What did you do on your layout today?

Elliot. been following your build far a long time now. The layout is looking better every time I see it. I just amazed that you haven't lost it yet keeping track of everything, let alone trouble shooting. 

Bryan:  Your layout, well until I saw the pics in the other thread is huge and has come along rather nicely in the last couple of months. Lot of work in a short time. Definitely a man on a mission.  .    Here's mine. I swore I wasn't going do it, but I did and started adding more trees. More trees arriving Friday then that's it. Time to start work on new layout. Of course I said that month ago, but just keep tinkering with current layout.

.

But this one reminds me of Christmas all year long

Ive been to mad to do anything. I need a #78 to finish that refer but My drillbits were "borrowed" without permission by a boarder about a month ago (and after nearly 20 years of care, destroyed by rain more than likely)  Truth would have saved the day, video camera easily revealed a sneaky little liar. He even tried denying after the video was presented. He got the eviction notice and a suggestion to see a shrink. Gone a month, but Im still livid. I used them near daily and dont really have 150 bucks to replace the kit right now. It was one of the few things off limits, I lent only enough for the job at hand, I did the same, always leaving the kit behind.  Arrrg! Im just like Charlie freakin Brown..or better yet, Butters!

Enlighten me- what is a #78 ??  A drill bit set ??

My in-work layout has been "under wraps" for a few weeks while we renovated the hall bathroom immediately upstairs and over the aisle way between my two layouts.  (see attached photos with drop cloths covering the area beneath the renovation work).

Now that the work in the bathroom has been completed...This morning I removed the drop cloths and completed the placement of my new MTH Budweiser brewery (thanks for selling this to me Sean) and found that I needed to relocate this building from the originally-planned area and have modified the remaining buildings in this area to work better than what I had originally designed (SCARM is GREAT software but is not to 100 per cent actual accurate scale).

I started ripping out the scenery last night - only the mountains need to come down.  Once that is done I'll get to clean up the ballast and rip apart the benchwork.  Then it's on to cleaning out the basement and getting started on the rebuild.

I try to work on it an hour each day....slow going but it's coming along.

- Greg

HMorgan125 posted:

Now that the work in the bathroom has been completed...This morning I removed the drop cloths and completed the placement of my new MTH Budweiser brewery (thanks for selling this to me Sean) and found that I needed to relocate this building from the originally-planned area and have modified the remaining buildings in this area to work better than what I had originally designed (SCARM is GREAT software but is not to 100 per cent actual accurate scale).

Would you mind sharing your track plans? Looks like you have several smaller layouts that make one room full. Am I seeing it correct?

Drills are sized in fractions (most common) letter size and number size.  A #78 drill is .016 dia. 

That i what I thought but he said the set costs $150. Large set ??  I guess.  I might have some small ones but will have to check.  Thanks

Clint nailed it Jim, it was a machinist drill set and not a cheap version of one either.

That was also a twenty year old price I quoted. Today??????

I was proud how well I kept it.

I dont even care much about the fact 60% (or more) of my garage tools got trashed in a year, I cant pull a ratchet anymore anyhow.

Thank you for asking too

suzukovich posted:

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Really good work there, I think some people are getting cold just looking at it!

I can get another single bit. A few hardware storee still sell single jobbers bits.

( A shorter lower cost bit. A low cost, low tolerance, throwaway for when you know you will destroy it fast. Great on wood!)

Again, thanks Jim.

John D. posted:

HMorgan125 posted:

Now that the work in the bathroom has been completed...This morning I removed the drop cloths and completed the placement of my new MTH Budweiser brewery (thanks for selling this to me Sean) and found that I needed to relocate this building from the originally-planned area and have modified the remaining buildings in this area to work better than what I had originally designed (SCARM is GREAT software but is not to 100 per cent actual accurate scale).

Would you mind sharing your track plans? Looks like you have several smaller layouts that make one room full. Am I seeing it correct?

John:

Yes, two different layouts in the same room.  I have attached both the SCARM track plans and a .jpg version.  The Christmas layout was made to house the Department 56 buildings that we had collected over many years and to give our Grandkids something to run when they come over to visit.  The trains were originally put under our tree in another room each Christmas.  Now it is a year round permanent display.

