Hobo Jungle

[Frank53]

Frank, I'm thinking I read it was 7 inches tall, is that right? My plan was to cut each piece in horizontally in half getting two 3 1/2 pieces out of each piece. Think it might work?

There is a header along the top that sticks out about 1/16" or so. This will cause have your cut pieces not to have the header. You can conceal that if you are going to have overgrowth of some sort at the top. You can also cut off the header, but it looks pretty good, so I would leave it.

On the pieces you cut which do not have the header, you can slice off the top layer and then reglue it, jogged out a bit.

[Frank53]

also keep in mind that since they connect with alternating dovetail, you can't cut them exactly in half, as teh dovetail won't match up and give you an even edge top and bottom. You'll have to experiment with that. You will probably lose 1/4" of height off each piece.

[2railjon]

Frank, thanks for the heads up! The header problem sounds fixable but the dove-tailing may be a concern. My plan was running those Flex-wall sections 2 or 3 feet and breaking it up by switching in between ceiling tile rocks and wood retaining walls kinda like what you did. Plus it'll break up the monotony and cut costs. Think it might work?

[2railjon]

LOL, Andre!! Sweatermeat.

[Frank53]

I think that is a nice idea Jon. The dovetailing is going to cost you one block level of height, as when you interlock them after cutting them in half it seems to me you will have one row overhanging at the bottom and one overhanging at the top. You'll need to trim both of those off by one block row.

this is a crude cobble together of what I had in mind for mine:



I'm going to run the block around this curve with a matching tunnel portal coming out from under the shelf. For the space between the reversing loop and the top of the wall, I will come down with ceiling tile effect or something similar. This stuff has lots of bendability.

You can probably embed these sections into the ceiling tile cliffside for a neat effect as well. Keep in mind if you are counting on 3.5", you may loose some over the way the dovetailing works.

[2railjon]

I think that Flex-wall is going to work out perfect for your project. My goal on my outer wall is to only raise it 3-4 inches above my lower level for a visual effect as well as being able to capture close-ups of 2 passing loco's without to much height difference. Doe's that make any sense? Input welcome!!!!!

[Frank53]

One of teh many mistakes I made early on was having too much height difference between the two levels - shown here.



Using a 3% grade, I end up with the lowest point on a narrow curve, and I have to run the trains faster to make the grades and run without throttling them.

In hindsight, I should have made the difference a couple of inches less, which would have cut down significantly on the grades.

You won't have these problems with electronic control and bigger curves by in 12x12 with conventional control, teh problems became evident.

As to having two lines with a small height difference, it is an excellent effect and gives the opportunity for interesting scenery between teh two levels.

[rogruth]

The wall sections that I have will NOT interlock.

I well use the seam sealers to cover the joints.

[2railjon]

Frank, I think the 4 inch depth on your layout looks perfect! No complaints here. I'm also trying to build into my layout, like you, the "absolute photos", as coined by your friend over on OGR. You're there, Man.

Roger, Excellent point!!! I see nothing wrong with an angled series of vertical stone walls around a curve either. It may actually have been more prototypical. I mean did any railroad actually build a curved truss bridge like we see on so many layout? I think not!!! They built straight trusses angled.

[rogruth]

Jon,

There is a bridge across the Ohio River that continues on land with stone arches and stone walls.Some are curved.The stone blocks that were used are about 2' X 3'.This was a B&O bridge that ,I think,is the second oldest railroad bridge across the Ohio and it is still in use by the W&LE.

[ANG retired]

LOL, Andre!! Sweatermeat.

Please button, POP!!!!!

[Tramp]

Saturday night. I've been jousting with a damn flu for a week, not moving from this sofa, the pellet stove moaning, trying to sound like a Big Boy whistle but sounding more like a zinc ashtray in heat worried about the size of its smokestack. Last night D's cat came running in SKUNKED. I had to catch the poor guy and wash him with lemon juice and vinegar. I need some cheering up. What ya got?

Jon, it just dawned on me that I didn't ring you back. Sorry, brother. I haven't been in much of a talking mood.

[2railjon]

Nothing like waking up to the flu and a "skunked" cat!!!
YIKES!
Faring a bit better down here. Beautiful sunny Fall day spent at the zoo and tossing a football around the front yard with the family. Not too shabby for a belligerent drunk, I guess. Let me get you a round!!! You sure need it!!!

[Daisy]

Yeah, buy him another round J*~*~*N! The poor thing. And here I am stuck over here in Albany and I can't do anything to help him, it's so frustrating.

I might get skunked myself tonight.

[Mitch]

Not too shabby for a belligerent drunk, I guess.

Not to mention, a moron who apparently can't read. I'm not gonna post over there anymore, Jon. When I read that forum, I scan all the threads that don't have "Postwar" in them and read them if they interest me, but I can't handle all that "The sun rises and sets in Postwar's ***" shit. Lionel fuckin' up the whistle was probably Mike Wolfs' fault.

In the meantime, belly up here at Gomer's and I'll buy ya a round. You too, Daisy, have one on me.