The figures really look good on your layout. Like the story on the sailor-who will know the story ?? I read recently that they think they have located the Indianoplis on the bottom. I have some figures but they get lost on my layout. Also have the survivors of my old toy soldiers. I got the for Xmas 1941 and they were old then.
p51 posted:I got those figures really fast and added to he layout right away. Some are next o houses and such, but I really like how my main depot looks like it should, and I've bene wanting to put a conductor onto a coach for a long time now.
Not great cell shots, but it gives an idea.
As for the sailor, some of you might be surprised that an old Army officer would have that. I thought a sailor home on leave would really look the part. I plan to letter his sea bag with a fictional name and the ship name, Uss Indianapolis to illustrate the horrible costs of the war. When this young man hops on the train, his family will never see him again.
Looking good Lee, its sad so many family's had to lose love ones. I know the young men and women wanted to be there for there country and family!
Mo985 posted:I started actually shaping my mountain. I covered my latticework with newspaper and spare adhesive. Then I started adding Great Stuff.
The red box is where I have an access cut out, and I needed something to fill the hole so it would remain square. Underneath the box is one end of my removable access hatch. I covered both with plastic wrap so the foam won't stick to them.
Two cans did not do as much as I thought!
Hey Chris, Looks like it going to be a cool looking mountain! Wondering if you have used the great stuff for this before and if so do you have any finished pictures? I was just filling some holes in the garage sheetrock with some and thought about using it for the same thing.
jim pastorius posted:The figures really look good on your layout. Like the story on the sailor-who will know the story ??
Almost nobody, but I will.
FYI, see the load on the baggage cart to the far right in the same shot? On, that, I lettered the tarp with, "L. Riley Co" which is in honor of Lee Riley of Bachmann. He's the guy who urged them to get into On30 seriously, and pushed for the ET&WNC ten-wheelers that got me back into the hobby. But again, nobody will notice that but me.
mike g. posted:Mo985 posted:I started actually shaping my mountain. I covered my latticework with newspaper and spare adhesive. Then I started adding Great Stuff.
The red box is where I have an access cut out, and I needed something to fill the hole so it would remain square. Underneath the box is one end of my removable access hatch. I covered both with plastic wrap so the foam won't stick to them.
Two cans did not do as much as I thought!
Hey Chris, Looks like it going to be a cool looking mountain! Wondering if you have used the great stuff for this before and if so do you have any finished pictures? I was just filling some holes in the garage sheetrock with some and thought about using it for the same thing.
Mike,
I have not, but have been doing quite a bit of reading. This is uncharted territory for me. My big concern is the shaping and smoothing process. I had thought of using my wife's clay sculpting tools, however the foam is too rigid for that.
Mo985 posted:mike g. posted:Mo985 posted:I started actually shaping my mountain. I covered my latticework with newspaper and spare adhesive. Then I started adding Great Stuff.
The red box is where I have an access cut out, and I needed something to fill the hole so it would remain square. Underneath the box is one end of my removable access hatch. I covered both with plastic wrap so the foam won't stick to them.
Two cans did not do as much as I thought!
Hey Chris, Looks like it going to be a cool looking mountain! Wondering if you have used the great stuff for this before and if so do you have any finished pictures? I was just filling some holes in the garage sheetrock with some and thought about using it for the same thing.
Mike,
I have not, but have been doing quite a bit of reading. This is uncharted territory for me. My big concern is the shaping and smoothing process. I had thought of using my wife's clay sculpting tools, however the foam is too rigid for that.
Hi Chris, I was trying to think about what I could use, and low and behold last night the wife broke out this thing I bought her to kinda sand the bottom of her feet to smooth them out. I think I might give that a try when the time comes! LOL
Have a vacuum handy, and maybe a can of static guard, carve with a knife or razor, sand with very coarse sandpaper to make fast headway.
I'd think about a dust mask too.
i didn't build a mountain, I used it as filler on some custom dunebugbodydy contouring, to support the new fiberglass over it. I'd suggest painting with water based craft acrylics as I had one paint react to it.
Well I was doing some searching for Ed and his light plant for the last 2 day and found it today. After seeing what they wanted for one, which blew my mind I thought I would try and build one. Well here is what I came up with so far. Parts from the old Scooby Doo van, a light tower with LED's, a plastic box cut into 4 pieces and glued back together. I hope you guys like it. All I need now is to build a layout to put it on and some BNSF logs!
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I am putting the final touches on this last grain elevator kit....the second of two in a row built. It just needs some signs, paint tough-up, and over-all dull coat. I am thinking I need to find a place where I can set all of them together on the floor and take a group photo.
mike g. posted:Well I was doing some searching for Ed and his light plant for the last 2 day and found it today. After seeing what they wanted for one, which blew my mind I thought I would try and build one. Well here is what I came up with so far. Parts from the old Scooby Doo van, a light tower with LED's, a plastic box cut into 4 pieces and glued back together. I hope you guys like it. All I need now is to build a layout to put it on and some BNSF logs!
Well scrounged! 
Mitch
Lot of great work.
Lee " I plan to letter his sea bag with a fictional name and the ship name, Uss Indianapolis to illustrate the horrible costs of the war. When this young man hops on the train, his family will never see him again." What a great touch of reality for your layout. The adding of the people really make the layout pop.
Mo985; The mountain is looking good so far. I like the way the foam settled it should look real good once you add foliage and weathering.
mike g. Sometimes building your own is fun, especially when everything is from the parts bin.
For me. Layout is a mess, Took delivery of Doug's O gauge hauler and started reorganizing and making room. What a great way to store rolling stock! In the process I managed to bring back to life a 5v engine that had been left for dead months ago. Of course have another pic for Mitch in the process.
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Kitteh!
Last week I shared a layout update about bringing my Suncoco facility online. In my update I mentioned an order of three tank cars that still needed to be delivered. They arrived this weekend. I was lucky enough to catch them on video as they were being delivered.
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I finished laying down the foam, then took to shaping. A super sharp hobby knife worked well, and my hobby saw worked good too, however I was just removing all the character.
I decided to lay plaster cloth over the keep the shape and add some angles instead of everything being rounded.
Alas.... I ran out of cloth. I think maybe two more packages will get me finished.
I also decided to add in a 2x4' shelf to house my container yard, so I had to rearrange track and move other stuff around again!
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Mo985 posted:I finished laying down the foam, then took to shaping. A super sharp hobby knife worked well, and my hobby saw worked good too, however I was just removing all the character.
I decided to lay plaster cloth over the keep the shape and add some angles instead of everything being rounded.
Alas.... I ran out of cloth. I think maybe two more packages will get me finished.
I also decided to add in a 2x4' shelf to house my container yard, so I had to rearrange track and move other stuff around again!
Looking good Chris, I like the container yard!
I worked on my railroad for about 7 and a half hours today. Cleaned track using my track cleaning cars. Detailed scenes especially the area around the brothel where I added a chain link fence which I painted rust and grimmy black. Also I added brush and lightly weathered the Hooker Chemical car which is parked on a siding just behind the brothel.
