What did you do on your layout today?

Brian,  you have a dirty engine?   That is a surprise .

So far this morning;

I put together my impending third level on the living room floor to calculate the custom cuts to be made.  I also made a pattern for the new roadbed.  I straightened and installed my new-to-me 24" MARX bridge.  Then I bought Christmas presents for me!  Lots of goodies are on the way to my mountain.  Forty nine pieces of O gauge track.  Four more O22 switches.  And two professional grade Foos balls.   Now I'm off to play with a scroll saw.

I'll be back

I completed two more brass dumpsters for the scrapyard and color coded them for easy sorting.   Also made a scrap rod/pipe rack.   The trailer is now officially designated as the Yard Office so no more would-be renters are welcome!

Wish I could find some inexpensive 1:48 plastic automobiles that I could heat up and flatten.   Anyone aware of a source?

Cheers, Dave

Dave,  Very nice work in the scrapyard.

Well y'all, it's been eight hours since my last update.  I did this....Five inches too long.

I then raked, piled, and burned three big 'ol piles of leaves.  I returned to the train building to rethink my third level.  I ran my tallest engine to determine the height and spacing of risers.  I'll cut some posts tomorrow.  One more very important item.  My bride is in Texas for a week. 

Bill

darlander posted:

I completed two more brass dumpsters for the scrapyard and color coded them for easy of sorting.   Also made a scrap rod/pipe rack.   The trailer is now officially designated as the Yard Office so no more would-be renters are welcome!

Wish I could find some inexpensive 1:48 plastic automobiles that I could heat up and flatten.   Anyone aware of a source?

Cheers, Dave

Looks nice Dave! I love the dumpsters.

Odenville Bill posted:

Dave,  Very nice work in the scrapyard.

Well y'all, it's been eight hours since my last update.  I did this....Five inches too long.

I then raked, piled, and burned three big 'ol piles of leaves.  I returned to the train building to rethink my third level.  I ran my tallest engine to determine the height and spacing of risers.  I'll cut some posts tomorrow.  One more very important item.  My bride is in Texas for a week. 

Bill

Bill, Looks like you need to do some fabrication. My leaves we didn’t get to are covered with snow now.  Out of sight, out of mind.

I was able to bring in some ceramic buildings from the garage the last couple days.  I still have to finish arranging and then I’ll post a photograph or two.  I didn’t think of getting the Polar Express out before my surgery, so it will Take some doing to get it out and on the track, but not impossible 

Finished wiring everything up to the new control board and then started on the elevated section

Playing around with coloring the supports for the roof. Once they dry I can see how they look. Pic............Paul 2

Finally went live with the power las night!  It's officially operational!

Office Lobby Shelf Layout Thread

checking and getting all my locos programmed again for when I add Legacy to the TMCC controls next week and that includes the crane. The have sat for several years but are still in great shape.

Jon1443 posted:

Finished wiring everything up to the new control board and then started on the elevated section

 

Nice !   What are your plans for the near and far ends ?   Are the two ends of the straight section on the right to be connected to the curves at either end ?

I got the engine house on the layout and sceniced around it. I copied another forum member's idea and covered the engine house with Glad Press 'N' Seal so I could glue everything down around it and still be able to remove the engine house from the layout. It'll look sunk into the scene that way. Once everything dries in a day or two I'll wire the lights in, paint the rails leading into the engine house rail brown, and it'll be done, except for details. 

Lou, the engine house and environs are looking mighty fine!

Paul, while the first flats look great, I think you have improved. This looks fantastic!

What'd I do today? It has been bothering me that there is no indication of the electromagnet being energized on my Lionel 282 Gantry Crane so I set out to rectify the problem. I wired an LED across the electromagnet feed wires inside the crane cab:

Because the LED I used is a non-polarized red/green version and the electromagnet is energized with 14VAC I had to wire a diode such that only current for the red direction is allowed to pass through the LED. There is a resistor built-in to these diodes so not needed.

Aaaand....up the chimney the LED diode rose! A dab of hot glue and all done.

Now I cannot forget to de-energize the electromagnet and cook it.

