What did you do on your layout today?

Excellent!

@RSJB18 posted:

Did a portal-ectomy today. Had to do some surgery on the outer upright to clear my new Doodlebug. I had to move a crossing flasher too.

The portal is very lopsided now but it is what it is.....🙄🙄🙄

Not thrilled with the stone print I added over the top. I'll sleep on it.

Bob

It looks fine Bob. Maybe smudge the facade a little. The doodlebug will make it all worthwhile.

Jay

@Tranquil Hollow RR posted:

It looks fine Bob. Maybe smudge the facade a little. The doodlebug will make it all worthwhile.

It's probably a bit late, but if the off-center modification continues to be an issue, you could always carve *both* sides an equal amount, in order to make the modification symmetrical. Just sayin' . . .

[And believe me, I feel your pain -- when I added a tunnel on the layout, I found that the larger engines *barely* cleared the double track portals I used, so I ended up having to extend the edge of the layout an inch or two to allow me to reposition the portals -- and even then there's sometimes minor contact!]

@Tranquil Hollow RR posted:

It looks fine Bob. Maybe smudge the facade a little. The doodlebug will make it all worthwhile.

Jay

@Steve Tyler posted:

It's probably a bit late, but if the off-center modification continues to be an issue, you could always carve *both* sides an equal amount, in order to make the modification symmetrical. Just sayin' . . .

[And believe me, I feel your pain -- when I added a tunnel on the layout, I found that the larger engines *barely* cleared the double track portals I used, so I ended up having to extend the edge of the layout an inch or two to allow me to reposition the portals -- and even then there's sometimes minor contact!]

Jay- the "stone" on the top is carved rigid foam. I think I'll make another piece with an arch that I can paint to match. I had the paper print already so I gave it a shot.

Steve- thought of that too but the portal is T-111 and a big mess to cut. This is on the right side of the layout and you can't really stand in front of it to look at it straight on. This was the second time the MOW crew had to break out the sawzall too......

Bob

Very nice - but where's the Italian Sausage sign ?

Did a similar project .....

@Bob Golfs posted:

Here’s a better view of the building insides.  I’ll add a few patrons outside when the stand finds its way to the layout.

Ultimately, the lighting is all DC.  I used a 12v buck converter for the 4.5v Miller sign and the LED lights were 5v to 12v whose supply I could bleed off the 12v input to the buck converter.   I could have used the 4.5v too for the lighting and I tried, but it was too dim.  Enjoy!

Great job on the Hot Dog stand. Very creative.

Bob

Finished my new bridge today. I got the idea from the Madison street bridge in downtown Chicago.  It is basically a truss under bridge with short sides and with this one I applied simulated wood blanks for the walk area. It is almost 54 inches long and about 5 1/2 inches tall. I needed the bridge to be this long in order span across a walkway. It will be a lift out type.

idea-thinker

@RSJB18 posted:

Did a portal-ectomy today. Had to do some surgery on the outer upright to clear my new Doodlebug. I had to move a crossing flasher too.

The portal is very lopsided now but it is what it is.....🙄🙄🙄

Not thrilled with the stone print I added over the top. I'll sleep on it.

Bob

Ahhh… can scale passenger cars be far behind

@Richie C. posted:

Very nice - but where's the Italian Sausage sign ?

Did a similar project .....

Rich, uncanny the similarity!  And after I did the signage, I thought maybe I should have had an Italian Sausage sign, but didn’t act.  Hearing it from you, I will now change one out to replace it.  Thanks,

Bob

Starting to think about road crossings.......and, placement of these itads.....

Peter

@Putnam Division posted:

Starting to think about road crossings.......and, placement of these itads.....

        Very timely Peter !  I have a bunch of these & would like to see how they work out for you. Rich

Peter

@RSJB18 posted:

Did a portal-ectomy today. Had to do some surgery on the outer upright to clear my new Doodlebug. I had to move a crossing flasher too.

The portal is very lopsided now but it is what it is.....🙄🙄🙄

Not thrilled with the stone print I added over the top. I'll sleep on it.

Bob, I think the portal looks fine, we'all only noticed when you called our attention to it.  Rich

Bob

Piled a bunch of stuff on it. Then I pushed enough of it out of the way to run my train.

@Mike D posted:

Piled a bunch of stuff on it. Then I pushed enough of it out of the way to run my train.

I like your sense of priorities, Mike!

I modified this elevated area with the 4 bridges several times over the past year or so. Kept getting closer to something I like, but not quite:

Today I replaced the useless girder bridge over the solid wall with some railings I made - I think I'm finally happy:

One of Warrenville's bridges needed maintenance, so I spent today building a scaffold and hiring a couple of guys to do the needed work.

@Putnam Division posted:

Starting to think about road crossings.......and, placement of these itads.....

