What's New on the PRR Panhandle 2.0?

[G3750]

Updated 10/1/2017:

Not a lot to report, but I did manage to get the major sections of plywood into the basement. Also got more ribs shellaced. Only the new legs remain to be treated.

George

[G3750]

Updated 10/6/2017:

With my wife's help, I managed to get all the train shelving (Glenn Snyder Display System) on the far wall installed.

The shelves are 9' across (6' + 3') and anchored to studs. The lowest shelf starts at 59" above the floor, giving me the option to raise the layout height to 53" if I so desire (I don't). It will stay at 50". At least that's what I think right now.

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George

[Rufus T. Firefly]

The lowest shelf starts at 59" above the floor, giving me the option to raise the layout height to 53" if I so desire (I don't). It will stay at 50".

Slightly confused and maybe I missed something along the way - is there going to be layout in front of the shelving?

If not, nevermind.

If yes, how wide and will you be able to reach the shelving all the way up from that distance?

[chuck]

Scroll back to "page" 17. That's the "back" of the staging area. There is a pop up/cut out for access.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Scroll back to "page" 17. That's the "back" of the staging area. There is a pop up/cut out for access.

Thanks.

[chuck]

I was wondering the same thing and then started looking for the plans/description. I was more surprised at how far back I had to go to find them!

[G3750]

Let's bring everyone back up to date. Here are the plans for the layout. First the western (Steubenville, OH) side:

PRR Panhandle 2.0 v032-L.jpg (337.84 KiB) Viewed 3465 times

And now the eastern (Weirton, WV) side. The shelving visible in the above photos is on the extreme right-hand wall. It's located precisely 9" above table top level and runs from 6" south of the top wall to the bottom of the layout. Total length of each shelf is 9'.

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Yes, there will be a layout in front of the shelves. The 2 pop-ups (they will not be covered) will allow me to roll a stool in there and make up / break up trains as needed. The thick green line is the divider that will support (to the left) the backdrop and (on its opposite side) another set of four 9' train shelves.

George

[G3750]

Updated 10/8/2017:

The photographer will be here tomorrow to inspect the train room and get an understanding of size and position for the backdrop. To prepare, I took a laser level and established the 50" layout height all around the train room. I also placed the bridge in its approximate location and orientation. From west to east (left to right):

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The red laser line is visible in this photo. I have used yellow post-it notes to indicate the height on the walls.

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The brown paper wrapped object is the bridge. I'm keeping it in its protective cocoon.

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The bins at the far end of the room denote the position of the backdrop.

TRoom_004_.JPG (31.08 KiB) Viewed 3458 times

George

[healey36]

Looks good.

I didn't realize you were planning a dividing back-drop on the foreground "peninsula"...how tall will that one be? Will it run all the way to the ceiling or just a couple of feet above the table?

Healey

[G3750]

Looks good.

I didn't realize you were planning a dividing back-drop on the foreground "peninsula"...how tall will that one be? Will it run all the way to the ceiling or just a couple of feet above the table?

Healey

I'm thinking just a few feet above the table to divide the two areas. I think a table-top to ceiling backdrop in that position would seriously block off pieces of the room (visually). So far this is a concept that looks good on paper. How it actually works out remains to be seen. It could end up being no taller than 12-15 inches. On the Weirton side, I need a way to make Pennsylvania Avenue recede off into the distance or go around a corner - and this is my thinking at the moment. On the Weirton Junction side, this is simple a green backdrop with trees in front of it to give the impression of continuing forest.

George

[healey36]

I think a table-top to ceiling backdrop in that position would seriously block off pieces of the room (visually).

Yes, I agree and hence why I asked. I would think eighteen inches or so would do the trick without impacting the layout-et-al view. A tall ridge might work as well (but be prototypically incorrect).

[G3750]

I think a table-top to ceiling backdrop in that position would seriously block off pieces of the room (visually).

Yes, I agree and hence why I asked. I would think eighteen inches or so would do the trick without impacting the layout-et-al view. A tall ridge might work as well (but be prototypically incorrect).

The tall ridge would not be correct prototypically. It's there simply to divide the scenes. So I want to use the absolute minimum height necessary to get the job done.

Boy, there is a lot to be said for using boxes and other things to create a 3-D mock-up. In Panhandle 1.0, I was repeatedly surprised by the 3-D effect of things that looked great on paper (2-D).

Good catch, Healey!

George

[chuck]

Really nice. A lot of thought has gone into it and it shows.

Having the divider only go high enough to block the obvious view is a great idea, sky is sky, doesn't always have clouds

[Rufus T. Firefly]

The tall ridge would not be correct prototypically. It's there simply to divide the scenes. So I want to use the absolute minimum height necessary to get the job done.

I can send you a box of white glass wool to make a huge 3D cloud to put on the top of the divider, if you like.

Boy, there is a lot to be said for using boxes and other things to create a 3-D mock-up. In Panhandle 1.0, I was repeatedly surprised by the 3-D effect of things that looked great on paper (2-D).

I once built a mock-up of a nuclear hot cell out of a few sheets of plywood and some 2x6's, installed all of the equipment including the manipulators, hinged doors, and ran mock reactions in it to determine the exact required interior area.....in the middle of our clinical space....

I found a 1/2 sheet of the left over plywood while I was cleaning out my lab a few weeks ago........... Good times.

[J. S. Bach]

What happened to that mock-up?