@RSJB18 posted:@fast freight Praying for your wife's recovery.
Bob
Prayers from here fast freight. Stay strong and loving for yourself and your wife sir. Make sure your lady has an abundance of the kisses and hugs. When my first wife pased I continually wished that I would have held her more.
Godspeed sir.
Hey folks! With school being out, I have been pretty busy! Here's some stuff I've done:
New ZW-L installed! Now I can run conventional engines on my layout!
New TMCC lock ons installed, because you can never be too safe
My lovely girlfriend got me an airbrush recently, so I have practiced airbrush weathering on a freight car and some track ( below is a before and after picture)
I finished the junk load I’ve been working on for my UP gondola car with the ETD.
I had some wood blocks that I painted and weathered to look like old concrete blocks. I made some U hooks and used a micro bit with my rotary drill and glued in place using a finish nail as a spacer. I weathered some old parts and the hooks with layers of a rust solution. The load is held down with Hob-E-Tac so it can easily be removed or replaced. I think it came out pretty good.
Gene
"Dug" out this creek bed over 2 years ago. I've been experimenting with details of the banks and riverbed itself. I think I was just prolonging the inevitable. This thing is ready for water, no more excuses...
Dave
I have two LTI Rail Chief train consists so I can have a 6 car Rail Chief train. Wanted a more modern observation car - versus the observation car from the early Union Pacific streamliner - so I recycled my 2nd combine. Fixed the coupler so it has less vertical play and added a drumhead. Result is a late 1930's streamliner.
@luvindemtrains posted:"Dug" out this creek bed over 2 years ago. I've been experimenting with details of the banks and riverbed itself. I think I was just prolonging the inevitable. This thing is ready for water, no more excuses...
Dave
--------Gee that looks great, water or not !
@luvindemtrains posted:"Dug" out this creek bed over 2 years ago. I've been experimenting with details of the banks and riverbed itself. I think I was just prolonging the inevitable. This thing is ready for water, no more excuses...
Dave
Looks great! If you dont want to model water just tell everyone there is a beaver dam up stream...
Trestleking-Thank you.
Farmall-Joe-Thank you and I thought of something like that but I need to make that move.
Dave
Dave, at first and second glance, that scene looks so detailed and real; as your creations always do. Blame it on beavers or drought but I think water would take away from what you created. I will make a motion to return it to the scenery committee for further deliberation and consideration. They can report back in another two years.
Jay
@luvindemtrains posted:Trestleking-Thank you.
Farmall-Joe-Thank you and I thought of something like that but I need to make that move.
Dave
I think Arttista makes some beavers :-)
@Tranquil Hollow RR posted:Dave, at first and second glance, that scene looks so detailed and real; as your creations always do. Blame it on beavers or drought but I think water would take away from what you created. I will make a motion to return it to the scenery committee for further deliberation and consideration. They can report back in another two years.
Jay
You're way too kind. You may be right about the water taking away from the details. However, the reason for making the modification to the bench work was for water. I plan to pour so that some of the details will still be seen. Also, this thread will always have the drought before the storm.
This made me lol, "I will make a motion to return it to the scenery committee for further deliberation and consideration. They can report back in another two years."
Dave
I’m rearranging a lot of the layout. I’m moving the town to a place more accessible and finishing up the engine house section. Cut a base for it that I’ve been trying to get to. Lots of work. Oh and changing some track work. 
Here is a lead tree that I painted and flocked in 1972 with my brother. I like keeping pieces of my train history like this on todays layout.
Lovindemtrains
Pretty sure I remember your post from a few years ago regarding the creek bed.
I am very impressed with your ability to realistically compress real life to O scale.
I find it to not be easy, but you are definitely achieving that with a slow, well thought out slow roll approach to realism.
Very good stuff. I enjoy your posts.
Dan
Thank you kindly Dan. You are correct with it being slow at times. That's because I am still learning and have had to take a step back at times.
Dave
Just took in a movie.....
@gandydancer1950 posted:Just took in a movie.....
That’s an awesome marquee! Is it custom made?
My grandson asked why the water was not blue as opposed to bare plywood. There is some motivation to make some progress. Filled in the gaps in the seawall with mortar mix. Decided to try the toilet paper method for water. I did not want a lot of texture to the water nor did I want to lay down 10 coats of ModgePodge. 2ply extra soft TP did not work out so well, so off that came, replaced with paper towel sheets glued down with 50/50 mix. When its wet enough its relatively easy to make little ripples - takes a bit of practice. Next day came back with 5 acrylic paint colors. Once the rest of the scene is done I'll go back with high gloss water based varnish, and then drybrush the wave crests.
