Hey folks! With school being out, I have been pretty busy! Here's some stuff I've done:
New ZW-L installed! Now I can run conventional engines on my layout!
New TMCC lock ons installed, because you can never be too safe
My lovely girlfriend got me an airbrush recently, so I have practiced airbrush weathering on a freight car and some track ( below is a before and after picture)
I finished the junk load I’ve been working on for my UP gondola car with the ETD.
I had some wood blocks that I painted and weathered to look like old concrete blocks. I made some U hooks and used a micro bit with my rotary drill and glued in place using a finish nail as a spacer. I weathered some old parts and the hooks with layers of a rust solution. The load is held down with Hob-E-Tac so it can easily be removed or replaced. I think it came out pretty good.
Gene
"Dug" out this creek bed over 2 years ago. I've been experimenting with details of the banks and riverbed itself. I think I was just prolonging the inevitable. This thing is ready for water, no more excuses...
Dave
I have two LTI Rail Chief train consists so I can have a 6 car Rail Chief train. Wanted a more modern observation car - versus the observation car from the early Union Pacific streamliner - so I recycled my 2nd combine. Fixed the coupler so it has less vertical play and added a drumhead. Result is a late 1930's streamliner.
@luvindemtrains posted:"Dug" out this creek bed over 2 years ago. I've been experimenting with details of the banks and riverbed itself. I think I was just prolonging the inevitable. This thing is ready for water, no more excuses...
Dave
--------Gee that looks great, water or not !
@luvindemtrains posted:"Dug" out this creek bed over 2 years ago. I've been experimenting with details of the banks and riverbed itself. I think I was just prolonging the inevitable. This thing is ready for water, no more excuses...
Dave
Looks great! If you dont want to model water just tell everyone there is a beaver dam up stream...
Trestleking-Thank you.
Farmall-Joe-Thank you and I thought of something like that but I need to make that move.
Dave
Dave, at first and second glance, that scene looks so detailed and real; as your creations always do. Blame it on beavers or drought but I think water would take away from what you created. I will make a motion to return it to the scenery committee for further deliberation and consideration. They can report back in another two years.
Jay
@luvindemtrains posted:Trestleking-Thank you.
Farmall-Joe-Thank you and I thought of something like that but I need to make that move.
Dave
I think Arttista makes some beavers :-)
@Tranquil Hollow RR posted:Dave, at first and second glance, that scene looks so detailed and real; as your creations always do. Blame it on beavers or drought but I think water would take away from what you created. I will make a motion to return it to the scenery committee for further deliberation and consideration. They can report back in another two years.
Jay
You're way too kind. You may be right about the water taking away from the details. However, the reason for making the modification to the bench work was for water. I plan to pour so that some of the details will still be seen. Also, this thread will always have the drought before the storm.
This made me lol, "I will make a motion to return it to the scenery committee for further deliberation and consideration. They can report back in another two years."
Dave
I’m rearranging a lot of the layout. I’m moving the town to a place more accessible and finishing up the engine house section. Cut a base for it that I’ve been trying to get to. Lots of work. Oh and changing some track work. 
Here is a lead tree that I painted and flocked in 1972 with my brother. I like keeping pieces of my train history like this on todays layout.
Lovindemtrains
Pretty sure I remember your post from a few years ago regarding the creek bed.
I am very impressed with your ability to realistically compress real life to O scale.
I find it to not be easy, but you are definitely achieving that with a slow, well thought out slow roll approach to realism.
Very good stuff. I enjoy your posts.
Dan
Thank you kindly Dan. You are correct with it being slow at times. That's because I am still learning and have had to take a step back at times.
Dave
Just took in a movie.....
@gandydancer1950 posted:Just took in a movie.....
That’s an awesome marquee! Is it custom made?
My grandson asked why the water was not blue as opposed to bare plywood. There is some motivation to make some progress. Filled in the gaps in the seawall with mortar mix. Decided to try the toilet paper method for water. I did not want a lot of texture to the water nor did I want to lay down 10 coats of ModgePodge. 2ply extra soft TP did not work out so well, so off that came, replaced with paper towel sheets glued down with 50/50 mix. When its wet enough its relatively easy to make little ripples - takes a bit of practice. Next day came back with 5 acrylic paint colors. Once the rest of the scene is done I'll go back with high gloss water based varnish, and then drybrush the wave crests.
Reasonably pleased with the water for a first attempt. I may pull off the extra paint on the walls, but its really hard to see given the lighting in the area. Plus there will be a tug and barge in front so will not be able to see much anyway.
@pennsyfan posted:That’s an awesome marquee! Is it custom made?
