What did you do on your layout today?

Thanks Jackson and JMiller for the comments.  Have to report only 1 problem and that was solved rather quickly which wasn't bad for 3 1/2 hours of running time.  I agree about hosting/open houses it really gets you motivated to finish projects that might have been put off. 

Going up right now to work on the layout. Going to move a switch on the lower mainline to better access the table I just added for industries. The other switch is an after thought to add another siding to an existing siding but while this is going on I have to run a few trains for therapeutic purposes.................Paul

I got done with what I was going to do so far. But after starting to change switches I decided to just change out the switch in the same spot. The added siding switch is placed but I don't think I will keep it there. I may move it back closer to the mainline to possibly get an extra car on each siding. Here is some pics of before and after............Paul

I repositioned some figures, including this chap who just took over ownership of this small business - something to keep him busy in retirement.

Moved the switch on the siding back toward the mainline. Got an extra car length by doing it. Also found my last uncoupling track so I put that in. Measure for an extension off the table so I can add the new siding. Should be able to get 8 cars in there. Second pic shows the switch closer to the mainline...................Paul

http://miniature-traffic-lights.com/

got two sets of four way for layout......

My Dad is still playing with rocks.... all filled in and time to color.

Hi Everybody-- Today (04/08) I finished pre-wiring the different YARD areas with a 14-gauge pair; a 12-gauge pair and a 25-pair control cable.  Tomorrow I will temporarily install the plywood tops on the Desert Yard and Heavy-electric Yard and then roll on two coats of dark brown paint to match the larger island.  More to come !!

KRK

I really like the attention to detail inside the tunnels

Plopped the hatch in place for the last time and fired up the drone for some aerial coverage.

Just installed the Menards Hobby Shop and Moe's Garage.  They were is perfect condition and packed very well.  Both work flawlessly.  Will order the Plumbing Supply in the morning.  Thank you Menards!!!

Tom Tee thanks for the compliment. I put that switch in because I took it off where I was using it to go up the grade and into the yard. It was a manual one and I replaced it with a motorized one. After taking the pic it does stand out like a sore thumb and  a left hand switch would work a lot better. I have a pile of older manual Ross switches and maybe I can find one that may work. If not I'll order a new one along with uncoupling tracks from Ross. My new vision for adding to the siding was I was thinking of different things I could change out in that area................Paul

Figured out the "new" batteries I'd been buying were duds in the MTH EF-3, even after charging them overnight, so I put in a BCR-2 I had laying around and end of problem!  I'm now a BCR convert.

I finished the first of what eventually will be two tank cars. The RR I model only had two tanks on the property by 1943, and I have created reasonably accurate decals of the tank body markings for each. I like how this turned out, especially with the weathering.

One thing I couldn't believe was as I was putting the couplers back onto the car, one went flying and went right down a drain in a sink! I was putting them together in a guest bathroom as that's where I leave stuff after I've painted it, with the fan on to vent the fumes with the door closed. I still can't believe it went directly for the drain. I didn't take the pipes apart to pull it out, as I know I don't want it back that bad. But I should fish it out anyway. Thankfully, I stockpiled several sets of extra couplers, exactly for things like this.

I also completed a coversion of a toy truck for a delivery van on the layout. The name of the company was something I had on my old HO layout when I was about 13, as it just sounded really funny to me for some reason. The 'Amalgamated barrel staves' reference is from an old Bullwinkle cartoon where he's looking to invest in stocks. I never forgot that and always thought it was funny. It's the only whimsical anything you'll find on my layout, but it's something I just couldn't resist.

Still working on sub-roadbed for the Bark 'n Spiders RR, an out door garden layout. It has about a hundred feet of track laid so far.  I am jumping back into the hobby after being on hiatus for a few years.

Have you found that the hobby has changed a lot since you've been gone? I got out of the hobby in the 90s and just got back in about 4 years ago. I was pleasantly surprised at how much the hobby has changed, especially in regard to all the pre-built stuff and rolling stock you can buy weathered now. Nothing was like that back in my HO scale days!

Will your posting average rise above once every two years?

(welcome back)

 I'm working on it.

Doing a lot of thinking about my town layout after seeing what others have done. 

I did finish a fence....

I guess I have not jumped in far enough yet to know about pre-weathered and pre-built...I am recycling old 90's to about 2005 O gauge and Atlas 21st C. tracks in my retirement.  I hope to become more informed about those changes, but have limited funds for new Legacy mallets and such big ticket items.

5 of our 6 grandchildren, ages 5-12, are due in tomorrow for 3 days.  They want to play with the trains.  I did my best to child proof them.

I did some looking and found a left hand switch. With that in place it comes out better. It is motorized and I don't need one there so I will just order a manual switch from Ross. Now I can put down the cork but I am still looking for my hammer so when I glue the cork down I can hammer brads in to hold in place till the glue sets. Then I can paint the cork. Can't put in track till I get an uncoupler.........Paul

I have all domes off (three on this 0-8-0 switcher) and am filling their holes while grinding off dome mounting plates and sand lines, one of which will be rerouted as I respace two domes along the boiler.  I should grind off all the boiler bands, as this loco's prototype from Alco did not have them, but not possible to get an exact model from this base. Waiting for epoxy to harden before filling the last dome hole.

