What did you do on your layout today?

Rebuilt my water damaged layout.  Now 45% the size it was last week.  Downsize the layout & next will be down sizing the collection.

@tnkMarx posted:

Rebuilt my water damaged layout.  Now 45% the size it was last week.  Downsize the layout & next will be down sizing the collection.

What happened? Frozen pipe? Looks like it was a substantial leak.

This is more of a "what did you do on your layout during a central Virginia ice and snow storm weekend".  Regardless, I did get to spend some quality time with the trains:  framed some photos one of my brother-in-laws gave me, worked on a Walther's Cornerstone kit I picked up at my LHS, temp placed a new Miller sign, and started prelim plans for an elevated trolley line.  Later today, I'll wear some new Valentine's Day socks my bride of 40+ years gave me.

@RSJB18 posted:

What happened? Frozen pipe? Looks like it was a substantial leak.

3 years ago the plumber fixed a leaky pipe from the sink above my layout and said vent pipe would not be a problem.  Less than a month later the vent pipe was dripping, so he put a rubber boot and clamp on the end and said it would not be a problem.  It was dripping on the layout last week, and I noticed it 2 hours or so later I am guessing.  Right before I could get a bucket under it, the rubber boot popped off and 8-10 gallons of water gushed out/down on the layout.  I had moved a bunch of cars/engines/buildings right before, but did not think it would cover 6' of the layout.  I guess the 3rd time was it!

The plumber was wrong about the vent pipe being a problem!

Time to find a new plumber!

@modeltrainsparts posted:

Time to find a new plumber!

Agreed. 😂😂

ran new cars from Menards. PRR covered hopper NS heritage series paint scheme, looked too good to pass up. flat car with school bus, chinatown school district, kids speaking chinese? BNSF gondola. all of these look and run good.

Stayed up late switching my BNSF ES44AC #6425 onto a new BNSF #5815 sound chassis with the five horns and five bells.  I had previously put the BNSF #6425 sound chassis into my BNSF ES44AC #6438 Dummy engine for another powered unit.  I had planned to buy a second #6425, but they were sold out.  I am glad I could not find the second because the new #5815 sound system in the BNSF #6425 is fantastic.

I have a second BNSF #5815 that arrived needing a front truck side frame.  The screws were stripped out at the factory.  It will remain as a BNSF ES44AC #5815 with the new sound system.

Joining the 6425, 6438, 5815 is the original 6411 produced when the 6425 was made.  They will join the BNSF ES44AC "Golden Swoosh" #7695 to pull 16 BNSF Trinity Hoppers plus 8 BNSF Heritage Trinity Hoppers.

Here is a video of the BNSF ES44AC #6425 pulling my BN Rotary Bathtub Gondolas.

Happy Valentine's Day,  John Rowlen

@tnkMarx posted:

3 years ago the plumber fixed a leaky pipe from the sink above my layout and said vent pipe would not be a problem.  Less than a month later the vent pipe was dripping, so he put a rubber boot and clamp on the end and said it would not be a problem.  It was dripping on the layout last week, and I noticed it 2 hours or so later I am guessing.  Right before I could get a bucket under it, the rubber boot popped off and 8-10 gallons of water gushed out/down on the layout.  I had moved a bunch of cars/engines/buildings right before, but did not think it would cover 6' of the layout.  I guess the 3rd time was it!

The plumber was wrong about the vent pipe being a problem!

Time to get a new plumber for sure. As a plumber I can say there should be nothing but air in a vent. DUH can we say NO WATER! Hoping the layout did not sustain major damage but any damage is heart breaking to me and it isn't even my layout.

tnkMarx, simply put, that stinks, sorry to read about it.

CurtisH is right, there should be nothing but air in the vent pipes

Perhaps you should ask John Rowland about his bathtub gondolas?

Still working on building up my inclines from scrap wood.  Also ordered the rest of the track needed for my proposed layout plan.

Finally had time to run the Alaska F units with the replacement Super Bass.  It is not my best photography, but I am trying to finish things on my "to do" list.

The cars have been detailed with Preiser 65602 Unpainted Seated People that I painted.  I still have three Lionel 21" passenger cars to finish if my eyesight improves a little more..

John Rowlen

Too Cool

@John Rowlen posted:

Finally had time to run the Alaska F units with the replacement Super Bass.  It is not my best photography, but I am trying to finish things on my "to do" list.

