Sometimes life gets in the way Mike. Try running a 70 acre campus and maintaining 1.5 million sqft. That's my life every day!
The trains will still be there when you get time. Glad you got your switches wired at least.
Bob
Ralph M posted:1/2" PVC, red oxide primer. The "pallet timbers" are Gargraves wooden ties and the tie down "cable" is a black rubber band. Fits scale gondola or flatcar. Total cost of materials $3.30.
Very nice Ralph. I would have thought 1/2" PVC would be too big but it looks great!
Bob
RSJB18 posted:Sometimes life gets in the way Mike. Try running a 70 acre campus and maintaining 1.5 million sqft. That's my life every day!
The trains will still be there when you get time. Glad you got your switches wired at least.
Bob
Your right Bob, just thought this was going to be train room weekend! Lol just being greedy!
Pretty productive weekend on the knee pads.
Got the new toggle board wired and sank the main track wires under the floor (not an easy task on a floor layout). Looks much cleaner IMO. Also ran the six hot leads from the toggles to each new blocked siding.
Got started covering the exposed insulation, just using scrap cloth that I will eventually paint.
Hooked up the new Z4000 and transferred the accessories and switches to the ZW, retiring the KW. Big improvement in performance all around.
And finally, wired up some old light towers I had in boxes and the new siding project is 70% complete. Still need to wire the switch controllers, but now time to vacuum up and run some gear with the kids!
Hope everyone had a good weekend.
Kevin
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Ralph M posted:1/2" PVC, red oxide primer. The "pallet timbers" are Gargraves wooden ties and the tie down "cable" is a black rubber band. Fits scale gondola or flatcar. Total cost of materials $3.30.
Fabulous idea, Ralph - hope you don’t mind if I steal it!!! I have some flat cars with steaks that could use some loads.
Ralph M posted:1/2" PVC, red oxide primer. The "pallet timbers" are Gargraves wooden ties and the tie down "cable" is a black rubber band. Fits scale gondola or flatcar. Total cost of materials $3.30.
Ralph - your loads look great and the price is right!!! Thanks for sharing!
Good news everyone! I ordered another U50C! Little more expensive but not cracked:-) also found this when I returned to the show to return the old U50C. The guy really didn’t want to pack it away again so I got a fairly good deal which is always welcomed.
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Found out my control box idea just won’t work with the larger transformer and heavier wood so I’ll have to rethink my plans a bit. I’ll have lots of time this week being out of town for work (anybody know of any train shops near Lafayette, LA? Hah!!)
John, congrats. My wife has already said she wants to do a train-themed nursery when that time comes
mike g. posted:WOW Jack, that just sucks! At least he was willing to give you a refund, but still sucks!
Johan, great looking train! I am guessing its going to grow as you get more Maine cars done!
Ralph, I love it! The prices is right in my ballpark! LOL
Bob, thanks for the information, the funny thing is when I went there it showed I already had an account, I must have forgot about it cause I haven't used it since I scratch built my Oil Tank field out of cardboard and old coffee cans!
Today was not a great day in the train room as I hoped! Spent a fair amount at the store fixing things. But I guess that's why the call me the facility Manager ! LOL fancy name for fit it all!
But I was able to get all the toggle's wired for my switch machines!
Mike: Thank you. Thats the point, now I have about 20 State of Maine box car ready and 10 to go.
Johan
I'm doing work on the motor unit for my new scratchbuilt loco, I think she's a beauty and you all would love her.
the wheels are by far the most time consuming part, and honestly a pain. But they are extremely rewarding.
Kevin, you sure have been busy! What a huge layout. 2 questions for you though. 1) What is the temp up there and 2) what are you going to do when you get older and your knees don't like the floor anymore?
Ralph, nice addition!
Jack sounds like a double score! Nice loading dock and car!
Jon1443, I used a sliding towel rack under my layout top and my Z4000 is out of the way until I want it and then it slides right out! If you might be interested let me know and I could get you some pictures of it!
Johan, I cant wait to see your Maine train fully stocked, I bet it is going to look Amazing!
BAR GP7 #63 posted:
Wow. That looks fantastic! Makes me want to go home early from work and run my trains!
Jack118711 posted:Good news everyone! I ordered another U50C! Little more expensive but not cracked:-) also found this when I returned to the show to return the old U50C. The guy really didn’t want to pack it away again so I got a fairly good deal which is always welcomed.
Help me out here, Jack. What is this structure? It looks like a flatcar next to a loading dock.
Vincent Massi posted:Jack118711 posted:Good news everyone! I ordered another U50C! Little more expensive but not cracked:-) also found this when I returned to the show to return the old U50C. The guy really didn’t want to pack it away again so I got a fairly good deal which is always welcomed.
Help me out here, Jack. What is this structure? It looks like a flatcar next to a loading dock.
That’s exactly what it is! I’m on my way to my dads which is where my train setup is and I’ll take another photo of it out of the box
briansilvermustang posted:
NICE!
good to see that baggage car getting some love!
Mike G, pictures would be great. I’ve been perusing the forum looking at various control panels for inspiration. I’m starting to get an idea formed, but at this point am completely open minded
really liking it Bob, we are racking up some miles on it !!
should be getting a few more D&H passenger cars here real soon...
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Berkshirelover726 posted:BAR GP7 #63 posted:
Wow. That looks fantastic! Makes me want to go home early from work and run my trains!
Berkshirelover726: Thank you. Not bad idea.
