What did you do on your layout today?

Update of the Auto Ramp I am building for another fine member of this Forum! Ramp is complete, just needs paint and decals. Base still needs rams and legs, then paint!

Brian, More great engines!

Mike, another great ramp!

Performed a motor/wheel transplant from an extra  Lionel #8 in to a #380  I just got that needed wheels. So now I have two 380s.  the latest is in original paint but needs a few things.

With York fast approaching and yesterday was a day full of train stuff. Lunch again with TCA guys, after lunch a trip to see a layout then Tuesday night train crew get together. So no time for work. Today a different story. I have to make a conservative effort to house clean on the layout. Week after York to host makes this job one. Maybe post pics of before and after shots..........Paul

Gary, thanks for sharing.  What a great day!  My grandpa used to do stuff like that with me 40+ years ago when I was their age.  I will NEVER forget it.

After a nearly week long hiatus from actual layout work, I was back downstairs yesterday. I tried my hand at a new technique. It has actually been around for a long time, but I've never done it before. This hair-like material came from Woodland Scenics. It looks almost like static grass, but it isn't.

I just grab a pinch of it, making sure that the top ends have a variety of lengths.

A quick snip evens up the bottoms...

and they're ready for planting in a dollop of hot glue

Then you fluff them up a bit when the glue cools, and they look like this.

I spent the better part of five hours working on just a two square foot area.

Still not quite satisfied, but it's getting better.

Did a little ballasting.

Got a few more trees planted in the triangle, and covered up the missing piece of backdrop.

The overall effect.

This was a bad shot for the grass demo, but I love the low angle close up.

The overall effect.

                       looking GREAT Elliot !!!  very nice !!  like this picture !

Big_Boy_4005 posted:

It's really taking shape Elliot.   I will be in the cities this weekend for our state swim meet and would like to stop for a short visit if possible.  I will give you a call Saturday afternoon to see if our schedules mesh.   Really like this scene you have created.   Great work!!!!!   Dave

It looks great, Elliot!!

2 rail O gauge visit after NMRA Div 7's meeting:

See post for pictures:

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...10#79142442422300610

Nice work Elliot! I sure hope Paul2 and Bob take the time to come over and see your layout! I know if I ever make it to the east side of the world I will be asking for a tour! LOL

I posted awhile back about all the AF and Marx streamliners being powered by 

available steam type motors complete with steam type spoked wheels. Not

very attractive considering the streamliners (not streamlined steam locos)

were all distillate or diesel engines. I recently picked up a Marx E7 diesel power

truck on the bay. I am thinking of experimenting with some of my streamliners. 

I am attaching photos of my AF M10005 with it's original steam type motor and 

another with the diesel truck under it. Any mods will have to be done to the motor and

not the body, but this one seems fairly easy. I like the diesel motor better. The body is

still too high, but lowering it would mean modifying the whole train to match. 

What do you guys think?

John

I like the diesel truck better, too.   So does Fortescue. 

Mitch

briansilvermustang posted:

Nice!

Brian never disappoints!!

Thanks Brian, Dave, Mark and Mike as well as those who just hit the like button. I appreciate all the support.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

I spent 9 hours down there yesterday, a 4 hour session in the afternoon, and another 5 in the evening. I just put on the Twins game in the background. Good game! Joe Mauer got his 2000th hit and the Twins won their third in a row. Maybe these guys are for real.

This is the stuff I was installing on Tuesday. I did a little more of it as well as a bunch of other little things.

I ballasted and glued this little section at the opening under the bluff.

I went back and tidied up the ballast around the long ties of a bunch of switches.

I also re-ballasted along the base of the rock face.

I grabbed an auto rack from the Ford plant, and brought it over for a clearance test. No problem with the new rock near the opening.

Low angle photography is the way to go!

As I was heading up stairs, I spotted a box that I hadn't opened. Jackpot! More trees! In my haste to get out of the mall, I had people just stuff things into boxes. These poor trees, after 25 years, were squished into a nearly solid mass. I spent a good chunk of the evening getting them apart, and cleaned up. As I dug through that box, I found more rodent evidence.

There were actually quite a few trees in there. I also found a couple huge chunks of virgin, clump foliage.

