2015 Christmas Layout Progress Report, the Final Stages for Completion-New Photo Added Apr. 29th

Looks GREAT!!!  Miller should have plenty of happy customers with that sign.

 

I recently received the Art of the Polar Express.  I always remove the dust jacket when I read a book.  It was a pleasant surprise to see and feel BELIEVE embossed on the front cover.

I am thinking we all have 8 months of "BELIEVING" to see the new Christmas layout.

 

without a doubt it will be well worth the wait from the "Make It Happen Team"

 

 

Looking great.

Brian

 

Yes I believe !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love what you and Elizabeth are creating!!!!!!

 

 

Thanks

Alex

I Believe this is turning into one spectacular layout! Keep the updates coming. 

 "Miller should have plenty of happy customers with that sign."

 

Carl, you are absolutely correct. This is a wonderful sign and the rotating feature is very nice. A real attention getter. The installation is clean and easy. We liked it so much that we also got the Shell version for our refinery.

Anyone who would like to see a compilation of the photos PTC has posted in this 8 page thread, they are in my reply here.  Just scroll down to my March 6th post.

 

So, if you want to see all that PTC and Elizabeth have accomplished in about 2 months, or if you are new to this thread, take a look.

It has been awhile since I have posted a progress report for our 2015 Christmas Layout. That by no means is indicative that things have slowed down, it is representative of a lot of smaller projects that are ongoing and some require additional materials that we have been waiting to come in. All in all, progress has been very good. We have in actuality finished two of the three sections. The last section to be done is the Center of the North Pole and as soon as our LED lights arrive, we can finish this section fairly quickly. 

 

The photo I have posted is of the Clock Tower structure. This structure bridges the east & west sections of Elf Land and serves as safe passage over the railroad tracks for the elves.

 

Did anyone pick up on the added feature we have included that is evident on the photo I posted on this week's Photo Fun Thread? Hope you enjoy this photo.

 

 

wow that looks nice keep us up to date

I like that PTC, nice lighting!

I am new to the forum and I continually get blown away by the craftsmanship and talent of the forum members.
I just finished my benchwork after 4 months for a 7 x 11 table. Never mind the amount of work you two have accomplished in two months.
Kudos to you and again quite an amazing layout. I eagerly await the finished project.
Marc

WOW that looks beautiful !!!!!!!

 

 

Alex

Waiting to see some videos when all the work is finished.  Also expecting to see a feature article on the December 2015 OGR magazine.

It just keeps getting better and better!!!!!

 

 

Peter.   

Looks fantastic! Well done! 

WOW!! 

 

That is soooo cool!!

Is the red walkway the new feature?

 

I assume that the mountain is the same one that we have had glimpses of before.

Amazing craftsmanship. 

Wonderful photo, as always, PTC.  The lighting effects are a terrific element in the layout's visuals. 

 

How did you build the clock tower structure... materials, pattern, paint, etc.? 

"Is the red walkway the new feature?"

 

No, you might want to go back and take a look at the photo I posted in this week's Photo Fun Thread. Take a close look at the reflection in Ice Lake. The colors reflected should give you a big hint. I was surprised that no one picked up on this.

 

"How did you build the clock tower structure"

 

Carl, the structure had to be multi-purpose as I wanted to bridge the double tracks as well as roadways on either side of the tracks. It also had to serve as a base for the Clock Tower Building. It is made basically out of plywood with 1/2 inch wood trim. Channels were cut to simulate stone as well as to provide an inset for the string lights.

 

The Clock Tower Building is a  converted D56 Christmas in the City "City Hall" from their 1988 product line. I got the idea to use it as I have one on our primary layout and remembered it had a clock tower as part of the structure.

Outstanding BRIAN!!!, looks GREAT!!!!!

BRIAN,

  Is the new feature "The Northern Lights", aka Aurora Borealis?

