Post your non-O scale stuff here!
Moonman posted:You've nearly completed it. The spring should bring some fun and train running.
Lang may yer lum reek.
Hi Carl, aye hopefully by early spring things'll be on the move !! And long may your stack smoke too !! ha ha !! nice one or "nice yin" as we say in Scotland
Davy, I's say winter has arrived at the right time for you, you've earned a well deserved rest after moving tons of earth and stone,
Davy, I think with all the work you completed this year you deserve a break! You have been working your rear off to get where you are today! Great work!
Well I don't like seeing that, but we knew it was coming! I agree with Carl's way of looking at it! I will look forward to seeing completion
Best of luck in your winter hibernation Davy!
Davy
I'll be looking forward to spring for part 2.
Have a great holiday season.
Larry
Hi Guys, hope you all have a nice festive season, needless to say I ain't workin in the garden this Christmas eve...... heres a train making its way along the Scottish west coast earlier today...... 
Thanks for the Picture Davy! But man does it look COLD!
I hope you and your Family have a great Christmas and cant wait to see what you have in store for us next year!
Merry Christmas Davy!
Another Merry Christmas Davy
Davy,
That photo reminds me of being at Lake Erie during foul weather. Glad I live 100 miles from shore!
Merry Christmas!
Hi Mark, in Scotland theres nowhere you can be 100 miles from shore. When you're central 30 odd miles one way you have the Irish sea/Atlantic ,30 miles the other its the North sea.
.
Davy Mac posted:Hi Mark, in Scotland theres nowhere you can be 100 miles from shore. When you're central 30 odd miles one way you have the Irish sea/Atlantic ,30 miles the other its the North sea.
So true!! My wife and I would love to visit Scotland someday when we retire, which won't be long. We love the photos and are both of Scottish heritage. Thank's for the reply!
Hi Guys, well yesterday we had a slight taste of milder weather which has to last for a couple of weeks apparently so the "spring-itch" got the better of me and I went out and made a wee start to the O scale project. One of the last things I did before downing tools at the back end of 2016 was to bring in a load of old slabs and rubble so yesterday I got a bit more of the build /trackbed formation along the back fence backfilled and smoothed off with cement. I also got a bit done in the far left corner (looking out from the wee hut that is) so its now ready for dressing with stones and plants etc. Anyway was good to get back at it.I hope this mild weather keeps up .The earlier the start I get the more chance I have of gettin some trains running before the year's out. Busy with work over the weekend but next week I'm hopin to get pushed on day and daily. Pics attached. Two water columns and a coaling tower stand in the corner waitin for the day they are put in place,...will be a while yet 
. Anyway,so begins 2017.
Hey Davy, Looks like a good start to the new year! I hope the weather hold off for you, cause I love to see your up dates!
Hi Mike, hope so, definately want to be seein some trains running this year . Mind you theres still a lot of work to be done. However upwards and onwards !!.
Either way it sure is nice to see you posting again!
Happy New Year, Davy.
A good break from the winter doldrums.
Hey Davy 
Great to see you back posting . Looking forward to great happenings this year in your garden . 
Always enjoy your news . Happy New Year mate ! Jim
Cheers guys, will be back in the garden saddle Monday AM,weather permitting !
I had a feeling you could not wait until spring.lol
larry
You tell him Larry! Hey did you see the guy that was selling that we talked about got his hand slapped!
Early spring in Scotland ? All the best.
Hi Guys, well so much for my hopes of an early start,the mild weather has dissapeared again, back to Mr Frosty,
..... hmmmmm.......... spring where are you 
Hmmm... Looks like we are going back to winter here in Western Pennsylvania too! Ah well, it is only fitting. We need it to be cold on Groundhog Day so everyone can freeze in the wee hours of the morning waiting to see if Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow. A friend is making his 18th annual visit to the event!!
Well Davy, look at it the way, it will give you time to get that extra rest you need before starting. I know you will need it cause from the past it show once you get going it balls to the walls! Enjoy your rest!
