Overcoming disappointment

With the benchwork finished, I began planning to lay the cork roadbed. I would need quite a bit so I mail ordered a box at a good price. Shipping was pretty hefty (about 1/2 the price of the cork!) so I added a couple of things on my wish list to justify the expense. It was due to arrive Thursday when I was back from business travel. I learned this morning it would be delayed until Monday due to weather, even though it arrived in Dayton at 2 AM this morning. Thank you US Post Office.
Well, it's not really their fault. Weather delays. I decided I needed 10 pieces to get me through the weekend, but I could get by with 6. Went to a local hobby shop and bought the 4 they had. Four. Ugh. I laid out all the pieces I had and realized I would run out of push pins to hold the cork to the insulation subroadbed while the glue dried. Coincidentally, Lisa was at JoAnn Fabrics at the same time so I sent her a text message with a photo of the pins I needed.
She came home with a box of 500. Yeah, that should work!!

Cork & Hopeful Railroad

I did make enough process tonight that I can lay the sheets of cork for the East and West yards so it all ended well. And next weekend, I can lay some serious roadbed!

Lighting and learning

I decided today to fix the light valance. Not sure why I did not do this months ago before I installed the benchwork but I knew I wanted it done before I had too much track installed.

Before - 3 light cords and a dangling power strip

I used the existing wiring from the old layout and mounted the light bars with 3 power cords that I temporarily (some 12 months) plugged into a dangling power cord. Well, convenient but ugly with the extra cords tucked up sort of behind the sky valence. A couple of hours today while listening to the Bengals lose and it looks a lot better.

Light valence complete

 Now I plan to wire the one cord at the entrance of the room to a light switch so I can walk in an turn on the layout lights. Very pleased with the outcome.

Single cord powers the light valence

I also learned today that the standard NMRA HO gage that I have had for about 15 years is exactly the width of 2 parallel tracks ... nice. Now I can really get the trackplan transferred.

Connector and yard plan

First, here are a couple of photos of the finished connector track with the liftout bridge.

Duckunder bridge in place - not too bad of a duck!

Bridge removed, showing the supports

Tonight, I laid out the yard track according to the plan but the farthest track (in the West yard) is too close to the wall (and outlet) so I moved that switch further down the mainline and I think everything still fits well.
This plan has the added advantage of allowing some building flats for scenery.

West Yard is in the background left, East foreground and right

Two mainline tracks through yard curve over the lifeout

Goal Met

Just before the Christmas holiday break, I had planned a few things on the railroad to work on. Actually, I came up with a pretty aggressive list that I hope to accomplish. Well, four days before the end of my break, on January 1st 2014, I completed all the benchwork, including installing some temporary fascia, and replaced the single ceiling light with two lights for more lighting over the peninsula. (I had two extra single 4' fluorescent fixtures from the old layout hence why I did not install a double fixture.)
I have to say, I am very pleased with how everything turned out. The layout fills the room without be cramped and there is more walkaround space inside than I thought there would be. The benchwork is level, the liftout fits nicely and is not too bad as a duckunder. I have a plan for how to start transferring the trackplan (from the yard to the crossover on the liftout) and then where to start laying the track (again, in the yard, likely the mainline and passing track).
What an accomplishment from just having some modules on temporary legs this summer!