What did you do on your layout today?

I had my layout in Oly Ops, a local op session day on Saturday.

Here's my morning crew, came up from Portland for the event:

Two groups of two people each, a good time was reported to be had by all. No glitches on the layout, either!

Boy if you don't log on for a few days it takes 45 minutes of reading to "catch up"..... Way too many posts to comment on tonight.    

Decided to try experimenting with "oil based washes" for weathering, followed up with Watercolor pencils to fade individual wood boards on single and double sheathed boxcars...  Still have some touch up to do, but I am reasonably pleased with the results on this Atlas Trainman 50 foot double door boxcar...  Before and after,  well actually one side done, one side to go which I just applied wash to after I took the photos. 

Lee Drennan:   I read all your posts on mounting wheel trucks on  the hoppers and gondolas...  I would like to keep the Weaver metal trucks and 3 rail claw couplers on a few Ultra Line PS-1 boxcars, but I want them to ride "lower"...  any tips or hints from your experience.    I am thinking about cutting the bolsters with a razor saw then filing them flat ???

lee drennen posted:

BAR GP7 #63 posted:

One of the mine project is made a abandoned tank car. Some letters still a needed and after that more weathering.

Great looking tanker

Lee. Thank you.

Johan

mike g. posted:

Bob, I agree thatching and seeding is no fun! Wonderful job on the rewire of your little switcher! Runs smooth!

Carl, thanks for the link to Hennings trains!

Johan, great looking tanker! Your background looks just like where I live!

Brian, We are just good and Really good in the 4th Qtr~!

Steve, Great job on the farm scene!

Well today I did get some time in the train room today. I thought about cleaning, but when I got in there I just added to the mess already there! I worked on adding depth to the same corner by adding some foam to raise the houses that will sit up there, then plastered over that.

I then turned to the other corner on the same end of the layout where the mountain is going to be and started working on my tunnel walls. The one you see that is really tall will act at the outside wall of the lower track and the upper part will act as the inside wall for that track.

I just might get some time out there in the morning before I can start up the log splitter. I normally get up between 3:30-4oAM so it gives me a few hours before I can start making noise! Here are a couple picture.

I hope you all had a great day and an even better tomorrow!

Mike. Thank you🤝.  Wow, you live in very beautiful place. 👏

Johan

Lee, Looks like you had a fun time! Congrats on the Oly team showing up to enjoy your layout!

Chris, The weathering looks Great! One day I will give it a try, right after I try repainting a car or engine! LOL

Johan, thank you. Here is a picture of where I live from one of the lookouts over the lake.

Well it almost 5 AM so I should head out to the train room to try and get something done before I have to fire up the loge splitter. I hope everyone has a great day and finds time for there trains and layouts!

You all have a great day!

                 awesome view ,   have a great day Mike !!         don't work to hard !

           don't forget to run some trains today,     mountains are looking good !!

Late Post Alert...

Yesterday.  Before I had my first quart of coffee in me, Grandson #3 was begging to shoot a shotgun.  I loaded  three rounds of bird shot, gave last minute instructions, and stood behind him.  As has happened with many first timers, he landed on his backside and the shotgun took flight.  I couldn't decide which one to catch!   We all survived.  He did not want a second try.

Into the train building for me and into the house for him.  Grandmother made everything better with waffles.  I felt inclined to replace two 2x4 elevation supports with almost anything else.  I found an old piece of 1/2 inch copper gas pipe.  I cut two pieces 5 1/16" long and put them in service.  Satisfied, I let my two #1055 Texas Specials chase each other (I love watching that.)  My attention then turned to the part time O22 switches.  While my switcher smoked up the room, I read what Mr. Greenberg had to say.  I removed the switch tower and passenger stop station so I could get up on the layout.  Why are problems always at the back of the layout?  I brought the offending switches, a transformer, and a VOM to the big house.  My bride pointed out that if I fixed the light on the ceiling fan, I could see better.  Guess what I did instead of switches.  All tuckered out, I snored loudly in my recliner until time for bed.

Today:  Now on my second quart, I'm up to date on the forum and ready to play switch doctor.

PS:  It is raining for the first time in more than two months.

mike g. posted:

Lee, Looks like you had a fun time! Congrats on the Oly team showing up to enjoy your layout!

Chris, The weathering looks Great! One day I will give it a try, right after I try repainting a car or engine! LOL

Johan, thank you. Here is a picture of where I live from one of the lookouts over the lake.

    

Well it almost 5 AM so I should head out to the train room to try and get something done before I have to fire up the loge splitter. I hope everyone has a great day and finds time for there trains and layouts!

You all have a great day!

Mike. Wow. 👏👏👏 Looks like a paradise.

Johan

S.B.R. #307401.

Mike, fabulous view!!

