What did you do on your layout today?

Thanks guys for the information on bench work, I started another thread just for it not to take away from here.

Chris your work on the box cars is amazing! They look so great!  Its nice to see that now I have something else to do down the road after the layout is built! Thanks for all the information!

Darlander, What a great time you had with the grandson and great grandson! I wish my grandkids would get into it and maybe they will once the layout is up and running I can only hope so! Its funny I was never into trains till my sons grandfather left him an HO train layout on a 4x8 sheet of plywood and he didn't want anything to do with it. I took it got it up and running and the next think you know I took over a spare bedroom and built a 12x10 layout and have been hooked from then on!

Haven't got to the layout today. Outside comes first again. Last night I was thinking about what I want to do with the top of the silos. One thing for sure I have to make up some tops for them. I went to the Plastruct site last night and saw some things that would work for ladders and stairs. So maybe later this week I can order a few things from them. Does anyone know who may sell a unit that sits on the roof with a door to get onto the roof. Thanks Paul

chris a posted:tway it looks, personal taste....

 

Chris, how do you secure the fender washers to the metal frame?  Thanks, Dave

paul 2 posted:

Haven't got to the layout today. Outside comes first again. Last night I was thinking about what I want to do with the top of the silos. One thing for sure I have to make up some tops for them. I went to the Plastruct site last night and saw some things that would work for ladders and stairs. So maybe later this week I can order a few things from them. Does anyone know who may sell a unit that sits on the roof with a door to get onto the roof. Thanks Paul

Paul, you could use sheet styrene.   It might be a little more difficult now that you have them attached to each other, but you could make it work and the texture would match.    Make a template and rough cut pieces to the shape before attaching and then trim with a file and sandpaper.   May need to fill any voids or cracks after instillation.   I generally use sheet rock taping compound for fill because it is easy to clean up and blend.  Once primed and painted, no one ever knows.    Lids from large containers of cottages cheese, sour cream and yogurt would be the cheapest solution and they would provide a good material for gluing plus easy to trim.   If you wanted a slight conical shape, you could cut out a small piece of pie to the center point of the lid and bring the surfaces together and reinforce seam with a styrene strip to form the desired shape. 

As for the roof hatch, you should be able to fabricate that in wood and clad it in styrene.  

Good Luck with your project.  Dave

paul 2 posted:

Haven't got to the layout today. Outside comes first again. Last night I was thinking about what I want to do with the top of the silos. One thing for sure I have to make up some tops for them. I went to the Plastruct site last night and saw some things that would work for ladders and stairs. So maybe later this week I can order a few things from them. Does anyone know who may sell a unit that sits on the roof with a door to get onto the roof. Thanks Paul

YOU DO --It's called scratch building, and use the money saved to buy more trains!

Dave,  Originally I used JB Weld, but it's overkill and takes overnight to cure....  The 2 cars I finished this week, I used Gorilla Super Glue GEL.   I leave it clamped for about an hour.....

I think the last step in the drill I used to go through the floor was either 7/8" or 1 inch diameter and washers are 1.25 inches, so there's  1/8 inch overlap area all the way around the circumference....  I doubt I'll ever get them apart.    

Forgive my ignorance on accuracy, I do know I'm close....

  Isn't the "top hat" called the "bolster"? Or is the bolster the top portion and/or spanning beam(s) on a truck?  I've been waiting on the the question to be randomly answered by chance for years... But "top hat" has finally expedited my desire to know exactly what is what.

paul 2 posted:

Haven't got to the layout today. Outside comes first again. Last night I was thinking about what I want to do with the top of the silos. One thing for sure I have to make up some tops for them. I went to the Plastruct site last night and saw some things that would work for ladders and stairs. So maybe later this week I can order a few things from them. Does anyone know who may sell a unit that sits on the roof with a door to get onto the roof. Thanks Paul

Maybe a doll house small window gable converted to a door? I'm not sure what the smallest scale might be, or exactly how big or what shapes you are considering on top. I've seen domes, cones, flat and traditional flats to a peak*, some with a square room on top of the cylinder.

It's learning day!

What is a traditional inverted V roof called? Not with 4 angled flats, not Alpine roof, but one with less angle;" normal".

I boo-booed.  While waiting for parts for the CCK Mill's spillway, l opened the box for a American Model Builder grain elevator kit. It looks like an easy assy. so l charged off.  Decided to raise the tower and add a couple of windows, so l glued 1 3/4" of matching milled siding on the bottom of front and back tower panels.  Wrong! Then  four panels won't fit their pre-cut notches. Had to c-a-r-e-f-u-l-l-y, with a sharp exacto,  separate glued panels and bracing, and insert the height additions at the top, after cutting kit panels above their notches.  Do as l say; not as l do.

gandydancer1950 posted:

That's a terrific vista, GandyDancer, interesting everywhere one looks, and I especially like the old coal-tipple standing in command of it all, supervising the proceedings.

FrankM

Adriatic posted:

What is a traditional inverted V roof called? Not with 4 angled flats, not Alpine roof, but one with less angle;" normal".

Gable roof.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_roof_shapes  

Moonson posted:

gandydancer1950 posted:

That's a terrific vista, GandyDancer, interesting everywhere one looks, and I especially like the old coal-tipple standing in command of it all, supervising the proceedings.

FrankM

Thanks Frank, I appreciate your comments!

Second boo-boo...put 1/4" bracing bottom to top of wall with rear mounted hoist house, per kit. " Hey, l don't want this to look  like the kit...I'll put hoist house in middle of roof".  Uh-oh...more careful sawing to remove bracing and wall of hoist house from elevator wall, all better done before assembly.

Got a 3rd MTH premier car lowered and weathered with the help of my daughter.... It sure is more fun working with someone rather than the "lone ranger mode" !!!!

