@Kelunaboy posted:Finished up a project that has taken a few weeks of trial and error - first ever drawer and itʻs for under the layout to hold the electronics.
Measures 24" x 22" x 5-1/4" with 22" extension - happy with the outcome but already wish it was larger!
Totally love your drawer idea! I will plan that into my layout somewhere!!! Great work, BTW 
George
I was having issues with my Lionel Southern 4-4-2 front truck jumping the track. It seems the front truck was very wobbly. I added a secondary spring out of a ball point pen. Cut about a third of the spring off as this seemed to leave the right amount of pressure to stabilize the front truck. This worked and now the truck hugs the track with no derailments.
@Mayor Magoo posted:Met someone at church that heard I liked trains. Told me he had some Lionel trains and he was reducing what he had to simplify. Next time I saw him he had a box he wanted to give me...
I want to trim around the edge of my table. How high is it over the tabletop? It looks substantial, I was thinking no more than an inch. Thanks, Tim
Tim, the trim extends less than 1/2 inch above the tabletop, pictures probably distort that. My tabletop is 1/2 inch plywood topped by 2 inch foam. I extended the trim slightly above to use as a retainer for scenic materials (grass, rock, dirt, etc.)
Morning guys & girls, I hope your all doing well.
@Mayor Magoo What a great gift!
@Kelunaboy Wonderful job on the drawer!
@LT1Poncho Nice to see it was an easy fix by thinking outside of the box for parts! Nice work!
Well as I stated before, Dave and I have been working on a new layout plan and here is what it looks like so far.
The upper level will be on a hill with the lower track in a tunnel. Dave left it open so I could see what I would be covering up and he has done so much for me already I haven't asked him to put land around it.
I hope you're having a good day and that you find time to have fun with your layout and trains!
Mike, I've been following your design progress, and Dave's contributions. It is really shaping up and looks like a great layout!
Looking great, Mike and Dave!
@Mayor Magoo posted:Mike, I've been following your design progress, and Dave's contributions. It is really shaping up and looks like a great layout!
Thanks Steve, I was just out in the train room, and I think I have found a big hitch in my plan I totally forgot about. On the existing layout I have a siding that goes out the wall of the train room for a section to be built around the outside of the back yard. I am going to have to talk to Dave about it and see if there is anything that can be done without moving it.
The first photo is where it comes out of the train room and the second is where it is in the train room.
@train steve posted:What did I do on my layout today?
I outlined what I’m working on this year,(this season).
In hopes of keeping me on track, pun intended.
By the looks of this paper Steve........you are way more structured than I am. 
Well I did have plans, might still do something however,... a big lunch at Chuy's Texmex with a couple of beers and,.. the "itis" has preempted everything,.. Perhaps tomorrow,
Last night I ballasted two sidings and added the plaster cloth for the hillside between my upper and lower levels:
-Greg
@Greg Houser posted:Last night I ballasted two sidings and added the plaster cloth for the hillside between my upper and lower levels:
-Greg
Greg, don't you just love to ballast! LOL I see you put down your grass or dirt first, I think it looks a lot better than putting it down afterword's! I think will give that a try when I get to that point on my new layout I am planning. Things are really coming together on your layout!
I do have a question, how do you secure your track to the foam board?
Greg - I don't mean to pick on you - but got to wondering about laying down foam as a base layer. Instead of adding roadbed, why not just carve out the foam to give the right slope and drainage channel? and forget the roadbed. Most track around me have a pretty decent slope into a drainage area which roadbed does not mimic. I would not consider it if on plywood, but foam is a different story. Anyone modeled that?
@ScoutingDad posted:Greg - I don't mean to pick on you - but got to wondering about laying down foam as a base layer. Instead of adding roadbed, why not just carve out the foam to give the right slope and drainage channel? and forget the roadbed. Most track around me have a pretty decent slope into a drainage area which roadbed does not mimic. I would not consider it if on plywood, but foam is a different story. Anyone modeled that?
Hi Jeff, I am kind of interested in what you're talking about, have you ever done this and if so, how is it done?
Working on the Equestra Train Club (ETC) layout. Equestra is the 55+ community that I live in. We setup a Christmas layout each year since 2014. This year we are adding a 4x6 amusement park. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Day one, the layout gets brought in from the warehouse.
The crate or Coffin as it’s referred to is opened on the truck.
The table sections are removed and brought into the clubhouse.
The carpenters preparing to join two sections and install the legs.
HO tables waiting to be added over the O / LGB tables.
Day two LGB track down but not fastened. Preparing the 3rd 0 gauge track which is a trestle. EZ Streets in the middle of main O gauge table. The 3 4x4 O gauge tables were all that we had in 2014.
Day 3 LGB track is secure. 0 gauge trestle is up with track still to be screwed down. 1st HO platform added.
