What did you do on your layout today?

I forgot this one, just took this photo • Six Work Benches for Model Railroading.

Two Saw Horses for Weathering & Painting.

     I forgot, I do have this set up in the garage for weathering and spray painting model structures. I am not allowed to spray paint in the house. Do all my painting and weathering in the Spring, Summer & Fall. Like to use spray lacquer to dull the plastic in the weathering process. No door, just a piece of old plywood.

See Photo

  Click photo to enlarge.....

Gary,

Glad I made my comment.  Yes, that is similar to what I have.  Not much get done in Western Pennsylvania winters, however.  

5 work benches I have a hard enough time with one. well did some more work on the ol layout tonight one day I am gonna have to come up with a name for it but that's another day. today I made a hill/mountain not sure what you would call it I was slinging plaster cloth is all I know . here's the results of the endeavor.

Very slow progress on kitbashing GW's #60 from a Lionel 0-8-0.  Tonight I used Dremel and large drill to grind very prominent smoke box hinges off the Lionel smokebox door.

I had made the air tank that goes under the smokebox, but am not happy with that,

and am mulling it over before installing it on the pilot plate.  I would rather have a

brass one, but have no tubing the right size. And, tonight, I did, what I have had

difficulty getting in the habit of doing, I took pictures of it in progress.  Most of my

projects I only get around to photoing when finished.

Here's Part 1 of my P-51 project, wherein we ask the musical question, "Why painstakingly construct a support frame when there are plenty of perfectly junky gondolas to further ruin?" 

Next up, using the remaining gondola sides as wing frames... 

SCROUNGE!

Mitch

A bunch of unlicensed vehicles on my layout have now received tiny license plates.  It's just a small detail that adds to the overall effect.  I did the autos and trucks that are most visible, but may do the rest when my eyes uncross!  

I have been watching your progress on this bridge abutment and rock formation. You did a superb job of painting the rock formation!!!! Bravo!

gee Daryl, think of all the extra revenue your local PD could have made on all those unlicensed cars!!

I actually just finished getting my newest BLOG video on my youtube channel which has the first real look at the layout im starting on. 

Here is the link if anyone is interested. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsoCc6WwUDI

 Here is a current photo of my layout. Lots of work to do but there is alot of plans in the works! 

Not exactly my "layout" but I finished cleaning my outdoor G scale track out back and ran an LGB truck and a railbus that I made out of a caboose.  Didn't run bad considering the winter we had. Plus I now have a stiff broom for sweeping debris off the track and a handle with an abrasive cloth for polishing the rails. Makes it a lot easier.

Great detail, one which few people do anything about.

If you build them up on photoshop as I did (and know how to change stuff like that), all you need are good photos of a few real plates, then you can extract the right numbers to get what you need.

And a little research into county codes and how the plates look in your layout's year, really make for a cool detail that people will notice...

Matt,

The rotary is really cool.  I remember watching the real thing at the coal yard when I worked at Mount Storm West Virginia power station in the '90s.

I've proven that old beat up Scout gondolas CAN be useful! 

Remember, SCROUNGE! 

Mitch

Yes, you have a good point!

Actually, considering I'm working with a former 6805 Atomic Energy Disposal car, I came up with a clever use for the holes normally containing rails:

Even more elegant!

Mitch

Working on my very lightweight modules again: https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/t...-lightweight-modules

I cut two new 7.5 x 80 inch straights, sanded and painted one side of each.

The day before yesterday, I put down track on an O45 / O54 dual track semicircle. Also picked up more cable ties, was running out.

Before that I picked up an O54 circle and more straights.

Just a little bit here and there.

I need more green paint and one more sheet of Luan to cut two more 7.5 x 80 straights.

looks much nicer that way Now you gave me an idea I have a bunch of the flat car stackes or whatever there called a few well placed holes and I should be good

I was playing around with web based photo editing software tonight. here's the results just for fun.  

