What did you do on your layout today?

mike g. posted:

Paul, I knew you had it in you to fix a little thing like that!

Arnold, lol I am old!

Well, I'm 66, delighted that I'm starting to get Social Security (hope it lasts), and I think the secret to being happy when old is to think and act like a teenager or even younger.  Trains can do that for us all.

Got my first set when I was 8 which was several.....years ago. All HO back then so I just started over in O a couple of years ago.  No way I could catch up to Brian. 

Well I could but I'd be homeless and divorced. 

RSJB18 posted:

Got my first set when I was 8 which was several.....years ago. All HO back then so I just started over in O a couple of years ago.  No way I could catch up to Brian. 

Well I could but I'd be homeless and divorced. 

I’ll put heat in my garage for ya...

TedW posted:

RSJB18 posted:

Got my first set when I was 8 which was several.....years ago. All HO back then so I just started over in O a couple of years ago.  No way I could catch up to Brian. 

Well I could but I'd be homeless and divorced. 

I’ll put heat in my garage for ya...

Thanks Ted. We can build your layout together. I work for food you know 😅

Dave, the Christmas layout looks great!

Arnold,I tried acting young and the wife told me to grow up! Lol

Bob, I'm in the same boat! Little here and a little there and I'm ok. Anymore and boy look out!

Doing Locomotive maintenance  for two days now.

Paul wrote "Tweaked the siding that was just a tad too close."  That's okay, Paul.  No one noticed except Mike!    I'm glad we have his eagle eye!!  The buildings will look great!  There will be lots of reasons for having a siding there!!

Okay, I have actually been doing more than just reading OGR Forum, although I never do get tired of reading the Forum.  I posted in the Show us your under the tree layouts! topic that I can't run trains under the tree because the little dog likes to nudge the engine off the tracks.  So for the 2017 edition of the Holly Christmas Layout, here are some photographs.  I call it Holly Christmas Layout, because it is located in our younger daughter, Holly's, old room.  Fooled you, huh??  

I have a brand new LionChief Bluetooth Polar Express, a conventional North Pole Central #12 pulling a mixed consist, and a LionChief Hallmark Toymaker set as well to run here.

Apples55 posted:

StillPlaysWithTrains1469 posted:

So, I've always been an O Gauge guy. I have an O Gauge layout that's now being built around the Christmas tree. Right now it's about 7x4 oval. Today I plan on adding a new line in the middle. This is where I may be breaking the rules of the site, and I truly apologize if this is the wrong section..but is it stupid to flirt with the idea of adding a HO scale loop somewhere in the middle of my O Gauge ?

Not stupid at all... I wish I could remember exactly where on this Forum I saw it, but someone had an HO loop in the middle of a big O layout. If I remember correctly, it depicted a train ride at an amusement park. I say go for it... Santa would approve   

On the Pennsylvania Suite video in the McComas & Tuohy 6 video set (now on DVDs), Bruce Manson primarily had a large AF layout. Towards the middle of the layout further from the viewer he had HO loops and even N scale in the middle furthest away from the viewer. Bruce explained that this forced perspective with the smaller trains further away from the viewer makes the layout look larger than it really is.

Apples55 posted:

StillPlaysWithTrains1469 posted:

So, I've always been an O Gauge guy. I have an O Gauge layout that's now being built around the Christmas tree. Right now it's about 7x4 oval. Today I plan on adding a new line in the middle. This is where I may be breaking the rules of the site, and I truly apologize if this is the wrong section..but is it stupid to flirt with the idea of adding a HO scale loop somewhere in the middle of my O Gauge ?

Not stupid at all... I wish I could remember exactly where on this Forum I saw it, but someone had an HO loop in the middle of a big O layout. If I remember correctly, it depicted a train ride at an amusement park. I say go for it... Santa would approve   

On the Pennsylvania Suite video in the McComas & Tuohy 6 video set (now on DVDs), Bruce Manson primarily had a large AF layout. Towards the middle of the layout further from the viewer he had HO loops and even N scale in the middle furthest away from the viewer. Bruce explained that this forced perspective with the smaller trains further away from the viewer makes the layout look larger than it really is.

Project for today, get all the lights working in the Flying Yankee. Not as easy as it sounds, I discovered that

one of the sets I was working with obviously came from a less than satisfactory seller. Understand I have only

been back into collecting for about 14 months. Any way, after melting the wires in one vestibule,

finding that one vestibule from the "seller" did not even have a pickup and the other had a homemade

pickup, I had to settle for a 4 car train instead of 5. But they are all lit. I am attaching a video, it is my

first attempt so forgive.

Mark,

   Great Christmas layout I love it!  You really have been busy!

PCRR/Dave

Mark- great Christmas layout. I like the Lionel and MTH boxes under the table, looks like you intended to put them there.

Are you going to build a connection to the Ceiling Central and the Blackwater Canyon? I see a Elliot style helix in your future

Bob

Put some more ground cover and bushes on the new scenic piece above the tunnel. Still needs more detailing but looks good to me.

Bob

Bob, looks good to me too. Nice job...............Paul

Thanks Paul!

Bob,

Thank you for the compliments on the Christmas layout!!

I put the Lionel and MTH boxes there as a sort of decorative wall to cover lots of boxes, etc, under the table.  I think it makes an easy, no cost view block.  Most of the boxes under the table are building boxes, but I also have the PE, Hallmark Toymaker, and Hogwarts stored there, including a complete Marx 666 set in box, complete with Marx address of Girard, Pennsylvania right on the box.  All of my rolling stock and a few smaller engine boxes are stored in a closet under the stairs to the basement.

