NTS&B 2013 NMRA National Convention Open House

Made it through the National Model Railroad Association (NMRA) 2013 National convention.  Every one was very pleasant. and seemed to enjoy themselves as much as I did, and went much better than I anticipated.  Not sure I would do it again.  Was a lot of work for the small turnout on Sunday, and the short tour on Monday.

Sunday  was a walk-in open house.  Only had 19 people, which included Kathy & Me, 5 workers, 2 club members,  and 10 additional visitors (which was about what I expected).  Furthest traveled was a couple from Geneva, Switzerland.  Mostly we had a good play session. As usual, whenever we messed up, the visitors would show up.   After the tour, John L added some excitement with his (almost) high flying Rocket GG1.

Monday was an organized bus tour.   It arrived about 15 minutes early, which was even before the trains were running.   We had 32 people total, which included Kathy & me, 5 workers, and 25 visitors (the complete bus load).  Needless to say, it was 'slightly' crowded.  The tour stayed about an hours, which was 10 minutes longer than scheduled, but still left ahead of schedule.  Furthest traveled was from Australia, although I didn't get a chance to talk to them.  Here is a picture of the bus that pulled up outside the house on Monday.

NTS&B Phase 4 Bigville under construction and staged for NMRA Convention

Construction of the city of Bigville has officially started.  Shown is the start of a Girder and Panel building from my set from the 1960's.  Construction is delayed until after lights have been installed which will be after the open house for the NMRA 2013 Atlanta convention.   Instead of progressing on the building, a construction scene was staged for the convention.

Girder and Pane set building started 

Staged construction area.  The cylinder will eventually be painted as a sky scraper

Construction crew is hard at work.  The crane is a Lionel and came with a 6828 flat car early 1960's 

More staging

Overall layout picture

NTS&B Phase 4 Bigville platform constructed and mainline track laid in

The Bigville platform has now been primed and put in position.  The mainline track has been permanently installed under Bigville, and temporarily ended.  A temporary 0-34 loop was added to the added to the outside mainline, so now continuous operation can occur. 

NTS&B Phase 4 Fall Level underground section complete

The track work, walls, and lights are completed in the lower level.  Now I  can start on the mainline track and make the Bigville platform.  Here are some pictures on what the lower level of the new extension looks like.

Walls and lights installed

Secret Head Quarters

Ready to put the mainline 'lid' down

Mainline benchwork attached

Current Size

NTS&B Phase 4 started

A couple friends wanted to help work on the layout, so last weekend they came over and we built 2 modules.  I started out the weekend and week before taking out the temporary turn-around at the end of the yard.  Wayne, Paul, and Paul Jr  spent most Sat building the 2 3x8 modules, and Paul Jr got one of them painted.  I have been working since then to get the legs under it, finish up the painting, lay the trackwork, and get he second layer supported.  Here are some pictures of the help, and how the new modules currently look.

 The help.  Hard at 'work'

 Hey, somebody's got to do the work !

 'We got legs, and know how to use them' (kind of).  Lower module installed.



 Lower module with track installed. Probably the last time this portion will be visable.  Unpainted part is new temprary turn-around.  Perminent modules probably won't be until after Jul or Oct.

View with both layers installed.  Still have skirts, under layout, upper level support, track to install, etc

NTS&B New Overhead Bridge Complete

Finally got the area under the bridge complete.  Used (too) cheap 2x4 fluorescent light defuser panel, which wouldn't support any weight without bowing.  Had to come up with an edging to help support it (an old curtain rod).  Once that was settled, was able to lay out the scene.  The fishing shacks were scratch built (2x2), and Kathy did the paint job on them.   The scene could be a lot more detailed, but this is all its getting for now.  Maybe someday ...

Nice winter day, the ice fishermen are out in force

 

Ranger Joe goes to the aid of an Orca whale stranded on the Ice

Scene under bridge.  The fish are running today (My feeble attempt at scenery)

Oops.. Going to be a Long day

Now this fisherman has the right idea.  A nice warm shack

NTS&B Spring Ceiling Loop almost completed

Finally got all the lights lit, houses wired, trees in, and telephone poles up on the new ceiling loop.  Only things left to do is UNDER the new bridge, and a couple small details above.  Also, most of the ladder work for the layout is finally done.   Am getting closer to the point where I planned to be by last October, but that will probably take another month or 2.   Here's some pictures of the new loop.

Village scene with Kringle's Operating Blimp ride

Raised track for search light car.  Eventually will be illuminating some C130H aircraft flying near the ceiling

Trees along back of track (made from Christmas Garland)

Pine Cone Trees (Idea from Squeekville Raiload in Knoxville)

This Coke billboard was another Christmas present.  (I added the LEDs)

NTS&B 2012 Christmas Present installed

On the NTS&B, the economy is so good that towns just spring up overnight.  Actually, Kathy got me a Lemax Kringles Air Field for Christmas.  It is a blimp with a sleigh under it, and rotates on a wire hook.  I did not have a place on the layout for it that she liked, so decided to add an extension to the new upper loop and build a town around it.  The airfield is so tall, I had to drop the extension down 2 inches so it would clear the ceiling.

The LED Christmas tree is also a Lemax.  The tree and blimp are supposed to run off 4.5V DC, but the tree was so bright I ended up running them off a 2.5 V DC adapter. The houses are all LEDS and run off the same supply. The street lights are $1 Store 3V DC specials.  They were too bright also,  so I ran them 2 in series, and also off the 2.5 adapter.  Using the LEDs kept the current low enough so 1 adapter is supplying all of the devices

NTS&B New overhead loop bridge plans A through C

 I finally got some time to work on the new ceiling loop bridge.  The original attempt (plan a below) was a little too plain for my liking, so I came up with the idea to add an arch after seeing a foot bridge of similar design.  I wanted a fairly low arch since the bridge is supposed to be low to the water and has many supports.  My first attempt for the risers (plan b below) was using the vinyl cord that is used to string beads.  The cord was too 'sticky', and could not be adjusted easily.  This ended up making the arch way to flat.   The final idea (plan c below) was to use 1/8 inch dowels for the risers, which I believe worked quite nicely.  The bridge is now complete, but I still want to put a scene underneath it.



Plan C-Bridge with Arch and dowel risers

Plan B-Bridge with Arch and Vinyl Cord

Plan A - Plain Bridge

NTS&B Merry Christmas 2012

Another year has passed, and the layout has not progressed much. I'd like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, and Happy and safe New Years.  This year we had family down in shifts, so celebrated multiple Christmas's.  Here's a couple pics of the grand-elves at the Lights Of Life.