It’s hard to keep with Gerry’s rapid pace of construction. Fortunately, he slowed down for a quick recap of what he’s accomplished with the cameras turned off. Then, it’s back to solving benchwork problems!
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Thanks both Bills —
New episodes? I’m told it’ll be shortly. I don’t have anything to do with scheduling.
Turntable? I’m not certain that I shot anything about mine. I think basically I cut a hole in the plywood and dropped it in. That’s one of the beauties of the Walthers turntables. They come with a template so getting the hole the right size is even easy. Like I said, this is the 3rd layout it’s been on and the only problem I’ve ever had with it is getting ballast in the gear teeth, and that’s an easy fix.
Gerry
Always wise to not glue structure until you know for sure it’s not going to be in the way down the road. I screwed all mine in and that has held fine so far.
I’m going to be watching when you get to the turntable segment. Need to change one on my layout maybe 2 also. But I got an odd size one (9 1/2″) originally which keeps jamming up and will only turn one way. Taken it apart many times and cleaned it all up and reassembled it and it will work fine for a while then it’s cleanup time again.
Bill and one of the over 60 ones, closer to over 80.
Hi: All the best for 2022. Love the seriesw but when do we get a few more episodes?
Bill Musselwhite
Happy [almost] New Year to you, Steve. I’m using a Walthers turntable, which I had on my previous two layouts. It’s their original 90-foot pre-DCC-controlled model, so it’s just over a foot in diameter. I love it! I honestly think it’s one of the top 10 greatest model railroad innovations of this century.
And thanks for the kind words about the series!
Gerry,
Great Series!! Thank you and the MR staff for taking the time to make it “top-notch”. Not to get too far ahead, but on your turn-table, are you going to scratch-build it or do you have a favorite commercial model you are thinking of using….or using a previous one. Also what is the diameter? I am planning a turn-table on my RR. They can take up a considerable space. Thank you.. God bless and Happy New Year!
Thanks Gerry.
With a lot of the comments you have made you must be on the same side of 60 that I am, I am sure there isn’t many today that remember Nixon’s “I am not a crook”
Keep asking questions and making comments, Ron (and everyone). There’s no such thing as a dump question…just a dumb answer. And I’ve got a bunch of those for you! 🙂
Thank you Gerry it is great to have someone to ask such questions of, someone with the experience under their belt. my hat is off to you and all of the MR staff
Excellent questions, Ron. We were all newbies at some point! Track nails will undoubtedly hold better because they’re longer and thicker. However I’ve found that using Micro Engineering Medium Spikes to hold down the rail works well to hold the track, but allows the track to “breathe” (expand and contract) better than nails. They also let me reposition the track more easily if I need to. Plus, the diluted white glue and ballast will completely hold it in place later on. I’d use nails if I was going to transport the layout to and from train shows, but for home use spikes work fine. I put them in holes in the center of the ties because once the ballast is down some will inevitably get on top of the ties, and at that point you can’t distinguish the spike heads from the ballast pieces.
Gerry
I have a real New-bee question for you I know you are using Micro Engineering spikes for holding the track down, how do these hold verses Track Nails and are you putting the spikes into the center of the track in holes in the ties or right by the rails
Hi, everyone —
Mark — yes the squares are 1 foot squares.
Rod — a 1/2% grade isn’t steep enough to get any of the cars rolling, and I have very free-rolling cars. My BV III was on a 1/2% grade and I never had a problem there, either. It’s only about 1/2 inch in 8 feet!
Gerry,
Looks like you’re having fun.
Will the classification yard also have a half percent grade, and if so, how do you keep the cars from rolling ?
Gerry,
Love what your doing! Looks like your having fun, you still have hair, so your not scratching your head to briskly! I have a question for you, Are the squares on your design one footers of some other size?
Gerry,
Be careful with that mainline track coming out of the helix and going through the curved side of the turnout that enters the yard trackage. Could be an s-curve issue.
Hope this helps,
Dave Foxx
Gerry,
Be careful with that mainline track coming out of the helix and going through the curved side of the turnout that enters the yard trackage. Could be an s-curve issue.
Hope this helps,
Dave Foxx