kj...some great bus pics above...I believe the Greyhound Scenicruiser is the greatest touring bus ever made...the good ole days!  There are two of those beauties at the Greyhound station below...

A busy weekend on North Main...making up for time lost last summer...

@Capetrainman posted:

Neophyte...nice vehicles...based on the tin container behind the Studebaker, I take it its brand is "Solido?"  Is it a special addition...I've never seen one come in a tin box like yours??

Not sure.  It’s their “Elegance” line.  It also came with pinstripes that I still have to apply.  I like it!

Just have the standard Greyhound bus .....

Paul, great photo of main street, surprised the law enforcement is no where to be found! Lol

Both you and Richie have nice Grayhound bus photos, I looked for one and everyone I found for sale was an arm and a led! 

Maybe if I find some I will put my Grayhound station on the layout.

Mike - if you're interested, try Charles Ro, one of our Forum Sponsors (and my LHS) - that's where I got mine a few years ago. They're showing a couple Greyhound bus models in stock at reasonable prices for a bus - MTH 30-50115 and 30-50118. No photos, but you can cross reference the numbers on MTH's website to see pics. Not 100% sure, but I believe the only difference is the name of the "city" (like Amarillo) on the front of the bus.

@Richie C. posted:

Mike - if you're interested, try Charles Ro, one of our Forum Sponsors (and my LHS) - that's where I got mine a few years ago. They're showing a couple Greyhound bus models in stock at reasonable prices for a bus - MTH 30-50115 and 30-50118. No photos, but you can cross reference the numbers on MTH's website to see pics. Not 100% sure, but I believe the only difference is the name of the "city" (like Amarillo) on the front of the bus.

Thanks Richie, I will give it a look.

My 1936 Greyhound Bus is a little older. I always liked the aero styling of the Flexible Clippers. This is a Corgi die cast.

C.H. ...l like that '36 Greyhound, and would buy one if those...most l see are too modern..

@mike g. posted:

Paul, great photo of main street, surprised the law enforcement is no where to be found! Lol

Both you and Richie have nice Grayhound bus photos, I looked for one and everyone I found for sale was an arm and a led!

Maybe if I find some I will put my Grayhound station on the layout.

Mike, I sent you an e-mail with some info about the Greyhound buses for your new layout...

@Capetrainman posted:

Mike, I sent you an e-mail with some info about the Greyhound buses for your new layout...

Thanks Paul! I took a look and right down what would be nice for the layout. Going to have to put the buses on hold for a little while.

The "Boss' arrives at the North Main Street Station just in time for 7:10 pm to Chicago for a meeting the next morning...let's just say the main agenda for the meeting is a discussion on territorial issues...

Great “short story” and terrific realistic figures, Paul.  Now who’s got the violin?

@Curt Henion posted:

My 1936 Greyhound Bus is a little older. I always liked the aero styling of the Flexible Clippers. This is a Corgi die cast.

Curt, that's a nice Corgi unit...looks great on the layout...!

@TomlinsonRunRR posted:

Great “short story” and terrific realistic figures, Paul.  Now who’s got the violin?

TomlinsoRunRR...there's a violinists standing over on the station platform waiting to greet the "Boss..."  A young inexperienced driver is behind the wheel of the '41 Lincoln...the boss wanted the new maroon red color after a some hesitancy to buy another black one...

I always wanted one of those Flxible busses.

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...6#156561155978863366

May I ask who makes the smoking figure? It is surprisingly hard to find suitable figures straight out of noir movies.

@GwrChurchward posted:

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...6#156561155978863366

May I ask who makes the smoking figure? It is surprisingly hard to find suitable figures straight out of noir movies.

GwrChurch...it's been a while since I purchased the figure  from a vendor at the Springfield, MA show, but I believe the figure is an "Omen" brand from England.  I found the site on line not too long ago.  I don't know if the "smoking" body guard is still available...

😉 The sisters, bring Mom, to meet Walter Warner, for the final closing of  the sale, and hopefully her approval'.  The sisters will share the the 59 Impala convertible...