Peter

I've always thought the base which houses the controls of the Lionel 153IR's was too big and ugly to have a spot on top of my layout. If you're so inclined, the top electrical cabinet which houses the IR sensor can be physically separated from the base and there's about three wires that connect the cabinet to the bases' electronics. They are too short to comfortably span the thickness of most layouts but, if you unsolder the wires and splice in about 6 inches of new wire you are able to drill a hole in the layout and feed the wires underneath and mount/hide the base under the layout. Obviously, you can only solder in one end and then run the wires through the hole and then have to solder the other end. The cabinet will hide the hole.

About the only issue is that the cabinet might not be high enough for the sensor to operate efficiently - you'll have to try it out. If it's too short, you can make a simple 1" tall base out of some styrene sheets and paint it silver/gray to match and glue to the cabinet.  Looks much better than the original base.

IMHO, it makes for a much "cleaner" look and is something to think about when you find a good location for them.

You can see one of mine at the very bottom of the attached pic between the two small trees.

Just a thought.

@Richie C. posted:

I've always thought the base which houses the controls of the Lionel 153IR's was too big and ugly to have a spot on top of my layout. If you're so inclined, the top electrical cabinet which houses the IR sensor can be physically separated from the base and there's about three wires that connect the cabinet to the bases' electronics. They are too short to comfortably span the thickness of most layouts but, if you unsolder the wires and splice in about 6 inches of new wire you are able to drill a hole in the layout and feed the wires underneath and mount/hide the base under the layout. Obviously, you can only solder in one end and then run the wires through the hole and then have to solder the other end. The cabinet will hide the hole.

About the only issue is that the cabinet might not be high enough for the sensor to operate efficiently - you'll have to try it out. If it's too short, you can make a simple 1" tall base out of some styrene sheets and paint it silver/gray to match and glue to the cabinet.  Looks much better than the original base.

IMHO, it makes for a much "cleaner" look and is something to think about when you find a good location for them.

You can see one of mine at the very bottom of the attached pic between the two small trees.

Just a thought.

   

   

Great information but probably beyond my skill set. I may also look at the stuff Dennis Zander of ZStuff sells.

@idea-thinker posted:

Finished my new bridge today. I got the idea from the Madison street bridge in downtown Chicago.  It is basically a truss under bridge with short sides and with this one I applied simulated wood blanks for the walk area. It is almost 54 inches long and about 5 1/2 inches tall. I needed the bridge to be this long in order span across a walkway. It will be a lift out type.

idea-thinker

Beautiful bridge work!

Your layout looks like it would be a lot of fun to run trains on!

Rod;

       Our layout is getting to be a lot fun to run since we are now at 19 trains running at once. It is really nice to see trains in motion everywhere. Our goal is to get to about 50-75 trains running at once.

idea-thinker

@Putnam Division posted:

Great information but probably beyond my skill set. I may also look at the stuff Dennis Zander of ZStuff sells.

Take a look at the IR detectors on Azatrax, also. Their detectors can be placed/buried between the tracks. Along with adjustable relays, I've used their stuff to do such things as throw a switch a pre-programmed number of seconds after a train passes through. Great products and easy to talk to.

Finished adding the Lionel Hobo Hotel. Started with the generic Lionel accessory, ground cover underlayment is Woodland Scenics shaper sheet, added ground cover, more Hobo figures and a piece of track to the left of the boxcar. I also added light in the boxcar,  a flickering 50 gal drum, and hobo sound. I used the sound module from ITT Products. It's activated by a  conventional switch, but I intend to change that to an ASC2 activation in the future.  The sound card inputs 4v DC. I decided to mount the AC converter power board (Input is 18v AC)  and the sound board  on one piece of foamboard and then velcroed the entire setup under the layout right under the boxcar. The speaker is mounted separately.

@ToledoEd posted:

Finished adding the Lionel Hobo Hotel. Started with the generic Lionel accessory, ground cover underlayment is Woodland Scenics shaper sheet, added ground cover, more Hobo figures and a piece of track to the left of the boxcar. I also added light in the boxcar,  a flickering 50 gal drum, and hobo sound. I used the sound module from ITT Products. It's activated by a  conventional switch, but I intend to change that to an ASC2 activation in the future.  The sound card inputs 4v DC. I decided to mount the AC converter power board (Input is 18v AC)  and the sound board  on one piece of foamboard and then velcroed the entire setup under the layout right under the boxcar. The speaker is mounted separately.

The boys have themselves a nice little camp there. great job.

Bob

@Richie C. posted:

Take a look at the IR detectors on Azatrax, also. Their detectors can be placed/buried between the tracks. Along with adjustable relays, I've used their stuff to do such things as throw a switch a pre-programmed number of seconds after a train passes through. Great products and easy to talk to.

THank you!

Peter

Old Suzanna'.. Is alive and well at the Ed-O hobo camp... You have become quite the electronic technician.......  😁👍 Nice work'...

Started my power distribution board. Still need to buy 2 more Powerhouse 180's and another AIU.

Really need the Base3 and WTIU to come in also.

Bob, Ted, thanks for the comments and kind words.

