Elliot,

Glad you and your team had a very successful open house.   Wish i could be there.     

I finally got some time to sit and assemble my LED's for my control panels. I'm using some bi-color red/green ones. 

My wife also reminded me that the kitchen table is not a workbench, and should I "ruin" it, I will be purchasing her a new one. Haha 

Thanks Mark, Dewey, Bob, Randy, and those who just hit he like button. Don't forget gang, I'll be posting my monthly update to My Dream/Nightmare Layout in a few hours. More pics and more detail there.

Monthly post in time!  Dedicated to his fans!!  ;-) Greatly appreciated!

I thought I would be working on the layout today but instead I have learned patience, lots of patience. I decided to put the Weaver two rail trucks back together now that I had the three rail wheels. HOTWATER  gave me a tip of putting string through the spring and that saved me many times. Most of the trucks had three little springs and one had two springs. Those little devils popped out so many times. It literally took me all afternoon and into the evening after supper to 12 trucks and that was just replacing the one side. So hoping tomorrow I can do something on the layout. But I can cross that off my list now...........Paul

 Put my scale GG1 number 4876 on the point of my REA train.  Ran train for 15 minutes and enjoyed every moment!!   Nothing says express like a GG1!!!

Laid some asphalt in 2 areas today...

(Dont know why dupe pics)

Mark Boyce posted:

Monthly post in time!  Dedicated to his fans!!  ;-) Greatly appreciated!

Thanks Mark! Got it done before midnight central time, my self imposed deadline. It'll be there for you when you wake up. Like clockwork.

Train Nut posted:

Laid some asphalt in 2 areas today...

(Dont know why dupe pics)

None of them are showing. How are you trying to post them?

You need to use the "Add Attachments" button in the lower right of the post form. The forum will upload and store your photos.

Elliot,

Glad all went well on Saturday. You are lucky to have such great helpers. As for your comment about not being publish worthy, I have to disagree. You have a large following of forum members who have been following your progress for a long time. The work and features you have put into your layout would make a great article. It doesn't have to be finished. In fact, the work in progress is even more educational than the finished product will be.

Thanks Pat. What you say about being publication worthy may be true, though I don't recall ever seeing unfinished layouts featured. They like to see "pretty" layouts.

I suppose I could take it up with Rich. My guess is he'll say get some more done before he makes the trip.

Big_Boy_4005 posted:

Train Nut posted:

Laid some asphalt in 2 areas today...

(Dont know why dupe pics)

None of them are showing. How are you trying to post them?

You need to use the "Add Attachments" button in the lower right of the post form. The forum will upload and store your photos.

Thats weird.  I can see them.  Even in your reply.  I'll post again...

The last couple of years, I have been converting my 4x8 layout to Christmas Dept 56 and similar buildings, then switching the regular buildings back in January or February.  The regular buildings get stored in the attic over Christmas.  This year, I still have the Christmas layout up for two reasons.  We have been more busy with elderly relatives, and what time I have gotten, I have worked on fixing up a new room that will be all layout.  Therefore, when it hit 75 degrees outside yesterday, I brought the buildings down to the new train room for temporary storage.  They will be protected enough when I get to finish installing track lights.  Once I start bringing lumber in, I will have to protect them further.  It may be winter by the time I get to that; if so back to the attic they will go.  At least now, I can admire them and envision my two small towns on the new layout.

As part of my Jasper's Rock renovation I created this little scene along the back wall re-purposing a 6' section of Scenic Express' "Pennsy Wall". This was previously just a retaining wall for a hillside but I've converted it into a section of roadway.  This is now home to a number of flats & building fronts I've accumulated. 

Train Nut posted:

Big_Boy_4005 posted:

Train Nut posted:

Laid some asphalt in 2 areas today...

(Dont know why dupe pics)

None of them are showing. How are you trying to post them?

You need to use the "Add Attachments" button in the lower right of the post form. The forum will upload and store your photos.

Thats weird.  I can see them.  Even in your reply.  I'll post again...

 

I can see three now, but if you go offline, my guess is they will go too. That's why they need to be uploaded to the forum.

