briansilvermustang posted:

 

Uff Da...

TedW posted:

briansilvermustang posted:

 

Uff Da...

OOPS!  That doesn't look like a manufacturing defect to me.  Could alcohol be involved? HMMM!

I went and found a few gremlins on my main lines that I had been struggling with.  Seems one of my relays had gotten flipped, not sure how or why but it did.   I kind of felt like I was looking for a needle in a haystack but at least I found it.

I also found a loose solder joint that was causing a dead spot.  At least now trains can run, both directions on my railroad.

p51 posted:

I didn't really like the path that led to the back door of one of my stations. So yesterday, I ripped out a path, relayed in real dirt from the area that I'm modeling, and added some static grass along each side. I think it looks much better than it did before, and these little projects are making the layout look one little bit more realistic at a time.

Here's the before and after...

great work. I use real dirt on my layout also because to me....nothing looks like real dirt like "real dirt".  I have a layout photo in the current issue of OGR.

Got the baggage and combine/dormitory done for my Golden State consist. So now it's all together and running behind my MTH Premier SP 4449.

Chris, slow and easy as they say! Get it the way you want it so you are happy!

ART, sure sounds like you have been busy, I cant wait to see the up coming pictures!

Mitch, it sure is nice you are able to do simple repairs yourself! Great idea!

Brian, I swear you must have one of every engine ever built! I am jealous !

Lee, You sure cant beet real DIRT! Looks great!

LOU1985, Great work on the cars and such a nice wonderful little video's!

It was a very hot day, so I stayed inside and painted a few more (48) Seated People.  My new paints arrived on Saturday, and I tried a violet with flat white added.  It gave me one more color variation for the people's clothes.

Oh wait, I'm supposed to be working on another project: bedroom remodeling.  I must be procrastinating when I paint.  I have boxed up all the Preiser 65602 people and I am ready to begin major cleaning  --- unfortunately with minor energy. 

Sincerely, John Rowlen

Finished building problem, jinxed, ore tipple. Murphy's Law applied applied. Put first paint coat on after fitting chute door is and their borrowed hardware (from another kit). Should build a shaft house kit to serve it and call it Murphy's Jinx Mine.

briansilvermustang posted:

                                  WOW Chris !!       looking GREAT ! 

                                            really nice scene !      like it !

Chris,

This is one heck of a project and scene. The retaining walls are amazing. You are creating a masterpiece before our eyes. Thanks for posting.

Dave

gandydancer1950 posted:

p51 posted:

 

great work. I use real dirt on my layout also because to me....nothing looks like real dirt like "real dirt".  I have a layout photo in the current issue of OGR.

Thanks! The funny part is once the glue dried, the surface cracked in several places (very thin cracks). I actually like how it looks, as I model the summer time and it could be an area that had dried too fast after a rain previously. I don't think I'm going to fix that.

I matched paint to that dirt when I was making the scenery original (you should have seen the look at the gal at Home Depot's face when I asked her if she could match it, though she said it was far from the strangest thing she'd had to match). When I had the scenery forms done, I painted everything but the track in that color, using it partially as an adhesive for the gravel and ground foam. Once I was done with the ground foam and such, I ripped up a few spots to put down real soil from the area. I also got a few small rocks, which I also placed into the scenery as well. My parents got me the jar or dirt/pebbles, from Dad's childhood home less than a mile from where the railroad would have run (if it'd existed in real life).

As for the magazine photo, you mean Run 300 – AUG/SEP 2018, right? I have a photo in that issue as well.

mike g. posted:

p51 posted:

gandydancer1950 posted:

p51 posted:

 

great work. I use real dirt on my layout also because to me....nothing looks like real dirt like "real dirt".  I have a layout photo in the current issue of OGR.

Thanks! The funny part is once the glue dried, the surface cracked in several places (very thin cracks). I actually like how it looks, as I model the summer time and it could be an area that had dried too fast after a rain previously. I don't think I'm going to fix that.