The cars have been detailed with Preiser 65602 Unpainted Seated People that I painted.  I still have three Lionel 21" passenger cars to finish if my eyesight improves a little more..

John Rowlen

Looks like you've been busy John. Very nice!

Bob

@chris a posted:

Here's a video of cutting and switching cars in the yard with the new Kadee 805 couplers and some Kadee 809 Uncouplers.  Once I figure out how to operate the steam switcher more smoothly it will get better.  2 of the 3 magnet uncouplers are modified with one Kadee Magnet strip with neodymium magnets underneath on fine thread sheet rock screws.  I needed to try and make the modified magent set up work as some sidings are already ballasted and I don't want to have to cut out ties and remove ballast if I don't have to.

I can accomplish "delayed uncoupling" pretty reliably, although now I see why that feature isn't really advantageous in a classification yard where you're not trying to spot a car in an exact location on a siding like a warehouse door or loading dock...  Finally feel like I am getting somewhere !!!

Chris,

Really like the video. Will you "kadee" all of your rolling stock? Also, tell me more about the building in the back left. Where did you get the brick paneling? Really like your ductwork.

Dave

The Roadside Diner smokes again!!!!!

Still chipping away on the "Northland" roof detail.   This past week I received some detail parts that needed to be placed.   I spent a lot of time on the interior but I think the roof detail will give me the most satisfaction since it will be more visible.   It is still a work in progress.   I am currently working on the antenna and some additional piping detail.   Hope to get the roof detail completed, primed and final coated this coming week.   We are in an Arctic freeze, so I have plenty of indoor time thanks to the weather.  

Cheers to all the posts!  Dave

PS:  Happy to get my first shot of the covid Vaccine!   Nice BD gift.  So far so good!    

Some bridge pier graffiti....

Dave

I took down my Flyer 4689. It had shorting issues with the brush plate, which has been resolved hopefully. Runs great. Also trying to get started on my early 33 and short 112 gondolas. Everything was repainted, so the project is to get the top layer off.

Broke out my Woodland Scenics fence to add some security to my military base:

Also, my food and beverage community festival has now turned into a “hype-fest” to announce that the Chipperfield circus is coming to town!

@chris a posted:

Here's a video of cutting and switching cars in the yard with the new Kadee 805 couplers and some Kadee 809 Uncouplers.  Once I figure out how to operate the steam switcher more smoothly it will get better.  2 of the 3 magnet uncouplers are modified with one Kadee Magnet strip with neodymium magnets underneath on fine thread sheet rock screws.  I needed to try and make the modified magent set up work as some sidings are already ballasted and I don't want to have to cut out ties and remove ballast if I don't have to.

I can accomplish "delayed uncoupling" pretty reliably, although now I see why that feature isn't really advantageous in a classification yard where you're not trying to spot a car in an exact location on a siding like a warehouse door or loading dock...  Finally feel like I am getting somewhere !!!

Chris,

Really like the video. Will you "kadee" all of your rolling stock? Also, tell me more about the building in the back left. Where did you get the brick paneling? Really like your ductwork.

Dave

Thanks Dave,   

The building on the left is Korber Joe's Pickel Factory built as a Flat....  The Duct Work is scratchbuilt poplar (cut on a table saw) seams are Plastruct stock, primed, painted with Testors Silver and weathered primarily with India Ink/Alcohol washes.   I made the 2 inch deep end caps and printed some brick sheet off the internet that was really close to the Korber size bricks used that brick paper for the large chimney/smoke stack on the left end as well.  The Concrete Loading dock is made out of rigid pink styrene insulation, carved, and weathered.

Yes I am thinking about going all in on the Kadee 805's.  Started doing some of the GGD Heavyweight Pullmans to get them closer together, then migrated to about 8 freight cars.  They look a lot better, and close up the gaps between freight cars as well.  The other benefit, all Weaver cars get lowered when I take out the 3 rail claw, and I have been filing grinding down Atlas O couplers to lower some of the 40 foot boxcars that really sit too high.   Definitely a noticable difference.  Now that I am getting more comfortable with the magnetic uncoupler set up for the Kadee's I am encouraged to keep going.  The 805's are nice because they mate with the 3 rail claw so I don't have to do every freight car immediately.... I have plenty more scenery that needs my attention

@darlander, very interested in your roof detailing.  How do you secure the various items in place?

@Pingman posted:

@darlander, very interested in your roof detailing.  How do you secure the various items in place?

