| Last updated on January 11, 2021
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Is it possible to have an operating switch stand, that is, one that turns when the switch is thrown? Does the product from San Juan Model Company do that? Or am I asking too much for O scale? 🙂
O have recently caught a video on YouTube from the UK about how the butterfly plant, which is an invasive species to the UK is colonising much of the railway infrastructure, including between the rails and ties, and becoming a nuisance. Would kudzu, which has invaded the US from Asia invade a NG logging line in the same way?
Your presentation and speaking skills just keep getting better and better. Fun to watch and always informative. Well worth the price of admission. Keep at it.
Hi David. Will Olympia 2 be operated with a work card system similar to Olympia 1? Hope we get to see an operations video for Olympia 2.
Great Installment David. Really like the idea of the smaller size of the layout versus a huge layout that is sometimes a little bit overwhelming. Are you planning on having an installment on operations for the layout like you did for the Beer Line?
David,
The picture I referred below is actually on the top of page 14. I can scan it and send you a copy for personal use if you would like.
David,
There is a picture of a horse skidding team loading page 20, 21, or 22 of Murray Hammond’s book “East Texas Logging Railroads.”
Also, have you had a chance to update the cards for the Olympia yet?
Love the videos.
Thanks,
Todd Richard
Tell you what David, that static grass looks great. I can see how it gets addicting but don’t put so much on that you need to get a weed-wacker to trim it occasionally! When you were installing the grass on the front of the layout, you could see the grass shooting vertically down to attach to the scenery. Real neat view!
I really like the idea of two sizes of static grass as it gives a more fuller realistic look. I am relatively new to model railroading (10 Years) so these tips are good for me as I have a really old layout that was given to me that I have been fixing up and this will really help me. love the switches also.
Dave,
I have an old (very old) Black and Decker mini food processor that I use to “unclump” scenery material. I think we got the processor free as a promotional item but it works very well. It measures 5.5 inches long by 4 inches wide and 3.5 inches tall. The advantage of such a small processing container is that you don’t need to load much scenery material into it for it to work. Also, the blades aren’t really very sharp and the softness of the scenery material allows it to be separated without being shredded to something smaller than you want to use. I doubt that these machines are still available but other tools might be able to do the job. I was thinking of a battery operated paint mixer and a container with a hole in the top to let the mixer through but keep the material from being thrown out.
Hello all,
Since it’s been nice and quiet here this week, I thought I’d take a minute to answer a few questions:
Justin, Google “gallows turntable” and you’ll come up with a whole host of images and blueprints. Just scale them to fit your project and you’re all set. It looks like the best starting point.
Richard, sorry about your DSLR and the static grass. I was concerned about having the video camera close to the action, and did have to vacuum it when I was done to keep those fibers from getting inside it.
Cody was worried that I didn’t put down the damp paper towels around the areas I wanted to protect, such as the track and non-grassy scenery. However, the head of the precision applicator is so small, there was no need. And, the Peco system seems to put more charge into the grass than any other applicator I’ve used, which meant that the grass tended to go straight for the wet glue and nowhere else.
Steven, I have every intention of completing the boardwalk between the cabins and down to the log pond. We’ve reached the point where I need to build steps, and I hate cutting stair stringers, so I’ve switched to other projects for the time being. They’ll get there eventually.
Robert, I had originally thought that I’d build the linkage to make the targets on the switch stand move with the position of the points. Alas, the plastic castings are very delicate, and they didn’t stand up to the pressure of the rods well. So, for now at least, static stands it is.
Paul, thanks for the compliment. Having visited the Pacific NW just once, I’m working mostly from photos.
Greg, the stiff wires on the Peco applicator took a bit to get used to, but once I’d figured out a system, they were no trouble at all – I just needed to keep them away from delicate scenery items, and amazingly, I didn’t shear off the top of the ladder at the end of the dock!
Ed, I didn’t have any trouble with using the 4mm grass after the 6mm. Also, Peco also sells a spray adhesive that you can apply to previously applied static grass that allows you to layer additional static grass applications over the top, so you can make the grasses as tall as you’d like. While I thought it would be fun to show, I never got around to using it, as I was happy with my 4-6mm blend.
On a future note, I don’t have room for the spar tree kit I picked up to load the log cars. So I’m looking for information on using mule teams to pull the logs off the ramp onto the cars for loading. I’ve seen exactly one small grainy black and white photo showing this practice, and it is too difficult to figure out the block and tackle arrangement they used. If any of you have a suggestion of other places to look, please pass it along.
Glad you’re all still enjoying Olympia as much as I am. Best wishes in the new year!
D.
As always – interesting, informative and entertaining. Thank you.
David,
I have start my own 0n30 layout just a few months ago. I want to scratch build my own Galo’s turn table. Got any thoughts for me where to start looking for a set of plans?
Grass tufts.
If you have a static grass applicator, no need to buy tufts. Just put dots of Elmer’s Glue All (or any scenic cement) on a sheet of aluminum foil, and make your own tufts. After they dry (about one to two hours) your home made tufts just peel off, just like the commercial tufts. The best part, is you can make whatever shapes you need, and in whatever colours you need. They take seconds to make.
When working with static grass… if you are taking photos, and you have a DSLR camera… do NOT change lenses in range of the static grass. The static grass is positively charged, and your sensor on the camera is negatively charged. The fibers WILL attract to your camera’s sensor… you can NOT clean it, and you will only be able to fix the issue by taking your camera in to a professional to be cleaned.
Ask me how I know.
In between the company cabins, have you thought about butting a few steps in so it kinda connect the two cabins. I think it help set off that scene.
Another spectacular video, David! Static grass is definitely the key to so much more realism. I hope Pico corrects the stiff wire issue and and I’ll check it out. Thanks, keep it up, and Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!
Looking very “Pacific Northwest-erny,” David.
I’m enjoying the logging project and look forward to it each month. It is looking fantastic. The Peco precision applicator just got added to my train show shopping list. I like the finer control it has. I have a full size (different brand) applicator that does an excellent job but gets the fibers everywhere. I have found the Peco grasses to have a lot of odd color fibers like blue and red, and prefer Heki for a more realistic look.
Great additions to the logging railroad David. This layout and the Log Blog are useful to me as an example of a never ending project railroad for my wife to realize that layouts are never complete no matter how complete they may appear.
Man that static grass really adds to the finished look David. I like the switch stands as well, (even though you put the foreground one in facing the wrong way). That’s when you tell people, it’s a freelanced railroad, we do things our way around here. I’m looking forward to 2019 for more progress on the Log Blog
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all the MRVP gang and the MR gang as well
I found it interesting that you started with the 6 mm grass and then moved to the shorter length. I’d have thought you’d start with the short ones and work up so that all the static grass would have the opportunity to reach the glue.
Ya know, some of that backing on previously installed clumps of grass does look a bit like sod, but way too much.
Too bad the switch stands weren’t operating. Not necessarily using them to “bend the iron”, but at least having the targets show which way the points are going.