I matched paint to that dirt when I was making the scenery original (you should have seen the look at the gal at Home Depot's face when I asked her if she could match it, though she said it was far from the strangest thing she'd had to match). When I had the scenery forms done, I painted everything but the track in that color, using it partially as an adhesive for the gravel and ground foam. Once I was done with the ground foam and such, I ripped up a few spots to put down real soil from the area. I also got a few small rocks, which I also placed into the scenery as well. My parents got me the jar or dirt/pebbles, from Dad's childhood home less than a mile from where the railroad would have run (if it'd existed in real life).

As for the magazine photo, you mean Run 300 – AUG/SEP 2018, right? I have a photo in that issue as well.

mike g. posted:

Lee, You sure cant beet real DIRT! Looks great!

Thanks, Mike!

Lee it's Run 301. And if you get the digital version there are a few more photos at the end of the issue.

Lee, you have a way of making a scene that was very good and make it even better. Chris, one word awesome job. Today I got my order from Plastruct. They had a few things that will work on the top of my silos that I myself didn't want to mess with trying to make from scratch. Now if I could only get some layout time in instead of outdoor work. Pics............Paul

gandydancer1950 posted:

Lee it's Run 301. And if you get the digital version there are a few more photos at the end of the issue.

Oh cool! I don't subscribe to it (my wife goes a little bonkers when I pay for subscriptions as she thinks I subscribe to too much stuff already but doesn't notice if I buy issues individually). I'll keep an eye out and will likely buy a copy as OGR is pretty easy to find here (even a local Wal-Mart carries it).

paul 2 posted:

Thanks, that means a great deal! I'm at a point where I am looking at very small portions of the layout and asking myself, "Does this make sense?" When it doesn't, things get changed.

I finally got a turnout switch in over the long weekend 

This is not today.  I have just had a chance to post "Matter's Mill", which will be renamed, and Gray's Elevator, an AMB kit  for a grain elevator, which was named.  Matter's Mill was bashed from an undershot wheel to an overshot one, and a flume was added, and other details were tweeked.  Gray's Elevator got its hoist house moved to the center of the roof, and other tweeks.

Lee, congratulations on the new siding on your layout!!

Colorado, the elevator and mill look great!

Mark Boyce posted:

Lee, congratulations on the new siding on your layout!!

Colorado, the elevator and mill look great!

Thanks mark this is my first O scale layout it’s been a lot of fun maybe soon I can get some landscaping done so it won’t be naked 

Lee Dennen, congrats on your turn out! One leads to two and so on! LOL Keep her going!

COLORADO HIGHRAILER, Looks very nice, its always nice to kit bash something into what you really want!

mike g. posted:

Lee Dennen, congrats on your turn out! One leads to two and so on! LOL Keep her going!

COLORADO HIGHRAILER, Looks very nice, its always nice to kit bash something into what you really want!

Thanks Mike and yes I have another one to use

Fantastic job on the mill and elevator. 

Took advantage of an off day from work (heat index day) to start working on my next project...prison scene.

A couple of photos of how everything is starting to take shape.  (Mostly dry fitted) Still have to put wire on the posts,  barb wire (I ordered a week ago) for the top, static grass, workout area, and then populate.  

Ran my new favorite train...

Bryan in Ohio posted:

Took advantage of an off day from work (heat index day) to start working on my next project...prison scene.

A couple of photos of how everything is starting to take shape.  (Mostly dry fitted) Still have to put wire on the posts,  barb wire (I ordered a week ago) for the top, static grass, workout area, and then populate.  

Bryan, it's looking pretty good. it was a hot day for your school to be open. Just think how those people in that prison will think it's 100 degrees in those cells. But I'd watch out, that third floor is awful close to the fence. Those guys will be able to jump the fence and hop a train.   Tom SR.

Bryan, it is looking good. The fence works well with the building . Nice you had a day off to do it. I have not been able to work on mine because someone who shall remain nameless when he stopped to pick up his shirts texted me to say my grass needed cutting and the yard was looking shabby so I have been doing yard work all week so far and too tired when done for trains LOL..........Paul

Thanks Paul, and the best part is I just got the mail and surprise a package with my barbed wire was in there.  I know we talked about it since it was advertised for military dioramas and didn't have a scale on it but it looks perfect for o scale. Don't feel too bad I have to get my lawn cut tonight.

