Stu's new layout continued

It's nice to see a layout that's not being built in a totally finished space. I'm always envious of guys that have beautifully finished rooms before they start building. It's also quite obvious that you build lots of really nice structures.

Layout looks great and you are getting it all together pretty quickly too. And you are already running trains as well. I am also a big fan of Atlas track. It is all going to look very nice when you get finished. Please keep us updated with lots of pictures!

I'm blown away by the quality of the models!  Great work and keep us updated.  Look forward to seeing more!

Here is a link to pictures of my first and 2nd layouts.  At the end of this page are links to the first layout.   

If you check it out you will see the same buildings used in different groupings.   I was also able to save 90% if the wire from the last layout.   

http://www.modelbuildingservices.com/layoutnew09.html

Every time I work on the layout or rescue a stopped train I am so glad I put a narrow walkway along the back side of the layout.   I also run all of my wires along the front of the layout.   I will post some pictures of this in the future.    It allows me to sit in a rolling chair to connect the wires to the junction bars.

Perhaps post a video or two sometime??  I like how the track disappears behing the buildings for that long stretch. 

Drummer3 posted:

Perhaps post a video or two sometime??  I like how the track disappears behing the buildings for that long stretch. 

Drummer3,

While you wait for a video of this layout here is a link to a video of the last layout.  My son made it using his go pro camera mounted on the train and around the layout.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Py-XoybpaE

In all of my layouts I have the trains behind buildings as much as possible.    I also will use the buildings on the upper level to hide the return loops.

Stu Gralnik posted:

Hi, Stu.  Could you tell me what brand name the products are that I see in the pictures.  Specifically in the 1st picture the Switch Tower on the left, and in the second picture, the Train Station with Clock.  I would be interested in finding these if still available.  I enjoyed your youtube videos & this layout looks well on it's way to great enjoyment.... besides the building of it.

Thanks, Dennis

Hartman posted:

Stu Gralnik posted:

Hi, Stu.  Could you tell me what brand name the products are that I see in the pictures.  Specifically in the 1st picture the Switch Tower on the left, and in the second picture, the Train Station with Clock.  I would be interested in finding these if still available.  I enjoyed your youtube videos & this layout looks well on it's way to great enjoyment.... besides the building of it.

Thanks, Dennis

 

Dennis,    Just got to a place where I could log on to the forum to reply.   The tower is from Altoona Model Works and is in production.   The Station is an American Flyer Union Station.   There are some listed on ebay or new from Lionel AF.   http://www.lionel.com/products...ion-station-6-49839/

Stu

First coat of water. I want to go a little darker for depth. Note the channel full of lobster pots. This is normal going into Gloucester, MA. Sorry for the focus, I will correct this in my final pictures.

Here is a link to a video of my first train running session for friends.    https://www.facebook.com/james...s/10215278842875408/

Nice work Stu.

Stu made a warehouse for me last year in honor of my grandfathers grocery business from the 50's and 60's.

Joseph Gedrimas Grocery Co-Op.

Looks great on the layout! Thanks again Stu!

Buzz

Stu Gralnik posted:

Here is a link to a video of my first train running session for friends.    https://www.facebook.com/james...s/10215278842875408/

 

Nice work Stu.

Stu made a warehouse for me last year in honor of my grandfathers grocery business from the 50's and 60's.

Joseph Gedrimas Grocery Co-Op.

Looks great on the layout! Thanks again Stu!

Buzz

I have been making progress on the layout by wiring the switches that I can not easy reach.   I am placing them around the layout with some on the back side going into the staging tracks and some sidings.   The uncouple switches are also scattered around the layout.   The pictures also show the new control board with power on indicators.   These are freebies from Miniatronics.   ( I ran short so if you think you have some you can get rid of please check out the looking to buy section).   I have also included some pictures of our new cat checking out the layout.   I was impressed on how she walked around with no damage.   Note that the power to the tracks was off.

Looking forward to getting back into working on the layout.  Here are a few pictures of the city to help me get excited.

Stu,

Realistic buildings and a good downtown scene.