I also worked at improving the detailing of the industrial area scene. Moving tractors and trailers to different positions. Cleaning off the brick pavement with a paint brush. Changing some vehicles in and out.
Glued TV antennas to roofs of houses.
Planted 6 deciduous trees throughout the layout. Wow!! These trees make a big difference!! Also planted some pine trees in various locations on the layout.
Super detailed the house under construction. Adding more skilled and unskilled labor. Repositioning the Demarco Bros Roofing truck. Clearing away some of the lichen. Sprinkling some Woodland Scenics Earth about. Positioning a small bulldozer pushing up a pile of dirt as it grades the front of the building lot. Added some stockpiles of lumber and a pile of bricks.
Also super detailed area around the cabin on the lake. Repositioned the black bears, firewood stock piles, flowers, pickup truck, planted two trees.
Ran my new Pennsylvania caboose that I bought yesterday at Mercer Junction.
Ran two trains and got my elevated trolley line functioning consistently.
Mercer Junction is a GREAT store!!! Met Dave who is a super nice guy!!! He has a very nice BIG in store layout. The store is well stocked, uncluttered, and well thought out. If you are ever in the area of Mercer Pa., its just off I-79 about 5 minutes. Well worth stopping in to see Dave!
It was a good day's work on the railroad. I didn't even stop for lunch. I was having too much fun and time seemed to stop.
I had an op session on my layout this evening, two normal-sized people, a large guy, and myself all fit into the same room with minimal issues (which proved I provided enough aisle space, for the most part.
The first photo shows three trains running at the same time for the first time ever. The foreground is obvious, but a passenger turn is to the far left and a freight switching is going on past the cornfield in the upper left background, directly above the coach.
Normally, I run one train and let whoever is handing the center section of the layout do the switching for outbound cars, which keeps that person busy. But with a third guy, I pulled out a third ten-wheeler (ET&WNC # 9, the first time it's ran with the new road number) and ran a passenger train from the opposite end than normal. I think everyone had a good time.
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I spent a good part of the day taking pictures of NS trains and observing. Standing alongside the track at a downgrade spot a train was drifting down hill at a pretty good clip with little engine noise. I noticed how noisey it was on welded track with all the wheels clattering and bumping and slack rattling, maybe all the attention paid to make layouts quiet is misplaced. Another thing I paid attention to was "crew talk". On the weekends tere is a woman dispatcher who seems to do a smooth, very professional first rate job. She even spoke to a woman engineer who sounded like a newbie so that was funny. Yesterday was busy again, the third Sunday in a row. Before Sunday would be quiet. Of course, lots of black & white NS locos. A few bright colors.
p51 posted:I had an op session on my layout this evening, two normal-sized people, a large guy, and myself all fit into the same room with minimal issues (which proved I provided enough aisle space, for the most part.
The first photo shows three trains running at the same time for the first time ever. The foreground is obvious, but a passenger turn is to the far left and a freight switching is going on past the cornfield in the upper left background, directly above the coach.
Normally, I run one train and let whoever is handing the center section of the layout do the switching for outbound cars, which keeps that person busy. But with a third guy, I pulled out a third ten-wheeler (ET&WNC # 9, the first time it's ran with the new road number) and ran a passenger train from the opposite end than normal. I think everyone had a good time.
Hi Lee, Looks like a good time was had by all, it's nice to see that as this is what it is all about. Fun with FRIENDS!
trumptrain posted:I worked on my railroad for about 7 and a half hours today. Cleaned track using my track cleaning cars. Detailed scenes especially the area around the brothel where I added a chain link fence which I painted rust and grimmy black. Also I added brush and lightly weathered the Hooker Chemical car which is parked on a siding just behind the brothel.
I also worked at improving the detailing of the industrial area scene. Moving tractors and trailers to different positions. Cleaning off the brick pavement with a paint brush. Changing some vehicles in and out.
Glued TV antennas to roofs of houses.
Planted 6 deciduous trees throughout the layout. Wow!! These trees make a big difference!! Also planted some pine trees in various locations on the layout.
Super detailed the house under construction. Adding more skilled and unskilled labor. Repositioning the Demarco Bros Roofing truck. Clearing away some of the lichen. Sprinkling some Woodland Scenics Earth about. Positioning a small bulldozer pushing up a pile of dirt as it grades the front of the building lot. Added some stockpiles of lumber and a pile of bricks.
Also super detailed area around the cabin on the lake. Repositioned the black bears, firewood stock piles, flowers, pickup truck, planted two trees.
Ran my new Pennsylvania caboose that I bought yesterday at Mercer Junction.
Ran two trains and got my elevated trolley line functioning consistently.
Mercer Junction is a GREAT store!!! Met Dave who is a super nice guy!!! He has a very nice BIG in store layout. The store is well stocked, uncluttered, and well thought out. If you are ever in the area of Mercer Pa., its just off I-79 about 5 minutes. Well worth stopping in to see Dave!
It was a good day's work on the railroad. I didn't even stop for lunch. I was having too much fun and time seemed to stop.
Wow! You sure we're busy, Pat! I'll look forward to seeing some photos later on.
Yes Dave has a very nice store. Glad you stopped by. It is nice it is only about a 45 minute drive for me.
mike g. posted:Well I was doing some searching for Ed and his light plant for the last 2 day and found it today. After seeing what they wanted for one, which blew my mind I thought I would try and build one. Well here is what I came up with so far. Parts from the old Scooby Doo van, a light tower with LED's, a plastic box cut into 4 pieces and glued back together. I hope you guys like it. All I need now is to build a layout to put it on and some BNSF logs!
Mike, thanks for the post. It is most excellent! Exactly what I had in mind. Knowing now how you did it, I'm inspired to try it!
Haven't done much over the past month or so. Lots of visits from all the grandkids with the last visit finishing up this week. It will be back to the layouts this weekend. But it has been fun reading what everyone else has been doing including my train bud Bryan. That is a great looking coaster...............Paul
Busy bee's....
Lee , Those pictures are some of the best you've come up with. I know you shoot up close a lot too to show off the details, but the layout really has a good scenic character from a distance as well.
Mike, That's very cool. I haven't seen a real one in years, but that's what I remember, right down to the big thick fenders. An exhaust pipe out the side was the only detail I can think of to add, and that took some thinkin'.
Do you think you could add a set of hi-rail wheels? Lionel made a nice orange hi-rail MOW truck that would look perfect behind. Guess who owns one they don't run often enough? 
Ill send a photo by email soon since I can't post pictures anymore, the attachment tool won't work at all for me and even text entry is going downhill n this android. What a waste of money, ten year old lap tops work better. (E.g.- I added the O to the n above to spell "on" three times, but it keeps disappearing)
Trump train...7 hours, but that's still a ton for "the hand from the sky" to finish....
