Latest posts

Update - Dallas Divide and other

Aug 18 2024

 Posted on August 17, 2024  |  3 minutes  |  493 words  |  Jonathan Sauer

It’s been a long while since I have done an update. Been a busy summer with alot of family stuff since the 4th, but did make some minor progress and other interesting items. This is more of a Layout infrastructure post. A friend of mine had a custom figure made of a past model railroader and wanted to include him in his layout. He found a group who do figures Print figureines where they can construct a figure in any pose you would like. [Read More]
Dallas Divide  Benchwork  Electronics  3d-Printing 

Dallas Divide Backdrop

July 8 2024

 Posted on July 8, 2024  |  2 minutes  |  296 words  |  Jonathan Sauer

Last year I took a number of panoramic photographs on the way back from the 2023 NG convention. I was hoping for fall colors, but was a tad early for the Aspens to change. However I did get some great “test shots” on backdrops. Placerville, Ridgeway, Dallas Divide, Rico, and a few others along the way. A friend of mine has a large format printer and is an fantastic photographer. Has a fantastic layout as well. [Read More]
Dallas Divide  Benchwork 

Dallas Divide Tool Shed Build

July 7 2024

 Posted on July 7, 2024  |  2 minutes  |  217 words  |  Jonathan Sauer

A train buddy of mine suggested I capture my Placerville General store in black and white like the photo I used as reference. I did not get the angle quite right, still missing the flag and bike, but it’s a reasonable match. I can’t wait till I build Placerville! Now that the section house is finished, time for the next structure. For the next structure, I decide to see what I could do with my laser cutter and made the Tool Shed. [Read More]
Dallas Divide  Structures  Placerville 

Dallas Divide Section House Build

July 3 2024

 Posted on July 3, 2024  |  2 minutes  |  224 words  |  Jonathan Sauer

Since I’m working on test benchwork for Dallas Divide, I thought it was time to replace some of the cardboard mockups with real structures. Last year at the Narrow Gauge Convention in Colorado, I picked up the Dallas Divide Section house. Time to build that kit. It’s an old kit and the board and batten was something you actually had to build up, unlike a number of kits today. It was a total pleasure doing that. [Read More]
Dallas Divide  Structures 

Placerville General Store

A 3d printing project

 Posted on June 24, 2024  |  3 minutes  |  537 words  |  Jonathan Sauer

I have been working on Placerville since 2018 and posted a few updates on groups.io. Steve Depolo’s work in Placerville has been inspirational, and motivated me to share my build of Placerville. This is my first major post and project in the last few years. I got to know Mike McCarville over the last few years and have been collaborating with him on a few chimneys. Mike did the Placerville post office which was a fun project to build, but it needed the chimney. [Read More]
Placerville  Structures  3D-Printing 

First Post

Early Placerville

 Posted on June 11, 2024  |  2 minutes  |  293 words  |  Jonathan Sauer

This is my first entry but it’s a bit about the past. I have added a bit of my history and previous layouts in the various links. Not going to blog about that, other than if I add an update. For years, I have been working on a bedroom sized shelf layout. I dreamed of a larger space for my layout but was reasonably content. Then I retired, the pandemic hit, and I met a group of folks that have top notch layouts, and regulalary operate on them. [Read More]
Placerville  Structures 

Layout concept and benchwork test

 Posted on June 11, 2024  |  2 minutes  |  343 words  |  Jonathan Sauer

My first real entry.. with this new site. Benchwork… My wife and I are getting closer to having plans to add a small addition to our house such that I can finally build my layout. (Long story). But I have finally narrowed down on my track plan. It’s a double deck layout with a helix. I tried so hard not to have a helix, but. Goals of my layout.. first is that it is for me and modeling what I want to. [Read More]
layout  benchwork