Since I enjoy planning and building I decided to remove a couch in the room that was not being used and build the second (more realistic) layout for myself and try to recreate a time in my early life patterned after the late 1950s.

The new 5X10 layout table is on casters so that I can access the portion of the layout that is up against a wall.  The access panels under the Christmas layout are a "pain" to have to use when necessary.

Once the new 5X10 layout is "finished" I may also add an upper level elevated subway running between the two existing loops.

Please let me know if I can share any additional information.

Thanks,

Howard

p51 posted:

suzukovich posted:

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Really good work there, I think some people are getting cold just looking at it!

I Agree with Lee, great looking work, just how I remember when I was younger and didn't care about how much it snowed. I have been reading and I guess it is going to be a bad one here this year. Maybe Davy will get some snow also to run his garden train in! LOL

mike g. posted:

p51 posted:

suzukovich posted:

.

Really good work there, I think some people are getting cold just looking at it!

I Agree with Lee, great looking work, just how I remember when I was younger and didn't care about how much it snowed. I have been reading and I guess it is going to be a bad one here this year. Maybe Davy will get some snow also to run his garden train in! LOL

Lee and Mike thanks..   Bought the trees to see how they looked with the intent of using them for the new layout.  After placing two on the layout( to see how one or two would look),then just like the Atlas track the good idea fairy whispered in my ear and decided to add them to the layout.  Now the 15 more will go on and will remove excess trees off.   Lee can understand this one. After 24 some odd years in the Army of plucking the wings off, you would think I have learned something by now.

This rescue mission with Miller double sided sign.

Framework, plywood and about half the homasote done.  More pictures on my progress thread.

Great looking bench work John!

Finished adding more trees for now. Pulled the station off the layout for reconfiguration.  Last set of  Birch trees will go up when I reinstall the station. Took the other trees and consolidated them behind the Buildings to build up the forest. Defiantly changes how the layout looks.

Some day and night shots

I love Cardinals.  And theres never too many trees

suzukovich posted:

Finished adding more trees for now. Pulled the station off the layout for reconfiguration.  Last set of  Birch trees will go up when I reinstall the station. Took the other trees and consolidated them behind the Buildings to build up the forest. Defiantly changes how the layout looks.

Some day and night shots

 

 

Morning, I think the trees look wonderful! Really I think everything looks great, the cars, bus, kids playing it is truly a winter wonder land!

Your "Winter Wonderland" has evolved in to a really very nice layout.  Almost makes me enjoy winter. Almost !!

Hopefully, I will have the time and space for a permanent layout one day.  Until then, it will be a floor layout.  Cleaned the rails using a Scotch Brite pad under a premier gondola - worked great!

Where are the bare tree armatures from?

 Finished the Roundhouse and ran a train!

Al 

dobermann posted:

Where are the bare tree armatures from?

I know a few eyes will roll with this one.. There Department 56 Village Accessory Set/6 Birch Trees

 I ran work trains. Pullman s remained idle for the holiday. I dip painted a sand bag for my waterspout. A very small swiveling teardrop  sinker.

suzukovich posted:

dobermann posted:

Where are the bare tree armatures from?

I know a few eyes will roll with this one.. There Department 56 Village Accessory Set/6 Birch Trees

 

Let 'em roll. You can't argue with success!

I unpacked a 34" Millhouse river turntable, it looks like a week long project but it should be beautiful when completed. Good job Al!

Now that I am retired it is time to get busy on the Philadelphia & Western RR.

suzukovich posted:

dobermann posted:

Where are the bare tree armatures from?

I know a few eyes will roll with this one.. There Department 56 Village Accessory Set/6 Birch Trees

 

The Department 56 Bare Branch Trees and Birch Trees are GREAT for snow scenes. We have investigated the possibility of making our own tree armatures, but, the expense and time it would take to  build them makes it cost prohibitive.

I agree. On the right layout, I feel they add a nice level of whimsy and playfulness. That was my mindset, here, with their use on this layout.

