This is what happens when we get a few straight nights of rain.

A layout pops up, out of nowhere.

This is the start of the right side of the layout, from the track plan that I posted earlier this month. It will have 3 businesses to service, an auto parts distributor, and recycling facility and a warehouse. I'm experimenting with using flex track and camper tape this time around. It goes a little faster than hand laid track. I also tacked up a strip of LEDs, just to try them out, seems to provide enough light for now. I read an article about mixing different temperature LEDs, for a more natural light, I can decide on that once there is more to look at than homasote and flex track.

June 2014 Update

I haven't posted since February, and a lot has changed. We finally settled on using the attic for my layout, rather than the spare room on the first floor. A little more difficult for people to get to, but in the end it can be a much larger space(16'x40'). Right now only 1/2 the attic is usable, and I have lots of other work to do around the house and the farm, before I start finishing the rest of the attic. I accepted that it could be more than a year before I get to finishing the attic, so I started thinking about a smaller layout. After considering micro layouts, Ingelnooks, and module I settled on a switching layout based on the industrial area around Norfolk St., Mansfield, MA. and came up with an initial track plan.

I was influenced by James McNab's Grimes Line, Lance Mindheim's Downtown Spur, and operating on Don Irace's P&W.

Most of the benchwork and back drops are up, I need to work on some lighting, and then I can start laying track again. It really sucks not having a layout, I'm so happy to be building again.

That's it for this month, thanks for stopping by, hopefully I'll have more updates and pictures in a month.
Mike