What did you do on your layout today?

Hello everyone! Nothing much is happening on the layout, but I was able to get this night time shot.

https://ogrforum.com/...0#162616683064745200
Tommy, you’re on way way for an incredible journey! Enjoy!

Today I'm planning how to do the benchwork under the Potomac on my Harpers Ferry II layout.  I've got to figure how high the bridges will be with supports at grade then account for deck thickness and water (painted shower glass).

@Obsidian posted:

Today I'm planning how to do the benchwork under the Potomac on my Harpers Ferry II layout.  I've got to figure how high the bridges will be with supports at grade then account for deck thickness and water (painted shower glass).

@Obsidian

Here is a tip on making water scenes with rippled shower glass or randomly rippled sheet acrylic which is what I use. Put down a sheet of finished plywood as a base that is painted the colors that you want for your water and lay the glass or acrylic over it. Let the coloring show through the clear glass/acrylic. I do not paint the sheet acrylic. It gives the effect of more depth. It is a tip I got from a friend who was a professional architectural model builder. I have included photos below of my results.

Please forgive the bad focus in the foreground. I don't imagine myself to be a photographer.

Our club layout has an elaborate system of telephone poles with simulated "wire."  We also have a yard section that requires members to reach over the power lines to place engines and cars, so, invariably, the poles get dislodged -- hence the hot glue found at the base of all poles indicating a repair.

One such repair defied the hot glue repair process.  Turns out, a recent multi-pole repair caused a wire to be wrapped around an insulator (effectively "shortening" the wire) and even with the wire freed from the insulator, the pole would not remain erect.

To make the pole remain erect, holes were drilled in the base and the pole, and a GarGraves track pin inserted, but not glued  Problem solved -- until the next time.

NOTE:  Click on images to view full size.

NOTE 2:  The same GG track pin technique was used to replant an Oak tree that was frequently felled because of its proximity to the open end of our lift bridge.

@Trainmaster04 posted:

Hello everyone! Nothing much is happening on the layout, but I was able to get this night time shot.

Talk about blowing smoke in someone's face, lol.

@Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:

Talk about blowing smoke in someone's face, lol.

Lol, no kidding!

@Trainmaster04 and that is one of the best videos I've seen in a while. Really captures the moment. I think MartyE had done a still shot of his PRR 2-10-4 releasing of the cylinder cocks with figures standing in it over the weekend. That was a great still shot.

@Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:

@Trainmaster04 and that is one of the best videos I've seen in a while. Really captures the moment. I think MartyE had done a still shot of his PRR 2-10-4 releasing of the cylinder cocks with figures standing in it over the weekend. That was a great still shot.

Thank you very much! I enjoy trying to capture the nighttime saga of tho golden era of steam. I use a standard Lionel yard light with an incandescent bulb to light the passing train. I think the warm light gives the passing locomotive and cars a vibrant appearance in the shadows.

Was able to do some wiring done on the layout today in the town. Started with two yard lights I have had for about five years. The placement of them have given me problems in the past, but I finally said enough and got them wired. As I found myself getting into a role, I also decided to wire up the lights in my freight station, and add a light to my tack and feed store.

Excellent work guys, and great videos too!

Andy

Everyone has been doing wonderful work on their layouts!

Hi guys, it's been a while, yesterday I started reading from where I left off from my last visit and it was a couple pages back! I started writing comments on projects and then realized that there were so many it would be a book just to comment on everyone's great work!

Halfway through we had a power outage here and everything went dark. Which left me here this morning trying to get my post done! LOL

Well, I handed out a ton of likes and am really grateful that all you fine folks post what you're getting done! As for me nothing new really, I was able to figure out my dead spot on my upper loop, funny to think it was just a section of dirty track. I cleaned it and all is good now!

I hope you all are doing good and finding time for your layout and trains, but most of all I hope your all having fun with whatever your doing!

P.S. The knee is still not good, so I am really limited on what I can do! It took me an hour just to be able to get to the dirty section of track as I had to lower the airfield and then put it back up again! LOL

Made a little more progress on my layout extension ... cut the plywood and foam to size and laid in place and the joints smoothed over with vinyl spackling compound. Next up - paint and turf.

@mike g. Sorry to hear your knee is still giving you problems. Knee pain is defiantly not fun. Will be praying for relief and quick recovery time for you.

https://ogrforum.com/...4#162475945188579624
Mike,

Sorry to hear about your knee. I find relief with this Hemp salve; it’s available on Amazon.

Feel better.