Ted, Nice photographs of your new favorite!

Bryan, Yes, the prison looks good.  And hot too.  I mowed grass Friday and Saturday; twisted my back, and had to wait until Tuesday to see the chiropractor.  It's getting better, but I'm waiting until it's cooler to mow.  BTW, I don't have a rider.

Brian, some nice pictures of the  Northern  Pacific!

Bryan In Ohio, Great work on the fence,  cant wait to see the finished pictures! Also great looking layout in the background!

Mark, Paul, Bryan I haven't mowed the lawn in about a month and a half! Mark I am sorry you threw your back out. Maybe you need a rider! LOL

Thank you Mike.  Actually I must have done it moving two boards into Dad’s shop.  Funny, I’ve been moving his stuff all summer cleaning out the garage, basement, shop, and it’s basement.  I brought a bunch of lumber Home for my layout.  A week earlier I put the ladder up to patch the roof of the two story house.  Never had any problems then.  You just never know, the smallest twist can do it,

I know Mark, I have had it happen just getting out of bed . Then on the floor for a week!

I finished adding working class lights to my Lionel RDG FM TrainMaster.  The project took a lot longer than I'd expected, because as it turned out, the Evan Designs LEDs I bought for the purpose were far, far too bright for class lights.  I had to figure out a way to dim them before they looked the way I wanted them to.

Bryan in Ohio posted:

Took advantage of an off day from work (heat index day) to start working on my next project...prison scene.

A couple of photos of how everything is starting to take shape.  (Mostly dry fitted) Still have to put wire on the posts,  barb wire (I ordered a week ago) for the top, static grass, workout area, and then populate.  

Bryan that's one cool building. I think I see a theme here coach. Seems like I see opportunity to play ball all around the layout, even for the freedomless, lol.

Dave

Received my MTH D&H coaches yesterday. The set includes a baggage, coach, observation and Vista Dome. Hope to get them on the track tonight.

Gonna put them behind this

unless a PA-1 ALCO should happen to fall into my lap

Today I am building a Railway Express Agency building to go at the entrance to my Chicago Union Station.  I bought a used Ameritown factory kit at the last DuPage show for $5 and had planned to make a packing plant model out of it, but I need an REA building first.   The building had been poorly put together so I just pulled it apart and will use the six modular panels in a straight line and make new sides and back for it.

I was researching REA and found that they were the nation's largest package delivery service for most of the time from 1918 until they went out of business in 1975.  When passenger trains died with Amtrak, so did REA.  I thought this would be a perfect business to be  located close to my busy passenger station.

Menard's announcement of new REA cars and trucks was great timing for me.

Art

last week.now 

first section cleared, getting ready for next phase of deconstruction.

Getting ready to build another layout based on the Tehachipi loop

Jushavnfun,  Wow!  what a difference!  Tehachipi Loop!  That sounds like a great idea to me!  What will the diameter of the loop be?  I will look froward to seeing what you do.

I believe I can do 96" with a 3% grade.

plan on the right is what I'm trying to do, based on a feature in model railroad mag, done in n scale, so we'll see.

lee drennen posted:

I finally got a turnout switch in over the long weekend 

Great work, Lee!

Jushavnfun posted:

last week.now 

first section cleared, getting ready for next phase of deconstruction.

Getting ready to build another layout based on the Tehachipi loop

Must feel liberating to clear the decks and to have a clear vision of what you want to build next!

As a newbie, and bereft of a layout so far, I am spending my time taking apart motors, E-Units, switches, and their components from junk I bought.I just renovated a 675 steamer that was rusted solid. The motor now runs beautifully, so I turned to the E-Unit, cleaned it up, rewired all the contacts, then hooked it up to the motor and it lay there, inert like my ex wife on our honeymoon. Now I had cleaned a lot of rust off all the parts (on the E-Unit, not my Ex) and the only thing I could figure was that the coil was compromised by corrosion. So with the kind advice of one of the seasoned experts on this forum I tested the coil by placing leads  on the contacts on either side of the switch...nothing.  I took another old E-Unit from my bone pile and tested that coil. BINGO, the pawl pulled in. There was joy in Mudville! So I remade the junk E-Unit with the good coil, being attentive to the finger contacts, and cursing the inventor a component that requires 3 hands to fix. Then I wired the working Unit to the motor and placed it on a segment of powered track and felt like I invented fire when the wheels spun.

