Hi Lew, I don't think there is a adjustment for the motor, but I will look again!

Ray, that looks Amazing!

Mark, good idea on letting it melt! If you have a problem with the crane SELL it to Lee! He enjoys fixing and redoing things! LOL

Lee I couldn't resist!

Johan, what a great scene! You always post something just wonderful!

Well I got out to the train room this morning before my HOA meeting and got some work done on my parts I painted lastnight. I painted the white edge on the steps and uncoupler bars. Then I cut off the bolsters the use to be there for the old claw couplers! Couple of photos for your enjoyment!

geysergazer posted:

Johan, I think your recent work with ground cover greenery has turned out just right. 

Lew. Thank you. The layout still need more bushes and trees. 🤝

Johan

mike g. posted:

Hi Lew, I don't think there is a adjustment for the motor, but I will look again!

Ray, that looks Amazing!

Mark, good idea on letting it melt! If you have a problem with the crane SELL it to Lee! He enjoys fixing and redoing things! LOL

Lee I couldn't resist!

Johan, what a great scene! You always post something just wonderful!

Well I got out to the train room this morning before my HOA meeting and got some work done on my parts I painted lastnight. I painted the white edge on the steps and uncoupler bars. Then I cut off the bolsters the use to be there for the old claw couplers! Couple of photos for your enjoyment!

Mike. You're welcome. I am glad you like it. 👍

Johan

I am painting leftover figures from my pervious passenger car detailing.  I have seven partial boxes of 36 left to go.  (Not pictured in addition to what is pictured.) 

Then I start the twelve new/unopened boxes of 36 Preiser 65602 Seated figures.  I came up for air and to walk around after sitting at the kitchen table for two hours.

Six Canadian Pacific 21" passenger cars are supposedly on their way to me.

Have a good weekend.

Sincerely, John Rowlen

I post to verify my existence.  

mike g. posted:

Hi Lew, I don't think there is a adjustment for the motor, but I will look again!

Ray, that looks Amazing!

Mark, good idea on letting it melt! If you have a problem with the crane SELL it to Lee! He enjoys fixing and redoing things! LOL

Lee I couldn't resist!

Johan, what a great scene! You always post something just wonderful!

Well I got out to the train room this morning before my HOA meeting and got some work done on my parts I painted lastnight. I painted the white edge on the steps and uncoupler bars. Then I cut off the bolsters the use to be there for the old claw couplers! Couple of photos for your enjoyment!

That’s gonna look nice Mike

as long as the price is around Free or flea market price I’ll take it to fix up lol

Did some more work on the Wood Reefer car last night. I love to hand paint and BTW any paint you see on the sides were there when I got it can’t blame me but I here MikeG. Saying “Yeah right Lee” lol. I also filed the new ends to the car 

with all the great work going on here in this thread, its inspiring to keep at it. So back up to the layout room this morning for another turn at the plaster cloth. The area we are working on is on the left side of the water feature and the terrain  should slope to the water . There are track bridges at three levels. 

I used a combination of solid white foam pieces, some pieces on a slope and newspaper to stuff the openings and help with the slope. The confined area  made it a bit difficult to work with the wet cloth. I found out that you could also wet the area and then apply the cloth as it would absorb the moisture. A paper towel with some moisture in can also aid wetting the cloth in theses area. 

I was liking the ideas that Bob RSJB18 had with using printed materials. I had a similar application for the Bridge supports on my water feature area . So managed to print some stone and apply it to the 1 by 4s that were the bridge supports before today. 

The scene is coming together now. These two photis step back and give the overall effect

Mark Boyce posted:

Mike, I'll let it melt. 

Mike, Lew, Lee, I got out my gantry crane and have to apologize.  It is not the postwar, but is Lionel 6-12700 from 1987.  I'm going to set it up on the workbench, because I think there was one function I had trouble with.

Ray, the real parts mockup looks great!!  It is just like we were discussing at of all places my Thursday morning breakfast-Bible study.  We get on a variety of topics while waiting for the food and when we start eating.  One was about one of the guys mentioning being in New York, and driving a steer and the elevated line seemed to go on forever.  I have never been to NYC or Chicago, but I have been to Philly once back in the '80s and saw theirs.  Anyway, the remark was made about the residents and hotel guests having to listen to the trains right outside their windows.  Your mockup is like what they were talking about.

yes ..Mark and Lew, these were terrible if you stayed at a hotel near them or worse had to live by one, I only remember New York way back, very noisy and rough riding.

But in '67 was in Montreal when they first had their rubber tired Metro, what a difference and very clean and quiet. I haven't been back so don't know how they have held up over the years.

Mike g, the flats are O gauge. They are alittle pricey but I think they are worth the price. They come on paper so I glued them to foamboard using 3M adhesive spray. Directions said not to use white glue.

Today I started playing with the new building flats. Adding the silos to the one flat and just placing the others along the wall to see what works. The PVC pipe I had left in shorter heights I put along a siding on another table. Also started to add washes to the walls of the machine shop. Looks like what I really wanted to do with the area left is difinately not going to work. So as they say.......back to the drawing board..Pics.....Paul 2

LIRR Steamer posted:

 

I was liking the ideas that Bob RSJB18 had with using printed materials. I had a similar application for the Bridge supports on my water feature area . So managed to print some stone and apply it to the 1 by 4s that were the bridge supports before today. 

 

 

The scene is coming together now. These two photis step back and give the overall effect

 

Looks good Happy to share my tips and tricks.

I like the whole scene! Really starting to shape up.

Bob

             layout is looking great LIRR Steamer !

                              really like the scene in this corner...  

briansilvermustang posted:

 

 

             layout is looking great LIRR Steamer !

                              really like the scene in this corner...  

 

 

Ditto, ditto!

Mike, I took some pics of a "spare" 282 motor to show the gear-lash adjustment.

Notice the taper of the motor mounting pad (motor is upside down):

Again from the other side:

And the slotted mounting screw holes to allow the motor to slide on the pad that is machined into the crane metal baseplate:

So because the motor (and thus the worm) is tilted wrt the mounting pad, as you move the motor back-and-forth the worm gets closer/farther from the worm-pinion and the lash becomes less/more. The question is, does the 182 motor do the same thing or was this a design improvement between the 182 and the newer 282 Crane?

paul 2 posted:

Mike g, the flats are O gauge. They are alittle pricey but I think they are worth the price. They come on paper so I glued them to foamboard using 3M adhesive spray. Directions said not to use white glue.

Today I started playing with the new building flats. Adding the silos to the one flat and just placing the others along the wall to see what works. The PVC pipe I had left in shorter heights I put along a siding on another table. Also started to add washes to the walls of the machine shop. Looks like what I really wanted to do with the area left is difinately not going to work. So as they say.......back to the drawing board..Pics.....Paul 2

Paul:

I have looked at the same buildings before on Trackside Scenery's web site. Now that I see them as you display them on your layout, I am going to purchase one for an area in which I was going to make my own building flat. The really are nice.

