What did you do on your layout today?

The basement is messy but I am close to completing the rough in for improvement of problem corner.

1. Increased height of water tower by lengthening support legs. But I may redo that. 2. Disassembled for painting some parts of a walthers golden valley built up depot that came today. 3. Looked over the Lionel Rico station kit that also came today. Looking forward to painting and assembling. 4. Installed last section of a retaining wall with tunnel.  5. Glued foam pieces to foam base for rock face foundation.

Someday I hope to run a train or two.

What did I do on my layout today? Well I am pleased to say I finally started my layout! One module at a time. Started with a five foot module today. Got it all framed up and foam on. But still have to get the legs installed tomorrow and get the holes drilled in the bench work for wiring and such. Will post pics tomorrow to show the first bits of progress. The big thing will be scratch building the 15 foot long 32 inch high grain elivator on the 5 foot sections. This is gonna be fun! 

Yesterday I got the stone down and glued in the scrap yard. Today I have to get a few more shelves in under the tables so I can get the boxes on the table under the table so I can start working on that section next. Pics. Now I am just waiting for my crane and sound building to come...................Paul

paul 2 posted:

Yesterday I got the stone down and glued in the scrap yard. Today I have to get a few more shelves in under the tables so I can get the boxes on the table under the table so I can start working on that section next. Pics. Now I am just waiting for my crane and sound building to come...................Paul

Looking good Paul, cant wait to see the crane in place!

Mark Boyce posted:

I helped my daughter and son-in-law move almost everything left in her art studio on the rear of our house to their house last evening.  I decided to take some photos of the room after I placed some trains on some shelves she left behind.  Yes, the pink paint will be covered with blue.  I plan to start a topic soon for layout planning for this 11' 6" x 11' 4" room.  As the photos show, there is a door to the basement in one corner and a big sliding glass door on an adjacent wall.  The brick wall was the exterior of the house before my in-laws put on the addition, and the washer and dryer are on the other side of the brick wall.  The Ceiling Central RR is in the wood paneled room right outside the small door.

 

Mark- The day every father dreams of.

When the kids move out and we get the spare room for more trains ! Good luck with the project, can't wait to see progress photos.

Bob

RSJB18 posted:

Mark Boyce posted:

I helped my daughter and son-in-law move almost everything left in her art studio on the rear of our house to their house last evening.  I decided to take some photos of the room after I placed some trains on some shelves she left behind.  Yes, the pink paint will be covered with blue.  I plan to start a topic soon for layout planning for this 11' 6" x 11' 4" room.  As the photos show, there is a door to the basement in one corner and a big sliding glass door on an adjacent wall.  The brick wall was the exterior of the house before my in-laws put on the addition, and the washer and dryer are on the other side of the brick wall.  The Ceiling Central RR is in the wood paneled room right outside the small door.

 

Mark- The day every father dreams of.

When the kids move out and we get the spare room for more trains ! Good luck with the project, can't wait to see progress photos.

Bob

Bob,

Thank you!  I think progress will be slower than I had hoped due to obligations to elderly relatives, but I do see that the room will not be encroached on in the meantime.  For the last 25 years, every time I thought I had found some space for trains, a growing family (and their stuff) kind of took over my space.   I was glad to give up the space to help them and my wife with their interests and needs.

KRM posted:

Nothing on the layout but something on a layout project.

Got the last powered A-unit finished today from an idea of 8N's.

 Great idea and makes for a great set.

Works Great but sure lets the ZW know it is feeding something with it and six lit passenger cars behind it..  I had a 218 shell on a frame with a 2 position e-unit motor in it that I pulled the motor, pick up truck and e-unit out of and installed the new motor, A unit dummy front truck and wired pigtails to the motor so it all runs off the E-unit in the lead engine. So there is 8 axles with magnets pulling. So a post war 218 leads the way for the twin motor 8021 B unit and 8020 powered A unit. Works GREAT!!!

 

 

 

KRM- nice project. My 218 just died the other day. May be an idea for the repair project. My set is an A/ A dummy so we will see.

Bob

Mark- I have one in College and one in Middle School. I've got a few years to go but I get it, family first.

Bob

I saw the signs.

Well actually I used shears.

Pointy ones .

Im allowed now

White glue & Gel CA, it took 3 15 min. sessions. One more session for weathering after the thiings fully cure. Maybe a grain of wheat above the tall one, and  cat & sconces on the wide one.

