jxtrrx's Photobucket JacksLayout album media

XtrkCad Track Plan: The track plan provides for three continuous loops (blue, yellow, purple), a good sized yard, and a turntable along with some spurs and passing sidings (green), and 2 reverse loops (dark green).

jxtrrx — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 14:01:16 MDT

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XtrkCad Track Plan: The track plan provides for three continuous loops (blue, yellow, purple), a good sized yard, and a turntable along with some spurs and passing sidings (green), and 2 reverse loops (dark green). - 2006-06JackPlan.jpg

Empty Room: A spare bedroom in the basement about 14\'x14\' cleaned out and ready to go. In this room we will cram a 3 peninsula around the walls railroad. Minimum radius is 24\" on outer loop, 22\" on second mainline, and 18\" on inner loop.

jxtrrx — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 09:31:16 MDT

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Empty Room: A spare bedroom in the basement about 14\'x14\' cleaned out and ready to go. In this room we will cram a 3 peninsula around the walls railroad. Minimum radius is 24\" on outer loop, 22\" on second mainline, and 18\" on inner loop. - 2006-07-03EmptyRoom.jpg

Tape Outline: A combination of measuring and checking one-to-one printouts of the trackplan provides lines on the floor showing benchwork edges.

jxtrrx — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 09:31:15 MDT

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Tape Outline: A combination of measuring and checking one-to-one printouts of the trackplan provides lines on the floor showing benchwork edges. - 2006-07-04TapeOutline.jpg

Lay Out Track Plan: After the benchwork outline is taped, I laid out the entire track plan to make sure things fit like they were supposed to.

jxtrrx — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 09:31:14 MDT

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Lay Out Track Plan: After the benchwork outline is taped, I laid out the entire track plan to make sure things fit like they were supposed to. - 2006-07-051-to-1Trackplan.jpg

Glue Riser Roadbed: After test rolling some of my longest cars through temporary portals and assuring clearance, cork roadbed was glued to WS foam inclines weighted during drying with dog food cans on loan from Daisy.

jxtrrx — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 09:26:06 MDT

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Glue Riser Roadbed: After test rolling some of my longest cars through temporary portals and assuring clearance, cork roadbed was glued to WS foam inclines weighted during drying with dog food cans on loan from Daisy. - 2006-08-21aGlueRiserRoadbed.jpg

Wide View With Some Scenery: Makes me think of the song about the sorrow of \"Being Done Too Soon.\" Obviously there\'s plenty more to do, but for me the best part is the benchwork, the roadbed, the track work, the wiring.

jxtrrx — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 09:26:05 MDT

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Wide View With Some Scenery: Makes me think of the song about the sorrow of \"Being Done Too Soon.\" Obviously there\'s plenty more to do, but for me the best part is the benchwork, the roadbed, the track work, the wiring. - 2006-09-29bWideViewWithSomeScenery.jpg

Add Grass And Trees: WS ground foam, dyed sawdust, lichen, WS trees, and foam covered weeds from nearby hiking trails.

jxtrrx — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 09:26:04 MDT

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Add Grass And Trees: WS ground foam, dyed sawdust, lichen, WS trees, and foam covered weeds from nearby hiking trails. - 2006-09-29aAddGrassAndTrees.jpg

Build a Street: I just painted it with grey acrylics and a little brown wash for tire tracks and wear. Obviously needs work.

jxtrrx — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 09:26:03 MDT

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Build a Street: I just painted it with grey acrylics and a little brown wash for tire tracks and wear. Obviously needs work. - 2006-09-14BuildaStreet.jpg

Install Turntable: I understand that turntables were used mainly for steam engines. I run mainly diesel. But this Atlas turntable with motor is just so doggoned fun. I\'ll add the Atlas roundhouse (you can see its base at rear).

jxtrrx — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 09:26:02 MDT

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Install Turntable: I understand that turntables were used mainly for steam engines. I run mainly diesel. But this Atlas turntable with motor is just so doggoned fun. I\'ll add the Atlas roundhouse (you can see its base at rear). - 2006-09-13InstallTurntable.jpg