LIRR Steamer posted:

with all the great work going on here in this thread, its inspiring to keep at it. So back up to the layout room this morning for another turn at the plaster cloth. The area we are working on is on the left side of the water feature and the terrain  should slope to the water . There are track bridges at three levels. 

I used a combination of solid white foam pieces, some pieces on a slope and newspaper to stuff the openings and help with the slope. The confined area  made it a bit difficult to work with the wet cloth. I found out that you could also wet the area and then apply the cloth as it would absorb the moisture. A paper towel with some moisture in can also aid wetting the cloth in theses area. 

 

I was liking the ideas that Bob RSJB18 had with using printed materials. I had a similar application for the Bridge supports on my water feature area . So managed to print some stone and apply it to the 1 by 4s that were the bridge supports before today. 

 

The scene is coming together now. These two photis step back and give the overall effect

 

Very nice and the print is very convincing good job 

Mike, the painting is looking very good!

Lee, I do not have a steady hand anymore, and even by bracing it on something it seems paint goes everywhere.  Your car looks better now than when you started.

LISteamer, the scene is really coming together!  The printed piers are great!

Paul, Your buildings are looking great!  As long as it doesn't snow a bunch next Saturday, I plan to see them first hand!!

Well what I found on the '87 crane is that the magnet works and both motors wonk but they don't turn anything.  I see the coupling between the plastic motor housings and the gears must be little square end shafts, and they both are missing.  I took all the cardboard filler out of the box, but don't see them there.

In this photograph, I have removed one of the motor housings from the base.  I had a dickens of a time getting light to shine where I wanted it, but the two circles with the line between them shows where the square shaft should go from the easy to see hole on the motor housing and the hard to see gear.  The single circle shows where the other motor housing is still mounted on the base and it is missing the shaft also.

If anyone sees where my observations are wrong, let me know.  I never saw one of these before.

I started back on this Reefer this morning and I just seem to walk away from it. I added the hardware from Scale City Designs and hand painted them next will be the trucks and stirrups and couplers

Mark. Thanks my hands hurt with arthritis but there still stead hand painted is so relaxing for me it’s hard to describe. 

Paul2. I’m liking your seems more and more your ideas are terrific maybe someday I can get around to putting some of those flat buildings on my wall great idea for the silos 

Lee, I understand it is hard to describe.  My hands, especially the thumbs hurt with arthritis too.  I had some trouble just today taking the gantry crane apart to see what is going on.  

WOW John, your quite the baby or should I say people making machine! Your going to be busy till summer now!

Lee D, Your doing a great job on the wood reefer! The addition of your parts from Scale City really make the car come to life! But then again you always do a wonderful job on all the cars you do!

LIRR, Your plaster work is coming right along! I like how everything is making your scene come to life!

Paul 2, Thanks for the information! Your buildings are looking great! Don't worry about going back to the drawing board, its better then taking track back up again! I know, just don't ask how! LOL

Hi Lew, The 182 does not have any adjustment, looks like the 282 has a big improvement. But it makes me think I can make my own shims!

Mark, Thank you sir! I am sorry your missing some parts for your crane. If you cant find them give me the measurements and I can try and build you a couple!

Well after the HOA meeting I went back to my fixed pilot project! Things were going well then I busted the air hoses on one end. So one end only has 1 set of hoses. The rest is coming together, I got the shell mounted, the Kadee coupler mounts installed. All that is left is to make up the couplers and mount them, then put it back on the track. I have included a couple photos. I don't think it will happen tomorrow as I need to work on the house a little!

Everyone have a great night and I will check back in before bed!

Mark Boyce posted:

Lee, I understand it is hard to describe.  My hands, especially the thumbs hurt with arthritis too.  I had some trouble just today taking the gantry crane apart to see what is going on.  

You need to keep that crane and I know the feeling my fingers are getting more crooked every day. 

Thanks Mike your engine looks great as well talk to you tomorrow 

I need to read this thread more often.  Too many good projects on hand to count or comment on.

Here is my entry for today.  Finally got around to repairing the windows on the Bachmann G Scale Coach that I purchased off of feeBay for my Christmas layout.  It arrived with the windows cracked as such and one of the wheels by itself in the box.  The coach was poorly packaged to be insulated from damage so the USPS was innocent here.

So today, I decided it was time to glue the window pieces back together (the wheel set was put back on, and I ran the coach on the Christmas layout)  so that I now can place it in storage.

lee drennen posted:

Mark Boyce posted:

Lee, I understand it is hard to describe.  My hands, especially the thumbs hurt with arthritis too.  I had some trouble just today taking the gantry crane apart to see what is going on.  

You need to keep that crane and I know the feeling my fingers are getting more crooked every day. 

That is probably all that is wrong with it, other than it wasn't built like Mike's postwar version.    I was trying to think, but nothing happened.  I don't remember when or where I got it.  Also, it is missing on my inventory spreadsheet, so I don't even know what I paid for it.  Definitely an oversight on my part.  I thought I had everything on that sheet.  I'll get it going sometime, and it should be a good item if we ever have grandchildren.  

Mike, bummer the air hoses broke.  You will get it going well though.  Thank you for the offer on those little parts.  I'll see what I can do first. 

Kevin, it is a shame how poorly some folks pack stuff they ship!  The car looks great though as you got it fixed!!

First pair of block signals hooked up and working today with Azatrax relay. Their purpose to protect westbound train on westbound track while eastbound train enter westbound track. Same when westbound train enter eastbound track. 3 pairs to go! It was fun and easy project.
Patrick 

John Rowlen posted:

I am painting leftover figures from my pervious passenger car detailing.  I have seven partial boxes of 36 left to go.  (Not pictured in addition to what is pictured.) 

Then I start the twelve new/unopened boxes of 36 Preiser 65602 Seated figures.  I came up for air and to walk around after sitting at the kitchen table for two hours.

Six Canadian Pacific 21" passenger cars are supposedly on their way to me.

Have a good weekend.

Sincerely, John Rowlen

I post to verify my existence.  

Great job on the people painting John.

CGWforever posted:

First pair of block signals hooked up and working today with Azatrax relay. Their purpose to protect westbound train on westbound track while eastbound train enter westbound track. Same when westbound train enter eastbound track. 3 pairs to go! It was fun and easy project.
Patrick 

They look great!  Fun and easy are my favorite words!!  

Kevin, Nice to see an easy fix! Job well done, It should look great on the Christmas layout next year!

Patrick, Nice Job! Looks clean and very nice! I really like the stuff John form Azatrax puts out! Top notch equipment. I see from the pictures you have the sensors under the table shooting up. Was wondering how they are working for you! I had to put mine on my old layout at an angle.