I started out doing this for purely practical/safety reasons but serendipitously it adds a dimension to operation. Lights, after all, are a form of animation and seeing it come on with the magnet and go off when the steel drops is entertaining/satisfying.

geysergazer posted:

What'd I do today? It has been bothering me that there is no indication of the electromagnet being energized on my Lionel 282 Gantry Crane so I set out to rectify the problem. I wired an LED across the electromagnet feed wires inside the crane cab:

         

Because the LED I used is a non-polarized red/green version and the electromagnet is energized with 14VAC I had to wire a diode such that only current for the red direction is allowed to pass through the LED. There is a resistor built-in to these diodes so not needed.

          

Aaaand....up the chimney the LED diode rose! A dab of hot glue and all done.

          

Now I cannot forget to de-energize the electromagnet and cook it.

        

I started out doing this for purely practical/safety reasons but serendipitously it adds a dimension to operation. Lights, after all, are a form of animation and seeing it come on with the magnet and go off when the steel drops is entertaining/satisfying.

Nice job!!  What type/size diode/resistor did you use??

I bought these on eBay, about a buck a piece, 10 in a package. They are 5mm diameter so lots of light for old eyes :

 5mm Bi-Color Nonpolar Red/Green Pre Wired 12v Diffused 2-Pin Leds USA

Because they are rated 12V they have a resistor already in one lead. If you supply DC in one direction it lights green while reversing the DC polarity cause it to light red. So inserting any 1N diode in the line means you can feed it with AC and depending on which way the diode is polarized the LED will light either red or green. I'm feeding 14VAC rectified to half-wave DC so well below 12V to the LED.

Well..... technically it took about 4 days

Marty, what a fun project!

Marty R posted:

Well..... technically it took about 4 days

Wowsers!

Love it Marty

Lou, engine house came out looking very good.

Lew, that was a nifty idea to add the light to show when the magnet was on.

Paint dried on the supports but I decided to darken them some more. Then while I was moving the building the loading dock popped off. That's what I get for being stingy with the glue. After that dried I added the roof above the loading dock. The kit doesn't come with stairs so I made up a set to go on the one side along with railings. Maybe after dinner I'll glue the stairs and railings together........Pics...........Paul 2

geysergazer posted:

        

Thanks Lew for sharing this great project.   I have an extra LED and with the help of your pics, I now have a use for it.   Great idea!!  It's on my punch list of things to do!

Cheers, Dave

paul 2 posted:

Lou, engine house came out looking very good.

Lew, that was a nifty idea to add the light to show when the magnet was on.

Paint dried on the supports but I decided to darken them some more. Then while I was moving the building the loading dock popped off. That's what I get for being stingy with the glue. After that dried I added the roof above the loading dock. The kit doesn't come with stairs so I made up a set to go on the one side along with railings. Maybe after dinner I'll glue the stairs and railings together........Pics...........Paul 2

Paul. The building looking a very nice. 🤝

Johan

I added more green around the layout.

Let there be light! (more info  here )

Bob

Lou1985 posted:

I got the engine house on the layout and sceniced around it. I copied another forum member's idea and covered the engine house with Glad Press 'N' Seal so I could glue everything down around it and still be able to remove the engine house from the layout. It'll look sunk into the scene that way. Once everything dries in a day or two I'll wire the lights in, paint the rails leading into the engine house rail brown, and it'll be done, except for details. 

 

That engine house is real fine, I might use the idea of the Glad Press "N' Seal in the future

Marty R, now, THAT is a serious Christmas layout!  Well done.  Love to see a video of it in operation.

Jerry

Everyone seems to be in the holiday spirit with some great pictures of their creations. RickA1, it’s really cool to see new bench work in the making and yours looks fine. Your basement is very nice and when the trains are up and running, no one’s going to look at the basement, but your trains. Nice work. COASTLINEKEVIN, your layout is looking good, your scenic effects are cool, also your weathering technics are nice. Keep posting pictures. KeithScoskie122018, Wow, Nice Table work, Nice trackwork  send more pictures, Marty R,  Nice floor layout, wide sweeping curves with great bridge work. Merry Christmas, Wow.