Bill, Waffles fix many a pain!  Two months no rain!  I know where Mike lives.  Where do you live?  I know it is hot country!!

Flag day. 

Mighty fine work, Johan!!

Mark,

I live near Odenville, Alabama.  About 35 miles North-East of Birmingham.  I own a large part of Bald Rock Mountain.

Bill

mike g. posted:

I then turned to the other corner on the same end of the layout where the mountain is going to be and started working on my tunnel walls. The one you see that is really tall will act at the outside wall of the lower track and the upper part will act as the inside wall for that track.

Mike, I just sent you a private note about Tunnel Walls but then thought others might also be interested.   Nice to see your progress!!

Tunnel walls:
https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...21#45355705289272221 11/13/15 10:23am

Cheers, Dave

Mark Boyce posted:

Mighty fine work, Johan!!

Mark. Thank you. I think i am gonna put those flags all my S.B.R. cars & engines. They looking a quite nice.

Johan

Odenville Bill posted:

Mark,

I live near Odenville, Alabama.  About 35 miles North-East of Birmingham.  I own a large part of Bald Rock Mountain.

Bill

 

Ah ha!  Now it all comes together!!  Excellent, Bill!  Thank you!

darlander posted:

mike g. posted:

I then turned to the other corner on the same end of the layout where the mountain is going to be and started working on my tunnel walls. The one you see that is really tall will act at the outside wall of the lower track and the upper part will act as the inside wall for that track.

Mike, I just sent you a private note about Tunnel Walls but then thought others might also be interested.   Nice to see your progress!!

Tunnel walls:
https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...21#45355705289272221 11/13/15 10:23am

Cheers, Dave

Wow!  From page 168!!  And I made the very next comment "I haven't seen that method for tunnel walls before.  Very effective!!"  Ditto from 2015!!

Tested my new Burlington Zephyr passenger train set: pictures and videos.

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...4#105466462527851734

mike g. posted:

Lee, Looks like you had a fun time! Congrats on the Oly team showing up to enjoy your layout!

Chris, The weathering looks Great! One day I will give it a try, right after I try repainting a car or engine! LOL

Johan, thank you. Here is a picture of where I live from one of the lookouts over the lake.

    

Well it almost 5 AM so I should head out to the train room to try and get something done before I have to fire up the loge splitter. I hope everyone has a great day and finds time for there trains and layouts!

You all have a great day!

Mike is that you fishing or did I just see Big Foot lol

lee drennen posted:

mike g. posted:

Lee, Looks like you had a fun time! Congrats on the Oly team showing up to enjoy your layout!

Chris, The weathering looks Great! One day I will give it a try, right after I try repainting a car or engine! LOL

Johan, thank you. Here is a picture of where I live from one of the lookouts over the lake.

    

Well it almost 5 AM so I should head out to the train room to try and get something done before I have to fire up the loge splitter. I hope everyone has a great day and finds time for there trains and layouts!

You all have a great day!

Mike is that you fishing or did I just see Big Foot lol

My Goodness!!  It’s a ‘Squatch!!!!

What'd I do today? Worked on my DCTC project. Whazzat, you say? DeCentralized Traffic Control, that's what it is. It started with the Plywood Empire Route's acquisition of an MTH PS3 SW1500:

With speed control, switching became smooooth and slooooow, which quickly led me to the MTH DCS Remote Commander in order to inexpensively take full advantage of speed control:

 The remote unchained me from a stationary "transformer". Then along came the incomparable Atlas O Sw9:

which is similarly slow&smooth but without electronics and which works beautifully with an MRC Walkaround throttle:

The more I develop switching operation the more I want to be right up close and now, enabled by walk-around throttles, I am slowly eliminating the [familiar] central control panel in favor of mini-panels placed where switching operations occur. Not a "walk-around" layout but rathe a "roll-around" pike (because cape cod with a waist-wall on the second floor where the train room is). Roll-around via the old office-chair zoom.

It started with this mini-panel in front of the Paint Factory:

Today's project was a smaller panel in front of the track switch for the heating oil wholesaler:

The West End track switch, remote uncoupler and car-stopper controls so the operator is right up close to operation. Next will be similar setups for the East End and there will be no more master control panel. 

Lew, Your DCTC looks great!  Makes great use of the features of those nice engines

Mark Boyce posted:

darlander posted:

mike g. posted:

I then turned to the other corner on the same end of the layout where the mountain is going to be and started working on my tunnel walls. The one you see that is really tall will act at the outside wall of the lower track and the upper part will act as the inside wall for that track.

Mike, I just sent you a private note about Tunnel Walls but then thought others might also be interested.   Nice to see your progress!!

Tunnel walls:
https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...21#45355705289272221 11/13/15 10:23am

Cheers, Dave

Wow!  From page 168!!  And I made the very next comment "I haven't seen that method for tunnel walls before.  Very effective!!"  Ditto from 2015!!

