03-01-2010, 04:49 PM
Thanks, Russ. I'm sure Andrew will want to operate the trains (he is 5 now) and will do just fine with a step stool. I remember him operating the timesaver 2 years ago at the old house, standing on a bar stool holding the throttle. I was even teaching him hand signals as he was the engineer and I was the brakeman/conductor. Fun times.
The layout plan has undergone a MAJOR redirection shift. When I was mapping the wall studs I began measuring to determine the height of the backdrop and upper shelf/lighting. That's when I realized the window was going to be a problem. I love natural light (not the beverage) and blocking that window was not going to happen. I had planned on a scenicked section below the window, but hadn't gotten to the details of an upper valance/lighting for that section. On either side, no problem.
SO, I have decided to do two things. One, focus on creating two scenes, one on either side of the room, with an unscenicked bridge section between them beneath the window and another just like it in the middle of the room. Two, drop the timesaver from the plan.
The first change gives me roundy-roundy running. The second change gives more scenic flexibility as well as a longer roundy-roundy run. I'm thinking now of a double-track loop with the tracks divided on the scenic sections. I have a really nice double crossover that I can use to enable folded-figure-8 running of a single train or two trains running on separate loops. One side of the room will be more rural, possibly even just mountainous scenery, and the other urban with a small yard and engine facilities.
The timesaver will return to its original purpose, as a stand-alone layout for social enjoyment. It was really designed to be operated from both sides.
Galen
The layout plan has undergone a MAJOR redirection shift. When I was mapping the wall studs I began measuring to determine the height of the backdrop and upper shelf/lighting. That's when I realized the window was going to be a problem. I love natural light (not the beverage) and blocking that window was not going to happen. I had planned on a scenicked section below the window, but hadn't gotten to the details of an upper valance/lighting for that section. On either side, no problem.
SO, I have decided to do two things. One, focus on creating two scenes, one on either side of the room, with an unscenicked bridge section between them beneath the window and another just like it in the middle of the room. Two, drop the timesaver from the plan.
The first change gives me roundy-roundy running. The second change gives more scenic flexibility as well as a longer roundy-roundy run. I'm thinking now of a double-track loop with the tracks divided on the scenic sections. I have a really nice double crossover that I can use to enable folded-figure-8 running of a single train or two trains running on separate loops. One side of the room will be more rural, possibly even just mountainous scenery, and the other urban with a small yard and engine facilities.
The timesaver will return to its original purpose, as a stand-alone layout for social enjoyment. It was really designed to be operated from both sides.
Galen
I may not be a rivet counter, but I sure do like rivets!