Well its Sunday, no football, no racing yet, so I guess I will work on the house long enough to make the CEO happy than  hope to get to the train room and put my Kadee couplers on my dummy engine so I can call it done! LOL

I hope everyone has a great day and finds time for there layout and trains!

Nothing on the layout but I bought some supplies yesterday. A local arts and crafts store is closing so the prices were right. Really exciting stuff too, paint, Elmers glue, Testors glue for my building kit. I did find some small chain in their jewelry dept which I can use for securing loads on flatbed cars. I was looking for Testors dull-coat too but they didn't have it.

Hopefully I can get started on the building kit today.

Another busy Saturday on everyone's layouts.

Mark- can't tell from the picture but would some 1/4" square basswood dowel serve the purpose? Evergreen Models probably has what you need.
Mike- My fat fingers break small plastic parts all the time
Patrick- the signals are very nice.
Lee- It's all about the details. That car is going to look great.
Kevin- I hate when people don't pack things securely. My wife sells on "dabay" and everything she ships is packed like we're shipping the Mona Lisa.
Paul- the new area is coming together even if its in a re-design now.

Happy Sunday!

Bob

I've gotten the base completed for the last section of the city and  started figuring out the building locations. Nearing the end of an Altoona model build and printed a nice decal for some wall advertising. Have fun.

Scott 

Bob, good luck on the building kit! Remember, take your time and have fun!

Scott the building platform turned out nice! Wonderful job on the building and the  wall art! Where did you find it?

mike g. posted:

Bob, good luck on the building kit! Remember, take your time and have fun!

Scott the building platform turned out nice! Wonderful job on the building and the  wall art! Where did you find it?

Mike,

  I was looking at "Ghost Signs" of Baltimore, and saw one for Hunter Rye so just searched for the logo and printed it on decal paper. 

Thanks- Scott 

B&O Fan posted:

I've gotten the base completed for the last section of the city and  started figuring out the building locations. Nearing the end of an Altoona model build and printed a nice decal for some wall advertising. Have fun.

Scott 

Scott:

Your city scene is shaping up to be GREAT. I love urban scenes. Is the brick building in the second photo a kit? if so, what is it and where did you get it?

Thank you.

Randy Harrison posted:

B&O Fan posted:

I've gotten the base completed for the last section of the city and  started figuring out the building locations. Nearing the end of an Altoona model build and printed a nice decal for some wall advertising. Have fun.

Scott 

Scott:

Your city scene is shaping up to be GREAT. I love urban scenes. Is the brick building in the second photo a kit? if so, what is it and where did you get it?

Thank you.

 

Randy,

It's the ABC Brewery office kit from Altoona models. 

Thanks for the comments. 

Scott 

Scott:

Thanks for your quick reply. It is a GREAT structure. I guess they wont just sell me the office?

Randy Harrison posted:

Scott:

Thanks for your quick reply. It is a GREAT structure. I guess they wont just sell me the office?

Yes, you can get just the office. That's what I did. 

Have a good day, 

Scott 

    Mike, your engine looks great !

    Scott, really like your city scene !

    Lee, reefer car is looking really good !

                 shortly after taking delivery of a NH full dome car,

                           which will become part of my  Anheuser- Busch dinner train...

    I started removing all the New Haven lettering from the car...

               next a red & white stripe will replace the orange stripe that is on the car...

       that will match the stripes on the engine....

                  an Anheuser Busch's Adolphus business car will also be part of this train...

Johan, what kind of car is that? I have never seen one before! Sure is sharp looking along with your great scenery!

Scott, Thanks for the information. I to would also like to have the brewery, but then again I also want to stay married! LOL

Brian, Looking good and sounds like you have a great plan! Good thing you have that New Haven switcher to help you out!~

On my layout today I installed led lighting underneath the kit is made for under kitchen cabinets but should work for me took 2 hours 

mike g. posted:

Johan, what kind of car is that? I have never seen one before! Sure is sharp looking along with your great scenery!

Scott, Thanks for the information. I to would also like to have the brewery, but then again I also want to stay married! LOL

Brian, Looking good and sounds like you have a great plan! Good thing you have that New Haven switcher to help you out!~

Mike. Thank you. That is a B&M Doodlebug rail car. 

Johan

Scott. I really like your city how it’s on a curve very different and a great job

Brian. Thanks I just can’t walk away from this car till it’s complete. I like that AB switcher never knew they made them in AB 

Steve. Great idea and thanks for posting I need one of those for my work bench 

Well this morning I was back at it on this Reefer car. I put the trucks and Kadee couplers on added some more details including Scale City Designs stirrups and the ladders were to long for the car so I cut them off and save the excess to make the side door reefer steps. Then I decided to go out on my comfort zone and put a brake wheel and rod on it I have two handrails to put on it then it will be finished I’m gonna let things set up then I’ll finish painting 

BAR GP7 #63 posted:

love the photo!

Steve, Sure beats a flashlight! LOL Nice work!

Johan, thank you, Looks Great and now I know what a Doodlebug car is!

Lee D, You are doing a KILLER job on the reefer car! Just wondering how much of your rolling stock have Kadee's?

Well the CEO let me go out and play a little so I was able to get the Kadee's put on my dummy engine and put back in the fleet! Here are a couple photos! Who knows I might even get a little more done like clean the darn room! LOL

gandydancer1950 posted:

BAR GP7 #63 posted:

love the photo!

Ganfydancer1950. Thanks.🤝

Johan

Lee, beautiful!

But Mike, cleaning takes away from train time. 

Of course, not cleaning can make our beautiful trains all dusty&gray. 

I finished the control panel for my yard.

Bob, I was thinking similar to you.  1/4" square basswood dowel is too large.  The caliper measures it as .130 inches, slightly larger than 1/8".  I could get 1/4" and sand it down.  I don't know how much torque it would be on basswood to wear it down and get sloppy.  Maybe it would have to be metal, but I don't know if it is too tight it could crack the plastic.  I can try something and see.

Scott, the town is going to look great!  I too, like the Altoona building with the round turret!

Johan, I agree, that is a great scene with the doodlebug and the cars on other tracks behind!!

Brian, that car will look nice with that paint scheme!

Steve, the LED lights under the layout are great!  You just can't have enough light when we get older.

Lee, the reefer is looking tremendous!

Mike, the engines look great!  Also, the room doesn't look bad.  Lew is right, you move the dust around and get natural weathering!

Ross, the control panel looks pretty snazzy.

Spent the day pointing brick......

Well not really but I did take a stab at white washing the mortar lines on the machine shop. I used white acrylic and mixed in some light brown to tone it down a little. If you look closely at most brick buildings, the mortar is as far from white as you could get. Even on new buildings. Not disappointed with the results at all. Once I paint the doors and trim I think it will be just fine. I'm going to do the window and door lintels to look like sandstone so I thought a beige mortar would match best.

I cleaned up the pieces first and washed all the parts too.