Now you fellows did all this many years ago. It is all new to me. I have the electronic training of a History major, so I know alot more about the Visigoths than Volts, but that's changing.

Bob, Nice looking D&H coaches! They will look great on your layout!

Jushavnfun, all I can do is agree with Mark, WOW!

Pete, Its always nice to get some old forgotten stuff up and running again, Congrats!

Not my layout but I saw this on another railroad blog I follow. Neat old advertisement that I thought I would share here. The prices are amazing.

   nmp...                  just read about it too... 

briansilvermustang posted:

 

Hey Bob, go figure, Brian already has it! LOL

  hello Mike,  looks like Bob and I had the same breakfast reading material... 

                                          https://youtu.be/yskxmtyMvmI

Brian- looks like you follow Al's blog too

http://modelrailwaylayoutsplan...3f44d87491a53696eee4

                                sure do Bob,  some great articles...

                  http://modelrailwaylayoutsplan...b7b72e988783c0a69108

Inspired by the Electric Avenue thread,  I'm pulling bits from the parts box for my RDC-to-Silverliner train conversion.   

The options are:  traditional pantographs (left),  scale pantographs (right); 

Trolley poles; 

Or simply hook Fortescue to the overhead and call it good.   

I have three scale pantographs on hand which would cover the three car train, but they look a little oversized.   I'd have to source three traditional size pantographs (the one in the pic was 'borrowed' from a GG1) or six trolley poles (these were 'borrowed' as well) if I went that route.   

Somehow,  I don't think Fortescue would care much for his ossicones (not horns!) being wired to the overhead.  

Thoughts? 

Mitch 

RSJB18 posted:

Brian- looks like you follow Al's blog too

http://modelrailwaylayoutsplan...3f44d87491a53696eee4

LOL so do I and I didn't know you go by Rob! LOL

    must be his alius over there...

Mitch -  Fortescue would work. Seeing his "cones" sparking would be cool. Although PETA might not like it.

jim pastorius posted:

Mitch -  Fortescue would work. Seeing his "cones" sparking would be cool. Although PETA might not like it.

People For Eating Tasty Arthropods?  

https://wgme.com/news/local/pe...d-in-brunswick-crash

As for overhead devices,  Fortescue,  being made of solid plastic,  has a fair amount of resistance to any idea involving him being used as a pantogi-raffe.   

Mitch 

My first attempt at twisted trees 

mike g. posted:

RSJB18 posted:

Brian- looks like you follow Al's blog too

http://modelrailwaylayoutsplan...3f44d87491a53696eee4

LOL so do I and I didn't know you go by Rob! LOL

Easy there guys..... It's actually Bob or Bobby (CEO's choice), my mother always called me Robert. You can call me anything you like, just don't call me late for dinner

M. Mitchell Marmel posted:

Inspired by the Electric Avenue thread,  I'm pulling bits from the parts box for my RDC-to-Silverliner train conversion.   

The options are:  traditional pantographs (left),  scale pantographs (right); 

Trolley poles; 

Or simply hook Fortescue to the overhead and call it good.   

I have three scale pantographs on hand which would cover the three car train, but they look a little oversized.   I'd have to source three traditional size pantographs (the one in the pic was 'borrowed' from a GG1) or six trolley poles (these were 'borrowed' as well) if I went that route.   

Somehow,  I don't think Fortescue would care much for his ossicones (not horns!) being wired to the overhead.  

Thoughts? 

Mitch 

Gee Mitch- Fortesque has been a faithful companion/ assistant. Don't think he would take to kindly to being a live wire.

