HO Scale Shelf Layout Built For Operations - Complete Build
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- Опубліковано 22 сер 2024
- HO Scale Shelf Layout Built For Operations - Complete Build
In this video I build a temporary shelf layout designed for operations and as a basis for writing some car forwarding software that I have in mind. This is the complete build from start to finish. There's no scenery on this layout, as it's not necessary for the purpose of the layout.
Layout benchwork video: • HO Scale Switching Lay...
Music: "Jeremiah's Song" by Dan Lebowitz
Some people like running their choo-choos around in circles (and if that is their pleasure, so be it) BUT there is an avid group of modelers that are really into Operations...they don't worry about grab irons, ladders , etc. Reliable track, reliable car trucks and couplers, etc and they delve into operating trains like the 1:1 version. What a great hobby!!
Well, I logged on to watch your program but watched your opening dialogue and flipped the channel number one. I’m not a programmer number two. I’m a visual person in building a layout so yes, I do look at scenery and put it in for realism but hey good for you. Wish you all the luckand the future on that second way out should be a gem
@@roady1710 I'm not exactly sure how to take this comment. However, I also enjoy scenery very much as well, and my next layout after this one will have more than plenty of that. This layout is a temporary one dedicated solely to figuring out how I want to run my operations without any distraction. It'll be torn down in the near future once that task is complete to make way for a layout with both an operations strategy and great scenery. Thanks for watching?
Hey Joe nice job on explaining everything you did . The layout looks awesome , that Walthers track seems to be popular and a winner . Look forward to the software videos .
Top Notch Late Night Guy! Inspiring! Neat, clean and thoughtful assembly. My best model railroad adventure was building an "L" switching layout based on "THE" protoype. Kept me in the hobby and delivered years of fascinating growth and learning. Your design pares down the simple utility of why trains exist (switch and move) and the Belt Line you chose exemplifies this. Thanks for using Walthers "new" track too; been wondering about it. Look forward to seeing more. Thanks!
Great video and tutorial abt your new shelf layout! That's what I decided to do instead of a table layout bcuz I wanted switching operations as well. I'm doing a 10'x10'x24" L shaped switching layout that stands 48" tall from the floor. The locomotives that I'll mainly use are MP15AC's and SW15's. I have all my structures that I'll be using where it's an Industrial layout. All my industries are Walthers that range from Grain, Plastic Pellets, Concrete and Coal. Thanks again for sharing your videos with us along with your time and effort LN!
Excellent planning. Looking forward to seeing your software ideas.
Nice prototype. There are still a few bridges around Hamilton with faded TH&B logos on them.
Oh that's cool!
You are very detail oriented and it shows in your teachings ..I mean you even showed the screw to use..now add the tools and your skills and the results are fantastic
Thanks for the kind words. I'm just trying to be helpful :)
Very nicely made! I used the wall brackets as well, but I just did a quick and dirty install using 2 hollow core door slabs laid on the brackets. To dissipate the load I placed 3/8" plywood cuts 4 inches wide under the slabs where they rested on the brackets. I found I needed to shim however, as the brackets are a little loose fitting and tend to droop a bit. I used 1/4" masonite as shims. I also like your track plan, I may use something similar on my 14' x 2' setup.
Plumb was the word you were looking for… the left wall isn’t plumb. Looks great so far!
Nice, clean design. And the facia name-plate is brilliant! It solves the small "step" you had in the middle and sets off the design nicely. This could very easily be "scenic-ed" one day as well if that is ever desired, but for what you're doing this is a very nice layout with well thought-out touches. Thank you for sharing, you may have changed my mind about how to build my own bench-work on the Danbury and Southern. 🙂
Thanks, glad you found this useful!
This will be interesting. I really like the randomization of JMRI but I'm not a fan on how it was configured with Hazmat rules, or therefore lack of. - Jason
There's still lots for me to explore before I have enough information to flush out the entire application, but it'll be a fun process
At least, you're doing things properly. Keep on your good work.