I’m not sure what will get done tomorrow. There’s a Veterans brunch in the ball room.
@pennsyfansure looks like fun, but on my end only a couple phots show up unless you click on the link.
@mike g. posted:Hi Jeff, I am kind of interested in what you're talking about, have you ever done this and if so, how is it done?
@ScoutingDad posted:Greg - I don't mean to pick on you - but got to wondering about laying down foam as a base layer. Instead of adding roadbed, why not just carve out the foam to give the right slope and drainage channel? and forget the roadbed. Most track around me have a pretty decent slope into a drainage area which roadbed does not mimic. I would not consider it if on plywood, but foam is a different story. Anyone modeled that?
1/2 a good idea. Ballast usually goes to the top of the ties. I did a layout using 2-inch foam and my only regret was when I leaned hard on it made dents. Dents are ok in some places, but I always managed to do it in a city area. My current layout is smaller 6 x 20 so I can reach and if I can't I use the topside creeper. That's my 2 cents and it may not be worth that.
Hi guys and gals.....
Been busy with home renovations- windows and siding, and new front and back steps. Contractors are doing the heavy lifting, but I'm also doing a lot of work myself, so layout and forum surfing time has been limited. Just caught up on all the great work going on. Keep it up everyone, and I hope to get back to the important stuff soon too.
Bob
Regarding the foam. I have not put down 2 inch foam. I have put down 1/2 or 1 inch over plywood with the thought it would help quiet down the noise. No difference using the foam or right on top of the ply. The ply turned into a drum and vibrated regardless of what was on top, even homasote. Had a dB meter to check since I did not trust my ears. When I had to crawl on top of the rails, I set a 2x2 foot piece of 2 inch foam on the deck and climbed up. No damage to rails and only a few knee prints went into the foam. So yes to Dave's comment about foam deforming with pressure, but it takes a lot of pressure.
I am curious about how quiet a train would be running on 2 inch foam. Sounds like a winter project - pun intended. To answer Mike's question, I would probably make some kind of hot wire knife to carve out a gully trackside. An inch deep at 4 scale feet should be fine visually. Just create the gully shape in the wire and drag through the foam. My only concern over foam is its compressibility and the potential for heavy engines to depress the track and create operating problems. Just don't know, but I did not care for the WS foam track bed for that reason.
This hobby makes me think harder than most jobs did. Yikes!!!
@mike g. posted:Greg, don't you just love to ballast! LOL I see you put down your grass or dirt first, I think it looks a lot better than putting it down afterword's! I think will give that a try when I get to that point on my new layout I am planning. Things are really coming together on your layout!
I do have a question, how do you secure your track to the foam board?
Greetings Mike! About the only way I can think of to set the track in styrofoam would be to first use a low temperature hot glue and then secure the track with the ballast and glue mixture. The hot glue would give you a quick bond that would be easy to adjust if needed. I'm sure I can remove all my track screws on my layout as the ballast has a firm grip on the track. FYI: I find ballasting very relaxing but it needs to be done in small segments. For what it's worth: I added ballast before I add dirt and grass. Good luck with your new layout project. I am impressed with your ambition for change! I'm too old to redo my layout so now I keep looking for small projects that keep me involved!
Cheers, Dave
@ScoutingDad posted:Regarding the foam. I have not put down 2 inch foam. I have put down 1/2 or 1 inch over plywood with the thought it would help quiet down the noise. No difference using the foam or right on top of the ply. The ply turned into a drum and vibrated regardless of what was on top, even homasote. Had a dB meter to check since I did not trust my ears. When I had to crawl on top of the rails, I set a 2x2 foot piece of 2 inch foam on the deck and climbed up. No damage to rails and only a few knee prints went into the foam. So yes to Dave's comment about foam deforming with pressure, but it takes a lot of pressure.
I am curious about how quiet a train would be running on 2 inch foam. Sounds like a winter project - pun intended. To answer Mike's question, I would probably make some kind of hot wire knife to carve out a gully trackside. An inch deep at 4 scale feet should be fine visually. Just create the gully shape in the wire and drag through the foam. My only concern over foam is its compressibility and the potential for heavy engines to depress the track and create operating problems. Just don't know, but I did not care for the WS foam track bed for that reason.
This hobby makes me think harder than most jobs did. Yikes!!!
We have a plywood base with homasote then 2" of foam on top...that "sandwich" made a huge difference for sound...got rid of the "drum" affect completely.
