Mark, things sure are looking great on your layout! You sure have a nice smooth-running train and the grades you have seem to be very easy for the motive power you have! I like the hotel on the hill, but you might think about a little gaurd rail by the parking! LOL You know some guest just have one to many! 
@Mark Boyce posted:I don't have a lot new to share except a few photographs and a video a Forum member asked me for in an email. You might notice I removed the produce stand in favor of a very north woods scene (that is void of trees)
I have nothing new on the coffee company building as my wife needed to block off access to the workbench for a project she was doing the last week. Access was restored last evening, so I am good to go getting back to the Sanky Wanky!!
Mark, it’s nice to see some train action again, thanks for sharing.
Gene
Great video Mark 👍. The layout is a work in progress as it is with all of us. Thanks for sharing
Thank you, Randy, Dave, Mike, Bill, Bob Golfs, Myles, Bob, Mike G, Gene, Poconotrain!
Dave, This Bigfoot is after the hotdogs roasting on the open fire! 
Good thing the fire ranger is going on duty.
Mike, the open hill scene is just temporary while I think of something else to put there.
Bill, all the engines are able to pull trains up the grades, which I wasn't sure of. I am quite pleased since I'm not the most exacting carpenter and track fitter.
Bob, yes there is more crammed in than I ever thought I could.
Myles, I checked every engine and my longest cars (18" passenger cars) underneath. I did have to grind away the side of one of the supports around the bend from where the tunnel portal will be. The middle of the passenger cars scraped going into the curve. I can certainly believe there were places the Centipedes couldn't go. I certainly will keep it in mind again when putting in portals.
Bob, I knew you would comment on the BL-2!
Mike, I think some drivers could go over the precipice sober much less after having too many. I have in mind building 'guard rails' like they had at a local park growing up. They were about 9" thick logs resting on similar posts sunk into the ground and fastened with steel straps. They were still varnishing them periodically back then. Very rustic looking. They must have dated back to the CCC days in the '30s. Which I guess from the '30s to the '60s wasn't that long a time difference. Ouch!
Gene, yes it is nice getting all that painters tape and newspaper into the garbage can.
You have quite the pike there Mark, looking very good indeed. I love The BL-2 it has always been one of my favorites'.. I like the different elevations of travel.. Very cool indeed'... Nice work'.. 👍✔😉
Thank you, Ted! I have been pleased how the different elevations of track have turned out. Believe me, there has been a lot of fine tuning!!!! 
Now I can run just the top loop or the bottom loop as well. It certainly wasn't what we planned going into construction, but I am pleased with it considering the space requirements. On to more scenery and structure building! 
@Mark Boyce posted:Thank you, Ted! I have been pleased how the different elevations of track have turned out. Believe me, there has been a lot of fine tuning!!!!
Mark',
I am quite impressed with what you have done'.. I will be building a new layout shortly, and may incorporate some of your ideas. Of course I'm going from a full basement with a full size layout to a restricted smaller area'.. So, the elevation theme may be a real asset for me'.. I will keep you posted'. And Thanks in advance for the great idea I have not thought about'... 👍😁
@Mark Boyce posted:I don't have a lot new to share except a few photographs and a video a Forum member asked me for in an email. You might notice I removed the produce stand in favor of a very north woods scene (that is void of trees)
I have nothing new on the coffee company building as my wife needed to block off access to the workbench for a project she was doing the last week. Access was restored last evening, so I am good to go getting back to the Sanky Wanky!!
Love the pics and the video!
Peter
Thank you, Ted and Peter!
Ted, I'm glad you will be able to start your new layout soon. I actually moved into a slightly larger space, but my last layout was N scale. So, in effect, I have really had a hard time compressing in a larger scale. I think the biggest takeaway from building this layout is that modern engines can pull reasonably long trains up 5% grades with curves. Trains don't look the best at those grades, but if this is as much space as a modeler has, it can be done.
Peter, I think though it is a small layout, there are a lot of points of interest. Once I get more scenery and buildings on the layout, I hope it will be even better.
Mark, that is a huge step from N Scale to O Gauge.. and You have nailed it... Many go from O to HO... And have twice the size layouts....
