I’m very impressed with how much of the benchwork you got completed. Rich is a good friend to come and help while he is injured and hobbling around on one and a half legs, I’m sure it was a bit uncomfortable on his knee. This layout is going to spectacular and thanks for taking us along on the museum tour and train ride. They had some fantastic locos there and it was impressive to see the wheels turning while the loco was static on the rail.
He's alright, I'll give him that ;) And yes, the railway museum in Duluth is awesome. I've done a couple of the train rides, too, and can highly recommend a visit. Iain
@@gncascadedivision I'm anxiously waiting to see what more you've got done. I like to follow layout builds of the benchwork, track, and scenery. Not real big on watching the wiring process but most everything else I enjoy. How wide is your room there where the layout is? I plan on building a 3 level ho scale layout myself. I think the heights you used might be close to how I do my levels so seeing that and the explanation you gave on the heights between the levels was interesting. I built a building in my yard especially for a layout that's 14'×24' with a 10'×10' on the long left side at the front corner. Inside there at that corner is a 5'×5' closet. The 10'×10' floor level is lower than the bigger part of the building making it waist high when standing in the smaller part. I'm going to put half a helix in the closet and half in the small building along with the staging yard that will come off the top level. I'm putting my work bench and storage in the small building and just cut out a wall section like a 2'×4' window. I'm financially recovering from the cost of the building right now so it will be a year or two before I can start the layout. In the mean time I am building structures, the old wooden freight car kits where you got a box of sticks, and vehicles all to go on the layout one day.
My basement is 38ft along the back wall, then 13ft wide on the window-side wall opening up to 16ft wide on the opposite side. Everything in model railroading is a compromise, and you have to make down with the dimensions of the space you have - this wasn't the orientation and dimensions I wanted / expected, but here we are, so I'm making it work the best I can. It sounds like you have a solid plan for how you want to arrange things on your upcoming layout. Triple deck in HO is just as doable as what I'm doing in N scale, just pay attention to the radius of your curves and it'll be fine. Most of my dimensions are overkill for N and would likely work in HO, but it means I'll have very broad curves and plenty of deck separation to improve the aesthetics. Iain
Thank you! I am lucky to have the space that I do, and it's quite a step up from the space I had for my previous layout. Thanks for following along. Iain
I'm contemplating a multi-deck layout, too, but in HO scale. My thoughts on the self supporting peninsula was to run L-girders on either side of the wall to give continuous support and, possibly, allow for the decks to be at different elevations on opposite sides of the "wall".
Yep, that would definitely work. I've seen layouts like that. Especially if you're potentially wanting different heights of decks, makes sense. I know / knew both sides were going to be the same height, so this made more sense, and makes it a little more rigid. Good luck with your layout build! Iain
Nice job on the benchwork. I like the design - it gives you lots of mileage to model and create lots of fun operating scenarios.. How are you going to stabilize the 2x2 legs? will there be more structure down there for storage?
Yes, eventually I'll add 45-degree supports to all the legs. For now, it works fine, and the benchwork is pretty solid. The additional supports would more be for people walking around when running trains and inevitably bumping into the legs. There won't be much structure down, it'll mostly all be left open for storage. I plan on adding just cloth skirts / drapes to cover all that. Iain
You stated Scale Model Supplies in Minneapolis but we’re you actually talking about SMS in St. Paul off of University and Lexington? Also, everyone needs to visit Duluth Mn. Trains, museums, ore boats past and present. Taconite mines and ore docks plus open pit mines and underground mine tours. Northern Minnesota is spectacular and needs to be explored.
Yes, that's the one, because the majority of people will have no idea if I just say St. Paul :) Sadly, they're one of the few model stores left in the area, it seems. The Duluth area is definitely very cool. I've gone a couple of times now, and there's a lot going in terms of railroading and history. I'd like to get more into the iron ore ranges and explore. Maybe this summer. Iain
I've been fascinated by the Stevens Pass history. I hope you've seen the book "Lines West" which documents the history, from the original switchback route, to the old tunnel, to the current tunnel.
Yes, the tunnels were very impressive, especially for the time. I can't imagine those switchbacks in winter! The original and then replacement tunnels were quite the undertaking. Honestly, the whole route through the Cascades, by all the roads, is impressive for 130 years or so ago. Hopefully I can do it justice in model form! Iain
Awesome! There don't seem to be as many N scale modelers here as in Seattle. Most of the local shows seem focused on HO or larger. You can email gncascadedivision at gmail dot .com
Seems to me you build one deck at a time and lay your track before going to another level. Still intend to follow your progress. I started in "N" scale back 1969 with a 20 by 50 old chicken house that had been abandoned. N scale afforded me much back then with many different types of cars that are no longer available today. I wanted to model the PC era, but after a few years I converted to HO scale when my eyes could no longer see the tiny springs in the couplers. Then due to a heavy snow fall one winter the building collapsed destroying the large layout. My father and I burned the building, but all the N scale rail cars I had sold to another man previous to the heavy snow. I never did get to see one train run in HO scale, but since have built many layout housed in basements.