I'm going to add a floor on the second floor, the model doesn't come with one. I want to do some lighting and interior details too. The footprint is only 6X6 so can't do too much.

I also settled on a couple of smaller size prints of the two buildings and cut them out and glued them to some thin cardboard. Once dry I'll cut them out and figure out where to place them later.

Bob

           Bob, your building is looking great !!

"Brian, Looking good and sounds like you have a great plan! Good thing you have that New Haven switcher to help you out!~" 

      thanks Mike...   really like it...

     your BNSF engines look great together !

                  are you going to have an auto-rack siding...

                            to be able to use your ramp for unloading vehicles ?

Lew, I didn't clean, but I did try to run trains. I founfdd out I have some wiring to trace and track to clean. Trains run, go threw switches and die! It has me scratching my head, so I am going to retrace all the wires for the sidings!

Ross, Nice control panel!

Mark, Thank you! If you would like I can cut you some thick Plexi Glass to close to size and you could still sand it to fit!

Bob, Nice Job on the white/Tan wash! Plus the printed buildings are going to look great on your layout! Your right there fallowing in Paul 2 feet!

train steve posted:

On my layout today I installed led lighting underneath the kit is made for under kitchen cabinets but should work for me took 2 hours 

That is an idea I could use, never have enough light down under

MikeG. Thanks this has been really fun Brian the Silver Mustang sent that Reefer to me as a gift out of nowhere. I like that ramp and you trains look very good. About half of my rolling stock is Kadees. I’ll get some pics of my Rolling stock with Kadees. 

Lew. Thanks I appreciate your complement 

Bob. I just watched a video today on YouTube of Mr. muffins white washing and mortaring brick buildings you’re doing a fantastic job

Johan great pics as always 

Mark. thanks for the complement 

Brian. Nice switcher 

Ross. I second that nice panel very impressive 

I’m calling it a day on this Reefer. Tonight I painted the Hardware on the Brake Wheel and platform and I also added some end rails at the roof top and sides. Next I have to add the air tank and valves and roof walkway supports at the ends and  I’m calling it done 

B&O Fan posted:

Randy Harrison posted:

Scott:

Thanks for your quick reply. It is a GREAT structure. I guess they wont just sell me the office?

Yes, you can get just the office. That's what I did. 

Have a good day, 

Scott 

Scott:

Thanks again for the information. Again, you did a GREAT job on the building.

Mark Boyce posted:

Bob, I was thinking similar to you.  1/4" square basswood dowel is too large.  The caliper measures it as .130 inches, slightly larger than 1/8".  I could get 1/4" and sand it down.  I don't know how much torque it would be on basswood to wear it down and get sloppy.  Maybe it would have to be metal, but I don't know if it is too tight it could crack the plastic.  I can try something and see.

Scott, the town is going to look great!  I too, like the Altoona building with the round turret!

Johan, I agree, that is a great scene with the doodlebug and the cars on other tracks behind!!

Brian, that car will look nice with that paint scheme!

Steve, the LED lights under the layout are great!  You just can't have enough light when we get older.

Lee, the reefer is looking tremendous!

Mike, the engines look great!  Also, the room doesn't look bad.  Lew is right, you move the dust around and get natural weathering!

Ross, the control panel looks pretty snazzy.

Mark. Thank you. 🤝

Johan

lee drennen posted:

MikeG. Thanks this has been really fun Brian the Silver Mustang sent that Reefer to me as a gift out of nowhere. I like that ramp and you trains look very good. About half of my rolling stock is Kadees. I’ll get some pics of my Rolling stock with Kadees. 

Lew. Thanks I appreciate your complement 

Bob. I just watched a video today on YouTube of Mr. muffins white washing and mortaring brick buildings you’re doing a fantastic job

Johan great pics as always 

Mark. thanks for the complement 

Brian. Nice switcher 

Ross. I second that nice panel very impressive 

Lee. Thanks. 🤝

Johan

Brian, thank you sir! As for the Auto-rack siding I am still working on it. I have 2 auto-rack cars that's why OI built the ramp. I even built one for Cabinet Bob! It even made the back of the last Menards train catalog!

Lee D, Amazing work! Looking wonderful. One has to ask what's next when your done with the reefer car?

I hope everyone has a wonderful Monday and finds time for your layout and trains!

EricaAnn posted:

It's not so much what I did for my layout today, but what I did for someone else's layout. Working on 3 locomotives for a client. The two A units were originally Lionel 2032 Erie Alco's, circa 1952-1954. The B unit is from Lionel's MPF days. The two A units were "artistly" repainted by someone using a brush trying to stay away from the decals. Same with the truck side rails. Guess they wanted to update the color scheme. 

I was able to strip away the brush applied paint job as well as Lionel's original decals, black paint & yellow side strips. These shells have now had time turned back about 67 years and all of lead based paint is gone! 

After stripping a number of older Lionel cars my stripping solutions has enough lead in suspension to probably offer some limited radiation protection. 

A couple weeks ago I shared a few photos of the stripped ALCO shells I was working on. Well, I thought I'd share a photo or two of the completed locomotives before I deliver them to my client. The "old girls" got quite a facelift!

As a result of wanting to display one of my recent finds I did some work on the PER's scenic backdrop.

I put together three pics from a mid-'50s Shawmut excursion:

The left photo is of a pair of Shawmut SW9s with B&O Fs idling in the background. This would have been at Brockway where the Shawmut and the B&O interchanged and was surely the end of the Northbound leg of the trip.

Dad took the top photo in the morning on the B&O high bridge over the Allegheny River and the Shawmut RR.

The bottom photo was in the afternoon with the excursion train Southbound now passing under the B&O high bridge.

I also changed things a bit on the West wall, trying for perspective-filled shots to go with the D&RGW up-the-mountain pic:

I feel like I done good work.  :

Over the weekend I weathered my fleet of ore cars and my 0-6-0 tank engine. 

First I attacked the bodies with acetone to dull the finish and lighten the lettering.  The next step was a coatiing of Dullcoat.  Then I  brushed brown oxide powder all over, followed by a second dullcoat spray.  Finally the B&LE  cars got a wash of gray. 

 On the tank engine, I first removed the US  STEEL logo with 91% ISOPROPYL Alcohol followed by an initial coating of dullcoat. 

The next steps included brush painting the loco with acrylic paints, grimy black, dirt,  oily black,  and white.  It also got some brown oxide powder on it. 

Hope you like them.

This weekend my youngest son (8 years old) and I  spent a lot of time working on the layout. As you can see from the photos, he really likes the flowering clumps available from Walthers and Woodland Scenics. I'm not sure how many switch towers have landscaping but ours does.

Erica Ann, Those Alcos look great!!

Lew, your collage of prints looks great!  You cover quite a bit of territory all the way from the Allegheny River to D&RGW country!

