What did you do on your layout today?

So today got off to a not so great start. Normally I go over to one of the guys houses to hang out and chat with the 2 railers. Except for the last month he has been on vacation, which was OK because it has been the height of football season. Today was the day we were supposed to meet again. It's about a half hour drive over to his place. My wife goes to a gym near there, so  I dropped her off.

I got to his house, but the door wasn't open like usual, and there was a strange car in the driveway. Uh Oh! The "four legged door bells" AKA dogs, announced my presence, and finally a groggy looking young man answered the door, and told me that Gary had decided to stay for a few more days.

All of this was at 9 AM. My wife's appointment with her trainer wasn't until 11 and she wouldn't be done til noon. We parked in front of a TV in the lobby, watched Face the Nation, and then the local news which was all about the Vikings (the only news story in town today, except the weather). Then we went upstairs. I met her trainer, and took off for Menards where I bought a couple bags of plaster, and a few electrical bits, using up the last $5 on a rebate check I've had in my wallet forever, and a bunch more. Returned to the gym just in time to pick her up. Got in just before 1.

Went downstairs and worked on the layout for a couple hours. Got the rest of that curved section covered with the plaster cloth. I raised a couple of industrial tracks over at the St Paul Park oil refinery. They were tilted way too much. They look better now. Tuesday, I'll continue the cardboard webbing and plaster cloth. Pics next time. Then it was time for the game.

Vikes rolled up 17 in the first half, then proceeded to roll over managing only a field goal and allowing the Saints to score 21. Let me say right here, the Vikings have broken my heart so many times over the years! It's going to happen yet again. I can just feel it.

The Vikings kick a FG and go up by 2, but leave too much time on the clock. Saints kick another one to retake the lead. Vikings get the ball with 25 seconds left on their own 25. A few plays later they are only out to their 39, something like 7 seconds left. Keenum throws the ball, Diggs gets behind the defenders, makes the catch, stays in bounds and completes the 61 yards in the end zone as the clock goes to zero!!! What an emotional roller coaster.

Probably not too many Saints fans here, but next week Philly! We're coming for you!!!

p51 posted:

I weathered a Bachmann excursion car and the scrapped remains of a busted up 2-6-0 and made it into a gondola load for the scrappers.

great work Lee!

Lee, another great project adding to the layout. Good detailing.............Paul

Shiloh posted:

The first picture is of an N Scale (3x4) layout, which sold on Craigslist within an hour of posting.  The reason for the N scale was the lack of room after downsizing into a smaller Townhouse.

The remainder of photographs are of a new Lionel "toy Train" layout (4x4) that I have just begun to build.

The wiring is "sandwiched" in a cavity between two pieces of plywood.  Removable side panels allow the access.  The advantage of this type of construction is that the layout can be placed on any flat surface, such as a table or even the floor.

If there is any interest, I will continue to post, as progress is made.

Have fun with the new layout! The layout I'm building has some similarities to yours, however a little bigger at 4' x 8'. It has 1-1/2" x 3" stringers underneath with foam weather stripping, which rests on top of our (former) dining room table. There are a number of holes drilled through those stringers for wiring. To install and maintain the wiring, I basically lift up one end and stick a 2"x4" to gain some room for working.

Vikes rolled up 17 in the first half, then proceeded to roll over managing only a field goal and allowing the Saints to score 21. Let me say right here, the Vikings have broken my heart so many times over the years! It's going to happen yet again. I can just feel it.

The Vikings kick a FG and go up by 2, but leave too much time on the clock. Saints kick another one to retake the lead. Vikings get the ball with 25 seconds left on their own 25. A few plays later they are only out to their 39, something like 7 seconds left. Keenum throws the ball, Diggs gets behind the defenders, makes the catch, stays in bounds and completes the 61 yards in the end zone as the clock goes to zero!!! What an emotional roller coaster.

Probably not too many Saints fans here, but next week Philly! We're coming for you!!!

Congrats on the win Elliot. I remember the Vikes from the Tarkenton days and they can give anyone heart failure.

Now.....here's the important part.....As a Giants fan I must make a request... the Vikings have only one job next week......CRUSH PHILLY!

