Model Railroad Podcast

  





hosted by: Ryan Andersen & Will Ayerst
Model Railcast Show #38
Sun, Nov 9, 2008
Posted by: Ryan Andersen

MRC Show #38 Notes

Yard Office: An update of our own projects at ModelRailCast and what's going on with MRCS - Helices, Staging tracks, wiring and editing video.

Roundhouse:  A chat with Byron Henderon, designing for Operation focusing on Waterside and harbor operational differences.

 

Coaling Tower:  Jeff Adams of Motrak Models send in some review kits and man are they nice!  Check out Motrak Models at http://stores.ebay.com/Motrak-Models

 

Departure Tracks: Our 'links of the week' summarised here for you!


Download the enhanced (better sounding) version of the show with chapters:  MRC Show 38 (AAC)

 
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Posted by: markpierce MRCS Pioneer on Mon, Nov 10 2008    
Hi Ryan,

Regardless of your roadbed, it should be at least an inch above the framework. This allows vertical distance to model ditches, shallow gulches, and such. It is easy to forget that there is much going on below track level that makes modeling more realistic. Further, one should have at least several culverts for any significant bridge. Significant bridges need at least 3 to 4 inches of vertical height to be convincing, so one should consider lowering the benchwork under same if needed.

And thanks for the interview with Byron. I see him at the annual LDsig meeting in Santa Clara every January/February, although he was somewhere else this year. I'll be doubly disappointed if he isn't there in 2009. He is always a major contributer, and I always find it difficult to disagree with his views.

Mark Pierce
Posted by: jbaakko on Mon, Nov 10 2008     http://rr.blockchoice.com
Cajon, not Cajun.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Cajon%20Pass
http://www.merri am-webster.com/dictionary/cajun

Nice show, nice to hear someone talking about what I'll be modeling!
Posted by: markpierce MRCS Pioneer on Mon, Nov 10 2008    
I believe it is pronounced "Cahoon." After all, it is Spanish.

Mark Pierce
Posted by: markpierce MRCS Pioneer on Mon, Nov 10 2008    
I can appreciate people's confusion on pronouncing Southwestern place names based on their Spanish originations. Here are some examples.

San Francisco is pronoucned locally by English speakers (LBS) as San Fransiscoe, but in Spanish it is Sawn Frawnseescoe.

San Jose by LBS is pronouched San Hoezay, but in Spanish it is Sawn Hoezay.

Vallejo by LBS is pronounced Vulayoe, but in Spanish is Vahyaehoe.

Martinez by LBS is pronouced Marteenez, much like Spanish.

And so on. And don't get me started with Tuolumne, Carquinez and other place names of non-English originations. But it makes life interesting.
Posted by: alkemscalemodels MRCS Pioneer on Mon, Nov 10 2008     www.alkemscalemodels.com
Great show guys. Keep up the good work. Was Tim's pronunciation of "Cajon" a subtle attempt at a Chuckle Coupler?

One of the best Cajon Pass layouts I have visited and operated on is Ted York's. He has a nice website at http://home.comcast.net/~cajonpass52/overview_2.htm

Andy Sperandeo is also notably modeling Cajon Pass, but his layout is not operational at this time.

In N Scale, Bill Pierce and Otto Kroutil have great Cajon Pass layouts. They were featured in 1999 MRP.

Byron's comments about waterfront layouts were very interesting. I tend to agree with him. In my book, I included 5 different prototypes with waterfront locations.
Posted by: Ironsiderodger MRCS Pioneer on Mon, Nov 10 2008     www.ironsaddcasts.mypodcast.com
I AM AN IDIOT!!! (EE-dee-YOT)

My prounciation of "Cajon" was a not-so-subtle example of rawther embarrasing... pronouciation...

Hmmm BUT- perhaps an idea for the next chuckle coupler.
Posted by: dramos_1701 MRCS Pioneer on Mon, Nov 10 2008     www.nyhrr.com
Gent's Great Show again!

Craig and I use an interesting method for our bench work. We cut up a ¾” thick sheets of plywood into 2 ½” strips. We then use these to build our basic bench work. This method works great for both open grid and the tabletop. I use 2 x 4 that I cut down the middle to make the legs of the layout. Again, I use the strips to stabilize the legs. The big advantage is that plywood is more dimensional stable and holds up very well. It works out about $1.52 per strip.

Here is an example of how it works:


The 2" X 2" Strip is where the support legs are bolted to. The tools used in this construction is a table saw to cut the strips, glue (white or yellow), a brad gun and a chop saw. The brads acts as a clamp and the glue does most of the work of holding the bench work all together.
Posted by: darkterritory MRCS Pioneer on Mon, Nov 10 2008     www.Housatonicrr.com
Great show, guys - Byron is one of the bright lights in the layout design world and I'm so glad you found him to talk to. You've done exceptionally well in the last few months with your guests (I leave myself out of that, it's for others to decide) and are rapidly becoming a real source for great information. Kudos to all of you.