Then I spent the remainder of the evening sorting and cleaning the used clumps. The box on the floor still needs sorting. Very time consuming, but it should pay off later, when I can just grab what I want. I was pulling out all the big ones first. The really small ones will go back into the tree making buckets, as that's where most of that came from anyway. You kind of go cross eyed sorting out four shades of green.The medium and the dark are the toughest.

Looks great Elliot. The autorack against the bluff looks superb. Tell the truth- did you fire up a diesel to go get the car or use the hand of god?

A little Christmas in April finding the trees. I guess you do really see the trees for the forest.

Bob

Thanks Bob. Air mail. I haven't turned track power on in quite a while. The hand of God is reserved for scenery.

Yeah, the bright colors of the trains really POP against the soft earth tones of the rock face.

beardog posted:

I posted awhile back about all the AF and Marx streamliners being powered by 

available steam type motors complete with steam type spoked wheels. Not

very attractive considering the streamliners (not streamlined steam locos)

were all distillate or diesel engines. I recently picked up a Marx E7 diesel power

truck on the bay. I am thinking of experimenting with some of my streamliners. 

I am attaching photos of my AF M10005 with it's original steam type motor and 

another with the diesel truck under it. Any mods will have to be done to the motor and

not the body, but this one seems fairly easy. I like the diesel motor better. The body is

still too high, but lowering it would mean modifying the whole train to match. 

What do you guys think?

John

I like the diesel truck too although it makes the rear truck look out of place. Do you gave something more scale looking for the rear?

yeah I thought that too, unfortunately the rear truck matches all the trucks on the cars in the train.

Hi Everyone, didn't get much done on the Auto Ramp today. Spent a hour driving to the nearest Lowes to get T-111 siding. Got there and they were out! LOL Now off for another 5 mile drive in the city to the next Lowes. Yee Ha! they have what I need, and the only reason I go to Lowes is they give me 10% veterans discount!!! So now another hour and a half drive home and I get to put up some siding! 1 sheet left to cut and I am done with siding till next payday!

Elliot, you are for sure a man on a mission! What long hours you put in, with such great results! I see Paul2 is going to come and visit! You guys in the east get all the fun! LOL

Keep up the great work and I hope you don't have to buy anymore trees after your found jackpot! Nothing better then finding something you weren't sure you had or not!

Mike, that sure does make a big difference!!!  Looks great!!

Question Mike.  I just noticed the siding comes down pretty close to the ground.  Are you going to have a problem with the rain splashing up onto the siding.  I have that problem with one corner of my shed as it has settled over the years.

Elliot, always nice to find trees you didn't know you had to keep working. That cliff has come out fantastic. Sorry Mike you live on the other coast. It would of been great to catch up with you too. You never know maybe someday I'll be knocking on your door ( ROAD TRIP ) LOL. You have moved along on the the train room. Looks like not much more to go on the outside and you can start to work on the inside and the layout. Get a Champagne bottle ready for the running of the first train. And it is also going to be nice to meet Elliot and see his layout and to meet Cabinet Bob (dad ) in person at the train show..............Paul

Home Depot gives the Veterans discount also, always ask a lot of places have 10% discounts. 

I painted the table top a Dark grey so I wouldn't have to look at plywood, will also make ground cover pop and stick out better too.

Making sure everything works for the D3R guys Saturday

mike g. posted:

Hi Everyone, didn't get much done on the Auto Ramp today. Spent a hour driving to the nearest Lowes to get T-111 siding. Got there and they were out! LOL Now off for another 5 mile drive in the city to the next Lowes. Yee Ha! they have what I need, and the only reason I go to Lowes is they give me 10% veterans discount!!! So now another hour and a half drive home and I get to put up some siding! 1 sheet left to cut and I am done with siding till next payday!

Mike, it's beautiful! Mark has a good question, however: Aren't you worried about the siding licking up rainwater?

beardog posted:

I posted awhile back about all the AF and Marx streamliners being powered by 

available steam type motors complete with steam type spoked wheels. Not

very attractive considering the streamliners (not streamlined steam locos)

were all distillate or diesel engines. I recently picked up a Marx E7 diesel power

truck on the bay. I am thinking of experimenting with some of my streamliners. 

