Base scenery work continues!

Happy New Year to everyone!  I had some help today working on the railroad.  Both Makenna and Carter put on the work aprons today and helped with the base scenery in Walnut, Illinois.

The first layer of paint and earth tone Woodland Scenics foam was already in place.  We added the fine green foam and coarse green foam, wet the entire area, and then applied a diluted water/glue solution.  I added an updated album of the days activities to the slide show at the right.  What a great way to wrap up 2010!

Happy Railroading!
Scott

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all!  Our prayer for you is that God continues to bless you and your family this season.
The Stephenson Family

Scenery Work Continues

I had extra help yesterday working on the second layer of plaster for the hill in Walnut, Illiniois.  Our son, Carter, was having fun playing in the plaster and getting dirty! 

More pictures as the progress continues!
Scott

Scenery Work has Started!

I have started the next step in construction of the model railroad.  The scenery construction is underway in the Walnut, Illinois area.  I am currently working on the base scenery.  I am tired of seeing the blue insulation board!  My goal is to work in small areas and move progressively around the layout.  I decided that I am going to take my time and enjoy learning this new part of the hobby.  I will post additional photos of "finished" areas (at least the scenery base) as I have time.  As a primer I will update the slide show to the right of this page with some current photos of work in progress.  (Ya, I know I should have removed the tape from the rails!) 
Thanks for visiting,
Scott

Layout Progress Update

After finishing the track painting task, my intentions were to begin working on the scenery aspect of the railroad.  While I have started to look at what I am going to do in different areas of the railroad, I have also been making some progress in another area of the hobby.  I have been working on the components that will be attached to the fascia of the railroad.  These items are largely informational for the operator as he/she operates over the Dragonfly Sub.  The items I have decided (as of right now) to include on the fascia are the following:

1. Walk-around throttle plug-ins (Lenz DCC system).  I have 5 panels positioned around the railroad that will accommodate all the operating schemes.  Each panel will accept 2 throttles.  Adjacent to each throttle panel is a Velcro pad that will allow throttles to be stored.
2. Car card and waybill boxes.  These are a vital part to the car forwarding/movement system of the railroad.  Each car on the railroad has an associated car card that is used to hold a waybill.  The waybill directs the railroad crews where the car goes on the layout.  Each industry, the staging yard track, and yard track will have a dedicated "slot" for car cards.  More discussion on car cards and waybills in later posts.
3. Town names with railroad milepost locations.  This is part of the illusion of model railroading.  The illusion is representing 46.9 miles of railroad in a 11'x15' space.  Instead of referring to a section of track as "over there in the corner," refer to it as "a section of track between MP (milepost) 39.5 to 39.9."  This gives a whole new level of realism to the railroad.  It is an actual location within a larger system.  
4. Another component that I am installing on the fascia at each town is a track diagram for the town.  It is basically a blow up of the CAD line drawing I developed when designing the railroad.  Again, more information for the operator.  The track diagram shows the mainline, sidings, industrial spurs, and in some cases other railroads (like at Walnut- C.&N.W. R.R.). 

All signs/diagrams are generated on the computer and laminated for durability.  I have begun the process of "decorating the fascia" but have not completed it.  When I have a finished product that I am happy with, I will post some pictures.  Be sure to stop back and check for updates.

Happy Railroading!
Scott

All Done!

... painting track that is.  I finished up with the Mendota yard (staging) this afternoon and happily put the black paint on the workbench shelf.  I went back later in the day and used a Bright Boy track cleaner to return the shine to the top of the rails.  I also started running trains again and found that some of the switch points will need some detailed cleaning.  The paint has insulated the points as they come in contact with the outside rails.  However, that is a minor issue and I am very happy  to report that the painting is behind me.  I am now able to move on to base scenery and start covering up the foam board blue! 
All for now.
Happy Railroading!
Scott

Quick Update #2

Like a lot of people I suppose, summer has been a busy time with activities and priorities other than the railroad.  There has been no progress I am sorry to say on the railroad over the last month.  I have been doing a lot "railroading" in my mind though, planning/designing scenes for industries and other elements.  At some point in the near future, I hope to actually find time to build what I have planned over and over in my mind!