Stirling, there is a thread that could use a picture, or link to the Bicentennial trailer & flat car of yours (16+min in the video) 

  https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/t...80#41975971223778080

I cleaned up the floor on the layout, something I had not done since the bench work was done. I moved everything still pending to places under the benchwork to leave the aisles as open as they can be, and vacuumed up the room.

My wife came in and said, "wow, there's actually room in here." Then she started nagging me to get started with scenery. All this time, she only cared how much time this was taking me from stuff she wanted me to do and how much it costs, now it almost seems more important to her for me to get the scenery going/completed as it is for me (which of course, is a big thing for me as it's the only thing left for the overall initial 'completion' of the layout in that it'll look like there isn't a heck of a lot of stuff pending...)

My nephew is in the area, on temporary duty at the local Army post, and he's coming out to our place to stay in the guest room tonight. Nobody from my brother's family has ever come out to see us (his parents live in Virginia, his sister is in college in Florida, and he's in the Army just like his uncle did) so this'll be the only time anyone from my family has seen the place other than my parents one time.

Ever notice how some people are the ones who are expected to go see people and nobody ever comes to see them? That's my wife and I for my family as we live so very far from everyone else.

Anyway, someone from my family will finally see my layout. He's been to the area I'm modeling several times and will get my overall concept. I'll even hand him a throttle if he wants to run a train...

Oh, I also completed the first few numbered passes I made. I have a 1930s number stamper, so they all have their own unique number. Mom and Dad get pass #s 1 and 2 (my wife couldn't care less for such things), the two guys coming over on Sunday for my first-ever op session get 3 and 4, my best friend back in Florida gets # 5. Their names have already been typed on a 1939 typewriter in my collection, just like a real one.

None of them have a clue they'll be getting one...

 Gary, when working with volatile glues & paints, please keep in mind your pilot lights on the water heater & hvac are "right there" now. The chances of fumes reaching the pilot in a flammable concentration are much better 

I got a Williams Super Continental consist so I swapped out the Canadian Pacific. 6153 had to come out of retirement to haul it because of a lack of CN diesel units. It is a five car set but I left out the express car. I will have to repaint my whistle-box as a through baggage car.

Oh, I also completed the first few numbered passes I made. I have a 1930s number stamper, so they all have their own unique number.

Mom and Dad get pass #s 1 and 2 (my wife couldn't care less for such things),

the two guys coming over on Sunday for my first-ever op session get 3 and 4, my best friend back in Florida gets # 5.

Their names have already been typed on a 1939 typewriter in my collection, just like a real one.

None of them have a clue they'll be getting one...

Class act idea there Lee.

Larry

Painted the other side of those 80 inch straights.

Painted the little semicircles that hold the rubber bands.

Now I just need green rubber bands.

Glacial speed...but I made running board extensions to the cast-in Lionel ones, to

make this boiler look more like GW's Alco #60.  Also got new pilot plate to smokebox

hand rails cut and shaped, and mounting holes drilled.  (Original ones will be cut off, but still extend the length of the boiler).  Need to shape a perfect 3/4 circle of wire for, and drill, the smokebox front for a handrail on the Alco not found on the Lionel 0-8-0.

The two smoke box handrails, on the loco, as delivered, precluded having to fabricate

more elaborate steps and handrails added by GW shops later in its career.  #60 has

a step up in her footrail on both sides of the boiler that the 0-8-0 did not have.  I am still mulling over how to handle that....cut out the cast foot rail section, or leave it in,

since an exact model is not obtainable...

I never use flammable glues or concentrates in the utility room.  The darkroom, train room have exhaust fans. The other photo showed me doing all the spray painting in the garage.

Thanks for the tip, all under control.

I am a retired shop teacher after 35 years, I always follow the safety rules.

     Even put solvent soaked rags in a safety can in the garage.