@Dan Kelley posted:

Started my power distribution board. Still need to buy 2 more Powerhouse 180's and another AIU.

Really need the Base3 and WTIU to come in also.

Nice looking - make charts of where all your distribution ports go - it will invariably come in handy one day.  Don't ask how I know

Evening everyone, WOW what great work here! I am sorry I did not call each of you out, but it has been a while since I have been here and there is a lot to catch up on! I can say that everyone is doing AMAZING work and I always love to come to this thread as it makes a smile on my face to see all of your hard work!

I hope to get back at it soon as we leave for Missouri next Saturday to find the new trains room with the attached house! LOL It might be sometime before I am back, but be sure I will be back and building again one day!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and find time to have fun with your trains and layouts!

@mike g. posted:

I hope to get back at it soon as we leave for Missouri next Saturday to find the new trains room with the attached house! LOL It might be sometime before I am back, but be sure I will be back and building again one day!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and find time to have fun with your trains and layouts!

“Trains room with the attached house”… Gotta love the attitude!!! Best of luck with the move and the search, Mike.

Wiring…..the eternal Black Hole…….but, I got these babies running!

415 Diesel Fueling Station….purchased in the Bronx in the early 60s with some Christmas gift money ($4……quite a deal, new in the box!)

128 Newsstand…..Christmas gift from my parents in 1959

MTH 334 Repro Dispatch Station…..a gift from my colleagues in 2002

Peter

I’m like Mike, I haven’t been here for a few days.  Excellent work everyone!

Mike, well wishes on finding that train room in Mizzou!!  Maybe I’ll be able to visit someday since you will be half as far away.  👍🏻

Peter, Black hole indeed!  That’s what I have thought about my layout which is much smaller than yours.  The added control of the accessories is great!

Progress often comes in small increments.  After deciding to change the center island to a waterfront feature, the track plan now includes a upper and lower spur. The section even includes a spur to park the South Shore Switcher. 

Trying to decide on the seawall height. Right now its 3 1/2 inches, Thanks to Paul D @OhB1 for taking the time to take the boat and buildings off a layout and offering them to me. I think I will build an 8 silo grain bin on the lower section left of the grainary. Still not sure if the seawall should be wooden pilings instead of stone.   Building will go on stilts over the water. (Like my blue cloth simulating water?)

Wider view of the area.  The water area slides out so I can reach the back wall The upper town/building sections are removable. Right side of the photo is a TBD.

Making progress, albeit at a "snail pace".....   Been working on this Korber Flag Co. kit I purchased used.   Ended up re-spraying all the brick work and started over, as I didn't care for the way the previous owner did the mortar work.   So got the walls pretty much where I want them, and they're all re-enforced with 3/8 x 3/8 timbers on the back sides to get the Korber Warp out.   All 50 windows are painted, dull coated and weathered.

@ScoutingDad posted:

Progress often comes in small increments.  After deciding to change the center island to a waterfront feature, the track plan now includes a upper and lower spur. The section even includes a spur to park the South Shore Switcher.

Trying to decide on the seawall height. Right now its 3 1/2 inches, Thanks to Paul D @OhB1 for taking the time to take the boat and buildings off a layout and offering them to me. I think I will build an 8 silo grain bin on the lower section left of the grainary. Still not sure if the seawall should be wooden pilings instead of stone.   Building will go on stilts over the water. (Like my blue cloth simulating water?)

Wider view of the area.  The water area slides out so I can reach the back wall The upper town/building sections are removable. Right side of the photo is a TBD.

I’m glad we could make it work out!!!  They look great and I’m sure the previous owner is very pleased about where they went!

I haven't posted in here for a while, or in OGR for that matter! Free time to do fun stuff can be hard to find sometimes.

Anyway, I just received some Arttista figures I've been wanting for sometime, so here's some photo's of what I did this afternoon.

Added a driver for the CAT crane, he's smoking a stogie. The guy in the lower left is also new, he's a mechanic holding a wrench.

Two more mechanics. Jed on the right is saying to Herb, "The new truck ain't gonna get here any faster starring at the thing, we better find some work".

Another two mechanics standing in front of the Power Wagon. Monty with the wrench on his shoulder is giving Lando on the left some friendly mechanic banter, "We gotta get over to that WP Geep 38 and repair the water leak ASAP, so get movin' before I club you over the head with this here wrench".  hehe

Added Emilio the chef  and Carlos the server. Emilio is chatting with a couple of friends and Carlos is serving a couple with their child

This is the first time I've purchased Attista figures and I'm really please with them. They're pewter and are well detailed with a great paint job Dennis, the owner of Arttista was great to work with too. Very responsive and helpful. Ordering is a little old fashioned, but it works well with Dennis at the helm.

I finally got all the way to my train room for the first time this month.  Receiving a Lionel 3656 car and corral with today's mail was the needed inspiration.  The car and corral work!  While In the operators chair, I added weight to a few box cars.  I feel a running session coming on.