Decided to do this 2nd Western Maryland boxcar with lighter weathering, sun faded, very little rust and corrosion...  think I am finding that on most cars, less is more !   On this one, we just airbrushed the whole car with a lighter shade of the boxcar red mixed with diluted craft paints, sealed it with dullcoat, then used PanPastels and sealed it again when done....

          they all look GREAT Chris !    awesome job !!

Has this ever happened to anyone......?

                   I missed my school bus a lot growing up...

Chris the cars are looking great!

Brian, we must have had the same school bus driver! I missed mine a few times! LOL

Well, took a few pictures, one showing the Helix inside a mountain...

Larry You the MAN! Looks great!

Ok everyone, I know its not really train related, but it really is! I was asked for an update on the She Shed, cause when its done I can get back to building a layout. So here is what is done sofar, all the walls are up, all the windows are in, and the slider is in. I have most of the roof rafters in and hope to get it sheeted tomorrow after a Dr. Appt. so here is a few pictures! ENJOY LOL!

mike g. posted:

Ok everyone, I know its not really train related, but it really is! I was asked for an update on the She Shed, cause when its done I can get back to building a layout. So here is what is done sofar, all the walls are up, all the windows are in, and the slider is in. I have most of the roof rafters in and hope to get it sheeted tomorrow after a Dr. Appt. so here is a few pictures! ENJOY LOL!

Very NICE -- Your carpentry skills are impressive!

mike g. posted:

Ok everyone, I know its not really train related, but it really is! I was asked for an update on the She Shed, cause when its done I can get back to building a layout. So here is what is done sofar, all the walls are up, all the windows are in, and the slider is in. I have most of the roof rafters in and hope to get it sheeted tomorrow after a Dr. Appt. so here is a few pictures! ENJOY LOL!

This is  very much train related!  Building a "She Shed" will greatly increase the opportunity and justification to add value to the "He Shed (train room).   A happy CEO can help open many doors to the added growth and investment in a train room!   Well done Mike!   Dave

Mike, you are building one nice she shed. But I also see you made it big enough for future train  storage........Paul

Hello all,

Today, my new church, new road, new mobile crane, figures….

Mark Boyce posted:

Futurerail, The Jupiter tender looks fantastic!!  Does the engine need repainted also?

No, the engine is fine. The lettering behind the name on the cab needs to repainted, but it's too small of area for me to get my paintbrush in so I'm going to leave it alone. The paint behind the lettering on the tender bothered me more then that does.

Thanks Guys for the kind words, and you are right a happy CEO makes for a nice train room! Paul, I am so sorry to tell you that she has the same rule I do, Nothing but train stuff in my train room, and absolutely no train stuff in her She Shed! Fair deal from where I am sitting! LOL

Warok, some nice additions to your layout! the Church looks very nice, but I really like the mobile crane! Nice work!

Mike G:    You have that She Shed going up like it's a prefab..... Excellent work, and lightning fast construction...  I suspect your motivation level to complete it is 12 on scale of 1 to 10 !!!   Just kidding "sort of", we all know layout bench-work is waiting patiently

Chris you are right about being motivated, but its also spose to rain here this coming weekend so I really need to get the roof on this week!

Wonderful shots of some of your engines Brian! I sure like the old Green& white BN!

Main line compleated for conventional and remote control. Next to find bridge to complete trolley line. 

          here is a  a couple more for you Mike...  She Shed looks GREAT

Mike, those are super neat pictures of a great she shed...I like the term, she said, and this building should be great storage.  The windows are awesome, great lighting, great location.  I wish I could build that type building, however, I save money hiring it done do to getting hurt, or making mistakes. Your the man. Keep up the excellent work. That’s going to be really nice. Congratulations.

Returned home from a business trip late last night.  Ran trains for a bit before turning in.  I wanted to try out my new MTH B&O bay window caboose I purchased at a train shop ( unfortunately not a forum sponsor ... so I won't mention the name here ) while on the trip.  Of course the caboose looked great as it brought up the rear of a 16 car coal train headed off up by  two B&O GP 9s!

I did call ahead to Mercer Junction, as I visited Dave's wonderful shop a year ago ... and loved the experience!  The recording said they were to be open that day between 12 - 4 p.m.  Upon arrival I tried the entrance door which was unfortunately locked.  I figured Dave closed the shop due to the biker festival that was going in the square outside the shop.  ( Lots of cool looking bikes! ) That was this past Saturday.   As I will travel that way next year, I'll try visiting Dave's shop again. 

Yesterday I visited Horseshoe Curve, where I saw lots of NS freight train action!  Good times!

Just received my long awaited Athearn SD38AC to complete my HO summit taconite plant display.  I am amazed at the road specific detailing that is available in the HO world.  The engine is fully powered and DCC/sound ready but its run time will have to wait until I no longer have need of it.  This completes the HO taconite project for now.  Next on to some more forestation and then some flats for the yard area.     Cheers, Dave

Weathered a coil car ( see photos 4 & 5 below ).  Ran trains and took some photos.  Enjoyed time with the layout!!

Brian, than you for more BN engines! They look great!

Larry, thanks for the kind words about the She Shed! Today I got the rest of the rafters up and all the sheeting, tomorrow I will paper it. But thin I have to wait for the wife to paint the ceiling before putting down the 3 tab, cause she doesn't want to deal with the nails sticking threw! LOL

I will just move on into the inside and finish trimming out the windows and doors! Fun work! LOL

Trumptrain, amazing scenes, I like the Crane car scenes, the coil car looks cool. Wow.  Mike, simply be careful....The wife’s right, nails can be an issue.... It’s fun to interact with each other as we progress in our individual ways, it’s simply a Interesting....Happy Railroading...