Click to enlarge'

Ted, Walter seems a little "overwhelmed" by his good fortune.....

@Capetrainman posted:

Ted, Walter seems a little "overwhelmed" by his good fortune.....

He just can't figure out how the girls get the car and he doesn't!

@Capetrainman posted:

Ted, Walter seems a little "overwhelmed" by his good fortune.....

It's only natural for Walter to be apprehensive.  He won the sisters over, but Mom is a different story.  It could all go sideways, and often does, if Mom dosen't sign on'... and grant her approval'...

Well, one's thing for sure, Walter is outnumbered...some like that scenario..

If Mom has the last word, it sure won’t be the tri-power 348 with a 4-speed gear box. Will probably be the 2 bbl. 283 with slip and slide Powerglide automatic. There goes all of the fun.

The Chevelle's were well represented at Friday nights car rally at Morrison Door...;0

The ‘70 Chevelle SS was one of my most favorite cars ever built. I owned a real one and also have one on the layout.

ERTL half ton trucks outboard of QUALITY ton and a half trucks inboard.  John

I picked these guys up at the Kutztown meet yesterday. The '40 Ford Woody is my fav - "# 6 in a series of vintage vehicles from ERTL". Looks to be 1:43 like the other vehicles shown.

Get this, $8. for all 4!

About 4 months ago, I posted a pic on this thread of a newly acquired 1950 Kenworth Bullnose tractor painted in gloss black with some fancy multi-striping on the cab (page 75). I got it at a nice discount because of a bent front axle. After I received it, I pulled the wheels and straightened the axle so it now runs true.

Proving it is indeed a small world, Lee posted that he knew the father and son truckers that actually ran that tractor in real life and posted a pic, including a matching trailer they had and I recently decide to create a matching trailer for my own model tractor.

I started with an inexpensive plastic trailer and removed the frame to make it easier to work with. I first rounded the front corners off to give it a more '50's look. It's hard to see in the pics and I couldn't go as deep as I wanted because there just wasn't enough material to really round them over. I next built a reefer box out of flat and u-channel styrene stock and painted it to match the multi-striped tractor color scheme and glued it to the front of the trailer. I then painted the trailer a gloss spray black and proceeded to paint the multiple stripes. The red was a spray, the gold was a Testor's bottle and the light blue was a Tamiya bottle. Painting the striping took a long time as I had to cover each stripe with clear gloss before painting the next one and there were many days of drying time between each stripe. I used 3M automotive striping tape. After it was done, I sprayed the entire trailer with two coats of clear gloss.   

Finally, I added the lettering "Circus Fleet" on each cab door, which Lee said was the moniker of the father-son trucking business. Hopefully, it does justice to the original.

Richie that it a outstanding work of art. I just wish the father and son were still alive to see you beautiful work they would have been proud of what you did. Thanks for building this makes me happy to still see people care about the heritage of the old school truckers the father and son team were legends of the road. Thanks

Thanks, Lee - I was happy to build it and it will have a prominent place on my layout.

As noted author Rachel Carson stated, "To understand the living present, and the promise of the future, it is necessary to remember the past."

About to unload a "straight load" of 6 x 8 creosote treated railroad ties...the good ole days....

@Curt Henion posted:

The ‘70 Chevelle SS was one of my most favorite cars ever built. I owned a real one and also have one on the layout.ccc

Curt, that's a great looking '70 Chevelle SS...I can't tell the color??  My dad had a '68 that I didn't get to drive to often.  I was confined to driving my '68 VW most of the time, although it got me where i needed to go   You can tell by my posts here that a Chevelle SS was and still is a favorite of mine...!

Richie C, beautiful work on the trailer.
Paul, very realistic unloading scene.

Hey Richie, that was a lot of work, but well worth the effort. Just spectacular!

@Artie-DL&W posted:

Richie C, beautiful work on the trailer.
Paul, very realistic unloading scene.

Thanks, Artie...appreciate the comment...

Hey Paul, it was Forest Green with the green interior and the 396 (402) BBC with the Muncie 4speed transmission. If you like Chevelles, you would have loved my ‘66.I don’t have either Chevelle anymore, but still have the wife. This year is our 50th.