Bill, the weathering looks superb!  Yes the B&LE cars that traveled through Butler County looked that way.

JLM1973, If it keeps him enjoying the layout, then by all means!  I think it looks great!

Johan, Living in the so called "Rust Belt" The rust is impeccable!

third rail posted:

Over the weekend I weathered my fleet of ore cars and my 0-6-0 tank engine. 

First I attacked the bodies with acetone to dull the finish and lighten the lettering.  The next step was a coatiing of Dullcoat.  Then I  brushed brown oxide powder all over, followed by a second dullcoat spray.  Finally the B&LE  cars got a wash of gray. 

 On the tank engine, I first removed the US  STEEL logo with 91% ISOPROPYL Alcohol followed by an initial coating of dullcoat. 

The next steps included brush painting the loco with acrylic paints, grimy black, dirt,  oily black,  and white.  It also got some brown oxide powder on it. 

Hope you like them.

Great work on the tank engine!

Mark,  I know I ran into this year's ago...  I would shop for some "Shaft Key Stock"....  It tends to be available at a good old style full service hardware store.   It's square steel stock made for keyways in drive shafts and mating hubs to prevent slipping....  

It's still or at least was fairly common hardware, find it on lawnmowers, snowblowers etc.....  If my memory serves me right it comes in common US standard fractional dimensions  3/16 sq.  1/4 sq etc.....

I think I re-installed mine with some acrylic latex caulk like DAP230 to keep it from falling out again. 

Sorry I am many days behind getting on the forum, went skiing with my daughter Saturday in NH>....   

mike g. posted:

Brian, thank you sir! As for the Auto-rack siding I am still working on it. I have 2 auto-rack cars that's why OI built the ramp. I even built one for Cabinet Bob! It even made the back of the last Menards train catalog!

Lee D, Amazing work! Looking wonderful. One has to ask what's next when your done with the reefer car?

I hope everyone has a wonderful Monday and finds time for your layout and trains!

Mike I have a few ideas 

Mark Boyce posted:

Erica Ann, Those Alcos look great!!

Lew, your collage of prints looks great!  You cover quite a bit of territory all the way from the Allegheny River to D&RGW country!

Bill, the weathering looks superb!  Yes the B&LE cars that traveled through Butler County looked that way.

JLM1973, If it keeps him enjoying the layout, then by all means!  I think it looks great!

I second that everything Mark said great work everyone 

EricaAnn posted:

EricaAnn posted:

It's not so much what I did for my layout today, but what I did for someone else's layout. Working on 3 locomotives for a client. The two A units were originally Lionel 2032 Erie Alco's, circa 1952-1954. The B unit is from Lionel's MPF days. The two A units were "artistly" repainted by someone using a brush trying to stay away from the decals. Same with the truck side rails. Guess they wanted to update the color scheme. 

I was able to strip away the brush applied paint job as well as Lionel's original decals, black paint & yellow side strips. These shells have now had time turned back about 67 years and all of lead based paint is gone! 

After stripping a number of older Lionel cars my stripping solutions has enough lead in suspension to probably offer some limited radiation protection. 

A couple weeks ago I shared a few photos of the stripped ALCO shells I was working on. Well, I thought I'd share a photo or two of the completed locomotives before I deliver them to my client. The "old girls" got quite a facelift!

Very nice always enjoyed your work on these you have some great ideas 

chris a posted:

Mark,  I know I ran into this year's ago...  I would shop for some "Shaft Key Stock"....  It tends to be available at a good old style full service hardware store.   It's square steel stock made for keyways in drive shafts and mating hubs to prevent slipping....  

It's still or at least was fairly common hardware, find it on lawnmowers, snowblowers etc.....  If my memory serves me right it comes in common US standard fractional dimensions  3/16 sq.  1/4 sq etc.....

I think I re-installed mine with some acrylic latex caulk like DAP230 to keep it from falling out again. 

Sorry I am many days behind getting on the forum, went skiing with my daughter Saturday in NH>....   

 

Chris, Thank you for the good idea!!  Don't worry, it is so easy to get behind on this topic of 888 pages and counting!

Been a busy little beaver today...

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...p5-to-ep4-conversion

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...ights-using-12v-leds

Haven't done much on my layout of late. 

The layout at the JRM museum, on the other hand, is a much different story...

Here's the layout back in 2018: 

And the layout today: 

Just a wee bit of difference.  ;-) 

Mitch 

M. Mitchell Marmel posted:

Been a busy little beaver today...

And the layout today: 

Just a wee bit of difference.  ;-) 

Mitch 

Looks good, Mitch... looks like you’ve hot a lot going on in a relatively small space. Did you give up on your idea to have that center track include a reversing wye???

Apples55 posted:

Looks good, Mitch... looks like you’ve hot a lot going on in a relatively small space. Did you give up on your idea to have that center track include a reversing wye???

Yeah, we're gonna have a different mountain built, instead, so I decided to go with 042 and 027 ovals.  Between replacing the Fastrack with tubular, and putting a layer of Homasote scrounged from a scrapped HO scale layout on the table,  the trains are a LOT quieter...   

Mitch 

What did I do on my layout?? I took a pic of this enlargement which is part of the scenic backdrop of the Plywood Empire Route:

Why did I put up this and similar enlargements on the train-room walls?? Because that is me on the left. My experiences depicted in these old photos inform my life and are one of the roots of my interest in model railroading. Why did I then post this pic on this Forum?? Because that is what I did on my model railroad today and that is the topic of this thread and this Forum is for sharing OT thoughts, experiences and yes, pics.

At least that is my understanding of the TOS.

Erica Ann, Wonderful work on the Alco shells!

Lew, those are some fantastic photos! Thanks for sharing with the rest of us~!

Third Rail, Great job on the weathering, thanks for the step by step information!

JLM, Your son has an eye for taste! Let him flow with it, it will help keep him interested!

Johan, You never let up! Once again what a great looking scene!

Mitch, Outstanding work, what an improvement and I bet the kids really love it!

As for me, nothing, noda, zip, zilch. I guess you all get the point, been working on the house! LOL

geysergazer posted:

What did I do on my layout?? I took a pic of this enlargement which is part of the scenic backdrop of the Plywood Empire Route:

      

Why did I put up this and similar enlargements on the train-room walls?? Because that is me on the left. My experiences depicted in these old photos inform my life and are one of the roots of my interest in model railroading. Why did I then post this pic on this Forum?? Because that is what I did on my model railroad today and that is the topic of this thread and this Forum is for sharing OT thoughts, experiences and yes, pics.

At least that is my understanding of the TOS.

Lew, Check your email from me.  That is familiar country and ROW to me too!

Johan, those are great pics. You have a good eye for capturing a scene.

Mike g, good to see you got a chance to run trains. Hope you find the problem with the power to the track.

Erica ann, very nice paint job on the diesels.

 And to everybody else you have made for good reading today on all the projects going on. 

