What did you do on your layout today?

CSX Al posted:

Andy lift up section looks good. Do you have an idea on how to conceal the hinges? What is going in that area of the layout?

Al,

The track plan is below. The first picture shows the main layout, and the second shows the staging under the yard. The hinged section is in the upper left corner of the layout in the first picture. This may give you and anyone interested a better perspective as to where the lift up section is in the room. I’ve also taken a few pictures looking into the room from the lift up. Al, nice turntable right up front in the second and third picture!

Andy

Nice, Ralph! Watched a lot of B&O Geeps and Fs as a kid. Grandparents lived on the Buffalo line.

Lew

trumptrain posted:

gandydancer1950 posted:

continued the slow progress creating Starkweather Ave......

Absolutely stunning work Gandydancer!!  I love how you capture the atmosphere.   The way you photograph the shadows allows a whole other dimension of realism to your already wonderfully crafted scenes.  Well done!  BRAVO!!!

Thank you for the compliment!

Steamfan77 posted:

CSX Al posted:

Andy lift up section looks good. Do you have an idea on how to conceal the hinges? What is going in that area of the layout?

Al,

The track plan is below. The first picture shows the main layout, and the second shows the staging under the yard. The hinged section is in the upper left corner of the layout in the first picture. This may give you and anyone interested a better perspective as to where the lift up section is in the room. I’ve also taken a few pictures looking into the room from the lift up. Al, nice turntable right up front in the second and third picture!

Andy

 

Lunch break. Thanks for the photos and layout plan Andy. Thank you regarding the turntable. I had forgotten you had one of our turntables, it's been a while 2013. That's almost 1000 tables ago. Layout looks great. I think the foliage plan and rock work will be a winner.

Here is the tunnel station I told you about that I will be constructing under the Hooker building.

closeup

Still recovering in hospital.  Thanks for the support and well wishes!  

Am making plans for an improved Mr Rogers O scale trolley and a Thomas The Gi-raffe Engine train...

Mitch

briansilvermustang posted:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nice RDCs, Brian. On an excursion I rode a pair from Pittsburgh to Johnstown (Pittsburgh to Rockwood on the B&O Mainline and then the branch to Johnstown). Rode right past the house we would many years live in.

Lew

                 GET WELL SOON MITCH !!!     here's to a speedy recovery !

                              hope to see your projects here soon

       just checking in on you...

Mitch - sending you wishes of optimum wellness!  I hope you get back home to your layout soon!

Al, the tunnel station is very interesting. Looking forward to the build. 

Andy 

MITCH, speedy recovery so you can get back home quick.

Mike g, glad you're back in the train room again. To me it is the best therapy.

Andy, very interesting track plan and great pics.

AL, that is going to be one interesting building andI like the idea of passenger trains going into it. Is that scene from George Sellios's  layout which is so well detailed.

GANDYDANCER1950, that street scene is really coming out nice. How and what did you use for your street.

RALPH, good work on the dummy unit and nice video of it in action. Good looking layout.

Sunday at the Kirkland show I ran into my buddy Bryan. So I told him I posted pics of my backdrop and asked for his opinion. So he texted me to say I need some dead trees scattered around. So that is what I did today. After I did that I started highlighting all the waterfalls. I'll let everything dry and see how it all looks. I am using the woodland scenics white high lighting white and if I din't like it I may try some Titanium White toned down a bit. We shall see. Pics........Paul

Ralph M posted:

Just as I did for my SD9's a few weeks ago, I setup this Railking B&O  GP9 dummy with LED lighting & cab figures configured to run long hood forward. The 2nd unit is the powered unit and this way it can start up and  run short hood first - no harm no foul. I've done this for at least three locomotive sets and it works quite well. The powered unit has no problem pushing the dummy and pulling the train.

Short video:

If you want to get adventurous you could always open up a powered unit and switch the motor leads around so the unit starts in reverse, but that's a little more permanent. 

Thanks Paul. I like the idea of dead trees, but too many can change the feel of the scene. The white looks good, it shows movement of the water, and in that area, it would be moving plenty. Nice work. Mitch, hope you get better and can go home soon.  

Andy

Welcome back Mitch. Wishing you a speedy recovery.

Bob

Vincent Massi posted:

RSJB18 posted:

Vincent Massi posted:

Richie C. posted:

Found some time to kit-bash the MTH "Drain Surgeons" building into a road-side stand depicting a local landmark, "Kelly's Roast Beef", on Revere Beach in Massachusetts - the oldest public beach in the U.S. - with a little light weathering.