Curt, is that your green SS third from the left next to the pizza guy??  Great color and picture of the "young couple"...congratulations on a 50th year milestone to you and the wife!

Thanks guys

Hey Paul, you can see the green in some of the light reflected spots. I parked it many a night under the lights while out cruising with my buddies on Michigan Ave. in Battle Creek, Michigan. Those were the days.

@Curt Henion posted:

Hey Paul, it was Forest Green with the green interior and the 396 (402) BBC with the Muncie 4speed transmission. If you like Chevelles, you would have loved my ‘66.I don’t have either Chevelle anymore, but still have the wife. This year is our 50th.

Great cars, no doubt'... Great stories, Great wife, I'm sure, and 50 years'  calls for congratulations'... Curt'...  Well done'...

Awesome guys, Chevelle are the nicest muscle cars. My first car was a 1972, so naturally when I could afford it I went ahead and bought me my childhood ride.

Back to trains...I just picked this up from DD...Dodge van from Home Alone movie..

Curt all your Chevelles look great and Happy Anniversary

@Curt Henion Happy Anniversary!  That's a big one!  Nice looking Chevelle's, too.  I really miss the old cars.  Today's imitations hurt my ears.

Thank you everyone for the congratulations on the 50th. She was the first girl I ever dated and knew it was forever on that first date.

Hey Scott, I own the old and the new, even though they are Camaros. The new one is nice and fast, but you just can’t beat the looks of the ‘67.I hope I don’t get banned for getting off of the topic. Lets face it, cars and trains have always gone together.

Hey FECRailroaddog, that is a sweet ‘72. Bet it makes you feel younger everytime you get in it. Oh, we have to keep to the topic, very nice scene on your layout.

Hey Curt, enough about the cars and your bride, what ever happened to those pants you’re wearing in that pic? Those are groovy!!

Hey JDFonz, my college days, what can I say. The Ivy League fad back then I guess. I look at them now and cringe. Hey, even the hippies made fun of me and my short hair, but I was having fun.

Good stuff Curt, just having fun! 👍

@JDFonz posted:

Hey Curt, enough about the cars and your bride, what ever happened to those pants you’re wearing in that pic? Those are groovy!!

I think he made a Layout Table skirt out of them.

Curt, many of us have cars from our past on our layouts.  It personalizes things.

Richie C.  Another vote for a great job on the trailer and the graphics on the cab

Rattler, nice fleet of REA trucks.  Looks like that REA depot has the town covered no matter what the freight is.

John, nice haul for $8.  I've got one of those Ertl woodies.  If it's the same one it made think of adding a B&B to the layout.  The host can pick up guests at the train station with it.

Actually, Lee, I cut them up and used them for rags to do oil changes on the Chevelle. Didn’t really even work good for rags.

Hey JDFonz, that’s what I love about this website, just a great bunch of people having fun.

The pants kind of distracted from the picture. No one has noticed the rear of the ‘69 Dodge Charger in the picture. Back then muscle cars were no big deal. Now, they would be too very valuable cars sitting next to each other.

@coach joe posted:

Curt, many of us have cars from our past on our layouts.  It personalizes things.

Richie C.  Another vote for a great job on the trailer and the graphics on the cab

Yep.  I recently found a 74 Mercury Capri Coupe.  Need to change the color, but that's easy.  

Looking for a 68 Datsun 1900 Fairlady roadster now.  

Thanks, Coach

Thanks Curt, it sure does.

That's so true Coach Joe, I try to use mostly 70's and 80's cars on my layout, brings back wonderful memories.

Wonderful photos everybody!  First I have never seen Tootsie Toy painted so greatly.  I have a box of my Tootsie's and will rethink using them.  Mine have been painted time and time again, and at one time every sedan was a NYC patrol car.  I also have three crates (yep) of die-cast vehicles and trucks, some common, some not so, and one crate is 100% Solido US Army circa WWII.  Be that as it may I come asking questions.  How did you create lawns and grass?  How did you create asphalt roads?  These photos are incredible, and as I prepare to redo my three tier layout I'd like to, hope to, replicate some of what I see here.   Most important question today is ballast...I never used any because I am concerned about the engines picking it up.