Today it felt good to be working on the layout again. I got the curve track cut for the bridge along with positioning the switch which was one of the switches I got at York and got some cork glued down. After dinner I lay down some more cork. I think I am going to be putting in a small yard in this area. Pics...............Paul

Looks like things are going to work well there Paul!

Thanks MIKE G. Things were going well. I went down after dinner and started the other side of the bridge. I had finished a  partial bottle of glue and I had another partial sitting there. Unfortunately it dried up a bit and would not come out so I added a bit of warm water and managed to finish some more cork. I could of done more but it was not meant for tonight. Tomorrow morning off to the Depot and get more glue and finishing nails. Then I can lay down a lot more cork. In the pics the tracks going to the left will service a lubricant plant and on the front of the table will be a couple of industries at the opposite ends of the table. The main track will be curving around the corner to another table which will be 12 inches wide by approximately 8 feet long which will have a plant the length of that table. Pics..................Paul

I love those rocks, Paul.

Are you planning to add any topsoil to them?

Max, thanks. Eventually I will be adding topsoil to the rocks in spots along with foliage. Also I still have to color in the bottom of the streams on both side of the bridge.......Paul

I just put the sound card into the Whitcomb. After test running it, I like how it sounds.

I'm trying to figure out how I'll paint it, as the headlights are hard wired in the shell. Going to be a nightmare to mask everything off...

Hi Paul, I like the plan, I also have to agree with Max, your cliffs turned out looking great!

Lee, here is an off the wall tip, I remember when I was in the corps and we were painting the trucks in the motor pool, we would put grease on all the glass or anything we didn't want the paint o stick to. Once the paint dried we would just wash the grease off, no masking!

What did you do on your layout today?

I built a bridge.  My road to nowhere now has a bridge to nowhere. The little tunnel portal will eventually fit into a rock face or hillside. The bridge is mostly made of wood but I liberated the hand rails from an MTH bridge. I thought that painting them a bright color would add a little zip to the color scheme.  A feature I incorporated  is that the bridge is just sitting there, held down by nothing more than gravity. There's a little bracket on the wall and another on the layout. That way, whenever I need access to to backside of the layout I can just lift it straight up and set it aside. 

-RM

The bridge looks good Ralph 

Ralph M posted:

What did you do on your layout today?

 

I built a bridge.  My road to nowhere now has a bridge to nowhere. The little tunnel portal will eventually fit into a rock face or hillside. The bridge is mostly made of wood but I liberated the hand rails from an MTH bridge. I thought that painting them a bright color would add a little zip to the color scheme.  A feature I incorporated  is that the bridge is just sitting there, held down by nothing more than gravity. There's a little bracket on the wall and another on the layout. That way, whenever I need access to to backside of the layout I can just lift it straight up and set it aside. 

-RM

 

Just a quick observation...shouldn't the handrail pieces be switched?  That's a very unsafe walkway the way it is now

## DOH! ## (test fit, just a test fit, right........)   

It keeps the gi-raffes away from the buses, silly!  ;-)

Mitch

I turned them around to use them as guardrails for the vehicle traffic. . And besides, the people around here are really skinny.  

Progress

Looks great!  Like the road goes somewhere 

paul 2 posted:

Thanks MIKE G. Things were going well. I went down after dinner and started the other side of the bridge. I had finished a  partial bottle of glue and I had another partial sitting there. Unfortunately it dried up a bit and would not come out so I added a bit of warm water and managed to finish some more cork. I could of done more but it was not meant for tonight. Tomorrow morning off to the Depot and get more glue and finishing nails. Then I can lay down a lot more cork. In the pics the tracks going to the left will service a lubricant plant and on the front of the table will be a couple of industries at the opposite ends of the table. The main track will be curving around the corner to another table which will be 12 inches wide by approximately 8 feet long which will have a plant the length of that table. Pics..................Paul

Do you keep extending your basement Paul? Every week there is a new section that you share with us. I wish I had more space. Everything looks great so far.

mike g. posted:

Hi Paul, I like the plan, I also have to agree with Max, your cliffs turned out looking great!

Lee, here is an off the wall tip, I remember when I was in the corps and we were painting the trucks in the motor pool, we would put grease on all the glass or anything we didn't want the paint o stick to. Once the paint dried we would just wash the grease off, no masking!

Rubber cement will achieve the same result.

