What did you do on your layout today?

@Lionelski posted:

Good guess Bob,

This electric sub-station (?) started its life as an automobile dash radio insert. The two black pieces on the left of the roof are pieces of packaging that held scale autos to their packaging. The circular object on the right front is a washer. The two grey conduit pipes in front are model spues. I don't even remember what the other pieces are from.

Yes, I see it now!  Very resourceful!

@mike g. posted:

Well guys, a new twist to my puzzle. The company i bought my track from off of the bay says they don't have any more 072 but are offering a full refund or discount for what I didn't get. In all reality neither one helps me out! LOL The wife and I have to run to town this morning and when we get back, I plan on brainstorming on some of the idea's you guys have given me. One small problem is I don't have any MTH Flex track, and it doesn't seem anyone is selling any right now. But I do have some 054 and 080 track and one section of rigid 30" straight track to play with and see if I can make something work. I will try and post anything I figure out later today!

I hope you all have a great day and find to have fun with your layout and trains!

Oh No!  Mike, I forgot you are using MTH Scaletrak!  It looked like GarGraves on the small smart phone.  

After the 2457 discussion elsewhere on OGRR, I was nosing about the Bay and picked up a distressed shell for a couple of bucks:

So, here's what I have in mind:

Or, possibly:

What do you think, sirs? 

Mitch

Now that’s thinking outside of the box. I would vote for the first photos. Looks a little strange with drivers. But, then again…

@M. Mitchell Marmel posted:

After the 2457 discussion elsewhere on OGRR, I was nosing about the Bay and picked up a distressed shell for a couple of bucks:

So, here's what I have in mind:

Or, possibly:

What do you think, sirs? 

Mitch

I like the first one, but as Jay pointed out

Strange is your middle name.......

Bob

Dr. Strange, I don't care what anyone says, that is cool! I assume it actually works? Which makes it even cooler! I really think that the future of our hobbies is in pushing the boundaries of reality! Think Steampunk and a smoker!

Mitch: Looks great.  I would keep the drivers they are unique .

Don

@Tranquil Hollow RR posted:

Now that’s thinking outside of the box. I would vote for the first photos. Looks a little strange with drivers. But, then again…

First photos do it for me too.

Jay, your comment "looks a little strange with drivers" cracked me up. The whole thing is strange (but cool & fun).

Mitch, Looking forward to seeing the completed project run

Made more trees...

Dave

Nice how do you make yours??

Finished up a flat car. Tamiya M10 kit my son gave me for Christmas on Menards flat.

Hi guys and gals! I hope you all had a wonderful Monday as I think I did! LOL

@RSJB18 Bob, if it was me I would leave enough alone! LOL

@Tom Tee Tom sounds like a wonderful day! Memories in the making, you can't beat that!

@Mark Boyce Mark yep it's hard to find MTH Scale Trax now a days!

@M. Mitchell Marmel Mitch, what a great job on the transformation! Looks great!

@luvindemtrains Dave, the tree's look outstanding! When you get done and still feel like making tree's let me know! LOL

@Ross Ross The flat car turned out looking wonderful and a nice gift from your son!

Well guys and gals I spent a good part of the day trying to figure out my problem and I think I have come up with a solution. Where the "S" curve starts from both ends I put in 2 054 curves, and it looks like I will be able to put a straight section between them to make everything work. All I have to do is get a piece of plywood to fill the gap and cut it to shape. But I do feel better about it now! Here are a couple photos for you folks. If you see a problem, please let me know.

I hope you all have a great night, and I will check in to tomorrow!

I cleaned up and lubricated the Lionel 746. Please excuse the camera work!

@Victor Bertolina posted:

I cleaned up and lubricated the Lionel 746. Please excuse the camera work!

Looks great Victor! Nice and smooth!

@mike g. posted:

k

I love it when a problem find a solution!   Great recovery Mike!   Have a good nights rest!

Cheers, Dave

Ross, you did a really nice job on the tank!

Mike, I think you are on to your solution.  That looks like it will make a good fit once you get the new plywood and the track cut.

Victor, That's nice seeing an older engine running very well!

I glued a few pieces of trim on my station kit, and that's about all.

@M. Mitchell Marmel posted:

So, here's what I have in mind:

Or, possibly:

What do you think, sirs? 

Mitch

Hey Mitch.......how about adding a small smoke stack and small steam boiler in the event of a power failure. ?   

@Mark Boyce posted:

I glued a few pieces of trim on my station kit, and that's about all.

Hey Mark.......sometimes too much work  ( or GLUE FUMES ) can get to you.

@mike g.g

Well guys and gals I spent a good part of the day trying to figure out my problem and I think I have come up with a solution. Where the "S" curve starts from both ends I put in 2 054 curves, and it looks like I will be able to put a straight section between them to make everything work. All I have to do is get a piece of plywood to fill the gap and cut it to shape. But I do feel better about it now! Here are a couple photos for you folks. If you see a problem, please let me know.

I hope you all have a great night, and I will check in to tomorrow!

Sometimes this hobby makes your day feel like you are glad to be alive.

Get a good relaxing night's sleep Mike .

@Dallas Joseph posted:

Hey Mark.......sometimes too much work  ( or GLUE FUMES ) can get to you.