Greetings Mark,  I noticed that!, and it's nice that we are both still above ground and active!!!  Thanks for the Ditto! 

Cheers, Dave

darlander posted:

Mark Boyce posted:

darlander posted:

mike g. posted:

I then turned to the other corner on the same end of the layout where the mountain is going to be and started working on my tunnel walls. The one you see that is really tall will act at the outside wall of the lower track and the upper part will act as the inside wall for that track.

Mike, I just sent you a private note about Tunnel Walls but then thought others might also be interested.   Nice to see your progress!!

Tunnel walls:
https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...21#45355705289272221 11/13/15 10:23am

Cheers, Dave

Wow!  From page 168!!  And I made the very next comment "I haven't seen that method for tunnel walls before.  Very effective!!"  Ditto from 2015!!

Greetings Mark,  I noticed that!, and it's nice that we are both still above ground and active!!!  Thanks for the Ditto! 

Cheers, Dave

How true!

Brian, Thanks I got a little done in the train room before heading to the log splitter. I hope to be done by the end of Friday!

Bill, sounds like an action packed day! I am so glad you got the ceiling fan light fixed, it will help you see better! LOL

Johan, Thank you sir, that is what the wife and I call it! What a fabulous fleet of cars you have there! The flags really stand out and make a statement. Just wondering where is your crane car? LOL

Dave, I got the note, thank you so much! I got a little more done this morning!

Lee D, Must be Bigfoot! From that point your about 100' above the water! I guess you could fly fish from there! LOL

Lew, Very nice Switcher! But you do know if you upgrade to the full DCS system you can run both switchers with the same remote as long as you have a Z4000 with a side receiver on the same track.

Well guys As I stated earlier at 5AM I went out to the train room before splitting more dang wood. Well I did get a little more done on my tunnel side walls, The should be ready for rocks and more painting. I painted my walls earth brown just to hide the white. The coverings for that will get painted Black, I just didn't want to take any chance the white would show threw! Here are a couple photos .

I hope you all like it.

Well I better get some dinner before I forget! LOL I hope you all have a great night and have a great day tomorrow! I wont be on much as I have to be at the store tomorrow!

Mike and Mark- I'm not worried....been almost 50 years since the Jets won it all. My bank account is safe

geysergazer posted:

What'd I do today? Worked on my DCTC project. Whazzat, you say? DeCentralized Traffic Control, that's what it is. It started with the Plywood Empire Route's acquisition of an MTH PS3 SW1500:

With speed control, switching became smooooth and slooooow, which quickly led me to the MTH DCS Remote Commander in order to inexpensively take full advantage of speed control:

                    

 

 The remote unchained me from a stationary "transformer". Then along came the incomparable Atlas O Sw9:

        

which is similarly slow&smooth but without electronics and which works beautifully with an MRC Walkaround throttle:

                    

 

The more I develop switching operation the more I want to be right up close and now, enabled by walk-around throttles, I am slowly eliminating the [familiar] central control panel in favor of mini-panels placed where switching operations occur. Not a "walk-around" layout but rathe a "roll-around" pike (because cape cod with a waist-wall on the second floor where the train room is). Roll-around via the old office-chair zoom.

It started with this mini-panel in front of the Paint Factory:

       

 

Today's project was a smaller panel in front of the track switch for the heating oil wholesaler:

        

       

The West End track switch, remote uncoupler and car-stopper controls so the operator is right up close to operation. Next will be similar setups for the East End and there will be no more master control panel. 

Lew 

I'm really liking those tank cars 

mike g. posted:

Brian, Thanks I got a little done in the train room before heading to the log splitter. I hope to be done by the end of Friday!

Bill, sounds like an action packed day! I am so glad you got the ceiling fan light fixed, it will help you see better! LOL

Johan, Thank you sir, that is what the wife and I call it! What a fabulous fleet of cars you have there! The flags really stand out and make a statement. Just wondering where is your crane car? LOL

Dave, I got the note, thank you so much! I got a little more done this morning!

Lee D, Must be Bigfoot! From that point your about 100' above the water! I guess you could fly fish from there! LOL

Lew, Very nice Switcher! But you do know if you upgrade to the full DCS system you can run both switchers with the same remote as long as you have a Z4000 with a side receiver on the same track.

Well guys As I stated earlier at 5AM I went out to the train room before splitting more dang wood. Well I did get a little more done on my tunnel side walls, The should be ready for rocks and more painting. I painted my walls earth brown just to hide the white. The coverings for that will get painted Black, I just didn't want to take any chance the white would show threw! Here are a couple photos .

I hope you all like it.

Well I better get some dinner before I forget! LOL I hope you all have a great night and have a great day tomorrow! I wont be on much as I have to be at the store tomorrow!