Reasonably pleased with the water for a first attempt. I may pull off the extra paint on the walls, but its really hard to see given the lighting in the area. Plus there will be a tug and barge in front so will not be able to see much anyway.
@pennsyfan posted:That’s an awesome marquee! Is it custom made?
No, I wish it was...it's an old movie theatre from a source named BJ Traction Models
After seeing all of the amazing work everyone is doing, this is just a video to document the first time I ever ran three trains simultaneously on a layout - even though this is only a temporary layout on the carpet of an unused bedroom. I'm planning out what will eventually be a prewar-postwar layout full of 100% pure toy goodness. Realism will be banned, and that ban shall be strictly enforced. For now I'm learning as I go what trains work with what before I build something permanent. I want to set up a curvy track in the middle for my bump-and-go trolley. Top loop is a Marx #62 A-A pulling a Marx freight. Outside loop is a Lionel 262E pulling my three prewar cars. Inside loop is a Lionel 4-4-2 Atlantic with a freight.
Nice LIRR BEEP diesel.
Walter/RMT
@coach joe posted:I just finished wiring the two loops with two power drops for each loop. It's not much but i can run two trains. Scenery and structures will change dependent upon what's on the tracks.
Looks good Joe! 
The cat seems interested too.....
Bob
Playing around with scrap balsa.......testing out scribing sidewalk lines and trying out color....
I may need to go a little heavier in the scribing of the lines.......
Peter
@chris a posted:Jeff, Yes very interesting thought about the loading dock roof angle. I thought about the waterfall, then contemplated extending it further over the edge of the boxcars, but the geometry didn't really work out with the loading dock height.
Just an FYI - I read a bunch of posts about adhesives for gluing wood to the old Korber Resin walls. I ended up with 4 braces on each of the 4 walls, and decided I wasn't donating that much Gorilla Super Glue to the project. I ended up using the traditional Gorilla Glue that you activate with water. I just aggressively scribed gouges into the inside of the Korber wall, removed all the factory red paint, and then clamped the wood braces under the Gorilla glue. In my case I had a good size bottle that I need to keep using before it ages out.
Chris & Jeff (and all)......when you are putting a loading dock roof on, test out the cars you may want to spot there. Each manufacturer has a different idea of height. For this TW TrainWorx building, I knew that I wanted to use scale cars......so, I realized that the roadbed had to go... If I was sticking with RailKing ot PostWar boxcars, it would have been fine with roadbed......
Have a great and safe week, everyone!
Peter
@Putnam Division posted:Playing around with scrap balsa.......testing out scribing sidewalk lines and trying out color....
I may need to go a little heavier in the scribing of the lines.......
Peter
Peter, that looks interesting. Please continue to share your results.
Jay
Started tearing down the layout over 21 years of joy. I am getting older now, and I have had my fun. Everyone on this forum contributed to my layout with your info, help, and encouragement. I could not have built this wonderful layout with out this OGR Forum. I consider everyone on this forum as a true and trusted friend over the years. Below is a link,(you can also hit the word link) to the layout that the local PBS station did on the layout last year. I hope you enjoy it and have a safe and blessed Memorial Day.
An added note to the above, please contact via email me if you are interested in purchasing any items I might have.
@Roger Wasson posted:Started tearing down the layout over 21 years of joy. I am getting older now, and I have had my fun. Everyone on this forum contributed to my layout with your info, help, and encouragement. I could not have built this wonderful layout with out this OGR Forum. I consider everyone on this forum as a true and trusted friend over the years. Below is a link,(you can also hit the word link) to the layout that the local PBS station did on the layout last year. I hope you enjoy it and have a safe and blessed Memorial Day.
Roger, are you moving? Are you going to build another layout?
@Mark Boyce posted:Roger, are you moving? Are you going to build another layout?
No not moving, I turned 78 yesterday and thought while I am still able I better do it now and not leave it to my kids. It took a while to get started by now I am progressing slowly on it. It has and is a great hobby that I really enjoy.
@Roger Wasson posted:Started tearing down the layout over 21 years of joy. I am getting older now, and I have had my fun. Everyone on this forum contributed to my layout with your info, help, and encouragement. I could not have built this wonderful layout with out this OGR Forum. I consider everyone on this forum as a true and trusted friend over the years. Below is a link,(you can also hit the word link) to the layout that the local PBS station did on the layout last year. I hope you enjoy it and have a safe and blessed Memorial Day.