And I esp. agree with Mike about the beautiful winter-work by Suzukovich, that his winter scenes remind a person of when we were young and didn't care about how much snow fell, except that in my case, living in Pittsburgh area, we were always happy with snow piling up as much as it could (even though it didn't stay white for long).I remember, one time, during the 50's, it accumulated up to 34". We kids were able to make tunnels to crawl through to each others yards (n Duquesne Place, PA.)

FrankM.

I like the trees. I can't find any good weeds around my place o make fake trees. I have LOTS of real trees, though.  Some time ago Bachman sold unfinished G scale freight car kits that had to be painted and assembled. The price was right so i bought 3 box cars. Kitbashed two but never did anything with the third one.  I might have a use for it as a freight  station on my  027 loop in the bedroom.  Too small for Standard gauge but OK as an O gauge building.

Moonson posted:

I agree. On the right layout, I feel they add a nice level of whimsy and playfulness. That was my mindset, here, with their use on this layout.

And I esp. agree with Mike about the beautiful winter-work by Suzukovich, that his winter scenes remind a person of when we were young and didn't care about how much snow fell, except that in my case, living in Pittsburgh area, we were always happy with snow piling up as much as it could (even though it didn't stay white for long).I remember, one time, during the 50's, it accumulated up to 34". We kids were able to make tunnels to crawl through to each others yards (n Duquesne Place, PA.)

FrankM.

Well done!!! Ya'll make me cold just looking at the pictures.. lol I, hopefully, won't see the amount of snow in the pics in real life here during the Winter.. We 'just' deal with Hurricanes and an occasional minor earthquake here in South Carolina... 

Moonson posted:

I agree. On the right layout, I feel they add a nice level of whimsy and playfulness. That was my mindset, here, with their use on this layout.

And I esp. agree with Mike about the beautiful winter-work by Suzukovich, that his winter scenes remind a person of when we were young and didn't care about how much snow fell, except that in my case, living in Pittsburgh area, we were always happy with snow piling up as much as it could (even though it didn't stay white for long).I remember, one time, during the 50's, it accumulated up to 34". We kids were able to make tunnels to crawl through to each others yards (n Duquesne Place, PA.)

FrankM.

Frank, Mike, Randy, Jim, Woodson , Lee, Adriatic.  Thanks for the comments and others for the likes, believe me I have nothing compared to what you guys have but you are also my inspiration especially frank. 

Randy I actually thought about making them myself. There is a guy on YouTube who makes gaming scenery how to videos. I saw his video on making trees and was surprised how easy it was. Still plan to make some of my own. 

Jim thank you for the complement. The layout has evolved over the years, Its finally almost where I would like it to be. The problem is there is not anymore room for expansion or for me to everything I want to do. That's the biggest reason for a new layout in my garage. Also there is a lot of technics that I want to use to create a more realistic look. Current layout location limits that ability. 

Frank I didn't know you had a winter portion on your layout. As usual more stories and little reminders of growing up in Chicago in the winter. Of course now that I have seen the white birch trees, I needed to order some as I think it would complete the look I am after.  

 I remember those care free days too. For me the more snow, The more sidewalks I shoveled to make extra money and yes we dug tunnels too, snow ball fights, sledding, Football/Soccer, hockey and yes even baseball. Our favorite was skitching( grabbing onto a bumper of a car or CTA Bus. kind of like skiing without the skis).  Of course when I got older and had to work in it or plow my driveway it became a different story.

 Someone asked me why winter theme. I spent almost 25yrs in the Army. From 1987 through 2009 I was either deployed or in the field training. Most of my career was spent stationed in Germany(92-94 and97-09). My last 7 years I lived on the edge of the Black Forest. For me there was just real beauty in my area when there was fresh fallen snow. When it was snowing, everything would be quiet and peaceful. How fresh snow would change a war torn landscape into a thing of beauty. It wasn't unusual for me to jump in my truck and park by the farm feilds above my house and just sit there and enjoy the quiet ( when I wasn't deployed).  For me it was my escape from reality and for a short while just forget where I was at. So I guess with the layout I'm doing the same thing.

Darkened my rock, and started laying turf!