Bill

Got rid of the oversized base on the Lionel signal

A second project completed today, however this one took about a week working on it off and on.

K line 15" aluminum California Zephyr Silver Diner car interior upgrade. These come monotone gray, definitely needed some color and floor. This is the second diner in my CZ consist.

This is what it looked like new out of the box:

I removed all the love seats and tables and painted the tables flat white to simulate a white table cloth. Painted the love seats kind of a desert pink and blue and alternated the colors. I then painted the kitchen with silver to simulate stainless steel and added a small kitchen serving table that with a table I had laying around. Added carpet that I printed on my Canon printer, and installed a slatted wood floor in the kitchen. Added a bunch of passengers, Lionel and K-Line, and the two chefs are Arttista. All paint is Testors enamel.

Fun project! I'm mostly happy with the results. I wish the windows were larger in the kitchen!

@Lionelski posted:

One of Warrenville's bridges needed maintenance, so I spent today building a scaffold and hiring a couple of guys to do the needed work.

@Lionelski You got away cheap John! Look at all the equipment and manpower that got involved for my bridge repair.

@WesternPacific2217 posted:

A second project completed today, however this one took about a week working on it off and on.

K line 15" aluminum California Zephyr Silver Diner car interior upgrade. These come monotone gray, definitely needed some color and floor. This is the second diner in my CZ consist.

This is what it looked like new out of the box:

I removed all the love seats and tables and painted the tables flat white to simulate a white table cloth. Painted the love seats kind of a desert pink and blue and alternated the colors. I then painted the kitchen with silver to simulate stainless steel and added a small kitchen serving table that with a table I had laying around. Added carpet that I printed on my Canon printer, and installed a slatted wood floor in the kitchen. Added a bunch of passengers, Lionel and K-Line, and the two chefs are Arttista. All paint is Testors enamel.

Fun project! I'm mostly happy with the results. I wish the windows were larger in the kitchen!

Very nice!

American Motors dealership taking shape.  Still more to do.  Looking for a backdrop of service garage doors to cover the backwall. They are AMC's, service is inevitable. The yellow pacer already had the optional passenger side mirror fall off and need repair.

It is the mid 1970s and AMC is trying to sell Pacers, Hornets, and Gremlins but the Jeeps are in stock and ready to move.   

Was blessed with some "Patience" today,  I don't normally have much of that virtue...  Anyway, been trying for a while to figure out how to best get the Cream, yellow colored aged brick look that I was striving for....    Finally got it today...   Started by spraying the entire Ameritowne front wall  Rustoleum Camo "Sand" color, then patiently dry brushed the brick in two colors,  a light pale yellow called Lemonade, followed by another dry brush coat of "Antique Gold"...   The patience comes in getting enough paint off the brush so that I dont' fill in the mortar lines.   

Going to get the second front done for the matching pair...    I left one upper right corner undone in one of the photos so we could see what it looked like after the Lemonade color was applied....

First photo is entire before and after dry brushing both colors..   

Second photo shows top right corner after the 1st dry brush coat.   Side wall on the left was my attempt to get the result doing washes of both colors.  Probably going to wash and scrub all that off and start over.

@RSJB18 posted:

Did a portal-ectomy today...

... The portal is very lopsided now but it is what it is.....🙄🙄🙄....

What about placing some vines climbing up the stone wall at the right side of the portal? It might "hide in plain sight" the narrowness of that side. I'm replying several days later so you may have already decided what to do.

John

@VistaDomeScott posted:

American Motors dealership taking shape.  ... They are AMC's, service is inevitable....

It is the mid 1970s and AMC is trying to sell Pacers, Hornets, and Gremlins...

"They are AMC's, service is inevitable...."

Great line! And nice dealership.  In the 70s, I despised the Gremlin but thought the Pacer looked futuristic, kinda like a personal Shuttlecraft.

A consist of PRSL interurbans running on third rail on the RTC...

With Norma Bates Kitteh supervising, natch. 

Mitch

@M. Mitchell Marmel posted:

A consist of PRSL interurbans running on third rail on the RTC...

With Norma Bates Kitteh supervising, natch.

The New York Office suggested Norma should be waving a lantern.  Me fix. 

Mitch

@WesternPacific2217 posted:

A second project completed today, however this one took about a week working on it off and on.

K line 15" aluminum California Zephyr Silver Diner car interior upgrade. These come monotone gray, definitely needed some color and floor. This is the second diner in my CZ consist.

It's a shame to have to put the car body on top of that great detailing. Nice work !!!

@chris a posted:

Was blessed with some "Patience" today,  I don't normally have much of that virtue...  Anyway, been trying for a while to figure out how to best get the Cream, yellow colored aged brick look that I was striving for....    Finally got it today...   Started by spraying the entire Ameritowne front wall  Rustoleum Camo "Sand" color, then patiently dry brushed the brick in two colors,  a light pale yellow called Lemonade, followed by another dry brush coat of "Antique Gold"...   The patience comes in getting enough paint off the brush so that I dont' fill in the mortar lines.   