Hey, 7 days; 7 hours, a hand from the sky creating left and right,
....what kind of scale operation are you shooting for anyhow, lol 
MO985 the paper towel area looks great. There's a place nearby called Bald Mountain, that's what I imagined it looked like my whole youth. ( I was dissapointed, it looks nothing like it's name 
) ...but I'd paint it like solid stone and leave it barren there. It also kind of reminds me of the last time I saw myself from an overhead camera, but my bald spot is new, even though I'm feeling "old as the hills";..surprise!
Someone on the Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines mailing list posted a pic of an Atlantic City-bound train passing some telltales, and, well, I couldn't resist... 
Mitch
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M. Mitchell Marmel posted:Someone on the Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines mailing list posted a pic of an Atlantic City-bound train passing some telltales, and, well, I couldn't resist...
Mitch
LOL LOVE IT!
Adriatic posted:Busy bee's....
Lee , Those pictures are some of the best you've come up with. I know you shoot up close a lot too to show off the details, but the layout really has a good scenic character from a distance as well.
Mike, That's very cool. I haven't seen a real one in years, but that's what I remember, right down to the big thick fenders. An exhaust pipe out the side was the only detail I can think of to add, and that took some thinkin'.
Do you think you could add a set of hi-rail wheels? Lionel made a nice orange hi-rail MOW truck that would look perfect behind. Guess who owns one they don't run often enough?
Trump train...7 hours, but that's still a ton for "the hand from the sky" to finish....
Hey, 7 days; 7 hours, a hand from the sky creating left and right,
....what kind of scale operation are you shooting for anyhow, lol
MO985 the paper towel area looks great. There's a place nearby called Bald Mountain, that's what I imagined it looked like my whole youth. ( I was dissapointed, it looks nothing like it's name
Adriatic, Thanks I didn't even think about a exhaust pipe, but will now.
ToledoEd posted:mike g. posted:Well I was doing some searching for Ed and his light plant for the last 2 day and found it today. After seeing what they wanted for one, which blew my mind I thought I would try and build one. Well here is what I came up with so far. Parts from the old Scooby Doo van, a light tower with LED's, a plastic box cut into 4 pieces and glued back together. I hope you guys like it. All I need now is to build a layout to put it on and some BNSF logs!
Mike, thanks for the post. It is most excellent! Exactly what I had in mind. Knowing now how you did it, I'm inspired to try it!
Ed, I am glad your inspired, Makes me feel like I am passing it on. Cause that's why I built this from all the inspiration I get from all the great projects that all these great people do on here.
M. Mitchell Marmel posted:Someone on the Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines mailing list posted a pic of an Atlantic City-bound train passing some telltales, and, well, I couldn't resist...
Mitch
Going to Atlantic City? The bill of lading says Chicago!
Bruce
Gi-raffe burgers, anyone?
Mitch
M. Mitchell Marmel posted:Someone on the Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines mailing list posted a pic of an Atlantic City-bound train passing some telltales, and, well, I couldn't resist...
Mitch
Mitch;
I think it is (past) time to step away from the photoshop and start looking for a local 12-step support group!!! Now if you had used elephants instead of gi-raffes, I might have bought that this was the Ringling Brothers train heading out after it's Madison Square Garden run, but this is just too bi-zarre 
But seriously, love the pic - all that's missing is a cat!!!
Apples55 posted:Mitch;I think it is (past) time to step away from the photoshop and start looking for a local 12-step support group!!! Now if you had used elephants instead of gi-raffes, I might have bought that this was the Ringling Brothers train heading out after it's Madison Square Garden run, but this is just too bi-zarre
But seriously, love the pic - all that's missing is a cat!!!
Gi-raffes Anonymouse? ;-)
And the PRR DID string cat-enary over that section of track some years later...
Mitch
Created two new scenes. This morning - a dairy delivery truck loading at the Lionel milk platform with milk cans, milk crates, and milk man opening back doors of truck. Partially shrubbed around the base of unloading/loading platform. Created a grade crossing so truck can navigate crossing the track and access the platform.
This afternoon - pulled the passenger platform adjacent to my Atlas O station in back part of layout. Populated the platform with people figures and a baggage cart ( using Sinbad glue ). Re-glued the roof and gently placed the entire platform to its original position beside the station with my set of grabbers.
Ran trains a bit in celebration!!! YES!!!!
M. Mitchell Marmel posted:Gi-raffe burgers, anyone?
Mitch
Don't tempt me, if it's meat, I eat!
Except hot squid in ink, and corned beef brisket.. What a Easter, Brisket is for BBQ , ink is for pens, and squid should be cold
Ever hear the joke about Matches 3 legged giraffe? ( I guess you Lit the stove that way Mitch)
It's not as funny as the auto correction above it. What's an Easter Brisket? And why would it need a the comma ....oh great I have an Iranian accent now.....,.. lol now folks won't trust me.......it was Italian a few seconds ago.... Gotta love android for the laughs at least
I can't even remember what I did on my layout now, lol.
My bedroom Standard gauge layout is pretty much finished and running. Will add a few litho buildings if I can get one that fits and looks OK. I do have a problem-I bought 4 pieces of new Standard gauge track 36" long. 3 out of the 4 have had shorts where the rail is crimped too tight to the metal tie. I repaired one but hve two more to fix. Found bad insulators on these two and replaced them but there are still shorts. Eventually I will sort them out but this is what you buy today. Have no idea who made them.
Finished the American Model Builders' Farmer's Stock Co. grain elevator kitbash, right after the Markle Mill one, although progress on both was slow in the lazy, crazy days of summer. Have now begun the Bar Mills "Majestic Hardware" kit, which, like the Menards' feedmill version, will get a much taller and enlarged elevator, and more emphasis on its grain business than its general store. This is my last kit with elevator potential, so will have to go back to scratchbuilding them, if I blunder on an interesting one. The Farmer's Stock Co. elevator does have a smaller footprint after my bash, and could and can be made smaller still, with the elimination or shortening of the ramps into the unloadeing shed. I did take the unloading shed and ramps down to ground level.
p51 posted:2 years exactly between these shots...
Looks great Lee, Its amazing what can be done in 2 short years!
mike g. posted:Looks great Lee, Its amazing what can be done in 2 short years!
Thanks!
It's funny, because some of the local guys can't believe I've gotten this far in such a relatively short time. Some of them haven't progressed one thing on their layouts in the same timeframe.
Frankly, I never understood those who get as far as the benchwork and track then never get any further. Geez, at least the 'painted green plywood' look you see with some 3-rail layouts is way better than that!
p51 posted:mike g. posted:Looks great Lee, Its amazing what can be done in 2 short years!
Thanks!
It's funny, because some of the local guys can't believe I've gotten this far in such a relatively short time. Some of them haven't progressed one thing on their layouts in the same timeframe.
Frankly, I never understood those who get as far as the benchwork and track then never get any further. Geez, at least the 'painted green plywood' look you see with some 3-rail layouts is way better than that!