I wanted to create something for my friend George Brown. I’ve been posting the kitbash on the scenery forum; but today I installed it on the layout after ripping up gravel and paving the parking lot. The Harley Diner came from Brady’s in PA. Train Loft supplied the motor cycles and riders. Evan Design Vellum paper was used to create the new sign. I don’t know where the cop came from. He just showed up.

Hang in there Mike, hope you feel better soon.

The extension looks good Richie, coming together quickly.

Bob, nice work on the kitbash, looks great on the layout.

Andy

Finally!! Progress on my McKeen car (remember the printed plastic McKeen shells offered?).  I got the shell together, and quickly extended and modified a running chassis for it, and then set out to detail the body. Screech! Needed porthole window frames. Blew $50+ on eyelets and washers until finally found some little plastic  ones. Now glue is drying. I put another door in (reviewing proto photos showed various configurations) and further detailing can now proceed.

Added some more ground cover and a few bits of clump foliage around the turntable area.

Andy

Good evening everyone! Work continued the past two days with road work crews paving news roads. I noticed a parking lot was needed for the now permanent freight station. Road crews were dispatched and started paving. Using Eric’s (@ericstrains.com) method of using woodland scenics cinders with Elmer's glue, I was able to get the parking lot done. I had at first thought taking the road way across the yard and connect into town, but decided not to. Instead, I made it go straight across the yard loop and main line. The grade crossings are made out of balsa and still need to be stained and signs be added appropriately.
The work gang soon moved into town and commenced work in front of the station and homes. Main Street was also continued and connected with station street. I need to find, or make, stop signs for the intersections and clean the edges of the roads. The space in between the roads is still up for debate and will probably be filled with buildings.
Thanks for reading, and happy railroading!

Greetings fellow train enthusiasts! Been passing out likes and enjoying everyone's progress.

Haven't posted anything new in a while because life has been nuts. My son graduated HS a couple of weeks ago, had is prom before that. Right after graduation he took his road test and passed!

Oh and work has been crazy. Working at a University everyone thinks I have summers off like the professors do. Well when you are in charge of all the buildings and grounds maintenance, and renovation projects, summer is our crazy season so it's been 10 hour days and the occasional Saturday.

But I digress. I got the new wiring harness for my F3's a while back. Finally started to dismantle the MTH plugs and get them installed. The plugs are from Minatronics. Very well made and should solve the flexibility problems for the wiring between the engines.

And I got the portable AC set up and running. I always run a dehumidifier in the basement but it's starting to get too hot and mechanical cooling is required. I hate it when my rocks glass sweats.....

Have a Happy 4th!

Bob

I know what you mean Bob, that’s why my progress comes in batches. Sometimes life gets in the way. Looks like you’re ready to move forward with your project.

Andy

Working on placing industry buildings in the “old town” portion of Tonkowa City.  I wanted these craftsman kits up front n center since they are smallish in size.  They will all be lit up eventually, with the bbq shack having lights, flickering pit, and smoke!

Lots of progress from custom buildings to new roads to manicured ballast.  Good job everyone.

We had a staff meeting this weekend beginning on Friday. Here Charles and Rich take a well deserved break. Paula kept working.

Contracting specialist Charles Riddick was here working to complete the rail around level one. He completed the last curved section and will return Wednesday to complete the straight sections.

Rich Holden handles Engineering Services and has been assisting with road construction and Transfer Table adjustment. He also works with Paula in handling Landscape Architecture.

This weekend, roads and parking lots on the  Roanoke Shops steam and diesel services area opened. Traffic was not heavy but it sure beat walking and riding bicycles to work. We tried the Woodland Scenics road system and switched to asphalt finished cork for the Franklin Street extension.

Construction was completed and the Yard Office opened Saturday. Our buildings contain detailed interiors and this one is something special.

Paula and Rich found an interesting scene Friday at Diesel Shop 4. It seems that a forklift driver lost a bucket of engine oil. Not good.

July may see completion of the Roanoke Shops Engine Service area… unless the boat repair is completed and bill fishing improves. The punch list includes many things that are incomplete in some of these photos. It is time to add people, stuff, and landscaping and to remove errant light.

Bill, it looks like with 4 people working you should be done in time to fish!!

@Bill Webb  You know Bill, at some point we are going to have to create a list of must tour layouts or open houses.  There are so many great layouts on these pages, It would be fun to schedule a road tour.  Those in the north east do not realize how good you have it with the density layouts in your geography.