Thanks for checking in!  Be sure to check back to see future updates.

Scott

Quick Update

I am still painting track.  The last week or so has been occupied by other priorities, so work on the railroad has been minimal.  I hope to continue and complete the track painting this week/weekend. 

Coming Attractions:  Start on base scenery work in and around Walnut, Illinois.

Thanks for checking in!  Stop back to see updates.

Happy Railroading!
Scott

Then and Now... a look back.

How many of you keep a diary or timeline of the construction of your model railroad?  I am not talking about an obsessive journal that records every minute worked and every dollar spent.  What I am referring to is a journal of milestones!  For me, examples of a milestone would be benchwork completed, first train run, all trackwork completed, or all electrical done. 

I have been recording dates and times for this type of thing for as long as I can remember.  It dates back more than 25 years to when my dad and I worked on model railroads when I was growing up.  I think he was the first one to do it, scribbling a few notes down on a piece of the benchwork late one night... This is the actual piece of wood that was salvaged.  I have kept it for over 20 years!

Entry reads, "Benchwork 2 months."

Another entry reads, "Inaugural run complete circle main 9-1-84 10:08 PM.  Soo Line 15 cars + way car."

That was 26 years, four railroads, and three house moves ago... but I still have that piece of wood!  It means an awful lot to me.  It reminds me of and represents the hours of time spent with my dad building a railroad.  But more importantly, it also reminds me of what he taught me... what it takes to be a man, a good husband, and a good father.  Those were priceless hours spent together in the basement.  

Fast forward to the Dragonfly Subdivision and today.  I have continued the tradition of recording milestones on the benchwork of the railroad.  Notice on the inside of the support leg under Walnut, Illinois, this is our diary for the construction of  the Dragonfly.

I have included the kids signatures in the diary as well as they have helped along the way.  Just as my dad did for me, I am attempting to do for them, teaching them how to build with their hands, think with their minds, and love with their hearts. 

Wow, this is the World's Greatest Hobby!

Happy Railroading! (and now when I say that, I think you know it means so much more!)
Scott

A Topic Revisited- Beyond Staging Storage

Back in September of 2009, I talked about the idea of storage for rail cars and locomotives once they reach the staging yard.  As I plan to operate the railroad, cars will be routed off the modelled portion of the railroad to points all over the country.  All over the country is represented by the staging yard.  But if you understand the concept as I have explained it, the thought that should come to your mind is, "Cars that go to the staging yard need to be off the railroad for a period of time... otherwise if they reappear during the next Ops session... well that just isn't realistic!"  Yes, you are correct and I agree completely.  For example, a tank car that is shipped out empty from Standard Oil in Walnut, Illinois going to a refinery in Houston, Texas will not reappear on the layout for several days/weeks... or it may not reappear for months!  It may go to a completely different location after being loaded.  This is why Beyond Staging Storage is a necessity!

I have thought about different ways to store a car that is off the railroad traveling the fruited plain.  I don't know if I have come up with the best solution, but it is the solution that I am using for now, a series of plastic drawer units.   

The drawer units are located conveniently adjacent to the staging yard.  In the picture below you can see them to the right sitting on top of the filing cabinet.  This location seems to work well, allowing me to easily change out cars between operating sessions. 

The drawers are the perfect height for the typical HO scale railroad car.  Each car card is also stored with the car.  The drawer units are reasonably priced and readily available at Walmart or a similar store.

The drawer units are lined with a non-skid liner that keeps the cars from rolling and adds some protection for the cars when opening and closing the drawers.

The liner can be purchased at Walmart or a similar store for a few dollars.  One roll has been enough for several drawers and as you can see there is plenty to spare.

I will continue to use this system and evaluate it as I go.  I will post future updates on how it is performing.

Happy Railroading,

Scott

Intermediate Photos...

I took several photos of the track painting progress, mainly because I was in the train room with the camera taking pictures of another project for a future post.  The photos are not too exciting other than to document some progress!  

