I will attempt to list "things-to-do" here and will note the date that I either change it or complete it. I havae jsut reviewed this page on August 29, 1999 and have added a number of comments as I attempt to bring this up-to-date.

1.0 Subscribe to rec.models.railroad. [Jan. 9, 1999]
[Done Jan. 9, 1999]

When I returned to this hobby in August 1999 I discovered that my Internet Service Provider no longer provides this newsgroup. I now view the postings through the deja website.

2.0 Review some software for designing a layout. What is available? What is recommended? Should I buy some? [Jan. 9, 1999]
[Done Jan. 20, 1999]

- 2.1 locate Cadrail [Jan. 9, 1999]
- 2.2 locate Right Track by Atlas [Jan. 10, 1999]
- 2.3 locate 3rdPlanIt by El Dorado [Jan. 11, 1999]
- 2.4 order placed for 3rdPlanIt [Jan. 20, 1999]
Although I have purchased this software, I have not used it to plan my layout. I found it too difficult and opted instead for a series of successive approximations and modifications to a layout that I saw in a magazine. [August 29, 1999]

3.0 Search the web for some good on-line web sites. Place these links on my on-line page. [Jan. 9, 1999]
[Done Jan. 20, 1999]

- 3.1 three sites added [Jan. 9, 1999]
- 3.2 three sites added [Jan. 10, 1999]
- 3.3 two sites added [Jan. 17, 1999]
- 3.4 two sites added [Jan. 18, 1999]
- 3.5 one site added [Jan. 20, 1999]
I must admit that I have not viewed any of these sites for the last 6 months (August 29, 1999). However this should be rectified. Also, I should spend some time looking for other sites to add to this list. I have added a new activity at the end of this list to identify this.

4.0 Post a message to rec.models.railroad asking about track layout software. [Jan. 9, 1999]
[Done. Jan. 10, 1999]

I post my first message to the newsgroup. It is a reply to a post that shows a track layout. I ask for information about the software that was used.

5.0 Post a message to rec.models.railroad announcing this website. [Jan. 9, 1999]
[Done. Jan. 18, 1999]

- I think I will wait a week or two and see how appropriate this idea is for this newsgroup. There are a number of postings to the newsgroup giving web site URLs. [Jan. 10, 1999]
 - I do this Sunday morning. Within a few hours I receive 4 private email messages supporting the site. One of these is from another web site called Model Railroading Guide saying they have added a link to my site to their web page. I hadn't foreseen this as a possibility! Neat!!

6.0 Join Layout Design SIG newsgroup [Jan. 10, 1999]
[Done. Jan.10, 1999]

Done. This looks like a useful group for my needs at the moment.

I haven't actually looked at their postings. I will add a new activity to highlight this (see 15.0 below) [August 29, 1999]

7.0 Try using the Atlas Right Track demo software. [Jan. 10, 1999]
[No longer relevant.  Jan. 20, 1999]

- 7.1 Successfully download Demo version [Jan. 10, 1999]
- no longer relevant. I have ordered 3rdPlanIt. [Jan. 20, 1999]

8.0 Complete many of the kits that I have lying around [Jan. 17, 1999]

- 8.1 Intermountain cylindrical grain car, Alberta break "Longview"
             [start on Jan. 17, 1999] [Done Jan. 27, 1999]
- 8.2 Intermountain cylindrical grain car, Sask. Potash Corp.
             [start on Jan. 17, 1999] [Done Jan. 26, 1999]
- 8.3 Walthers Champion Packing Co. - a meat packing plant.
             [start on Jan. 30, 1999] [Done Feb. 16, 1999]
- 8.4 Walthers Stock Yard
             [start Feb. 16, 1999] [Done Mar. 8, 1999]
- 8.5 Walthers Horizontal Oil Storage Tank
             [start Mar. 8, 1999]
- I still have a number of kits to complete (August 29, 1999) so this item will remain as an important activity for some time to come.