Going to get the second front done for the matching pair...    I left one upper right corner undone in one of the photos so we could see what it looked like after the Lemonade color was applied....

First photo is entire before and after dry brushing both colors..   

Second photo shows top right corner after the 1st dry brush coat.   Side wall on the left was my attempt to get the result doing washes of both colors.  Probably going to wash and scrub all that off and start over.

I love the effect.....I even like the "lemonade" only over the Camo sand....

Thank you for the detailed explanation!

Peter

@John's Trains posted:

What about placing some vines climbing up the stone wall at the right side of the portal? It might "hide in plain sight" the narrowness of that side. I'm replying several days later so you may have already decided what to do.

John

Bob, what about just removing the portal entirely and just have stone supports on the left side and nothing on the right? I think you said it was difficult to see anyway so maybe not an issue?  Jeff

@M. Mitchell Marmel posted:

A consist of PRSL interurbans running on third rail on the RTC...

With Norma Bates Kitteh supervising, natch.

Mitch

Great looking consist Mitch. Did the PRSL operate such vehicle; and if so where?

Jay

@Tranquil Hollow RR posted:

Great looking consist Mitch. Did the PRSL operate such vehicle; and if so where?

Briefly, yes.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.n...ture.aspx?id=5423781

http://www.rrpicturearchives.n...ture.aspx?id=5424583

@VistaDomeScott posted:

American Motors dealership taking shape.  Still more to do.  Looking for a backdrop of service garage doors to cover the backwall. They are AMC's, service is inevitable. The yellow pacer already had the optional passenger side mirror fall off and need repair.

It is the mid 1970s and AMC is trying to sell Pacers, Hornets, and Gremlins but the Jeeps are in stock and ready to move.   

I had a friend who drove a Hornet; and yes it was Green!! 

I bought that dealership kit thinking it would look good in my 1950s town.  When I got it out of the box, I realized it takes up more real estate than I was imagining.  My other buildings are smaller.  I put it back in the box until my town is laid out and I see how I can fit it in.  Yours looks great!!!!

@Putnam Division posted:

I love the effect.....I even like the "lemonade" only over the Camo sand....

Thank you for the detailed explanation!

Peter

Peter,  Thanks.  Yes I agree just the first coat with the "lemonade" pale yellow has definite potential as a variation.  I have dry brushed as a weathering technique before but never a large uniform area like this brick wall.   I'll be doing more of this now that I have developed a technique that's working.   

I found this great YouTube Video "O Scale Allied Switch Job" which is where I found the color scheme on these Ameritowne Building Front Walls.    There's a good street view shot of them at  3:39 in the video as well as later.....   This gentleman's modelling and weathering skills are exceptional as well as his ability to operate his railroad and switch cars in and out of a busy B & O industrial district.   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vor28YPRQDk

@WesternPacific2217 That diner came out great. Those Arista figures in the kitchen are especially good.
@chris a  You captured that old yellow brick look.

The only thing I worked on recently is a 36" truss bridge that I got from a friend who sold me his trains. He made it out of wood but it needed piers to support the center. I added aluminum bar stock to make it self-supporting, finished the bottom edge of the truss, then added gussets, painted it, and fabricated abutments. I would like it to be part of an elevated loop of O-27 track for tinplate trains separate from my regular layout.

I just had the nutty thought that my old decaying patio looks "very realistic." Should I remove some to use as a "dry riverbed"? Maybe not.

@VistaDomeScott

Where did you find the Pacers and Gremlins?

My Gremlin, Oswego NY,  January 1978

Worked on this narrow area from the oil rig down to the processing center.  It's a country setup and a work in progress.

@chris a posted:

Peter,  Thanks.  Yes I agree just the first coat with the "lemonade" pale yellow has definite potential as a variation.  I have dry brushed as a weathering technique before but never a large uniform area like this brick wall.   I'll be doing more of this now that I have developed a technique that's working.   

I found this great YouTube Video "O Scale Allied Switch Job" which is where I found the color scheme on these Ameritowne Building Front Walls.    There's a good street view shot of them at  3:39 in the video as well as later.....   This gentleman's modelling and weathering skills are exceptional as well as his ability to operate his railroad and switch cars in and out of a busy B & O industrial district.   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vor28YPRQDk

Chris,

That is the layout of Don Smith! Wonderful modeler. When I first saw what you were trying to accomplish with the color, I thought of those same building flats on Don's layout. It looks like he used the Midtown Hotel walls.

Dave

@M. Mitchell Marmel posted:

Briefly, yes.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.n...ture.aspx?id=5423781

http://www.rrpicturearchives.n...ture.aspx?id=5424583

Thank you Mitch. You are great resource.

@Tranquil Hollow RR posted:

Thank you Mitch. You are great resource.

My pleasure!  ;-)

I decided with the CEO out of town for the weekend, that I would take care of a few things that have been bothering me and got a couple of bonus items done as well.