Cheers from Michigan

Thanks

Gary

Progress stopped for a few days after completing the embankments around the bridge. Ran out of supplies so yesterday I ordered what I need to keep going from Scenic Express. Suppose to rain later today so that will be my chance to make up some rock faces for the one front corner of the lower level. ...........Paul

Hi All

To day, goofing off.

I received a new old stock UP TMCC LionMaster 4-6-6-4 Challenger.

It has been an exceptional month for me to put new  steam in my train room. I don't have many nice Steam engines.

I also received this month a old new  Clinchfield TMCC 4-6-6-4- Challenger and the old new  UP Lionmaster Legacy 4-8-8-4-Big Boy.

Sure has made up for all the honey doo's I been stuck with.

Pictures are on one of my side track that's just for firing up new engines.

Larry.

PS  You all are being very energetic for this time of the year

I have not done much lost my brother n law to cancer 2 weeks ago he helped me build my train room and layout so this weekend I am going back to doing what he would want me to do continue to finish this layout I will update as soon as possible  

looks great Larry I only have the one big steamer its a lionmaster 4-6-6-4 challenger Rio Grande #3800 I love it tho.

I'm very sorry to hear this.

You'll get back to it when you're ready to do so, I'm certain of that.

sorry for your loss. I lost my Uncle Jim last week to a stroke. Took the wind out of my sails on a lot of things we shared.

Jhainer

You can certainly get hooked on the Lionmasters Series. Especially for those of us that don't have the large radius layouts.

Larry

Larry,

Layout looks great!  You're going to love those Challengers!

I made a video to prove the DM&IR Yellowstone is more powerful than the Allegheny. You can see it on the second page of this thread

Yellowstone vs Allegheny

I finished my apocalypse unit today.

I worked on boiler details on GW #60.  Also resoldered a loose wire.  Details include

making new cylinder steam pipes, and drilling the smoke box front to accept the

semicircular handrail on this loco.  Test fitted the fabricated running board extensions.

Oh.  My.  (STANDING OVATION)

Mitch

I love it. I agree, now you need Mad Max figures and desert scenery.

Success!  I laid the golden wire today, and ran old forum member Walt Cameron's trolley around the track of the Bark and Spiders Outdoor O gauge layout.  Running conventional right now, I pulled an old Williams FM Trainmaster that has not run in 20+ years out and ran it around.  I id'd a couple of areas that need some more work, but next job is hooking up the TMCC, TCU and Legacy.  I may have to ask a couple of noob questions as I reconnect those units after so many years.

Cut two more 80x7.5 inch luan straights.  Sanded and painted them.  Added track to one.  Three more to put track on.

Hoorah!  I've also got trolley news!  I took delivery of a new streetcar offa eBay this week! 

It doesn't have third rail shoes, and it has a little trouble clearing the giraffe telltale, though. 

Mitch

(PS:  If anyone has a spare Bachmann G scale trolley truck, please let me know; the motor in this one is shot!  Thanks!)

A friend stopped by the train room and showed me how to do,

Panoramic Photography with a Smart Phone

 Click photo to enlarge

NI-I-I-CE.  In the old days you would take 3 or 4 shots and stitch them together.

He took 4 photos and the computer software stitch them together, and I used Photoshop to enhance the color and contrast.

Did alot today had help from my wife. She tried her hand at weathering i gave her 4 chessie hoppers i worked on scenery. I cut out the rough area of where a river is going to go added 2 bridges over it then touched up the paint on the bridges. then painted the mountain/hill area  then put down some ground cover and some rocks and trees. then thought I want to see what the facia would look like black so I painted that.

Working on the last corner under the upper mainlines. Still working out how I want to finish the corner with just one long cliff or one long and a couple of short ones on either side of the long one and the side running down from that corner I ordered some backdrops from scenic express to work into that are. So today will be finishing the cliffs and plaster wrapping them...............Paul 

I had my first ever op session scheduled, but both of the guys back out yesterday... For the second time.

So, the next invite goes out to all the local guys I'd be okay with coming over. They've had their chance.