Bob

Sunday was Train Show Day! A favorite event for my grandson and I, my wife and his dad joined us. We were there for about 3-1/2 hours, all had a good time. I had made a list of parts and pieces I needed, actually got everything I was looking for, including a loose "Mighty Sounds of Steam" tender ($5.00) to go with a junk box 8142 that we picked up last summer. Of course, there ended up being an unplanned purchase: four disassembled Lionel plastic bodied passenger cars that someone appeared to have tried painting to UP yellow with gray roofs. A low enough price to more than make them a great project to work on with the little guy.

Now to do a little research into taking the paint off the plastic shells without damaging them. I'm not 100% sure, but the way the yellow looks it reminds me of the Testors' model paint I used to use on model cars.

John D. posted:

Well it was only a matter of time before Mitch's twisted sense of humor started to wear off on us

Great job on the improvised Halloween train John. Can't wait to see next years train!

Bob

p51 posted:

I weathered a Bachmann excursion car and the scrapped remains of a busted up 2-6-0 and made it into a gondola load for the scrappers.

Great job once again Lee

Bob

John D. posted:

See anyone you know?

And here are the rest of the cars we bought.  These will become Halloween and Christmas small-town parade floats someday.  They'll be local business and clubs from our life.  The red/grey work caboose will probably end up as Santa.

Well scrounged!  And Fortescue seems to be having the time of his life!   

Mark Boyce posted:

Mitch should be proud, John!  

I am!  I am!   

Mitch 

Out shopping most of the day yesterday with the bride looking for new sofas for our family room. Slight progress was made but no money changed hands yet.

When we got home I did a little tinkering before dinner. I have 5 K-line switchers, 2 S-2's, and 3 MP-15's. Anyone who has K-line diesels know how they take off like a rocket when you put power to the tracks. I've been trying to decide between wiring the motors in series and adding diodes to slow them down. Well I went with the series wiring, did the S-2's last night. It did help quite a bit. I can actually spot cars with them now without crashing through the bumpers at the end of my spurs. Note to self- be careful with plastic bags around hot soldering irons..

Oh- ran trains and enjoyed a couple of glasses of Scotch too

I'll do the MP-15's today, hopefully with similar results.

Taking the Christmas tree down today so it's time for the final run for the Polar Express until next year. 

Bob

Brian, I sure like the pictures you put up! Thanks!

Yes Mike, Brian must have a million of them by now!! 

Mark Boyce posted:

Yes Mike, Brian must have a million of them by now!! 

You know Mark, from the looks of it once he gets his outside layout done, it will be time to build another building for all the rest of the trains he has!

Slowhands posted:

Sunday was Train Show Day! A favorite event for my grandson and I, my wife and his dad joined us. We were there for about 3-1/2 hours, all had a good time. I had made a list of parts and pieces I needed, actually got everything I was looking for, including a loose "Mighty Sounds of Steam" tender ($5.00) to go with a junk box 8142 that we picked up last summer. Of course, there ended up being an unplanned purchase: four disassembled Lionel plastic bodied passenger cars that someone appeared to have tried painting to UP yellow with gray roofs. A low enough price to more than make them a great project to work on with the little guy.

Now to do a little research into taking the paint off the plastic shells without damaging them. I'm not 100% sure, but the way the yellow looks it reminds me of the Testors' model paint I used to use on model cars.

Don't know what kind of paint it is, but I have been successful soaking tinplate and litho cars in a heavy solution of laundry detergent. It takes a while

but usually you can take  a stiff brush to them after a week or so and the paint will come right off.

John

beardog posted:

Slowhands posted:

Sunday was Train Show Day! A favorite event for my grandson and I, my wife and his dad joined us. We were there for about 3-1/2 hours, all had a good time. I had made a list of parts and pieces I needed, actually got everything I was looking for, including a loose "Mighty Sounds of Steam" tender ($5.00) to go with a junk box 8142 that we picked up last summer. Of course, there ended up being an unplanned purchase: four disassembled Lionel plastic bodied passenger cars that someone appeared to have tried painting to UP yellow with gray roofs. A low enough price to more than make them a great project to work on with the little guy.

Now to do a little research into taking the paint off the plastic shells without damaging them. I'm not 100% sure, but the way the yellow looks it reminds me of the Testors' model paint I used to use on model cars.

Don't know what kind of paint it is, but I have been successful soaking tinplate and litho cars in a heavy solution of laundry detergent. It takes a while

but usually you can take  a stiff brush to them after a week or so and the paint will come right off.

John

Powdered detergent and water......

