Follow the construction of the JLandT Railroad, a HO single deck, proto-freelanced layout set in the 70s to 80s, based on the Reading Lines and Conrail merger era...
One of the main locomotives that carried the Reading through the 70's was the EMD GP35.
I wanted to model the GP35 extensively on the layout, luckily I've been fortunate enough to get a hold of several of the older Kato - RDG versions. There were two versions #3632 & #3645, I'll be renumbering several of these, along with adding DCC & Sound.
Finally got everything in, LED upgrade, including cabin light, sound, ESU Power Pack Mini & LokSound - Direct decoder...
Just installing the EMD 16cyl 567D sound file, and also configure it to run with the ProtoThrottle.
Next step will be new road number decals for the long hood & number boards.
Second project for last night was more work converting the Kato - RDG GP35 to DCC & Sound with a LokSound V5 - Direct Decoder.
I also set the positioning for the ESU Power Pack Mini, and the DCC Specialities “Thunder” speaker.
Next step will be converting all the running lights to LED’s with additional cab lighting too...
Today was spent finishing off the last section of the layouts fascia panels. Behind the centre peninsula is Reading & Middletown, and these sections of the layout have been finished with both scenery, fascia's & upper valances.
To incorporate the newer fascia panels I had to adjust the height of the fascia's in this area. Today I added two new sections to the existing fascia's and also added an extra section of scenery area so that it covered the track work & bench work for the staging return loops that are underneath.
The use of the 1/8" (3mm) MDF makes this work go extremely quickly, and it bends into curves easily too.
I've also gained a little scenery real estate that I'll have to think about what to add.
This addition completes the fascia install for the entire layout, all that remains is to add two more fascia panels and this project is finally finished.
And for something a little different tonight, a change of pace for a warm Spring evening...
Removing OEM road numbers from a Kato - Reading GP35...
One down, seven more to go.
I'm using Mr Color - Thinner, I found this on the Kato website, works great, but be very light with the Q-Tip once the number starts to come off, or you’ll start to take off paint too.
http://www.katousa.com/consumers/changing-numbers.html
Jas...
First section of the final run of fascia panel installed.
There is a duck under to the left, near the first curve. This is also why the width of the fascia narrows too.
This area which represents Reading, Pa already has most of the scenery completed, but not fully detailed.
Working on the last section of fascia panel today, this is Rutherford & Steelton.
Once the fascia's are secured I’ll work on getting the fascia panels installed.
Until last week, I still hadn't decided what this area would be. It was only after a suggestion of having Steelton on the layout, that I did a little research, and decided to add the Steelton - Steel Works. This will add another major industry, and another source of traffic from the Harrisburg Foundry & Rolling Mill area.
Finished off upgrading all the fascia panels tonight. They now all represent both the track work & signals as they are on the layout.
I have one section of fascia to install at Rutherford & Steelton, and when this is completed the last two fascia panels will be installed.
Moving right along, last night I began the task of installing the missing ties from the track work.
It's a little tedious, but it moves along pretty quickly. It also means that once completed I can begin painting the track.
Finishing up all the little jobs before moving onto painting the track.
Even after nine years I’m still doing backdrops & plastering, this one section is the transition area from the helix to the main layout, and also into the locomotive shops.
It was a by-product of the layout before the extension was done. Up until today I hadn’t figured out how I was going to finish this off.
You can actually stand up behind this section, which will come in handy when I have to install the MP5 switch motors for the crossover.
So tonight was something a little different, one of the processes in having a layout is the vast amount of electrical equipment that needs to be powered up.
Turning on a DCC command station & booster, separate power supplies for detection & signalling, layout PC, three monitors, PC Sound, LokProgrammer...
Can after awhile become a PITA! When you have everything tucked away nicely under the layout too, it can start to become a little bit of hassle to turn “everything” on at the start.
Not anymore, I just open my DLink app, press the “on buttons” for Layout Power & Layout Operations and we’re away...!
All controlled through Wi-Fi, I’ll be purchasing some more to control the Staging Deck lighting too.
At $35 AUD each, the Mini Wi-Fi Smart Plug are a great addition for any layout...!
Tonight I started the installation of the track work for the Shippensburg - Railcar Builder / Re-Builder workshops.
It will be based on the Walthers Cornerstone - Car Shop -- Kit 7 x 5-1/4 x 4-3/4" 17.7 x 13.3 x 12cm.
The complex fits into the lower side, of the West end of the Shippensburg Classification Yard. It will be used for bad order/RIP track work throughout the layouts operation.
It will add another level of diversity & interest to the layouts switching based operations theme.
The track work is installed & wired, all I have to do now is completed the structure at a later date.
It also fills in the dead corner that had been bugging me for some time about what to place here, and help with a scenery block for the large curve behind...
Finished off the Shippensburg Classification Yard, signals tonight. This cantilevered signal bridge protects the West end of the yard before it re-enters the main.
The first train to be broken down in the Shippensburg Classification Yard.
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Operating with the ProtoThrottle makes operations so much more enjoyable...
Today I also worked on finishing up the West end of the Shippensburg Classification Yard.
Being a extremely productive day, I also installed the new fascia panel for Carlisle Junction, these are printed on gloss inkjet sticker sheets.
I stick them to the backing board, which a 3mm - 1/8" MDF and then centre punch the push button switch holes, then drill out the hole through the backing plate and install the switches.
This panel is for local control, and all turnouts can be operated by the dispatcher via JMRI & PanelPro. These were redesigned so that the nameplate is now on the top of the panel so that all of it can be seen. Once I've painted the fascia I'll also add a name plate with Reading herald above the fascia panel on the fascia.
I completed the install tonight, after I found one of the LED's in the bottom head wasn't working. Luckily enough I had some spare RR CirKits - Tri Colored LED's on hand, and replaced both heads with these.
The signal bridge now protects the diamond leaving the Shippensburg Classification Yard. The aspects can also be seen from the western end of the yard across all three storage tracks, and the arrival/departure track.
Shippensburg Classification Yard - track work being finalised and secured into place today.
This is a East & Westbound yard with a central set of two yard ladders located in the middle.
There is also a Railcar Repair facility to be built off the lower left side of the eastbound storage tracks.
I needed to add another double head dwarf signal to the exit of Shippensburg Yard today and went hunting for a Tomar housing, instead I found a NJ International cantilevered signal bridge that I made up, but hadn’t used, along with some BLMA single head - searchlight signals.