No, I wish it was...it's an old movie theatre from a source named BJ Traction Models
After seeing all of the amazing work everyone is doing, this is just a video to document the first time I ever ran three trains simultaneously on a layout - even though this is only a temporary layout on the carpet of an unused bedroom. I'm planning out what will eventually be a prewar-postwar layout full of 100% pure toy goodness. Realism will be banned, and that ban shall be strictly enforced. For now I'm learning as I go what trains work with what before I build something permanent. I want to set up a curvy track in the middle for my bump-and-go trolley. Top loop is a Marx #62 A-A pulling a Marx freight. Outside loop is a Lionel 262E pulling my three prewar cars. Inside loop is a Lionel 4-4-2 Atlantic with a freight.
Nice LIRR BEEP diesel.
Walter/RMT
@coach joe posted:I just finished wiring the two loops with two power drops for each loop. It's not much but i can run two trains. Scenery and structures will change dependent upon what's on the tracks.
Looks good Joe! 
The cat seems interested too.....
Bob
Playing around with scrap balsa.......testing out scribing sidewalk lines and trying out color....
I may need to go a little heavier in the scribing of the lines.......
Peter
@chris a posted:Jeff, Yes very interesting thought about the loading dock roof angle. I thought about the waterfall, then contemplated extending it further over the edge of the boxcars, but the geometry didn't really work out with the loading dock height.
Just an FYI - I read a bunch of posts about adhesives for gluing wood to the old Korber Resin walls. I ended up with 4 braces on each of the 4 walls, and decided I wasn't donating that much Gorilla Super Glue to the project. I ended up using the traditional Gorilla Glue that you activate with water. I just aggressively scribed gouges into the inside of the Korber wall, removed all the factory red paint, and then clamped the wood braces under the Gorilla glue. In my case I had a good size bottle that I need to keep using before it ages out.
Chris & Jeff (and all)......when you are putting a loading dock roof on, test out the cars you may want to spot there. Each manufacturer has a different idea of height. For this TW TrainWorx building, I knew that I wanted to use scale cars......so, I realized that the roadbed had to go... If I was sticking with RailKing ot PostWar boxcars, it would have been fine with roadbed......
Have a great and safe week, everyone!
Peter
@Putnam Division posted:Playing around with scrap balsa.......testing out scribing sidewalk lines and trying out color....
I may need to go a little heavier in the scribing of the lines.......
Peter
Peter, that looks interesting. Please continue to share your results.
Jay
Started tearing down the layout over 21 years of joy. I am getting older now, and I have had my fun. Everyone on this forum contributed to my layout with your info, help, and encouragement. I could not have built this wonderful layout with out this OGR Forum. I consider everyone on this forum as a true and trusted friend over the years. Below is a link,(you can also hit the word link) to the layout that the local PBS station did on the layout last year. I hope you enjoy it and have a safe and blessed Memorial Day.
An added note to the above, please contact via email me if you are interested in purchasing any items I might have.
@Roger Wasson posted:Started tearing down the layout over 21 years of joy. I am getting older now, and I have had my fun. Everyone on this forum contributed to my layout with your info, help, and encouragement. I could not have built this wonderful layout with out this OGR Forum. I consider everyone on this forum as a true and trusted friend over the years. Below is a link,(you can also hit the word link) to the layout that the local PBS station did on the layout last year. I hope you enjoy it and have a safe and blessed Memorial Day.
Roger, are you moving? Are you going to build another layout?
@Mark Boyce posted:Roger, are you moving? Are you going to build another layout?
No not moving, I turned 78 yesterday and thought while I am still able I better do it now and not leave it to my kids. It took a while to get started by now I am progressing slowly on it. It has and is a great hobby that I really enjoy.
@Roger Wasson posted:Started tearing down the layout over 21 years of joy. I am getting older now, and I have had my fun. Everyone on this forum contributed to my layout with your info, help, and encouragement. I could not have built this wonderful layout with out this OGR Forum. I consider everyone on this forum as a true and trusted friend over the years. Below is a link,(you can also hit the word link) to the layout that the local PBS station did on the layout last year. I hope you enjoy it and have a safe and blessed Memorial Day.
Roger, what a labor of love! Such a beautiful layout, thank you for sharing the link.
Gene
@Roger Wasson posted:No not moving, I turned 78 yesterday and thought while I am still able I better do it now and not leave it to my kids. It took a while to get started by now I am progressing slowly on it. It has and is a great hobby that I really enjoy.
Roger, I totally get it! I'm 10 years younger than you, but have had 3 orthopedic surgeries, and have started to think about my layout of only 5 years in the building stage. It is much smaller than yours, so I will keep on, but also have thought about thinning my engine and rolling stock collection.
I have really enjoyed seeing your layout and the ingenuity behind it. Solid Rock Railroad certainly describes it physically and our faith as well!! God bless !!!