Tiffany posted:

Randy Harrison posted:

Tiffany posted:

Randy Harrison posted:

George Harritos posted:

Surely may not seem like a lot to some of you, but my 11 year old PS-2 F3 battery is getting weak, so put on the wall charger from MTH and hopefully that will take care of it in a few hours.  If not, will have to check out the BCR.

We have BCR's in all of our MTH Proto Sound II engines. They are GREAT!

Hello Randy

My very first J&W BCR-1 was defective so waiting for a replacement sometime next week.  Its for a railking PS-1 NW-2 switcher. 

Tiffany

Do you get your BCR's from Wayne Renga of J & W Electronics in Red Lion, Pennsylvania? Wayne is the inventor of the BCR and is a really good guy. Of there is a defective BCR, I am sure he will replace it for you.

Hello RANDY..........

I bought it from modeltrainstuff.com and waiting for replacement one.  I just shipped it (returned) back to them yesterday by UPS.  I didn't know Wayne Renga as I would have ordered one from him.  This whole thing cost me 35.28 ( for 1 BCR-1 and shipping cost) and been going on for almost 2 weeks now.

Tiffany

Hello RANDY..............

I just received the replacement BCR-1 today (Sept,06,2016) from modeltrainstuff.com and spend about half hour running my NW-2 and seems to be running really well ( throttle response time is bit faster when changing the direction).  It seems to beholding charge this time.  I will save this for later if the problem comes up and will contact Wayne Renga.   Thank you for helping me out Randy

Tiffany

Mo985 posted:

Darkened my rock, and started laying turf!

Bravo! Excellent scenery work!

Mo985 posted:

Darkened my rock, and started laying turf!

That came out really great. Hard to believe its mostly foam.

Tiffany posted:

Tiffany posted:

Randy Harrison posted:

Tiffany posted:

Randy Harrison posted:

George Harritos posted:

Surely may not seem like a lot to some of you, but my 11 year old PS-2 F3 battery is getting weak, so put on the wall charger from MTH and hopefully that will take care of it in a few hours.  If not, will have to check out the BCR.

We have BCR's in all of our MTH Proto Sound II engines. They are GREAT!

Hello Randy

My very first J&W BCR-1 was defective so waiting for a replacement sometime next week.  Its for a railking PS-1 NW-2 switcher. 

Tiffany

Do you get your BCR's from Wayne Renga of J & W Electronics in Red Lion, Pennsylvania? Wayne is the inventor of the BCR and is a really good guy. Of there is a defective BCR, I am sure he will replace it for you.

Hello RANDY..........

I bought it from modeltrainstuff.com and waiting for replacement one.  I just shipped it (returned) back to them yesterday by UPS.  I didn't know Wayne Renga as I would have ordered one from him.  This whole thing cost me 35.28 ( for 1 BCR-1 and shipping cost) and been going on for almost 2 weeks now.

Tiffany

Hello RANDY..............

I just received the replacement BCR-1 today (Sept,06,2016) from modeltrainstuff.com and spend about half hour running my NW-2 and seems to be running really well ( throttle response time is bit faster when changing the direction).  It seems to beholding charge this time.  I will save this for later if the problem comes up and will contact Wayne Renga.   Thank you for helping me out Randy

Tiffany

Tiffany:

Model Train stuff buys directly from Wayne. The are a very reputable dealer. I just mentioned Wayne in case you had problems. Wayne had some health issues, but, the last several times I spoke with him, he is improving.

Enjoy running your trains!

Randy

suzukovich posted:

Moonson posted:

I agree. On the right layout, I feel they add a nice level of whimsy and playfulness. That was my mindset, here, with their use on this layout.    FrankM.

Frank I didn't know you had a winter portion on your layout.

That's a winterly/holiday landscape and details I crafted for a client. It was quite a new experience for me, and I much enjoyed the challenge, all of which was accomplished/ad-libbed by following the directions and possibilities indicated and inspired by the information available on and provided by the feel of the products from Jim Elster's Scenic Express.

FrankM.

Next Wednesday I host my local small train group. That gives me a week to clean up the floor area again. Going through boxes to see what stays in the attic and what gets transferred to the basement. I hate cleaning up after myself so in order to force myself I ran trains. That seems to put me in cleanup mode. Pics.......Paul