Some Green for Left Mountain: The two outer loops use a double portal through the entire mountain. The short inner loop uses a single portal in a short tunnel.

jxtrrx — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 09:26:01 MDT

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Some Green for Left Mountain: The two outer loops use a double portal through the entire mountain. The short inner loop uses a single portal in a short tunnel. - 2006-08-29cSomeGreenForLeftMountain.jpg

Grass And Brush on Mountain: More will be done later.

jxtrrx — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 09:26:00 MDT

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Grass And Brush on Mountain: More will be done later. - 2006-08-29bGrassAndBrushonMountain.jpg

Ground Foam On Slopes: Diluted Elmer\'s glue holds WS ground foam and dyed sawdust to provided some vegetation. This is the outer mainline behind the yard.

jxtrrx — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 09:25:59 MDT

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Ground Foam On Slopes: Diluted Elmer\'s glue holds WS ground foam and dyed sawdust to provided some vegetation. This is the outer mainline behind the yard. - 2006-08-29aGroundFoamonSlopes.jpg

Right Mountain Painted: Now I need someone artistic to help me blend the hills on the incline to the backdrop.

jxtrrx — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 09:25:58 MDT

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Right Mountain Painted: Now I need someone artistic to help me blend the hills on the incline to the backdrop. - 2006-08-27eRightMountainPainted.jpg

Left Mountain Painted: The final coat is Raw Sienna for earth tones. On this mountain I used WS plaster cloth over wadded up newspapers instead of dipping paper towels in plaster. I really like that stuff. Very easy to use.

jxtrrx — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 09:25:57 MDT

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Left Mountain Painted: The final coat is Raw Sienna for earth tones. On this mountain I used WS plaster cloth over wadded up newspapers instead of dipping paper towels in plaster. I really like that stuff. Very easy to use. - 2006-08-27dLeftMountainPainted.jpg

Spots on Left Mountain: Diluted acrylics and WS pigments are used in a spray bottle for colors. Track is covered with masking tape and newspaper over everything.

jxtrrx — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 09:25:56 MDT

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Spots on Left Mountain: Diluted acrylics and WS pigments are used in a spray bottle for colors. Track is covered with masking tape and newspaper over everything. - 2006-08-27cSpotsOnLeftMountain.jpg

More Spots: At this point one begins to wonder if this will really look any good when finished!

jxtrrx — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 09:25:55 MDT

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More Spots: At this point one begins to wonder if this will really look any good when finished! - 2006-08-27bMoreSpots.jpg

Begin Leopard Spots: Woodland Scenics recommends this technique. Spray spots using three colors to create a realistic looking earth blend.

jxtrrx — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 09:25:54 MDT

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Begin Leopard Spots: Woodland Scenics recommends this technique. Spray spots using three colors to create a realistic looking earth blend. - 2006-08-27aBeginLeopardSpots.jpg

Make A Mountain: I used hard shell plastering (paper towels dipped in plaster) to build my two mountains. This one is on the right back corner and the top front half is (not that easily) removable in case of track trouble.

jxtrrx — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 09:25:52 MDT

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Make A Mountain: I used hard shell plastering (paper towels dipped in plaster) to build my two mountains. This one is on the right back corner and the top front half is (not that easily) removable in case of track trouble. - 2006-08-25aMakeaMountain.jpg

Test Position Structures: Buildings form previous layout will be used. Trying them out in different spots.

jxtrrx — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 09:25:51 MDT

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Test Position Structures: Buildings form previous layout will be used. Trying them out in different spots. - 2006-08-24TestPositionStructures.jpg

Wide View With Finished Track: The two outer mainlines circle the entire room and all peninsulas. The left inner loop uses only left and center areas. Digitrax Zephyr and two \"Jump Port\" MRC units are on a slide out shelf in control panel.

jxtrrx — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 09:25:50 MDT

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Wide View With Finished Track: The two outer mainlines circle the entire room and all peninsulas. The left inner loop uses only left and center areas. Digitrax Zephyr and two \"Jump Port\" MRC units are on a slide out shelf in control panel. - 2006-08-23WideViewFinishedTrack.jpg