Some folk touch paint and caulk to see if It's dry yet, even when warned it's not. They literally can't help themselves in refraining. We took to locking our work up till we knew it was ready.
I think it's just some folks want to run them more than anything. And now! That's why I often mention setting up a small loop till it's done.
I think I laid track at least 4 times before I was happy enough to add grass mat. A year I bet....but it was panted. day 1. I used all the half full cans of spray paint I had. Green, brown, yellow, red, blue, white, black, grey. My ground cover was painted scenery till I found grass mat under $10 a roll.
Frankly, I never understood those who get as far as the benchwork and track then never get any further. Geez, at least the 'painted green plywood' look you see with some 3-rail layouts is way better than that!
I would guess for a lot of people it's financial. My son's just starting a large basement layout and I'm sure unless I contribute to the cause it will run on bare plywood for a long time. My layout isn't all that big at 16x30 but the investment in many building kits and landscaping materials is in the thousands and I'm far from finished.
Yeah, scenery stuff is quite expensive, no question there!
But as for the local guys who have plywood layouts, I think most just lost steam after the trains could run...
It is one of those things....you complete all this work with the benchwork, track and wiring and then you just plateau for a while. I've often wondered if in some cases folks dream up and build this massive layout and then get to that point and just have no idea where to go with it?...or as stated...funds which never ever go as far as you would like.....
Grandson Noah: Same train hat his Dad wore. The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Today, we left the train room and went for a wagon walk.
Gary
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Today I did yard work ... no ... not that kind of yard work.
Got the shrubs trimmed and mulched. I also completed ballasting the last of 22 switches (man, am I glad that's over). This leaves about 4 foot of track to ballast and a girder bridge to set and detail. Then on to either modeling the grate style roads across the bridge or on to the mountains. Happy Friday Eve to all.
bd
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Looks good, BD!
I always liked those grate floored bridges. There was one by the swimming hole growing up. It was cool to walk looking down. After a few steps it almost seemed like walking on air!
BD, you should be a landscaper! the front looks great! Nice even hedge! clean sidewalk. What more could you ask for! :-)
Thanks Mark & Mike. I'm getting better ... the hedges only took about 4 or 5 tries. LOL. Quite a numerical improvement from my normal efforts. Mark, right there with ya' on the grates. I can vividly remember riding in the family car across that bridge and looking down at the Ohio river many, many feet below ... it was really cool to us kids. But I think it left my mother a little white knuckled.
bd
It is a sweltering hot night here in Patsburg, Maryland where the thermometer is about going thru the roof. Train were running though and a photographer took a few pictures .... so here they are!
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Yesterday the last grandchild went back home. Nice to have a quiet house again but sure miss the little one. Anyways after getting the house back to normal I went to the basement and did some measuring for more lumber to make up at least four more tables. At the same time I decided to change back to two TIU's on the attic layout so I can run trains on all four lines. I found a Z500 at Nicolas Smiths for a good price and ordered it. That will give me three. Two for the attic and one for the basement. Decided to buy another TIU with remote for the basement. I already bought another legacy along with another Z4000. So that way I can run everything on both layouts..........Paul
You open grate bridge lovers ought to try a visit to the "Mighty Mac" that spans the Straits of Mackinac between the Upper and Lower Peninsulas of Michigan. Every fall there is a traditional bridge walk from the UP to the lower and thousands (about 50,000 average) gather to do this. I think it's still the longest suspension bridge built, a 5 mile walk, sister to the higher Golden Gate, My personal record is crossing 3 times in the time allowed that morning. By 9:30am your walk area is reduced to one lane, After 11am starting is forbidden. Buses run folks between the two to get to the cars again. This is the 59th annual, it happens every Labor Day. Google it or check wikipedia if this sounds like fun to you too. There are lots of other things to check out too. Mackinaw Island, Fort Mackinac, shopping in little shops (lots) Trader Joes, pasties, casinos, fishing, Soo locs aren't too far off really neither is Hemingway's waters and Tahquamenon Falls little Toonerville train and riverboat tour...plan for weather; it might be 50 or 90 weather varies hard up there. I wish I could join you!
I wished I had cleaned up after that reefer build too, but I did it standing and paid for it with sore feet, so have been pretty lazy and ran the shelf layout and bedroom circle track a lot lately.
Par for the course here, I had six people visit that hadn't seen the trains yet. I could really only show off statically as the dogs needed to be in the bedrooms. Ive recently reconnected with lots of old pals who've been making an effort to help me get out of the house more and the word is spreading fast now. So fast, they are wearing me out just running around town. These are very active folks from my outdoor life who missed my presence and hunted me down. But it's been a long time coming,(7 years?) so this is a happy exhaustion.
Adriatic,
The Mighty Mac sounds great! Another area we should visit once I retire!
I didn't know you hadnt been able to get out and about for so long. Sorry to learn this but I am glad some folks are coming by to visit, I think you would be a most interesting person to visit in person!
Adriatic posted:You open grate bridge lovers ought to try a visit to the "Mighty Mac" that spans the Straits of Mackinac between the Upper and Lower Peninsulas of Michigan. Every fall there is a traditional bridge walk from the UP to the lower and thousands (about 50,000 average) gather to do this. I think it's still the longest suspension bridge built, a 5 mile walk, sister to the higher Golden Gate, My personal record is crossing 3 times in the time allowed that morning. By 9:30am your walk area is reduced to one lane, After 11am starting is forbidden. Buses run folks between the two to get to the cars again. This is the 59th annual, it happens every Labor Day. Google it or check wikipedia if this sounds like fun to you too. There are lots of other things to check out too. Mackinaw Island, Fort Mackinac, shopping in little shops (lots) Trader Joes, pasties, casinos, fishing, Soo locs aren't too far off really neither is Hemingway's waters and Tahquamenon Falls little Toonerville train and riverboat tour...plan for weather; it might be 50 or 90 weather varies hard up there. I wish I could join you!
I wished I had cleaned up after that reefer build too, but I did it standing and paid for it with sore feet, so have been pretty lazy and ran the shelf layout and bedroom circle track a lot lately.
Par for the course here, I had six people visit that hadn't seen the trains yet. I could really only show off statically as the dogs needed to be in the bedrooms. Ive recently reconnected with lots of old pals who've been making an effort to help me get out of the house more and the word is spreading fast now. So fast, they are wearing me out just running around town. These are very active folks from my outdoor life who missed my presence and hunted me down. But it's been a long time coming,(7 years?) so this is a happy exhaustion.
Speaking of open grate bridges, if you are ever near Reutte, Austria and visiting the Ehrenburg castle ruins, you must experience Highline 179. This bridge is the worlds longest Tibetan style pedestrian suspension bridge: length 406 m (1326') with a height 113 m (369') above the canyon floor. It is quite an adrenaline rush!