Roger, what a labor of love! Such a beautiful layout, thank you for sharing the link.
Gene
@Roger Wasson posted:No not moving, I turned 78 yesterday and thought while I am still able I better do it now and not leave it to my kids. It took a while to get started by now I am progressing slowly on it. It has and is a great hobby that I really enjoy.
Roger, I totally get it! I'm 10 years younger than you, but have had 3 orthopedic surgeries, and have started to think about my layout of only 5 years in the building stage. It is much smaller than yours, so I will keep on, but also have thought about thinning my engine and rolling stock collection.
I have really enjoyed seeing your layout and the ingenuity behind it. Solid Rock Railroad certainly describes it physically and our faith as well!! God bless !!!
@Mark Boyce posted:Roger, I totally get it! I'm 10 years younger than you, but have had 3 orthopedic surgeries, and have started to think about my layout of only 5 years in the building stage. It is much smaller than yours, so I will keep on, but also have thought about thinning my engine and rolling stock collection.
I have really enjoyed seeing your layout and the ingenuity behind it. Solid Rock Railroad certainly describes it physically and our faith as well!! God bless !!!
Thank you Mark for your kind words. It will take a while to do this, but as I remove something, there is a great memory behind why it was there.
Comments/ideas requested - Grain silo
The grain silo is now in a mock-up version. The building and dog houses are temporary foam board glue-ups. My original idea was to place the building at the base of the dock - unloading would be on the track behind it and loading in front and eventually into a waiting barge. I was surprised to see prototypes loading the grain hoppers without any type of overhead weather covering. I happened to have an Atlas low side hopper which has the opening roof doors, with 2 more arriving shortly. The building hides a portion of the town. My option here is to move the town around the corner.
The CEO came down to inspect progress and suggested I move the building to another location. It fits well and solves the issue of being a major visual distraction/attraction. However the tracks are not sidings.
So its use the new location and rework a portion of the track and dock area or stay with the first location and move the town. What do you all think? (first photo is the new location)
@Roger Wasson posted:Started tearing down the layout over 21 years of joy. I am getting older now, and I have had my fun. Everyone on this forum contributed to my layout with your info, help, and encouragement. I could not have built this wonderful layout with out this OGR Forum. I consider everyone on this forum as a true and trusted friend over the years. Below is a link,(you can also hit the word link) to the layout that the local PBS station did on the layout last year. I hope you enjoy it and have a safe and blessed Memorial Day.
Wonderful tribute with a great story. Thanks for sharing Roger. Many of us hope to build a layout as wonderful as yours. I for one, like you, want to be be the one to take it down. I'm sure some great memories will come with doing that.
Dave
Too many ideas and "what ifs" floating around in my head, so I went ahead and partially finished the engine shed, the grain silo/terminal, waterfront, and warehouse. The warehouse is a cardboard box with printed paper sides to give me an idea of scale and positioning. Eventually I'll draw up plans and have this laser cut for the final build. At this point I can move buildings around to see what works and what doesn't.
One of my major challenges was how to get the water scene to look right if it wrapped around the inside access. As built the water level is 4 inches above the yard tracks. It was not until I realized I could use the freight house to block the water height problem that I felt I had a reasonable build. It is 3 stories on the yard side but 2 stories on the water side. With this solution I would have made the dock walls 2 inches tall instead of the current 3.5 inches.
Jeff, I like the new location for the grain silos. It doesn't look like you would have room to move the town around there. The warehouse looks good there and would shield seeing the dock when viewed from across the layout!!
@luvindemtrains posted:Wonderful tribute with a great story. Thanks for sharing Roger. Many of us hope to build a layout as wonderful as yours. I for one, like you, want to be be the one to take it down. I'm sure some great memories will come with doing that.
Dave
@luvindemtrains @Roger Wasson Roger thanks for sharing the video, I'll have to look up the OGR article. Aside from thinning the herd, I don't think I can take down my layout without looking forward to building another. I enjoy the distraction of planning, building and running trains too much to have that aspect cut off. But, who can predict how I will feel in another 10 years when I catch up with you.
Regardless, thanks for posting 'food for thought" and Best Wishes... Jeff
Roger…Yikes…I am 77 and still building my little 5’x9’ layout.
Trees have overgrown my shop today. Now to get them on the layout after they dry.