The basic equipment I am using: a variety of brushes of varying sizes, flat black paint, and a working surface to keep things in order and to protect the layout.

After painting and a day of drying time, I go back over the painted track with a Bright Boy to clean the top of the rails being careful not to clean the guide rails in the turnouts.

This photos shows the mainline and passing siding at Walnut, Illinois.  In the foreground is the spur to Standard Oil and L.D. Spaulding Grain.

Check back for future updates and more pictures!

Happy Railroading,

Scott

Work Continues

I continue to work on painting the track.  My time in the train room has been more of an every other day routine rather than everyday, but I am making forward progress.  I am also happy to report that the painted track looks good.  The ties are now a dull flat black color- not the glossy plastic look of the new flex track out of the box.  So in that regard, I am very happy with my progress.  I would estimate my progress at 60% complete.  Pictures once I am 100% complete!

Happy Railroading!
Scott

Current Project

Recently, I have been working on painting the track.  I decided that this would be a great project that I can do as time allows.  I also decided not to airbrush the track, which was my original plan.  Instead, I am using flat black paint I had on hand and I am brushing it on.  My idea was to eliminate the glossy plastic look of the Atlas flextrack.  While it is true that most railroad tracks are a brown/gray color, I reason (and since it is my RR I can) that since only one train a day (maybe two) run the line, that these tracks are less than well maintained and therefore are black.  Engines leak oil/fuel on ties that have not been replaced in years!  Besides, once the ballast is down, the remaining scenery is in place, and the trains are rolling along, who looks at the track?  My ultimate goal for this railroad is to build a model that will help me simulate rail operations.  I am not interested in building a model where I can count the number of rivets on a boxcar.

I have the town of Walnut, Illinois done and I am working east.  I will post some pictures soon!
Happy Railroading,
Scott

A New Look!

Greetings!  Welcome to the updated and "freshly painted" Dragonfly Subdivision blog.  I have not posted to the blog for some time.  Time seems to slip away and before you know it winter has past and summer is quickly approaching.  I am sad to report that the railroad has been dormant for several months, but recently I have made some interesting observations.

I have learned that working on the railroad even a little bit each day is relaxing and enjoyable.  In the past, I have been of the mindset that if I didn't have several hours of dedicated time to work on the railroad I wouldn't.  Bad plan.  How often is there a block of time that is completely void of any responsibility or prior commitment?  For me, not very often.  When it does happen, it is usually at the end of a long day and sleep is the only thing on my mind.

I have realigned my thinking.  I try to spend at least a few minutes each day working on the railroad.  I may work on a small project that I can complete in one night or it may be a project that is an ongoing long term project.  Either way, it has been very rewarding!

My goal is to post updates to the blog more frequently.  Along the way I will include pictures of my latest projects and recall my experiences as I enjoy the greatest hobby in the world!

Happy Railroading!
Scott

Winter is Here in the Midwest

It has been a while since I posted to the blog. It has been a busy Christmas Season... family, food, and traveling have consumed the bulk of the last few weeks. With the turn of the calendar to January and the snow piling up outside, I am once again turning my free time to the model railroad.


I have been working on a few things. I have been building more structures. Currently I am working on the Standard Oil facility that will be in Walnut, Illinois. Once again, I have turned to a Walthers kit for the basis of this industry. I think I will end up using about 50% of the included buildings/tanks, mainly because of space limitations. I once heard a model railroader talk about how he placed buildings on his railroad. He would put it in a spot and leave it for a couple of days and see how he liked... if he didn’t he would rearrange the building(s) and try that for a couple of days. It was an on going process until he found what looked good and seemed believable. So with that idea in mind I will do that same thing. I have actually started doing that with Houghton Lumber Co. in La Moille. Time will reveal the final orientation for the buildings.

Another item I have been working on and giving some thought to is Ops. For me, this is why I am doing all this work and planning. I dream of having a prototypically operating model railroad. I am really interested in modeling the art of car movement and car operations. The model railroad itself is just one of the tools I am using to achieve this dream. I will post more on Ops as the plan develops.

I will post some pictures of various projects happening on the railroad soon.

Thanks for visiting,
Scott