I am attaching photos of my AF M10005 with it's original steam type motor and 

another with the diesel truck under it. Any mods will have to be done to the motor and

not the body, but this one seems fairly easy. I like the diesel motor better. The body is

still too high, but lowering it would mean modifying the whole train to match. 

What do you guys think?

John

I really like the looks of the diesel trucks and I don't think the rear trucks look all that bad...

Mike 

mike g. posted:

Hi Everyone, didn't get much done on the Auto Ramp today. Spent a hour driving to the nearest Lowes to get T-111 siding. Got there and they were out! LOL Now off for another 5 mile drive in the city to the next Lowes. Yee Ha! they have what I need, and the only reason I go to Lowes is they give me 10% veterans discount!!! So now another hour and a half drive home and I get to put up some siding! 1 sheet left to cut and I am done with siding till next payday!

                                      looking GREAT Mike !! 

The train room looks great Mike. Almost done with the heavy lifting!

Paul2- very jealous that you are going to visit Elliot.

Beardog- I vote for the diesel truck.

Bob

mike g. posted:

Hi Everyone, didn't get much done on the Auto Ramp today. Spent a hour driving to the nearest Lowes to get T-111 siding. Got there and they were out! LOL Now off for another 5 mile drive in the city to the next Lowes. Yee Ha! they have what I need, and the only reason I go to Lowes is they give me 10% veterans discount!!! So now another hour and a half drive home and I get to put up some siding! 1 sheet left to cut and I am done with siding till next payday!

Mike,

At this rate you'll have trains running next week, lol. It looks like in no time you will have bench work going up. Great progress!

Hi Everyone, thank you for all the nice words! Mark and Joe as far as the siding goes I have found that if you use a good outside paint the water just runs off, for the licking up water I know it is hard to tell from the pictures but the bottom of the sheeting is 31/2-4" off the ground and I paint the bottom edge of it also!

Clem Home Depot does give Veterans discounts. But they have changed there rules, You have to be active military, Retired, or receiving services from the VA that states it is military service connected.

Paul, I am sure you will have a blast ! Bob, AKA (DAD) is a great guy to hang with! Enjoy the time you have there and take in all you can at Elliot's!

Televue, the tables are looking great! One step at a time!

Brian, another set of great pictures! I will give you a call tomorrow if you will be around!

 sounds good Mike !!

Mike G,

   Take your DD214 as proof into the Lowes Store, this is a one time thing.   Lowes uses the DD214 to register you now for the Veterans Account. This gives you a 10% discount on every item you purchase.  They will then reference your Veterans Account by the telephone number you provide for them, each time you purchase at check out.

There were a lot of low life's posing as Veteran to scam Lowes, so they used the DD214 to eliminate the scam artists.

I never have any trouble at Home Depot, they still accept our Military ID as proof at the check out counter.

Construction work on the new addition looks to be nearing an end, Train Layout work starts next weeK!

PCRR/Dave

Pine Creek Railroad posted:

Mike G,

There were a lot of low life's posing as Veteran to scam Lowes, so they used the DD214 to eliminate the scam artists.

PCRR/Dave

 

Never ceases to amaze me how low some people will stoop...

Mike 

mike g. posted:

Hi Everyone, didn't get much done on the Auto Ramp today. Spent a hour driving to the nearest Lowes to get T-111 siding. Got there and they were out! LOL Now off for another 5 mile drive in the city to the next Lowes. Yee Ha! they have what I need, and the only reason I go to Lowes is they give me 10% veterans discount!!! So now another hour and a half drive home and I get to put up some siding! 1 sheet left to cut and I am done with siding till next payday!

Mike that looks like the makings of a great place to have a layout.  Love watching your progress.  I was going to mention Home Depot has a 10% veterans discount too, but I didn't know about the requirements.  Menards has 11% rebate again this week, but you may not have any nearby.  Anyway, keep up the good work and please keep sharing with us.

Art

LoadMaster Mike,

   Heck in my era we had low life's running to Canada to evade the Military Draft, President Carter then pardoned this bunch of  low life's, so they could spit on us Viet Nam Vets as we returned home.