@Chuck242 posted:

Wonderful photos everybody!  First I have never seen Tootsie Toy painted so greatly.  I have a box of my Tootsie's and will rethink using them.  Mine have been painted time and time again, and at one time every sedan was a NYC patrol car.  I also have three crates (yep) of die-cast vehicles and trucks, some common, some not so, and one crate is 100% Solido US Army circa WWII.  Be that as it may I come asking questions.  How did you create lawns and grass?  How did you create asphalt roads?  These photos are incredible, and as I prepare to redo my three tier layout I'd like to, hope to, replicate some of what I see here.   Most important question today is ballast...I never used any because I am concerned about the engines picking it up.

You have a real nice layout going on there'...Don't look like you need much assistance'... Today there is a host of instructional videos on 'You Tube'.  Some are very good and cover the subjects you are looking for.  Seeing how to accomplish these techniques is easier than trying to explain sometimes'...

Take a look, and check back, and we'll go from there'...😉

White Pass and Yukon Route work truck headed south.

Custom flat load project from a while back:

Lledo ambulance (Packard) on a refurbed Lionel prewar flat.

PD

@Curt Henion posted:

Hey Scott, I own the old and the new, even though they are Camaros. The new one is nice and fast, but you just can’t beat the looks of the ‘67.I hope I don’t get banned for getting off of the topic. Lets face it, cars and trains have always gone together.

Curt...some great units in your garage...I wish i had more garage space!   Oh man, the styles of the 'late 60's and 70's were something else...saved a couple of pairs of my plaid slacks from the era for old times sake...I'll say one thing for myself though, I never owned a "leisure suit"...

The "hot dog" guy is creating quite a jam in front of the train station...

Hey Paul, I will admit I had a leisure suit. Never did like it. Then Arnold Palmer came out with his line of clothes and I got one of his blazers. Now, I really felt important wearing something with his name on it.

@Capetrainman posted:

The "hot dog" guy is creating quite a jam in front of the train station...

Paul, everyone loves a good 'Dog'..🌭 now and then...  BTW, everytie I see this blue Charger'.. of yours, My mind takes me back to my 1970 in red'.. Crossed country two times in that baby, and three years in Germany'.. It was a real blast on the Autobahn'.. doing 120 KMs ...

And  Gentlemen, in the 70's I had the leisure suite and the Plaid (golf) pants they were calling them...  I kinda liked the leisure suite'....😎..

Was tooling around town today and spotted this 1960 Chevy, C-10 Custom'...Check out the chrome strip on the rear of the door jam...

This baby is MOON Equipped'.. .👀

That was part of the trim package on the top of the line Custom. The Fleetside (wheel well in the box) had more chrome down the side. The stepside pickup is really more rare. Back then we didn’t have “mag” wheels yet, so if you had chrome wheels and Baby Moons, you were really stylin. In drag racing they had American “magnesium” 5 spoke wheels on dragsters and altereds. Sweet pick up.

You looked like a movie star, Ted.

I tried the long hair for awhile, but it was just to hot, so went back to short hair.The track owner at Bunker Hill Raceway had pants like mine. We won Best Appearing Crew.

@Quarter Gauger 48 posted:

Paul, everyone loves a good 'Dog'..🌭 now and then...  BTW, everytie I see this blue Charger'.. of yours, My mind takes me back to my 1970 in red'.. Crossed country two times in that baby, and three years in Germany'.. It was a real blast on the Autobahn'.. doing 120 KMs ...

And  Gentlemen, in the 70's I had the leisure suite and the Plaid (golf) pants they were calling them...  I kinda liked the leisure suite'....😎..

Ted, great pic...and tribute to the "leisure suit!!"

Ted, another "Charger" for ya...the driver gets around to all the good parties!  He takes his cue from that famous song of the era, "I Get Around"...

The "Plymouth" guys made it to the recent Saturday night rally on North Main...the attendees and the cars were impressive...  Ted, I searched the table for a guy with a "leisure suit," but no luck...lol!