I had HO years ago.. But I enjoy the larger size for many reasons... LOL, eye sight, and handling .... mostly'..🤓👋🏻
I think your hotel scene is fantastic! I really love the camp out though!
Thank you, Ted and Darrell!
Ted, I started in HO, then switched to N, then was going to build another HO layout, but it never happened. So, the last layout I built was in N-scale. I too switched to O for the reasons you did.
Scratch built "Boyce Homestead" scene in N-scale. I find it hard to believe I actually did that at one time.
Darrell, I will mention again that Myles Trainman2001 built the Idaho Hotel kit, but it does take a lot more to build a scene around it. Our older daughter bout me the campsite figures and most recently Sasquatch. I was looking at the almost bare hill and thought, "why not" until I get some trees in place. I have had the fire tower for quite a while, so that makes the scene.
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Yes Mark, he did a great job on the hotel. But you sir made the scene that blended it so well with your railroad. Nice buildings are no doubt great to have, but getting them to look like they belong there takes some real talent!
Thank you, Darrell! Your comment is very much appreciated!
Nice work, Mark!
George
Thank you, George, RJ!
I was able to get back to the Sanky Wanky Coffee Company kit the last couple days. I completed some stand-in interior backgrounds of crates that were shown before on the second story and some more crates and piles of sacks on the first floor. On the first floor, I positioned them so there would be enough room to maneuver a scale fork lift or at least a hand operated lift in aisles when viewed through the open doors. I made a little ramp down from the dock level floor to the walk out level as well. I left that ground level area open to allow me to put in three dimensional items when I get them. Locating three dimensional items and paying for them will take a little time.
Here is a view of the second story that can only be viewed through windows which I made a month ago.
Here are views from the removable end wall. I corrected the angle of the square section after taking the photograph.
The second floor was slid in for this photograph. Note the crates on the second floor look pretty good from the side windows with the chimneys covering the center white section holding the two long rows together.
Here are two quarter angle views of the building with the removable end wall in place. I did not weather the roof yet, since the roof elevator penthouse and long roof ventilator haven't been installed yet.
As with the three dimensional details, I still haven't shopped for lighting. I'll want something that resembles mid-century incandescent lighting. I have figured a way to run wires, but am waiting until I actually decide on the products to use. That is the benefit of making a way to get into the interior of all my buildings since I haven't detailed or lit any of them yet. I can see between some details and lighting, I could have as much money in a building as it took to initially buy the kit.
Right now I am waiting for the glue to dry on the roof elevator penthouse and ventilator sections. Therefore, I hope to have more to post later this week.
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That is a mighty fine building!
I am liking it!
Mark, that really came out NICE. The Brennan kits all seem to have character and really stand out. I can totally agree with buying detail items. You start adding to your basket. Doesn’t seem like your spending much at $4.00 an item. Till you hit checkout and have spent $100. Years ago Berkshire Valley was at all the shows in the northeast. It was easy to get carried away.
Mark, the interior detail adds a perfect visual touch and compliments a craftsman kit. Excellent job.
Gene
Well done Sir! The building looks very realistic! Can't wait to see it on the layout.
@Mark Boyce posted:Thank you, George, RJ!
I was able to get back to the Sanky Wanky Coffee Company kit the last couple days. I completed some stand-in interior backgrounds of crates that were shown before on the second story and some more crates and piles of sacks on the first floor. On the first floor, I positioned them so there would be enough room to maneuver a scale fork lift or at least a hand operated lift in aisles when viewed through the open doors. I made a little ramp down from the dock level floor to the walk out level as well. I left that ground level area open to allow me to put in three dimensional items when I get them. Locating three dimensional items and paying for them will take a little time.
Here is a view of the second story that can only be viewed through windows which I made a month ago.
Here are views from the removable end wall. I corrected the angle of the square section after taking the photograph.
The second floor was slid in for this photograph. Note the crates on the second floor look pretty good from the side windows with the chimneys covering the center white section holding the two long rows together.
Here are two quarter angle views of the building with the removable end wall in place. I did not weather the roof yet, since the roof elevator penthouse and long roof ventilator haven't been installed yet.