Took a trip to Menards to get some spray paint for the different silos along with some basswood strips from the hobby section to make some loading docks for the new flats. Also picked up two 3 inch clamps that had a great rebate on them. 4.99 each with a 4.00 dollar rebate on each one. The rebate was a limit of two. Today I applied two more washes to the machine shop. Then I started piecing in the flats to see how they will work together. Did some changing out of the flats I already had in place. I decided to cut off the bottom on one of the last flats I got. I think I am pretty close to this being the final positioning. Pics..........Paul 2

I finally got around to placing, wiring and partly scenic around a Woodland Scenic gas station I bought this past summer.  I still have modifications to do to it's exterior, I'm changing it over to a 50's era Sohio gas station, and I still have to scenic the front drive and sides.....

Paul

Paul 2, I like the flats.  I see you have the Antlers Hotel.  Cool

Paul Serows1, The staton looks good on your layout!  I have one of those stations, but I’ll be looking for Quaker State signs when the time comes.

Paul2. That’s looking very good 

PaulS I like that station and your landscaping is looking good 

Lew. I’m sorry I missed you this Morning I like that Steamer pics and others you posted. I’m getting old 

This evening I decided to get this old Lionel  depot up and going. I bought this several years ago at a Hobby Shop in St. Louis and I’m tired of moving it around Under the layout to get something. It will go on the second half of the layout. I’m undecided on the colors but have a few in mind I’m going for a fictional depot. I dismantled it and hope to get it cleaned up and painted soon

Lee, I was looking for something else and found another AmeriTown kit I forgot I had.  It says it is a Realtor office, but I think it looks like a small company store in coal country. I’m going to build it next trying a thinner, more tan mortar, and see how it goes before I do the Atlas switch tomorrow.

Mark I need to buy some of those small city buildings. Keep us posted I would like to see your progress 

Lee, will do!

So much to see on this thread in the last three days.

I am still painting Preiser 65602 Seated People for the next passenger cars I will detail.  I have started 38 combined figures that yield 76 people for the train.  The figures were set aside because of the painting challenges they present.  If I stray with my paint cut lines on one figure, I am marking the figure next to it.  I also have changed the way I install these figures, making them more realistic.  I do more grinding of legs that keep them vertical, rather than reclining.

Sincerely, John Rowlen

Mark Boyce posted:

Mike, the painting is looking very good!

Lee, I do not have a steady hand anymore, and even by bracing it on something it seems paint goes everywhere.  Your car looks better now than when you started.

LISteamer, the scene is really coming together!  The printed piers are great!

Paul, Your buildings are looking great!  As long as it doesn't snow a bunch next Saturday, I plan to see them first hand!!

Well what I found on the '87 crane is that the magnet works and both motors wonk but they don't turn anything.  I see the coupling between the plastic motor housings and the gears must be little square end shafts, and they both are missing.  I took all the cardboard filler out of the box, but don't see them there.

In this photograph, I have removed one of the motor housings from the base.  I had a dickens of a time getting light to shine where I wanted it, but the two circles with the line between them shows where the square shaft should go from the easy to see hole on the motor housing and the hard to see gear.  The single circle shows where the other motor housing is still mounted on the base and it is missing the shaft also.

If anyone sees where my observations are wrong, let me know.  I never saw one of these before.

Hardware store keystock,  square wood dowel (craft isle at Wally world, etc) or square ended chopstick?  (a bit easier than finding plastistrut here)

Hold it place for assembly with a tiny dab of silicon/caulk (if it's tricky.)

I wanted to chop off my left arm last month, then my right one soon after. Each lasted about 2 weeks;  Mid fingers to elbow... I couldn't lift a coffee cup with the left one.     Arthritis or CT  most likely....It ain't fun; that's for sure.

Mark Boyce posted:

Johan, Living in the so called "Rust Belt" The rust is impeccable!

Mark. Thank you. 🤝

Johan

mike g. posted:

Erica Ann, Wonderful work on the Alco shells!

Lew, those are some fantastic photos! Thanks for sharing with the rest of us~!

Third Rail, Great job on the weathering, thanks for the step by step information!

JLM, Your son has an eye for taste! Let him flow with it, it will help keep him interested!

Johan, You never let up! Once again what a great looking scene!

Mitch, Outstanding work, what an improvement and I bet the kids really love it!

As for me, nothing, noda, zip, zilch. I guess you all get the point, been working on the house! LOL

Mike. You're welcome. I just try do it my best.🤝

Johan

paul 2 posted:

Johan, those are great pics. You have a good eye for capturing a scene.

Mike g, good to see you got a chance to run trains. Hope you find the problem with the power to the track.

Erica ann, very nice paint job on the diesels.

 And to everybody else you have made for good reading today on all the projects going on. 

Took a trip to Menards to get some spray paint for the different silos along with some basswood strips from the hobby section to make some loading docks for the new flats. Also picked up two 3 inch clamps that had a great rebate on them. 4.99 each with a 4.00 dollar rebate on each one. The rebate was a limit of two. Today I applied two more washes to the machine shop. Then I started piecing in the flats to see how they will work together. Did some changing out of the flats I already had in place. I decided to cut off the bottom on one of the last flats I got. I think I am pretty close to this being the final positioning. Pics..........Paul 2

Paul. Thank you. I waiting our new backdrops, hope they are soon ready.🤝

Johan

Adriatic posted:

Mark Boyce posted:

Mike, the painting is looking very good!

Lee, I do not have a steady hand anymore, and even by bracing it on something it seems paint goes everywhere.  Your car looks better now than when you started.

LISteamer, the scene is really coming together!  The printed piers are great!

Paul, Your buildings are looking great!  As long as it doesn't snow a bunch next Saturday, I plan to see them first hand!!

Well what I found on the '87 crane is that the magnet works and both motors wonk but they don't turn anything.  I see the coupling between the plastic motor housings and the gears must be little square end shafts, and they both are missing.  I took all the cardboard filler out of the box, but don't see them there.

In this photograph, I have removed one of the motor housings from the base.  I had a dickens of a time getting light to shine where I wanted it, but the two circles with the line between them shows where the square shaft should go from the easy to see hole on the motor housing and the hard to see gear.  The single circle shows where the other motor housing is still mounted on the base and it is missing the shaft also.

If anyone sees where my observations are wrong, let me know.  I never saw one of these before.

Hardware store keystock,  square wood dowel (craft isle at Wally world, etc) or square ended chopstick?  (a bit easier than finding plastistruct here)

Hold it place for assembly with a tiny dab of silicon/caulk (if it's tricky.)

I wanted to chop off my left arm last month, then my right one soon after. Each lasted about 2 weeks;  Mid fingers to elbow... I couldn't lift a coffee cup with the left one.     Arthritis or CT  most likely....It ain't fun; that's for sure.