RSJB18 posted:

Vikes rolled up 17 in the first half, then proceeded to roll over managing only a field goal and allowing the Saints to score 21. Let me say right here, the Vikings have broken my heart so many times over the years! It's going to happen yet again. I can just feel it.

The Vikings kick a FG and go up by 2, but leave too much time on the clock. Saints kick another one to retake the lead. Vikings get the ball with 25 seconds left on their own 25. A few plays later they are only out to their 39, something like 7 seconds left. Keenum throws the ball, Diggs gets behind the defenders, makes the catch, stays in bounds and completes the 61 yards in the end zone as the clock goes to zero!!! What an emotional roller coaster.

Probably not too many Saints fans here, but next week Philly! We're coming for you!!!

Congrats on the win Elliot. I remember the Vikes from the Tarkenton days and they can give anyone heart failure.

Now.....here's the important part.....As a Giants fan I must make a request... the Vikings have only one job next week......CRUSH PHILLY!

Bob

Bob, you are hereby an honorary Vikings fan. Welcome aboard the Super Bowl express. Hang onto your hat, it's always a bumpy ride!

Elliot, a/k/a Big Boy 4005, I just saw your photo on your profile. Were  you featured in the McComas Tuoy video about Entertrainment at the Mall of America?

Arnold

Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Elliot, a/k/a Big Boy 4005, I just saw your photo on your profile. Were  you featured in the McComas Tuoy video about Entertrainment at the Mall of America?

Arnold

Yup Arnold. That's me. I try not to mention it too much around here, in favor of talking about my current project, but it's not taboo. A good bit of recycling has gone into this layout. I'm always looking for ways to use what was salvaged, but some things just won't do, like all the trains are new for this layout.

Ok Elliot I'm in. Gotta go buy some purple stuff now. 😂🏈

Thanks

Me too. This thread has convinced me to root for the Vikings too.

Elliot, since the miraculous Vikings playoff win made you so happy, and a Super Bowl trophy for the Vikings would make you much more happy, I will also root passionately for the Vikings to win the upcoming Super Bowl. (I otherwise have no dog in the fight, being a Giants fan.) Bob's comment also makes sense: a Vikings win would be sweet revenge against the Eagles. All of the Giants and Eagles games are "take no prisoners brawls."

The McComas & Tuoy video of you, Elliot, running the many trains simultaneously at Entertrainment, is fabulous. In that video you express tremendous love and enthusiasm for our hobby, which inspired me and thousands (maybe millions) of adults and children, helping to keep us all out of trouble.

The videos that most stand out in my mind in that 6 video set, are your Entertrainment layout, the video of Phil Klopp's layout and Bruce Manson's layout called Pennsylvania Suite, and the video about Clarke Dunham. I now have this 6 video set on DVDs that I treasure. Playing these videos many times over the years has brought much joy to me and my family and friends.

I also played the YouTube videos, Elliot, of the beautiful layout you are in the process of building, and it looks very impressive.

Arnold

In the new found spirit of “less is more, FrankM style”:

“And my Thanks to Ron 045 for your good natured comment. How about this for another example of "less is more"?

NOT! ”

I sceniced a few telephone poles for sometime down the road.  I sure hope that they don’t clash with my floral carpet central!! 

Nothing today, however, yesterday I fixed an electrical problem on the Mountain Division, connected some scenery lighting, ran trains, created a new scene for Team Track Tuesday thread, took photos, and had BIG FUN!!  

                        Shoveled SNOW !   again...

    nmp...                                                                   NEED one of these !!

                                                            lunch run...

Frank, very nice job on the poles. Slow day but a promising evening. Wife has a Cavs game. Been gluing down prairie tuffs  today. I think I got almost halfway down the stream toward to pond. Got to take the wife to a doctor appointment this afternoon but when we get back to the bat cave ( basement ) to keep on gluing. Pics. Sorry I don't think I have a camera that takes a good close up...........Paul

          looks GREAT Paul  !!

Frank, I sure am glad I don't have to clean those gutters!

Patrick, I sure hope someone with the RR knows that truck is on the crossing! LOL

Brian, I bet you could build one of those~!

Paul, Brian is correct, Looks GREAT! Be safe out in the cold!

RSJB18 posted:

John D. posted:

Well it was only a matter of time before Mitch's twisted sense of humor started to wear off on us

Great job on the improvised Halloween train John. Can't wait to see next years train!

Bob

Bob,

Thank you for the compliment. 

Oh, also...GO EAGLES!