You know what is funny? I live in PEI, Canada. Our trains are long gone here, but I'm modeling Trillium in St Catherine's and Thorold in Ontario. It's a short line, with lots of operations still. It runs along the locks by the Welland Canal. Last but not least, I too am a software developer. I write software for aerospace and I too want to design my own operations software. Lol. Small world!
That's awesome! I work in health tech, personally. Hope you find the time to write your ops software. I just completed my "prototype" to where I can test it with my layout... and I discovered I want to rework it already lol. I learned a bunch about what I thought I needed versus what I actually needed it to do.
@@JoeyBPhotography That's cool. Maybe we will swap software someday and see how things differ! lol. I worked for Carestream / Kodak for a short period of time on the RIS healthcare system, but most of my 20+ years have been in Aerospace. I will keep watching your vids and see how you get along.
@@dannymacnevin3939 you mentioned small world…I used to sail for CSL and transited the Welland Canal all the time. I am retired and have a cottage in Canoe Cove where I spend my summers. I’m eagerly awaiting delivery of my Rapido RSC-14 so I can model Hunter River or Borden-Carleton operations. Wow, small world indeed. Cheers!
Great video! Looking forward to seeing in the future more of your To Hell and Back layout. NSC or National Steel Car is in Hamilton and would give you a reason for new cars on the CNR interchange.
Thanks! Yeah, I thought about NSC as an industry, it's a great excuse for the interchange for sure! The two track industry on the right side would serve as a representation if I decide to use it for operations testing
Very impressive, the TH&B looks fantastic
I am using the same shelving units you are. If you are going to add a backdrop, 11/16" square molding is the same depth as your mounting rails (I use white glue for mounting the molding to the wall). Use track nails for mounting, as they almost disappear into the mdf before painting. Otherwise, everything looks great!
You did a really great job on the framing and the track plan. It looks like a nice layout to run some operations on.
Thanks! It's a lot of fun! It lends itself to quite a bit of variety, too, actually
The first thing that struck me about your video/you - you enjoy your work! Good for you, I am not sure there are a lot of poeple that can say that. I am in the same boat. :)
Thanks! Yes, I very much do enjoy the entire process of creating model railroads. It's funny, whenever I get to a point of completion on a project I feel a bit sad, because it's so much fun for me to be in the building phases. Glad to know you also enjoy the work!
I enjoyed watching this video. I am getting close to converting from dc to dcc++, so i am very interested in your software development. Walthers looks good. Track plan is nice for the space. I look forward to seeing what you have planned. Brian
That turned out awesome! Job well done. Thanks for sharing. Good luck with the software build. Stay safe. Ken
Hey there from New Zealand (Joe?). Great video, having spent some time in the Hamilton area back in 2001, 2008 and again in 2014, it's an interesting railroading area for both train spotting and operations. I like the design of your switching layout which is similar to what I'm in the final planning stages of and not that far off commencing building (in 2R O scale). Look forward to seeing you run some operating sessions on the HO Hamilton Belt. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching! 2R O scale is something that has intrigued me, I'm just too invested mentally in HO right now to add another scale to the mix lol. Are you planning on sharing your layout anywhere?
I haven't thought about sharing what I do online as I have no personal medium to do this at present. For now my focus is on preparing a 50ft x 20ft modular exhibition layout for two displays in early Oct (I run NZR 9mm/ft and US 2R O scale on it). This is currently stored packed up in the garage space where my switching layout will be built so I guess I have some time to think about doing something in the online space when I start the shelf layout.
Very nice. Well thought out and put together.
Use a lot of tape when cutting the wood, or, make a "zero" clearance fence for the saw and eliminate all of the tape work. Track nails suck, but I can see why you are using them in this case. Just drop the wires through the support frame for the shelf brackets, I did and it works fine and no need for a second piece of metal. If you have the track joints soldered, you will need only 1 feeder per module depending on your soldering skill. The gaps between modules will be enough for expanding and contracting if your room is not air conditioned in the summer.