Right Peninsula: This whole side is taken up by the yard, encircled by the two outer mainlines.

jxtrrx — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 09:25:49 MDT

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Right Peninsula: This whole side is taken up by the yard, encircled by the two outer mainlines. - 2006-08-22RightPeninsula.jpg

Left Peninsula: Here are the parallel tracks for all three loops. A turntable will eventually go where the mountain is sitting.

jxtrrx — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 09:25:48 MDT

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Left Peninsula: Here are the parallel tracks for all three loops. A turntable will eventually go where the mountain is sitting. - 2006-08-22LeftPenisula.jpg

Center Peninsula: Almost all track is now laid (in about two months). Structures are temporarily plopped here and there, and a couple of old mountains a temporarily placed.

jxtrrx — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 09:25:47 MDT

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Center Peninsula: Almost all track is now laid (in about two months). Structures are temporarily plopped here and there, and a couple of old mountains a temporarily placed. - 2006-08-22CenterPeninsula2.jpg

Position Portals: Everything in a model railroad is compromises between space available and room to operate. This is a tight clearance area that accommodates my longest cars, but may not be wide enough for something in the future.

jxtrrx — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 09:25:46 MDT

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Position Portals: Everything in a model railroad is compromises between space available and room to operate. This is a tight clearance area that accommodates my longest cars, but may not be wide enough for something in the future. - 2006-08-21cPositionPortals.jpg

Position Track and Bridge: A corner curve, the crest of an incline, four tunnel portals and a bridge overpass � all in a marginally accessible area. Complex track work that I don\'t want to have to fiddle with later.

jxtrrx — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 09:25:45 MDT

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Position Track and Bridge: A corner curve, the crest of an incline, four tunnel portals and a bridge overpass � all in a marginally accessible area. Complex track work that I don\'t want to have to fiddle with later. - 2006-08-21bPositionTrackAndBridge.jpg

The Other Corner: It takes a long distance to climb the 3.5\" needed to go over the top of another track, even at the fairly steep 2.5% grade.

jxtrrx — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 09:25:44 MDT

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The Other Corner: It takes a long distance to climb the 3.5\" needed to go over the top of another track, even at the fairly steep 2.5% grade. - 2006-08-17dTheOtherCorner.jpg

Locate Portals: I used some old mountains and foam tunnel portals just to get an idea of how things would look.

jxtrrx — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 09:25:43 MDT

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Locate Portals: I used some old mountains and foam tunnel portals just to get an idea of how things would look. - 2006-08-17cLocatePortals.jpg

Test Riser Track: Adding inclines complicates things. This one is a 2 �% rise. Some locomotives can\'t pull much up it. Some fly down the back side like a roller coaster. Incline looks cool. Not sure yet if it\'s worth it.

jxtrrx — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 09:25:42 MDT

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Test Riser Track: Adding inclines complicates things. This one is a 2 �% rise. Some locomotives can\'t pull much up it. Some fly down the back side like a roller coaster. Incline looks cool. Not sure yet if it\'s worth it. - 2006-08-17bTestRiserTrack.jpg

Test Fit Risers: I used Woodland Scenic risers for the incline on the outer loop. I\'ve never done raised track before and the WS stuff makes it easier. I wanted a train to pass over another train, and the chance for a bridge or two.

jxtrrx — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 09:25:41 MDT

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Test Fit Risers: I used Woodland Scenic risers for the incline on the outer loop. I\'ve never done raised track before and the WS stuff makes it easier. I wanted a train to pass over another train, and the chance for a bridge or two. - 2006-08-17aTestFitRisers.jpg

Lit Control Panel: Green LED indicates through track is active, red indicates switch is thrown to diverging track. In hindsight, the yard section is just too cluttered to be intuitive for operating.

jxtrrx — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 09:25:40 MDT

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Lit Control Panel: Green LED indicates through track is active, red indicates switch is thrown to diverging track. In hindsight, the yard section is just too cluttered to be intuitive for operating. - 2006-08-08LitControlPanel.jpg