RSJB18 posted:

mike g. posted:

RSJB18 posted:

Brian- looks like you follow Al's blog too

http://modelrailwaylayoutsplan...3f44d87491a53696eee4

LOL so do I and I didn't know you go by Rob! LOL

Easy there guys..... It's actually Bob or Bobby (CEO's choice), my mother always called me Robert. You can call me anything you like, just don't call me late for dinner

             no worries 'bout being late for dinner,

                                         just ring the dinner bell when your hungry...

            could call it...    the "Chessie SYSTEM "  

M. Mitchell Marmel posted:

Inspired by the Electric Avenue thread,  I'm pulling bits from the parts box for my RDC-to-Silverliner train conversion.   

The options are:  traditional pantographs (left),  scale pantographs (right); 

Or simply hook Fortescue to the overhead and call it good.   

I have three scale pantographs on hand which would cover the three car train, but they look a little oversized.   I'd have to source three traditional size pantographs (the one in the pic was 'borrowed' from a GG1) or six trolley poles (these were 'borrowed' as well) if I went that route.   

Somehow,  I don't think Fortescue would care much for his ossicones (not horns!) being wired to the overhead.  

Thoughts? 

Mitch 

Mitch;

It’s not that the scale pantographs are oversized... it’s just that your cars are undersized  

If I were going to engage in applying inappropriate appendages to innocent RDC cars, I would vote for the traditional sized pantographs.

And I am shocked, shocked (for the second time this week, I might add) to find that you would suggest barbecuing Fortescue!!!

And now back to our regularly scheduled commentary...

imagined I had a layout...

holiday layouts coming soon!

briansilvermustang posted:

RSJB18 posted:

mike g. posted:

RSJB18 posted:

Brian- looks like you follow Al's blog too

http://modelrailwaylayoutsplan...3f44d87491a53696eee4

LOL so do I and I didn't know you go by Rob! LOL

Easy there guys..... It's actually Bob or Bobby (CEO's choice), my mother always called me Robert. You can call me anything you like, just don't call me late for dinner

             no worries 'bout being late for dinner,

                                         just ring the dinner bell when your hungry...

 

            could call it...    the "Chessie SYSTEM "  

Picked up the Menards Material handling facility. I bought it on a whim that I could use it as a coal loader. I thought the height would work but it is a tad too high. If I want it to possibly work I would have to take down the section of Masonite I put up on the back of the stairs in that area and paint the back of the stairs blue. I think it would fit then. I would rathe use it as a coal loader. But what's nice about the building is its versatility. .....meaning it will work anywhere. So I placed it on a siding in another area. I learned from experiance, be careful handling the railings they are fragile. I'll play with it some more after dinner. Also I saw on the shilling carton it was one of 3000.  Pics.....................Paul

Pics.....................Paul

Apples55 posted:

It’s not that the scale pantographs are oversized... it’s just that your cars are undersized 

If I were going to engage in applying inappropriate appendages to innocent RDC cars, I would vote for the traditional sized pantographs.

Agreed!   Any suggestions as to where an impoverished-but-honest modeler might lay hands on same?   

And I am shocked, shocked (for the second time this week, I might add) to find that you would suggest barbecuing Fortescue!!!

It's not barbecue,  it's pantogi-raffe!   

paul 2 posted:

Picked up the Menards Material handling facility. I bought it on a whim that I could use it as a coal loader. I thought the height would work but it is a tad too high.

But what's nice about the building is its versatility. .....meaning it will work anywhere. 

The size and color give me an idea.   How about here?  

Make a dandy guard tower!  

Mitch 

My nephew and I cleaned track and then ran a MTH railxar and the Lionel Commadore,

Jan

PS.  It had been awhile and took a lot of eblow action.

RSJB18 posted:

mike g. posted:

RSJB18 posted:

Brian- looks like you follow Al's blog too

http://modelrailwaylayoutsplan...3f44d87491a53696eee4

LOL so do I and I didn't know you go by Rob! LOL

Easy there guys..... It's actually Bob or Bobby (CEO's choice), my mother always called me Robert. You can call me anything you like, just don't call me late for dinner

No Problem Robby! From now on I will just stick with Bob! LOL

Paul, that sure is a great looking building! I agree the way it looks you could use it for almost anything! Even an Airport Tower! LOL

Took the day off, ran some trains, took some pictures and videos of them with my smartphone, and posted and replied like crazy on this Forum!

It was a very good day.