I bet you could build a solid home ...meticulous and professional...enjoy your channel!...side note....Buffalo is home having grown up there and I have been to Hamilton & Toronto...
Excellent! Looking good!
Look at all the TH&B stuff cool update
Very interesting build, I am looking at the same idea for my Steel mill, I am TH&B collector, live in Dundas, I have 21 ft but plan to add a loop at each end, 18 inch radius, just for my switchers , excellent work, going to sub your channel
Very cool, and thanks for stopping by!
Looks really nice. Sometimes simple is better. Without a lot of time, effort and money, you have a fully operational layout. What are your plans for turnout controls? Ground throws? Any thoughts for a backdrop if any to hide the brackets?
Take care,
Steve
The turnouts I'm using have springs in them so I can just flick them back and forth to switch them, so no need for any additional controls. I thought about hiding the brackets, but to be honest they don't bother me, since I'm not doing any other scenery anyway. Thanks for watching!
To secure the bench work to the brackets just put a shorter pan head screws in the ends of the brackets
Did you consider staggering the track base and the framing but ends so the whole structure is more homogenous? There is always some structural expansion/contraction stresses that can affect the joints. Perhaps diminimis, but the precision used in the structural design and construction should not be compromised!
An excellent concept railroad, especially for the purpose which you have intended.
Question(s):
How is your operations program progressing? Are you planning on making it available for others? If so, how large of a railroad do you expect it could operate? Last, do you have a web site where you can be contacted?
Thanks in advance 😉😎😉
Thanks, to answer your questions in order:
- I created a prototype app that had basic functionality and a database for all the inventory. It needs a lot of refinement, but life has got in the way and I don't have a lot of time at the moment to work on it.
- I am the application's primary audience, for use on my upcoming layout, but if I do make it public, it'll be "as is" and folks can decide if it'll work for them. It will be generic enough that others could use it, but I won't be requesting any feedback or updates to it, since my free time is extremely limited.
- My next layout will be medium-sized, so it should work on that and anything smaller. I don't see this as a large club layout type of operations program.
- No website at the moment, again, life got in the way.
I don't know when/if I'll be posting about this application again, but it'll likely be a video on here explaining what I did and how it works for me. I don't have a timeline at the moment.
Thanks for watching and commenting, though!
Very cool! I 👍
Having built a shelf switching layout and wanting prototypical paper work, I chose to use Excel to emulate widely used car card way bills. Having been n software development all of my career, I am curious if you ever discussed the software you developed for the Hamilton Belt. I would be very interested to know what you did. Thanks for the video.
I'm still exploring operating schemes at the moment. I don't have a lot of spare time to work on the project, but I did write a proof of concept program shortly after I built the shelf layout. It was very rough, but had the ability to import my spreadsheet of rolling stock to use for inventory and some basic logic for assigning the cars to various trains and industries. I'm hoping my spare time will free up soon to work on figuring out operations again.
Looks great! What are the chances of you coming to my house and building a similar shelf?
Lol thanks for watching
Nice layout. I wrote the code for my program as well, what are you gonna use for the program, what language?
Thanks! It's a full stack TypeScript application.
The ability to remove the frame to lay track answers my prior comment. Time will decide the outcome of structural joints, base material, track laying, and (hmmm) wiring(?). Go for it
Everything is holding up just fine so far. This layout will come down in a couple years anyway, so it's not a huge concern either way.
Is that .25 inch plywood??? Or .5 inch??
.25 inch
Joe , where did you buy the cork
I got it at Hobby Lobby. Since it comes in a roll, I recommend laying it flat and putting weights on it overnight to help keep it from wanting to roll up again, that helped a lot
I use 1/2 inch building foam from a "big box' store.
Where did u get clip from
They're called Bandy Clamps, you can pick them up from rockler.com
If you use a new blade you wont have any tear ups.