But in a positive note, I completed this truck conversion. I added a wood floor and weather it pretty extensively.

Lee

Good job on the conversion.

guys back out    I understand. I have a few invites left and that's it. I'll watch the trains by myself. Don't have much interest around here about toy trains.  

Pretty ironic since the Clinchfield Rail Road is pretty much the only real reason the town is here to start with.

Don't matter, I'm still having fun.

Larry

Lee, sometimes you just have to invite the three friends that will show up.  Me, Myself and I.  If they do train open houses out where you live, get yourself on the schedule.  You might get some people that are interested.  So far your work looks nice, keep up the good work.

Got the 6-14005 operating coal ramp (that I purchased from a fellow forum member) hooked up and ready for operation.  Also attempted to hookup the 6-14005 operating coal loader, but when power was applied, there was a cloud of white smoke and a burning smell. Emailed the LHS where purchased for further instructions on how to handle.

Worked on my G scale outdoor track between rain drops. Added more track and switches. Now have a rectangular loop about 52 ft. long and 12 ft. wide. An inside loop plus  a long siding on the outside also a short cut between the long sides will keep it interesting. All resting on gravel with weeds, twigs and acorns for fun. Run my truck and rail bus but negotiating the return of an LGB steam loco. Still have the cars.

Day of Rest!  Just talked trains with some locals.

Born under a bad sign, I been down since I began to crawl..

I should have stayed in bed, one thing after another. Gave up on the day early, and decided to work on the trains.

Result? I did a bunch of "work" I didn't need to, and did it poorly  

My Martian rocket had stopped smoking.

 Or I should say, "It smoked but the fan stopped working".

  I took it apart, snapping the legs on the led's for the rocket engines nozzle, and doing some wire damage 

Took a reading at the regulator, and got I nothing. So I took it to the other layout for repair, and replaced it, the led board, the wires, and the 5v regulator. Then re-glued some weight that came loose with hot glue. And then soldered the 2 wires, and reassembled it... without the brush I removed for testing(no neutral)

 So I take it apart, and another power wire snaps, and I see the weights have shifted and it, and hot glue are now one with the nosecone lighting base! It wasn't cool enough even after two solder points were done. I can only hope the bulb heat will allow it to droop back during a log run, otherwise once the bulb burns out, no more glowing red War Bonnet. At least not easily.

 So, I do get it together, and I do test it, and it works....till I get to the living room then it stops. I go back to the other room & it works again. I go to the living room its dead again.

 Then it takes me about two minutes to figure out in my head, that while moving things around the living room, someone had accidently knocked the wires off, and then reversed the leads from the 12vdc 4amp 1970s Radio Shack power supply I use in the living room . The diode is blocking the current in "that direction" 

 Reversing the wire polarity brings it to life again

It cost me a regulator, and about two hours of frustration. Its ready to be full of fluid again, and I'm ready to fill the room with some smoke

See ya later! .

Made a river.

I finished painting/weathering the Fastrack on my "Simplicity in 6x8" living room layout.

My postwar milk platform sitting in my modified operating track

My "coffee table"

Test running the just painted outer loop to make sure no paint on rail tops

Very realistic. Sure makes Fastrack look a whole lot better.

With the lightning speed of a sloth, all I got done this weekend was to get snapped

into the drilled holes in the smokebox door, the fabricated semicircular handrail.

I have been building roads and parking lots. Talk about the putziest work ever. 15 hours of cutting and fitting masonite, then painting and installing the firring strips. PITA!!! but its gonna look sweet when its done

I have continued work on my crossing gate project. Today I placed some wood planks and tried to stain them to look like an old wood crossing deck. There is still lots of scenery blending to do to blend in the track with the rest of the scenery module. I tested the track to make sure the inside wood plank does not interfere with train travel. The planks on the inside of the outer rails are just slightly lower than the others to allow for the trains.