Brian
Great job!  Your lighting on your layout is very nice.  I have really enjoyed watching your progress.  I look forward to seeing your completed layout.  Would love to see a video with your trains running for Christmas 2015 layout thread!  Out of curosity when do you expect to have it mostly completed?  It looks like you have made tremendous progress over the past few months. Ken

Thanks, Brian.

"BRIAN,

  Is the new feature "The Northern Lights", aka Aurora Borealis?"

 

Laz, you win the brass ring. Yes, the added feature is the Northern Lights. Early on in this project, Elizabeth suggested the Northern Lights and at the time, I thought we had enough going on with what was in front of us. I should have listened to her idea at that time. Three weeks ago a good Forum friend suggested that we add them to the mountain scene. I mentioned his comments to Elizabeth, and she was very polite, but said, "I told you so". Well, despite the challenges with working with the mountain that had already been competed with scenery added, we decided to push forward and to add this feature. Getting the materials and making the frame for the Plexiglas was the easy part. Elizabeth added her artistic talent and painted the Northern Lights. Then came the installation. We could not just drop the 12 ft. section of Plexiglas over the top of the mountain. Fortunately the stairwell was in line with the wall and we were able to get enough room to slide the Plexiglas behind the mountain with a lot of pushing and shoving. Fortunately the mountain held together. The mountain backdrop she had previously crafted had bleed through with the intense LED lighting, so we had to deal with this as well. It was a lot of work to get it to look right, but I think it was all worth the effort. This feature really adds to this layout in a way I would have never expected.

 

 

Thanks for the update.  It is really exciting to watch your progress and see all of your innovations.  It is a truly one of a kind Polar Express layout that follows so many of the fun elements in the book and movie.  Great job!

 

Art

LOVE following this thread!  Makes my Christmas layout efforts look sick  by comparison!  But that's OK - I enjoy seeing yours

 

Thanks for keeping things current about the happenings on your layout.

 

- walt

 

"Out of curosity when do you expect to have it mostly completed?"

 

Ken, we expect to be done by the end of this month. All we are waiting for is the arrival of three sets of LED string lights to complete the last section of the layout, the Center of the North Pole. Elizabeth is now doing the skirting for the benchwork that we started to install yesterday. We wanted to finish this project before the nice weather arrives and we get to use our boat.

 

If all goes well, we are planning on a Forum Summer outing when we can introduce the members to our 2015 Christmas Layout.

I can't wait to see this completed. It's like knowing your present is under the tree, but you can't unwrap it yet!  We'll see you at York, can't miss us, we'll be in the 'Vette. A little roomier than the older models and a great ride! Real joy to drive, especially knowing York, trains, and friends are at the end of the line. 

Brian,

   Simply fantastic, a very serious Christmas layout no doubt about it!

Looks like the boss knows her business, everything looks great.

PCRR/Dave

I believe I am 7 years old again! this is truly a magnificent replication of a moment in time.

 

I have to ask the tech folks here is it possible to replicate the northern lights floating above the layout as they do in real life?

 

again you are truly making a fine christmas layout will surly be a pleasant experience for all to see in person.

 

when does the boat come out of ice lock?

"when does the boat come out of ice lock?"

 

Normal winter, the boat is in the water by the last week of April. This year, I have no idea because of the record setting cold temperatures and the depth of the ice. Hopefully, by the first week of May. That's why we wanted to get this project done.

keep up the good work on your layout

The layout is looking fantastic.

Passenger Train Collector........

 

how bright are those archway lights the electroluminescent ones.  also can they be made to any size?  

 

and where did you get them?

Beautiful.  Each photo gets better and better.

"how bright are those archway lights the electroluminescent ones.  also can they be made to any size?:

 

They are no as bight as the photo indicates. I purchased them from El Wire Pros. They are available in several colors and I used a small EL Wire for a special application, so they are available in any length.

Thanks Keith, your comments mean a lot to us coming from the "master".

 

That two of a kind Observation Car is rally special on this layout.

 

 

wow that looks nice keep up the good work on that layout