Ralph M posted:

What did you do on your layout today?

 

I built a bridge.  My road to nowhere now has a bridge to nowhere. The little tunnel portal will eventually fit into a rock face or hillside. The bridge is mostly made of wood but I liberated the hand rails from an MTH bridge. I thought that painting them a bright color would add a little zip to the color scheme.  A feature I incorporated  is that the bridge is just sitting there, held down by nothing more than gravity. There's a little bracket on the wall and another on the layout. That way, whenever I need access to to backside of the layout I can just lift it straight up and set it aside. 

-RM

 

A bridge to nowhere with a road to nowhere with trains that go nowhere.

PERFECT

RSJB18 posted:

Ralph M posted:

What did you do on your layout today?

 

I built a bridge.  My road to nowhere now has a bridge to nowhere.

A bridge to nowhere with a road to nowhere with trains that go nowhere.

PERFECT

Is the Nowhere Man driving the bus???

Take a look at Ralph's next post!  Now they go somewhere!  :-)

RSJB18, guess it may look like that but this was the last table I did so far. The basement is actually only either 30X30 or 29X29. I will be adding more tables but first I have to take down a couple of old walls and get rid of a pile of stuff in the back of the basement that has been there for more years then I want to count. So until I do that table construction is on hold. Plus I still have to hang a few more LED shop lights. So today now that I got more glue I'll be laying down more cork.............Paul

The Razorback Traction Co. is expanding its trolley fleet courtesy of eBay! 

First up, a Minitoy trolley arrived yesterday!

(photos from ebay)

After a bit of oiling and contact cleaner spray, the chassis is buzzing along cheerfully!  More photos later.

The next item...well, one look and I HAD to have it! 

This little gem is due to arrive later this week.  Have to find some door handrails for it, and I think I'll add prewar pans and roof headlights... 

Mitch

I got to lay down more cork today. I am partial to Elmer's wood glue but the last few times I have been there they are either out or something is going on but because I desperately needed glue I bought what they had. I also decided to get more finishing nails so I could do more cork at a time. I will be putting down another track close to the tables edge that will curve around the table. That will be the track for the Morton Salt. Push the cars in on one side and pull them out later on the other side. Not sure how much further I'll be able to lay cork. Did a senior moment at York. Didn't get enough switches. Anyways pics of work so far. No work this evening it is Tuesday night train get together. Tomorrow I have to cut grass, only dry day. So after that it is layout time the rest of this week.......Paul

paul 2 posted:

I got to lay down more cork today. I am partial to Elmer's wood glue but the last few times I have been there they are either out or something is going on but because I desperately needed glue I bought what they had. I also decided to get more finishing nails so I could do more cork at a time. I will be putting down another track close to the tables edge that will curve around the table. That will be the track for the Morton Salt. Push the cars in on one side and pull them out later on the other side. Not sure how much further I'll be able to lay cork. Did a senior moment at York. Didn't get enough switches. Anyways pics of work so far. No work this evening it is Tuesday night train get together. Tomorrow I have to cut grass, only dry day. So after that it is layout time the rest of this week.......Paul

 

Look at you go Paul, you are just one cork laying machine! I know I should know this, but I am to lazy to go back and look. But do you paint all your cork before you lay the track?

I installed the bridge I bought at the York meet.  For those who didn't see my earlier post, it's a 48" curved chord Warren truss bridge that was made by East Coast Enterprises.  I don't work for them or sell their products; I'm simply very impressed with my purchase, and my impression stands firm now that I've installed the bridge and put a train on it.  It appears to be made from laser-cut Masonite or a similar hardboard.  Its truss and box beam construction is functional, not just cosmetic, and supports my heaviest locomotives with no sagging.  To further add to its structural integrity, it's reinforced with aluminum plates that are totally hidden.  For anyone who's interested in learning more, their website is http://www.trainlayouts.com/

I didn't want to weaken the I-beams of my benchwork by notching them to clear the bridge, so the bridge deck has to sit 5/8" above the top of the plywood.  I added small risers on either side of the bridge to bring the track to the correct height, giving me a 1.4% grade on one side and a 1.8% grade on the other.  I will scenic this so it looks like a low fill, nothing fancy.

The bridge looks great on your layout, Joel!