What did you do on your layout today?

I haven't been spending much time on the forum lately, partly due to dull content, but mostly because I've been working on the layout. Unfortunately, I'm feeling a bit burnt out. Six months without a day off will do that to a person.

My guy is coming back Tuesday to take pictures for the convention. This time, I think I'm ready, but it hasn't been easy.

Yesterday was the first day in a little over a month that I didn't work on the Hoffman scene. Instead, I went back over to aisle 1, and worked on my girder viaduct, which has left the CP main out of service for more than two months, ever since I cut the roadbed away, leaving the track hanging in mid air, unsupported.

I grabbed my cheap can of flat black spray paint, and blasted all the bridge parts.

I glued the piers down to the plywood, then I took my support segments and glued them to the bottom of the ties.

That left a 1-1/8" gap between the top of the pier and the bottom of the segment, so I cut a piece of 2x4 down to that dimension, and made blocks which I painted black.

I applied glue to the tops and bottoms of the blocks, and placed all the nearest heavy objects on it to dry. I also repainted the piers with my own concrete color.

This is how it is sitting right now. I'm anxious to remove the weights, and give it a little load test, throw the Challenger on it. That's by far my heaviest piece.

I spent two days this week organizing all of my used foam chunks, first sorting by color, then by size. This box is actually for sifting Legos, but it worked great for the foam.

I got a bunch more glued onto the rock face. Not seeing any hot glue threads, what a pain.

This was a test project. It seems that the vinyl letters don't like to stick to the semigloss paint.

My wife just happened to have a bottle of Mod Podge, which I appropriated. One coat, and the letters were fixed in place. Now I just have to go around and do the rest. A few are already messed up and will need to be fixed.

Finally, while I had the concrete paint out, I started doing sidewalks and grade crossings. This street is far from finished, but you get the idea.

RSJB18 posted:

Only a couple of posts in 24 hours. I guess everyone is at York- except us

I for one, was nowhere near York. Too far, and I really don't need anything.

Elliot- I think you have enough inventory to be your own bandit meet.

briansilvermustang posted:

briansilvermustang posted:

Brian, you sure have a lot of cars! Just wondering if you have one from every RR out there! They all look great on your layout! Next you will be shooting full length videos!

Elliot, the piers turned out great looking! It doesn't hurt to take a day here and there from trains! Its called ANTI- Burnout! LOL Everyone needs to do it here and there! I think most would agree with me that you have accomplished feats that none of us would ever take on! In my mind you are truly and Layout Master! I always love seeing what your doing and thank you so very much for taking the time to share it with the rest of us!

I sure hope all you people that think it.s too far to drive appreciate truck drivers,,,lol ,,,,5,000,000 miles in my rear view mirror hauling flammables and lived to tell about it.... now be working on my 10' x 16' O gauge layout as y retirement present to myself

Continued my RDC to Silverliner conversion project by puttying up the horn holes in the trailers:  

Incidentally, if anyone wants to swap some 2332P-14 Pantograph Contact Rivets for some 3-chime K-Line RDC horns, let me know!  ;-) 

Mitch 

Thanks Mike, and you're welcome. I probably wouldn't be working like a mad man if it wasn't for this convention. I just want it to be looking its best for this national and even international audience.

The piers are not scratch built. They are made by Chooch, and I got them from Scenic Express. I did have to do some modification though. They were way too tall for this viaduct, so I ran them through the table saw to get them to the height I wanted. Then after laying out the bridge, I saw that I was short two piers, so I took the cut off pieces and made a couple more. The only problem was they didn't have the caps like the originals, so I made those from some scrap wood. Now that they are painted, you can't tell which are which.

Big_Boy_4005 posted:

Thanks Mike, and you're welcome. I probably wouldn't be working like a mad man if it wasn't for this convention. I just want it to be looking its best for this national and even international audience.

The piers are not scratch built. They are made by Chooch, and I got them from Scenic Express. I did have to do some modification though. They were way too tall for this viaduct, so I ran them through the table saw to get them to the height I wanted. Then after laying out the bridge, I saw that I was short two piers, so I took the cut off pieces and made a couple more. The only problem was they didn't have the caps like the originals, so I made those from some scrap wood. Now that they are painted, you can't tell which are which.

Hey Elliot

When is the National Convention is it Sept 5-8?   just wondering cause Haydays is on Sept 8-9 might have to take another road trip eh

Yup Chad, Sept 5-8 for the convention. Are you coming to the Menards show in Eau Claire, July 7 & 8. I'm hosting a get together for forum members on Saturday the 7th at 6:30.

Here's the invitation, open to all forum members.

Elliot   Prolly wont make that show if im coming up in Sept eh

Dang, I was hoping you'd come over for the picnic. Do the show, stay in Hudson, and meet the guys. Think about it.

I bought this MTH F40PH  while ago to make it into a dummy. I think it originally had Loco Sound or something,.  Anyways, after years of running this and my powered F40PH as an A-A pair, it suddenly dawned on me to try it at the end of train in  push-pull configuration.  I knew I needed a red light to run that way and I remedied that with a quick LED install.  I was pleased to find when I opened it up that MTH had provided a red lens and all I needed was an ordinary LED behind it.

I'm liking it, 

Cold rainy day here, so a great time to open up some boxes and rediscover what I have ! Good thing I put an exhaust fan in the trainroom, that Alco is smoky !

Big_Boy_4005 posted:

Dang, I was hoping you'd come over for the picnic. Do the show, stay in Hudson, and meet the guys. Think about it.

