Green & Fuzzy Doughnuts

It took the better part of Monday after the Toronto Christmas Train Show to get the modules back up in the basement. Being at a show and running with everyone elses' modules is way more fun.

The green fuzzy corner survived and I reinforced the lower joints that had spread apart with some sheet metal, screws and Liquid Nails®. I am not sure that using the cardboard lattice and plaster soaked towels was a great scenery idea for a portable module. It is light but I probably should have used styrofoam. Time will tell. 

All the equipment that was taken is safe. No damage this time. I guess I am finally figuring out how to pack properly. It only took 5 years.

I am contemplating making up a new set of modules based on the Canadian Doughnut Company that was located in Trenton. They had a company Airslide® which was lettered Canadian Doughnut Company! Getting decals in S could be a problem. 

cheers,

Andy

S Scale Workshop in print - RMC May 2008

Thanks to editor Bill Schaumburg at Railroad Model Craftsman magazine, we have permission to post an article on the S Scale Workshop that appeared in the May, 2008 issue.

Click here for the PDF (2.4mb).

Trevor

My layout

Let’s try this… My first post is not directly related to the group's portable layout though.

Some of you already know I started my home layout. I finished the benchwork a couple of weeks ago and I have started to lay some tracks since. I’ll be adding some more photos over the weekend. To see them, click on Simon's Picasa Gallery.

There have been a major change for me on how I built my switches and handlay tracks because I now own a 30 watts laser engraver/cutter. I use the laser to engrave and cut my ties on 1/8” plywood (and basswood). Before cutting the ties, I engrave tie plates and spike heads details. Since everything is precisely drawn on the computer, the spike heads detail act as alignment guides when I lay the rails. This way, I don’t need to put lots of spikes to fix the rail, I glue the rail instead and only use spikes every 2-3 inches.

Additionally, since the switch ties are in plywood, the tie “cluster” for switches do not tend to break at connection tabs and allow me to build the switches and detail them on the work bench.

For most of my track I use flex track (code 70 and 83) but like the CN did for some spurs, I wanted some tracks without tie plates (The Tomalco flextrack has tie plates). To make the spur tracks, I decided to laser cut and engrave the ties at scale 24” apart (mainline track usually 21” apart) and engrave spike heads, no plate. This way, it is quick to lay the track and have the spike details at every tie.

Simon

Who We Are

The S Scale Workshop is comprised of several modellers from Ontario, Quebec, and the United States. We exhibit at a limited number of annual events, primarily in the Southern Ontario region. Bio pages will be posted as our membership submits appropriate content.

The cast of characters:  Chris Abbott, Jamie Bothwell, David Clubine, Oliver Clubine, John Johnston, Andy Malette, Trevor Marshall, Jim Martin, Pete Moffett, Simon Parent and Paul Raham.

Some members of the group made the long trek to Wisconsin in 2011, and the modular display was honoured with "Best in Show - Layouts" for the 2011 Trainfest in Milwaukee WI. The Workshop followed up with a "Best In Show - Layout" award at the 2013 Railroad Hobby Show in Springfield MA.

Articles about the group and our modules have appeared in both Railroad Model Craftsman and Canadian Railway Modeller magazines.

This blog has been started so that all of our members can share their progress, ideas, announcements, and often acerbic wit.

Chris