These kind low life people are still around, you can believe they are still that low as to Scam businesses who treat us Veterans decently.   Heck they Scammed the US Government by becoming Draft Dodgers and got away with it, Scamming a business is no big deal to them.

PCRR/Dave

PCRR/Dave

Thank the Good Lord that we still have people that respect and thank those who gave of themselves in the service of their country. Too bad the miscreants/unworthy seem to get all the press.... But, enough of that - let's get busy with some more trains!

Mike 

Pine Creek Railroad posted:

Mike G,

   Take your DD214 as proof into the Lowes Store, this is a one time thing.   Lowes uses the DD214 to register you now for the Veterans Account. This gives you a 10% discount on every item you purchase.  They will then reference your Veterans Account by the telephone number you provide for them, each time you purchase at check out.

There were a lot of low life's posing as Veteran to scam Lowes, so they used the DD214 to eliminate the scam artists.

I never have any trouble at Home Depot, they still accept our Military ID as proof at the check out counter.

Construction work on the new addition looks to be nearing an end, Train Layout work starts next weeK!

PCRR/Dave

 

Thank you....USN 1968-72.

briansilvermustang posted:

 

Great photographs once again, Brian!!  Now that is one that I have high on my little want list!!!

mike g. posted:

Hi Everyone, thank you for all the nice words! Mark and Joe as far as the siding goes I have found that if you use a good outside paint the water just runs off, for the licking up water I know it is hard to tell from the pictures but the bottom of the sheeting is 31/2-4" off the ground and I paint the bottom edge of it also!

 

Mike, Good deal!!  I knew you had it covered!  (pun intended)  

Dave, I was able to sign up for Lowes Veterans program on line at Lowes.com. If you go to Home Depot it will tell you about the new rules to get Veterans Discounts.

Art, thanks for the kind words, I know I still have a ways to go before I see trains moving, but it's going in the right direction!

Brian, Great Pictures!

Mark I knew if my plan didn't work, someone here would let me know and give a better idea!

Had some friends over for dinner yesterday. The husband lost all of his trains in a divorce years ago. Took them down to see the layout and ran the trains for a while before they left. If you could have seen the look on his face....priceless

Mike G- a 1' wide gravel border around the foundation will help reduce the splash and keep the siding cleaner. Looks like the overhang on the roof should protect the walls pretty good too.  I have a 25 year old shed with T-111 siding and its still in good shape.

RSJB18 posted:

Had some friends over for dinner yesterday. The husband lost all of his trains in a divorce years ago. Took them down to see the layout and ran the trains for a while before they left. If you could have seen the look on his face....priceless

Mike G- a 1' wide gravel border around the foundation will help reduce the splash and keep the siding cleaner. Looks like the overhang on the roof should protect the walls pretty good too.  I have a 25 year old shed with T-111 siding and its still in good shape.

Too bad about your friends trains. During my divorce my ex hid all my trains at her parents house.

My attorney talked to the judge and he ordered her to bring them all back. 

My large HO collection and my Dad's old Lionel's are still in my parents attic. I haven't spoken to them in over 20 years do to some family drama. I know exactly how my friend (and you) feel.

                              like your Freedom Train Bob...

beardog posted:

RSJB18 posted:

Had some friends over for dinner yesterday. The husband lost all of his trains in a divorce years ago. Took them down to see the layout and ran the trains for a while before they left. If you could have seen the look on his face....priceless

Mike G- a 1' wide gravel border around the foundation will help reduce the splash and keep the siding cleaner. Looks like the overhang on the roof should protect the walls pretty good too.  I have a 25 year old shed with T-111 siding and its still in good shape.

Too bad about your friends trains. During my divorce my ex hid all my trains at her parents house.

My attorney talked to the judge and he ordered her to bring them all back. 

Ha! Mine too! She walked away with a HUGE settlement after we decided that trains are NOT community property. 

Inspiration!

Help...I need inspiration.!!Have done nothing all winter,,,

Bob, thanks for the idea of gravel around the foundation, was thinking washed rock! I am really sorry for your friend losing his trains to his Ex. and everyone else this has happened to! That just sucks!

More Great pictures Brian!

