Nice job on the helix & the video. You are right on about the ability to make fine adjustments with the threaded rods. Thank you for the shout-out....John
Gotta love the complexity of a helix , So much to learn & understand before hand when building especially those sharp points on the Rod's Ouch! .....Cheers-Rich.....
Nice work again on the video and helix build Joe. Two of our operating layouts have helices and one used threaded rod and the other is the traditional spacer method. I was going to comment on Facebook during the build but you had already made significant progress, one of the most common methods with the threaded rods is to use trapezoidal pieces instead of the curved types you used. You could even get 1/2" pieces of board and just use a miter saw to cut the pieces (geometry calculations are involved). Once again, great work on the helix and I like the fact you leave in the "bumps and bruises" you get during construction. - Phil
THANK YOU...for sharing. Nice work on the helix. Looking forward to the new series. Thank you for your hard work on these videos I know they take up a lot of your time, I appreciate your channel.
Joe, super job with the helix, and great comments from others. I'm in the early pre-scenery operating stage on my layout, so I'll be shifting to working on scenery and rolling stock soon. So, I'm pretty excited about the paint shop videos!! Keep it up! Gerry
really nice build Joe..Thank you for the heads up on the future installments and the new shop series to come..so glad I have your channel on Notify. Tom
that was a terrific video. if any thing it really shows the time involved in building a helix. It's not just a days worth of work but something you need to take your time with to make it right and run smooth. good job, sounds like a good plan for future videos. thanks for sharing
Hi Joe, You keep a neat work area, That has not gone unnoticed by me. However I cringed when I saw screws points protruding, and the sharp edges left buy the bolt cutter. Sorry you had to discover the hard way that was not so safe. I guess years working for a company with a "strong safety culture" it is instinctive for me to watch hazards. As you stated well, the community will share ideas. In most cases there is no one right way to do things. The ideas and experiences of other modelers are great learning tools. Look forward to more videos. Maybe soon, if things settle down in my world, I will get started on my layout. I am sure I will benefit from you videos.
Well done Joe on yet another great video. it was a pleasure to see how you put your helix together. I empathised with your run in with the end of the cut rod and can relate to it! Would like to know where you got the pieces that you put on the rods. have thought about using heat shrink tubing to do the same.Once again another great video and looking forward to the busy schedule that you have set for us over the next few months.Neil W.
The end caps were in my work bench from a home improvement project and just happened to work . check out this site you should be able to get them shipped to you. store.closetmaid.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10051&storeId=10151&langId=-1&top_category=17554&parent_category_rn=10055&categoryId=10156&productId=10098&CAWELAID=120173140000001778 Thanks Neil for following and glad you enjoyed!
Nice work as always. I bet next time you grind down the burrs and cut edges..lol As another poster commented..you can use the tubing spacers, that is my plan when I build the M.O.A.L., when ever that is going to be.lol Keep on keep'n on Laters, Greg
I posted a video in Budget model railroading DIY on Facebook on the very expensive multi million dollar jig I use. It took 1 scientist and 40 politicians to make. Ok 2 strips of metal strapping they use to bind wood together with several different holes in it and a scrap piece of wood lol. But I found that gave me a very smooth even curve all the way around and I use the threaded rod idea for your same reason, perfect for tweeking that rise. Check it out maybe :). Otherwise layout and running sessions are awesome keep it up :)
I wonder if it would help if someone would take the time and measure the space between each level and cut tubing to slide over the rods to make it easy to maintain the same distance all the time except the beginning, but I believe it would make it easier to keep the distance along with help strength the whole thing. So you would use nut, washer, plywood, washer, nut, tubing, nut, washer, plywood and so on. just an idea.
Philip Vitale I wanted the layout to be at optimal viewing height. To low and your looking at to many roofs, to high and it's hard to operate. 53 I felt was a good mix.