MELGAR

 The cooler weather, early darkness, talking to people at York and purchasing two pieces from other builders is getting my modeling juices flowing again. Here are pictures of a house under construction built by Richard Krieg and a Lobster boat built by Brian Inch along with new layout pictures. The lower main line can run two TMCC engines and the upper loop has two post war

Stu,

Amazing work. Appreciate all the great photo's. Enjoying the progress and the buildings look great.

-Tom

Stu, 

Nice to see the post and the progress.  Thanks for sharing.

Excellent work, Stu!

Peter

Stu,

As I said before, nice railroad, great downtown and waterfront scenes, excellent structure models.

MELGAR

Great work Stu, thanks for the update.

Andy

Stu, I really like your harbor scene.  You've got a unique lighthouse.  Are all of your boats waterline models or have shave the hull of some so that they sit flat on the board?

coach joe posted:

Stu, I really like your harbor scene.  You've got a unique lighthouse.  Are all of your boats waterline models or have shave the hull of some so that they sit flat on the board?

Joe,  All of the boats except the Chris craft cabin cruiser are waterline.  The chris craft i purchased built that is a plastic kit from years ago. I sanded the bottom off.   The large tug was a home built I purchased about 20 years ago and I added some detail.  The others are kits that I built.   The Lobster boat was a Frenchman river kit built by Brian Inch that I traded an electric substation for.   I also built the barge.

I also have  plastic kits of a float plane and coast guard rescue boat to build.

The light house is a crow river kit.

Looking good Stu!

  Stay motivated you have lots of projects to keep you from getting bored lol

Al

Nice work, Stu. I'm looking forward to seeing your progresss as you add the scenery. I'm sure it will be wonderful!

Stu, I've got that Coast Guard rescue boat model also.  Maybe someday I'll get it built.

coach joe posted:

Stu, I've got that Coast Guard rescue boat model also.  Maybe someday I'll get it built.

Joe,

Here are the pictures of the finished Coast Guard rescue boat.  I added the safety lines on the sides of the boat and the search light.

Very nice Stu! The safety lines are a nice touch.

Stu, Thank you for pointing out your topic on your latest layout.  I don't know how I missed it as much as I am on the Forum!  All great structures for sure!  Your Website showing you previous layouts is great as well!  You have a talent for building new and interesting structures from scratch and then blending them in with commercial structures, that I didn't realize were commercial!  I like the harbor scene and boats.  Since I always modeled mountain railroading, I have never pursued that environment.  Thank you again!!!

I painted the road color in my two city sections.    To do this I removed the buildings and painted the entire sections.  I will go back later to do the plants and ballast.    Just painting the plywood makes a big difference in the look and I recommend it.    You can see the difference in the earlier pictures and painted ones.

Another step forward. ground cover and ballast. I then ran two traditional Lionel engines until the upper train, led by two Lionel FM engines ran into the cat.  She was not to happy.  Some of my sidings are just stub tracks with bumpers on both ends.   With all the buildings you can not see both ends so it appears that they connected to the main line on the opposite end.   I was also able to kit bash a walk way bridge to connect the upper town to the lower train station.    I plan to hold on wiring the buildings and light towers but will add details for an up coming operating session.  

It’s looking great, Stu!

Really like where you're going with things Stu!

Spent a fun week working on the layout in stead of working for work.  I finally added the window covers.  not sure why the color is different,  it is from the same can.    I also added the skirt and some details in the farm, park, burning building.   

Stu,  I have not been active on the forum for a few years since I tore down my last layout.  You have a great looking layout and I love all the scenery.  I am hoping to start building a new layout next fall.

TMack posted:

Stu,  I have not been active on the forum for a few years since I tore down my last layout.  You have a great looking layout and I love all the scenery.  I am hoping to start building a new layout next fall.

looked at your layout video,  fun layout, great video

I had another larger more detailed layout in 2013 and took it down in 2014.  I thought I had put video up, but  can't find it.  Anyway I like all your structures and just that there is a ton of stuff to look at on your layout.

Stu you do have one nice looking layout.

This is some video from my 2013 layout.