First, I decided I wasn’t happy with the Gargraves track on the upper level. It was all flex track and I was having difficulty with the trains derailing, so I decided to replace it with Atlas like the rest of the layout. While I had everything on the upper level torn apart I decided to get the piers painted properly to make them look like concrete columns. I also added a hand built bridge to the upper level. The bridge came from the O gager’s layout that I am taking apart due to his passing.  You can see the bridge and the columns in the pics below.

The lower bridge is from Menards and I really love it but the scratch made one is looking pretty good as well.

My next project was inspired by the rest of you adding passengers to your passenger cars. I sat and debated about painting the interior and ultimately decided just to add passengers. Based on the end result I think it was the right idea for this car anyways. This passenger car is the one that is used on the solid rocket booster train that I have posted about earlier. When I removed the shell I was surprised to find 7 toilets and only 1 sink. It got me thinking about what the interior should look like based on first hand accounts of fellow employees that had ridden on the train to escort the rocket to Florida. There is supposed to be a common living area, a kitchen area and 4 or 5 bedrooms.  Anyways, when I put the shell back on I could only see about 3 or 4 of the passengers out of the 12 that I put in.

Still working on more but needed to take a break.  Adding one more column and then putting the track up next. Hopefully everything will go well. 🤞🏼

@Ross posted:

@VistaDomeScott

Where did you find the Pacers and Gremlins?

My Gremlin, Oswego NY,  January 1978

The 1/43 Pacers and Gremlins are hard to find.  Most are overseas and command rediculous prices.   I was lucky enough to find the 2 Gremlins for under $30 in Italy  shipped.  They were made by Polisto in Italy.  The Pacers are by IXO and used to be found for about $20 each.   They are rarely found in the U.S. and are always about $100 each.  There is a Hornet coupe and Matador coupe more easily found and were a part of a James Bond movie set of cars.

@VistaDomeScott posted:

American Motors dealership taking shape.  Still more to do.  Looking for a backdrop of service garage doors to cover the backwall. They are AMC's, service is inevitable. The yellow pacer already had the optional passenger side mirror fall off and need repair.

It is the mid 1970s and AMC is trying to sell Pacers, Hornets, and Gremlins but the Jeeps are in stock and ready to move.

Maybe you indeed are "Super-modeler" with that mirror on the ground next to the car here! You've captured the AMC ethos! Thanks for making me laugh.

Also, can you post a close-up of your track and ballast behind it? I'm looking for some sort of fake ballast/painted ballast (for a future layout) if that is what you have. Thanks in advance.

Tom

Tom

It is Lionel Fastrack and I built up some of the surrounding area with blended in Woodland Scenics limestone ballast and static grass.  I will get some more pics next time I get to working on the layout.

Scott

@chris a posted:

Peter,  Thanks.  Yes I agree just the first coat with the "lemonade" pale yellow has definite potential as a variation.  I have dry brushed as a weathering technique before but never a large uniform area like this brick wall.   I'll be doing more of this now that I have developed a technique that's working.   

I found this great YouTube Video "O Scale Allied Switch Job" which is where I found the color scheme on these Ameritowne Building Front Walls.    There's a good street view shot of them at  3:39 in the video as well as later.....   This gentleman's modelling and weathering skills are exceptional as well as his ability to operate his railroad and switch cars in and out of a busy B & O industrial district.   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vor28YPRQDk

Thank you!

Peter

@VistaDomeScott

Thanks for the info! I’ll put my son to work, he’s got an European trip scheduled.

@PRR8976 posted:

Also, can you post a close-up of your track and ballast behind it? I'm looking for some sort of fake ballast/painted ballast (for a future layout) if that is what you have. Thanks in advance.

Tom

Tom- I added ballast to the sides of the fastrack. It improves the appearance greatly. I applied a liberal coating of elmer's glue and sprinkled the gravel into the glue. After it dried I went over everything again with wet-water and diluted glue.

Here's the completed area.

Bob

Moose Jaw Model Railway show went great !!   Here's a short video of my Mexicali Grande layout running through the heat of Mexico.   The ATF chopper is preparing to swoop down on an abandoned air field where an old DC 3 making a package pick up !  

@OhB1 posted:

I decided with the CEO out of town for the weekend, that I would take care of a few things that have been bothering me and got a couple of bonus items done as well.

.........and  "  WHILE  THE  CAT'S   AWAY .. ...... " 

.......and boy did this mouse PLAY

You really did a lot  more than I could ever get done on a weekend sir.     Nice looking layout.

@RSJB18 posted:

Tom- I added ballast to the sides of the fastrack. It improves the appearance greatly.                                           

VERY nice Bob.

Hard to tell it is Fastrack .   

  What kind of ballast did you use ?  It really looks to be an accurate size for the Fastrack.

Did you solder your track before ballasting ?    I only ask because I've had conductivity issues in the past with the Fastrack.   