Control Panel Inside: I plan to neatly bundle all this someday. Really. Terminal blocks are used to connect track and Tortoises. Atlas relays are on the right. Digitrax Auto Reverse unit is on the left.

jxtrrx — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 09:25:39 MDT

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Control Panel Inside: I plan to neatly bundle all this someday. Really. Terminal blocks are used to connect track and Tortoises. Atlas relays are on the right. Digitrax Auto Reverse unit is on the left. - 2006-08-08ControlPanelInside.jpg

Push Buttons: On the control panel, SPDT toggles will control Tortoises, LED indicators, and track power, pushbuttons connected to Atlas Relays will control yard turnouts and LEDS for Atlas switches.

jxtrrx — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 09:25:38 MDT

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Push Buttons: On the control panel, SPDT toggles will control Tortoises, LED indicators, and track power, pushbuttons connected to Atlas Relays will control yard turnouts and LEDS for Atlas switches. - 2006-08-07Pushbuttons.jpg

Yard Track Work: My yard has a lead at the back of the layout and 8 spurs, mainly a big train parking lot. I\'ve got so many cars they\'ll never all fit.

jxtrrx — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 09:25:37 MDT

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Yard Track Work: My yard has a lead at the back of the layout and 8 spurs, mainly a big train parking lot. I\'ve got so many cars they\'ll never all fit. - 2006-08-06YardTrackwork.jpg

Begin The Yard: I used WS foam roadbed instead of cork in the yard because I had some left over from a previous layout. I like the sturdiness of the cork better.

jxtrrx — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 09:25:36 MDT

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Begin The Yard: I used WS foam roadbed instead of cork in the yard because I had some left over from a previous layout. I like the sturdiness of the cork better. - 2006-08-03BegintheYard.jpg

Early Wide View:

jxtrrx — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 09:25:35 MDT

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Early Wide View: - 2006-08-01EarlyWideView.jpg

Begin Wiring: The control panel flips up to reveal the wiring area. Two leads come from each Tortoise to control the switches and control panel lights. Additional leads at the Tortoises will control trackside signals.

jxtrrx — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 09:25:34 MDT

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Begin Wiring: The control panel flips up to reveal the wiring area. Two leads come from each Tortoise to control the switches and control panel lights. Additional leads at the Tortoises will control trackside signals. - 2006-08-01BeginWiring.jpg

Control Panel: It\'s a free standing console on wheels connected to the layout with a 4\' bundle of wires. Schematic was created in Xtrkcad then laminated.

jxtrrx — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 09:25:33 MDT

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Control Panel: It\'s a free standing console on wheels connected to the layout with a 4\' bundle of wires. Schematic was created in Xtrkcad then laminated. - 2006-07-30ControlPanel.jpg

A Test Train! A loop is completed, so a chance for an inaugural test run. I loaded up my favorite rolling stock: Atlas Hart Ballast cars lettered in ATSF and Colo/Wyo. I used both flex and sectional track soldering joints on curves.

jxtrrx — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 09:25:32 MDT

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A Test Train! A loop is completed, so a chance for an inaugural test run. I loaded up my favorite rolling stock: Atlas Hart Ballast cars lettered in ATSF and Colo/Wyo. I used both flex and sectional track soldering joints on curves. - 2006-07-29FinallyATestTrain.jpg

Install Tortoises: Tortoise brand controllers will be used to operate turnouts everywhere except in the yard. I\'ll use Atlas tabletop switch machines there because I had them and Tortoises aren\'t that cheap!

jxtrrx — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 09:25:31 MDT

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Install Tortoises: Tortoise brand controllers will be used to operate turnouts everywhere except in the yard. I\'ll use Atlas tabletop switch machines there because I had them and Tortoises aren\'t that cheap! - 2006-07-23InstallTortoise.jpg

Lay First Track: The most complicated track areas like this crossover using Atlas Turnouts were done first.

jxtrrx — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 09:25:30 MDT

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Lay First Track: The most complicated track areas like this crossover using Atlas Turnouts were done first. - 2006-07-22FirstTrack.jpg

More Roadbed: Starting to look like a railroad!