Sorry to hear about all your trials and tribulations over the years! Hopefully you've gotten to enjoy at least some of the basement layouts. General consensus is that you build all the benchwork for multi-deck layout at the same time, and then start on track. Typically even do the wiring, backdrop placement, lighting, fascia, etc. (which is the approach I'm mostly taking). Then, you start from the top deck and work downwards so you minimize risk to any track work or scenery already in place. Not an exact science, and it's likely I'll jump around on parts of the layout to keep things interesting for me, but I don't think I've seen / heard of anyone building individual decks and track before building the next week unless they were making an addition that wasn't originally planned. Iain
Great progress on the benchwork and I dig your dog, too. I really enjoyed the museum and train ride stuff so thanks much for sharing that.
Thank you. Duluth has a nice setup with the museum and train ride, same with Osceola. Good amount of heritage railroads here. Iain
INCREDIBLE !!!! This is going to be an amazing layout 🥰
Thanks, I certainly hope so! Iain
Wow , looking very good !!!
Thank you! Hopefully I haven't bitten off my more than I can chew! Iain
@@gncascadedivision You can always make changes with the way you are doing it. Go Big or Go Home !!!!
Hah, absolutely! Worst case, I have to scale it back. Way better than the usual problem of always wanting to expand half way through :)
@@gncascadedivision I agree totally !!
I’m very impressed with how much of the benchwork you got completed. Rich is a good friend to come and help while he is injured and hobbling around on one and a half legs, I’m sure it was a bit uncomfortable on his knee. This layout is going to spectacular and thanks for taking us along on the museum tour and train ride. They had some fantastic locos there and it was impressive to see the wheels turning while the loco was static on the rail.
He's alright, I'll give him that ;) And yes, the railway museum in Duluth is awesome. I've done a couple of the train rides, too, and can highly recommend a visit. Iain
Making a lot of progress! Helps when you have a couple of helpers. Keep up the good work.
Thanks, it definitely helped to have some cheap labor! Thanks for following along. Iain
That is a lot of progress, fantastic stuff. All the best Anthony
Thanks, Anthony! It's great to finally have accomplished building a large chunk of the benchwork so it feels like something is taking shape. Iain
really amazing and impressive. Quality work....... kudos
Thank you! I'm happy with how the benchwork came together, and it gives me a solid start to continue building on. Iain
Impressive space with loads of potential!
Thanks! I'm slowly making decent progress. Iain
Awesome video. 👍
Thanks, William! I've been making a little more progress on additional benchwork, so will share another video soon. Iain
@@gncascadedivision I'm anxiously waiting to see what more you've got done. I like to follow layout builds of the benchwork, track, and scenery. Not real big on watching the wiring process but most everything else I enjoy. How wide is your room there where the layout is? I plan on building a 3 level ho scale layout myself. I think the heights you used might be close to how I do my levels so seeing that and the explanation you gave on the heights between the levels was interesting. I built a building in my yard especially for a layout that's 14'×24' with a 10'×10' on the long left side at the front corner. Inside there at that corner is a 5'×5' closet. The 10'×10' floor level is lower than the bigger part of the building making it waist high when standing in the smaller part. I'm going to put half a helix in the closet and half in the small building along with the staging yard that will come off the top level. I'm putting my work bench and storage in the small building and just cut out a wall section like a 2'×4' window. I'm financially recovering from the cost of the building right now so it will be a year or two before I can start the layout. In the mean time I am building structures, the old wooden freight car kits where you got a box of sticks, and vehicles all to go on the layout one day.
My basement is 38ft along the back wall, then 13ft wide on the window-side wall opening up to 16ft wide on the opposite side. Everything in model railroading is a compromise, and you have to make down with the dimensions of the space you have - this wasn't the orientation and dimensions I wanted / expected, but here we are, so I'm making it work the best I can. It sounds like you have a solid plan for how you want to arrange things on your upcoming layout. Triple deck in HO is just as doable as what I'm doing in N scale, just pay attention to the radius of your curves and it'll be fine. Most of my dimensions are overkill for N and would likely work in HO, but it means I'll have very broad curves and plenty of deck separation to improve the aesthetics. Iain
Very nice work--thanks for the video
Thank you! It was quite an effort, but a solid start to build the rest of the layout on now. Thanks for following along. Iain
I only wish I had that much room, looks great!