After debating with myself I said just go for it.  I love the roller coaster in the amusement park and had it running like a fine oiled machine.  The one thing I hated about it was the plastic base and the shinning plastic look.  So I took the plunge and took it off the layout after carefully documenting what holes were used for each pole.  Put down some foam to give it a little bit of curvature and carefully sprayed the base down with adhesive and rolled the grass mate over the top of it.  Then even more carefully sprayed the beams with some dull coat trying my best not to get any on the track.  Then with a dry paintbrush went over all of the rivets with just a little black paint in order to have them stand out.  Got it back into place and with about 30 minutes of adjustments it is back to running.  Before and after pics below....

paul 2 posted:

Frank, very nice job on the poles. Slow day but a promising evening. Wife has a Cavs game. Been gluing down prairie tuffs  today. I think I got almost halfway down the stream toward to pond. Got to take the wife to a doctor appointment this afternoon but when we get back to the bat cave ( basement ) to keep on gluing. Pics. Sorry I don't think I have a camera that takes a good close up...........Paul

Paul.. son.. Its looking great !! I really like your updates !!

WOW Brian in Ohio, looks like a totally different park setting! Great job!

Bryan, sometimes you have to stand back look at it, take a deep breath and take chance. You made a good call. Between the grass and the dullcote......much better.......Paul

Bob, I highly recommend the Stefon Diggs jersey today. Though Case Keenum and Adam Thielen are also very popular.  Then there's half the defense, three pro-bowlers there. For a smaller outlay, a knit hat or scarf will allow you to show your colors, and they're practical in the cold.

Thank you Arnold! There's room for everyone on the Vikings Express. BTW, the slogan for the playoff run is, Bring It Home!

When it comes to division rivalries, we have them too. We treat games against the Packers the same way, Bears and Lions slightly less so. Even though Green Bay is on the eastern side of Wisconsin, Packer backers come all the way up to the Minnesota line, and a few have managed to infiltrate our borders.

I'm so glad that Tom came out and shot that video 25 years ago, preserving the layout forever. I was only open for a little over a year, but in that time I had over 100,000 paid visits, so given all the time since then, it could be close to a million by now.

That layout was designed as a public display, trying to run as may trains as possible on nine independent loops, with different automated passing sidings. It never had the chance to fully mature, but we were running seventeen trains at a time.

This layout represents a totally different concept and set of challenges. I designed this one to be operated in a realistic manner. Gone are the loops in favor linear main lines. I'm modelling the real world, 60 miles of local railroads. There are two major goals with this. First to host regular operating sessions, and second, to achieve total automation of both tracks and trains. The ground work has been laid, but the devil is in the detail. Stay tuned.

Paul,

Work fast tonight because the way the cavs have been playing lately (very poorly) the wife won't be watching for long.  btw:  Ordered another ride from Menards as they are having quite a sale on the lemax stuff and even found those lights I was looking for yesterday.  Menards sells them under the name enchanted forest not lemax.  Was able to pick up 10 of them for 2.49 each. 

Big_Boy_4005 posted:

Bob, I highly recommend the Stefon Diggs jersey today. Though Case Keenum and Adam Thielen are also very popular.  Then there's half the defense, three pro-bowlers there. For a smaller outlay, a knit hat or scarf will allow you to show your colors, and they're practical in the cold.

Thank you Arnold! There's room for everyone on the Vikings Express. BTW, the slogan for the playoff run is, Bring It Home!

When it comes to division rivalries, we have them too. We treat games against the Packers the same way, Bears and Lions slightly less so. Even though Green Bay is on the eastern side of Wisconsin, Packer backers come all the way up to the Minnesota line, and a few have managed to infiltrate our borders.

I'm so glad that Tom came out and shot that video 25 years ago, preserving the layout forever. I was only open for a little over a year, but in that time I had over 100,000 paid visits, so given all the time since then, it could be close to a million by now.

That layout was designed as a public display, trying to run as may trains as possible on nine independent loops, with different automated passing sidings. It never had the chance to fully mature, but we were running seventeen trains at a time.

This layout represents a totally different concept and set of challenges. I designed this one to be operated in a realistic manner. Gone are the loops in favor linear main lines. I'm modelling the real world, 60 miles of local railroads. There are two major goals with this. First to host regular operating sessions, and second, to achieve total automation of both tracks and trains. The ground work has been laid, but the devil is in the detail. Stay tuned.

Awesome!