Only problem is, everytime I look at it, I get hungry !

I'm hungry!  And it's all Richie's fault!

Waiting on line at the deli in my local supermarket. Just decided to order roast beef. I have no idea why??????🤣

Richie strikes again!

Get well soon, Mitch - when you're up to it, grab a roast beef sandwich from Kelly's  !!

Apples55 posted:

Jon1443 posted:

I spent all last week in Calgary, but came home yesterday to a ZW on my porch (thank you kind neighbors for not stealing it). Removed and disassembled my old control box that housed one of my RW’s and started redesigning it for the ZW

 

 

I use two PW ZW’s to power my layout (with the addition of a bank of modern circuit breakers to protect my TMCC/Legacy engines). They are really great transformers.

I used 2 RW's last year (1 for track and 1 for accessories), but couldn't resist the urge to get the ZW. Now I get to redesign my layout to actually make use of the multiple throttles

paul 2 posted:

MITCH, speedy recovery so you can get back home quick.

Mike g, glad you're back in the train room again. To me it is the best therapy.

Andy, very interesting track plan and great pics.

AL, that is going to be one interesting building andI like the idea of passenger trains going into it. Is that scene from George Sellios's  layout which is so well detailed.

GANDYDANCER1950, that street scene is really coming out nice. How and what did you use for your street.

RALPH, good work on the dummy unit and nice video of it in action. Good looking layout.

Sunday at the Kirkland show I ran into my buddy Bryan. So I told him I posted pics of my backdrop and asked for his opinion. So he texted me to say I need some dead trees scattered around. So that is what I did today. After I did that I started highlighting all the waterfalls. I'll let everything dry and see how it all looks. I am using the woodland scenics white high lighting white and if I din't like it I may try some Titanium White toned down a bit. We shall see. Pics........Paul

I used joint compound for the street.

Get well soon, Mitch! All the roast beef sandwich shops miss you!

Richie C. posted:

Found some time to kit-bash the MTH "Drain Surgeons" building into a road-side stand depicting a local landmark, "Kelly's Roast Beef", on Revere Beach in Massachusetts - the oldest public beach in the U.S. - with a little light weathering.

Only problem is, everytime I look at it, I get hungry !

For a split second this reminded me of a scene from the old horror movie Dawn of the Dead. 😎

paul 2 posted:

 

AL, that is going to be one interesting building andI like the idea of passenger trains going into it. Is that scene from George Sellios's  layout which is so well detailed.

 

Thanks Paul, Yes that was from George Sellios’s layout. Background painting looks better and better every day.

Well that's a lot of great things everyone is doing!!!  Everyone's projects are great!

Mitch, I'm glad you are recuperating and hope you get home soon! 

Trees....

Dave

Get well soon Mitch. I’m letting the paint on the Mack set up good  so in the mean time I repainted these old AHM box cars for my steam engine  i’ve got one done I’m going to work on the other one tomorrow enjoy the pics.

I sent an email over to Broadways Limited Imports about repairing my PRR J1. Hopefully I will hear back tomorrow. The tender tether is broken and part of the pilot is missing.

Oh yes, Lee, I so agree with get well Mitch. I had a little coronary episode last Summer as a reminder that no one gets out of this life alive and that growing old is so much more fun than yada yada.

Lew

Lew, the sidings do look much better!  I am glad you recovered from the coronary episode!

Dave, the trees are great!!

Lee, that is a very nice looking car!

Lew, that’s a quick bit of track work, looks good. Dave, the trees look excellent, very realistic. Lee, nice work on the decals, well done.

Andy

I took some time off from painting Seated figures and worked a puzzle with Mom.  The puzzle art is by Anthony Kleem, an Americana artist who teaches American and World history where I substitute taught.

Two more bags of 50 Seated 1/50 people arrived from China in today's mail.  I will start on the 100 people this weekend.

Sincerely, John Rowlen

Andy. Thanks I’ve never Ballast in O scale but after I got going it became easier 

Lew.  Thanks I just turned 50 and boy are things changing but one item on the bucket list is done I’ve finally made it to O scale and I got a steamer it’s not the biggest horn in the band but I enjoy it.   

Ralph M posted:

The transformation is complete. Still need a clear coat.

Ralph & Lee,  Nice job on the decals. I need to paint and decal a number of cars. I’ve never done a decal on a car before. I did pick. Up some micro sol set. I’ve been told to put the decal on a gloss surface then dulcoat when done.

