ETMRC HO Scale Layout
Updating the scenery at the East Onionbreath Museum
Newsletter November 2018
All’s well in East Onionbreath — The bad section of track in the tunnel has been replaced and the train (front, middle) whizzes merrily around the loop. The track improvement meant that the whole town module, new scenery and the plywood foundation, had to be removed to the work table in the middle new room. It had been installed only two weeks before! When in place, the scenery and location of East Onionbreath makes working on the “museum” track almost impossible.
Newsletter October 2018
The Mountains have moved – The middle peninsula looks almost done, and the plywood covered area covered. Hooray! The change is dramatic: a whole new town has been created by Jared and Bob A to complement the three gauges of track laid by Bob T. Is it complete? Probably not, if for no other reason than no layout project is ever really done, but it has come a really long way. Bob T photo
Rob D's Blog 09 November 2018
This section will actually be installed before the show, Jared and Bob A have been working on this for quite a while.
Newsletter September 2018
Almost Done – Jared and Bob A are hard at work adding vegetation to the logging/mining town for the middle peninsula. They are still working on the insert on a table for two reasons: it will be difficult to add the little details after it is installed on the layout because it is right in the middle of the peninsula, and because some repairs were required on the mainline track in the tunnel below the scene. That problem has been fixed, so the scene can be installed as soon as they are happy with the bushes and trees they are adding, or when they both get tired of working on it, whichever comes first.
Rob D's Blog 05 August 2018
Bob A is working on details planting bushes around the foundations of the structures.
Rob D's Blog 28 July 2018
Bob A is making tiny pieces of wood from small pieces of wood. They will be employed later to complete the rest of the wood sidewalk in the museum town.
Rob D's Blog 22 July 2018
While I was tuning the locomotive of Dave I was interrupted by these two guys, Jared and Bob A, who said to me "Rob we would like to get your approval on the structure placement for the area of the layout we are working on." I was shocked, I said approval might be the wrong term, I would be happy to take a look and share my thoughts but you guys don't need my approval, it is your project. I have made a few suggestions along the way such as grouping structures by the purpose they will have on the layout. Example engine facilities should be next to tracks that can service engines, and located close together so service people are not walking all over the mountain to get things done.
I also mentioned since this is a western themed rail museum it would be good to locate attractions and entertainment in groups and to have places that sell food etc along the way. The idea is to put together a theme park atmosphere and get all the money possible out of the patrons by selling everything they will need for the day.
These guys have been working on this project so long I am tempted to start calling them Pancho and Cisco just because they are always together. Only problem I don't know who is the leader and who is the side kick because they seem to work so well together.
Notice the continuous board side walk along the street.
The large spool of thread will be used to represent a cable to keep unauthorized vehicles from the museum town streets. I hope we can have a tourist train pull in with some older style cars bringing a crowd to the museum. With any luck we will be able to have it run several times a day!
Rob D's Blog 20 July 2018
Bob A is working on some grade crossings for the East Onionbreath area.
Rob D's Blog 18 July 2018
Bob A has been working on the roadway into the museum area. Jared and he have been working on this over and over and continually refining it. It will likely be very nice once they get done.
Rob D's Blog 16 July 2018
Jared and Bob A are still working on the section of layout known as East Onionbreath.
Newsletter July 2018
Green, Green, its Green They say – Bob A applies some more grass to the nearly complete logging/mining town for installation on the middle peninsula. A question: is this the fabled town of East Onionbreath? Surely it’s not a part of nearby Hickeyville. Note the buildings in the lower left. Many of these were recently done by Jared, Bob’s co-worker on the project. (Rob D photo)
Newsletter June 2018
Hard at Work 2 — Jared is assessing where the buildings he completed for the middle peninsula museum might fit while watching Bob A work on some more rocks. Jared and Bob have been finishing the long neglected museum scene for some months, and its installation on the layout is near. (Rob D photo)
Rob D's Blog 27 May 2018
Jared is becoming a builder. We have created a monster. He is building and painting structures for the area around east onion breath, (still do not know how it got that name). Like all of us his efforts gt better with each project. I try and show the newer guys things as they develop in skill. Today's tip was how to avoid finger prints on models via paint or glue. The tip was do not use your fingers get out a good pair of tweezers and no finger prints! Jared was a very new to the hobby guy just a short while ago he is advancing rapidly.
The area above and below is an area being reworked by Jared and Bob A. Jared is still working on some structures for the area.
Rob D's Blog 05 May 2018
If you were reading the update from the end of April you might recognise the structures Jared was building.
One building nicely done plus the restroom. Webmaster comment — The 2-foot gauge track is code 70 rail on individual ties with 4 spikes per tie, except at the stub turnouts.
Another small structure Jared built. These were vintage kits and might need some additional paint and or details. Keep in mind Jared is one of the new modelers in our club and is advancing his skills as he goes. The structures are ready for their intended section of the layout as is. A wee bit more work could change them from good to great in a real quick hurry. Webmaster comment — Upper left – 1, the lower track is triple gauge, 2 foot, 3 foot and standard; 2, the next is dual gauge, 3 foot and standard. This is a museum and track hold exhibits from different times and places.
Rob D's Blog 29 April 2018
Jared and Bob A are still working on the narrow gauge section of the layout. When will it end? Webmaster comment — Actually the scenery for the East Onionbreath Museum and track gauge is actually 21 and 3/4 inches, nominally a two-footer.
Bob A is still trying to melt wooden ties with a soldering gun and Jared is building structures for that chunk of the layout.
Jared is getting rather serious about the project, taking the time to put the interiors into the structures.
Rob D's Blog 22 April 2018
This section is still getting attention and improvements and eventually it might get put back on the layout.
When it does it will fill this space.
Rob D's Blog 11 March 2018
Here we see the ETRMC version of TOMA. The layout surface was made up of a sandwich of plywood and homosote in this area and screwed together. Since the center section is being worked on while we have visitors it was transported to the tables in the rear to be worked on. We have Jared followed by Bob A and Tom M toting the center of East Onionbreath back to the work tables. I still have no idea how this section got that name. Nick and Sue are looking on and seem to be entertained by the action of a typical Saturday.
Rob D's Blog 07 January 2018
In this shot we have Bob A working on a mountain with a tunnel inside. The top is designed to come apart in two sections in case there is a need for access. With out this feature we would have to send in the HO scale folks to do the deed but they are generally not interested in work of any kind, they just spend all their time standing around. Ray is next to him and involved in some discussion with some of the other guys.
Newsletter January 2018
Acres of pink – Bob A adjusts the layout of the pink foam that will lead up to the existing logged-off hill on the middle peninsula, while George W supervises. This is one of the more spectacular projects to fill a long unfinished zone on the layout.
Rob D's Blog 22 October 2017
Here we see Bob standing on a platform next to Jared where they are discussing and planning some more innovations to the scenery. I suggested to both guys they check the clearance and paint the inside of the tunnel black prior to sealing it up. Nice thing about our group when some one undertakes a project it is that persons project. Help and suggestions will be offered but a committee will not try and take over the project or stifle your creativity.
October 2013
The East Onionbreath Museum is located on a plateau just above the East Onionbreath Station. At one time unobtanium ore was transferred from the quarry to ore cars on the mainline siding below. The 2 foot gauge (technically HOn21&3/4) mining line is located on a loop surrounding the museum. Non–operating stub switches are used with 4 spikes in every tie. (Handlaid by Bob T, who likes to do track.) The motive power is the "shed". However, the power is really behind in the box car. (Again, actually a Z-scale diesel engine with a box car shell.)