I know Mike G is busy with other duties as I have been away for a few months to. Sometimes home care, York, and basement disasters just take up our time, as they say It Happens. Either way, today we worked in the layout, changed TPC’s to the new Lionel 360 watt PowerMasters. I wish everyone here on the forum a very Merry Christmas and a Fantastic 2020....

Dan, I’ll be connecting the ends with a loop using the graduated trestle set. Along the long side of the platform it runs just inside the ground level track

Rails rusted, lights on, locomotives parked. Still need to build an elevated platform for one side of the building but it's serviceable as is. Just some detail work left.

I am sorry to say it, there was an ooops! on the layout.

Everything came to a sudden stop, evidently the tunnel entrance shrunk since I last used it.

At least it proves the prototype couplings held up on the Atlas F Units with that nasty stop.

Someones going to pay for this!

Oh oh!  I’m glad the Atlas couplers held.

Ruh Roh, Ray  . Im glad to see only minor damage done. I remember a recent discussion here about 'stupid' truck drivers getting their rigs stuck under overpasses.  

tunnel entrance had to have shrunk, that's my story and I'm stick'in to it. Maybe they should have let some air out of the tires.

BAR GP7 #63 posted:

What a nice scene! 

sidehack posted:

I am sorry to say it, there was an ooops! on the layout.

Everything came to a sudden stop, evidently the tunnel entrance shrunk since I last used it.

At least it proves the prototype couplings held up on the Atlas F Units with that nasty stop.

 

Someones going to pay for this!

 

                              you could just make them, "chopped top Mercs"...                                   

sidehack posted:

I am sorry to say it, there was an ooops! on the layout.

Everything came to a sudden stop, evidently the tunnel entrance shrunk since I last used it.

At least it proves the prototype couplings held up on the Atlas F Units with that nasty stop.

 

Someones going to pay for this!

Great job, Sidehack. The roof scratches on the automobile look very prototypical.

I like the guy assessing the damage in the last pic too.

Ray, Great photo story of a mishap including the assessment man in the end!

Made some more progress on my restoration project ( click here )

sidehack posted:

I am sorry to say it, there was an ooops! on the layout.

Everything came to a sudden stop, evidently the tunnel entrance shrunk since I last used it.

At least it proves the prototype couplings held up on the Atlas F Units with that nasty stop.

 

 

 

HEE HEE !

a slight mishap AHAHAHA, guess the limit switch wasn't working

sidehack posted:

I am sorry to say it, there was an ooops! on the layout.

Everything came to a sudden stop, evidently the tunnel entrance shrunk since I last used it.

At least it proves the prototype couplings held up on the Atlas F Units with that nasty stop.

 

Someones going to pay for this!

 

             REMEDY...

Brian, you have everything!!

Johan, great pics. And you're doing a excellant job of redoing the scenery on the layout.

Marty R, that is one nice Christmas layout, So good I don't think you shpould tear it down after Christmas.

Well today I had hoped to put some long hours into the layout but the wife decided she wanted to do some last minute, fight the crowds Christmas shopping. So all I managed to get done today was put the stairs and railings together. Tomorrow I have to figure out what colors I will do the stairs in. Pics..................Paul 2

Hi guys, Its been a while since my last post. I have been busy working on the house. But last night we had Christmas for the kids and Grand kids as we have to work at the store on Christmas.

My lovely wife was nice enough to let me work in the train room today so I got a little done. I moved my track closer together and I add a siding up front for the crane so it would be closer for the grandkids to see when playing with it! While I was at it I also added a second siding for extra empty cars waiting to get loaded by the crane. Did some test runs and found some dead spots. They will have to wait till my next free day to work in the train room. Here are a couple photos!

You all have been doing such great work! Paul, Mark, Lou, Lew, Larry, Brian, Johan, Bob, Ray, and everyone else I sure hope you all have a great Christmas and if I don't post before a happy New Years!

Mike, is that a siding for your Gantry Crane?  

And Merry Christmas!

geysergazer posted:

Mike, is that a siding for your Gantry Crane?  

And Merry Christmas!