Daveland, I have no idea for inspiration but if all the great work being done by the great members of this forum does not inspire you, maybe you just need a kick in the rear! LOL The key is to make it fun, something you want to do not have to do! Be a little kid again just don't forget your big boy drink! LOL

Not sure this qualifies for the thread, but after a few months on display, I changed out AT&SF 3222 and a reefer for SP Daylight AC9 X3811.  Fantasy, I know, but I think it looks purdy...    

          that sure looks GREAT Ted  !!!

JD,

Finalized the Restoration of the Tin Plate 817 Caboose, I am very satisfied with how the 817 looks in Black and Gold.  Andy & Rocky will love it!

PCRR/Dave

It will make a serious addition to the 817 Consist.

Beginning to lay the base for asphalt around the Carbondale station.

Looks really nice Ted!

Dave, the caboose turned out great! Nice work!

throwing around some ideas for Walnut Creek....not a lot of acreage as it passes through my utility room.....

Ron, the road bed is fitting right in! Looks like its going to turn out great!

Gandy, Looking good, I know whatever you come up with it, it will be impressive like everything else you do!

Thanks Mike...I've got a few more ideas cooking......

Pine Creek Railroad posted:

JD,

Finalized the Restoration of the Tin Plate 817 Caboose, I am very satisfied with how the 817 looks in Black and Gold.  Andy & Rocky will love it!

PCRR/Dave

It will make a serious addition to the 817 Consist.

 

Turned out REALLY nice...

Mike 

TedW posted:

Not sure this qualifies for the thread, but after a few months on display, I changed out AT&SF 3222 and a reefer for SP Daylight AC9 X3811.  Fantasy, I know, but I think it looks purdy...    

 

Hey, it's YOUR fantasy and I think it's great...

Mike 

Mike,

Thanks much!

PCRR/Dave

Ok Guys, I will be back a little later. I have to go paint the Auto Ramp I am building for another great forum member!

GANDYDANCER, with the area you have to work with you are utilizing it to the max without overcrowding things together making for a good scene. Today I actually did a little work on the layout. I have been trying to clean off the table tops but it is a slow process because it is hard to find storage space under tables that are already full of stuff. This afternoon I took the two city backdrops I had done and taped them top the backdrop. The one I scribbed the back so it would fit into the curve of the corner better. I hope to fill in in front of them with more building flats which I hope to get at York this week. Pics................Paul

Nice Paul, that's going to look wonderful!

The Razorback Traction Co. entertained the folks at the "Spirits of Yesterday" party at the Elm Springs Cultural Center last Friday!  

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...ction-in-elm-springs

Mitch 

briansilvermustang posted:

                              like your Freedom Train Bob...

Thanks Brian- It's a Tyco HO set that a guy I work with was getting rid of. The set needs some work when I get around to it.

Over the course of the weekend I painted my bridge in red oxide primer, wrapped some 2x4's in foam, scored them to look like block and assembled the whole thing.  I also started assembly and gluing my theatre kit with included marquee from Miller engineering. The black structure on top is the support I created for the marquee that will get attached next. 

Mlindberg posted:

Over the course of the weekend I painted my bridge in red oxide primer, wrapped some 2x4's in foam, scored them to look like block and assembled the whole thing.  I also started assembly and gluing my theatre kit with included marquee from Miller engineering. The black structure on top is the support I created for the marquee that will get attached next. 

WOW That sure turned out looking GREAT!

Mlindberg posted:

Over the course of the weekend I painted my bridge in red oxide primer, wrapped some 2x4's in foam, scored them to look like block and assembled the whole thing.  

 

That was brilliant how you did the bridge foundations...

Mike 

LoadMaster posted:

Mlindberg posted:

Over the course of the weekend I painted my bridge in red oxide primer, wrapped some 2x4's in foam, scored them to look like block and assembled the whole thing.  

 

That was brilliant how you did the bridge foundations...

Mike 

Thanks, I've been working on adding some scenery to the layout that I started for my son a couple of years ago.  I wanted to add some interest but keep the green carpet so it's a little more durable and kid friendly (i.e. easy coal clean-up from the 97 coal loader).  As such I've been trying to create structures and scenic pieces like the bridge that can stand on their own and be lifted out.