I should know better than listen to long range weather forecasts 
.
Hi Guys, nothing to report on the garden project progress down to still unfavourable weather but found this really well shot footage of steam on the west highland line here in Scotland between Fort William and Mallaig from August 2016. Steam runs daily throughout the summer on this line. Some great shots of locomotive,train, and scenery....enjoy.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXmr4GtlzOs
Hi Guys, well finally gettin a proper start made to gettin the garden finished and the trains up and runnin. Have been workin on a friends garden for a few weeks which is now finished so back in to my own place. These photos show how the alpine and other plants have started to establish themselves in the main garden area. Have one last corner to finish plant and dress in the main garden.Also one more spill pool to install adjacent to where the G track tunnels thru the fence. Hopefully will be posting progress pics regular again. 
Welcome back, looks good . 
Larry
Hello Davy,
Good to hear from you? It appears your efforts are showing results! What a wonderful place to relax.
Any weddings on the schedule?
Hey everyone, it's DAVY! Welcome back, things are looking just wonderful in your garden. Almost cant see the tracks, but I bet it will just be great looking with the trains running!
It looks great, Davy! Glad to see you are back
Hi Guys thanks for the welcomes back !. Great weather today. After I posted I made a decent start to the final header pool. Will hopefully finish it tomorrow. Intend it to be just about the right depth for the smaller wild birds to bathe in. Once I get that corner finished I'll be back into the O gauge layout in the back section. As for weddings Carl, yip, every weekend theres at least one,....hate wedding cake ...ha ha. Heres me at my "work".
Wow Davy
That bride looks awful young for him. Of course if thats his car I understand. lol
Larry
Larry Sr. posted:Wow Davy
That bride looks awful young for him. Of course if thats his car I understand. lol
Larry
Hi Larry, ha ha, no thats the bride's dad walkin her from the hired wedding car to the church.
Hi Guys, well heres yesterday's progress, Base of the last header pool cemented , still have to do the edges and overlay with butyl rubber,then a waterproof coat of cement and a final layer of flat stones. The water will spill from left to right in the pictures.
Looking good Davy, just a little side question, did you use your wee hut this last winter?
mike g. posted:Looking good Davy, just a little side question, did you use your wee hut this last winter?
Hi Mike, no, it's still as it was left ,still waitin for a door and internal finishing. But its for the O gauge line . First on the agenda is finishing the main garden of which theres just the left hand back corner I'm workin on right now, some topping off of the walling around the G scale line and some ballasting. Last job will be puttin safety sides on the lifting bridge section of the G scale line as I don't want a loco derailing and taking a dive onto the concrete. Once thats all done I can start running the G scale. The O gauge line and area still needs a load of work but should take shape quite quick if I get the weather with me.
Davy Mac posted:Just been doin some cement and stone work on the spill pool this mornin. Need to wait for the cement to set before I do the next bit. You can see the basin takin shape.
Davy, its going to be fun to watch your post again! I think you do great work and it is nice to see what you get done! The ponds and garden are just wonderful looking and I can tell it is going to be a pleasure to sit back with a cold drink and watch the trains run!
Yes Mike has it figured out! LOL
Davy, one question about the cement. Do you have a problem with a lot of freezing and thawing like we have in Pennsylvania? If so I'm sure you know how to take ample precautions. I extended our patio and built a stone wall a couple years ago, and so far so good, no cracks.
mike g. posted:Davy Mac posted:Just been doin some cement and stone work on the spill pool this mornin. Need to wait for the cement to set before I do the next bit. You can see the basin takin shape.
Davy, its going to be fun to watch your post again! I think you do great work and it is nice to see what you get done! The ponds and garden are just wonderful looking and I can tell it is going to be a pleasure to sit back with a cold drink and watch the trains run!