Hi Lee, the first siding is for the crane and the second one is for the waiting empties! You can see the crane at the end of the tack in the 3rd photo.

Mike, got it! Nice! I think that will work beautifully.

Nice work, Mike!!!  I’m glad you got some layout time, but it must have been great seeing your family!!

Brian, that would be a much safer way to transport on my layout and a great looking boxcar

Started construction on a Western Railcraft Colorado Midland boxcar kit..  I have a  C.M. gondola and one of their Hanrahan double door reefers, so all l need for train for Cripple Creek is a C.M. side door caboose and one of their locos....which last has been done in two rail brass...

geysergazer posted:

Mike, got it! Nice! I think that will work beautifully.

Lew, it was your wonderful idea. I also think it will work nicely!

Mark, it was nice to see the family and get a break from the trusses. But what was really nice was to get some train room time. I am working on the wife to let me have Sunday train room time. Lol

Mike, when football winds down, trade it for train room time

BAR GP7 #63 posted:

I really enjoy your work!

leapinlarry posted:

Everyone seems to be in the holiday spirit with some great pictures of their creations. RickA1, it’s really cool to see new bench work in the making and yours looks fine. Your basement is very nice and when the trains are up and running, no one’s going to look at the basement, but your trains. Nice work. COASTLINEKEVIN, your layout is looking good, your scenic effects are cool, also your weathering technics are nice. Keep posting pictures. KeithScoskie122018, Wow, Nice Table work, Nice trackwork  send more pictures, Marty R,  Nice floor layout, wide sweeping curves with great bridge work. Merry Christmas, Wow.

I know Mike G is busy with other duties as I have been away for a few months to. Sometimes home care, York, and basement disasters just take up our time, as they say It Happens. Either way, today we worked in the layout, changed TPC’s to the new Lionel 360 watt PowerMasters. I wish everyone here on the forum a very Merry Christmas and a Fantastic 2020....

 

Merry Christmas to you too, Larry. A GG1 and a Big Boy... doesn’t get much better than that!!!

Had an interesting message waiting for me after playing Santa at the A&M the other day.  Gerry, a chum of mine and local prewar Lionel expert, needed a transformer for a prewar set he was gifting to a relative.  I, priding myself on being adequately stocked with backup transformers for just such emergencies, fixed Gerry up with a 1034 and an LW.  In return, my prewar consist now has date-appropriate motive power,  as Norma Bates Kitteh is proud to demonstrate:  

 A demonstration that prewar trains can, in fact, handle O27 switches: 

After I turned off the power, Norma was still patiently sitting there waiting for Trains, so I had to oblige her... 

Mitch 

That's a great trade Mitch. Even got it in Razorback Red

I see Norma is up to her usual high-jinx 

Bob

RSJB18 posted:

That's a great trade Mitch. Even got it in Razorback Red

Yup!  I'm mulling over either painting the consist to match or finding a nice Peacock 248 shell...   

I see Norma is up to her usual high-jinx 

But of course!   

Mitch 

Mitch - nice pick on the 248. I do miss that modern NH (New Hampshire) engine. Amazing even when the train hits the kitten, she takes it in stride. 

Very good deal, Mitch!  I too am amazed at how Norma stays close, too close to the track, but doesn’t mind!

Norma, of course, is a charter member of the TCA (Train Cats Association)...   

Mitch 

Mitch, Your wit always gives me cheer!

       have a great day everyone 

Finally finished my 5 stall roundhouse! Took about 40 hours too long though!!!

While I didn’t do this today, most recent adjustments in the Lehigh Valley portion of my Layout- added a roadway of smaller vehicles on the ledge, painted a plastruct truss that I’m using as a girder, added some roadway in the Valley, added the workhouse, my accessory transformer now powers the workhouse, Marx tower and this Brawa clock by the Girard station. Next step will be wiring the yard lights which will likely require a larger power supply for this accessory transformer.

Red clock is the Brawa clock that I picked up at my LHS.

sidehack posted:

BAR GP7 #63 posted:

What a nice scene! 

Ray. Thank you. 🤝

Johan

paul 2 posted:

Johan, great pics. And you're doing a excellant job of redoing the scenery on the layout.