9.0 Become familiar with 3rdPlanIt software [Jan. 20, 1999]
[No longer relevant.  August 29, 1999]

- 9.1 copy a simple plan from a magazine [Jan. 20, 1999]
- 9.2 create the floor plan for the "train room" [Jan. 20, 1999]
              [Done Jan. 20, 1999]
- 9.3 attempt to create plan for existing layout, called NoSweat1.0
               [Jan. 20, 1999] no longer relevant
- 9.4 create a new plan, called NoSweat2.0
               [Jan. 20, 1999] no longer relevant
- 9.5 design track layout for coal mine, using Atlas code 83 track [Feb. 12,
              1999] [Done Feb. 12, 1999]
- 9.6 design track layout for classification yard [Feb. 15, 1999
- After these efforts, I abandoned my use of this software as too difficult for the immediate task of planning the layout for my room. I was more comfortable with an approach that involved setting up a table structure that was similar to one in a magazine and then to modify the track layout to better accommodate many of the buildings that I already possessed.

10.0 Become familiar with "tortoise" switching machines [Feb. 15, 1999]

- I buy one machine [Mar. 13, 1999] Now to play with it.

11.0 Become familiar with Timesaver switching layout [February 21, 1999]
[Done. March 7, 1999]

- 11.1 review Timesaver postings to rec.models.railroad newsgroup
                 [Feb.  21, 1999] [Done Feb. 21, 1999]
 - 11.2 create a Timesaver layout using Atlas track [Feb. 21, 1999]
                 [Done Feb. 21, 1999]
 - 11.3 begin 1 car problems [Feb. 21, 1999]
 - 11.3 I am now fairly familiar with this [Mar. 7, 1999]

12.0 Build table layout for room [August 2, 1999]

12.1 Decide on basic idea for layout [August 2, 1999] [Done. Aug. 2, 1999]
12.2 Make modifications to suit the buildings I have [Done. Aug. 25, 1999]
12.3 Try using Woodland Scenics Subterrain materials [Done. Aug. 25, 1999]
12.4 Make one plywood base for turnouts and make it operational for under-the-table use. [Done. September 3, 1999]
12.5 Make plywood bases for rest of layout turnouts.
12.6 Review entire layout to ensure that each component serves a useful purpose, and that there is not a simpler way to accomplish that purpose. [Done. Aug. 31, 1999]
12.7 Take photos of layout and prepare a web page of the layout. [Done. September 3, 1999]
12.8 Post URL to rec.models.railroad and ask for feedback
12.9 Make appropriate adjustments to layout.
12.10 Glue subterrain materials to tables.
12.11 Glue roadbed to subterrain materials.
12.12 Glue track to roadbed.
12.13 Test run trains on layout.
12.14 Begin adding scenery.

13.0 Review newsgroup rec.models.railroad postings each week [August 29, 1999]

14.0 Spend 2 hours reviewing web sites for this hobby [August 29, 1999]

15.0 Review newsgroup on Layout Design SIG [August 29, 1999]
[Done. September 5, 1999]

The server for this group has either changed or is no longer operational [August 30, 1999]. I will check this by posting to the rec.models.railroad. I post a query about this newsgroup to alt.models.railroad.ho on the morning of August 31. I realize while doing this that there are now two separate newsgroups:
     rec.models.railroad
     alt.models.railroad.ho
I subscribe to both of them, but will try to avoid posting my question to both unless I fail to receive a reply. The rec.models.railroad group is fantastic. I received a reply back almost immediately giving me the correct address for the Layout Design Group.

On September 5 I join the Onelist email system which provides a forum for the ldsig. This looks like a very interesting group, but it is another commitment for time. [Done. September 5, 1999]

16.0 Build a Timesaver layout on a board [August 29, 1999]

I really enjoyed this operation in the spring and would like to have this set up again as an adjunct activity. It looks like this requires a board at least 6 feet long.

17.0 Build an under the table motorized turnout. [August 30, 1999]
[Done. September 9, 1999]

Amazingly, I have never tried this. I did some reading in a magazine called "Basic Model Railroading: Getting Started in the Hobby" produced by Model Railroader Magazine (1999). There is a section on this very topic on pages 18-19. I will need Atlas No. 65 switch motor, which my local hobby store does NOT have. This will have to wait until my next trip to Edmonton or Calgary. [August 30] I was in Calgary on September 4 and managed to visit the Trains & Such hobby store. I was able to buy one Atlas No. 65 motor, but more importantly I was able to buy a bag of vertical prongs that should allow me to modify 20 of my switches at an average cost of 50 cents. I tried this with one piece of 1/2 plywood and everything appeared to work just fine. There is still a fair amount of work to be done cutting out templates for the turnouts from plywood and attaching the under-the-table motors, but I now know what I am doing.

 

Page first created: January 9, 1999
Date last modified: September 6, 1999

Created by Dale Burnett
All rights reserved.