Elliot, when it comes time to do scenery for your layout, have you considered having a Viking's football field and stadium? Maybe you can animate it (this would be difficult) and show the miraculous pass play with 7 seconds to go in the last play of the last game. Or, you can model the Vikings during the era of the Purple People Eaters, with the dead bodies of the opposing team lying on the field. LOL

Actually Arnold, there is a way that I can have U.S Bank Stadium on the layout, more accurately as part of the backdrop. While it is still winter, I need to go up to Northtown (where the hump yard is) and get some shots of Downtown Minneapolis. Even though it's about five miles away, you can see it from there.

Unfortunately, this was a hazy day, and you can barely make out the skyline, but a nice crisp winter day should be much better.

These pics are old, and may have been taken while the Metrodome was still standing.

John D. posted:

RSJB18 posted:

John D. posted:

Well it was only a matter of time before Mitch's twisted sense of humor started to wear off on us

Great job on the improvised Halloween train John. Can't wait to see next years train!

Bob

Bob,

Thank you for the compliment. 

Oh, also...GO EAGLES!

Sorry John- can't "like" your reply

Big_Boy_4005 posted:

Actually Arnold, there is a way that I can have U.S Bank Stadium on the layout, more accurately as part of the backdrop. While it is still winter, I need to go up to Northtown (where the hump yard is) and get some shots of Downtown Minneapolis. Even though it's about five miles away, you can see it from there.

Unfortunately, this was a hazy day, and you can barely make out the skyline, but a nice crisp winter day should be much better.

These pics are old, and may have been taken while the Metrodome was still standing.

Having the Vikings stadium on the backdrop of your layout would be so cool. Very nice pictures.

The idea is to have things on the layout that you love.

A couple of months ago, I posted some pictures of my Yankee Stadium during Don Larsen's Word Series perfect game in 1956.  In case you missed them, I will send some of those pictures in a few minutes.

The scoreboard, fence with distances and monuments in centerfield are the only things that remotely appear like Yankee Stadium in 1956:

Here's s close up if the centerfield monuments with the faces of Lou Gehrig, Miller Huggins (Yankee manager in 1920s) and Babe Ruth on them:

The photos below are panoramic shots of my Popsicle Stick ball park, which could be any baseball field:

It was great fun making this with my daughter and son who were about 7 and 9 years old at the time.

RSJB18 posted:

John D. posted:

Well it was only a matter of time before Mitch's twisted sense of humor started to wear off on us

Great job on the improvised Halloween train John. Can't wait to see next years train!

Bob

Now I have the exact opposite opinion, Bob... looks like Fortesque has fled the Prairie Asylum for saner pastures!!! Either that, or he was chased out by Norma BK 

Arnold, Nice work on the ball field!  If it were me, I would have the ivy covered wall of Forbes Field.  No, I’ll never have room for a ball park. Thank you for the information on yours!

Table is complete and put a loop on it for my oldest to try out. It was a hit!

I widened it a bit by putting a 1x4 in the back supported by a few braces. Barely got into the shed! Maybe overengineered, but I like it.  Will run the electrical lines soon and throw on the siding and second loop (O27) when time allows.

It’s all worth it for your happy camper!!

Deuce posted:

Table is complete and put a loop on it for my oldest to try out. It was a hit!

I widened it a bit by putting a 1x4 in the back supported by a few braces. Barely got into the shed! Maybe overengineered, but I like it.  Will run the electrical lines soon and throw on the siding and second loop (O27) when time allows.

And I'll bet, dollars to donuts, one of those thumbs is on the horn button!!!

(What... no Met's Hat???)

Good productive evening. Took the evening to glue down all the prairie tuffs  along with some other ground foam. On the table I cleared off I cut some strips of plaster wrap. I ran a bead of white glue along the edge and pressed the strips into the glue. Going to see if this works to keep the plaster from lifting up at the edge of the plywood. So it's a wrap for the night. Tomorrow will be a good day seeing I do not have to go out till the evening. Pics. Close to the lens is still blurry.....................Paul

Worked on the small area between the Gilbert Compass and C.F. Dalton buildings. I got a lampost installed and did some scenery.

ZEKE, nicely done. Perspective is spot on. What building kits did you use and where did the building flat inthe back come from. Thanks............Paul

gandydancer1950 posted:

p51 posted:

I weathered a Bachmann excursion car and the scrapped remains of a busted up 2-6-0 and made it into a gondola load for the scrappers.

great work Lee!

