The MRR in the Attic - Blumentritt's Build Thread

[PhilP]

Have you thought about how you will get access to things at the back of the layout?

We have a long (90 feet) but narrow (13 feet) loft, with access along the middle..
As we get older, climbing onto the layout, and working under the eaves, gets to be a lot more awkward..

If you have been working for any length of time, getting back out can be a struggle!

PhilP

 

[dunnyrail]

Have you thought about how you will get access to things at the back of the layout?

We have a long (90 feet) but narrow (13 feet) loft, with access along the middle..
As we get older, climbing onto the layout, and working under the eaves, gets to be a lot more awkward..

If you have been working for any length of time, getting back out can be a struggle!

PhilP

Oh if only, mine is around 16ft long by 23 wide on the floor Width. But I use a board height of around 2ft thus giving about 10ft usable at that height. Under the boards is all storage right as far as I can get it (full) with most stuff in wheeled boxes that can be pulled out with relative ease though I do need to go mining underneath at times. But that length, I assume this is where Shades is.

 

[JimmyB]

Oh if only, mine is around 16ft long by 23 wide on the floor Width. But I use a board height of around 2ft thus giving about 10ft usable at that height. Under the boards is all storage right as far as I can get it (full) with most stuff in wheeled boxes that can be pulled out with relative ease though I do need to go mining underneath at times. But that length, I assume this is where Shades is.

Luxury, 1.6mtr height (me) I have to stoop to get around my attic, so probably 1.4mtr at the highest point, and roof supports ever 0.6 mtrs, so no chance of a loft layout

 

[playmofire]

Have you thought about how you will get access to things at the back of the layout?

We have a long (90 feet) but narrow (13 feet) loft, with access along the middle..
As we get older, climbing onto the layout, and working under the eaves, gets to be a lot more awkward..

If you have been working for any length of time, getting back out can be a struggle!

PhilP

A thought that occurred to me, PhilP, and for the same reasons. In fact untiI I get what the surgeon referred to as "scaffolding" put in my back, I have no plans to try and get into the loft, even though there is a loft ladder available.

 

[dunnyrail]

Luxury, 1.6mtr height (me) I have to stoop to get around my attic, so probably 1.4mtr at the highest point, and roof supports ever 0.6 mtrs, so no chance of a loft layout

Ah yes I can stand in most of the loft but have to crouch down by the boards at the sides that are 2ft wide.

 

[blumentritt]

Pictures # 23 to 26: Still cleaning up, sorting things out. But finally reached railway items and thus can take stock.

 

[blumentritt]

"Track planning software is for wimps!" - Ferdinand Blumentritt

Turns out that the table areas at each end of the dog bone main line are too small due to large radius of tracks. Re-arrangement of four existing tables as well as purchase of two more tables are in order.

 

[Paul M]

Looks like you've a good collection of bits there, of course it isn't anywhere near as much as you need

 

[playmofire]

Pictures # 23 to 26: Still cleaning up, sorting things out. But finally reached railway items and thus can take stock.

View attachment 295445

View attachment 295446

View attachment 295447

View attachment 295448

And a lot to take stock of!

 

[Greg Elmassian]

Is that aluminum LGB track? I see the brass, and it does not look shiny enough for the nickel plated.

Greg

 

[blumentritt]

I have Thiel and Trainline nickel-plated brass as well as a few second-hand LGB brass tracks.

 

[Greg Elmassian]

Nice! I'm sure that is a pleasant alternative to "sanding"/"scrubbing" the rails.

Greg

 

[blumentritt]

I have Thiel and Trainline nickel-plated brass as well as a few second-hand LGB brass tracks.

Well, while I had lots of nickel-plated brass tracks and a few second-hand LGB brass only tracks, it turned out those were not enough. I was short on straights to complete my dog bone mainline, as well as for some side lines.

Rather than import new tracks from Germany, with the related expenses and logistic challenges, I looked for and found a local, Philippine source for second-hand track. I bought his entire stock, which turned out to be just enough to finish my layout, with just a few spare tracks left.

I loosely assembled everything and took some pictures (see below). The next challenge is to get all brass-only tracks nickel-plated. Cursory internet search surfaced at least two companies who offer plating services. The next step is to contact them and to obtain quotations and to figure out logistics and other details.

Picture # 27: Christmas Village - One end of the dog bone main line.

Picture # 28: Snow Line - From the Christmas Village to the main line.


Picture # 29: Main line to first tunnel.


Pictures # 30 & 31: Tayuman Railway Yard (background: main line; foreground: end of MERALCO tranvia line).




Pictures # 32 & 33: Staging Area




Pictures # 34 & 35: MERALCO Station, Second Tunnel.




Picture # 36: Playmobil Village with Inglenook Sidings Shunting Game / future side of raised LRT Light Rail Train / second dog bone loop.

 

[dunnyrail]

To be honest I would not bother getting the brass track Nickel Plated. You will find it a real pain to dismantle without damage and cleaning will be a real issue as well. Most track need to have an element of track cleaning, even in the lost and the nickel plating would soon be removed. Is the other track truly nickel plated or more likely Nickel Silver that looks the same?

 

[PhilP]

Looking at picture #31, that curve (on the left) seems rather close to that pillar?

What radius are the curves?

PhilP

 

[blumentritt]

Looking at picture #31, that curve (on the left) seems rather close to that pillar?

What radius are the curves?

Phil

Looking at picture #31, that curve (on the left) seems rather close to that pillar?

What radius are the curves?

PhilP

From left to right: R1, R2, R3. The most left is a shuttle line for a street car, tranvia. That track is not connected to the other tracks.

 

[blumentritt]

To be honest I would not bother getting the brass track Nickel Plated. You will find it a real pain to dismantle without damage and cleaning will be a real issue as well. Most track need to have an element of track cleaning, even in the lost and the nickel plating would soon be removed. Is the other track truly nickel plated or more likely Nickel Silver that looks the same?

It is really nickel-plated. I never had brass-only track in use and am very happy with the nickel-plated track. Looking at the degree of oxidation of some of the second-hand track I just bought, I really would want everything to be plated.