So today we began work on what we are calling the Podcast Layout, a 4'x 8'
project collaboration by Dave Frary, Jimmy Deignan, Scott Mason and myself. The intention is to complete the layout before CSS and raffle it off at the show with the proceeds going to charity.
When I arrived at Scotts, so much preparation had already been done, each peice of benchwork wood was numbered and precut. Scott had even layed out a full brunch buffet in his garage. He'd prepared omlettes, fresh bacon, stacks of pancakes that could have filled a paint bucket - the garage smelled like deluxe home cookin'. There was even a red carpet in front of the buffet table ...it was like the Plaza Hotel meets IHOP. What a guy. I couldn't believe my nose and eyes...
....hmmm, OK I might be exagerating. So when I arrived, there was no wood and no delux Plaza Hotel breakfast. Instead, Scott and Dave and I took a trip to the local lumber yard, in Dave's truck. I got to sit in the middle, with Mom(Scott) and Dad( Dave) on either side. I think at one point I should have said "Are we there yet?". It couldn't have been soon enough. Dave explained to us before we got in that he'd left some fresh fish guts in a bag, in the back of the truck over the weekend - what an amazing smell. Powerful. Ripe. The kind that, even after you leave the truck stays with you. I can still smell it in the back of my head. It was almost as if he'd left fresh fish guts in the bag over the weekend...oh right, he did. Anyway, we got some overpriced lumber and headed back to Scott's garage where we unloaded the fish scented wood...which was fine, it's supposed to be a waterfront layout; very authentic.
Jimmy arrived soon after with a pile of track and turnouts for the layout. As Jimmy approached the garage he inquired about the smell.
A few hours later, four knuckleheads managed to complete some benchwork, some foam landforms in place and track secured. In the next few weeks we'll get to structures and scenery. As it progresses, I'll post pics here. You can also follow along on Dave's new blog:
Working on a 4'x8' layout sure brings back memories, the only other 4'x8' I ever worked on was my first layout, when I was 11. Plywood, wrapped with the grass mat, stapled. Single loop of track with one siding. Lots of green lichen. That's a great smell. Atlas telephone poles with plastic bases and that foam tunnel most of us had. Building kits by Lifelike and Tyco. But, at the time, that was the greatest thing on earth. I've never looked at another sheet of plywood without thinking about it.
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The pic above is from Old Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts. Nice clapboard...
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