Well guys, I got the Auto Ramp painted a nice bright Yellow! Will wait till tomorrow to put weight limit decals on! I sure hope the Forum member like's it!

Have been working on the "back half" of the mountain.  

Over the last three days, I have made 40+ rock castings, 1 Tunnel Entry casting (plus two more that I hope to turn into a viaduct later).  Today, I added the last of those rock castings, applied "Great Stuff" foam to be carved tomorrow and then filled in with and added some crushed aluminum foam tunnel walls.

Tomorrow: carving!! 

paul 2 posted:

GANDYDANCER, with the area you have to work with you are utilizing it to the max without overcrowding things together making for a good scene. Today I actually did a little work on the layout. I have been trying to clean off the table tops but it is a slow process because it is hard to find storage space under tables that are already full of stuff. This afternoon I took the two city backdrops I had done and taped them top the backdrop. The one I scribbed the back so it would fit into the curve of the corner better. I hope to fill in in front of them with more building flats which I hope to get at York this week. Pics................Paul

Paul, I too am going to use backdrops to obscure the furnace and pipes. I hope to have them finished in several weeks. Thanks for the compliment.

RSJB18 posted:

Had some friends over for dinner yesterday. The husband lost all of his trains in a divorce years ago. Took them down to see the layout and ran the trains for a while before they left. If you could have seen the look on his face....priceless

Mike G- a 1' wide gravel border around the foundation will help reduce the splash and keep the siding cleaner. Looks like the overhang on the roof should protect the walls pretty good too.  I have a 25 year old shed with T-111 siding and its still in good shape.

My wife’s grandfather put the shed on a bed of slag from the mill 50 years ago when they built the house.  It has held up well with the cross braces sinking maybe an inch or two over time.  After we moved here my wife put earth on top of the slag and planted flowers when I didn’t know it.  That’s when my problem started!!  LOL

Today, I made new tender headlight covers for the locomotives, replacing the styrene ones I never liked. The real ones were sheet metal, put in place at the start of WW2 when they were all repainted to basic black.

They look so much better in thin brass than they ever did in plastic.

Lee, goes to show you can always improve something. Nice job. Does make a big difference. Last night I started applying ground turf to areas around the bridge abutments and streams. Still have more to add. Pics.....Paul

          looking GREAT Paul !!! 

Lee, That is the great thing, a layout and existing fleet is never done!!  Great idea to add the shroud!

Paul, Your backdrop buildings look good!  I really like what you are doing with the stream banks!

Lee, you see details most would miss. The improvements you make sure make a difference of not only what your change, but in the whole layout ! Nicely done!

Paul2, the ground cover is looking wonderful! Just like Lee's project what your doing is bring out more and more of your layout! The streams are coming alive with color, it really helps it stand out and where you put them on the bridge abutments gives it a finished look! Great work!

Thanks Mark, Mike and Brian. This was my first attempt at doing water. I am going to do another water area but this one I am going to do better. I found a photo of what I want to do as to the water............Paul

     nmp's...

                    a couple more water shots Paul, with rough water flowing...

                        # 2419 on it's way to rescue a down subway train...

                           coupled up and ready to haul it back for repairs...

briansilvermustang posted:

 

     nmp's...

                    a couple more water shots Paul, with rough water flowing...

Simply Amazing!!!!

Finished the auto ramp! Hope the new owner will like it!

   I'm SURE he will Mike  !!     really like mine...

paul 2 posted:

Lee, goes to show you can always improve something. Nice job. Does make a big difference. Last night I started applying ground turf to areas around the bridge abutments and streams. Still have more to add. Pics.....Paul

                Paul, maybe a little bit of rubbish along the stream banks...

   nmp...

Brian, that sure looks realistic, but the EPA is going to get after you!  LOL

Lee, goes to show you can always improve something. Nice job.

Thanks, Paul. I love the work on the stream you worked on, it's looking great!

Lee, That is the great thing, a layout and existing fleet is never done!!  Great idea to add the shroud!

Thanks, Mark! I'm at a stage where I'm going back and looking over the small details. I'm really having fun with this part!

Lee, you see details most would miss. The improvements you make sure make a difference of not only what your change, but in the whole layout ! Nicely done!