Johan
I ran what is now a 57 car mass pull last night to test two new cars I bought. Not much to test really. I run the entire consist to test the couplers. Since setting up my trains I have experienced, even before I had three ovals, couplers popping open and you know the end result of that. I noticed the failures were in or near the middle of the train where the stress of holding on to one-another is greater. So when I buy a new car, and 57 looks like my limit unless I want to start displaying cars, I hook all of them together behind a locomotive and run them at various speeds to see if the couplers are going to hold. Once I reach 60 I let the train go around 10 more times and if no failures, I park the trains.
The two new ones did fine, but my Cheerios reefer has shown a problem of late during the pull. When I reach 30 smph, one end begins to "creep" upward. My guess is that it has been doing it throughout my climb to 30. About 35 it reaches terminal stress and lets go. It doesn't fail and open, it just creeps upward until it can't hold on anymore and lets go. I tried turning it around to see if that would help, but sadly, no. It just creeps upward and lets go of the car coupled behind it, instead of the one in front of it.
Failure I can work with. Some 26 gauge wire, a pair of pliers, and a few thousand turns of the wire and I have closed that coupler permanently, as the pin arm can no longer move down. Does eliminate the ability to automatically couple cars to it without the use of my 0-5-0 switcher engine, (my hand), but at least I don't have to worry about that car ever letting go again.
To solve this I plan to buy two new trucks and see if that works. Until then I have come up with a fix that I don't have any faith will work but at least it didn't involve duct tape.
MEC #660 & #663.
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BAR GP7 #63 posted:
MEC #660 & #663.
Beautiful! That burnt orange really pops!
Here you go Massi
I also slapped up a quick shelf to display the beautiful weaver cars. I wanted to display them with the Y3 but I’m too terrified it’ll fall. So now I have my very first engine up there :-) I also might be getting more MTH cranes. Dang they’re awesome
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HCSader73 posted:BAR GP7 #63 posted:
MEC #660 & #663.
Beautiful! That burnt orange really pops!
Pete. Thanks.
Johan
mike g. posted:Kevin, you sure have been busy! What a huge layout. 2 questions for you though. 1) What is the temp up there and 2) what are you going to do when you get older and your knees don't like the floor anymore?
Hi Mike - I'm lucky to live in a very mild coastal climate where it never gets above about 75 or below about 50. When the fog and rain rolls in, I close off the vents at each end of the room to keep the moisture out. So far never had to worry about any plastic melting in the heat.
As for the knees, I hope to have the entire layout completely done before they wear out. At this rate, I'm on track!
Jack118711 posted:Vincent Massi posted:Jack118711 posted:Good news everyone! I ordered another U50C! Little more expensive but not cracked:-) also found this when I returned to the show to return the old U50C. The guy really didn’t want to pack it away again so I got a fairly good deal which is always welcomed.
Help me out here, Jack. What is this structure? It looks like a flatcar next to a loading dock.
That’s exactly what it is! I’m on my way to my dads which is where my train setup is and I’ll take another photo of it out of the box
Thank you, Jack. I pretty well had figured out that they were still in their shipping container, but I wasn't sure.
@Yardmaster96 add weight inside the car. A nice fix for what's there are black dental bands for braces (tiny rubber bands, strong, rugged, stretch far tre (←spellwreck, no tellin' what it's trying to do) & if not too tight, still allows uncoupling)
Jon1443, I will get out first thing in the morning and get you some pictures and maybe a small video so you can see how it works!
John, Very cool! I Like Orange!
Jack, the platform and car looks nice on your layout! Your display shelf turned out nice also!
Kevin, from the sounds of it your somewhere in the Bay area! I would love to live there, not to hot and not to cold!
So today after getting house chores done I had time to finish wiring my toggles and got 2 tortious switch machines installed! I really like how they work, but they are a PIA to install with slotted screws! LOL
Starkweather Ave. Sinclair filling station complete.....finally! More to come.....
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GandyDancer1950, The Sinclair Filling Station is perfect. Excellent detail work. You have a great looking layout. A+
Sincerely, John Rowlen
GANDYDANCER1950, I really like what you have done there - every bit of it. You remind me with this latest work of yours, that I have always felt and made sure that front yards, side yards, and backyards to any overall 
scene are important...
It's nice we agree.
FrankM
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John Rowlen posted:GandyDancer1950, The Sinclair Filling Station is perfect. Excellent detail work. You have a great looking layout. A+
Sincerely, John Rowlen
Thanks John!
Moonson posted:GANDYDANCER1950, I really like what you have done there - every bit of it. You remind me with this latest work of yours, that I have always felt and made sure that front yards, side yards, and backyards to any overall
scene are important...
It's nice we agree.
FrankM
Frank your work is very inspirational to me.....thanks for the comments!
MikeG, No Black&Decker bit holder with sleeve? (most folk have one, but forget) If you have a 1/2" long tube that can slip over a screwdriver, that works
well too. (Old pen? Brass tube? etc.)
I also often run a phillips down, then remove it and replace with a sloted screw.
Added some Corgi USMC to retake this vital manufacturing plant:
Next, as it's condition suggests- the Footbridge has fallen into disrepair. One heavily armed Police Officer guards the entrances on the left for pedestrians. While some of the less fortunate populate the remainder of the bridge during the day and sleep under it at night. A sad scene but also one that I thought adds some realism based on my own experiences with a man who used to live by the tracks.
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GANDYDANCER, Your work is amazing! It looks so real and you sure know how to bring a scene to life!
ROMAN, Nice extension, I guess you cant have too much track! Just watch out when parking, doesnt look like alot of space!
STEVEFROMPA, Way to get those marines in there! They will take care of everything in a short period of time! I get your bridge crossing, its a sad scene everywhere I am affriad!
So while I was out getting pictures for Jon1443 I took a couple of the switch machines I installed lastnight!
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