Yes, the connection to the Ceiling Central RR and the Blackwater Canyon Line.  There is a block and brick wall separating the rooms.  The Blackwater room is an addition my in-laws put on to support the sunroom they had built when the deck was too rotten to be safe.  It was totally an afterthought just to support the sunroom.  Fortunately a door connects the two rooms in the corners, so a right of way could certainly be constructed in the upper corner of the door.  I am thinking I will give it some thought as I start the Blackwater construction.  I have trouble visualizing this even in a 3D rendering from SCARM.  An Elliot style helix, yes, we would have to reduce the diameter considerably to fit in my meager space.  

For those who are wondering what Bob and I are discussing, here is a photograph of the Ceiling Central RR in the foreground, and the Blackwater Canyon Line room through the door with the blue walls.  As you can see in the distance, I left one of my daughter's shelves up for display.  For more on the planning, look at the topic in my signature line.

Mark, very nice Christmas layout! Looks wonderful!

Bob, nice touch on your new addition! Keep up the great work!

Brian I see you had more fun running trains! What fun!

Mark love your Christmas layout!  The colorful boxes underneath add to the overall effect.  Nicely done.

Art

Mark, that is a wonderful layout.  Lots of colorful Christmas cheer. 

Dave and Bob, Thank you for the compliments on the Christmas layout! 

Dave, yours looks great too!

Bob, the scenery on that hill is really getting to look good!

Brian, The Canadian Pacific equipment looks great!!  Now you need one of the new Canadian Pacific Christmas trains with all the lights!  

Thanks for the compliments on the new scenery guys!

Bob

I ran a locomotive and passenger coach around the layout and back last night before I went to sleep, just to make sure everything is running.

My heart isn't much into the layout right now, as trains have caused some issues for me this week, with this Amtrak wreck (I know the engineer, and two pals who were badly hurt and both in the hospital, and I have had bad problems getting to-from the office which is at the exit just north of the accident site).

p51 posted:

I ran a locomotive and passenger coach around the layout and back last night before I went to sleep, just to make sure everything is running.

My heart isn't much into the layout right now, as trains have caused some issues for me this week, with this Amtrak wreck (I know the engineer, and two pals who were badly hurt and both in the hospital, and I have had bad problems getting to-from the office which is at the exit just north of the accident site).

Understandable... my heartfelt prayers

I understand too, Lee!  I've been praying for those involved, and will continue to do so.

Today I surfed the internet to see who would have the black foam board in the sizes I needed. Hobby Lobby did and with a 40% off coupon I saved a bit of money. While there I picked up a package of different colors of acrylic paint and some very small brushes. Once I got home I went down to the layout and glued all the buildings down. This time I went back to the first glue I used. 3M. I tried a can of LockTite which was a mistake because the adhesion to stay glued was terrible. Once the glue has had a chance to dry I'll cut ll the buildings out and they will be ready for tacking up. Pics.............Paul

Those look great Paul, and thanks for the info on the adhesive.

dollar stores usually have the foam core for a buck

p51 posted:

I ran a locomotive and passenger coach around the layout and back last night before I went to sleep, just to make sure everything is running.

My heart isn't much into the layout right now, as trains have caused some issues for me this week, with this Amtrak wreck (I know the engineer, and two pals who were badly hurt and both in the hospital, and I have had bad problems getting to-from the office which is at the exit just north of the accident site).

My thought and prayers are you with you Lee and your friends!

Looks great Paul, I also have see it at the dollar store and Walmart! either way I think your doing a wonderful job!

briansilvermustang posted:

Hey Brian, are those MTH or Lionel Engine and Caboose?

Lee- I hope your friends make a full and speedy recovery.

The buildings are going to look nice Paul.

Bob

mike g. posted:

briansilvermustang posted:

          MTH...

                  Williams...

                           MTH...

Hey Brian, are those MTH or Lionel Engine and Caboose?

                                           worked on some broken cars while...

                       Izzy was resting up...her visit to see Santa wore her out...

                                                 then we ran some trains...

                                                             fun night...

Looks Great Brian! I hope Izzy woke up in time to enjoy the trains!

I have a section on my single-track Milwaukee Road branchline upper track where I needed a plate girder bridge. It is on an 072 curve so I couldn't find a ready-made one. So, left it blank and just cut a piece of wood and painted it an aged concrete color to get by. 

Yesterday while waiting for other projects to dry I decided to finish this project. I had bought some Scenic Express flexible girder panels for this purpose. I cut them to size on the band saw, sprayed them with flat black and then an over spray of rust color.

Here are four pictures in progress.

Art

she needed a nap after standing in line to get her picture taken with Santa,

     don't think she knew what to think ...

          she finally wandered back in the train room and watched some trains...

This morning I got the buildings cut out of the foam and going back to the 3M adhesive I had no buildings coming loose from the foam. Then I started placing them against the Masonite and after changing them around a number of times I think this is my final  decision before gluing in place. At the end by the Sauerkraut Factory I decided to overlap two buildings.  After lunch I'll look at it once more just to be sure. Get that done then I'll finish off the other half of the mountain with trees. Pics ........Paul

Art, nice easy fix and it turned out looking great!

Brian, I am glad she didn't miss all the fun!

Paul things are coming right along! Buildings are really making a difference! Question, have you ever tried wrapping a box or something with the pictures?