Lionel Postwar Display D-106

The upper level appears to be a basic O-31 oval with 3 10in and 1 5.5in straight sections on each side.

 

I think your dimensions for the upper level are right.

 

As far as colors are concerned, I believe that the paint used was tan and the green areas were covered with Lionel grass. All the original Dealer Layouts I have seen from the Postwar era were done that way.

 

The methodology for assembly was standardized in terms of painting and colors which is why the factory layouts from that era have that distinctive look.

 

Green and tan is the way to go for that "authentic" look.  If you feel the need for patina, a couple of layers of dust on the green portions of the layout will get the job done.

 

Thanks Ed. What would be a good modern day equivalent for the Lionel grass?

You need to get a copy of Roger Carp's fabulous book Classic Lionel Display Layouts You Can Build. 24 layouts are listed.My favorite toy train book along with Carp's Lionel Showroom Layouts.

 

Mike

PS ALWAYS Buying and Selling Lionel Super O trackage.............

 

Thanks Mike.  I thought there was a book like that, but wasn't 100% sure. I'll have to pick it up!

Christopher

Look up Lionel Lines-Classic Display Layouts.  D-106 diagram in there, plus a bunch of others

Mike

 

Thanks Mike.  I've already downloaded the track plan from there

Christopher,

 

I think the modern equivalent for the Lionel grass used on the PW factory layouts would be a "fine turf" from Woodland Scenics or Scenic Express.  The stuff on the original layouts looks almost fine enough to be green flocking.

 

Modern grass products for tinplate trains are too coarse to give you that PW Lionel look.

 

We did articles about the D-105 layout about 8 years ago and you can get a good look at how the grass looks from the photos we used. Jim Barrett made a replica of the layout using FasTrack and we gave the layout away in a contest.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Ed, Do you have the OGR run # of the article. I'll have to see if I could find it. I agree that modern turf does seem to thick.

Christopher,

 

If you're really going for the postwar look, just spring for a few bags of #919 grass on Ebay. That's what the display department used and it really gives the layout a postwar feel.

Christopher,

 

Just read your post.  Will check at the end of the day.  They are making me work around here

 

the nerve of these people.

Christopher,

  I made a small 6x8 layout in my "crash pad," proving to myself that I could get lots of fun in a small space..

It's on this thread: Crash pad.

The D-106 is a very cool and fun layout.

 

that's a cool little layout!  I like the running trains & watching football idea

That'd be a layout I would consider if and when I retire and downsize to an apartment.

Hey Christopher, what about colored saw dust?  Isn't that what the Lionel grass was anyway?  Just a thought.

 

Paul

Go to lionellines.com Lots of info there on display layouts

Paul, That's exactly what Lionel used. Now where could I get a ton of that stuff if need be.

A friend built a couple of postwar display layouts. He used sawdust sprinkled on green paint. Looks pretty close.

Hi Ed,  I really enjoy your Collector's Gallery in OGR!  I have only been subscribing for a few years so I don't know about the D-105 in OGR, however I do know that Jim had done a FasTrack version of the D-265 in Run 206 (Feb 2005) and Run 207 (April 2005). A PDF of the articles were provided to the Forum by the someone at OGR a few years ago.  Its a terrific article!  Also, if you are reading this, did you ever get the scotch tape off of the oil derrick?

Dave

Christopher and Brewman,

 

Christopher,

 

First, let me apologize.  I wasn't able to look up the OGR article until this morning.  Brewman is correct, it is the February 2005 issue. The OGR article is about the original D-265, not the D-106. That said, Rich Melvin's photos give you a good idea of the PW look of the factory layouts. Plus there is a black and white photo of college kids producing factory layouts that should also be useful for you.

 

I read through the article again and confirmed that during the mass production of the layouts, they were covered with tan paint, Then a large silk screened pattern  was placed over the layout which picked out the roads and places where the green paint would be applied.  When this second coat of paint was still wet, grass material was sifted onto the layout. 

 

Jim Barrett also has a great article in the February 2005 issue detailing Part I of constructing his modern version of the D-265.  This should be especially helpful since he describes how to use FasTrack in place of the original Super O track used in the 1959 layout.

 

after looking at the layout pictures again, I am still convinced that the best way to portray the grassy areas is to use fine turf. the pictures of the original D-265 show that portions of the grass wears away giving it that fine turf look.  after all, you don't want your PW replica to look "too new", do you?

Ed, 

 

Thank you so much for doing some digging on this. I appreciate your detailed response   The 'grass' was my biggest hangup.  The roads & trackbed I can use masking tape to try & get the lines right.   If I wind up building it, I'll be sure to post pictures!