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darlander posted:Adriatic posted:You open grate bridge lovers ought to try a visit to the "Mighty Mac" that spans the Straits of Mackinac between the Upper and Lower Peninsulas of Michigan. Every fall there is a traditional bridge walk from the UP to the lower and thousands (about 50,000 average) gather to do this. I think it's still the longest suspension bridge built, a 5 mile walk, sister to the higher Golden Gate, My personal record is crossing 3 times in the time allowed that morning. By 9:30am your walk area is reduced to one lane, After 11am starting is forbidden. Buses run folks between the two to get to the cars again. This is the 59th annual, it happens every Labor Day. Google it or check wikipedia if this sounds like fun to you too. There are lots of other things to check out too. Mackinaw Island, Fort Mackinac, shopping in little shops (lots) Trader Joes, pasties, casinos, fishing, Soo locs aren't too far off really neither is Hemingway's waters and Tahquamenon Falls little Toonerville train and riverboat tour...plan for weather; it might be 50 or 90 weather varies hard up there. I wish I could join you!
I wished I had cleaned up after that reefer build too, but I did it standing and paid for it with sore feet, so have been pretty lazy and ran the shelf layout and bedroom circle track a lot lately.
Par for the course here, I had six people visit that hadn't seen the trains yet. I could really only show off statically as the dogs needed to be in the bedrooms. Ive recently reconnected with lots of old pals who've been making an effort to help me get out of the house more and the word is spreading fast now. So fast, they are wearing me out just running around town. These are very active folks from my outdoor life who missed my presence and hunted me down. But it's been a long time coming,(7 years?) so this is a happy exhaustion.
Speaking of open grate bridges, if you are ever near Reutte, Austria and visiting the Ehrenburg castle ruins, you must experience Highline 179. This bridge is the worlds longest Tibetan style pedestrian suspension bridge: length 406 m (1326') with a height 113 m (369') above the canyon floor. It is quite an adrenaline rush!
Yikes!! Neat to see the photos, but no thank you on walking across! I'll stay on the ground!
Went back to the way I had originally set up the mainlines, using two TIU's, had tried to go to one but it proved to be too complicated because I lost conventional on two mainlines. To make sure I ran trains and it was nice to have four train running again. This time I was running one Legacy and three conventional trains..........Paul
Went up to the attic and dug out the 027 track that I saved. The plan is to put an oval inside the standard gauge oval of my bedroom layout. This will be for my Marx trains and some other small tinplate that I have. Nothing big and serious.
I'd be tempted to camp on that bridge lol. Lunch at least.
Other than the Mac my first time, and a few high wind crosings in my van the o nly bridge that made me say "oh $41+" was the Chicago Skyway. A 55speed limit, I was doing 70 in the slow lane and being passed by traffic like I was standing still....in a hot rodded VW van with Porsche power train.
There's been family land in the UP O Mi for generations not counting my native blood. My pals family founded much of the land from Alpena to Indian River to Mackinaw City to Cheboygan and Mullet lake. Roads and beaches have their name. A long drive from Detroit too, but even just a night and a day on a weekend were always worth it to me. My love for upper Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota and even Canada is something that went unequaled till I discovered the mountains of the east. This wilderness is flatter, but equal in beauty. The glaciers really mixed the soils and terrain well and it's normally much cooler than even 30-40 miles south of the Straits. The UP tourist trade dropped with the use of air conditioning IMO. Imagine a quick dip in the 50 degree water of Superior during a heatwave while looking at the Pictured Rocks and snacking on wild berries of all sorts.. Its as much heaven as the mountains.
Another interesting spot near St Ignance on the way to Sault St Marie (Soo) is called Castle Rock. Privately owned for a token fee, you can climb it's stairs to look out over the land from the same place the native scouts did long ago.
Ask me or DNR to find the good ponds in the woods near there if you fish and watch out for deer, moose, and logging trucks on the back roads! And mind the campfire status if at all dry, pine goes up easy.
Then there is the locks to the St Lawrence Seaway, the Soo RR, Pierre Marquette leftovers and narrow gauge ghost towns, boring to some, but not to me.
Mark I'd be dissapointed if you passed by and didn't at least say hello. Anything you need, if I can pull it off, you got it!!
Interesting in I revel in my being a little different sure. Folks tend to love me or hate me for it, lol. I'm usually quite till I break out of my shell, let loose hot air, then shut up again to gain steam pressure again. I've been told I missed my calling not being a teacher, or parent. I still often relate better with kids. I tend to treat them as shorter peers as I hated being talked down to by adults. It buys me respect and I seldom had to put a foot down.
I was once very active, and only needed a place to sleep, then would start again immediately once rested. I lost the majority of my more recent friends and family to various illness etc in a very short period of time leaving me with no real support and thought iId get back to work to "catch up". I've mentioned some other things privately that have held back progress and the fun" hasn't stopped, but I'm not giving up. Add that to my independent nature and you get a shut in with occasional cabin fever. My apologies to any victims reading.
Which reminds me anyone hear from PW Pappy at all lately? Even "elsewhere"? I'd hate to think he's given up on sneaking trains into his room for himself.
Well this evening after dinner I was able to get my new shelf in for the Z4000's and the Z's screwed down in place. Took a while to get the shelf in place. Not much room to work in. Tomorrow morning I'll hook the wires up from the transformers to the TIU's. Did feel good to start working on one of the layouts again. Where the Z's were I will be putting a control panel for switches and uncoupling tracks. Pics of the progress............Paul
Pics of the progress.................Paul
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Paul,
Your new control area looks like it will work out nicely
Adriatic posted:I'd be tempted to camp on that bridge lol. Lunch at least.
Other than the Mac my first time, and a few high wind crosings in my van the o nly bridge that made me say "oh $41+" was the Chicago Skyway. A 55speed limit, I was doing 70 in the slow lane and being passed by traffic like I was standing still....in a hot rodded VW van with Porsche power train.
There's been family land in the UP O Mi for generations not counting my native blood. My pals family founded much of the land from Alpena to Indian River to Mackinaw City to Cheboygan and Mullet lake. Roads and beaches have their name. A long drive from Detroit too, but even just a night and a day on a weekend were always worth it to me. My love for upper Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota and even Canada is something that went unequaled till I discovered the mountains of the east. This wilderness is flatter, but equal in beauty. The glaciers really mixed the soils and terrain well and it's normally much cooler than even 30-40 miles south of the Straits. The UP tourist trade dropped with the use of air conditioning IMO. Imagine a quick dip in the 50 degree water of Superior during a heatwave while looking at the Pictured Rocks and snacking on wild berries of all sorts.. Its as much heaven as the mountains.
Another interesting spot near St Ignance on the way to Sault St Marie (Soo) is called Castle Rock. Privately owned for a token fee, you can climb it's stairs to look out over the land from the same place the native scouts did long ago.
Ask me or DNR to find the good ponds in the woods near there if you fish
Then there is the locks to the St Lawrence Seaway, the Soo RR, Pierre Marquette leftovers and narrow gauge ghost towns, boring to some, but not to me.