LOL, Arnold

Jushavnfun posted:

last week.now 

first section cleared, getting ready for next phase of deconstruction.

Getting ready to build another layout based on the Tehachipi loop

This morning before work I took off the layout and put these in  to storage. 

then I started deconstructing this section  

I'm off tomorrow so I'm gonna take this apart to get ready for new layout   all under the watchful eye of my job supervisors. 

LOL😂😂😂😂😂😂

Once again WOW!

M. Mitchell Marmel posted:

Apples55 posted:

It’s not that the scale pantographs are oversized... it’s just that your cars are undersized 

If I were going to engage in applying inappropriate appendages to innocent RDC cars, I would vote for the traditional sized pantographs.

Agreed!   Any suggestions as to where an impoverished-but-honest modeler might lay hands on same?   

Mitch 

So sorry, buddy, but all my traditional sized pants are firmly attached to a pair of traditional GG1’s and an EP5 (all unadulterated!!!). The only things I have in my parts box are a heap of Fastrack switch controllers from all my command control switches.

Well, I missed a lot!  

Yes it figures Brian would have one of this layout kits!  LOL

Bob, I’ll still call you Bob!

Mitch, interesting project on the new Gi-raffe Electric.  

Paul, That is an interesting compact loader you got from Menards.  It looks good there.

The grandchildren are spending the night. At grandpa’s house we run trains at bedtime.

Wait there is more…………

We read train books at bedtime. I like “Railroad Hank”.

Gary

sorry mitch, fresh out of pantographs

I still think those gi-raff horns would work

trainroomgary posted:

The grandchildren are spending the night. At grandpa’s house we run trains at bedtime.

…..Gary

OMG. They are so charming in their very apparent desire and determination to behave just perfectly so they can continue to enjoy the gift of being with you and your trains. Outstanding! It feels like a privilege, to me, to share in those photos with you, sir. Thank you. There is the very heart of our hobby.

FrankM

Trainroomgary, Sure looks like there was fun had by all! These are the moments that one remembers for a life time!

beardog posted:

sorry mitch, fresh out of pantographs

I still think those gi-raff horns would work

Or flamingos! 

Fortescue:  Okay, hold it!   Perfect!  

Freddy:  ...I dunno about this.  

Mitch 

trainroomgary posted:

The grandchildren are spending the night. At grandpa’s house we run trains at bedtime.

Wait there is more…………

We read train books at bedtime. I like “Railroad Hank”.

Gary

Gary your a cool grandpa. 

Gary, it is always good to see the possibility of future hobbists in the making but even better when they are family. Today for the first time in many days I am spending time on the layout. I think Mother Nature actually felt bad for me having to work outside and has said she will make it rain for the next few days. I started off in the brewery area drawing a line at the building tops so I could add black paint to where the building fronts will be. I was not planning to do any back lighting. I should be able to add the second coat in a bit and then I can move onto something else. Pics................Paul

Moonson posted:

trainroomgary posted:

The grandchildren are spending the night. At grandpa’s house we run trains at bedtime.

…..Gary

OMG. They are so charming in their very apparent desire and determination to behave just perfectly so they can continue to enjoy the gift of being with you and your trains. Outstanding! It feels like a privilege, to me, to share in those photos with you, sir. Thank you. There is the very heart of our hobby.

FrankM

Gary, As usual I thought it couldn't be said better than they way Frank says it!  But then I did have an addition.  You sir are the absolute prototype of what a train oriented grandpa should be!!  Having two daughters and no sons, I was never able to get any traction with the girls and trains.  To them, it's "Padre's hobby."   (No we aren't Catholic, we are Reformed Presbyterian.  The younger daughter has called me Padre ever since she took Spanish in junior high school) We have no grandchildren yet, and Grandma (Mrs. B) has been buying train stuff at thrift stores ever since the first of our daughters hit college.  I have a whole assortment of plastic trains (parts missing of course), books, DVDs, stuffed animals in RR attire, hats, bookbags, etcetera, etcetera!!  But you are the one who is giving lessons on how to train up a child!  Pun intended!!  

