Tortuga & Pine Creek

Web Page Updated Oct 15/09

I wanted to put a micro in a Rubbermaid under-bed storage container so I started out with a plan based on Don Sibley's El Tortuga as shown in the May 2007 mid-month Scrapbook on Carl Arendt's website. Carl then put me on to Bob Moroch's Pine Creek RR in his Oct 2007 mid-month scrapbook. Both plans really appealed to me and I tried combining them. Here's the result:

Possible Operating System: A train enters Track 5 from the right. It consists of Engine No. 1 and cars No. 1, 2 and 3. Engine No. 2 is in the Engine House and Engine No. 3 is on Track 1. Part 1. The object is to set out the three cars at designated locations. There are 5 locations to spot cars. Three locations are selected at random. The three cars are then randomly matched to the selected locations and the cars are then spotted. Engine No. 1 must end up at the Water Tower. The turntable can only hold one car or locomotive at a time. Cars can be spotted by being pushec or pulled by any of the locomotives. Engines 2 and 3 cannot be left on Track 5 or 6. Part 2. Make up a departing train on Track 6 with Engine No. 1 heading to the right. Randomly select the order of the three cars. Engine No. 2 must return to the Engine House and Engine No. 3 to Track 1.

The inside measurements are 32 x 18 inches or 576 sq. in. - perfect micro size - and it's 5 inches deep. I thought I'd use 1/8" hardboard glued to the bin lid as a stiffener. Then 1/2" Styrofoam for the layout base and layer it so there would be a 1/2" increase in elevation between the front siding and the rest of the layout to make it a little more visually interesting. Track would be handlaid on cork roadbed to reduce noise.