@ScoutingDad posted:Comments/ideas requested - Grain silo
The grain silo is now in a mock-up version. The building and dog houses are temporary foam board glue-ups. My original idea was to place the building at the base of the dock - unloading would be on the track behind it and loading in front and eventually into a waiting barge. I was surprised to see prototypes loading the grain hoppers without any type of overhead weather covering. I happened to have an Atlas low side hopper which has the opening roof doors, with 2 more arriving shortly. The building hides a portion of the town. My option here is to move the town around the corner.
The CEO came down to inspect progress and suggested I move the building to another location. It fits well and solves the issue of being a major visual distraction/attraction. However the tracks are not sidings.
So its use the new location and rework a portion of the track and dock area or stay with the first location and move the town. What do you all think? (first photo is the new location)
Jeff, the silos are a great idea. On my layout I’m looking to create the sense of distance. You could try smaller silos towards the back wall. Of course the compromise would be not having your grain cars in the vicinity. Nonetheless, your layout is coming together quickly and nicely.
Jay
Built an actuating rail for an American Flyer O gauge 474 dump car. And repainted the car red so it looks nicer.
I thought the young man entering the building, on my new display shelf, needed some light. Found an extra LED that needed to shine so I made the addition. The lamp shade is made from a piece of plastic tubing.
If interested, you can checkout the process by viewing a previous post: https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...#113207422978600465/ 11/20/19, 12:41pm.
Cheers, Dave
Some more wiring and installation of plywood subroad base. Keep chipping away.
I just finished watching the PBS program on Roger’s layout. You have constructed a magnificent operating display and must be proud to have shared your accomplishment's with other modellers ! It’s sad to have to disassemble something you put all your heart and effort into only to have to remove it with no visions of reconstructing another. My current layout is the 4th, with several years spanning between each new project I undertook. But I push the thoughts of the enviable final closure behind me to avoid the same reality you , Roger , are experiencing.
Keep at least one favourite piece for mantle display as a trophy of your visions and dreams.
@myles posted:I just finished watching the PBS program on Roger’s layout. You have constructed a magnificent operating display and must be proud to have shared your accomplishment's with other modellers ! It’s sad to have to disassemble something you put all your heart and effort into only to have to remove it with no visions of reconstructing another. My current layout is the 4th, with several years spanning between each new project I undertook. But I push the thoughts of the enviable final closure behind me to avoid the same reality you , Roger , are experiencing.
Keep at least one favourite piece for mantle display as a trophy of your visions and dreams.
Yes, I am keeping more "trophies" of the layout than I need. But some of the items I just cannot get rid of. Thank you so much for your kind words.
Added a curvy trolley line to the carpet layout that is a test bed for a future prewar-postwar build. The video is the first time I've ever run 4 trains simultaneously. It's craziness but I like it.
Wife and I are expecting a little boy in only a few weeks. Hope he grows up to like trains as much as I have. Been transforming a room that held an HO layout back into a room. Instead of boxing it away for years, put up a shelf layout under the o-gauge. Just got the incline and track finished. As for my o-gauge shelf layout, added 2 Ross switches so trains can loop in his room, and then a 3rd switch, along with Thomas and his own side track.
On top of this, just got an AIU for MTH dcs system to work properly and wired up all my switches. Next will be turning foam incline into hills / mountains.
Im glad there are track laying programs out there. Makes track modifications easier, and can see what will look best.
@Tugboat15 posted:Wife and I are expecting a little boy in only a few weeks. Hope he grows up to like trains as much as I have. Been transforming a room that held an HO layout back into a room. Instead of boxing it away for years, put up a shelf layout under the o-gauge. Just got the incline and track finished. As for my o-gauge shelf layout, added 2 Ross switches so trains can loop in his room, and then a 3rd switch, along with Thomas and his own side track.
On top of this, just got an AIU for MTH dcs system to work properly and wired up all my switches. Next will be turning foam incline into hills / mountains.
Im glad there are track laying programs out there. Makes track modifications easier, and can see what will look best.
Both levels look great! I like the lighting. I hope your son grows up to love trains too.
I did without a layout for many years while our daughters were growing up. I had to be creative, but wasn’t as creative as you. Our first grandchild, a boy, will be here soon, too. After having all daughters, all in their 30s now, I’m hoping grandson will enjoy trains too. I’m going to work on that! 😊
Finally making some progress on the industrial complex.
After an exhaustive search for ideas, found what appears to be a "chemical industry" and decided that I have enough kits and parts to kitbash something similar.