@Mark Boyce posted:Roger, I totally get it! I'm 10 years younger than you, but have had 3 orthopedic surgeries, and have started to think about my layout of only 5 years in the building stage. It is much smaller than yours, so I will keep on, but also have thought about thinning my engine and rolling stock collection.
I have really enjoyed seeing your layout and the ingenuity behind it. Solid Rock Railroad certainly describes it physically and our faith as well!! God bless !!!
Thank you Mark for your kind words. It will take a while to do this, but as I remove something, there is a great memory behind why it was there.
Comments/ideas requested - Grain silo
The grain silo is now in a mock-up version. The building and dog houses are temporary foam board glue-ups. My original idea was to place the building at the base of the dock - unloading would be on the track behind it and loading in front and eventually into a waiting barge. I was surprised to see prototypes loading the grain hoppers without any type of overhead weather covering. I happened to have an Atlas low side hopper which has the opening roof doors, with 2 more arriving shortly. The building hides a portion of the town. My option here is to move the town around the corner.
The CEO came down to inspect progress and suggested I move the building to another location. It fits well and solves the issue of being a major visual distraction/attraction. However the tracks are not sidings.
So its use the new location and rework a portion of the track and dock area or stay with the first location and move the town. What do you all think? (first photo is the new location)
@Roger Wasson posted:Started tearing down the layout over 21 years of joy. I am getting older now, and I have had my fun. Everyone on this forum contributed to my layout with your info, help, and encouragement. I could not have built this wonderful layout with out this OGR Forum. I consider everyone on this forum as a true and trusted friend over the years. Below is a link,(you can also hit the word link) to the layout that the local PBS station did on the layout last year. I hope you enjoy it and have a safe and blessed Memorial Day.
Wonderful tribute with a great story. Thanks for sharing Roger. Many of us hope to build a layout as wonderful as yours. I for one, like you, want to be be the one to take it down. I'm sure some great memories will come with doing that.
Dave
Too many ideas and "what ifs" floating around in my head, so I went ahead and partially finished the engine shed, the grain silo/terminal, waterfront, and warehouse. The warehouse is a cardboard box with printed paper sides to give me an idea of scale and positioning. Eventually I'll draw up plans and have this laser cut for the final build. At this point I can move buildings around to see what works and what doesn't.
One of my major challenges was how to get the water scene to look right if it wrapped around the inside access. As built the water level is 4 inches above the yard tracks. It was not until I realized I could use the freight house to block the water height problem that I felt I had a reasonable build. It is 3 stories on the yard side but 2 stories on the water side. With this solution I would have made the dock walls 2 inches tall instead of the current 3.5 inches.
Jeff, I like the new location for the grain silos. It doesn't look like you would have room to move the town around there. The warehouse looks good there and would shield seeing the dock when viewed from across the layout!!
@luvindemtrains posted:Wonderful tribute with a great story. Thanks for sharing Roger. Many of us hope to build a layout as wonderful as yours. I for one, like you, want to be be the one to take it down. I'm sure some great memories will come with doing that.
Dave
@luvindemtrains @Roger Wasson Roger thanks for sharing the video, I'll have to look up the OGR article. Aside from thinning the herd, I don't think I can take down my layout without looking forward to building another. I enjoy the distraction of planning, building and running trains too much to have that aspect cut off. But, who can predict how I will feel in another 10 years when I catch up with you.
Regardless, thanks for posting 'food for thought" and Best Wishes... Jeff
Roger…Yikes…I am 77 and still building my little 5’x9’ layout.
Trees have overgrown my shop today. Now to get them on the layout after they dry.
@ScoutingDad posted:Comments/ideas requested - Grain silo
The grain silo is now in a mock-up version. The building and dog houses are temporary foam board glue-ups. My original idea was to place the building at the base of the dock - unloading would be on the track behind it and loading in front and eventually into a waiting barge. I was surprised to see prototypes loading the grain hoppers without any type of overhead weather covering. I happened to have an Atlas low side hopper which has the opening roof doors, with 2 more arriving shortly. The building hides a portion of the town. My option here is to move the town around the corner.
The CEO came down to inspect progress and suggested I move the building to another location. It fits well and solves the issue of being a major visual distraction/attraction. However the tracks are not sidings.
So its use the new location and rework a portion of the track and dock area or stay with the first location and move the town. What do you all think? (first photo is the new location)
Jeff, the silos are a great idea. On my layout I’m looking to create the sense of distance. You could try smaller silos towards the back wall. Of course the compromise would be not having your grain cars in the vicinity. Nonetheless, your layout is coming together quickly and nicely.
Jay
Built an actuating rail for an American Flyer O gauge 474 dump car. And repainted the car red so it looks nicer.
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