Lee, another great project adding to the layout. Good detailing.............Paul

Great job once again Lee

Thanks a lot, guys!

Thanks Paul! The building on the right is a Korber apartment flat that I slightly modified. The one on the left is scratchbuilt. The building flat was cut out from a backdrop from Realistic Backgrounds. I bought it at York a couple of years ago. Scenic Express used to carry them. I don't know if they still do or not.

Apples55 posted:

Deuce posted:

Table is complete and put a loop on it for my oldest to try out. It was a hit!

I widened it a bit by putting a 1x4 in the back supported by a few braces. Barely got into the shed! Maybe overengineered, but I like it.  Will run the electrical lines soon and throw on the siding and second loop (O27) when time allows.

And I'll bet, dollars to donuts, one of those thumbs is on the horn button!!!

(What... no Met's Hat???)

More like both thumbs on the button

(What.... no engineers hat??? )

Just 'planted' the big tree to the right. Got it last week from a hobby shop in Portland, two of them, by Grand Central Gems. Wish they'd had more of them.

I should have stayed away from my trains today, I now have 3, count them three, AF prewar

streamliner motors sitting on my bench in various stages of disrepair. Any experts out there?

I was on this kick to get things back together and it all went to hell. I just moved the reversing switch on

one and three wires broke off. I just got a Flyer Minnehaha which has to be the ugliest, worst planned

train in existence. But I noticed that the motor looked very similar to the one in my tinplate Zephyr so

I put it in there. Not bad, but the bracket was still a little tall. The zephyr motor and the minnehaha motors

are from AF's cheap period, all rivets so taking apart is difficult and destructive. Where is that whiskey bottle?

HEY!

I want to see the toy postwar 4x4!    

Please 

Adriatic posted:

Apples55 posted:

Deuce posted:

Table is complete and put a loop on it for my oldest to try out. It was a hit!

I widened it a bit by putting a 1x4 in the back supported by a few braces. Barely got into the shed! Maybe overengineered, but I like it.  Will run the electrical lines soon and throw on the siding and second loop (O27) when time allows.

And I'll bet, dollars to donuts, one of those thumbs is on the horn button!!!

(What... no Met's Hat???)

More like both thumbs on the button

(What.... no engineers hat??? )

 

He loved not only hitting the horn and bell buttons, but throwing it in reverse.  I did take the advice of people on the forum and ordered a gondola with cargo, and once I put that on the track he had fun loading and unloading it. Funny enough, he'd stop the train at the far side of the track and say "We're about to cross the bridge" and then run the train again ... little does he know, I have a couple of girder bridges and one short extension bridge and I'll get them on the track tonight before he goes out to play again.

As for the engineer hat ... I thought about it, but the shop was about 25 degrees F last night ... I needed something to cover his ears!

Deuce posted:

As for the engineer hat ... I thought about it, but the shop was about 25 degrees F last night ... I needed something to cover his ears!

H'm.  Sommat like this, mebbe?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Conve...d-White/173098594247

Mitch 

Adriatic:  I love the expression on your son's face!  That, alone, says it all.

Paul Fischer

I've been assembling my first O-scale postwar layout during the past few months.  This past weekend I installed a Lionel Animated Newstand (I'm so juvenile and endlessly amused by the dog circling the fire hydrant) and discovered the wonders of the Lionel 022 switch's fixed voltage plug.

briansilvermustang posted:

 

 

 

 

 

Cool pair of cars Brian !

Packed away all the Christmas decorations and the Polar Express set until next Christmas. My layout is all 027 curves so it doesn't run on there.

Was planning to continue wiring my K-Line MP-15's in series but wound up taking the outside decorations down too. By the time I was done with that a glass of Scotch was all I wanted to look at.

Did manage to run trains for a while and have fun

Bob

                        CHEERS !! 

Bit the bullet and removed the roundhouse so we can install between-the-tracks flooring to match the rest of it.  Yup, like all B&B work on the CL&W, it's a PIA .... but needed.

Kerrigan posted:

Bit the bullet and removed the roundhouse so we can install between-the-tracks flooring to match the rest of it.  Yup, like all B&B work on the CL&W, it's a PIA .... but needed.

Well it sure sounds like your the man to get er done!

RSJB18 posted:

Packed away all the Christmas decorations and the Polar Express set until next Christmas. My layout is all 027 curves so it doesn't run on there.