So far, I have dissected a bunch of Engine house walls so that I could replace the round top palladian windows with some Grandt Line/Tichy Train Group square 40 light windows and gotten the wall assemblies re-assembled so that a meaningful mock up could be photographed for review.
Total area is about 32 inches long, around 12 inches wide and roughly 12 inches plus what ever roof top details get added once the basic footprint is completed.
It should be the perfect place to spot a collection of Hooker Chemical and other 11,000 gallon tank cars I have picked up over the years.
Here's 2 Links to the image I found on line, once I found this and checked out a few different photos, I decided this was definitely worth using as a pattern..
Chris, you are certainly on your way to building a chemical factory similar to the one in the links!! Looks great!
@chris a posted:Finally making some progress on the industrial complex.
After an exhaustive search for ideas, found what appears to be a "chemical industry" and decided that I have enough kits and parts to kitbash something similar.
So far, I have dissected a bunch of Engine house walls so that I could replace the round top palladian windows with some Grandt Line/Tichy Train Group square 40 light windows and gotten the wall assemblies re-assembled so that a meaningful mock up could be photographed for review.
Total area is about 32 inches long, around 12 inches wide and roughly 12 inches plus what ever roof top details get added once the basic footprint is completed.
It should be the perfect place to spot a collection of Hooker Chemical and other 11,000 gallon tank cars I have picked up over the years.
Here's 2 Links to the image I found on line, once I found this and checked out a few different photos, I decided this was definitely worth using as a pattern..
Chris.....you certainly have a lot of great ideas......you have a knack for looking beyond the basic kit and thinking/envisioning what it could be.........
Thank you for sharing them!!!
Peter
@Tugboat15 posted:Wife and I are expecting a little boy in only a few weeks. Hope he grows up to like trains as much as I have. Been transforming a room that held an HO layout back into a room. Instead of boxing it away for years, put up a shelf layout under the o-gauge. Just got the incline and track finished. As for my o-gauge shelf layout, added 2 Ross switches so trains can loop in his room, and then a 3rd switch, along with Thomas and his own side track.
On top of this, just got an AIU for MTH dcs system to work properly and wired up all my switches. Next will be turning foam incline into hills / mountains.
Im glad there are track laying programs out there. Makes track modifications easier, and can see what will look best.
Your wife let you cut holes in the walls! Mine told me absolutely not 😂.
Congratulations on your soon to arrive baby boy! I'm sure he will love the trains in the room.
A friend brought over his gorgeous Lionel postwar Trainmaster to strech it's legs on my layout......sadly I couldn't convince him to leave it at my house.....
Thanks for all the positive feedback, kind words and likes.
Made decent progress today. I am pretty well through assembly of the 2 story section on the right hand side, still have to add the 4th partial wall on the left hand side, but that was the more challenging side to assemble. Also came up with some ideas for a tall narrow tank/reactor structure.
Here's some progress photos. I didn't insert all the photos, so check the attachments below.
Sizing and cutting, scribing, painting and placing sidewalks this week……
…..a little at a time…..
Peter
Placed last scene of my welder and Torch guy (lower left) Now other than a border to hide the white foam, this 1st layout of mine is done! I now can say I love this hobby and all of you have inspired me with ides, so its officially time to plan a proper layout in a room, NOT on the floor under a Piano...somehow I did squeeze 180' of wires under this beast. :-)
@@Tugboat15
Enjoyed your e-ingenuity of cutting splitting layering.
After 5 hours of driving to an from the grandson’s soccer championship competition, six hours on the sidelines running the General was a good way to wind down last night…
Everyone’s recent layout activity was truly inspiring this morning… I can get back to my layout after Carol’s Aunt Frances visit from Arvada has come and gone.
@Seth Thomas posted:@@Tugboat15
Enjoyed your e-ingenuity of cutting splitting layering.
After 5 hours of driving to an from the grandson’s soccer championship competition, six hours on the sidelines running the General was a good way to wind down last night…
Everyone’s recent layout activity was truly inspiring this morning… I can get back to my layout after Carol’s Aunt Frances visit from Arvada has come and gone.
John, the General is great, but I love the detailing of that station even better!!
It's time to ice up........
I’m glad they’re icing those badboys up.
Finally coming together... All the walls on the track side elevation are now squared up and glued together. Ended up working from both ends towards the center, and have decided to stretch the whole chemical industry another 4 - 5 inches. So as of this evening, the left end wing and the right side wing aren't physically attached. But at least I have quantified total width and length of the foot print (36 x 11)
Chris, the chemical facility is looking impressive already!