Hi Mike, was out there tonight havin my dinner "al fresco" with a glas of wine. still awee bit of an edge to the weather yet but nice and sunny.
Mark Boyce posted:Yes Mike has it figured out! LOL
Davy, one question about the cement. Do you have a problem with a lot of freezing and thawing like we have in Pennsylvania? If so I'm sure you know how to take ample precautions. I extended our patio and built a stone wall a couple years ago, and so far so good, no cracks.
Hi Mark, I use a waterproofing agent thru the cement that will be under water.Other than that just normal cement mix. Read a while back in a Canadian rail fan's post that in Canada where they know about low temperatures the secret is sub-drainage. If the ground is well drained with rubble or rock chips or whatever it can't hold water so no water to expand in frost. My plot is so well built up on rubble that frost isn't an issue.
Good deal!
Davy, I truly envy you! If I didn't have a dog that would eat my trains, I would think of an outdoors layout and not build a train room! But so is life, and the train room will go up, maybe down the road when he gets older and slow I can do an outdoor layout. Sure would be nice to sit outside and have dinner and some cold ones, watch some trains in the summer !
Davy welcome back and your outdoor layout is always interesting to read about.
Hi Guys, this mornin's progress. Header pool now has had its final layer of waterproof cement and has been dressed with stone. Still some work to be done on the edges but that will have to wait till the cement in the basin is cured. The big stone sticklin up on the left is actually pressing down the end of the feed-water hose into the cement till the cement cures and fixes it in position as the plastic of the hose is quite rigid and springy. 
Hi Guys, water course now finished. Cement was set solid by yesterday evening, header pool working perfect... now just some peripheral stonework and planting to go and thats that corner complete. Nothing much if anything will get done today though as I have other life must-do's to be at. 
Davy, It all looks great!! Nice waterfalls and pools! Now you need some fish!
Davy, that is one great looking pond with the waterfall. I can already see you sitting next to it enjoying life!
Davy
I'm getting sound but no picture?
Larry
Davy, I am getting the same as Larry!
Hi Guys ,this happened before. The vids need converted apparently but I still haven't worked out how to do it. 
Your videos worked fine for me with Win 10 and Google Chrome. However, I have also had videos and pictures that I could NOT see when others could. Maybe it just depends on the phase of the moon?
We forgive you! This new fangled technology gives a lot of us old guys fits. :-) And to think, I have been working in electronics for 41 years now, and I often have to get one of my sons-in-law to figure it out! LOL
Davy, use the Add Attachments method and point the file finder to the vid. it works on a phone using the phone browser to sign in to the forum
Hi Guys, back to photos ,much simpler ...lol , have done a bit more finishing and planting on the header pond area.Doesn't look a lot but been a few hours of frittery stone and cement work to make natural troughs for the plants . Still a bit to go yet. Like the alpine plants I planted last year it'll take these wee newbies a while to establish themselves. On the subject of things alpine heres a wee video from the Isle of Skye here in Scotland , Cuillin Mountains,on a bike, this guy has nerves of steel..... enjoy ! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQ_IQS3VKjA
Every thing you do is wonderful Davy, you make things look so easy, and I know it not!
mike g. posted:Every thing you do is wonderful Davy, you make things look so easy, and I know it not!
Thanksfor the thumbs up Mike.
Hi Guys, a few days since I posted but been busy with work and other things . Last couple of days I've been putin in all my annual plants and finishing the flowerboxing on top of the fencing.Rubble on the bottom and the ornamental chips on top to save cash !!
Hi Davy,
It must be getting close to play- umm - er - I mean train time.
Looks nice Davy, I couldn't help notice there seams to be alittle work on the left side of the fence, must be the o scale section.
I hope you can run trains soon!