Al. Thanks I would put a Gloss coat first over your car with the decals on it first let it set for a couple days to let things cure then go over them with a dull coat if you gloss your car first then put your decals on and dull it where your decals are will be glossy underneath and the rest of your car will be dull but gloss coat the whole car after you decal it then dull it

Morning everyone, Another nice day here in Washington State!

Jim, WOW what a great looking shop! The lights are bright but great improvement! I bought 4' LED lights from Wal-Mart for $20 each and they work great for my train room!

Ralph, looks good and what a great idea!

Andy, Now that's a layout! It looks like to be 40' X24' That should keep you busy for a little while! I cant wait to fallow your progress on this big layout!

Mitch, I hope you have a fast recovery and get well soon! Cant wait to see your new projects you have planned!

Paul, the waterfall area is just Amazing! Very nice work!

Lew, that sure looks like a great improvement! I hope it works better for you!

Dave, nice job on the trees! They will look great on your layout!

Lee, you sure do a great job on the box cars you do! Heck you do a great job on everything you post!

John, It sure is nice your able to spend time with mom! She must have picked out the puzzle for you, looks like a fun one!

Yesterday, I was able to get the rest of the cork down for the outside edge of my reverse loop section. I sure wish I could get my 072 curves but they are on back order so who knows when they will come in! I do have a question for the rest of you thought.

Does anyone know if Ross switches will mate up with MTH ScaleTrax? The new plan calls for 2 Ross custom  "Y"'s and I don't want to get to far into this reverse loop if they don't mate up together!

I Hope everyone has a great HUMPDAY!

Mike g, I agree with you. Another nice day here in Ohio with the sun shining too. Last night at our Tuesday night gatherings I got some more HO buildings on card stock from Lou. He has a lot of files of buildings. He is also toying with the idea of selling them. He'll have a few at the TCA meet in Parma on March 30TH for sale. I had picked out the ones I wanted and he brought them last night. They are going to fill some of the area I have left on the 15' foot section of the backdrop. What I may do is take a few somewhere that can blow them up to O scale if possible. But this project is down the road a bit. Today I have to work on the gorge area. I would love to wrap this scene up by the end of the week. Pics of the buildings I got. I will probably cut them out as individual buildings to mix them up a bit more.......Paul

It was a nice day here yesterday too; 40 degrees and the last day of winter.  I cleaned up some of the leaves that I couldn't get done in the fall when I hurt my back.  Sore, but I survived.  

Mike, I have never heard if there is a transition track for Ross to ScaleTrack.  I hope there is.

Paul, Those are some nice buildings Lou gave you.  They should look good on your layout.

Brian, You are always on top of the photographs!

luvindemtrains posted:

Trees....

Dave

Very nice trees Dave.   Please share the recipe!    Cheers, Dave

Snapped this photo as I ran trains for a short time this morning.  An 0-8-0 pushing two hopper cars.  I weathered both hoppers some time ago. 

It was laundry day today so while down there I decided to redo the one dead tree on the left bank of the river. The more I looked at it the more I had to get rid of some of it. So I was able to redo the sky and then cover the branches of the tree. While I was at that I added somemore foliage st the backs of both sides of the river. I am done with the backdrop. Last night I added some Dap to sections of the water falls that were open at the top. Today I added Moss green to those spots and when that dried I added realistic water. So when that dries I can add white water to those areas. Then I can start to apply ground foam and trees in front of the backdrop and worked my way to the front leaving the gorge to scenic. Pics...................Paul

Thanks Mike, but my layout is 32’x21’. Still, a good size, and will keep me plenty busy. Are the layouts ever as big as we want them to be? Paul, I like the buildings on card stock, I look forward to seeing them up. I also like the adjustments you made to the backdrop, and the gorge looks better and better. I admire your willingness to paint, it adds a whole new dimension to the layout. 

Andy 

Mark Boyce posted:

It was a nice day here yesterday too; 40 degrees and the last day of winter.  I cleaned up some of the leaves that I couldn't get done in the fall when I hurt my back.  Sore, but I survived.  

Mike, I have never heard if there is a transition track for Ross to ScaleTrack.  I hope there is.

Paul, Those are some nice buildings Lou gave you.  They should look good on your layout.

Brian, You are always on top of the photographs!

Mark, i spoke with Steve Ross from Ross switches, he states they will work just fine. I just have to shim scale trax up a little where the meet.

Paul, i don't know how you can get much better then the masterpiece you have there! Just Amazing! 

Andy, still a big layout and from the plan it sure looks like it's going to be a blast!