Butch, Thank you for the ideas.  Someone else suggested he has the ability to cut plexiglass to size as well.  On the one hand, it is a back burner project.  On the other hand, it is a project I would like to put back together once and know it's working.  Right now it is sitting there in pieces.  

I'm sorry you have had so much pain with arthritis or even carpal tunnel.  I had CT surgery in each hand twice.  Scar tissue caused the second go round.  It was much worse. 

Mark Boyce posted:

Lee, I was looking for something else and found another AmeriTown kit I forgot I had.  It says it is a Realtor office, but I think it looks like a small company store in coal country. I’m going to build it next trying a thinner, more tan mortar, and see how it goes before I do the Atlas switch tomorrow.

Mark- when I did my building over the weekend I mixed the paint to a very thin milkshake consistency. Seemed to work well.

Bob

Bob

glad it’s working looking good 

Arches are all made, setting up to get final height on each before adjusting and gluing feet. Will tag each and go to paint then install permanent.

BAR 59 & 60.

            working on a name and logo for my railroad...

                               this should cover all the different road names I will be running...

BAR GP7 #63 posted:

BAR 59 & 60.

BAR the cars are great in themselves but that spectacular background really enhances the whole scene

briansilvermustang posted:

 

 

         

 

            working on a name and logo for my railroad...

                               this should cover all the different road names I will be running...

 

 

And your slogan can be "running all the railroads known to mankind"

Seriously- I like it Brian.

Brian - Not easy, is it?  You could always use the Great Alaskan RR of Ohio or GARROO!  
If it was KANSAS GREAT ALASKAN RR OF OHIO,  it could be KANGAROO!
I’m a bit partial to your Alaska RR collection. 

          thanks Bob !   I really like the slogan...

          no worries Matt,  the Alaska room will stay all Alaska trains...

          the NS & EW  rr will be out in the new train room...  will get back to working on that soon...

Finally added some people to the station platforms in my expansion section. 

    your station area is looking great Kevin !   like all the station platforms lined up, looks good...

briansilvermustang posted:

 

    your station area is looking great Kevin !   like all the station platforms lined up, looks good...

 

Thanks, Brian. I had a pretty bad short circuit that ate up most of my weekend, melted wires and all. First time I actually tripped the circuit on my postwar ZW. I guess that's part of the fun!

Hi Folks, 

It's been a while, but I finally got started in earnest on the upper loops of my 10x12 layout.  Here is a youtube video of the update and some train running in the train room last night: https://youtu.be/-3zJhyuCUGI 

Hope you enjoy!

        just watched your video  Gerhardt ,  very nice !!   

        great layout, and really like all your Canadian trains 

I inherited my grandfather's 226e with correct 12 wheel tender around Christmas of 2018. Had it serviced and got bit by the bug. Several locomotives later...it was time to get off of the floor.

This is my first layout.  I have a 3.5 year and 9 month old so time is tight. Just bought a lionchief set (santa fe superchief) so my older son can run it with the remote and sounds, he loves it. 

My main goal was to have a place to run 2 trains simultaneously and this was the space I had, 4' x 10'.  I just wired my 2 remote switches in the back today. My outside loop is missing a 1.75" piece which will put it flush along the front edge, had to steal that piece while installing the switches for the inner figure 8. 

I am already planning an elevated level so I can run 3 trains or possibly a smaller elevated bumper track for a gang car, but that won't be for a while.

Great work everyone, I handed out a lot of likes and wish I had time to comment but its dinner time then bed. I will be nursing a bad back so I can get back to work on the house! I hope everyone had a great day and an even better tomorrow!

Johan, the cars and backdrop look great!

Brian, NS&EW, That is the perfect name for your railroad!!

Kevin, the station area looks great!

Gerhardt, You are doing a great job fitting in a lot of layout in 10x12!!

Rick, the layout looks great so far.  You are doing a good job, and I hope your little ones will enjoy trains with you.  I see a Go Steelers sign on the wall.  Do you live in the Pittsburgh area?  Also, check your wanted to buy post, I replied there also.  

While waiting to get some better colored paint for the AmeriTowne window sills, I dug out all the parts for this River Leaf Models building I started a long time ago.  I'm thinking I put it all on the shelf back in 2014-15 when I had carpal tunnel issues and surgery for the second time and never got it back out.  I trimmed, sanded and attached all the windows and doors today.  Yes, I see I need to do something with the interior on this one.  Who knows what I was thinking 5 years ago.  

briansilvermustang posted:

 

        just watched your video  Gerhardt ,  very nice !!   

        great layout, and really like all your Canadian trains 

 

Me too I like those homemade shelves 👍

Calling this Reefer Car done I want to say a special Thank You to Brian for sending me this reefer car. Brian thank you so much for sending this to me it was really uplifting and a joy to rebuild. I will get some pics of the Reefer on the layout  soon. Thank you guys for all the comments and likes on this build 

lee drennen posted:

briansilvermustang posted:

 

        just watched your video  Gerhardt ,  very nice !!   

        great layout, and really like all your Canadian trains 

 

Me too I like those homemade shelves 👍

I forgot to mention I like them too!

Lee, the reefer is so much better now!

Thanks Mark it was a fun restoration

After three days of painting 38 Preiser double figures, they are ready for final inspection and correction.  These double figures take more time than the usual single figures.  I have painted approximately 165 Preiser 65602 24-Seated People packs.  This double figure was used, but not as often as the adults with babies, old woman with a cane, and others.

I am panting the few leftover figures from when I would open a new package to get a specific figure from a 24-pack for a passenger car I detailed.  I created 10 variations of these figures in order to have variety in a seven-car passenger train.  Preiser only offers two variations in their factory painted packs.

I also save significant cost by painting the figures myself.

Sincerely, John Rowlen 

sidehack posted:

BAR GP7 #63 posted:

BAR 59 & 60.

BAR the cars are great in themselves but that spectacular background really enhances the whole scene

Ray. You're welcome. 🤝

Johan

Mark Boyce posted:

Johan, the cars and backdrop look great!

Brian, NS&EW, That is the perfect name for your railroad!!

Kevin, the station area looks great!

Gerhardt, You are doing a great job fitting in a lot of layout in 10x12!!

Rick, the layout looks great so far.  You are doing a good job, and I hope your little ones will enjoy trains with you.  I see a Go Steelers sign on the wall.  Do you live in the Pittsburgh area?  Also, check your wanted to buy post, I replied there also.  

 

While waiting to get some better colored paint for the AmeriTowne window sills, I dug out all the parts for this River Leaf Models building I started a long time ago.  I'm thinking I put it all on the shelf back in 2014-15 when I had carpal tunnel issues and surgery for the second time and never got it back out.  I trimmed, sanded and attached all the windows and doors today.  Yes, I see I need to do something with the interior on this one.  Who knows what I was thinking 5 years ago.  