Hi Carl, aye hopefully I'll have trains running soon, . The G scale line just needs a bit of adjusting in a couple of places where it passes through the O gauge-dedicated part of the garden to make way for some stonework. The O gauge line will be a bit longer in taking shape as I have a whole load of other work to do in that section,but hopefully before the summer's out I'll have O gauge on the move. We had great weather there for a few weeks but now its back to changeable. Still fingers crossed !!
mike g. posted:Looks nice Davy, I couldn't help notice there seams to be alittle work on the left side of the fence, must be the o scale section.
I hope you can run trains soon!
Hi Mike, yip ,to the left of the fence is the O gauge area, just as it was when I finished workin on it last year, as soon as I get the garden comopletely finished on the other side of the fence I'll be making a start to that area. A couple of good days should see it done
Hi Guys, heres the present state of the O gauge area..... a coup[le of days away from some serious work.... load of old paving slabs I brought in for building with or breaking up for rubble. The last picture is the next ton of sand for the cement work. !!...watch this space !!
Davy, no wonder you look like your in great shape, old pavers to move around and a ton of sand to move to the back yard! You could be the next HULK by the time your done! LOL But I have a feeling you really enjoy all the work as much as you do running trains!
mike g. posted:Davy, no wonder you look like your in great shape, old pavers to move around and a ton of sand to move to the back yard! You could be the next HULK by the time your done! LOL But I have a feeling you really enjoy all the work as much as you do running trains!
Hi Mike, I don't mind the work but ah must admit at ver near 64 I don't have aches and pains to seek at night these days. Could be doin with a new body !! . When I get this place done I'll be calling it a day on heavy work methinks. I'll get my exercise out on my push bike of a mornin. Hopefully that exercise will keep me healthy enough to play trains for the rest of my days ha ha !! Was just out the back workin ,bright hot sunshine,two minutes later sky's as black as the earl of hell's waistcoat and now its torrential rain.... such is Scottish weather
Davy Mac posted:mike g. posted:Davy, no wonder you look like your in great shape, old pavers to move around and a ton of sand to move to the back yard! You could be the next HULK by the time your done! LOL But I have a feeling you really enjoy all the work as much as you do running trains!
Hi Mike, I don't mind the work but ah must admit at ver near 64 I don't have aches and pains to seek at night these days. Could be doin with a new body !!
I know how you feel Davy, poured here all night, now we have blue skies. But they are calling for thunder storms later today. Such is the weather in the great north west! You take the sun when you can get it!
Looks very good, Davy! At just 3 years older than I am, I can guess how you feel after your "workouts" in the garden! I have some big stones to move for my wife, that I haven't put off on purpose, just that other tasks have been deemed more important.
Yes, here in Western Pennsylvania the weather can change rapidly as well!
Hi Guys, well spent a day of very mixed weather,torrential showers interspersed with very hot sunshine tryin to get the back left hand corner next to the pond done. Tricky because of the electrical boxes and pipework underneath.Some stones cemented in place others sitting loose of necessity for any required future maintenance access. More or less finished. All I have to do now on the lower section of the garden is some edging stonework next to the tracks and some ballasting and thats this side of the place pretty much ready to roll. Time for a hot shower and an early bed !! 
Looks Great Davy! You deserve the rest! maybe even a cold one!
Davy, what make of "G" scale track are you using, I like the look of it.
Looks very cool Davy! Wish I could do something like that, but takes a lot of $$ and not sure the wife would go for it. I am sure if I built a garden like you maybe, but man that sure looks like a lot of work! Something I am trying to stay away from! LOL
Arthur posted:Davy, what make of "G" scale track are you using, I like the look of it.
Hi Arthur, the track is Peco nickel silver G45 Flexi, beats the pants of any of the brass track on the market as do their switches.
Hi Davy , Your garden is looking fantastic . And you do make to look easy , although we all know that is not . Just out of curiosity , did you make a sketch of your work before you started , or is this masterpiece from all in your head ? 
Can not wait to see the trains going around on the track . Jim
The Aristo "revolution" is now being sold again.... http://www.revoelectronics.com
Summerdale Junction posted:Hi Davy , Your garden is looking fantastic . And you do make to look easy , although we all know that is not .