Thanks much, Mike! This is the part I was always looking forward to, getting to the little details like this.

                     a couple CSX  running light at day break back to the yard...

Waiting for the dryer to stop I started adding some bushes and small evergreens to one side. Not sure how much more I will be doing. I have to run a few errands and start getting ready to head for York on Wednesday. Few pics.....Paul

       looking great Paul !  who makes them auto racks, pretty neat, like them...

Brian, those auto racks are from Menards................Paul

thanks Paul...

paul 2 posted:

Lee, goes to show you can always improve something. Nice job. Does make a big difference. Last night I started applying ground turf to areas around the bridge abutments and streams. Still have more to add. Pics.....Paul

Very nice Paul.  Time to look for terrain floor tile and a camouflaged vacuum cleaner & tool box. 

Brian, great night pictures!

Paul, the trees and ground cover it bring your layout to life! Wonderful work and have a great time at York!

Matt, you have the eagle eye! And Mark said I was good at picking things out! LOL

Hello All;

        Attached are photos of our layout which we have just started. Much of the fundamental benchwork is in place and we have started to lay track. Our layout is 40'x50' and will be a walk through style with the lowest level of track being on the floor and working its way up. Our plan is to be able to run 50 to 75 trains at one time as this will be accomplished with computer control. I will post more pictures as we make progress.

Thanks;

idea-thinker

Wow, Idea-thinker!  That is massive!!  Yes I’ll look forward to seeing more!

Great start on a huge layout! But I have to ask when you say we, is that you and your kids or is going to be a club layout?

Looks like Elliot has competition. 

I was not clear when I stated "we". That is my My Wife and me. I am getting close to retirement and want to get a head start on retiring.

Thanks;

idea-thinker 

idea-thinker posted:

Hello All;

        Attached are photos of our layout which we have just started. Much of the fundamental benchwork is in place and we have started to lay track. Our layout is 40'x50' and will be a walk through style with the lowest level of track being on the floor and working its way up. Our plan is to be able to run 50 to 75 trains at one time as this will be accomplished with computer control. I will post more pictures as we make progress.

Thanks;

idea-thinker

Holy cow...!

Mike

I’m getting close to retirement too, but my room is only 11’ 6” x 11’ 4”.  The rate I am going, you will be fully operational before me!  LOL. You can see it in the link in my signature line.

I forgot to mention, as my dad used to say when he was still active; I have two helpers, The Holy Spirit and Ben Gay!

idea-thinker posted:

I was not clear when I stated "we". That is my My Wife and me. I am getting close to retirement and want to get a head start on retiring.

Thanks;

idea-thinker 

That's quite the undertaking you and your wife are doing! More Power to you and I cant wait to see more!

Wow, IDEA-THINKER, Great idea, Great Layout Beginning, looks like this will be a fantastic empire, fun to watch, even more fun to run.  You and your wife make a great team. Thank you.

My little 4x8 fold-up, post-war basement layout is going modular to be displayed at Metca's (TCA) semi-annual swap meet, so yesterday I (oh-so-painfully) sawed it into four sections.  Although the original panels' track plans will remain the same, I will be able to insert additional modules between them for the shows.  I just wish I had a bigger basement (sigh).  My next step is to replace the old tubular track with a bunch of K-Line's "Super K" shadow rail I've been acquiring.

LoadMaster posted:

idea-thinker posted:

Hello All;

        Attached are photos of our layout which we have just started. Much of the fundamental benchwork is in place and we have started to lay track. Our layout is 40'x50' and will be a walk through style with the lowest level of track being on the floor and working its way up. Our plan is to be able to run 50 to 75 trains at one time as this will be accomplished with computer control. I will post more pictures as we make progress.

Thanks;

idea-thinker

Holy cow...!

Mike

THAT'S AN UNDERSTATEMENT!!!!! 

idea-thinker posted:

Our layout is 40'x50' and will be a walk through style with the lowest level of track being on the floor and working its way up. Our plan is to be able to run 50 to 75 trains at one time as this will be accomplished with computer control.

Briansilvermustang I don't think the engineer would want to be "Trading Places" with the motorman.