After finding a left handed switch I tacked down the cork and have to let the glue dry. Maybe later tonight I'll paint the cork and get on the phone and place the order with Ross. Just maybe I can get the things before York. Here is a pic of the second siding........Paul

This afternoon I painted the plywood tops of the future "Engine Terminal", "Desert Yard" and the "Heavy Electric" Yard to match the top color of my original 5 x 9 piece.

The "Trolley Yard" has not been constructed as yet.  We have almost fifteen trolleys so I hope it will be big enough.  More on Trolley and Interurban plans later.  Hopefully you'll get excited over my plans.  Cheers.

KRK

This thread is so interesting, especially seeing the photos and plans that you folks have shown.  I check it every time I log on. 

With gunrunnerjohn's help, fixed a flicker problem in an LED conversion--bad solder joint at the capacitor.

Continued to practice with masking film on a LIONEL standard dome, 2532-16, that I'll need to paint for an NP North Coast Limited train.  Continued to work on filling and sanding 3 PW LIONEL F3 A units; and test fit the Cal Scale Mars light housings.  Mercifully, the F3 B unit is done and ready for paint.

Used a digital caliper to take measurements from a PW LIONEL 2532 dome car for the opening in the roof necessary to install an offset dome in a LIONEL coach.  

And USPS and UPS brought some stuff.  From Dept. 56 came some Christmas wreaths and garland for the Christmas train and layout.

I know I'll use the packs of wreaths I bought; not so sure about the garland--but will probably add to the one pack I bought for evaluation.

My UPS driver dropped off an early model UPS package car--it's way too big for the layout per se, but will make a nice decorative vehicle.

Jim, that's a really cool layout! Where did you buy the drone and what camera does it use?

Dan

Jon was here today. We finished one huge project, and started another one.

These 3 light fixtures are the last of the layout lighting. Project 100% complete!!!

And now for something completely different... Fascia

The actual benchwork is a bit wavy. Jon adds shims to the fascia so it looks pretty darn straight. That's what counts.

There's an old expression; Beat to fit. Paint to match.

Tomorrow, Patrick will paint to match.

While he's doing that, I'm going to start laying track on top of the bookshelves.

i really like your streets and curb/sidewalks,   is that woodland scenics.

Hi Pingman,If you please, here is what I do with my garlands and wreaths, which may give you some ideas. I simply crimp the garland onto building architectural features and slide the wreaths over lamp fixtures, all of which is easily removed after the Holiday..

(P.S. The whimsical Holiday parade is removed, also, after New Year's.)

Moonson, thanks for the photos, techniques, and ideas.

Nice of you to reply. You're very welcome.

FrankM.

Happy to report that I won't need to cut a hole in a 15" aluminum coach to create an offset dome to emulate the prototypical offset domes of the NP North Coast Limited.  Simply bought an LIONEL offset dome car that was used in the UP 50th Anniversary set last night.  I've been away from the hobby long enough to not know that LIONEL made an offset dome, and only discovered this car by accident.

Also, one aspect of cutting a standard coach to fit a dome, apart from actually accomplishing that, was the window arrangement of the coach.  I'm not looking for fidelity to scale, but I'd prefer a better level of verisimilitude, and I wasn't very pleased with the prospect of using a standard coach, so much so that I thought of just using the typical centered dome car.

So, one problem has been solved for me.  However, I'm still working on masking a standard dome satisfactorily to shoot it in NP NCL dark green--so my practice continues.

Hi Everybody--  Just finished the second coat (final) on the "Heavy Electric Yard" ; the "Engine Terminal" and the "Desert Yard"..  Should be thoroughly dry by tomorrow morning!  I really had to perform some fancy dialog with my General Manager (Suzie) for the space which will become the "Heavy Electric" Yard.  It almost starts to creep toward the Front Door/Hallway area and she put out a GCOR edict # 228-B :  NO !!!

I'm going to place an order with ROSS for some Midwest Cork roadbed.  I have more on order from Ray Dumke at "House of Trains"...  I purchased a 2 1/2 & 3" saw for cutting holes in masonite for mounting panel meters, using my electric drill.

You'll notice that in previous reports, I was pre-wiring different Yards using various color combos of 14-gauge pairs; 12-gauge pairs and a 25-pair control cable.

The 14-gauge pairs will provide AC for operating switch machines and misc.  The 12-gauge pairs will provide the AC "propulsion" voltage.  The 25-pair control cable will operate Accessories and will operate a series of Relays for Route Control of the individual tracks.  Fiber pins will be in the Center rail to isolate Yard tracks. This will get hairy in the Trolley Yard (foundation not built yet) because of their being so many trolleys. More on Trolley Ops later.

Cheers.

KRK

No photos yet, but I took two Bachmann 'data only' marked On30 boxcars and slapped my RR markings on them. I also took another boxcar, stripped the lettering with sandpaper, then painted it grey. I then added my custom-made US Army reporting remarks and shipping instruction markings to it.

I then blasted each with two coats of gloss coat over the decals and left to dry overnight. After putting them in the back bathroom next to the layout room (I leave stuff in there with the light and fan on overnight for drying and venting of paint fumes), I made car cards for each of them.

Tonight, I'll do the weathering to each, blast them with dullcoat and get the trucks on if the dull coat is dry enough by the time I go to bed.

Then, I'll have three news cars ready.

Photos likely tonight once weathering is done