As with the three dimensional details, I still haven't shopped for lighting. I'll want something that resembles mid-century incandescent lighting. I have figured a way to run wires, but am waiting until I actually decide on the products to use. That is the benefit of making a way to get into the interior of all my buildings since I haven't detailed or lit any of them yet. I can see between some details and lighting, I could have as much money in a building as it took to initially buy the kit.
Right now I am waiting for the glue to dry on the roof elevator penthouse and ventilator sections. Therefore, I hope to have more to post later this week.
Congratulations Mark on your accomplishment. That building has a great deal of character and charm. Your layout is transforming quickly.
Jay
Looks fantastic Mark. Dennis will be very happy to see what you have done with one of his kits. I have the Hap Hazard building which I might add still is in the box.
Nice looking building Mark; well done! Will you leave the one end so it is removeable, for future changes/additions? That would make pretty good sense.
For lighting you could consider warm white 2835 led strip lighting, same as is commonly used for passenger car lighting. A strip along the ceiling of each long aisle would look good, and imitates old school incandescent lighting quite well. White strip leds are pretty good at representing fluorescent lighting IMO. Power can be provided by a simple buck converter allowing you to dial in the intensity that you like best. I have recently converted a few buildings over to this style lighting and am quite happy with it. YMMV.
Rod
Thank you very much, Myles, Dave, Dave C, Gene, T-Bone1214, Jay, Poconotrain, Rod!
Dave C, For sure! I would easily be emptying the shopping cart when buying online. At shows, it could be embarrassing when the vendor gives the total price.
Rod, Yes the end wall will be removable as is the second floor. I will have to go back a couple pages to recall the little magnets that ere suggested to keep the end wall secure when installed. My other buildings have removable roofs and in on case the two floors separate to get into both floors. In those cases gravity keeps everything together. Thank you for the ideas about interior lighting.
I agree with everyone, the Dennis Brennan kit is really well thought out and produced.
Poconotrain, maybe my experience will give you encouragement to get the Hap Hazard kit out of the box and start it. 
T-Bone1214, I decided to show where the Coffee Co will reside on the layout. I have the braces in place to hold the plywood up that it will rest on but not the plywood, so I mocked it up. I hadn't done that since I measured to decide if I could fit it on the layout. It will be on the other end of the double track bridge from the Thomas WV station. It is also diagonal from the Idaho Hotel. I had to build out that area to put the building at that level. Also, you can see the elevator door and vent which are not glued down yet. The roofs are all stick on tarpaper. Quite nice.
I'll have enough space to get a truck in to this dock before the plunge to the "river' below.
This door opens to ground level.
There's the dock for rail service.
I threw in a photograph of the little station vignette under the hotel.
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Mark; that building is going to look great right where you have it. And the buildout to accommodate it looks like it shouldn't disrupt things too badly. Nice idea.
Love the roof access stairwell, adds a great deal of realism. And the clerestory, nice. I put a 3D printable roof access stairwell on the OGR 3D site; it can be printed and added to any building with a flat roof.
Love the sasquatch; looks right at home!
Rod
@Mark Boyce posted:Thank you very much, Myles, Dave, Dave C, Gene, T-Bone1214, Jay, Poconotrain, Rod!
I'll have enough space to get a truck in to this dock before the plunge to the "river' below.
This door opens to ground level.
Better hope the warehouse crew doesn't subscribe to "Liquid Lunch Friday's".....
The building looks good Mark.
Bob
Thank you, Rod, Bob!
Rod, Yes I would call it a roof access stairwell too. Dennis calls it an elevator penthouse, which is what Frank Ellison called it in the article from way back that Dennis so thoughtfully included in the box. I can't see having an elevator for roof access, but can see having stairs thus the sloped roof that Dennis designed. Regardless, your 3D printable roof access file is a great little detail that we see so much in real life, but often not included on model buildings. I would used the term "clerestory" also, but again Dennis uses Frank's term "ventilator".
Our older daughter gave me Sasquatch for Christmas, a metal casting intended for gaming use. He's great! However, I had no idea what color real Sasquatches are, so I just chose a dark brown I had on hand.
I am finding there are a lot of details from the gaming industry that model railroaders can use.
Bob, Yes indeed for anyone who had one too many! 
On the truck entrance, I will put up some kind of guardrail remembering @mike g.s concern at the hotel. Now the ground level door will go out to the edge of the layout. Oh well.