I have started rebuilding and refurbishing an Athearn sd50 to a weathered (kind of) SD40E. It will be NS 6330 when completed. Final work includes: finish rewiring the locomotive, add LEDs, Finish decals, grease it, and get a decoder for it. If it is a successful rebuild, I may build a few more in the future as I cannot find the real SD40Es from athearn for decent prices where as I can get SD50s for Okay prices.

                           cleaned some track...

                                                                             and ran some trains...

Great pictures Brian! It sure looks like you had more fun running trains then cleaning track! I am sure glad that door opens out or it would be a PIA to rig something up to swing the track in with the door!

      yep, Dad helped me turn the door around for that reason...

                                 me and Izzy ran trains till about midnight last night...

briansilvermustang posted:

      yep, Dad helped me turn the door around for that reason...

                                 me and Izzy ran trains till about midnight last night...

And let me guess, Izzy is still sleeping! Tank woke me up at 2 this morning and now he is sleeping in my chair! LOL

       she was a little tired last night, I'm sure she's sleeping right now,

                                              I'll check on her at lunch time...

Stage 1

Started with cardboard & tunnel openings

Finished stage 2 today.  Built this corner mountain today. I used cardboard and aluminum , spray painted for ground cover base.

Basic outline

Materials 

Glued and painted in separate sections

Stage 2 done

Next step adding turf rock...etc

Jushavnfun posted:

Stage 1

Started with cardboard & tunnel openings

 

 

Finished stage 2 today.  Built this corner mountain today. I used cardboard and aluminum , spray painted for ground cover base.

Basic outline

 

Materials 

 

Glued and painted in separate sections

 

Stage 2 done

Next step adding turf rock...etc

looking just GREAT! Cant wait to see whats next!

Nice job on the tunnel. I noticed from your first picture that you have a switch in the tunnel. This should usually be avoided but if you want a switch in the tunnel make sure you have easy access to it. You should also make sure you have access to reach a train if it derails in the tunnel. Murphy's law says it will.

I managed to get a little more done today but that is it till I get back from York. Added some more bushes, evergreens and clump foliage. Pics.............Paul

Looks great Paul! Have fun at York and save some money! LOL

Looks great Paul!!

Pat

Been there done that.  The switch goes to back siding for magnetic crane, scrap yard, manual throw on switch.

Back is open for access.

Inspired by Buster Keaton in "The Railrodder": 

I rolled my own Buster Keaton-style porkpie hat today:

Now all I gotta do is get a track speeder!   

Mitch 

i gots to get me one of those

Very neat hat Mitch!  I just looked at the first few minutes of the video.  I’ll go back when I have more time!  Yes a speeder would be nice!

A company named General Models made an o gauge speeder in the 50's. If you look up General Models speeder

in ebay completed listings you will see a few.  Also I came across a youtube video of one. These were unusual

in that the front wheels were actually the commutator so to get them to run you needed to push start them.

beardog posted:

A company named General Models made an o gauge speeder in the 50's. If you look up General Models speeder

in ebay completed listings you will see a few.  Also I came across a youtube video of one. These were unusual

in that the front wheels were actually the commutator so to get them to run you needed to push start them.

Yep!  And they had a trolley using the same mechanism:  https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/topic/birney-comparison

Only a couple of posts in 24 hours. I guess everyone is at York- except us

I guess. I am an hour away from York but spent my $$ putting up a layout. Maybe in the fall.

Brian - Just a suggestion, but could you add to your frequent posts what you have done to your layout?  I see so many posts with just pictures and I want to compliment you on what did on your layout, but I'm not sure what it was.  Like the warehouse that is in so many of your pictures, did you just build that?  Is it a paper building front?  It looks really good and I have wanted to comment on it, but was hoping in one of your posts you would tell us about it.  Then I thought maybe you did and I missed it.

You must have an enormous engine collection too as I have seen hundreds on this thread since I have been watching.  Do you have room to run them all or do you have to store so many of them like most of us do?

Thanks, Art

RSJB18 posted:

Only a couple of posts in 24 hours. I guess everyone is at York- except us

Yeah, guess so.  Someday, maybe…

I'm also just an hour away, NE of York, and not going.  Have to finish my layout first I think.  Jim Pastorius, you an hour which direction from York?  Is your layout conventional, DCS or Legacy?