Marty R, that is one nice Christmas layout, So good I don't think you shpould tear it down after Christmas.

Well today I had hoped to put some long hours into the layout but the wife decided she wanted to do some last minute, fight the crowds Christmas shopping. So all I managed to get done today was put the stairs and railings together. Tomorrow I have to figure out what colors I will do the stairs in. Pics..................Paul 2

Paul. Thank you. This redoing project is a very interested. After new back drops everything can looking even better. 🤝

Johan.

gandydancer1950 posted:

BAR GP7 #63 posted:

I really enjoy your work!

GANDYDANCER1950. Thank you very much. 🤝

Johan

Shark Bay Terminal FM H10-44 #250 "Chum".

A.J. posted:

Finally finished my 5 stall roundhouse! Took about 40 hours too long though!!!

 

Looks very sharp, A.J.

Merry Christmas to you as well.

New tree making material (at least for me!):

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...8#121370562257919598

I finished up securing all the trestles to the track. There’s a few spots that I couldn’t use the plastic ones so I made 1 wooden one and I’ll be making a couple more tonight. The plan is to eventually replace all the plastic with custom made and stained wooden supports

Putting in some buildings and industrial area. Good progress.  

Made my first trestle tonight

Found some battery operated street lights at Menards so I hooked them up around our little town. It will be a nice surprise when the boys go to look in the morning.  All of the lights are battery operated LED lights. I do go through batteries every now and then, but I figure they don't put any load on the transformer, and batteries from Dollar Tree are 6/8 per buck, so I'm not too worried about it.

Jon1443 posted:

Made my first trestle tonight

 

nice job, looks strong......now only how many more?

                                Have a   Merry Christmas   everyone

More Streamliner updates here

Merry Christmas to all!

Ray, eventually about 15 more. For now I have 2 more to make before tomorrow, but they'll be different as a regular trestle won't work due to the track underneath

Ran trains with the junior engineers.

printing upgraded Atlas couplings

paul 2 posted:

Johan, great pics. And you're doing a excellant job of redoing the scenery on the layout.

Marty R, that is one nice Christmas layout, So good I don't think you shpould tear it down after Christmas.

Well today I had hoped to put some long hours into the layout but the wife decided she wanted to do some last minute, fight the crowds Christmas shopping. So all I managed to get done today was put the stairs and railings together. Tomorrow I have to figure out what colors I will do the stairs in. Pics..................Paul 2

Paul, I think details like stairs and railings and painting them can be huge. Arnold

What'd I do? Brought the Christmas Eve freight into town:

Happy Hollidays to all here and a very Merry Christmas if appropriate!

Finished Atlas dummy couplings for rear of B&M F Units. Back in operation. 

Three of my neighbors came over after Christmas Eve dinner to see my Disney Christmas lay-out. They were all impressed, and we all had a good time.

 

Happy Hollidays to all here and a very Merry Christmas if appropriate!

There is a friendly family whom I sometimes see while walking my dog. I wished them a "Merry Christmas," and they replied that they are Jehovah's Witnesses. So I told them that I hope they have a nice day on December 25, and we all laughed.

I did a little bit of work tonight 

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Merry Christmas! Been working on block light project. Cut into several pieces to become cement bases for block light to sit on, painted, drilled holes for wiring and screw, glued block light base on cement base. Need to hook up wiring to relay and switch to light it up. Block light made from China. I have about 25 to go! 😳

Today, Christmas, I opened my 1933283 BNSF ES44AC #6438 non-powered and placed the #6438 body shell on a BNSF powered chassis with Bluetooth.  The job was more difficult because of the ditch lights and upper level railing.

I had to use the walkways of the powered engine and then fasten the #6438 body shell to the walkway. The light boards transferred nicely, and the antenna fastened to the #6438 inside roof.

Here is a video of the finished engine.