Nice to see others still active on projects even with the great weather returning. Since it rained outside again this morning, I decided I had time to clear off a 14ft by 8ft section of unfinished layout area that I was never really happy with and “upgrade “ it scenery wise. The new look will have more rock cuts , trees and just a station, section house, water tank and a couple tool and track speeder sheds. A secondary paved 2 way road and highway over pass crossing over the tracks , further around the curve and hidden from direct view by the rock cuts and trees, will help isolate everything into two separate scenes. Now that I have the track all configured out, I can attack the scenery from back to front edge. Here’s a couple “ before and after “ ( so far) photos. 
Myles,
I can relate to a having a bunch of stuff "stored" on the layout but perhaps for different reasons than yourself. However, I know a lot of effort goes into just removing it. For that, congratulations. Looks like you have a good start. Please keep us posted on your progress.
Dave
Myles, it is good to have the space cleared for the new scenery. I know from your previous work it will look great and have just enough but not too much of anything.
That looks great and I like the fence.
Chris those buildings look like some of the chemical factories I delivered to in Newark NJ. They were just a little more run down.
@poconotrain posted:Chris those buildings look like some of the chemical factories I delivered to in Newark NJ. They were just a little more run down.
Interesting you should point that out. I grew up about 45 minutes from Newark, in Oradell, NJ. Ironically a high school friend of mine's family owned a chemical business in Jersey City that they ended up moving to Greenville, SC in the 70's. I may reach out to him and ask if he has any old photos, or a copy of the business logo from back then.
I do plan weathering this building, and adding a bunch of external piping with valves, exhaust fans, and a few more tanks.
Have quite a ways to go, but pretty pleased with where it's heading.
Progress continues... I am amazed at how a small change can make such a big difference... I wasn't too thrilled with the angle of the shed roof on the lower level, and decided to cut it and reduce the slope. Really glad I took the time to do that, it exposed more of the brick on the second level above, gave me a place to run some external piping and the proportions are just much better.....
Also finished the new tall section in the center between the two ends and did a bunch of work filling and sanding the tall narrow column (reactor/distiller maybe) and got it in primer today as well as some other tanks and parts that needed to be primed.
Chris,
This project is coming along nicely and your regular updates are appreciated. It's great to see modelers creating one of kind buildings for their layout.
Dave
Dave, Many thanks. There are some benefits to working slow on these, once I get over the frustration with how long it's taking.
I have definitely found that stopping to take photos and review them helps me decide what's working and what needs improvement. Fortunately, I haven't had to go back and do any major "do overs", so that's a benefit.
I'd like this one to be my best KitBash yet, and I still have a long way to go, but at least I found a "pattern" to follow that I am fond of. Here are the links in case someone wants to check them out and not have to go back and find them in my first posting.
@chris a posted:Progress continues... I am amazed at how a small change can make such a big difference... I wasn't too thrilled with the angle of the shed roof on the lower level, and decided to cut it and reduce the slope. Really glad I took the time to do that, it exposed more of the brick on the second level above, gave me a place to run some external piping and the proportions are just much better.....
Also finished the new tall section in the center between the two ends and did a bunch of work filling and sanding the tall narrow column (reactor/distiller maybe) and got it in primer today as well as some other tanks and parts that needed to be primed.
Chris- the project is really looking good. Goes to show what a bunch of wall panels and some imagination can become. Definitely has the feel of a company that started small and expanded as the business grew.
Are you going to add interiors?
Bob
Good morning Bob, thanks for kind words.
I think I'll leave the roofs removable so that at some point in the future I can think about an interior, especially on the larger 2 story right hand side with the large factory Grandt Line/Tichy windows.
I have quite a bit of external piping work to do, and am waiting on a bunch of valves and elbows to be delivered. I have a bunch of piping stock that I have accumulated so fabricating and installing piping and valves will be something new.
A good many of these kit bashes are the result of me buying a bunch, like 35 - 40 Ameritowne Wall sections off of eBay maybe 5 years ago as well as 3 IHC Engine house kits, and picking up about 4 of the Lionel Factory kits. Couldn't resist the fire sale prices I paid for them, and figured at some point, I'd come up with the "imagination" to kit bash them into something unique.
My son started calling me "Bargain Man"... Not sure that's a compliment
The other thing I also discovered some time ago, was that I could purchase a bunch of HO scale tanks at local train shows for short money and use then to detail roof tops etc.....
