I’ve had limited time to work on the layout the last couple weekends, but did manage to complete the IC mainline roadbed through Willis and around to the east staging track. The Louisiana Central roadbed coming out of staging and then crossing the IC main is also complete. I’ve created tapers from the roadbed down to the base Homasote layer (sub-roadbed) where needed for the IC passing siding and the interchange track to the LC. And I also managed to do a whole bunch of little nitty tasks to finish off areas that were at about 98%. All-in-all, not too bad for the time I had available.
This weekend I have to start putting track down. I’ve always spiked down my track in the past and had good results with doing that. However over these past several years I’ve been reading about folks simply gluing their track down using caulk. Even Andy Sperandeo seems to have adapted this method. So (with a somewhat jaded attitude) I decided to give it a try several weeks ago. I happened to have a partial tube of Dap Adhesive Tub and Tile caulk on hand, so I laid a test section of track down using it. I was pleased with the result. So I laid the IC track coming out of staging onto the visible portion of the layout using the caulk. Again, success. I think I’ll continue to use the caulk for at least a few more sections to build further confidence in the method before declaring it my new standard, but I’m optimistic about the method now.
I’m getting perilously close to running out of plywood and other materials at this point, so another trip to the lumber yard is in order. I don’t want to hold up progress on the railroad for lack of materials.
I’ll be seeing many of you folks this Saturday at Lou’s. Until then, happy railroading!
-Jack
This is going to be a permanent or at least semi-permanent layout, so my hat is off to you for the quality of benchwork as described. Over here at my S-Gauge New Orleans Publilc Belt MRR things are a quite different. Half the layout is a former portable layout which has been secured by bollts module by module. So getting “benchwork” (if you can call it that) to not shift around is a continual task.
I guess its time to put in sinker bolts.
I would say you and I are about even as far as work having been accomplished.
It would be great to see a few photos of your layout.
Thanks Jack
Hey, Allen…
Actually you can see a few photos. Head over to the main website (click the link in the menu bar, or the link to the right under “Links” when at the home page of this blog). When at the LCRR website, click on Photos > Layout Construction. That will take you from the finished backdrop up to my progress as of late May.
I’m overdue posting some new pictures….I wanted to finish the area I’m working on before taking new photos. Maybe in another week or so I’ll be doing an update.
Thanks much for commenting.
-Jack