@Capetrainman posted:

The "Plymouth" guys made it to the recent Saturday night rally on North Main...the attendees and the cars were impressive...  Ted, I searched the table for a guy with a "leisure suit," but no luck...lol!

The guy in the white shirt behind the gray Plymouth is close enough'... There sure are some hot' chicks at these rallys'... Wish I lived closer'...🤩

I bought some pre-wired flashing LEDs from Amazon and installed them in some of my layout's emergency vehicles. Pretty happy with the results. Not prefect, but what is.

https://youtu.be/n0O6yilq7b4

@Dad's Train Room posted:

I bought some pre-wired flashing LEDs from Amazon and installed them in some of my layout's emergency vehicles. Pretty happy with the results. Not prefect, but what is.

https://youtu.be/n0O6yilq7b4

Looks pretty good to me'.. Takes plenty of time to install and wire the LEDs in 1/43 cars'... Now burying the wires is no picnic either'.... 😁

@Dad's Train Room posted:

I bought some pre-wired flashing LEDs from Amazon and installed them in some of my layout's emergency vehicles. Pretty happy with the results. Not prefect, but what is.

https://youtu.be/n0O6yilq7b4

Looks great! Hope you don't mind me asking where you ordered them from?

@Dad's Train Room posted:

I bought some pre-wired flashing LEDs from Amazon and installed them in some of my layout's emergency vehicles. Pretty happy with the results. Not prefect, but what is.

https://youtu.be/n0O6yilq7b4

WOW! Amazing eye catcher. You may think it's not perfect, but I was mesmerized by the lights and saw nothing else. Cool.

Thanks everybody.

mike g., I ordered the LEDs through Amazon from a store called

EDGELEC.

They have a number of different colot and size LEDs, all pre-wired with color coded wires.

@Dad's Train Room posted:

Thanks everybody.

mike g., I ordered the LEDs through Amazon from a store called

EDGELEC.

They have a number of different colot and size LEDs, all pre-wired with color coded wires.

Very cool, thank you for the information. What size did you use? Same size for the strobes and head lights?

@Dad's Train Room posted:

Thanks everybody.

mike g., I ordered the LEDs through Amazon from a store called

EDGELEC.

They have a number of different colot and size LEDs, all pre-wired with color coded wires.

Say Dad,

These lights look great, could you be so kind to post a photo of the ones you purchased that would be straight out of the box.

Need to understand what they are and then figure out how to hook them up to operate.

Thanks

On standby at the intersection by the train station...gets active on Friday nights...

@Quarter Gauger 48 posted:

Paul, everyone loves a good 'Dog'..🌭 now and then...  BTW, everytie I see this blue Charger'.. of yours, My mind takes me back to my 1970 in red'.. Crossed country two times in that baby, and three years in Germany'.. It was a real blast on the Autobahn'.. doing 120 KMs .

Are you sure of that number?  120 kpm is about 75 MPH, better stay in the slow lane.  in '67 and '68 we'd cruise at 105 mph in the left lane and would move over when the Benzes and Ferraris started flashing their headlights.  John

I used the 5mm flashing LEDs for all of the lights - top, side and headlights. The leads are approximately 8 inches long - black is negative, color of LED wire is positive.

You could probably use the 3mm flashing white for the headlights in order to fit a little easier.

Are all Matchbox cars 1/64 scale ?   Reason I ask is that there's a big collection going for auction in my town in 2 weeks, if there's some 1/48, etc. - I'd be interested.    (an internet search gave a "firehose" of info to sort through)  Thks.

@rattler21 posted:

Are you sure of that number?  120 kpm is about 75 MPH, better stay in the slow lane.  in '67 and '68 we'd cruise at 105 mph in the left lane and would move over when the Benzes and Ferraris started flashing their headlights.  John

If memory serves me correctly, 120 KM was equivalent to 90 MPH.. But Rattler21, I could very well be wrong on that recollection...😁  Either way, we did haul *** on the Bhan'....

Still working on the fine detail. It's slowly coming together.