Here's a few photos of the other "kit bashes" that have been made out of these large "bargain man" purchases over the years.....
To all - some of these scenes are STUNNING! Pure inspiration...Have a blessed day.
Chris, The industry you are working on now is looking great! Your previous industries are really wonderfully done!
I have some exposed 2x6 lumber on my display cases and wanted to put a covering on it so I thought a group of coverings in the form of Lionel boxes would look interesting. I need to make more of them at which time I will post some photos of all of them installed. This is my sample box front. I 3D printed it and I slightly raised the blue and white sections in the middle of the box and inset the orange letters. It makes it have a little more of a 3D affect. This one is about 6x9 inches. I am going to place 5 or 6 of these in a row to cover the exposed wood. I am also going to apply various numbers to each box such as 6457, 2426X, 6464-500, 2400 etc. These number will also be raised numbers and will be in black.
idea-thinker
@chris a posted:Good morning Bob, thanks for kind words.
I think I'll leave the roofs removable so that at some point in the future I can think about an interior, especially on the larger 2 story right hand side with the large factory Grandt Line/Tichy windows.
I have quite a bit of external piping work to do, and am waiting on a bunch of valves and elbows to be delivered. I have a bunch of piping stock that I have accumulated so fabricating and installing piping and valves will be something new.
A good many of these kit bashes are the result of me buying a bunch, like 35 - 40 Ameritowne Wall sections off of eBay maybe 5 years ago as well as 3 IHC Engine house kits, and picking up about 4 of the Lionel Factory kits. Couldn't resist the fire sale prices I paid for them, and figured at some point, I'd come up with the "imagination" to kit bash them into something unique.
My son started calling me "Bargain Man"... Not sure that's a compliment
The other thing I also discovered some time ago, was that I could purchase a bunch of HO scale tanks at local train shows for short money and use then to detail roof tops etc.....
Here's a few photos of the other "kit bashes" that have been made out of these large "bargain man" purchases over the years.....
That looks very authentic Bargainman, I mean Chris.
Jay
@idea-thinker posted:I have some exposed 2x6 lumber on my display cases and wanted to put a covering on it so I thought a group of coverings in the form of Lionel boxes would look interesting. I need to make more of them at which time I will post some photos of all of them installed. This is my sample box front. I 3D printed it and I slightly raised the blue and white sections in the middle of the box and inset the orange letters. It makes it have a little more of a 3D affect. This one is about 6x9 inches. I am going to place 5 or 6 of these in a row to cover the exposed wood. I am also going to apply various numbers to each box such as 6457, 2426X, 6464-500, 2400 etc. These number will also be raised numbers and will be in black.
idea-thinker
Now that is unique. Looking forward to seeing the finished display cases with the 3D-printed boxes.
Friend Bob has been working solo on this nice and quite large basement layout for about 10 years now. I'm hopefully inspiring him and offering to assist in getting more scenery done. He plans to work on some this week. It has terrific potential with much really good work already in place.
BEAUTIFUL!
@c.sam posted:Friend Bob has been working solo on this nice and quite large basement layout for about 10 years now. I'm hopefully inspiring him and offering to assist in getting more scenery done. He plans to work on some this week. It has terrific potential with much really good work already in place.
Please do your best to entice your friend Bob to do a full layout feature for the magazine. Looks like it would be a winner, with lots of excellent material to inspire readers (present and future).
Sam, that is a great looking layout you are helping Bob with.
@RV Junke posted:Placed last scene of my welder and Torch guy (lower left) Now other than a border to hide the white foam, this 1st layout of mine is done! I now can say I love this hobby and all of you have inspired me with ides, so its officially time to plan a proper layout in a room, NOT on the floor under a Piano...somehow I did squeeze 180' of wires under this beast. :-)
Congratulations on completing the layout @RV Junke. It seems like not long ago that you made your first post about this. I must ask: Did you actually have to work under the piano, or does the layout slide under the piano after you finish work?
@John's Trains posted:Congratulations on completing the layout @RV Junke. It seems like not long ago that you made your first post about this. I must ask: Did you actually have to work under the piano, or does the layout slide under the piano after you finish work?
Thanks John...No sadly had to work under piano, due to the leg locations. Could not for the life of me develop a slide under approach, man did I try!. Needless to say it was a BEAR. Here are a few shots of the construction and whatever pre-wiring I could do, the rest was brute force hands and knees...59yrs old, was not easy. LOL! NOTHING like layouts many here do, but for my 1st encounter with the hobby, fairly pleased, and I do like the hobby for sure, and this will be one of many layouts I am sure.
