NTS&B Phase 5 module Track Wiring Laid In

Finally got all of the track wiring laid in from the barrier blocks for the outer 3 loops.  Only about 4 of the pairs are connected to the tracks at this time.   There will multiple connections on each loop.  On the sidings, there is usually a connection on each end.  This is to provide insurance that a week pin will not cause power problems in the future.  Here are pictures of the block connectors, which will give you an idea on how many wires I have run so far.  The loose unlabeled wires are temporary connections. All black wires are to the center rail of the tracks, and the green wires are to the outer (ground) wires.  Control Switch and Accessory wiring have not been started.

Connectors on right are outside track (1), ones on left are loop 2

 Track 3 Connector

Common Debug Power Connector

NTS&B Last Phase 5 module

The last module of the fall layer has now been framed in.  Hopefully will get plywood by the end of the week.  With this 2x4 module, the overall footprint of the layout has now been laid in.  Still lots more work to do.  Also, have laid in quit a few track power lines for the outside loop, and established the power blocks for the 2 outside loops.  Here are some updated pictures.

NTS&B Phase 5-Bay and forth module

The weather has not been cooperating real well this week.  Seems that when ever I have a day to work on the layout, it's raining, or rained the previous night so my outside work area is still wet.  To make things worse, I offered to have the club meeting here in only 3 more weeks, so I've got to really get going.  I did manage to get a couple things done.  The first was to get all of the supports in for the bay area.  I then applied one of the oldest scenery techniques for making the water. It's commonly know as 'paper water'.  It's quick to apply, and doesn't need painting (April Fools !!).  I installed the paper so I would have a template to cut out the lake when I finally get the plywood installed.  I also get the next 4x8 module framed in.  Again, waiting for plywood, but at least I can now continue wiring if it's raining.  To make room, most of the 'stuff' that was on the end of the room is now under the layout, with a few more things to cut down to fit.

Bay area supports added, and paper mockup installed.

Another 4x8 module added. Room is getting smaller.

View from other side.  The big hole in the middle is where the upper level will be added.

View of overall layout

NTS&B Phase 5-Some wiring and third module

I finished the legs, and started running wires on the new extension.  While reviewing my track plan with accessories, I realized that the control panel that I had planned for the side of the table really needed to be on the end of the next table.  This is because the accessories require accurate car positioning, which could not be made looking from the side.  Therefore, I had to extend the wires I had already run.   I did realize that it is much easier to run wires from the top of the table, instead of underneath the table.  The problem is now that I feel I should put a clear acrylic top on it instead of plywood, so people can see how much work goes on UNDER the layout.

I also started the small extension on the mainline table, where the light house will be located.  The cardboard and blue papers are where the bay will be located.

View from one end showing wires and lights and new module

 View from other end, showing more wire and bay

Side view of bay, module, and approximate track positions.

NTS&B Phase 5 Started-First 2 modules

Finally started on the 8x10 fall (autumn, not as in fall on the floor) section.  This week I started on the 1x4 transition section, and the first 4x8 table.  The remaining 4x8 and 2x8 will be delayed a while until I make more room for the expansion. The 2 new module frameworks are complete, and temporary legs holding them up.  The legs will be connected and the module fully attached to the rest of the layout this week (when I am able to move again).  Hopefully, the plywood table top will follow next week.  Here are pictures of the progress so far.

 02/08/2015-Step 1-Move kitchen table out to make room for extension

Day -1-Demolition (no-didn't use sledge hammer)-disassemble temporary table on end of layout

Day 1 - Transition module complete

 Started main table. Ran out of daylight

Day 2-Framing complete for main module.  Legs temporarily balanced underneath.

Overview picture of layout showing new foot print

NTS&B Kris Kringles Klearance And Kloseout Shop

Scott and Maria gave me a Kringles Klearance And Kloseout Shop for Christmas.  Carolyn and Anthony gave me some snow covered trees. I finally found an appropriate place to put them on the layout.  It also created a logical place to put a road to access Tinseltown.  Here are some pictures of the final result.

Found new home for Kloseout Shop

Kloseout Shop installed with roads and snow

Lights connected

Overall scene with new trees on left

Scene at dusk

NTS&B Merry Christmas 2014

Another year has passed, and the layout has not progressed much again this year.  Had shoulder surgery at end of Feb to fix ice skating injuries, and still can't do much.  Mainly been working on scenery and Bigville, since that's about all I can do.   We did a recent trip to Callaway Gardens for the lights.   Here are a few pictures.  Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

NTS&B Fifth Piedmont Pilgrimage Open House

My fifth Piedmont Pilgrimage turned out to be just as enjoyable as my other ones.  I had 5 full time 'helpers' (Wayne C, Roger & Sherry, Bob P, and Les) , and a couple club members came over.  All told, we had 62 people including ourselves, which is a record.  We picked up at least 1 new family for the club.

As usual, the weeks before, I worked my tail off trying to get last minute finishing touches in, mainly on Bigville Bank and Mis-Trust.  All buttons that did not have an override at the control panels  were painted red.  The rest was just general cleanup.

Form what I could tell, everyone seemed to have a good time

NTS&B Bigville Bank and Mis-Trust building completed

The third and final Bigville building is compete and installed.  May have to add some more detail to the inside later.   Here are some pictures of the initial concept and finished product.

 Paper napkin inartistic artists concept drawing

 Finished building

 Finished building lit up

Bigville

 RR-Track rendition of Bigville

NTS&B Daffy Duck to the rescue-new Bigville building started

Finally started the new Bigville skyscraper (tentative name is Bigville Bank and MisTrust).  Building is being made out of Plexiglass, and will be approximately 15" wide by 17" deep by 28" tall, with another 2" tall penthouse on top.  I knew plexiglass is a pain to work with.  After I got it cut out (which is what I thought the hardest part was going to be), I tried to remove the protective paper from the plexiglass so I could start what I thought would be the second challenge (getting glue to hold the pieces together).  The plexiglass I used was quite old, so the paper would NOT come off.  After working over 1/2 hour, I managed to get about a 6x6 square done.   I then went to the manufacture web site, and they suggested to soak the paper with a product made by Duron. Duron is now out of business,  so after numerous phone calls decided that was a dead end.  I then called Home Depot, and they suggested a plastic paint scraper or another piece of plexiglass which should not the scratch plexiglass if used carefully.  That worked a little better than nothing, but was still almost impossible to get the paper off, and left much of the glue on the plexiglass.

I finally had the idea to try heat to soften it up.  I found my very shy Daffy Duck hair dryer (he must be shy, because he kept hiding under towels in the back of the linen closet, and Kathy said she didn't put him there).   The heat worked great on all but the most stubborn parts.  I then discovered rubbing alcohol worked fairly well on those parts.   All in all, it took about most of my spare time for 3 days (and 2 very sore thumbs), to get the paper off 5 pieces.

Here's Daffy at work, along with some progress pictures.

 Daffy to the rescue !!

 First attempt at gluing sides (took 3 more tries before I finally got it to hold)

 Penthouse fabricated and painted, but not complete.

No that's not magic.  There's a stealth building under that penthouse.