Was planning to continue wiring my K-Line MP-15's in series but wound up taking the outside decorations down too. By the time I was done with that a glass of Scotch was all I wanted to look at.

Did manage to run trains for a while and have fun

Bob

  hic...

TedW posted:

RSJB18 posted:

Packed away all the Christmas decorations and the Polar Express set until next Christmas. My layout is all 027 curves so it doesn't run on there.

Was planning to continue wiring my K-Line MP-15's in series but wound up taking the outside decorations down too. By the time I was done with that a glass of Scotch was all I wanted to look at.

Did manage to run trains for a while and have fun

Bob

  hic...

More of a Johnnie Walker man

Fortescue's tipple of choice: 

Mitch 

As far as wine goes, this kinda sums it up

Very good BTW

  nmp's...

This last is, I think, a tribute to Tintin...

Mitch 

The "Lipton's Iced Tea" billboard is the perfect ironic touch.   

And I swear I heard that steamer go "chuff-chuff-hic!"  

Mitch 

Yeah, sometimes tea just ain't enough! LOL!

Zeke posted:

Yeah, sometimes tea just ain't enough! LOL!

Depends. Is it a Long Island Iced Tea? A couple of those would take just about anyone down!

briansilvermustang posted:

  nmp's...

Brian - The breadth of your collection is amazing and your ability to put your hands on any given train piece related to a current topic.  

Jim Beam Black is my favorite for now, based on value/taste.  I also like to try many of the small batch bourbons out there.  Also, lets not forget Irish Whiskey.  I almost forgot Canadian Whiskey, Crown Royal!!!!

PS Double X IPA's, Porters & Stouts are also tasty.

PPS  I don't operate trains and drink spirits.

Today a little bit of a number of things. Brewery tracks on hold till the switches get here. Table I cleared off is on hold till I order switches for it. So I found I needed to re glue some areas on both sides of the stream and pond. I added some ground turf to both sides of the track going to the bridge. I found my Phoenix Oil company and start putting that together. While parts were drying I added a roof to my Downtown Deco building. Done for the day. Tuesday night train get together. Pics............Paul

I got 8 or so whisky cars in a package deal for about a dollar each!    Still in the box because I didn't have any room on the old layout to park them! Have them stored in a bench seat storage seat so I don't know which ones I got! LOL 

Jim 

 EDIT:   And I got sent home early from work due to the weather!   WOO HOO more train time! 

RSJB18 posted:

As far as wine goes, this kinda sums it up

Very good BTW

Ok Bob, TMI!

Today, which is evident by the first picture, was a good day to work inside on the layout.

The remaining photographs show the subject matter of today's work, the Lionel Saw Mill.

This has always been one of my favorite accessories.  I've bought and sold several of these over the decades of layout building and dismantling.  Having such a small space, I have to make tough decisions on what will be included.  The Saw Mill did not take much thought,  I had to find a spot for it on the Porcupine Central.

Zeke- nice collection of themed cars.

Mitch- the sign should say: Long Island Iced Tea , especially after that train went by.

Bob

Shiloh,

that is an awesome name for a railroad.

alan graziano

Started weighting my Weaver 40' tank cars, actually so far not hard, however the first one I did was an old 48 footer  I picked up used twenty-five years ago. I think someone glued all the detail on and I couldn't get it apart. I drilled a small hole in the top underneath the fill cap, dropped in some lead shot and decided to pour white glue in there so the shot wouldn't move around and to add more weight. Not a good idea, glue started leaking out in several places above the trucks. looks like it finally stopped oozing out, I'll wait till it dries and see what happens. Delrin trucks so hopefully the glue will come off.

Clem 

Shiloh posted:

Today, which is evident by the first picture, was a good day to work inside on the layout.

The remaining photographs show the subject matter of today's work, the Lionel Saw Mill.

This has always been one of my favorite accessories.  I've bought and sold several of these over the decades of layout building and dismantling.  Having such a small space, I have to make tough decisions on what will be included.  The Saw Mill did not take much thought,  I had to find a spot for it on the Porcupine Central.

Neat little railroad. love the name too!

Bob

Well, today, I installed an MTH Z-1000 in place of my old ZW to power the rails. The ZW will continue to run accessories for now. Not sure why I love the darn thing, but I do.

Anyway, the process of installation (with barrel connector from MTH) caused a hiccup with the TIU. Whodathunk?