I finally landed my first US locomotive, and if it is any indication I feel the pains of precision in your railroad now. The ScaleTrains GTEL 8500 really dislikes my European sectional track to the point that I currently can forget about switches if I want reliable operation. It is not the fault of the locomotive mind you, examining the multiple switches I have from Fleischman I see areas around the points where they are out of gauge with the naked eye, so the lead wheel on the trucks derails when you hit those. Now realizing the painful details, I see that my full layout with double helixes is going to be a pain to make it run reliably with my intended US rolling stock. And the lesson learned is to avoid Fleischman switches and track like the plague if you want reliability.
Nice job on the helix & the video. You are right on about the ability to make fine adjustments with the threaded rods. Thank you for the shout-out....John
John Tanzillo thanks and thanks for watching. I love watching your channel!
It's coming along!!! Really enjoy following along...One day I will start mine!!!
Giulius71 thanks and thanks for watching!
Gotta love the complexity of a helix , So much to learn & understand before hand when building especially those sharp points on the Rod's Ouch! .....Cheers-Rich.....
Thanks Rich.....its was a flesh eater lol!
Nice work again on the video and helix build Joe. Two of our operating layouts have helices and one used threaded rod and the other is the traditional spacer method. I was going to comment on Facebook during the build but you had already made significant progress, one of the most common methods with the threaded rods is to use trapezoidal pieces instead of the curved types you used. You could even get 1/2" pieces of board and just use a miter saw to cut the pieces (geometry calculations are involved). Once again, great work on the helix and I like the fact you leave in the "bumps and bruises" you get during construction. - Phil
Thanks Phil! Can't wait for ops sessions to begin!
THANK YOU...for sharing. Nice work on the helix. Looking forward to the new series. Thank you for your hard work on these videos I know they take up a lot of your time, I appreciate your channel.
ELSDP-45 thank you very much!
Great stuff, Joe.
Bertus Duiverman thanks glad your enjoyed!
Love that feeder-soldering heatsink!
Joe, super job with the helix, and great comments from others. I'm in the early pre-scenery operating stage on my layout, so I'll be shifting to working on scenery and rolling stock soon. So, I'm pretty excited about the paint shop videos!! Keep it up! Gerry
Gerry Roncolato thanks Gerry glad your enjoying following along. Yes I think the shop series will be fun!
Layout wounds! Nice work on the helix.
LeonaTimberCompany lol. Yes I'm banged up from this one lol! Thanks for watching!
really nice build Joe..Thank you for the heads up on the future installments and the new shop series to come..so glad I have your channel on Notify. Tom
Thomas Stuto thanks for watching Tom, I think they new series will be fun!
Thanks Joe , The helix looks great. I am sure you would not want to build another very soon.
I wanted to helix up over and back down a doorway.
Mike
Thanks Mike and thanks for your support. Oh BTW that was your track I was putting down. lol!!!
Thanks Joe , Mike
Good Job Joe !
Thanks James!
that was a terrific video. if any thing it really shows the time involved in building a helix. It's not just a days worth of work but something you need to take your time with to make it right and run smooth. good job, sounds like a good plan for future videos. thanks for sharing
sparky107107 thanks and thanks for watching!!
Nice work on the helix, Joe. The big payoff for all that work is seeing the train run smoothly up the helix at the end of the video. ...Roy
N-Scale Union Pacific Evanston Subdivision thanks Roy, and thanks for watching!
Awesome video!
Thanks and Glad you enjoyed!
Hi Joe,
You keep a neat work area, That has not gone unnoticed by me. However I cringed when I saw screws points protruding, and the sharp edges left buy the bolt cutter. Sorry you had to discover the hard way that was not so safe. I guess years working for a company with a "strong safety culture" it is instinctive for me to watch hazards.
As you stated well, the community will share ideas. In most cases there is no one right way to do things. The ideas and experiences of other modelers are great learning tools.
Look forward to more videos. Maybe soon, if things settle down in my world, I will get started on my layout. I am sure I will benefit from you videos.