Dave is right, and I too heartily endorse using plywood to make 'dimensional' lumber out of. It's usually straighter and less prone to warp and expansion due to humidity than regular lumber, and a helluva lot cheaper too on a foot-for-foot basis. The only downside is, of course, you need access to a table saw, or at least a skilsaw and an 8' straightedge. A lot more work that way but it can be done.

And the method Dave shows in that photo is the same that we used on the Housatonic, where we built grids in 6 to 8 foot sections, placed them on supporting beams, and screwed them together. It worked extraordinarily well. Any perpendicular joints are reinforced with a short 4-6" nailing block to get two adjacent faces glued and nailed supporting one another. It is very strong. You can see more of this on my blog at www.housatonicrr.com in the first volume of the construction journal, and on Dave's NYHRR.com website too.
Posted by: jfugate MRCS Sponsor on Mon, Nov 10 2008     http://siskiyou-railfan.net
Yep, I was shouting at the iPod ...

"It's Ka-hone, NOT Kay-jen!"

But that's a nit ... great show! Byron took over as LD SIG Journal editor from me, so we spent quite a few hours talking about the LD SIG, layout design, and the like. I've also guest operated a number of times on Rick Fortin's layout - so I've been able to see first hand how Byron's ideas around operations work when applied to a larger multideck layout.

I have to say many of Byron's insights as applied on Rick's layout have inspired similar approaches to how we operate my Siskiyou Line.

And I know Byron's too modest to point this out, but with all the promoting you have done lately of the late John Armstrong, I have to say that I consider at least some of John's layout design mantle has passed on to Byron - so a great choice as a guest on the show!

--Joe Fugate
Posted by: Cuyama on Tue, Nov 11 2008     www.LayoutVision.com
Thanks for the kind comments, guys. I really enjoyed being on the podcast and hope to be invited back some day. By the way, "Cajon" means "large box" in Spanish and was apparently applied to the area based on the shape of the canyon.

And Mark, I was at the PCR/LDSIG/OpSIG meet this year ... I guess I didn't make much of an impression! You may be thinking of Seth, who was out of town. I was sequestered in the board room at the back of the museum helping answer layout design and ops questions most of the day, so probably not a surprise that you didn't see me. Should be another great meeting this year.

2009 Bay Area PCR/LDSIG/OpSIG Meeting
Posted by: markpierce MRCS Pioneer on Tue, Nov 11 2008    
Byron,

Yes, I did confuse you with Seth. I should have known better because Seth is modeling Niles Canyon in HO (least he was two years ago). Anyway, I'm looking forward to seeing you and Seth side-by-side in Santa Clara next year to I can imprint you guys in my mind.

Mark
Posted by: ChrisNH MRCS Pioneer on Wed, Nov 12 2008     model-railroad-hobbyist.com/blog/671
Enjoyable show..

I really liked the interview. Outside of reading Byron's web site, I had not heard him or read him elsewhere. It was a nice change of pace and I would like to hear Byron discuss other topics. I agree with much of what he says about Harbor scenes.. but that compressed urban space gives me and my indifferent interest in structure modeling a case of the willies! Still, they are among my favorite to view and I look forward to operating on a layout with that theme someday.

I agree with his comments on CAD. I would expand it to doing design before research and track plans before design... CAD is not a starting point in design. Its a starting point in creating a track plan. Two very different activities.. on the other hand, CAD is a fantastic reality check once you move from developing an idea to developing a track plan. Thats my two cents and worth every penny!

When I first encountered it I thought, somewhat mistakenly, the LayoutVision site was a bit of an infomercial.. but I think that its got a lot of good content that makes no attempt at a sale.. particularly the "Opinions & Ideas" section. Not to say there are not a few paths that lead to "What can I do for you" but its reasonably understated.

Keep up the good work!

Regards,

Chris
Posted by: jamesk3142 MRCS Pioneer on Wed, Nov 12 2008    
Will Inter mountain is coming out with F-7 in Yellow and blue scheme Link:http://www.blwnscale.com/InterMountain%20EMD%20F7%20Diesels.htm and for Ryan Diesel Era Magazine Cincinnati in the 1960s good article with lots of pictures. JimK
Posted by: CaveTenor on Sat, Nov 15 2008    
Hello Ryan, Will et al,
I've only just started listening to the show this week. I stumbled on it when looking for modeling podcasts through the iTunes® Store.
I love the show and I've listened to every episode #28 through #38 while at work this week but I have a couple of questions.
-Why aren't the AAC podcasts available on iTunes? I get several other podcasts directly through iTunes that have chapters and I wonder why your's can't be as well.
-How can I get the first 27 episodes to listen to so I can catch up on the beginnings of the pcast?
I'm only an armchair modeler and expect to be for quite sometime, yet. Ultimately, though, I'll be HO and hopefully go straight to handlaid track and DCC.
Thanks for a very interesting and engaging show.
Frank S
Pottsville, Pa.
 
 
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