Paul, looks like you got a good start! Make sure you post some pictures when the building fronts are in place! Oh by the way, that's what rain gear is for! LOL

Today am weathering the ore chute.  Am interested in postings above about bashing an RDC.  Have accumulated shells to bash shorties into a scale length RDC-3, not RDC-1 or 2, but 3. Have worried which available shells are scale in width?  Length will involve cutting and splicing.  This on, but way down, my to-do list.

Mike, been raining all day here but I don't need raingear in the basement LOL. It actually feels good to get things accomplished again. I got the second coat of black on and painted around the corner because I will down the road be putting a building there. While the paint was drying I went back to my Downtown Deco building I had been working on and added the signs. After dinner I glue in the doors and windows. Also glued the plastic in for the roof. When that's dry I can glue the black paper to it, add the chimneys and a roof sign for the Tabacco shop. I laid a flat against the black to see how it will eventually look. But I think before I start gluing them in place I am going to see if Michaels carries thin clear plastic which I can cut into strips and glue them on the back side of the windows. Pics............Paul

Finished deconstruction of layout . Took remaining accessories and put them in storage, lCleaned track,  Took up 300' gargraves track & switches, sorted by style,  pulled & sorted wire connection, took of and organized landscaping,  ran shopvac to remove ballast, and put a coat of paint over table so I can start new Tehachipi loop layout next week. 

This will be my 9th layout design in 23 years. This is what Ireally like to do is design and build layouts. 

5:30am

noon. 

3 PM 

Go west young man.....

Got some landscaping done today started working on my coal yard 

Well I was moving along pretty good. Working on the building. Got most of the front doors and windows in. Glued the black paper down to the roof. Was going to glue in the back doors and I can't find them. I don't know if I had a senior moment. I thought I painted everything. Now I can't find them. So I went back over and started playing with the fronts to get the best combination. Tomorrow I'll look for those two doors. And with that I figured that was it for the night. Pics..............Paul

Jushavnfun, That is fast work!  Looking forward to seeing the build start.

Lee, looking good!

Paul, That industrial siding looks great!!

I was looking for a place to display my 3530 Generator car since it doesn't look good on the wall display with the pole laying down. I found a spot between the bridge and the spur serving the Seaboard coaler and gantry crane. At one time I wanted to make this a working spur but just couldn't fit a switch in.
So I roughed in a dead spur.   The Generator car is more or less trapped there unless the track crew comes along and installs a switch. I powered the spur from the accessory transformer.
My vision was that the Generator car could be supplying light to workers on the bridge. I'm a little disappointed in that the searchlight doesn't give off much light. I think the car may need some adjusting, it appears that the sound vibrator may be drawing to much. The other thing that bothers me is that the searchlight head has no movement up or down, so I cant point it up at the bridge. 

Bob. I had mine adjacent to first responders scene cleaning up hooked oil car spill

the light isn't bad in the dark, with a magnet on the base maybe stick it vertical  on a metal beam.

Mark Boyce posted:

Jushavnfun, That is fast work!  Looking forward to seeing the build start.

Lee, looking good!

Paul, That industrial siding looks great!!

Thanks mike 

Spent yesterday pulling a carpet cleaner around our house (gotta keep the CEO happy!). Raining outside today so the lawn will have to wait till later this week . Maybe I can get some train time in today. I'd love to get my new D&H set cleaned up and on the tracks. I opened one up yesterday, they have full interiors but no passengers. Guess I need to pay a visit to John Rowland.......

Lee and Paul- things are looking good.

Justhavinfun- Your screen name sums it up. 9th layout in 23 years WOW! goes to show that this hobby has many different aspects that each of us enjoys in our own way. Some guys build their master piece and that's it. I think I lean towards your side of the tracks though.

Bob (pennsyfan)- maybe you could hide some lights around the car that will shine up on the bridge. Or- you could put a string of lights across the bridge, like construction work lights, and run the wires to the generator. Check out these guys https://www.modeltrainsoftware...r-cool-white-strings

Sounds like a challenge I would enjoy.

Bob

Paul, It took me awhile to figure out why you were painting the wall black and when I seen the flats in place I was like DUH! LOL The flats and the Downtown Deco building are looking really nice, you have come along way with both! I sure hope you find the rear doors! If not you could always board them up like in the old days! 