Perry Pollino thanks! Glad you are following along!
WOW nice work Joe !!! very exciting news , can't wait to see the "shops" episodes. Keep up the excellent work
ixopop yes I'm excited about them to, I think it will be fun, thanks for watching as always!
I'm sure I can read lips at the 11:20 mark
IMRROcom thanks for watching!
Well done Joe on yet another great video. it was a pleasure to see how you put your helix together. I empathised with your run in with the end of the cut rod and can relate to it! Would like to know where you got the pieces that you put on the rods. have thought about using heat shrink tubing to do the same.Once again another great video and looking forward to the busy schedule that you have set for us over the next few months.Neil W.
The end caps were in my work bench from a home improvement project and just happened to work . check out this site you should be able to get them shipped to you.
store.closetmaid.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10051&storeId=10151&langId=-1&top_category=17554&parent_category_rn=10055&categoryId=10156&productId=10098&CAWELAID=120173140000001778
Thanks Neil for following and glad you enjoyed!
Thanks!
Wow, great video. Very different design from my helix. Great work!
Collin Sullivan thank you. And thanks for following along!
You do very nice work!
Helix looks fantastic!!! I knew You had it in You!! Msg coming-lol
Thanks Ralph!!
if you stagger your rail joints in your curves it greatly decreses your derailments
erik548 thanks for the tip and thanks for watching!
Nice work as always. I bet next time you grind down the burrs and cut edges..lol
As another poster commented..you can use the tubing spacers, that is my plan when I build the M.O.A.L., when ever that is going to be.lol Keep on keep'n on
Laters, Greg
Greg Burzynski thanks Greg and thanks for watching
Great job Joe, came out very nice, how many pieces of flex track did it take to do that, keep up the great work looking good
gary wise thanks!! 20 pieces counting the piece for the exit at the top. Thanks for the good words!
I posted a video in Budget model railroading DIY on Facebook on the very expensive multi million dollar jig I use. It took 1 scientist and 40 politicians to make. Ok 2 strips of metal strapping they use to bind wood together with several different holes in it and a scrap piece of wood lol. But I found that gave me a very smooth even curve all the way around and I use the threaded rod idea for your same reason, perfect for tweeking that rise. Check it out maybe :). Otherwise layout and running sessions are awesome keep it up :)
Sean Baldwin thanks for watching
I wonder if it would help if someone would take the time and measure the space between each level and cut tubing to slide over the rods to make it easy to maintain the same distance all the time except the beginning, but I believe it would make it easier to keep the distance along with help strength the whole thing. So you would use nut, washer, plywood, washer, nut, tubing, nut, washer, plywood and so on. just an idea.
Robert Shanks that's an idea! Thanks for watching!
Great work on the helix Joe. Thanks for posting. I'll have to tackle that one of these days. What grade is the incline for the trains?
waltworld thanks the grade is about 2.1% thanks for watching!
I know this is a little late but why make the layout so high?
Philip Vitale I wanted the layout to be at optimal viewing height. To low and your looking at to many roofs, to high and it's hard to operate. 53 I felt was a good mix.
Central Jersey Conrail in N Scale good point, most layouts are looking down, didn't think of that
I finally landed my first US locomotive, and if it is any indication I feel the pains of precision in your railroad now.
The ScaleTrains GTEL 8500 really dislikes my European sectional track to the point that I currently can forget about switches if I want reliable operation.
It is not the fault of the locomotive mind you, examining the multiple switches I have from Fleischman I see areas around the points where they are out of gauge with the naked eye, so the lead wheel on the trucks derails when you hit those.
Now realizing the painful details, I see that my full layout with double helixes is going to be a pain to make it run reliably with my intended US rolling stock.
And the lesson learned is to avoid Fleischman switches and track like the plague if you want reliability.
great video, it's going to help a lot. ps just noticed the nave shirt. go navy
atsf81rj thanks. Beat Army! Enlisted sailor submarines ( USS Honolulu).