I would like to If but I can't make it in Sept Ill prolly come in July eh

Planted some vegetation.

trestleking posted:

Cold rainy day here, so a great time to open up some boxes and rediscover what I have ! Good thing I put an exhaust fan in the trainroom, that Alco is smoky !

Dang Alcos are always smoky! Looks great tho...

Mike 

luvindemtrains posted:

Planted some vegetation.

WOW the coal plant and area turned out looking just Great! Wonderful work!

mike g. posted:

luvindemtrains posted:

Planted some vegetation.

WOW the coal plant and area turned out looking just Great! Wonderful work!

Thanks a million Mike! I'm proud of myself with the regular progress I am making. This site is a real motivator.

Dave

Mitch, I'm looking forward to following the conversion.

Ended up having a great York between buying and catching up with friends. At York I got coal loads from Don Kane and they are nice, I picked up another Weaver trailer on flat car, at Trainworld I ended up with the last MTH 44 tonner he had, and at Joe G I picked up a Pacific Fruit Express 2 pack trailer set and ordered another two sets.Also a few more Gar Graves uncoupling tracks.  When I got home my engine from the Canadian club was waiting for me. All and all it was a great time. But now I have to spend the next few days cleaning up the layouts because I will be hosting my Tuesday night crew Here are some pics of my buys..........Paul

Not train related but I'm sure everyone can relate....

That moment when the lawn mower starts on the first pull after sitting all winter!

Nice haul Paul! The 44 tonner looks sharp.

Bob

RSJB18 posted:

Not train related but I'm sure everyone can relate....

 

That moment when the lawn mower starts on the first pull after sitting all winter!

          been awhile since I heard that one...

Ralph M posted:

I bought this MTH F40PH  while ago to make it into a dummy. I think it originally had Loco Sound or something,.  Anyways, after years of running this and my powered F40PH as an A-A pair, it suddenly dawned on me to try it at the end of train in  push-pull configuration.  I knew I needed a red light to run that way and I remedied that with a quick LED install.  I was pleased to find when I opened it up that MTH had provided a red lens and all I needed was an ordinary LED behind it.

I'm liking it, 

Nice score Paul!

Bob, I am not looking forward to trying to start my mower, its always a PIA!

Brian, can you explain the lights on top of the last passenger car? Is that normal as I have never seen one like that!

mike g. posted:

Brian, can you explain the lights on top of the last passenger car? Is that normal as I have never seen one like that!

                                            Metroliner Cab Car...

     https://youtu.be/7kLIoWS3dwE                https://youtu.be/-zA-JrYGb2s                                   

Running big trains with my little girl.  Sorry if the camera gets a little shaky.

That’s every caboose I could find that runs - just because it’s fun!  The only three not in this mix are at the office on display, an original 817 that doesn’t get along with gargraves switches, and a Marx unit that just showed up that I don’t have a way to couple to yet.

jhz563 posted:

Running big trains with my little girl.  Sorry if the camera gets a little shaky.

That’s every caboose I could find that runs - just because it’s fun!  The only three not in this mix are at the office on display, an original 817 that doesn’t get along with gargraves switches, and a Marx unit that just showed up that I don’t have a way to couple to yet.

just fyi, there is a little kit on ebay right now to make marx and lionel knuckles compatible. I think it is under marx

It took me a few years.   I finally purchased the last ride for my amusement park at York!   Next s the scenery.....

I may be able to fit an o-scale free fall ride!

Amusement Park

beardog posted:

just fyi, there is a little kit on ebay right now to make marx and lionel knuckles compatible. I think it is under marx

Worked on grass and added a crossing sign.

Kinda small to call it a layout, but it's all I have room for... started cutting and glueing foam today... cars and engines are there for some weight...

Panther97 posted:

It took me a few years.   I finally purchased the last ride for my amusement park at York!   Next s the scenery.....

I may be able to fit an o-scale free fall ride!

Amusement Park

Outstanding, Panther97. When children visit your layout, they must think they have found a little bit of heaven. Congratulations on your success with your amusement park. I am much looking forward to your sharing your next creative scenery efforts with it, as you indicated.

FrankM

Steaming Jon posted:

Kinda small to call it a layout, but it's all I have room for... started cutting and glueing foam today... cars and engines are there for some weight...

Hey, if you build it, it's a layout! That's my problem right now, trying to figure out enough room for a mid size layout that I can keep permanent.

Mike 

LoadMaster posted:

Steaming Jon posted:

Kinda small to call it a layout, but it's all I have room for... started cutting and glueing foam today... cars and engines are there for some weight...

Hey, if you build it, it's a layout! That's my problem right now, trying to figure out enough room for a mid size layout that I can keep permanent.

Mike 

I guess I see this as a big diorama with a loop of track, so I can run trains up off the carpet... I plan on having a nice mountain in the middle, focusing on making the scenery as nice as I can...

Here is the coupler adaptor I am talking about. The directions show attaching it to a

hook and slot coupler, but I believe the marx scissor coupler also has a slot so it

might work

Well it should be "what did I do to my layout this past week". I've never been happy with how the downtown are of my layout turned out. That and my passenger terminal only had 2 tracks. So over this past week I removed the entire downtown section and mountain. I also added another track to my passenger terminal, for a total of 3. I'm still in the process of redoing everything but it's going along. There will be no more mountain, instead the trains will run under the downtown area. Once I finish adding some details to the retaining wall it's time for paint, scenery repair, and rebuilding the downtown area. I'm hoping to get it done by June but we'll see.