Mark I'd be dissapointed if you passed by and didn't at least say hello. Anything you need, if I can pull it off, you got it!!
Interesting in I revel in my being a little different sure. Folks tend to love me or hate me for it, lol. I'm usually quite till I break out of my shell, let loose hot air, then shut up again to gain steam pressure again. I've been told I missed my calling not being a teacher, or parent. I still often relate better with kids. I tend to treat them as shorter peers as I hated being talked down to by adults. It buys me respect and I seldom had to put a foot down.
I was once very active, and only needed a place to sleep, then would start again immediately once rested. I lost the majority of my more recent friends and family to various illness etc in a very short period of time leaving me with no real support and thought iId get back to work to "catch up". I've mentioned some other things privately that have held back progress and the fun" hasn't stopped, but I'm not giving up. Add that to my independent nature and you get a shut in with occasional cabin fever. My apologies to any victims reading.
Which reminds me anyone hear from PW Pappy at all lately? Even "elsewhere"? I'd hate to think he's given up on sneaking trains into his room for himself.
That is great information on the Upper Peninsula! I would be happy to stop by on the way. Actually I have never been in Michigan at all. The closest was the Marblehead Peninsula in Ohio, only 4 hour drive from home. I need to get out more. lol
Paul, good looking setup!
Gentlemen,
I am still messing around painting some of these old lead figures for the next Christmas layout!
PCRR/Dave
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Since my last report, I've done more work on our logging area (we call it Soap Creek Pass). I built a second donkey engine, added more scenic details and a few more trees, and ran some cables from the spars and donkeys.
Next I will add more trees, ground cover, and other details. Then, I'll move on to painting the river bed, and adding rocks and boulders, and other details, on the other side of the layout, and then I'll add the "water" detail (resin).
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John, I can't remember many folk here that have an interest in logging like you seem to and that's is a fine looking scene I'm sure you know that.
I also bet you've done some research to get there and that's why I'm going to ask this, not your neck of the woods, but , have you run across any info on a UP of Michigan logger by the name of Con ( Cornelius) Culhane? "A man willing to fight for a job will likely work to keep it" and moving his RR operation by lifting the tracks behind him and putting them down in front, over the frozen cedar swamps, are the most memorable factors of his legend. I been on a hunt for a good write-up on the man for years. The old timers talked of him often up there but I seldom have found more than a paragraph or two on him.
I'm really after the loco type his wife bought him, he named it after her, the Ellen K. It should be a six driver build, the rest is a mystery. There was a small Porter too, but the Ellen K was his baby. The operation started about 1895 and he died under his own train 1903, a wealthy man. Supplied timber for Camulet / Helca mines as his main customer, and bought the loco ordered by that mine, but canceled en route. Likely a just finagling to get it as legend has it it wasn't the mines usual choice of builder ( east coast German builder with port access is all I know) and politics and unions weren't happy about him getting it. ( The boat unloading is another story)
If you know of anything, now or in the future please let me know would you. Its about the only thing I'd truly like to seriously model. If you want to hear more let me know.
Thank you, Adriatic! Yes, I like like logging and its history. When my son and I were planning our layout, we decided that would be the neatest thing to have as a "business " on the layout. I am not familiar with the man and story you mentioned, but I've been to the UP (Upper Peninsula) when our son was in grad school at Mich Tech getting a degree in industrial archaeology. He also did an archaeological study and work on Soap Creek Pass (Pickering Lumber Corp.) for his senior thesis at Cal, and we got to help him do the on site archaeology. His job now is rebuilding and restoring steam locomotives and running them. He has worked on and/or rebuilt/restored Shay, Climax, Willamette, and Heisler geared locomotives. I will ask him if he knows anything about the man and the story you asked about, and get back to you.
John
I usually put windows into buildings last, separately painted, after the kit building has been painted. This Bar Mills "Majestic" feed mill kit came with these self sticking laser cut window parts that have to be assembled, as do windows in other laser brand kits. These work okay, when they work (the glue holds and they fit the pre-punched holes). That did not apply, and I should have switched all out for Grandt Line or Tichy windows. The pre-applied sticky glue seems to prevent model glue from holding, when you are trying to strengthen these bonds. I did switch one stubborn and troublesome one, after slightly enlarging the prepunched hole. I put windows in and painted the lower structure early, because I was going to have to cover the lower part of the building when I added the kitbashed high elevator tower, and would have difficulty accessing some windows. Another thing I just noticed...should have sooner as I had kitbashed the Menards' feed mill,,,, is that the Menards feed mill is darn near a twin for the Bar Mills kit. Have also noticed that a plumbing supply kit from Bar Mills has a pre-built twin from another maker. Bar Mills is licensing out its designs? (I kitbashed the Bar Mills plumbing supply into a totally unrecognizable truck terminal, so no problem there)
ADRRIATIC: I made a first time trip to the UP a couple of years ago, making a circle tour, looking for ghost towns (lots of them but little evidence left), and old mine, railroad, and logging operations. Beautiful fall weather and leaves, worth a future trip. I have heard of that Culhane and the story about him, but little more than you have posted. Do not remember now if I read it in Narrow Gauge and Short Line Gazette (you might contact them to see if they, if anybody, has more info on him and his activity), or in some of the UP tourist books I read up on before the trip.
I have a whole series of Pa. logging railroads and as Pa. was cut over some of the loggers moved on to Michigan. Others went south also. Interesting industry.
Thanks for the leads folks. There is a possibility the Elllen K could be a significant loco too. My Great Grandfather's recollection was usually pretty good. He was pretty sure the loco was delivered as a Prarie, and Con had swapped out the trailing truck for a 4 wheeler truck making it a 2-6-4. Significant how? Find me another Adriatic locomotive in America Anymore, online searches pretty much get filled up with things I've read already, or my own posts. Buying books for a single paragraph, often repeated facts I've know my whole life and some conflicting info; that gets a little discouraging, But I know someone wrote something lengthy in the late 60s while some of the folks, that had been around then, were still alive. I remember one year, guys went hunting through old personal photos as an author was in town asking about the man and his train as he had heard the 2-6-4 rumor and was trying to find out if it was shop built as an Adriatic.
Not much left of buildings that weren't well cared for up there. The winters take their toll. Mackinaw Island is a time capsule though, they still don't allow any motorized vehicles ( except I think there is an ambulance...only maybe)
Today I got the Z's wired back up. Sure is hard when you get older to bend yourself into a pretzel to work on things. Thought I was all set but when I turned everything back on one Z was shorting out. So back into a pretzel I go and luck was with me and I found the problem right away. On one side of the Z I had reversed the wires. Switched them and everything works. So I think to celebrate I am just going to enjoy running the trains the rest of the day.....Paul
Well construction of the new layout continues I have the trains running and hope to move to the next phase is lighting and electronic just bringing down the buildings and getting them ready
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^^^^ Wow do I see some great construction ideas here.. Couldn't have come at a better time!! Thanks for sharing!!!!