But with a can of compressed air and a few Hail Mary's, and I was back in business. 

-- Dr Joe

Zeke posted:

NOW I KNOW WHY WE ARE STILL INTO TRAINS AT OUR AGES!!!!!!!

darlander posted:

Zeke posted:

NOW I KNOW WHY WE ARE STILL INTO TRAINS AT OUR AGES!!!!!!!

Awesome!    I need to find a few of those myself!   

Jim 

I dug mine out of storage so I could take a picture of them.   Still in the box as new.   I took one out to look at it.  Its the one without the plastic wrap.WILD TURKEY.    AND I wanted to show what I got done so far.  FINALLY got that 13.5 inch x 3 foot fill in piece put in and finished!   : ) 

RSJB18 posted:

Packed away all the Christmas decorations and the Polar Express set until next Christmas. My layout is all 027 curves so it doesn't run on there.

Was planning to continue wiring my K-Line MP-15's in series but wound up taking the outside decorations down too. By the time I was done with that a glass of Scotch was all I wanted to look at.

Did manage to run trains for a while and have fun

Bob

I packed away the North Pole Central and Hallmark Toymaker, but the Polar Express is still on the tracks.  I put the PE characters on with some temporary sticky stuff I bought at York.  The engineer fell out in the front of the layout, and the fireman stuck in place well, until I noticed he was missing last night.  I found him in the middle of the tunnel, and used a back scratcher to pull him out.  I've already planned the new layout to never have that kind of problem.  And Oh, the sticky stuff.  I'm not impressed.  It may work sticking a person to the sidewalk, but not on a vibrating train.

Paul, That is a lot of projects you have going at once!!!  

I think the between tracks wetlands look great!  They look ready to have a stork or heron standing in there. 

Mark Boyce posted:

Paul, That is a lot of projects you have going at once!!!  

I think the between tracks wetlands look great!  They look ready to have a stork or heron standing in there. 

I am thinking flamingos

beardog posted:

Mark Boyce posted:

Paul, That is a lot of projects you have going at once!!!  

I think the between tracks wetlands look great!  They look ready to have a stork or heron standing in there. 

I am thinking flamingos

I like how you are thinking!!

Good day today. I started by finishing an electrical project that Patrick and I started last Sunday. I extended the near conduit across the floor, and up the leg on the far right (out of frame).

Then down about 8' to this box. These outlets are switched for accessory power, specifically C/MRI, though I can also use it for under layout lighting.

The switch on the left is track power only. The one on the right is for everything else, security cameras, C/MRI, etc. Ended up adding a box extension due to the additional wires. I still need a couple more outlets on this circuit, but they will be extended and fed from an existing box at the end of the pipe on the left.

Once that was done, I went back to work on filling in between the tracks. I had to add a couple more of my stapling strips to the backdrop.

Then I started filling in. No plaster cloth today. I'll do another batch Thursday.

When I told my wife that I needed something to mix plaster in that would clean up easily. She found this silicone cookware set on Amazon for $14. It's perfect.

Dr Joe,

  From an engineering stand point what did you accomplish taking the old ZW with all it's power and 4 Channels off line, for running with a Z-1000.  I like the Z-1000 however running DCS the old ZW with a 10 Amp resettable Breaker gives you so many more operating options.

PCRR/Dave

Scotty we always need more power!

After receiving a lot of input on my water color, I am trying a new color that I like much better,  The thing that finally convinced me was watching some videos on YouTube where they used this color for the base coat and then added the clear resin on top.  It gave the water that greenish/brown color common in Midwest rivers and the top surface reflected the sky and surrounding giving it that blue cast that I like.

I painted my river base tonight and took these pictures while it was still wet.

It gives me a much more realistic base color and feel that I may be on the right track now.

Art

Mark Boyce posted:

beardog posted:

Mark Boyce posted:

Paul, That is a lot of projects you have going at once!!!  

I think the between tracks wetlands look great!  They look ready to have a stork or heron standing in there. 

I am thinking flamingos

I like how you are thinking!!

One must be careful with flamingos tho, they tend to multiply and they are very

sneaky, blending in around local diners

SHILOH, I bought a Lionel Saw Mill a while back. I seen one on a Postwar layout on youtube and thought it was cool. It looked like it would be a fun accessory to have on my layout I'm planning to build. The Log Loader looks like fun, also!

Rusty

Art,

Your layout scene looks fantastic.

Alan Graziano