What projects are you working on this summer?

I am trying to hardwire a American Flyer XX Type engine that came through the mail to me, but every time I get it running, another armature wire pops off lol.

I've been hand painting track for a layout being built by a good friend.  Going to be a fairly large OS3R layout (essentially 35' x 35' with a peninsula, and mulitple decks,  Well over 1000' linear feet of track.  My friend is using Ross track exclusively.  We want to paint the track before laying it, and don't like the looks of spray painted track especially because of the ensuing coating of the wooden ties.  About to finish a batch of 240 pieces of track (combination of straights and 096, 104 and 112 curves) for a total of about 450 linear feet.  I lay down a base coat into the rail web, let dry and then go back with a second coat focusing on the bottom of the rail and staples.  So, two coats per rail, two rails per track section for a total of about 1800 linear feet of painting so far.  Ross track is much more difficult to hand paint than Gargraves because of the staples at each tie, but by establishing a fairly rote process I have been able to knock this project out in about 4 weeks.  We are using Model Master acrylic paint with a mix of  2 bottles  roof brown with one bottle of rail tie brown resulting in a slightly greener hue than prior efforts using straight Floquil roof brown.  Very realistic looking.  The paint is very easy to work with and lays down nicely.

Dave

Well on to my next projects.

I have 8 sets of Lionel A-B-B-A locomotives and 7 sets of AA and E and PA units that are being upgraded with close coupling... I have the conversion down to 10 minutes a unit!

I finished my backdrop painting top and bottom levels...

JDADDY those GN FAs look right at home on that beautiful layout!

Getting an Atlas SSW GP60 #9704 "dummy" back in good shape to run as lead power in front of my SP and UP locomotives.  (See threads on 3RS.)

I've been planning my new layout with lots of help/advice from Forum members.. Finally, the contractors have installed new windows (higher)!! I can now proceed with my bench work!! SCARM was really 'beating me up', but the help of several Forum members AND their patience with me, my layout plan is coming together!!

PAUL ROMANO posted:

JDADDY those GN FAs look right at home on that beautiful layout!

Paul - ever since I purchased these from you I cannot stop running them!

Besides my usual array of detailing/weathering projects, I need to find the motivation and time to sort through the 30+ boxes of trains pictured below.

An acquaintance of my extended family passed away a couple years ago and I was given the first opportunity to buy his extensive train collection last year.  Needless to say, I did!

hello guys and gals......

the only project I have to this summer is trying to fix my railking NW-2  I got from Pat's last week. It has a electronic PS-1 system problem.  Both BCR's a black one that Pat installed ( no name label) and a J&W red BCR-1 didn't fix problem.

Tiffany

Mpeck161,

I will most likely be at the show on Saturday afternoon...email me in the morning...maybe we can hook up...I have other track we can possibly work out a trade for until you find the GG's you are look for...

Regards,

Joe

Building buildings, streets and sidewalks.

Peter

FOM

Finished my mods on my 3rd Rail 2-rail RG F7's....

aussteve posted:

I am pursuing an enhancement to a 9142 Republic Steel Gondola

Very nice!

Santiago,,   Sweet  RG F7,  your locomotives mods are always stupendous!!

  Could you post a link to the budd photo etch? vent thread,

  My F's are stuck at the cooling coil fabrication, I have all the other details in hand but,  PSC and fabbing them myself is a slow go.

  any ideas on the coils in the pic?

Peter,

Those buildings are sweet.

aterry11 posted:

Santiago,,   Sweet  RG F7,  your locomotives mods are always stupendous!!

  Could you post a link to the budd photo etch? vent thread,

  My F's are stuck at the cooling coil fabrication, I have all the other details in hand but,  PSC and fabbing them myself is a slow go.

  any ideas on the coils in the pic?

Thanks! how about you do what i did for the side grabs on my F7's?

Shape brass wire and use the Atlas evans 53' box car door details for bolt details... All you'd have to do is cut and drill.

I've been lucky and have been able to devote some time to the layout. I built a freight dock kit that I've had for a year and a half now, got rid of the drop down section and replaced it with a lift out (lines up great every time), installed and weathered the girder bridge, and tested the signals to make sure everything works properly. Next up, I'll tackle the arch and finishing details on the turntable. I've been meaning to do that for over a year. It's been a nice stretch, glad I've gotten the opportunity.

Andy