Merry Christmas,  John Rowlen

Weathered and lowered a Weaver PS-1 Rutland boxcar.   Decided to only use my Pan Pastels and Testor's Dullcoat as I was looking to just fade the Green and Yellow paint scheme.   Been putting in some hours on my "new to me"  Golden Gate Depot Ogle Coaling tower,  I will post some photos tomorrow. 

          hope everyone had a great day yesterday

I have made good progress on the GGD Ogle Coaling tower since Christmas !   Here are some in progress photos....  After this morning's weathering touch up work,  I think I will start stringing the chain for the coal chutes, weather the door and window frames now that I have pulled the masking tape,  and anchor the footers to the legs.  

The first 2 photos are what it looked like out of the box, great model but the stairwells are way out of proportion, like G scale.....  Used a razor saw to scribe wood grain into all the beams,  added Plastruct O scale stairs and railings along with bracing for the platforms then went through about 4 weathering steps... (painted random boards different shades, lightly airbrushed the tower with a translucent coat, did a black acrylic wash, went back and dry brushed areas that went too dark hiding the great details that GGD provided.   

chris a posted:

I have made good progress on the GGD Ogle Coaling tower since Christmas !   Here are some in progress photos....  After this morning's weathering touch up work,  I think I will start stringing the chain for the coal chutes, weather the door and window frames now that I have pulled the masking tape,  and anchor the footers to the legs.  

The first 2 photos are what it looked like out of the box, great model but the stairwells are way out of proportion, like G scale.....  Used a razor saw to scribe wood grain into all the beams,  added Plastruct O scale stairs and railings along with bracing for the platforms then went through about 4 weathering steps... (painted random boards different shades, lightly airbrushed the tower with a translucent coat, did a black acrylic wash, went back and dry brushed areas that went too dark hiding the great details that GGD provided.   

Chris. What an fantastic work. 👏

Johan

Johan,  thank you !   I'll shoot some more photos when I put the tower back on the layout.  Even though it's overcast outside the photos almost always come out better with mother nature's sunlight.   

I have two Atlas O 40 foot BAR PS-1 boxcars that I have thoroughly washed, painted the black ladders the correct red/white/blue and dull coated them....   I am going to lightly fade them like the Rutland Boxcar I did a few days ago.  Hope you had a great holiday and are doing well. 

BAR GP7 #63 posted:

chris a posted:

I have made good progress on the GGD Ogle Coaling tower since Christmas !   Here are some in progress photos....  After this morning's weathering touch up work,  I think I will start stringing the chain for the coal chutes, weather the door and window frames now that I have pulled the masking tape,  and anchor the footers to the legs.  

The first 2 photos are what it looked like out of the box, great model but the stairwells are way out of proportion, like G scale.....  Used a razor saw to scribe wood grain into all the beams,  added Plastruct O scale stairs and railings along with bracing for the platforms then went through about 4 weathering steps... (painted random boards different shades, lightly airbrushed the tower with a translucent coat, did a black acrylic wash, went back and dry brushed areas that went too dark hiding the great details that GGD provided.   

Chris. What an fantastic work. 👏

Johan

Johan took the words right out of my mouth Chris.

Your efforts were well worth it. Share another pic when it is on your layout, can't wait to see it

chris a posted:

Johan,  thank you !   I'll shoot some more photos when I put the tower back on the layout.  Even though it's overcast outside the photos almost always come out better with mother nature's sunlight.   

I have two Atlas O 40 foot BAR PS-1 boxcars that I have thoroughly washed, painted the black ladders the correct red/white/blue and dull coated them....   I am going to lightly fade them like the Rutland Boxcar I did a few days ago.  Hope you had a great holiday and are doing well. 

Chris. You're welcome.  It's would be a nice see more pics and BAR PS1 cars too. The Rutland box car looking a very nice. I got three free days and now back to work again. I have weathered mine BAR trailers and made a some loads of them.

Johan

Lot's of great stuff going on. Chris- the coaling tower looks great. Johan- nice work on the trailers. Brian- You've got a special gal there. CGW Patrick- the signals look nice.

I took another look at the motor for my M-10000. I couldn't get it to run the other day. I'm guessing the gears were a bit out of sync so I gave it a shot of power at 18V and it sprung to life! Just need to clean up the track and put it all together now. 

Finished the mechanical restoration of a Lionel prewar 238E......