jxtrrx — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 09:25:29 MDT

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More Roadbed: Starting to look like a railroad! - 2006-07-21MoreRoadbed.jpg

First roadbed: Latex caulk glues the cork roadbed to the plywood following the centerlines on the trackplan.

jxtrrx — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 09:25:28 MDT

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First roadbed: Latex caulk glues the cork roadbed to the plywood following the centerlines on the trackplan. - 2006-07-20FirstRoadbed.jpg

Draw Track Centerlines: I used carbon paper to trace the track plan onto the plywood.

jxtrrx — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 09:25:27 MDT

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Draw Track Centerlines: I used carbon paper to trace the track plan onto the plywood. - 2006-07-19DrawTrackLines.jpg

Bus Wiring: I ran 5 wires of 14 gauge bus under everything first. Blue and green will be each rail of the track, the other three are AC for building lighting and accessories. Red= 12v, White= 6v, Black= Common.

jxtrrx — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 09:25:26 MDT

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Bus Wiring: I ran 5 wires of 14 gauge bus under everything first. Blue and green will be each rail of the track, the other three are AC for building lighting and accessories. Red= 12v, White= 6v, Black= Common. - 2006-07-18BusWiring.jpg

Plans In Place: I used masking tape to lay out the one-to-one print out of my Xtrkcad trackplan. This is where eveything will go permanently.

jxtrrx — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 09:25:25 MDT

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Plans In Place: I used masking tape to lay out the one-to-one print out of my Xtrkcad trackplan. This is where eveything will go permanently. - 2006-07-17PlansinPlace.jpg

Paint It Brown: A quick coat of latex light brown (I even added some dark brown and green speckles) makes things look nicer than bare plywood while in the construction process.

jxtrrx — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 09:25:24 MDT

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Paint It Brown: A quick coat of latex light brown (I even added some dark brown and green speckles) makes things look nicer than bare plywood while in the construction process. - 2006-07-14PaintItBrown.jpg

Old Lionel Track: I couldn\'t stand not running a train, so I set up some old Lionel three rail I had just to run something. My granddaughter and I had a ball with it.

jxtrrx — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 09:25:23 MDT

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Old Lionel Track: I couldn\'t stand not running a train, so I set up some old Lionel three rail I had just to run something. My granddaughter and I had a ball with it. - 2006-07-14OldLionelTrack.jpg

Benchwork Completed: I\'ve used foam in the past, but like working with good ol\' plywood much more.

jxtrrx — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 09:25:22 MDT

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Benchwork Completed: I\'ve used foam in the past, but like working with good ol\' plywood much more. - 2006-07-13BenchworkCompleted.jpg

Add Plywood: The benchwork is 48\" tall, the highest I\'ve ever done. It turns out this makes working on top slightly more difficult, working underneath slightly easier. The benefit is the nice view of the trains it gives.

jxtrrx — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 09:25:21 MDT

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Add Plywood: The benchwork is 48\" tall, the highest I\'ve ever done. It turns out this makes working on top slightly more difficult, working underneath slightly easier. The benefit is the nice view of the trains it gives. - 2006-07-12AddPlywood.jpg

Begin Benchwork: I used 1x3 dimensional lumber for the supports. I pre-drilled for wiring.

jxtrrx — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 09:25:20 MDT

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Begin Benchwork: I used 1x3 dimensional lumber for the supports. I pre-drilled for wiring. - 2006-07-11BeginBenchwork.jpg

Sky: Backdrop painted on three sides above the level of benchwork top.

jxtrrx — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 09:25:19 MDT

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Sky: Backdrop painted on three sides above the level of benchwork top. - 2006-07-09Sky.jpg

Bands of Blue: I\'m not an artist, but attempted a technique for my backdrop using three bands of blue for the sky fading from dark on top to light on the bottom. I used a sponge to blend the bands.

jxtrrx — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 09:25:18 MDT

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Bands of Blue: I\'m not an artist, but attempted a technique for my backdrop using three bands of blue for the sky fading from dark on top to light on the bottom. I used a sponge to blend the bands. - 2006-07-08BandsofBlue.jpg