@darlander posted:Greetings Mike! About the only way I can think of to set the track in styrofoam would be to first use a low temperature hot glue and then secure the track with the ballast and glue mixture. The hot glue would give you a quick bond that would be easy to adjust if needed. I'm sure I can remove all my track screws on my layout as the ballast has a firm grip on the track. FYI: I find ballasting very relaxing but it needs to be done in small segments. For what it's worth: I added ballast before I add dirt and grass. Good luck with your new layout project. I am impressed with your ambition for change! I'm too old to redo my layout so now I keep looking for small projects that keep me involved!
Cheers, Dave
Thaks Dave, to be honest it is going to be one heck of a chore doing a new layout. But in my opinion, it will be worth it in the long run! For one it will make it more enjoyable for the grandkids and I am thinking it will be easier to take care of as I get older. I like you are not a young rooster anymore, and getting to things will just get harder as I get older so might as well try to get it right while I can! LOL
@mike g. posted:@pennsyfansure looks like fun, but on my end only a couple phots show up unless you click on the link.
Mike,
All I posted was photos. If you’re referring to the link in my signature; that’s to my layout.
Greg Houser, That is very good looking work. Ballasting seems to be every ones' nightmare but you did fine. I am looking forward to watching your progress. Bill
@mike g. posted:Greg, don't you just love to ballast! LOL I see you put down your grass or dirt first, I think it looks a lot better than putting it down afterword's! I think will give that a try when I get to that point on my new layout I am planning. Things are really coming together on your layout!
I do have a question, how do you secure your track to the foam board?
@ScoutingDad posted:Greg - I don't mean to pick on you - but got to wondering about laying down foam as a base layer. Instead of adding roadbed, why not just carve out the foam to give the right slope and drainage channel? and forget the roadbed. Most track around me have a pretty decent slope into a drainage area which roadbed does not mimic. I would not consider it if on plywood, but foam is a different story. Anyone modeled that?
@ScoutingDad posted:Regarding the foam. I have not put down 2 inch foam. I have put down 1/2 or 1 inch over plywood with the thought it would help quiet down the noise. No difference using the foam or right on top of the ply. The ply turned into a drum and vibrated regardless of what was on top, even homasote. Had a dB meter to check since I did not trust my ears. When I had to crawl on top of the rails, I set a 2x2 foot piece of 2 inch foam on the deck and climbed up. No damage to rails and only a few knee prints went into the foam. So yes to Dave's comment about foam deforming with pressure, but it takes a lot of pressure.
I am curious about how quiet a train would be running on 2 inch foam. Sounds like a winter project - pun intended. To answer Mike's question, I would probably make some kind of hot wire knife to carve out a gully trackside. An inch deep at 4 scale feet should be fine visually. Just create the gully shape in the wire and drag through the foam. My only concern over foam is its compressibility and the potential for heavy engines to depress the track and create operating problems. Just don't know, but I did not care for the WS foam track bed for that reason.
This hobby makes me think harder than most jobs did. Yikes!!!
@mike g. I found it's easier to get a more natural look if you ballast last. I learned the hard way to get down a scenery base and ballast before populating a layout with trains as it's much easier to do with nothing in the way. What I've put down is a 1-1 mix of Scenic Express EX826E and EX830E ground foam. On this layout I will be placing static grass over top of it with a home made applicator. Any loose grasses on the ballast will be removed when vacuuming. I've attached a pic below of an area I already applied static grass to. Essentially, I'm just copying what Martin Welburg does using the same products (Silfor static grass). Silfor is more expensive but I've tried all the makers and found it gives the best results for my skill set.
With respect to securing track. My old layout used vinylbed over plywood. This layout uses cork roadbed over 2" foam. On both layouts all I used to hold the ballast was a mix of elmers glue and water mixed at a rate of 3 parts 1 water and 1 part glue along with spraying isopropyl alcohol to break the surface tension. I've never used nails. At some point I will ballast my lift out sections - remind me and I'll post a pic of holding them upside down. Simply put, there is no need for screws to hold down track if you've ballasted properly. I used liquid nails to glue the roadbed to the layout top (both plywood and foam).
@ScoutingDad You're not picking on me 
The cork was given to me as a throw-in to a purchase I made when buying track off of someone who had purchased more than they needed. To be honest, I never thought of doing that but in hindsight, I probably wouldn't have done it if I had to do things over. I just think it will take too much time and I don't think I'd like a drainage ditch around all of the track.
With respect to heavy engines depressing the track - that's not a concern. I have a friend who has the same setup and he has no problems running a 40 car train with double-headed Big Boys on the point. As to noise, it's louder than homasote over plywood for sure, but to me it's not too much louder and the benefits to making scenery outweigh the noise. But then again, my favorite genre of music is metal and I like it loud and I'm used to the club layout which of course is very loud when fully running. Plus, trains are loud in real life. If I was a carpenter I'd have built an open-grid platform for ease in making multi-level scenery. You don't know how impressed I am with the fact I built my benchwork and it's level all the way around! 