FL9TURBO2,
Thanks for the under construction photos. It is looking good. What is your plan for the big monitor? Is that for controls?
Mark Boyce posted:FL9TURBO2,
Thanks for the under construction photos. It is looking good. What is your plan for the big monitor? Is that for controls?
I am running the classic software TAS LCS software on the computer to control the switches and my complete signal system
fl9turbo2 posted:Mark Boyce posted:FL9TURBO2,
Thanks for the under construction photos. It is looking good. What is your plan for the big monitor? Is that for controls?
I am running the classic software TAS LCS software on the computer to control the switches and my complete signal system
That will certainly be excellent when in operation! I always admire complete signal systems and all the work it takes to make thm operational. I will look forward to seeing that progress!
Mark Boyce posted:fl9turbo2 posted:Mark Boyce posted:FL9TURBO2,
Thanks for the under construction photos. It is looking good. What is your plan for the big monitor? Is that for controls?
I am running the classic software TAS LCS software on the computer to control the switches and my complete signal system
That will certainly be excellent when in operation! I always admire complete signal systems and all the work it takes to make thm operational. I will look forward to seeing that progress!
I have been working for over 3 years on the system working with NJ International and several other people I wanted a complete working B&O signal system
Worked many hours today ( so far ) finely detailing scenes and creating a new one. Getting ready to shoot photos for a feature of my layout in OGR!
Today's work ( actually play LOL )
Re - ballasted a siding leading to the industrial area.
Worked on the sandhouse scene of the engine servicing facility. Putting raw sand in the sandhouse storage bunker, then using pure white sand ( after the baking process ) for the area around the sand tower and spillage on tracks. Used a commercial smoke stack ( which I bought from some one at York ) to carry heat and exhaust fumes from the baking oven.
Added more spilled coal around the locomotive coaling tower.
Added figures to the locomotive servicing facility and around the layout in general.
Created a residential yard scene with swing set, sliding board , girl mowing grass, kids in soap box derbys, and kids playing in the yard. Mom sweeping off porch.
Planted flowers down Patsburg Ave. Planted a few new trees and relocated a couple others on the layout in general.
Installed Bar Mills sidewalk section in front of apartment building.
Added figures, traffic signs, railway crossing cross bucks, to various scenes throughout the layout.
Completed installation of two grade crossings.
Installed new figures on the loading dock of my MTH brewery and reconfigured the trailers ( Lionel short trailer ) around the industrial area.
Added barrels to open bay loading door of barrel warehouse. Also added a supervisor figure with clipboard.
Added shrubbery ( lichen ) throughout the layout.
Made some junk piles junkier. Made sure there was sufficient junk distributed down the mainline.
Installed a short section of dilapidated chain link fence behind the Western Maryland switch tower.
Rearranged some of the vehicles throughout the layout. Placed a couple new vehicles.
Re - installed the Artista hot dog cart and man selling hot dogs. Found some customers for the guy to serve and realized I was very hungry. I forgot to eat lunch ... been in the train room all day.
Its now time for me to eat dinner LOL
Wired this baby up:
Peter
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trumptrain posted:Worked many hours today ( so far ) finely detailing scenes and creating a new one. Getting ready to shoot photos for a feature of my layout in OGR!
Today's work ( actually play LOL )
Re - ballasted a siding leading to the industrial area.
Worked on the sandhouse scene of the engine servicing facility. Putting raw sand in the sandhouse storage bunker, then using pure white sand ( after the baking process ) for the area around the sand tower and spillage on tracks. Used a commercial smoke stack ( which I bought from some one at York ) to carry heat and exhaust fumes from the baking oven.
Added more spilled coal around the locomotive coaling tower.
Added figures to the locomotive servicing facility and around the layout in general.
Created a residential yard scene with swing set, sliding board , girl mowing grass, kids in soap box derbys, and kids playing in the yard. Mom sweeping off porch.
Planted flowers down Patsburg Ave. Planted a few new trees and relocated a couple others on the layout in general.
Installed Bar Mills sidewalk section in front of apartment building.
Added figures, traffic signs, railway crossing cross bucks, to various scenes throughout the layout.
Completed installation of two grade crossings.
Installed new figures on the loading dock of my MTH brewery and reconfigured the trailers ( Lionel short trailer ) around the industrial area.
Added barrels to open bay loading door of barrel warehouse. Also added a supervisor figure with clipboard.
Added shrubbery ( lichen ) throughout the layout.
Made some junk piles junkier. Made sure there was sufficient junk distributed down the mainline.
Installed a short section of dilapidated chain link fence behind the Western Maryland switch tower.
Rearranged some of the vehicles throughout the layout. Placed a couple new vehicles.
Re - installed the Artista hot dog cart and man selling hot dogs. Found some customers for the guy to serve and realized I was very hungry. I forgot to eat lunch ... been in the train room all day.
Its now time for me to eat dinner LOL
Feature in OGR!! Congratulations!! I'm looking forward to seeing that!!
I use a postwar ZW for accessories, lighting, and switches. I have been meaning to insert a better, faster breaker system in series with the outputs of the ZW and did that today with PSX-1AC modules. One for each output.
Didn't do anything to the layout today. However I did decide to go to my local train shop, Brady's Train Outlet. I just wanted to see the MTH Norfolk Southern SD60e's. They really are beautiful! Also I just got done posting a video on YouTube of my Railking PRR Mikado running on the layout! Here's the link!
NSRailfan100 posted:Didn't do anything to the layout today. However I did decide to go to my local train shop, Brady's Train Outlet. I just wanted to see the MTH Norfolk Southern SD60e's. They really are beautiful! Also I just got done posting a video on YouTube of my Railking PRR Mikado running on the layout! Here's the link!
That was a very nice video! Brady's in Greensburg? I've made the trip from Butler a few times! Nice shop and nice folks
Mark Boyce posted:trumptrain posted:Worked many hours today ( so far ) finely detailing scenes and creating a new one. Getting ready to shoot photos for a feature of my layout in OGR!
Today's work ( actually play LOL )
Re - ballasted a siding leading to the industrial area.
Worked on the sandhouse scene of the engine servicing facility. Putting raw sand in the sandhouse storage bunker, then using pure white sand ( after the baking process ) for the area around the sand tower and spillage on tracks. Used a commercial smoke stack ( which I bought from some one at York ) to carry heat and exhaust fumes from the baking oven.
Added more spilled coal around the locomotive coaling tower.
Added figures to the locomotive servicing facility and around the layout in general.
Created a residential yard scene with swing set, sliding board , girl mowing grass, kids in soap box derbys, and kids playing in the yard. Mom sweeping off porch.
Planted flowers down Patsburg Ave. Planted a few new trees and relocated a couple others on the layout in general.
Installed Bar Mills sidewalk section in front of apartment building.
Added figures, traffic signs, railway crossing cross bucks, to various scenes throughout the layout.
Completed installation of two grade crossings.