Now I need delivery trucks. I'm thinking truck #101 of McAuliffe's "NUTS" Delivery, and the #82 of Carter Families Peanuts might be sparring for buisness ?  Any farmer figurers with a huge smile?

Great Job  on the billboards, gives me something to build down the road!!

Today I got a shelf made for under the table where the scrap yard is. I was able to get all the stuff that was sitting on the next two tables under there so I can start laying out what I want to do. Probably will work on it more after dinner. Wife will be watching her game......Paul

Finally started placing buildings and accessories on the "Valley of Bridges" layout.  I will mark the table for each building footprint, then drill holes for powering lights. I need to trim the upper ridgeline plywood back some more to allow for the hillside slope down to the "Village of Deichman".  I also placed buildings in the industrial area, but this is subject to change as I build the elevated bridgework extension on the upper ridgeline reverse loop by the docks.  After placing buildings, I will run wire to the Atlas O Signals on the upper ridgeline before I do the rock quarry wall, sealing some of the access to the wiring. I made more progress in the last two days, then in the last three months.

John, 

I love your Signal protection on cross-over tracks.

GOOD LUCK AND HAPPY NEW YEARS,  John  

Operate my model railroad just like the real railroads....http://protrak.org/wpt/ 

RSJB18 posted:

Mark- I have one in College and one in Middle School. I've got a few years to go but I get it, family first.

Bob

Bob,

Yes, I wished our girls had been interested in trains, but my dad wished I had been interested in fishing, and I bought trains instead.  We helped them develop their own interests and talents.  Now I am a young 60, and you can call me Nester!  lol

mike g. posted:

Great Job  on the billboards, gives me something to build down the road!!

Need a source for the prize inside!  That was the best part!  

Started mocking my module up. Pulled out the RS3 project to gain some motivation on it as well. Basically I am planning this to be the far end of a 15 foot industrial complex. There will be a drainage ditch between the tracks as is common in the northern Oregon area. It will come out of a culvert at the end of the module. Lots of overgrown grass and shrouds and debris to break the scene up. Anyways. Here is a few pics of everything just sitting in place to give a idea of what's coming next. 

It is looking great so far, TJ!!  What does the RS3 project entail?  I do like RS1s and RS3s!

Thank you Mark. 

What does the RS3 project entail? Well here is a run down lol. 

First it is a older weaver model so,cracked gears replaced was the first thing.

Now what's left to finish.

All brass grab irons. Door handles. Stanchions,handrails and lift rings 

Semi scratch built fuel tank.

P & D hobbies brass fan grill and fan. 

Brass breather.

PSC exhaust stack 

Brass sand fill hatches. 

Detailed cab interior.

Brass horn and bracket.

New pilot details. Coupler lift bars. Mu hoses. Overland models plows. 

Replace the brake cylinders on the trucks. Brake chain hanger and such for the trucks as well. 

TMCC conversion and sound coming later. 

P and D window kit. Wiper blades. 

New dual sealed beam headlight castings. 

Ditch lights. And of course paint and weathering. Still adding to the parts Pile so it may be a while longer till it's done. And who knows what else I will change.  

And Still have to finish the weathering on the beast to tomorrow. Projects never end lol. Been nice to have a vacation to do some of this 

I inked the track plan for my existing layout for a magazine article and personal use. Getting the rails drawn correctly is kind of a pain. No wonder they do this digitally now.

I didn't do anything on my layout Saturday. I was busy putting together a recap of what I did on my layout for the last year.

51 photos, and a short video. You can read about it HERE.

John Rowlen posted:

Finally started placing buildings and accessories on the "Valley of Bridges" layout.  I will mark the table for each building footprint, then drill holes for powering lights. I need to trim the upper ridgeline plywood back some more to allow for the hillside slope down to the "Village of Deichman".  I also placed buildings in the industrial area, but this is subject to change as I build the elevated bridgework extension on the upper ridgeline reverse loop by the docks.  After placing buildings, I will run wire to the Atlas O Signals on the upper ridgeline before I do the rock quarry wall, sealing some of the access to the wiring. I made more progress in the last two days, then in the last three months.

Attaboy! 

Got the perfect graphic for that spur going into the cinderblock wall:

Mitch

Been painting in the New Year!

The flatcar is for Santa!    The Hudson will be going into a two-tone scheme similar to Lionel's "Blue Streak" or "Blue Comet" for Gi-raffe Express service.  Incidentally, Rustoleum's "Brilliant Blue" is a pretty good match for the 3376/3386 giraffe cars...