I used a two part marine epoxy (mainly because I had it) when bonding dissimilar materials.   The brass and copper parts are soldered together and then epoxied to the roof.   I also used a liquid "Extreme Power" adhesive (Hobby Lobby) for bonding plastic to plastic.    Note that some of the piping goes into a hole in the roof; I added a drop or two of the Extreme Power from the backside.   The white material around the piping hole, is sparkling compound which fills in voids for a neat fit.  I find it easier to make a nice fit if you slightly over size the hole.  

Cheers, Dave

I got the tunnel diorama on the layout over the weekend and did one final test fit before making it permanent. Didn't make much more progress than that since the CEO had other things in mind. I also found a good image to place at the back of the tunnel portal.

Bob

Bob

"Thanks Dave,   

The building on the left is Korber Joe's Pickel Factory built as a Flat....  The Duct Work is scratchbuilt poplar (cut on a table saw) seams are Plastruct stock, primed, painted with Testors Silver and weathered primarily with India Ink/Alcohol washes.   I made the 2 inch deep end caps and printed some brick sheet off the internet that was really close to the Korber size bricks used that brick paper for the large chimney/smoke stack on the left end as well.  The Concrete Loading dock is made out of rigid pink styrene insulation, carved, and weathered.

Yes I am thinking about going all in on the Kadee 805's.  Started doing some of the GGD Heavyweight Pullmans to get them closer together, then migrated to about 8 freight cars.  They look a lot better, and close up the gaps between freight cars as well.  The other benefit, all Weaver cars get lowered when I take out the 3 rail claw, and I have been filing grinding down Atlas O couplers to lower some of the 40 foot boxcars that really sit too high.   Definitely a noticable difference.  Now that I am getting more comfortable with the magnetic uncoupler set up for the Kadee's I am encouraged to keep going.  The 805's are nice because they mate with the 3 rail claw so I don't have to do every freight car immediately.... I have plenty more scenery that needs my attention."

Chris,

Thanks for taking the time to explain everything. The close ups really show how realistic your cement panels look. I need something like this on the shelf part of my layout which in some places is only  17" wide.  I don't really have a lot of room for full size buildings in this area.

I am kinda where you are with the kadees. I have  several projects to start or complete on the layout itself but I have already started collecting kadees for the transformation. I feel like when I start that I want to just concentrate on the modifications to the rolling stock and engines. I guess you could call it the "icing on the cake". Great start!

I spent the day cutting up MTH banks for my station project.  I broke a few dremel cutting wheels along the way  and the zona saw slipped a few times, sending my heart into my throat.  In fact, about halfway through, I thought for sure I would be in the market for more mth banks, but with lots of sanding, it all worked out. Everything appears flush and ready for gluing,  interior light placement, and roof signage.  

If anyone else is going to attempt this project, I highly recommend this link - http://www.jcstudiosinc.com/MTHBankUnionStation

@Strap Hanger posted:

I spent the day cutting up MTH banks for my station project.  I broke a few dremel cutting wheels along the way  and the zona saw slipped a few times, sending my heart into my throat.  In fact, about halfway through, I thought for sure I would be in the market for more mth banks, but with lots of sanding, it all worked out. Everything appears flush and ready for gluing,  interior light placement, and roof signage.  

If anyone else is going to attempt this project, I highly recommend this link - http://www.jcstudiosinc.com/MTHBankUnionStation

Looks great!  I hope your heart has returned to its rightful place

Afternoon all! ..day off so I had to install a ground plane under my top loop..My new VL GS-4 didnt like the signal it was getting at 2 points on the layout .. a little research here on ogrforum and figured it out ..pretty easy and sigh of relief as it wasnt the new zillion$$$ Locomotive..I have 5 other Legacy units that worked fine before this one came along

@Snkbittin posted:

Afternoon all! ..day off so I had to install a ground plane under my top loop..My new VL GS-4 didnt like the signal it was getting at 2 points on the layout .. a little research here on ogrforum and figured it out ..pretty easy and sigh of relief as it wasnt the new zillion$$$ Locomotive..I have 5 other Legacy units that worked fine before this one came along

What was the solution?

@Windy City posted:

What was the solution?