Installed new figures on the loading dock of my MTH brewery and reconfigured the trailers ( Lionel short trailer ) around the industrial area.
Added barrels to open bay loading door of barrel warehouse. Also added a supervisor figure with clipboard.
Added shrubbery ( lichen ) throughout the layout.
Made some junk piles junkier. Made sure there was sufficient junk distributed down the mainline.
Installed a short section of dilapidated chain link fence behind the Western Maryland switch tower.
Rearranged some of the vehicles throughout the layout. Placed a couple new vehicles.
Re - installed the Artista hot dog cart and man selling hot dogs. Found some customers for the guy to serve and realized I was very hungry. I forgot to eat lunch ... been in the train room all day.
Its now time for me to eat dinner LOL
Feature in OGR!! Congratulations!! I'm looking forward to seeing that!!
Thanks so very much Mark!
A few photos from today's work on the railroad.
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Putnam Division posted:Wired this baby up:
Peter
Ive always wanted one of those. I think Gomez Addams Addams had the post war one on the layout.
It's one of those elusive things that never appears at the same time money appears in my wallet.
A conflicting schedules
B F King posted:Nice work! Speaking of signalling, I'm looking for suggestions. I have uncoupling tracks placed before three of my turnouts. What realistic object might I use to signal the location of these uncoupling magnets so I can figure out where to energize them to uncouple cars? Thanks for your input.
Brian
Brian,
I found the following printable train signs in my train file. I do not remember the source, but found it on the internet. Note the "Uncouple Here" sign face could be posted by your uncoupling tracks.
Dave
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I tried adding my GGD SP Daylight passenger set to the TILE & CARPET CROSSING, but they were too finicky to handle my uneven 49.5-inch radius track work. So we added a couple Radiator Springs building to the Tile Flats section!
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Congratulations trumptrain on the OGR photo shoot. As usual a lot of great work and I agree with Woods. This thread is always full of ideas. fl9turbo2 nice work on the layout. I bet that you will discover that you have more room once clear that area of buildings. WP, Soap Creek Pass is coming to rather nicely. Dumb question What's a donkey engine? Well, I guess it never ends with a layout. Always room for improvement. Speaking of which.
This week I realigned the streetlights and extended my sons track on the layout and in the proccess I was able to increase the deep snow effect. This morning I weathered the track with snow so it will blend in with everything else. Then ran a couple of cars to give it the driving in snow look on the street. The more my son runs his cars, the ruts will blend in over time.
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Put some longitudinal braces under my bedroom layout so the Homosote doesn't sag. Tried using a KW transformer but the Standard gauge doesn't like it so will put the ZW back on. Hot & muggy to work much, we just had more rain.
fl9turbo2 posted:
Well construction of the new layout continues I have the trains running and hope to move to the next phase is lighting and electronic just bringing down the buildings and getting them ready
Lots of nice angles and the various ways the platform has been situated, here, make for an intriguing adventure ahead. It appears, IMHO, you have built a good foundation for creative use of the real-estate made available by you. I'm much looking forward to how this all develops. You sure have my attention.
FrankM.
Take your time and enjoy, right?
suzukovich posted:
Congratulations trumptrain on the OGR photo shoot. As usual a lot of great work and I agree with Woods. This thread is always full of ideas. fl9turbo2 nice work on the layout. I bet that you will discover that you have more room once clear that area of buildings. WP, Soap Creek Pass is coming to rather nicely. Dumb question What's a donkey engine? Well, I guess it never ends with a layout. Always room for improvement. Speaking of which.
This week I realigned the streetlights and extended my sons track on the layout and in the proccess I was able to increase the deep snow effect. This morning I weathered the track with snow so it will blend in with everything else. Then ran a couple of cars to give it the driving in snow look on the street. The more my son runs his cars, the ruts will blend in over time.
Hi, Suzukovich:
Thank you! You're right a layout may never be finished. It's not a bad question ("What's a donkey engine?").
It's a steam driven pulley (first ones in 1890 by Dolbeer). They put them on home made skids and by using the winches, the engine could be pulled around from place to place. Here are some pix.
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Today I measured for the control panel. Decided on making it the same footprint as the table top and instead of doing a flat top I am making it slope from back to front. Was going to cut the wood for it in the garage but it has been raining off and on for the better part of the day. So I changed out engines and ran trains. One of these days I'll changed out freight cars if I can find their boxes...........Paul
Mark Boyce posted:NSRailfan100 posted:Didn't do anything to the layout today. However I did decide to go to my local train shop, Brady's Train Outlet. I just wanted to see the MTH Norfolk Southern SD60e's. They really are beautiful! Also I just got done posting a video on YouTube of my Railking PRR Mikado running on the layout! Here's the link!
That was a very nice video! Brady's in Greensburg? I've made the trip from Butler a few times! Nice shop and nice folks
Yes, they are always very friendly!
Just load a new video.
NSRailfan100 posted:Didn't do anything to the layout today. However I did decide to go to my local train shop, Brady's Train Outlet. I just wanted to see the MTH Norfolk Southern SD60e's. They really are beautiful! Also I just got done posting a video on YouTube of my Railking PRR Mikado running on the layout! Here's the link!
Great store. John is a great guy!
Paul about time I see you posting again, better hurry up as the Tuesday night group will be starting up again shortly. As for me I got the supports in that will hold up the city. Instead of just painting them I used some photoshop and web images to come up with this.
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This post is really a recap of activity on the layout over the past week as opposed to just today.
Last weekend I mentioned on here taking delivery of new MTH Sunoco tankers to round out my Sunoco facility scene. That is the first part of my layout that I would start to call finished. The accessories are in place and wired, there is some scenery around the facility, and the spur that serves the facility has been ballasted (though the track is not weathered). I need to finish out the service entrance road, add some additional vehicles and get some figures in place.
During the past week I also took delivery of a new Lionel RS-11. There is a video introducing the unit here. It's not review or anything like that, just a brief overview of my new addition to the family. Know that I mistakenly gave credit in my earlier post and in the video to the wrong hobby shop. It actually came from Tom's Trains out of Ardsley, NY.
I spent Friday night and a good chunk of time yesterday cleaning up wiring. I have a lot more to do. This is my second layout, and while I applied several lessons learned from my first layout, installing well-organized and labeled wiring was not one of them. In reflecting on my situation I have determined it is because I didn't put the effort into a wiring plan like I did with my track plan. It's a mistake I will not make a third time.
I also spent some time looking at your postings and admiring your work. There are some creative people out here.
Finally, last night I vacuumed. Yep, you read that right: I got out the vacuum and did some housekeeping. It's not as glamorous as working on other parts of the hobby, but occasionally it needs to get done.
That's about it from this end of the line.
Have a good week everyone.
Installed the first of 5 ITT sound boards. Nice stuff.
Got my wood cut for the control panel. It is going on top of where the Z's once were. Pieced it together and painted it. Then I painted the Luan board too. Couple of pics............Paul
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