Re: SAMRA and New Ideas

["Randall Howell" <rhowell@austin.rr.com>]

I will be out of town the 21st thru 25th.  I would like to be  involved if it could be on a later weekend but I don't want to hold  up the rest of the club members that can meet the 23rd and not a  later date.
I think multi level displays are great.  As far as the tunnel on the  (shorter dia. "E" track)   I think this is great. I saw a o gage trick  tunnel on a video I have.  It requires only running trains that can  do tighter dia. & go thru a modified mini- helex.  The Visual  effect is a 4 to 7 foot long train completely disappears into a 3 foot  long tunnel before it emerges out to other side.  The spectators  say "how can that be the train shrunk inside the tunnel before  coming out.  This keeps them watch more time to try to figure out  how it's done.  this is accomplished by a "sub-level " circle just  under the table with it crossing its self just to emerge a table level  out the other side.   it's a "Cool Effect".
Also I have a thought with the proposed bridge module allowing  easier people access in & out.  I do welding  mostly TIG (also  involving, precision, small size, &  exotic metals) as a side income  source.  I could do a "ALL METAL" span bridge that  is  completely open under it and open for as wide a space as you  want.  I think for this, metal would be better than wood for both  strength and the proper scale look.  What do you all think?

Randall 

On 5 Feb 02, at 12:40, eweltens@apcinc.com wrote:

 I agree with the earlier messages that everything went well at the show. I  loved the new control panel. The only problem with my Madison cars  was they were not lubricated the first time through the yard and they  hung up. A little oil and all was fine. My engine with the low  uncoupling plunger was a different story.  I like Scott's Idea of making scenery add-ons that go on top of the  regular module. It would be nice to have a module with a passenger  station on it that was like this. I might make one if that isn't already in  Scott's plans. I also like the through truss bridge idea; we could build a  frame out of 1x2" lumber to support it and build it on an ABCD module  layout for minimal width.  Here are some Ideas I came up with while at the show and daydreaming  since then:  1. Have a Corner Module building party at my house on Feb 23rd.  2. Make some of the new corner Modules transition modules. Why?  The inside track could be a wider radius than a normal "E" position  track. It would allow for greater flexibility in connection of sides together  where you would have an entire side be ABCE with the transition in the  corner. It would also save track since we would only be putting 4 lines  of track on a corner instead of four. Definitely needs some consideration  and planning. We should probably make the first two normal and then  make the second two transitions if we do this.  3. Create a track plan template in Visio on my computer. Individual  modules would be graphically represented like pieces of a puzzle and  could be rearranged to suit the required size layout either with the  software or by cutting the pieces out of a sheet of paper for people  without the program. A uniform method of labeling/numbering Modules  would be necessary, and I could propose one.  4. Build a tunnel or raised city (talked with Steve about this before) that  could sit on top of a module for more visual appeal than a completely flat  layout.