Mitch

p51 posted:

I am inking a track plan for my layout. Getting the rails drawn correctly is kind of a pain. No wonder they do this digitally now.

Your inking your track plan? I wouldn't think you are going to start over? I think it looks good, you can tell you took some time to do it.

theteejmiester posted:

Thank you Mark. 

 

What does the RS3 project entail? Well here is a run down lol. 

First it is a older weaver model so,cracked gears replaced was the first thing.

Now what's left to finish.

All brass grab irons. Door handles. Stanchions,handrails and lift rings 

Semi scratch built fuel tank.

P & D hobbies brass fan grill and fan. 

Brass breather.

PSC exhaust stack 

Brass sand fill hatches. 

Detailed cab interior.

Brass horn and bracket.

New pilot details. Coupler lift bars. Mu hoses. Overland models plows. 

Replace the brake cylinders on the trucks. Brake chain hanger and such for the trucks as well. 

TMCC conversion and sound coming later. 

P and D window kit. Wiper blades. 

New dual sealed beam headlight castings. 

Ditch lights. And of course paint and weathering. Still adding to the parts Pile so it may be a while longer till it's done. And who knows what else I will change.  

 

Thank you.  That is quite a project indeed!  It will look and run great when finished!

HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL. Last night while the wife was switching between the Cavs and Ohio State I was laying out switches I had to see what I could come up with for a industrial area. Not 100% with the area but at least a start. I placed a couple of the buildings around to get an idea. If I stay with the track plan I may end up with different industries in some of the spots. Today will be working on this and seeing what switches and crossover I have to order. Some pics.......Paul

Uploaded a video of my AF 326 Hudson engine after rebuilding the smoke unit.  Now I need an exhaust fan!

. . . . . Click here

thanks for sharing! runs like a swiss watch.

mike g. posted

Your inking your track plan? I wouldn't think you are going to start over?

This is something I've been meaning to do for a long time.

I'm NOT starting over, this is the layout I have.

Eventually I'm going to scan it and play with it on Photoshop, adding colors and details.

p51 posted:

I am inking a track plan for my layout. Getting the rails drawn correctly is kind of a pain. No wonder they do this digitally now.

I like the intriguing design with the switching challenges.

pennsynut posted:

I like the intriguing design with the switching challenges.

Sorry, I should have been more specific. This IS my layout, not a planned one. I edited my post to reflect that.

p51 posted:

pennsynut posted:

I like the intriguing design with the switching challenges.

Sorry, I should have been more specific. This IS my layout, not a planned one. I edited my post to reflect that.

  Lee likes to put his carts before AND after his iron horses

Did you break out a "real" ink pen too?

No 3d SCARM version? 

Adriatic posted:

 

Sorry, I should have been more specific. This IS my layout, not a planned one. I edited my post to reflect that.

 

Did you break out a "real" ink pen too?

No 3d SCARM version? 

Yep, all in ink.

The only computer use will be when I do coloring and lettering to this.

Last changes to the track plan are done to include doors, which I'd previously forgot...

I also oriented it correctly.

Not a lot,,,,

I did order up post war axles and wheels to fix the slop jobs Lionel put in those celebration series blue stripe passenger cars and I also bought a ALCO frame and front truck so I can re-build the one I cannibalized to make the powered A- unit for the four-motor set. So, I am tapped out but will be able to keep working the hobby.

Masked windows on a Walthers golden valley built up that I will paint. 88 pains, I mean panes. I also made walls for a 2.5 inch brick extension for a new Rico station to replace the freight part of the kit.  The Rico station is going to be a restaurant. Here is the golden valley station.

pennsynut posted:

Masked windows on a Walthers golden valley built up that I will paint. 88 pains, I mean panes. I also made walls for a 2.5 inch brick extension for a new Rico station to replace the freight part of the kit.  The Rico station is going to be a restaurant. Here is the golden valley station.

Looks good, but wow I bet that took some time to mask all the small windows!

Looks nice. I like the use of blue tape on the windows.  Might try something similar on several of my buildings. I want to see your station when finished. I have a thing about RR stations. Have too many on my layout but would have more if there was room.

Started on the first building for my module. It's constructed out of foam core using my own grid style frame work to avoid any warping. All corners are finished using acrylic texture paste to avoid having any visible joints. Like I said I just started building it this afternoon so all the facade is just pinned in place for test fitting. But it's coming along well.

I forgot how fun it is to scratch build structures. Been over ten years since my last one! 

And it roughly in place on the module