I plugged my Base unit direct to wall outlet as I found out I shouldnt have had it plugged into a power strip..I ran telephone wire up under the upper loop in a Y that goes to a plug with only the ground wire connected into the same outlet..runs perfect now ..the telephone wire is black so it blends ..all i know from reading is basically the LEGACY system uses your whole house ground as part of its signal and when you have upper level with parallel runs it causes interference ...got all that from searches on here

tnkMarx, Sorry about the busted boot on your vent pipe. I am glad you were able to get things moved before the break!

JohnR, 2 wonderful videos! I really like the impressive BNSF collection!

Chris a. I really like the whole backstory on the Korber Joe's Pickle Factory! I am like Dave and will need something to put up on the upper section behind my tank farm! I have about 3/8's of my rolling stock switched over to Kadee 705's and 4 engines out of 8. I figure I will gety back to it down the road.

Bob, That looks great! I like the tunnel backing will look wonderful with a nice Auto in there!

Strap Hanger, Outstanding work! Things really look great and its is a wonderful focal point for your layout!

Windy City, I am glad you had an easy fix! Would hate to see it was one of those zillion$$$ Locomotive's!

Well guys as for me nothing new due to weather and CEO requirements. It looks like I might be able to get back out to the train room Wednesday to try and get back to my signal bridge project. I sure would like to get it done so I can move on! LOL

I hope you all are staying safe and sane! But most of all I hope your all finding time for your layouts and having fun!

Thanks Mike G and Bob. I’m very pleased with how this is coming out and am looking forward to all of the detailing that needs to follow, like concrete border walls, street lights, auto ramps up to the structure, etc. This thing is going to keep me busy for at least a few months. What a great hobby. Hey Bob, I think you have me confused with another poster. My name is not Ray - not that it matters, LOL!

@Strap Hanger posted:

Thanks Mike G and Bob. I’m very pleased with how this is coming out and am looking forward to all of the detailing that needs to follow, like concrete border walls, street lights, auto ramps up to the structure, etc. This thing is going to keep me busy for at least a few months. What a great hobby. Hey Bob, I think you have me confused with another poster. My name is not Ray - not that it matters, LOL!

It matters George! 😂😂 I'm horrible with names. My bad.

O'le whatshisname 🤪

Got some cars weathered up while I was waiting to watch the race yesterday. Both are the newer sound cars from Lionel.

Finished the Northland roof detail today, added some more electrical conduit and antenna.  It is all wash and ready for primer coat tomorrow.   Looking forward to the finish coat, decals and final assembly.   Too cold today to do much else!

Next project, The combined #W-24.   It is the car behind the Northland.

Here is the future W-24:

Stay Warm and Cheers!

Dave

I wanted to get a picture of the four BNSF ES44AC engines I worked on two days ago.  I still need to get a truck side frame from Lionel for the #5815. The lead #6425 has the new sound system from another 5815. The #6411 is as originally manufactured. The #6438 was a dummy that I put on my 6425 sound chassis.  And the final 5815 is waiting for a side frame as the video shows.

I need to do revisions on my layout so I am clearing the layout and boxing all the trains after testing them.  The double main line was built with minimum O-72 curves to accommodate a Vision Line Big Boy.

I was happy to see that the four BNSF engines with smoke did not trip a transformer breaker.

Here is a video of their first trip on my "Valley of Bridges" layout.

Sincerely, John Rowlen

Here is a video of the Alaska GP35 engines #2501 and #2502 pulling freight to the Alaska pipe line.

The #2502 was a dummy that I put on a sound GP35 chassis. I converted eight dummy GP35 to sound engines when Gryzboski Trains had the GN #2519 on sale several years ago.

I am making custom packaging for the bulkhead cars with pipes so I do not have to remove straps and pipes to store the cars.

The Alaska flat cars have hitch stands that I purchased from Atlas O and then painted orange. They are permanently fastened to the flat cars.

I hope you enjoy the brief video.

Sincerely, John Rowlen

Dave,  Really fine job on the Northland.  Love the photo of the interior and your job matching the seat colors.  That's going to be a great Heavyweight Pullman to pull around your layout.   

John - thanks for the 2 videos. I hope Brian gets to see the Alaska drag. That was impressive. I’m an Alaska RR fan, even though I sold all my Alaska equipment.  BNSF WAS also impressive.

Dave - I could use that Pullman Van Twiller as is to add to my Pullman inventory, if you decide not to transform it.

@John Rowlen posted:

Sincerely, John Rowlen

Both videos look great John. That's a lot of smoke ! I did notice that the lead engine has a bit of a wobble. Does it have a warped truck?

Bob