I appreciate everyone's comments!
-Greg
https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...9#167825581093536609
Day 4 of build of the ETC Christmas layout.
Ran an engine and track cleaning car on the 3 O gauge tracks. The Atlas trestle tracks were is problem. Those tracks get completely removed every year. Apparently someone taped bundles together last year with out protecting the track with paper. (Note to self hold a class on using reverse tape before securing the bundle LOL). Needless to say the engine found all the spots with tape residue. Once that was cleaned up I ran the track cleaner about 25 loops. The two HO platforms were connected with the double track trestle the trestle behind that that is also for HO track but it’s for a Bachmann ON30 trolley. 
The King of The Mississippi docked in my harbor this morning. 
The riverboat was built by my friend and neighbor, Frank Lorenzo. Frank has built several structures for my layout.
WOW!
@RSJB18 posted:Hi guys and gals.....
Been busy with home renovations- windows and siding, and new front and back steps. Contractors are doing the heavy lifting, but I'm also doing a lot of work myself, so layout and forum surfing time has been limited. Just caught up on all the great work going on. Keep it up everyone, and I hope to get back to the important stuff soon too.
Bob
Now that’s funny, our new window order - due in August - arrived in October. Now it’s too cold to install them (+18F), so down to the basement I go !
@pennsyfan Wow! Frank did a fabulous job on the King of the Mississippi! That decking looks great!
@Mark Boyce posted:@pennsyfan Wow! Frank did a fabulous job on the King of the Mississippi! That decking looks great!
Thanks Mark. I have been watching this build all summer. Thousands of pieces. Definitely not a shake the box model.
Got back to my boats & bait project. I covered the window openings with wood. I used the wood wrapper found in an el producto cigar tube. I added a service window. I decided to leave the “tarp” in place over the damaged area. Still deciding how to address the void left by the bumpers.
@trestleking posted:Now that’s funny, our new window order - due in August - arrived in October. Now it’s too cold to install them (+18F), so down to the basement I go !
It's crazy what the lead times are on windows. We placed our order in August for the 2 that had to be done. Fortunately it was 70 deg the day they did them. Hopefully the siding starts next week......
@pennsyfan posted:The King of The Mississippi docked in my harbor this morning.
The riverboat was built by my friend and neighbor, Frank Lorenzo. Frank has built several structures for my layout.
She's a beauty Bob. I remember my uncle building a model of the USS Constitution when I was a kid. Tedious doesn't do it justice. The trolley/ diner is looking good too.
Bob
“She's a beauty Bob. I remember my uncle building a model of the USS Constitution when I was a kid. Tedious doesn't do it justice.”
Amen Bob,
I’ve been trying for two years to get him to allow me to take pictures of all his ships so I could write an article for our community newsletter. His modeling is awesome. All the ships have such intricate detail. He finally agreed to bring the riverboat over for a photo op.
@pennsyfan posted:Got back to my boats & bait project. I covered the window openings with wood. I used the wood wrapper found in an el producto cigar tube. I added a service window. I decided to leave the “tarp” in place over the damaged area. Still deciding how to address the void left by the bumpers.
Make a wood beam using the dock color to fill the void. Looks great!
Cheers, Dave
Made a scenery change using insulation board, Wish I used this when I made my layout. No train store close by used left over items and house paint, Top photo before, then as being completed. Still have some scenery items to add, and adding a small drinking area for my sheep.
@darlander Thanks Dave. I didn’t have a suitable piece of scrap. I went with a piece of autobody weather stripping and covered it with plastruct.
Well hello guys sure is some Amazing work being done!
@pennsyfan Bob, great looking ship, Frank did an amazing job! Your boat & bait shack is looking very nice! Sorry I haven't commented sooner, been a little busy.
@Sitka Very cool remodel! I can't wait to see it with the bridge in place. Really looks like a fun place to hang out!
Well folks, it started. I started the tear down of the existing layout to do my rebuild. This time I plan on spending more time on scenery and better track placement and installation. I have some track taken down and been cleaning the ballast off them as I go so it won't be so overwhelming when it comes to put it back down. I don't have any other storage really so I have stacked what I could on the other end of the layout and when I get to the center point, I will have to move it again! OH WELL! LOL
Here is a couple of photos for your enjoyment!
@mike g
Thank Mike! I worked on some floats this morning. Note to Woodland Scenics ; a suggestion to leave added details to your scenes loose for the modeler to use as desired. Case in point I used 3 A2756 “Family Fishing” packs. Did I want the same scene on every float, i.e. dog and cooler? The boat has an outboard motor. The oars are glued to the seats preventing having a person sit to control the motor. Using an xacto knife and some touch up paint I made corrections.
Still have to install a light in the shack and make some signs; then repair the ground cover.
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