@Tom M posted:

Still working on the fine detail. It's slowly coming together.

Nice - I like the detail on the license plate!

At this week's Saturday night rally on North Main Street by the train station, the local "Benz" dealer got the permit for center stage, while the Chevy and Dodge guys lost their cherished spot.  The "Benz" dealer is introducing the '58 220 SE in a coupe and cabriole body style...the two salesmen are pushing hard for the order...

@Capetrainman posted:

At this week's Saturday night rally on North Main Street by the train station, the local "Benz" dealer got the permit for center stage, while the Chevy and Dodge guys lost their cherished spot.  The "Benz" dealer is introducing the '58 220 SE in a coupe and cabriole body style...the two salesmen are pushing hard for the order...

GREAT SHOTS' Paul'... mice line up of Benz'... Real action scene'...

Thanks, Ted...appreciate the thoughts...

The "Chief" pulls in just in time to catch the end of the Saturday night rally...

Paul, great idea on having the ambulance on standby with all the traffic that area get/ Between the Friday nights, the Benz dealer ship promo and the car rally. Somebody could really get hurt. Its a good thing your a top notch reporter to cover anything that might happen. With you on top of everything there maybe you could give the public works manager a little hint to give the guy going down in the sewer some time off to enjoy the car shows also! He sure has been a lot of work!

Dads Train Room. Thanks for the information and I will be checking them out!

Tom, the pick up is looking outstanding!

@Dad's Train Room posted:

I used the 5mm flashing LEDs for all of the lights - top, side and headlights. The leads are approximately 8 inches long - black is negative, color of LED wire is positive.

You could probably use the 3mm flashing white for the headlights in order to fit a little easier.

Dad's Train Room,

Thanks for the photo and the earlier name of the dealer EDGELEC on Amazon.

Not being an electronic whiz at this stuff, did you attach these directly to a 3-4 volt power supply or was there a resistor needed as well?

Thanks!

@trestleking posted:

Are all Matchbox cars 1/64 scale ?   Reason I ask is that there's a big collection going for auction in my town in 2 weeks, if there's some 1/48, etc. - I'd be interested.    (an internet search gave a "firehose" of info to sort through)  Thks.

Matchbox is predominately 1/87 - 1/64. For a time there was a King Size/Super King/Speed King line Late 60's in to the 80's which scaled nicely around 1/48 - 1/50. Mattel tried to bring it back in the '00's but didn't catch on.

Speed King ElCamino & Older Matchbox Collectibles Ford Pick-up

Mtchbox Speed King El Camino & Hot Wheels 1/64 Jeep

Matchbox Speed King Charger & Matchbox 1/64 Pontiac

@Allegheny posted:

Dad's Train Room,

Thanks for the photo and the earlier name of the dealer EDGELEC on Amazon.

Not being an electronic whiz at this stuff, did you attach these directly to a 3-4 volt power supply or was there a resistor needed as well?

Thanks!

These LEDs come pre-wired with a resistor so that you can hook them up to any 9-12 volt DC power. I am using some extra plug-in power packs that I had saved. I keep old electronic device chargers for projects just like this. Some of the power packs with higher output (12 vdc, 1500 ma) work the best (the video I posted used only 1 for all the vehicles shown. In fact, I think I added a few others to that same power pack after I took that video.)

@Dad's Train Room posted:

These LEDs come pre-wired with a resistor so that you can hook them up to any 9-12 volt DC power. I am using some extra plug-in power packs that I had saved. I keep old electronic device chargers for projects just like this. Some of the power packs with higher output (12 vdc, 1500 ma) work the best (the video I posted used only 1 for all the vehicles shown. In fact, I think I added a few others to that same power pack after I took that video.)

Dad's Train Room,

Thanks for clearing it up for me how these are hooked up as it's greatly appreciated.   

Now I have some vehicles to modify!

An old Dodge Power Wagon on a Dirt Road. It’s my favorite pick up both full size and miniature.

@poconotrain posted:

An old Dodge Power Wagon on a Dirt Road. It’s my favorite pick up both full size and miniature.

Power wagon indeed'... Nice shot'...