@RV Junke posted:Thanks John...No sadly had to work under piano, due to the leg locations. Could not for the life of me develop a slide under approach, man did I try!. Needless to say it was a BEAR. Here are a few shots of the construction and whatever pre-wiring I could do, the rest was brute force hands and knees...59yrs old, was not easy. LOL! NOTHING like layouts many here do, but for my 1st encounter with the hobby, fairly pleased, and I do like the hobby for sure, and this will be one of many layouts I am sure.
Your wife just called - she wants to move the table that's near the piano - just a few inches.
@Mallard4468 posted:Your wife just called - she wants to move the table that's near the piano - just a few inches.
LOL!!!!! Want to come help lift piano so I can slide out?
@RV Junke posted:Thanks John...No sadly had to work under piano, due to the leg locations. Could not for the life of me develop a slide under approach, man did I try!. Needless to say it was a BEAR. Here are a few shots of the construction and whatever pre-wiring I could do, the rest was brute force hands and knees...59yrs old, was not easy. LOL! NOTHING like layouts many here do, but for my 1st encounter with the hobby, fairly pleased, and I do like the hobby for sure, and this will be one of many layouts I am sure.
That's a lot of wiring! I imagine that working under those constraints was similar to running with leg weights. When you eventually build a layout table, it will be like running without the weights. Just my opinion, but I think your piano build would make an interesting article, focusing on small-space O Gauge. "So you think you don't have space for a layout?"
I'd like to see videos of trains running on this. Maybe you've already posted videos and I missed them.
John
@John's Trains posted:That's a lot of wiring! I imagine that working under those constraints was similar to running with leg weights. When you eventually build a layout table, it will be like running without the weights. Just my opinion, but I think your piano build would make an interesting article, focusing on small-space O Gauge. "So you think you don't have space for a layout?"
I'd like to see videos of trains running on this. Maybe you've already posted videos and I missed them.
John
Believe it or not over 180' of wire in the end. here is a video I did last night Lionel_O-Guage-Under-Piano-Night-Time-Run (youtube.com) I am a Photographer who is trying to learn video now... That would be crazy if I ever got in an article!
@RV Junke that is a very well thought out, designed, and built layout. You did a great job wiring not only track and switches, but lights and other things as well! The layout is ready made to pull out, put a frame and lags on it, and operate when you have the room. Of course I’m sure you will want to design and build a new layout in the new space when the time comes.
I can appreciate the difficulties getting under the piano at 59. My wife has liked to stash Christmas presents under her piano, and when I was 59, I could help. Last Christmas at 67, it was most difficult! 😮😃
I added shelves in my train room
Chris,
Did you build the concrete arches on the foundation of this building or is it a part of a kit? I've seen this design on a few layouts and have an area of my layout where I want to have this type of structure over the tracks.
Dave
@Brooklyn Corey posted:I added shelves in my train room
Nice shelves, Corey……..I also like the RailKing auto carriers……they make a colorful display…….I run 5 of the Jade Green New York Central ones as a unit train…..
Peter
(More) Working on sidewalks…..
Have a great week!
Peter
@Putnam Division posted:Nice shelves, Corey……..I also like the RailKing auto carriers……they make a colorful display…….I run 5 of the Jade Green New York Central ones as a unit train…..
Peter
Thanks, I love the auto carriers. I need to add more shelves for the rest that I have.
Fabulous looking factory you’ve created Chris. It’ll look great in your warehouse district.
C. Sam and Bob, the layouts looking fantastic. Bridges are always a focal point especially the high ones. Nice to see lots of “ PA’s and E-8’” locos still roaming the rails.
You guys are all doing super jobs on your layouts and projects.
I promised I’d keep a photo log of the new scenery I’m working on, so here’s a look at the work so far. Originally this was an unsettled area so I decided to tare out what was originally there and recreate something more scenic. This location will consist of the main, a signalled siding and a holding track. The ”back track” swinging off to right in the first picture , follows the river around behind the road grade that leads to an overpass. The section house and tool shed will be in a grassy area with pine trees encompassing them. The styrofoam in the back will be carved and painted a rock color. Lots of trees will be needed to fill the areas. A gravel turnoff will lead down to a “Monashee Laser Engineering CPR station “ currently under construction now. The steel water tank will be set back in the trees as well. I usually try to build trees in batches of 25. They disappear quickly ! 
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