheels and ended up with something about the size of a 10HP. Rather large for this type of installation, but Star made vertical engines this size for in well drillers, so I guess it will do. I’m still trying to decide whether to make a shanty for over it. What it looked like about 3 hours ago. One nice thing about being indoors is you can use stuff like wood.

(http://i397.photobucket.com/albums/pp52/steamnut1917/PB230001_01.jpg)

Painted and installed.

(http://i397.photobucket.com/albums/pp52/steamnut1917/PB230002_01.jpg)

Another view… I reallly should have shortened the engine block, but it still looks rather good from 5 feet away.

(http://i397.photobucket.com/albums/pp52/steamnut1917/PB240001.jpg)

#9

Mik,

That looks so cool. There is no reason why wood can’t be used outdoors. Just get the right wood and glue, and accept that it won’t last forever…

Are you going to paint a derrick on the backdrop?

#10

No backdrop there…just mid-air. I had to leave a 2 foot gap because that is right in front of the ONLY window the landlord allows us to put an AC unit in… I MAY put xmas lights around the window and open the blinds to run trains so the neighbors can watch when it gets closer tho Christmas

#11
Jack Barton said:
Mik,

Looks like you are off to a great start. I would suggest some form of track underlay. Track attached to bare plywood produces an annoying sound to me.


I’ve found on my old layout the cork underlayment didnt do much, most of the noise was coming from the metals wheels on the tracks, so this time around I didnt do any.

#12
Victor Smith said:
most of the noise was coming from the metals wheels on the tracks, so this time around I didnt do any.
Metal wheels on tracks isn't noise, it's a railroad sound! Noise is the drumming the bare plywood can sometimes deliver. I figure if the tiny H0 people think a 1/2" of underlay is good, then it should be a minimum for us. my indoor layout is 32' long so that may make a difference.