For what ever reason back about 8 years ago Rail-King made some nice PRR passenger cars except the bottom including the trucks was this awful green color ( pic 1) well I took one complete set ( 2 trucks ) off and dissembled them and painted them and put back together and put on the passenger car ( actually took these off like 6 months ago and painted just got to putting these on another car yesterday but you can see the difference) plan to paint any thing green you can see when train is sitting on the track also 

I visited Wild Bill's Trains to get info on replacing my Celebration Series ZW with a new Lionel ZWL.  As always, my favorite LHS was very helpful in evaluating the plusses and minuses of making this change.  Dennis

Very nice! Please post another photo when you have completed the scene.

I was shooting photos of trains along the BNSF/UP/Amtrak main and caught 5 trains in less than an hour yesterday afternoon. Man, I like living here this time of year! I also found two very thin slides of rail, one was not much thicker than sheet metal, no idea how they made that. I have a nice collection of rail slices and it was nice not to have pay for more!

 

I also played with my new Bachmann builder plate changes. Note # 9 to the left has one of my Baldwin plates made off photoshop and 12 to the right has what comes with them. I really think 9 is a big improvement. This week I'll be adding them to all my locomotives and will clean 9's up a little from what you see in this shot:

 

 

Originally Posted by Larry Sr.:

guys back out    I understand. I have a few invites left and that's it. I'll watch the trains by myself. Don't have much interest around here about toy trains.  

 

The thing is that there's a pretty large community of operations guys around here and an active NMRA region where I am. In fact, on Saturday, there was an invite-only layout tour of layouts in the area of the nearest major town to where I live (Olympia, WA). Lots of people showed up and every layout I went to, I didn't see any familiar faces other than the owners of the layouts and 2 other guys. To me, that says there's a big community of that here.

What kills me is that Sunday was the last free day I had which didn't conflict with another model RR event for a while. I was going to do something on the 6th or 7th but just realized there was a NMRA regional event that weekend. The weekend of the 13th is the only time I have until after the 4th of July.

I have the emails of all the guys I'd be okay with coming over (all have layouts I have been invited to operate on, or I've talked with and think they'd 'get' my layout concept and size) and will have 3 open slots. 3 people in there will be a tight fit, but I think it's doable. It'll also give me the buffer if one backs out. I'll be honest with them and say that one will probably just be running an occasional passenger train, or I could flip people around so everyone gets a chance to do some switching.

Dennis sent you an E-mail

 Well tried to but got returned mail-DEAMON

Email me at rtraincollector@yahoo.com

Last night I finished installing all the track and turnouts in my yard.  I connected all the track to the powere source and put in wire drops for each turnout to run on AUX Power.  Now I just need to connect eleven pairs of wire under the bench.

I have been running my Marx CP steamer with a short Lionel tender and some Scout cars. I remembered having a tab and slot coupler left from my Marx Merchandise truck conversion, so now I can run L Company or Marx cars, along with a Marx tanker bought from Steve Eastman.

Third day of operation on the Bark and Spiders Outdoor O gauge.  Today I pulled out an Atlas SP SW9 in Black Widow livery and an MTH Kodachrome SP caboose. The Railsounds in conventional mode completely captivated the 20 lb. terrier who was running back and forth completely intrigued with this non-squirrel invader of her environment.  Hilarious, my wife was giggling and filming.

Yesterday my supplies from scenic express came so later today I can get back to working on the last lower corner. ..........Paul

worked on the layout a little. put in some telephone poles and wires.

Also attempted to hookup the 6-14005 operating coal loader, but when power was applied, there was a cloud of white smoke and a burning smell. Emailed the LHS where purchased for further instructions on how to handle.

News on above operating coal loader was not favorable from either Lionel or LHS.  Seems this item was manufactured in 2000 so no warranty was available as it was over the 3 year limit.  Then the LHS was just as helpful as they refused a return, but did offer to attempt a repair.  The offer did not hold much weight as none of the parts were available per the Lionel service desk and when asked, the LHS did not have parts needed as well. Oh well, live and learn!!??!!