Mark; just thinking, that truck pit would likely be where a truck would back in, right up to the floor, for easy level loading by forklift or pallet jack. So any railing at all would/should only be along the sides of the pit I would think?
Also, you maybe want a couple of pallet jacks, like the one I put on the 3D site a while back?
Rod
@Rod Stewart posted:Nice looking building Mark; well done! Will you leave the one end so it is removeable, for future changes/additions? That would make pretty good sense.
For lighting you could consider warm white 2835 led strip lighting, same as is commonly used for passenger car lighting. A strip along the ceiling of each long aisle would look good, and imitates old school incandescent lighting quite well. White strip leds are pretty good at representing fluorescent lighting IMO. Power can be provided by a simple buck converter allowing you to dial in the intensity that you like best. I have recently converted a few buildings over to this style lighting and am quite happy with it. YMMV.
Rod
Rod, I forgot to comment that I have a roll of warm white LEDs and 4 buck converters I haven't even used yet. I must confess, I had to look up YMMV. How long has that phrase been out there?
@Rod Stewart posted:Mark; just thinking, that truck pit would likely be where a truck would back in, right up to the floor, for easy level loading by forklift or pallet jack. So any railing at all would/should only be along the sides of the pit I would think?
Also, you maybe want a couple of pallet jacks, like the one I put on the 3D site a while back?
Rod
Pallet jack! That is the device I couldn't recall what to call it. Thank you!
Mark, just for info here is a topic you may recall from last fall about strip led building lighting:
https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...ds,-Rod%20StewartOGR
And it sounds like you have everything needed already onhand!
Rod
@Mark Boyce posted:Thank you very much, Myles, Dave, Dave C, Gene, T-Bone1214, Jay, Poconotrain, Rod!
T-Bone1214, I decided to show where the Coffee Co will reside on the layout. I have the braces in place to hold the plywood up that it will rest on but not the plywood, so I mocked it up. I hadn't done that since I measured to decide if I could fit it on the layout. It will be on the other end of the double track bridge from the Thomas WV station. It is also diagonal from the Idaho Hotel. I had to build out that area to put the building at that level. Also, you can see the elevator door and vent which are not glued down yet. The roofs are all stick on tarpaper. Quite nice.
Mark, you have said you have some challenges with using tools due to "limitations". Looking at what you do, its hard to believe you have them, looks like a PRO did this. Really nice work.
Let me know what kind of pine trees you would like for the camp area. Jeff
@Mark Boyce posted:Thank you very much, Myles, Dave, Dave C, Gene, T-Bone1214, Jay, Poconotrain, Rod!
Dave C, For sure! I would easily be emptying the shopping cart when buying online. At shows, it could be embarrassing when the vendor gives the total price.
Rod, Yes the end wall will be removable as is the second floor. I will have to go back a couple pages to recall the little magnets that ere suggested to keep the end wall secure when installed. My other buildings have removable roofs and in on case the two floors separate to get into both floors. In those cases gravity keeps everything together. Thank you for the ideas about interior lighting.
I agree with everyone, the Dennis Brennan kit is really well thought out and produced.
Poconotrain, maybe my experience will give you encouragement to get the Hap Hazard kit out of the box and start it.
T-Bone1214, I decided to show where the Coffee Co will reside on the layout. I have the braces in place to hold the plywood up that it will rest on but not the plywood, so I mocked it up. I hadn't done that since I measured to decide if I could fit it on the layout. It will be on the other end of the double track bridge from the Thomas WV station. It is also diagonal from the Idaho Hotel. I had to build out that area to put the building at that level. Also, you can see the elevator door and vent which are not glued down yet. The roofs are all stick on tarpaper. Quite nice.
I'll have enough space to get a truck in to this dock before the plunge to the "river' below.
This door opens to ground level.
There's the dock for rail service.
I threw in a photograph of the little station vignette under the hotel.
Thanks for the visual Mark! That's a tight space but I'm sure with your imagination it's all going to come together nicely!!
Mark, SWC is turning into a work of art - thanks for the inspiration!
Thank you, Rod, Jeff, T-Bone1214, Bob!
Rod, I do recall that thread, now that you pointed it out. Thank you for the link.
