Hey Guys! wud up!?

Well anywho, my spirits are a bit higher than usual and I've been over all in a good mood. But as I'm sure you know that there always something to challenge that.

But first I have made some desisions pertaining to a few things. As I've already told you I've entered a Sweepstakes from Model Railroader Magazine. The Grand Prize is a $2,000 Shopping Spree at a Hobby Shop of the Winner's choice! Well I've finally settled on a Scale I wish to model. (Sampug will propably be happy about it, or jealous, maybe both! ) I've settle on On30, reason being is that when I think about what scale I'd like to model I always come back to On30. Plus me being a Narrow Gauger and all, it wouldn't seem right if I did HO or something of the sort. And so I've drawn up a track plan of an On30 layout. Its fairly simple and doesn't have a WHOLE LOT of operational interest but I think I'll enjoy it all the same.

The "Wolf Creek & Flagstone" is its name and it is based in the Colorado Rockies. (Sorry Railwolf, not the Wolf Creek we all know and love. ) though the size of the layout is challenging. I wanted a somewhat small layout but larger than the typical 4x8. It its larger thatn that but I wouldn't go as far to say a Mid Sized layout. Its dimensions are 5x10, the track plan is almost directly taken from a plan I found in a book. The layout in the book was called the "Denver Central" and was for an HO 4x8. But I added 2 extra feet in length and and extra foot in width. The extra 12 inches will allow me to have a small two or three track yard, a two stall engine house and turntable; along with your typical structures that accompany an engine facility. (Coaling tower, Water Tank, Sand house, ect...) The track makes up a figure 8 pattern wich crosses over itself via a wooden deck truss.

The topagraphy is rough and challenging, a canyon runs across the layout diagonaly with the "Wolf Creek", running at the bottom. For a short way the 30in gauge line runs along it. Also around here there is a mine and two side tracks for operational interest. there will also be a second Railway, an On18 scale one! This Rwy's soul pourpous is to serve the Mine, hauling ore to it. This will be accomplished by using Peco HOn30 scale track, basicaly N gauge but the ties are more appropriate for HO. But I figured it would suit well for O scale as well for 18 inch gauge. I will keep this line fairly simple, a single locomotive (either a compressed air engine or a small steamer, either one made from an N scale chassis) that runs on regualr DC and hauls a string of mining carts. Single track line with auto reversing loops at either end for continuous running.

Last time I was online I did look for suitable structures to use. But I'd use the $2k primarily for building materials. I'm considering using Woodland Scnenics Foam Products because their simple and easy to use, plus it will make the layout VERY light wieght. But the most would be spent on a Starter DCC control system that would cost somehwere in the mid to high $300 range. But as I looked for structures I focused one finding a two stall Random Stone style engine house. Couldn't find anything of it, not even a decent looking wooden one! And here is where the frustrasions begin.

So I scowered the internet relentlously and found silch on a stone two stall endinge house. Then I went to B.T.S. (Better Than Scratch) and looked at a single stall wooden engine house. I took note on its dimentions and began working on my own engine house! I will make mine from plaster and then later, using a rotary tool, carve out the spacing between where the random stones would meet. I opted to use plaster because when dry it would have a stone like texture in scale. The sides have larger arched windows and then another thought came to mind. Could I find windows already available to insert into the openings? Well I haven't been able to look yet but I will soon. I'd like to avoid scratch building them if I can.

And them came another problem. You guys know of the 30in gauge Winan's Camel I was working on and recently I decided I wanded an On30 one! so I set about designing one for On30. Originaly the drivers were as big as the ones used on the Bachmann On30 2-6-0. But that would mean having to scratch bild my own frame. Plus the original design was pushing the limits of the engine house doors I designed so I made them a 1/4 inch taller, a total of 4 inches. The over all proportions I liked but it just seemed too big, I even compares my Mogul to it and the Camel towered over it! So back to square one. I redisigned it to use the MDC Roundhouse Modern 2-8-0 I had and the Drivers looked too small. Literaly for HOURS I tweeked and modified until I was no longer happy with it as a whole locomotive, and now I totaly despise the stack. The only other option I thought of was using the BLI On30 C-16 chassis, but I don't know the Drive Wheel diamiter or how long the whell base is. Right now I think its my best option for bringing my On30 Camel to throughition. So until I know those dimentions it remains a concept on a peice of paper. *sigh*

So then I went back to working on the layout. I decided instead of modeling the 1800's I'd go ahead and model the Turn of the Century. My style and visual look would still work and it would make things easier to find period apropriate products. I've been looking for some 19-Teens era vehicles but have found virtualy NOTHING in O scale! I've seen plenty for HO but ZIP for O scale. Althought it would be a later model vehicle than I'd like but it still had the style I wanted was a MACK "Bulldog" chain drive truck. I found one on Ebay that was a kit and that was about it. So I'd REALLY appreciate some help on this. Model "T"s, Old GMC trucks, anything woth that classic Old Time Radiator and headlight setup, anything suitable for 1900 up to 1920 (give or take a few years). I sure you know what I mean.

Overall, despite the annoyences, things look good. I'm sure I told you about this in a previous journal entry but I'll say it again just in case. I may have found a job at an Arby's resturaunt right down the road from where I live. I'll be stopping by later today to follow up on my application. they said they'd call me next week but I fugured it wouldn't hurt to pay a visit a tad sooner.