Hi Jim, its gettin there, don't work to a sketch at all, I form the basic idea in my head so I always know roughly where everything is heading ,however sometimes once a project is in progress some ideas for modifications /additions will present themselves.Like for example the waterfalls in the pond,I was only intendeing to do one originally, then when I laid the stones saw an opportunity for two,then three and finally ended up with four ... the O gauge section I know I want a double track mainline all the way round the circuit but what sidings there'll be ,how many and where I'll decide when I get things pushed on a bit... but no,nothing goes down on paper...all in my head !!
Greg Elmassian posted:The Aristo "revolution" is now being sold again.... http://www.revoelectronics.com
Have already invested in the ROCO Z21 digital control system
Looks like a lot of work Davy, Cant wait to see what you get done!
I can't wait for the video of Davy sitting in the yard with a beer in his hand watching the trains roll by.
I want to see him in the "wee hut"...
Hi Guys, lovely day here,gettin on good, ,the wee corner is almost done,thought I'd take a couple of pics to let you see the construction method. You can see the broken paving slabs cemented together to form the support for the ornamental rocks. Once I've finished the side stonework,the trough thats formed will be filled with a compost/rough sand mix,planted then screed with gold pea gravel as per the rest of the garden. Running out of the right kinda stones so a trip to the river is on the card this evening !!. As for sittin with a beer Joe, ye missed it ! ...,was sittin in the sun takin a break a wee while ago drinkin a cold budweiser !! 
Cold Budweiser.........I said a beer not swamp water.
Davy, The rock work looks wonderful! To each there own on what beer they drink, as for me its COORS! LOL
NJCJOE posted:Cold Budweiser.........I said a beer not swamp water.
well it was all there was in the house Joe so it was better than nuthin lol .
Mornin guys, never made it to the river last night but did this mornin, 1st picture shows the haul , 2nd picture is my German Piko BR64 tank checking clearances in the "cutting" . Just wonderin how the digital sound unit will sound down in that section once its running,wonder if the stone either side will make a natural amplifier ??? ,oh well we'll see. Last picture shows the rear of the tank engine and the O gauge track base up top... oh well.... gettin there !! 
Nice work there Dave! Sure is close on the sides, I sure hope there is wiggle room for when its moving! I hope you didn't have to carry all the river rock, I would think with all that rock you would have a cart or something, Keep up the great work!
Whistles in the valley should sound nice. You won't see it in there from the seating area, but you sure will hear it.
Does it have a smoke unit?
mike g. posted:Nice work there Dave! Sure is close on the sides, I sure hope there is wiggle room for when its moving! I hope you didn't have to carry all the river rock, I would think with all that rock you would have a cart or something, Keep up the great work!
Hi Mike, no barrow, had to walk up out the river with the the bigger stones individually or in plastic bags with the wee ones.
Moonman posted:Whistles in the valley should sound nice. You won't see it in there from the seating area, but you sure will hear it.
Does it have a smoke unit?
Hi Carl, I have two Piko german engines for the G scale line, both fitted with all bells and whistles digital smoke and sound. The smoke units are also the pulsed units synchrod with the pistons. The 2-6-2 in this you tube vid is the exact sister of mine.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1J834n8Z40c
Davy Mac posted:Moonman posted:Whistles in the valley should sound nice. You won't see it in there from the seating area, but you sure will hear it.
Does it have a smoke unit?
Hi Carl, I have two Piko german engines for the G scale line, both fitted with all bells and whistles digital smoke and sound. The smoke units are also the pulsed units synchrod with the pistons. The 2-6-2 in this you tube vid is the exact sister of mine.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1J834n8Z40c
That's whistle will sound great! Nice smoke, too. Volume up for the valley run...
That looks great, Davy! I like the pipes!
Turned out looking wonderful Davy! I hope you have fun tomorrow at the wedding! will look for your update Sunday!
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