Jeff, my trouble is mostly with power tools. I can only use the circular saw for rough cuts. Even using a fence, the saw tends to drift on a slightly wavy course. Jig saw; forget it! I gave away my old one in favor of a newer one my dad bought that has several speeds. I can't control it on any speed on any grade of plywood. I can use hand tools better, but sometimes I drop the pliers or tweezers in favor of my fingers. 
Pine trees! I'm partial to white pines myself. I loved the white pines that were beside the one-room cabin we stayed in when I was growing up. Thank you!
Bob, if I can provide some inspiration, I believe I have given something back to this forum for all the inspiration and information I have gained.
T-Bone, You gave me the inspiration to work on a more permanent base for the Sanky Wanky. The last couple evenings, I topped the walls and chimneys with the 'cement' tops. The only thing left are 2 stacks or flues for each chimney. I forgot to paint the styrene tubing that is in the kit. It is to be warmer and less wind tomorrow, so I hope to finish spray painting then. I also built the wooden steps to the office door. They came out nicely, but that was a prime example of where my poor fingers worked better than tweezers. I started to try to build a jig, but gave up on that and 'freehanded' it. Well, I'm sure there would be a few boards in most real steps that are a scale inch off here or there. I still need to paint the thin edges of the roof details and a little weathering of the tarpaper and gray walls.
Today, I cut a piece of 3/8" plywood I still had on hand; no telling how old that stuff is. I wanted straight cuts, so I clamped it down and cut nice straight cuts with the old hand saw. A few screws, and there is the basic form.
Also, a short video of the buildings on either side of the Great Bridge.
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Mark, you have done a stellar build with Sanky Wanky! As you noted, I have used Ellison's terminology throughout my instructions. And, I have wondered why he chose some of the names he had used. I believe Frank was using more descriptive terms so his audience had an understanding of their purpose and placement. Hence, a clerestory became a roof ventilator. So, his description of what appears to be a common roof access stairwell is actually an elevator penthouse. You'll note that Frank's instructions show the penthouse centered directly over the freight dock entry. The penthouse door is the way to get at the hoist motor and pulley mechanism. The elevator would have provided pass through access from the freight dock to the first floor. And as a side note, elevator shafts often have exterior windows for light.
Anyway, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.
I knew you would pull it off!! Looks great with the buildings on either end of the bridge. It looks like scenes here in Bucks County PA where we have older smaller steel bridges connecting PA to NJ. There are a lot of these bridges and on either end there's old brick buildings used as restaurants or fresh market places. We'll done!
Thank you, Dennis, T-Bone!
Dennis, yes I realized I had slipped the roof into place backwards after the glue had dried. I saw I was going to damage the roof if I tried any harder to pry it loose, so decided to live with it. Oh well. Yes, I see how Frank Ellison designed the building with the idea that crates or pallets could be pushed in the door and right into the freight elevator. You cleared it up and now; the elevator penthouse terminology makes total sense to house the mechanism. I agree with your interpretation of his terminology. Good thinking. It has been a great kit to build! Lots of fun and well worth the price!
T-Bone, I'm glad you like the overall scene. It was not planned, it just kind of grew like in real life. Yes, here in Butler County, it reminds me of a place called Iron Bridge that my grandma spoke of where the bridge crosses Buffalo Creek, a tributary of the Allegheny River. The PRR had a branch line that followed Buffalo Creek and it is now a bicycle/walking trail. I use it for walking now that I can't ride bicycles like I did with our daughters. I miss those bridges, used for railroads and highways, which are being replaced with boring reinforced concrete bridges.
@Mark Boyce posted:You cleared it up and now; the elevator penthouse terminology makes total sense to house the mechanism. I agree with your interpretation of his terminology. Good thinking. It has been a great kit to build! Lots of fun and well worth the price!
Mark- elevator penthouses serve a few functions, house equipment, and provide head room above the top floor for the car. The top of an elevator car typically needs a couple feet clearance. Hydraulic elevators need less than traction/ cable type.
We have 2 old 1928 buildings with sloped roofs on campus. When they installed elevators in the 1990's they didn't add penthouses, so we have 4 story buildings with 3 story elevators.
The buildings look great around the bridges.
Bob
Bob, thank you for the explanation about the elevators. Thank you about the buildings.