Jushavnfun, You sure move fast! We can tell you are a man on a mission and better stay out of the way! Good luck on the new layout and like Mark I cant wait to see it come along!

Lee, The coal yard has a nice start to it! Keep plugging away, slow and easy as it goes! LOL

Bob, Sorry you had to clean carpets yesterday! I had to sit out in our Gazebo with the wife, a fire, friends, a nice cold Coors Light, and Tank the inspector. Just because I have nowhere to go and truck is still in the shop for a new Clutch. No new building material for bench work, so it sounded like a good plan for Saturday!

Sunday it will be Seahawk's & the bronco's Oh and the wife is making Fresh Apple pie as I post here at 6:53AM! 

mike g. posted:

Bob, Sorry you had to clean carpets yesterday! I had to sit out in our Gazebo with the wife, a fire, friends, a nice cold Coors Light, and Tank the inspector. Just because I have nowhere to go and truck is still in the shop for a new Clutch. No new building material for bench work, so it sounded like a good plan for Saturday!

Sunday it will be Seahawk's & the bronco's Oh and the wife is making Fresh Apple pie as I post here at 6:53AM! 

Sounds like a nice day Mike. Send some pie east when its done

trainroomgary posted:

The grandchildren are spending the night. At grandpa’s house we run trains at bedtime.

Wait there is more…………

We read train books at bedtime. I like “Railroad Hank”.

Gary

Gary,

The epitome of being a grandfather, you got it! My grandmother was the one who provided the trains but engaging didn't happen except for the occasional, "Grandma come watch the train". After a few times around the oval I think her pretend excitement was over but loved her for giving me that time.

You sir are the full package, I can't imagine the excitement those two little ones have when they are with grandpa. Thanks for posting.

Dave

RSJB18 posted:

mike g. posted:

Bob, Sorry you had to clean carpets yesterday! I had to sit out in our Gazebo with the wife, a fire, friends, a nice cold Coors Light, and Tank the inspector. Just because I have nowhere to go and truck is still in the shop for a new Clutch. No new building material for bench work, so it sounded like a good plan for Saturday!

Sunday it will be Seahawk's & the bronco's Oh and the wife is making Fresh Apple pie as I post here at 6:53AM! 

Sounds like a nice day Mike. Send some pie east when its done

Here you go Bob! LOL

Yummm!!!! That sure looks good Mike. Cut me a piece I am booking a flight right now LOL..........Paul

Finally got the late August videos I made for making hills, mountains and terrain with expanding spray foam and low loft batting up on Youtube...   Tried to edit them and combine into one video, couldn't figure out how to do it, so they are posted as 4 separate videos labeled:   Review since 2017 video, plus Parts 1 through 3 of the current build....  They are on a Playlist together...

Here are the Youtube links.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9gdSkZSXBQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?...hcvqzk6N4&t=685s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eS0U1vYYK7c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8xUgGVSOKA&t=4s

For anybody not familiar with this project, here are a couple of progress photos of the 8 foot section from start to where it is currently..

Thanks Chris! I will be watching them later with a piece of Apple Pie, after the Seahawks Game!

Paul, save your time, by the time you got to the airport it will be gone!

Chris, great videos of how to. Very interesting way to do scenery differently. A question about that foam. I noticed you have a a good deal of time to work the foam. After you let it set up and applied the paint I noticed that there was still play in the foam. Does the foam eventually become hard so if you use this process will trunks of trees and evergreens stay upright???. Thanks Paul

Jushavnfun,
Yea I thought about sticking it the ironwork, but then I was thinking about making a higher base to put it on. I like your application. I haven't been online awhile so I missed the reason for your complete ripout. I've been at this 3 years, I can't imagine starting over. This generator car idea was just another brain fart that took me away from the task at hand of installing uncoupler magnets.

Bob,

Thanks for the extra lighting ideas and the link.  First I want to check the lamp sizes and make sure that they are correct. Then I'll pull out the meter and make sure that the track is getting what it should be. 
I cranked the Z up to 20 + volts and still didn't get a great output.