Mike

Did you say Fly Fishing? I love to fly fish two  things are marked off my Bucket list Learning how to Fly Fish and owning a O scale layout. Also that tunnel is looking good 

RSJB18 posted:

Mike and Mark- I'm not worried....been almost 50 years since the Jets won it all. My bank account is safe

Yes, Joe Namath from nearby Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania had a bit Part in that. LOL 50 years ago last January.

Mike, nice work on the tunnel!

Sometimes  I just get into a post war mood I’m so glad I chosen 3 rail O scale.Theres a lot of people don’t understand this scale and the three rail thing especially the HO community. Eric from Eric trains summed it up on his review of the New Menards Caboose He said it’s all about tradition. So today I fired up my old Lionel FA 202 turned on my Lionel 404 Beacon grabbed my 027? Menards cars and had blast this evening 

We painted a few insulators on our telephone poles

Not on my layout but the results of 3 days of work and a PS3 upgrade kit: https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...7#105466462533545087

mike g. posted:

Brian, Thanks I got a little done in the train room before heading to the log splitter. I hope to be done by the end of Friday!

Bill, sounds like an action packed day! I am so glad you got the ceiling fan light fixed, it will help you see better! LOL

Johan, Thank you sir, that is what the wife and I call it! What a fabulous fleet of cars you have there! The flags really stand out and make a statement. Just wondering where is your crane car? LOL

Dave, I got the note, thank you so much! I got a little more done this morning!

Lee D, Must be Bigfoot! From that point your about 100' above the water! I guess you could fly fish from there! LOL

Lew, Very nice Switcher! But you do know if you upgrade to the full DCS system you can run both switchers with the same remote as long as you have a Z4000 with a side receiver on the same track.

Well guys As I stated earlier at 5AM I went out to the train room before splitting more dang wood. Well I did get a little more done on my tunnel side walls, The should be ready for rocks and more painting. I painted my walls earth brown just to hide the white. The coverings for that will get painted Black, I just didn't want to take any chance the white would show threw! Here are a couple photos .

I hope you all like it.

Well I better get some dinner before I forget! LOL I hope you all have a great night and have a great day tomorrow! I wont be on much as I have to be at the store tomorrow!

Mike. Thank you. The tunnel looking a great, very much waiting more pics. Where is my crane? Well, just look that picture and you can find it. 😀🤝

Lee D., Sounds like you have a good start on your bucket list! Thanks for the nice comment on the tunnel and also very nice train video! Sometimes you just have to play!

Mark thank you sir!

Aldovar, Sure looks like you have a really good helper there!

Johan, Very Cool, you seam to have all your bases covered! Looks great!

Well guy thanks for the nice comments on my tunnel, Its a good thing I stopped yesterday cause this morning I realized the maybe, just maybe I should ballast the tunnel before I move on. So maybe Friday I will get to that!

I hope everyone has a great day and I will check in later!

lee drennen posted:

geysergazer posted:

What'd I do today? Worked on my DCTC project. Whazzat, you say? DeCentralized Traffic Control, that's what it is. It started with the Plywood Empire Route's acquisition of an MTH PS3 SW1500:

With speed control, switching became smooooth and slooooow, which quickly led me to the MTH DCS Remote Commander in order to inexpensively take full advantage of speed control:

                    

 

 The remote unchained me from a stationary "transformer". Then along came the incomparable Atlas O Sw9:

        

which is similarly slow&smooth but without electronics and which works beautifully with an MRC Walkaround throttle:

                    

 

 

The more I develop switching operation the more I want to be right up close and now, enabled by walk-around throttles, I am slowly eliminating the [familiar] central control panel in favor of mini-panels placed where switching operations occur. Not a "walk-around" layout but rathe a "roll-around" pike (because cape cod with a waist-wall on the second floor where the train room is). Roll-around via the old office-chair zoom.

It started with this mini-panel in front of the Paint Factory:

       

 

Today's project was a smaller panel in front of the track switch for the heating oil wholesaler:

        

       

The West End track switch, remote uncoupler and car-stopper controls so the operator is right up close to operation. Next will be similar setups for the East End and there will be no more master control panel. 

Lew 

I'm really liking those tank cars 

Lee, I'm pretty sure the GULF tank car is a fantasy paint scheme but I like it too. As a kid we would drive past the Gulf research facility which of course had a big orange GULF sign iirc on the roof of the building. We once toured the place and I was fascinated by the glass-blowers making laboratory glassware.

Aldovar posted:

We painted a few insulators on our telephone poles

This is a great idea - I hope you don't mind if I copy it! 

No layout work today due to York! Today I’ve been out at Strasburg for fun stuff happening before the meet. I took a lot of video today! I’m going to try to compile them into 1 video and post it on my YouTube channel. Hope that some you guys will make it out to York!