RMC layout article

If you want to read how I built my home layout, Railroad Model Craftsman published my article in the October 2015 issue and it's titled Modeling AT&SF's Surf Line in Germany

If you didn't read it, dig the copy out of your magazine stash or get a back issue from White River Productions.

The article has 11 pages and a detailled track plan. The issue is worth its money because it is loaded with more great articles.

Backdrop Main Room

With the benchwork and subroadbed in place (btw that's all 1/2 inch plywood) track laying went on fast.
I used PECO code 83 track and turnouts

The backdrop is 3 mm tempered hardboard, again glued directly to the outer walls to save railroad real estate.
For the peninsula I had to erect a frame to support the hardboard sheets. It consists mainly of 1x2's, screwed to the benchwork and to the ceiling.

The hardboard is screwed to the framework and the seams filled with putty and sanded smooth.

For the transition from the outer wall to the peninsula I curved the backdrop to follow the tracks.

The backdrop also curves along the yard throat of Oceanside

This is the other side of the penisula with Capistrano and the return curve to the staging yard (at left).

How I bridged the door opening may be read in the October 2013 issue of NMRA magazine. 

Backdrop San Diego room

The smallest of my two layout rooms houses the depot of San Diego with Broadway Pier on right side and Old Town on the left side of the room.

On my previous layouts, due to unregular walls, I had to construct a frame to screw the backdrop on to. IN my current basement the walls are straight like all other rooms in the house. Building a subframe would only cost me precious real estate for my railroad.

So I figured out that gluing the 1/8 inch thick masonite sheets directly to the wall should also work. A trip to my local building supply store provided me with the mounting glues that I needed. These have an adherance factor of about 50 kilograms per square meter, which is more than sufficient because the boards are litterally leaning against the wall and not hanging from the ceiling.

Because I need all the available space for my rendering of the San Diego depot scene I did not cove the corners. There's no need for a curved corner on the right side of the room, because Broadway Avenue and the Pier are located next to it.

The left wall houses Consolidated Aircraft and the US Marine Base with Lindbergh Field. That's the place where the International Airport is today.

After all the masonite sheets were installed, I painted them sky blue. I did use a stronger blue color because lighter blues don't show enough on photographs.

The picture above shows my Broadway Pier extension. I tried to incorporate some office tools and desk under this part of the layout also.