Thank you! I am lucky to have the space that I do, and it's quite a step up from the space I had for my previous layout. Thanks for following along. Iain
Looks great so far!
Thanks! I'm happy with how it all took shape. Iain
I'm contemplating a multi-deck layout, too, but in HO scale. My thoughts on the self supporting peninsula was to run L-girders on either side of the wall to give continuous support and, possibly, allow for the decks to be at different elevations on opposite sides of the "wall".
Yep, that would definitely work. I've seen layouts like that. Especially if you're potentially wanting different heights of decks, makes sense. I know / knew both sides were going to be the same height, so this made more sense, and makes it a little more rigid. Good luck with your layout build! Iain
Nice job on the benchwork. I like the design - it gives you lots of mileage to model and create lots of fun operating scenarios..
How are you going to stabilize the 2x2 legs? will there be more structure down there for storage?
Yes, eventually I'll add 45-degree supports to all the legs. For now, it works fine, and the benchwork is pretty solid. The additional supports would more be for people walking around when running trains and inevitably bumping into the legs. There won't be much structure down, it'll mostly all be left open for storage. I plan on adding just cloth skirts / drapes to cover all that. Iain
You stated Scale Model Supplies in Minneapolis but we’re you actually talking about SMS in St. Paul off of University and Lexington? Also, everyone needs to visit Duluth Mn. Trains, museums, ore boats past and present. Taconite mines and ore docks plus open pit mines and underground mine tours. Northern Minnesota is spectacular and needs to be explored.
Yes, that's the one, because the majority of people will have no idea if I just say St. Paul :) Sadly, they're one of the few model stores left in the area, it seems.
The Duluth area is definitely very cool. I've gone a couple of times now, and there's a lot going in terms of railroading and history. I'd like to get more into the iron ore ranges and explore. Maybe this summer. Iain
Man I love that store!
Awesome!
Thanks! I'm looking forward to continuing to make more progress this year. Iain
I've been fascinated by the Stevens Pass history. I hope you've seen the book "Lines West" which documents the history, from the original switchback route, to the old tunnel, to the current tunnel.
Yes, the tunnels were very impressive, especially for the time. I can't imagine those switchbacks in winter! The original and then replacement tunnels were quite the undertaking. Honestly, the whole route through the Cascades, by all the roads, is impressive for 130 years or so ago. Hopefully I can do it justice in model form! Iain
🚂🇧🇷👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Good afternoon. Just found your videos. Are you in Minneapolis?
Yes, we moved to Minneapolis from Seattle a little over a year ago. This basement was the compromise / bargain in getting me to move here! Iain
@@gncascadedivision I live in Plymouth MN and I’m a n scale modeler as well!!!! I would definitely like to connect and talk trains.
Awesome! There don't seem to be as many N scale modelers here as in Seattle. Most of the local shows seem focused on HO or larger. You can email gncascadedivision at gmail dot .com
Much work to do, but amazing :)
Thanks. I've made decent progress on it now, and hoping to continue that in the coming months. Iain
Seems to me you build one deck at a time and lay your track before going to another level. Still intend to follow your progress. I started in "N" scale back 1969 with a 20 by 50 old chicken house that had been abandoned. N scale afforded me much back then with many different types of cars that are no longer available today. I wanted to model the PC era, but after a few years I converted to HO scale when my eyes could no longer see the tiny springs in the couplers. Then due to a heavy snow fall one winter the building collapsed destroying the large layout. My father and I burned the building, but all the N scale rail cars I had sold to another man previous to the heavy snow. I never did get to see one train run in HO scale, but since have built many layout housed in basements.
Sorry to hear about all your trials and tribulations over the years! Hopefully you've gotten to enjoy at least some of the basement layouts.
General consensus is that you build all the benchwork for multi-deck layout at the same time, and then start on track. Typically even do the wiring, backdrop placement, lighting, fascia, etc. (which is the approach I'm mostly taking). Then, you start from the top deck and work downwards so you minimize risk to any track work or scenery already in place. Not an exact science, and it's likely I'll jump around on parts of the layout to keep things interesting for me, but I don't think I've seen / heard of anyone building individual decks and track before building the next week unless they were making an addition that wasn't originally planned. Iain
Music is annoying as hell
You are more than welcome to mute the sound or just fuck right off.
I’m good at annoying people from afar…
I would expect nothing less.
No drywall on the ceiling ? Going to be a lot of dust falling onto your layout
Doesn't seem like it.
subbed
Thanks for some idea tips, I’m HOga. with a large area with a lot of industrial ideas, like what you have accomplished so far👍. 👋😎🛤🚂
Thanks. HO can also look great in a large area! All the best with your layout. Iain