Mark. Thank you. The building looking really nice.🤝

Johan

John Rowlen posted:

 

I'm sorry.  I just had a Moonie mass wedding photo flashback.  You were saying? 

Mitch 

Mark: projects, projects! This building really is begging for an interior....both floors. 

John Rowlen posted:

After three days of painting 38 Preiser double figures, they are ready for final inspection and correction.  These double figures take more time than the usual single figures.  I have painted approximately 165 Preiser 65602 24-Seated People packs.  This double figure was used, but not as often as the adults with babies, old woman with a cane, and others.

I am panting the few leftover figures from when I would open a new package to get a specific figure from a 24-pack for a passenger car I detailed.  I created 10 variations of these figures in order to have variety in a seven-car passenger train.  Preiser only offers two variations in their factory painted packs.

I also save significant cost by painting the figures myself.

Sincerely, John Rowlen 

John one word Amazing 

mike g. posted:

Great work everyone, I handed out a lot of likes and wish I had time to comment but its dinner time then bed. I will be nursing a bad back so I can get back to work on the house! I hope everyone had a great day and an even better tomorrow!

Take care of your self MikeG we all know you like our works and  you don’t have to comment all the time it gets a little bit overwhelming sometimes to do that 

geysergazer posted:

Mark: projects, projects! This building really is begging for an interior....both floors. 

         

Nice looking what kind was you thinking 

Johan, Thank you about the building!

Lew, You are absolutely correct.  I am going to leave the roof unattached and not add a base so I can ponder an interior, which I never did in HO and especially N scale.  Myles (Trainman2001) offers tremendous information about building interiors in his 'Continuing Saga...' topic.  I think I will finish the exterior, so I don't lose the parts  then set it aside while I think about interior treatments, methods, and materials.

John, I also am always so impressed and encouraged about all your painted passengers!  I had a different thought than Mitch.  The photo looked like a formal photograph at a sock hop from the days not long before I was in high school.  Boys wore a jacket and ties, the girls wore bobby socks.  (In my day, the fellows didn't need a tie and the girls were allowed to wear slacks instead of dresses that were required for classes.  Both boys and girls could wear jeans as long as there were no rivets on the pockets that would scratch the bleachers.)  Fantastic!

lee drennen posted:

geysergazer posted:

Mark: projects, projects! This building really is begging for an interior....both floors. 

         

Nice looking what kind was you thinking 

Thank you Lee!  Yes, suggestions are always welcome!  The kit is marketed as a drug store and has an RX sign is suggested to hang off the second floor corner, but I wouldn't have to use it on this kit.

Mark I like the idea of a RX drug store you could do that or a meat market/ grocery store. What year do you model 

Morning guys Its Hump day!

Mark, Looks like a good start on the River Leaf building. You could always put an apartment on the second floor for the owners to live in and on the main floor a train store or hobby shop!

Lee D,  Outstanding work on the Reefer car! It really looks great! I will look around to see if there is something I can send your way so you don't run out of projects! LOL Thanks for your earlier comments, I got some rest over night and will see how long the back last today!

John, Amazing job on all your couples! One thing though, I don't see any gray haired couples, and from what I see in pictures a lot of couples that ride trains are gray! LOL

I hope everyone has a great day and finds time to have fun with there layout and trains!

Mark Boyce posted:

Johan, the cars and backdrop look great!

Brian, NS&EW, That is the perfect name for your railroad!!

Kevin, the station area looks great!

Gerhardt, You are doing a great job fitting in a lot of layout in 10x12!!

Rick, the layout looks great so far.  You are doing a good job, and I hope your little ones will enjoy trains with you.  I see a Go Steelers sign on the wall.  Do you live in the Pittsburgh area?  Also, check your wanted to buy post, I replied there also.  

 

While waiting to get some better colored paint for the AmeriTowne window sills, I dug out all the parts for this River Leaf Models building I started a long time ago.  I'm thinking I put it all on the shelf back in 2014-15 when I had carpal tunnel issues and surgery for the second time and never got it back out.  I trimmed, sanded and attached all the windows and doors today.  Yes, I see I need to do something with the interior on this one.  Who knows what I was thinking 5 years ago.  

Mark, your structure is coming along very well. I wanted to do a drug store and had some Ameritowne fronts so made a double building which had the drug store, music school, a locksmith and next door is the Royal Plaza Hotel. I thought awnings would really dress things up so made them from file folders. 

I've been working on a factory for my layout.  It's going to be fairly large, but not the largest one planned. Approximate 31X15X18 high.  All made from 1 sheet of 1/2 inch MDF and 1/8 inch tempered hardboard. The MDF was ripped on my table saw to 1/2 inch square pieces then cut to length. They were all marked for their position a day then 1/2 inch dadoes were cut to form half laps for each piece. all the pieces were glued and assembled and attached to a 1/4 inch hardboard base. The interior was give a rattle can coating of red oxide paint. Then the 1/8 inch hardboard sheets went on to give the building some strength.

The work isn't finished.  I still need to cut the sides to roof height and build windows. Lastly will come the roof. I also will be adding a  skin of corrugated metal on top of the hardboard. Adjacent to it will be my electric arc furnace building.  That one will be 48x24X22 high, possibly with an open front so I can detail the interior.

Stay tuned for more. 

Lee, Mike, Thank you very much!  I model 1950's, steam to diesel transition era.  The recessed door with windows on either side reminds me of so many stores, and yes the upstairs would be an apartment.  A pharmacy, meat market, hobby shop are all good ideas.

Ray,

Your buildings look great!  Yes, the buildings with offices in the upstairs is a possibility too.  It reminds me of Philip Marlow's upstairs office.  Years ago, our insurance man had an upstairs office like that.  The awning looks good, and awnings are definitely a good detail to add.

Bill, That factory is huge, and the planned one with it will definitely dwarf the trains, but suggest a big reason for rail service!

I haven't done much work yet, but I have run trains on the layout the last few nights.

I am, however, getting ready to model a new structure for the Army at their spur. Really looking forward to that!

I finished the rough cut on brown carpet

Tomorrow I start green carpet I hope it cuts with less trouble

My goal is to start laying track this weekend 

course I have never met a deadline on this yet

Mark, I'd be very tempted to do a butcher shop but of course Roomie's Granddad and later her Uncle had a butcher shop in Aspinwall.  Seriously though, that building is actually smaller than it looks and a butcher shop would fit in it without looking overcrowded. It could be pretty simple with a white meat case crossways about a third of the way back that would show up nicely through the front windows. A beef quarter hung behind the meat case to one side and a butcher-block to the other and you would have a believable scene. You could even get carried away and put up two walls in one back corner with a door and you'd have a walk-in cooler. Oh, and a ring of sausage hung. Can't forget that!

Heh. EDITED FOR CLARIFICATION. It's not that I get Mike and Mark mixed up as people but rather that my senior brain sometimes takes over the fingers on the keyboard.