@RSJB18 Bob, Thanks for posting your pictures. Nicely done.

Tom

@Dallas Joseph posted:

VERY nice Bob.

Hard to tell it is Fastrack .   

  What kind of ballast did you use ?  It really looks to be an accurate size for the Fastrack.

Did you solder your track before ballasting ?    I only ask because I've had conductivity issues in the past with the Fastrack.   

The ballast is a floral gravel from Michael's. Available in several colors, I use gray/ silver, brown, and black.

I didn't solder these tracks. They are only 2 short sidings for engines. Each spur is a separate power block.

I use FT for my Christmas tree loop and I always check the pins. I also use small binder clips to hold the sections together.

I'm not a fan of FT for permanent layouts but I would paint the track and hide the gray plastic and shiny rails first if I did.

@PRR8976 Thanks Tom.

Bob

@pennsyfan posted:

Very nice!

So cool!!!

The last area of my layout to get landscaped is the Mel's Gap/Maybrook area. This has been ongoing for the last few weeks. The first two pictures are before any green was applied. The next 5 are a good start but more will be added. The ballasting of the foreground tracks will hopefully get done with the arrival of my ballast order from Dennis Brennan. I have some auto gates to be installed to the right of the station and I need an access panel piece being done by a friend and then I can get the town of Maybrook finished. So much more to do. The girder bridge spans the track which runs through Mel's Gap, named for our friend Mel Garelick.

@RSJB18 posted:

The ballast is a floral gravel from Michael's. Available in several colors, I use gray/ silver, brown, and black.

I didn't solder these tracks. They are only 2 short sidings for engines. Each spur is a separate power block.

I use FT for my Christmas tree loop and I always check the pins. I also use small binder clips to hold the sections together.

I'm not a fan of FT for permanent layouts but I would paint the track and hide the gray plastic and shiny rails first if I did.

@PRR8976 Thanks Tom.

Bob

Bob, I recognize the lid of that container.  Our older daughter gave me some product in those containers.  I need to find where I put them, since I wasn’t ready for scenery or ballast at the time.  Your looks great!!

@Mark Boyce posted:

Bob, I recognize the lid of that container.  Our older daughter gave me some product in those containers.  I need to find where I put them, since I wasn’t ready for scenery or ballast at the time.  Your looks great!!

Some of them are a little shiny. I just do an acrylic wash of what ever color I'm using to tone it down if necessary.

Thanks

@Bill Park posted:

The last area of my layout to get landscaped is the Mel's Gap/Maybrook area. This has been ongoing for the last few weeks. The first two pictures are before any green was applied. The next 5 are a good start but more will be added. The ballasting of the foreground tracks will hopefully get done with the arrival of my ballast order from Dennis Brennan. I have some auto gates to be installed to the right of the station and I need an access panel piece being done by a friend and then I can get the town of Maybrook finished. So much more to do. The girder bridge spans the track which runs through Mel's Gap, named for our friend Mel Garelick.

There’s some great work going on there Bill.

@RSJB18 posted:

Some of them are a little shiny. I just do an acrylic wash of what ever color I'm using to tone it down if necessary.

Thanks

Bob, I just found the little containers in an old kitchen cupboard my late pa-in-law had them hang in the garage when ma-in-law insisted on new ones in the kitchen.  😄  As it turns out, the containers are for air dry clay.  I recall now, she thought I could use them for scenery.  One is designed for modeling stone it says.  Hmmm.  Same containers, though.

@pennsyfan posted:

There’s some great work going on there Bill.

@Bill Park I totally agree with Bob’s statement!  That is great naming the gap for Mel!  

Afternoon to all you folks on the east coast, I hope your all having a wonderful day and time with your layouts. I have to say there is a ton of wonderful work being done!

@myles great looking dessert scene and love the helo!

@OhB1 great job on the bridge and hope the new Atlas track fixed your problem!

@RSJB18 Bob great job on hiding the fast track, you can't even tell until you get close up!

@Bill Park Bill you have a great start on the Mel's Gap area! I know it is just going to get better and better!

I will probably check in next week when I get to Missouri and find some WiFi!

I hope you all have a great week and find time to have fun with your trains and layouts!

@Bill Park posted:

The last area of my layout to get landscaped is the Mel's Gap/Maybrook area. This has been ongoing for the last few weeks. The first two pictures are before any green was applied. The next 5 are a good start but more will be added. The ballasting of the foreground tracks will hopefully get done with the arrival of my ballast order from Dennis Brennan. I have some auto gates to be installed to the right of the station and I need an access panel piece being done by a friend and then I can get the town of Maybrook finished. So much more to do. The girder bridge spans the track which runs through Mel's Gap, named for our friend Mel Garelick.

@Bill Park

Bill:

Your scenery is SUPERB!

@Bill Park great scenery work and creative track plan!

