What's New on the PRR Panhandle 2.0?

[rogruth]

George,
I think I first heard of the clean hole method when I was building my first layout (HO) @ 70 years ago.
Nice to see it still works.

Dang, Roger, you must have built that first layout when you were four...

I wish. Add ten years.

[G3750]

Updated 6/14/2018:

The following got done today:

• Added another 4 holes for wires to the benchwork.
• Completed the list of 2x2's
• Attached the benchwork to the walls.
• Re-evaluated the benchwork drawing against the layout.

George

[G3750]

Updated 7/3/2018:

It's been a while since I reported any progress. That's because there hasn't been any. Instead I discovered a couple of problems that I am closing to fixing.
1) I misread my plan for the Staging Area and a table that is a bit too wide. I will cut that to size and re-install shortly.
2) I realized that the backdrop that goes on the long wall is 2' 9" too short. I am working on a solution with the backdrop maker.

Neither of these errors are anything but speed bumps.

George

[rogruth]

George,
Just curious but how did the backdrop get to be too short?
I know, I know. Many ways for that to happen.

[G3750]

George,
Just curious but how did the backdrop get to be too short?
I know, I know. Many ways for that to happen.

It was a combination of things. I specified the right length. The proofs came back with different lengths, but I didn't catch the discrepancy.

George

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Updated 7/3/2018:

It's been a while since I reported any progress. That's because there hasn't been any. Instead I discovered a couple of problems that I am closing to fixing.

Good time to catch them before something serious gets out of control or you have to back up over yourself.

[G3750]

Updated 7/3/2018:

It's been a while since I reported any progress. That's because there hasn't been any. Instead I discovered a couple of problems that I am closing to fixing.

Good time to catch them before something serious gets out of control or you have to back up over yourself.

Exactly. Hmm. "Back up over yourself" - sounds painful. Isn't that how you win "Upper Class Twit of the Year"?

George

[G3750]

On a serious note, I am very pleased that I caught these before I went too far. Discovering the problem when the long wall backdrop didn't meet the divider would have been a significant "Oh, s***" moment.

God knows I've had enough of those.

George

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Updated 7/3/2018:

It's been a while since I reported any progress. That's because there hasn't been any. Instead I discovered a couple of problems that I am closing to fixing.

Good time to catch them before something serious gets out of control or you have to back up over yourself.

Exactly. Hmm. "Back up over yourself" - sounds painful. Isn't that how you win "Upper Class Twit of the Year"?

Indeed. Painful, yet requires real talent, and the epitome of self-destructiveness. Also, yes - one of the events in competition for "Upper Class Twit of the Year"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSqkdcT25ss

[G3750]

Updated 7/5/2018:

Made some serious progress yesterday and today. I cut 3.5” lengthwise off a table that was too wide and moved that up against the uprights for the divider. That piece will hold a track that enters and exits the Staging Area, allowing empties to be exchanged for loads (and vice versa). I made the appropriate changes to the track plan to allow for this modification.

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I also cut a notch in surface No. 5 and fit it into place. This involved making two parallel cuts and then using a drill and keyhole saw to complete the hole. I then squared up the hole with a Dremel cut-off wheel and grinding tool.

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I placed the order for the rest of the lumber today as well.

George

[rogruth]

I really might get to see it.

[J. S. Bach]

I really might get to see it.

[healey36]

Remind me...what's the partition going to be made of? Masonite? Plywood? Dry-wall? Can't remember if we talked about this before...

Looking good. I presume once the tables are in place, then the back-drop goes up?

Healey

[G3750]

I really might get to see it.

Roger, here's my inducement.

Elijah - 1st birthday cake.JPG (103.34 KiB) Viewed 2575 times

This is grandchild number 3, who just turned 1 this past weekend. The plan is to have trains running by his second birthday. If all goes well, we should have the Staging Area bench work completed by the end of July, have the backdrop up by early August, and have most of the bench work done by September. Roadbed, track, and electrical to follow over the rest of the year.

It's ambitious, but I'm going for it!

George

[G3750]

Remind me...what's the partition going to be made of? Masonite? Plywood? Dry-wall? Can't remember if we talked about this before...

Looking good. I presume once the tables are in place, then the back-drop goes up?

Healey

Paul,

The partition is 1/4" masonite. Once the Staging Area bench work is built (which includes the partition wall), the entire backdrop will be installed. After that, we begin constructing the rest of the bench work. I am not repeating the mistake of Panhandle 1.0, which was to do the backdrop last. What a total PITA that was!

Plus, I'm not 40 years old any more. I'm just not capable of reaching across 3-4' of bench work while standing on a stool to put up a backdrop. The bench work will be strong enough to hold my weight if I have to get up there, but that's not my first choice.

George