Did manage to hookup a few more accessories and screw down some track this afternoon.

I re-set the date for my first op session. On Saturday, June 14th, I'm running trains. It's the nearest weekend when I don't already have something scheduled.

This time, I sent a mass email to everyone who's layout I've run on already as well as two guys who's layouts I've already seen and I think will understand running on a small layout very well. I also added the two guys who I promised would be invited to the first ever op session for all their help on the wiring. But they're not alone in the invite as they've backed out on me twice before.

More track work on my outdoor RR. Did some ballasting of the track plus cleaned the top of the track with a Scotch Brite pad on a handle soaked with white vinegar. I have always wanted an O gauge  be fastened down to something wooden or cement. My G gauge is on crushed limestone, and like real ballast, needs work all the time.

Its kind of simple really. I wouldn't be surprised if it could be repaired easily with other parts. Its just electronic magnets. Where did the smoke come from?  

I tried to run the garden train, but a mole wrecked 15ft of ballast.

I spent two hours under the layout chasing a pesky problem with wiring to one min or loop and didn't find the problem.   Grrrrr . . . 

Work room got painted and work bench cleaned up.

clem

Don't think of it as wrecked ballast, think of it as a new tunnel for your railroad. 

Needs moar wrecked trains. 

Mitch

 Your a genius. I've trying to think of a way to run track across the drive, and onto the neighbors property without them noticing.

 Then again, if the mole is related to Stewart Little, I could end up in deeper "dirt".

Anyone got a Patrick Swayze Express diagram? 

Finally got tired of working on the show car and decided to hit the layout today.  Need to do a wholesale battery charging and lube up Kyrian's Four Aces so I can get it broken in.  Also unpack my 2626 which arrived back from 3rd Rail.  Still need to unpack the fuel rack installation Crescent Locomotive Works build for the CL&W; the diesels are running a little low on fuel ... :-)

Began swapping out the old lighting for LEDs in the passenger cars. Big difference in power to the locos.

Painted a second coat on the curves. Look much better.

The problem appears to be the power control board.

Got more pink board cut for the corner. Still have to glue it together and shape it some more. Maybe a pic before I go to call it quits tonight................Paul

 So it likely could be rebuilt(the board) or even replaced with other things that would function in the same basic fashion. Its being pretty simple, cost shouldn't be outrageous either. The post war version didn't use a board and there really shouldn't be too much difference as simple as they were The magnets being good would be the main issue, the rest could be winged.

 It would likely suck up allot of room here, but if you want to start a thread asking how you might go about it, I'm sure you'll get some good input, and maybe better ideas from others.(If you do start one, please throw me an email so I don't miss it)

Got the baseball field started

Nice, very nice, I can hear the UMP, PLAY BALL!

The baseball field looks very impressive, Brian!

The light at the end of the tunnel is closer.  I have sand lines on the boiler, as well

as extended walkways, and have the railing and the #60 decaled on a plate on the

front of the smokebox.  Boiler shell with cab is painted, but there are touchups to do,

where all the modifications, new domes, etc. were done.  I do have to put a cylindrical

tank on the pilot plate after the boiler shell goes back on the chassis.

Bryan,

Gotta love it -- a double A or a triple A park?? Are the outfield fences going to be adorned with appropriate advertising signage?

jackson

wish I had real estate for a ball field looks good though. worked on the layout some tonight wiring up yard lights. and some more ground cover.

I climbed into the middle of things and did some routine maintenance on the far reaches of the track circles. Got the CNR observation car back with newly installed LEDs and added tail-lights, Heinze you are the man! Brought 6153 home for its drive wheel swap. 

Now that we finally have some nice weather, it is time for spring cleaning on our main layout. We sure have a lot to do. Items that were brought back from the October and April York Meets have to be placed and installed on the layout.

With events planned this summer, the layout has to be in tip top shape.