tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7108382665458119460.post1013028643671013450..comments2024-03-22T22:30:30.297-04:00Comments on USMRR Aquia Line and other Model Railroad Adventures: Union Street Switch District, Alexandria, VA 1863Berniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14041125155303909803noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7108382665458119460.post-39689637935430606342012-07-14T23:39:03.754-04:002012-07-14T23:39:03.754-04:00I currently have a Chevy Tahoe that has a interior...I currently have a Chevy Tahoe that has a interior space 6.5 feet long. However, that car is 16 years old and is not that reliable for long trips. So a mini-van rental is probably going to be needed to haul this layout to shows.<br /><br />This sections would be built with about 18 inches vertical relief, so three sections could coffin in my Tahoe or easily into a minivan. A coffin is a set of plywood end plates that hold the sections with scenery facing towards the inside. That protects the models on the sceniced surface.<br /><br />However, John Drye and I were doing some rough mocking up today in my basement and concluded that 18 feet is too long for the overall layout. I need to reconsider how to make it fit in 15 feet or less or plan to not have the whole thing set up at one time in my basement.Berniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14041125155303909803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7108382665458119460.post-88971615295450975542012-07-14T23:37:04.765-04:002012-07-14T23:37:04.765-04:00Pete Magoun, who has a lot of experience in haulin...Pete Magoun, who has a lot of experience in hauling modules around sent me this detailed message. Pete was not aware that I too have built and hauled many modules to shows including trips as far as from Virginia to Madison, WI, and Orlando, Fl. I was a member of NVNTRAK for about 20 years. My membership currently has lapsed, but I will re-up when I get back to N Scale in a few years. They are a great group of folks. <br /><br />To see some of my earlier modules see this link: http://mountainsub.blogspot.com/ <br /><br />Anyway, I agree with most of what Pete suggests, so I am posting it here for your benefit. <br /><br /><br />Pete writes: <br /><br />Some observations, if I may, on the proposed ACW Road Trip layout, based on my HOn30 experience. <br /><br />* Transportation is going to be a big issue. With eighteen feet of sections to run, you will probably be looking at 3 six-footers. IIRC, you have a Tahoe. I'd measure the interior before starting construction. I have no problems with my four-footers in my minivan, but six feet is seriously cramping the space I need for the ancillary stuff. I have six modules, 2 are 30 x 48," the rest are 24 x 48." It all fits. <br /><br />* Recommend you consider "stripping" the buildings for transportationas it is much easier on the back and the load/unload process. <br /><br />* For transportation I store my modules vertically, clamped to a cross-member (1 x 4) front and back. This keeps them safe for transportation, and they don't move around in transit. <br /><br />* While you're in your Loadmaster mode, plan room for the suitcases, and for the All-Important Passenger. Trust me on this! <br /><br />* I store buildings, light bulbs, skirts, transformer, power buses, etc. in large plastic tubs, which I fit in front of the modules. With O-scale buildings, this will take up space. <br /><br />* All of my modules have self-contained legs that fold up into the structure for travel. Works like a charm. <br /><br />* Build as much as you can from blue/pink board. We use two-inch, with a minimal frame underneath and a fascia all around. Half-inch ply on the ends for clamping purposes, quarter inch fascia for weight savings. This flies in the face of the usual module standard stuff, but we also are not getting younger, and the "standard" stuff takes six guys and a boy to lift. We've had no problems. <br /><br />* Minimize the use of Hydrocal, Sculptamold and other plaster-based stuff; it's heavy and it adds up quickly. <br /><br />* Keep the wiring simple! Make everything as "Murphy-proof" as possible. <br /><br />* Plan for uneven floors, even in gymnasiums. We use T-nuts and bolts or furniture leveling screws. Some venues can be off as much as an inch, so plan on having some shims in the box. <br /><br />Build the thing high enough to make it possible to work underneath it if necessary. Parents will complain that it's too high for little Thedwick to see, but at the age of five, he's not your target audience. The Geezer Brigade is, though, so put it where we can see it! We use 48 inches off the deck for our track height. Works well. <br /><br /> There is probably a lot of other stuff I should mention, but this is what comes immediately to mind. I now have ten years with this modular stuff, and have set up from St. Louis to Portland, Maine, with a boatload of places in between. Good decisions come from experience. Experience comes from making bad decisions!Berniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14041125155303909803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7108382665458119460.post-83314143026024097562012-07-14T16:03:26.006-04:002012-07-14T16:03:26.006-04:00This would be a nice complement to the non-urban m...This would be a nice complement to the non-urban main layout. It seems you could easily add a couple of perpendicular modules that were just wharves and ships. That would take care of the minus, but not the plus problem...Rileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12506630615570466501noreply@blogger.com