@Trainmaster04 posted:

Good evening everyone! Work continued the past two days with road work crews paving news roads. I noticed a parking lot was needed for the now permanent freight station. Road crews were dispatched and started paving. Using Eric’s (@ericstrains.com) method of using woodland scenics cinders with Elmer's glue, I was able to get the parking lot done. I had at first thought taking the road way across the yard and connect into town, but decided not to. Instead, I made it go straight across the yard loop and main line. The grade crossings are made out of balsa and still need to be stained and signs be added appropriately.
The work gang soon moved into town and commenced work in front of the station and homes. Main Street was also continued and connected with station street. I need to find, or make, stop signs for the intersections and clean the edges of the roads. The space in between the roads is still up for debate and will probably be filled with buildings.
Thanks for reading, and happy railroading!

Trainmaster04, It looks like you use black cinder small ballast and white glue to do your roads. If I'm correct, I did the same on my layout, it's a lot of work and prep, but it does look good. Your roads look great, nice work.

@WesternPacific2217 posted:

Trainmaster04, It looks like you use black cinder small ballast and white glue to do your roads. If I'm correct, I did the same on my layout, it's a lot of work and prep, but it does look good. Your roads look great, nice work.

Indeed, it takes much time to prep and waiting, but the results are outstanding! Thanks for the kind words.

Was able to accomplish more work today by adding ground cover around the new road way.

Looking good, Trainmaster!!

Train master we like your roads and may try your method next. The grass looks good. Paula plans to sow some grass today.

Jeff a layout tour would be a lot of fun. We had planned to visit Mr Muffins and some friends with Michigan layouts but the gas costs persuaded us to go to the OBX instead.

Mark I will make time to fish. The boat that I fish on has a broken riser which is in the process of being fixed and eventually replaced. It has been repaired and was shipped to Florida Friday to be taped. The lead time to replace is two months and the owner is anxious to get out.

@Bill Webb posted:

Lots of progress from custom buildings to new roads to manicured ballast.  Good job everyone.

This weekend, roads and parking lots on the  Roanoke Shops steam and diesel services area opened. Traffic was not heavy but it sure beat walking and riding bicycles to work. We tried the Woodland Scenics road system and switched to asphalt finished cork for the Franklin Street extension.

Paula and Rich found an interesting scene Friday at Diesel Shop 4. It seems that a forklift driver lost a bucket of engine oil. Not good.

July may see completion of the Roanoke Shops Engine Service area… unless the boat repair is completed and bill fishing improves. The punch list includes many things that are incomplete in some of these photos. It is time to add people, stuff, and landscaping and to remove errant light.

Spectacular work Bill. You have a great team with lot's of special talents. Along with the great modeling, your lighting really sets the scenes. Well done!

Oh, BTW that forklift driver is a bit of a knucklehead. He's been suspended from the RSJ&B team track platform several times for damaging loads.

Bob

@swise- if you're looking for a good flickering fire pit, check out Evan Designs. They make a great one. Nice collection of buildings. They should make a great scene.

@Trainmaster04- the roads and ground cover look great. Nice work.

@Steamfan77- hard to find modeling time in the summer Andy. Lot's of outdoor distractions....

Bob

Working on getting my subway track installed and wired.   A big shout out to @Tom Tee for most of the carpentry on the platform, he makes these jobs appear easy!  The whole deck was pre-fab and dropped in place in two pieces, very slick.

A trial run of the subway around the track was flawless, runs like a champ.

@RSJB18 posted:

@swise- if you're looking for a good flickering fire pit, check out Evan Designs. They make a great one. Nice collection of buildings. They should make a great scene.

Thanks!  That is exactly what I put in the pit firebox!

I decided to breakup the long retaining wall and add a bridge over what eventually will be a roadway.

-Greg

@Swise, nice buildings. They will make a nice scene for sure, especially when they have lighting.

@Bill, the layout looks fantastic! I agree with Bob that you have a very talented team. They’re producing excellent work at a nice pace, well done everyone.

@RSJB18, 🤣🤣 that forklift operator will not be hired on my layout, that’s for sure.

@John, the benchwork for the subway area looks great, Tom did a nice job.

@Greg, that’s a great idea to break up the retaining wall.

Andy

Hi all and Happy 4th Jully to you!

I have just made this warehouse flat on a long siding/spur onmy Furzeville & Western layout.

The warehouse is a kitbash from bits of Clever Models' 'Building D' and is just sits against the wall held in place by the loading docks.

The layout is 'around the walls' of a 8.5 x 15 foot bedroom and space is tight, so plenty of need/opportunity for building flats against the walls.

Space is pretty tight vertically here too - as my OO guage layout on the shelf above, has a dropped baseboard here to accommodate a viaduct.

Good morning everyone, and happy Fourth of July! Thanks to everyone who commented on my road work and ground cover.
I hope you all have a family (and train) filled day, on the day we claimed independence.