Who would have thought Aileen’s Tacky Glue could get to you??  🤪

I set up a 18'x18' loop on the floor in my house with Menards 96" and used my old KW transformer to run my post-war 8304 steamer and the Texas Special Alco.  I also ran some new locomotives in conventional mode and then found on Trainworld that the KW transformer is not intended for use with new electronic locomotives so I'm going to change things up.  I'm going to use a new 180W power house and a direct lock-on (the one that looks like a trackside shed) and just run whatever I can with my Universal remote.  It is a lot of fun running trains in my house after over 40 years away from the hobby.

@Mark Boyce posted:

Who would have thought Aileen’s Tacky Glue could get to you??  🤪

Sorry.......da stufs eyes ufes aways mates mi dais goes betta.

While not originally intended to work with the newer engines with a little upgrading the KW can be made to run them safely. You need 2 things on each line. An in-line, fast acting breaker and a TVS diode. That combo will take care of the electrical glitches TrainWorld is referring to.

The Lionel TMCC Direct Lockon would fill the role of fast acting circuit breaker.  Can you recommend a TVS diode I can install (I assume between the transformer and the Direct Lockon)?

Off the top of my head I do not remember. I bought them on Amazon. You install them between the ground and hot terminals on the KW or on the lock-on.

Thanks.  Any certain specifications I should look for?

There are in fact. I will have to look them up. There are also extensive discussions and tech specs from the experts on this forum.

I'll see what I can find on the forum.

No need to chuck the KW. It is an excellent transformer once you upgrade it.

Jack, I found the specs. They are: Mouser 1.5KE36CA-TVS diodes, 30.8v 1500w.  You can buy them directly from Mouser.

Cool!  Thanks!

Morning guys, last night after I called it a night, I got a message from Chris a. He informed me that he had found a place that had flex track, so I am going to reach out to them as see if they still have it. Wish me luck, if not I am sure I can still make the 054 curves and ridged straight trackwork.

I hope you all have a great day and fun with your layouts! I will check back in later.

@Jack Texas Special posted:

Cool!  Thanks!

Jack- I use a KW for my layout power and did exactly what Dennis recommended. I added two 8A CB's and TVSS diodes recently when I started running more command and DCS engines. Works just fine. What I found interesting is how quickly the breaker trips on shorts that I never thought were concerning before. There are lots of discussions on the topic in the electrical forum.

@mike g. posted:

Morning guys, last night after I called it a night, I got a message from Chris a. He informed me that he had found a place that had flex track, so I am going to reach out to them as see if they still have it. Wish me luck, if not I am sure I can still make the 054 curves and ridged straight trackwork.

I hope you all have a great day and fun with your layouts! I will check back in later.

Mike- I would recommend checking how some of your bigger loco's and rolling stock navigate the 054 too.

Bob

@RSJB18 posted:

Mike- I would recommend checking how some of your bigger loco's and rolling stock navigate the 054 too.

Bob

Bob, I pushed my longest car threw yesterday and it went ok, but I know when they are the firs cars behind an engine, they don't seem to play well. They make it threw but are not very happy about it! Thats why I am hoping for the company that sent me the wrong track will exchange it with the flex track.

Thanks for the advice, I took Chris a's advice and laminated 2 1/2"plywood but forgot to check the height of my auto car and I had to remove the plywood over that section of track so it would clear as the top was rubbing. It's all good now!

Nice pix RSJB18. A picture is worth a 1000 words they say.

@Tom Tee posted:

Had a 6 year old visit with his dad and dog.  They all went bonkers.  The kid was following as many of the trains as he could round all the  peninsulas, climbing up on the various step stools and bar stools placed around the basement.  The dog was following the 20" high (low?)  loop to loop back and forth and the father was shooting the action of five trains running around the room.  kind of neat to watch it all.

A six year old and a dog, you're a real risk taker!

Paula and I had several items that need repair so we drove an hour to our local hobby shop… hours are open 10:00 Tues/Saturday.

It was a beautiful morning, partly cloudy, @ 48 going to 55, last week’s snow a memory. Arrived at 10:30.

Sign on locked door… CLOSED DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER.

So much for our local hobby shop. Drove home and called our preferred hobby shop located four states away. Jeff answered on the second ring and took care of what we needed and will soon receive a $1,900+ order.

Back to ballasting this afternoon.

Mike, you had the same trouble I had.  One car was too high to clear under my single thickness plywood overhead roadbed, so I had to raise a lot of track.  I'm glad you were able to just make a correction on a small section of roadbed.  That is one advantage I have running '50s era cars instead of modeling modern long cars.  I can get away with 054 curves on even the longer log cars I bought.

Bill, that guy really lost out on a huge sale by staying closed for inclement weather.  There is a reason Jeff is your preferred hobby shop!!  At least you and PAula had a nice ride in great weather!!!

Afternoon guys, I hope you all had a great day!

@Bill Webb Bill I am glad you had a good day for a drive, but sorry your Hobby shop was closed! I bet they will be sorry when the find out they missed out on a $1,900 order!

Mark your correct it was lucky I found it now! LOL

Well guys I went to the local store and picked up a half sheet of plywood to replace the curved area till I get some flex track. I am not that great at judgment for cutting curves and since I am using flex track, I am going to wait till I have it down and marked out before I cut anything!

I did get a refund from the company for the wrong track they sent me and told me to keep the track, so I used that money to by flex track, I hope they send the correct stuff! LOL Anyways here is what it looks like and will stay for a while.

Hope you all are having fun with your layout and trains!