Following on the passenger car sets discussions - "do they count as 1 or 5" - regardless, they do take a lot of room on shelves. As I intended to create an engine area in a corner of my layout, I decided I could add pull out shelves to hold "excess" passenger coaches. Each shelve holds 12 cars so this takes care of 36 cars leaving limited shelf space for displaying my intermodals and coal hoppers.

Still have to figure out the engine area track plan and associated details. I realized I only have 3 coal steamers, the rest are oil. Kind of minimizes the need for the coaling station. Have a water tower and fuel/water columns, although the latter make no sense with steam. A broad year range for the transition period is the only answer - roughly 1945 thru 2000. This is also calling out for an engine house - the base is 20 x 42 - any suggestions???

The black buttons on the table edge are touch toggles which provide switching to my new water front area.  A ToDo is drafting a layout plan so the toggles can be mounted behind the plan. As is I cannot remember which toggle controls which switch, I need to see the plan to know which turnout I am changing.

Jeff, the roll out shelves look great for storing cars.  I can't remember which switch is which either, and will have to come up with a couple partial track plan panels also.

@pennsyfan posted:

There’s some great work going on there Bill.

Agree totally…..magnificent!

Peter

A week of urban renewal……..foam core board put down in the downtown area at street level. Sidewalks/curbs will come later. I have 4 Buildings Unlimited kits and 2 River Leaf Models kits to do this Spring/Summer/Fall. I still may need a few more buildings and am looking at some Woodland Scenics buildings to add.

Have a great and safe weekend, folks!

Peter

Peter, urban renewal is right!  You are building a city there!!

@Putnam Division posted:

A week of urban renewal……..foam core board put down in the downtown area at street level. Sidewalks/curbs will come later. I have 4 Buildings Unlimited kits and 2 River Leaf Models kits to do this Spring/Summer/Fall. I still may need a few more buildings and am looking at some Woodland Scenics buildings to add.

Have a great and safe weekend, folks!

Peter

Looks like you’re making some nice progress, Peter. And I’m glad to see your medical text books are also getting involved with the hobby in their retirement

@Apples55 posted:

Looks like you’re making some nice progress, Peter. And I’m glad to see your medical text books are also getting involved with the hobby in their retirement

Paul, you always make the best observations!  😄

@Apples55 posted:

Looks like you’re making some nice progress, Peter. And I’m glad to see your medical text books are also getting involved with the hobby in their retirement

Peter

I added a White Castle to my neighborhood Chicago layout. The first one built in Chicago was in 1929. Some are still standing today.

The real ones had a lot more lights than I added, but for a model it was unrealistic to do so.

@ChiTown Steve posted:

I added a White Castle to my neighborhood Chicago layout. The first one was built in 1929. Some are still standing today.

"Harold and Kumar could not be reached for comment."  - The New York Office

@M. Mitchell Marmel posted:

"Harold and Kumar could not be reached for comment."  - The New York Office

Ha Ha. I'll have to check this one out.

Organized my train boxes.  Put some of the Boy's Train and Girl's Train boxes in the same place.

The White Castle on my layout.  It's a shallow building, 2 1/2" wide by 2 deep.  Cardstock with balsa framing.

Today I had a new friend over to the house and he brought his new to him C&O  T1 4-8-4 and It’s a beautiful Lionel Legacy steamer…So, we ran his train for a few minutes. Happy Railroading Everyone

I have been working on the Maybrook portion of my layout (the last area to need landscaping). I finally received my ballast order from Brennan's and while most of my layout is Brennan's grey ballast, I did experiment by adding some Woodland Scenics brown for a little different look. I also decided to experiment using sculp-ta -mold for the grade crossing here. Once the area drys, I can paint the road way and add the road planks between the tracks. Around the road I used tube sand (Sand that comes in a long sack sold at Lowe's and Home Depot for weight in the back of a vehicle). Why this works well, it is mostly  very fine but there are enough larger stones still less than a 1/4" to make the ground area look raw and undeveloped. I also used tile grout in several shades of brown. I put those items on over a heavy coat of white glue and then a mist of WS Scenic Cement. Operating gates will go on each side of the tracks and should add some more interest to the scene.

With the help of my grandson, we completed the illumination effort to light the Plasticville town. It was a tedious process while attempting it on my own. He climbed on top of the layout and I was situated underneath as we worked our way along the remaining structures. The lighting was done with Dwarvin fiber optics.

Jay

@Tranquil Hollow RR posted:

With the help of my grandson, we completed the illumination effort to light the Plasticville town. It was a tedious process while attempting it on my own. He climbed on top of the layout and I was situated underneath as we worked our way along the remaining structures. The lighting was done with Dwarvin fiber optics.

Jay

WOW! That's a lot of Plasticville.......Fiber optics was the right solution for that town.

Looks great.

Bob

Thanks Bob and I didn’t fully appreciate how many structures I had until I started the lighting process.

Not familiar with the Dwarvin fiber optics system , but it sure looks like it gives the town life Jay !    Looks good.

How many bulbs would it take to light up the buildings if you wouldn't have used THE system ? 🤔