After seeing all the boxcars in Le Mars, I got thinking about starting to build out the roster for the layout. This last weekend at Trainfest was a good time to start hunting. While hanging out in the Spring Creek Model Trains booth, promoting our Iowa Scaled Engineering products, I took some time to browse…
Read moreNew Aerial Photos
About a week ago, as I was browsing Google Maps to check the orientation of one of the derails, a pleasant surprise appeared. New aerial views of Le Mars! Of special note, is the new track at the transload: They are using that new track to store tank cars of, presumably, tallow or other meat…
Read moreDerailed, Part 2
While trying to decide which Fast Tracks PointForm tool to buy to make the split-point derails, I ended up comparing the various Fast Tracks turnout templates from #6 to #12. In the previous post on this topic, I determined that the #8 had the correct divergence for the prototype. But I was still curious how…
Read moreDerailed
One of the interesting aspects of Le Mars is all the split-point derails: My original plan was to model these by cutting down a standard Walthers turnout and removing the frog. Unfortunately, the Walthers turnouts diverge too quickly, so a little more work will be needed. Since I don’t have on-the-ground measurements, I am relying…
Read moreTrack Laying
Over the last few weeks, track laying has been taking place. I am using the new Walthers Code 83 track and turnouts. This is nice looking track (at least to me, coming from the land of N-scale) and appears to be sufficiently robust without compromising too much on the fine detail. I think Walthers did…
Read moreTurnout Motor Noise
Although I could rely on finger-flick turnouts, especially since the Walthers Code 83 turnouts have a snap-action on the points, I want to try something different. One of the products in development over at Iowa Scaled Engineering is a 3D printed key switch. Originally intended for the relaunch of our timelock circuit, I wanted to…
Read moreMore Foam
When I last laid down foam, I left a section at the end of the peninsula unfinished. After reflecting on that choice, I decided to finish the foam (and fascia) all the way to the end so that the long side was complete. This simply involved cutting a piece of foam to fit (cut it…
Read moreConstruction Has Begun
Construction of Le Mars has begun. My plan is to start on 18″ shelf that contains the transload and IML Containers. Build that to a reasonable state of completion and, if I’m satisfied with this change in scale and prototype, then continue with the rest of Le Mars, working north. Below is a chronicle of…
Read moreIML Containers
After the last journey, I finally found one… a container made by IML Containers. As expected, the Blue Bunny Load’d Sundaes are packed into plastic containers stamped with the IML logo.
Read moreIndustrial Archeology
One of the things I enjoy about planning a layout is the industrial archeology – the research into the various industries served (directly or indirectly) by the railroad being modeled. Recently, I went on a quest to learn a bit more about the packaging industry in Le Mars, IA, and its association with Wells Blue…
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