Christmas 2022 - Have You Started???

I just finished putting together my own version of modular benchwork about an hour ago.  I'll try to post progress.  I had only posted images of completed Christmas layouts before but I think this could be interesting.

Stage 1

Stage 2 - Controlled Mess

After my old TIU's processor has failed I need to move on to a WIFi Explorer.  Not in the original plan but moving forward!

11/11 - added a little more

Just a small clockwork table display contemplated for this Christmas. Got a few pieces to construct; I’ll post a few pics as things progress.

PD

Our Christmas Train display is rather modest (pic from last year or so), but that doesn't mean I shouldn't consider purchasing more trains to go around it, right?

Typically, we like to have our house decorated for Christmas before the kids arrive for Thanksgiving. Every year, I'm amazed that it takes longer to set up that little display than I figure it should!

The train in the pic: With the help of the Marx fans here at OGR, they were able to determine the most likely hand-me-down train set I had been given back in about 1960. Once I had an idea of what set it was, as good fortune would have it, I found a boxed set on eBay! The above is that set the OGR guys helped me with.

Back in 1960, I played with my original little Marx set quite a bit until Christmas '62 when I got my HO Lindberg Lines set.

Andre

Yes! BUY, BUY, BUY !!!

Put away the Halloween trains today and pulled out the Christmas trains for the layout.

The main new bit of the proposed clockwork display is a tunnel for one corner. Here's a few chronological in-process shots as we work to complete this:

Next step, a bit of paint, some minor detailing of the two glitter-house style buildings, window treatments, then an overall glitter application.

PD

Gave the tunnel project a mottled blast of spray paint this past weekend:

Working out the order of things going forward. The houses get painted/glittered next, I think, than a subtle glitter treatment for the entire structure. Next we'll install the vellum windows and roofs for the buildings, a bit more glitter, then touch-up. Gotta finish it or destroy it this week, lol.

PD

I posted a photo journal of sorts as to where I stand in regard to getting my 2022 Christmas layout going.  Too long to repeat here but the link is:

Weekend Photo Fun 11-3-22-??? | O Gauge Railroading On Line Forum (ogaugerr.com)

This is the current state of things:

This year's version will be the smallest that I've built in some 25 years

walt

The main advantage of having a permanent winter-themed layout is that when the holidays come around, it's all ready to go. The only thing I have to do to create a Christmas layout is change out the Santa Fe Super Chief train to the Polar Express train, which runs each year from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day.

@walt rapp posted:

I posted a photo journal of sorts as to where I stand in regard to getting my 2022 Christmas layout going.  Too long to repeat here but the link is:

Weekend Photo Fun 11-3-22-??? | O Gauge Railroading On Line Forum (ogaugerr.com)

This is the current state of things:

This year's version will be the smallest that I've built in some 25 years

walt

Looking forward to watching the ongoing planning/construction, Walt.

Have not really started yet, our Christmas plans with family are still uncertain.  However the Leonardtown and Savannah did have an early visitor this year, looking for a ride "north" after a vacation in Florida!

Best wishes for the season

Don

Can’t until we get the tree. After that, I am adding a trolley line this year

Very nice; must look really great with the lights turned down low, Yellowstone, given the collection of ceramic buildings.

PD

@walt rapp posted:

I posted a photo journal of sorts as to where I stand in regard to getting my 2022 Christmas layout going.  Too long to repeat here but the link is:

Weekend Photo Fun 11-3-22-??? | O Gauge Railroading On Line Forum (ogaugerr.com)

This is the current state of things:

This year's version will be the smallest that I've built in some 25 years

walt

A Christmas tradition continues!  I really enjoy seeing your annual efforts!

-Greg

Finishing up a Christmas present for our granddaughter then I'll set up My Christmas display train.

@pd posted:

Very nice; must look really great with the lights turned down low, Yellowstone, given the collection of ceramic buildings.

PD

@pd:

Thank you, pd. Yes, one gets the full effect at night when the lights are way down. The photo below was taken during the day. At night, there's no light at the window. This holiday season, I'll get a good shot with the Polar Express running at night with no window light. 😉

Thanks for your interest Greg and pd.  You don't know it but it also encouraged me - I mentioned somewhere that I am lacking motivation this year for some reason, which explains the smaller layout this year. 

- walt

Getting the Christmas trains out this week. November 19 starts 9 consecutive weekends of displays!

Peter

Yes I have started. Im having a layout open house for Lionel National Train day on December 3rd. The permanent layout is ready and this year there will be a Christmas Layout. Started work Sunday.

Keep the faith, Walt. As long as you and the family enjoy it, it's a worthwhile effort! The amount of time and ingenuity that you devote to its creation is equally an inspiration to many of us.

PD

My layout is Christmas 24/7/365 so it's always been started haha!

Link to video of my Christmas layout (with music!): https://www.instagram.com/reel...?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Finished the tunnel project, so the wife gets her dining room table back in time for Thanksgiving:

What a mess; I'll be vacuuming up glitter for months.

PD

My layout is semi permanent.  I say this because even though it's been up for 3 years, it's not the layout I want to have and not in the room it's in.

I really miss the days when I did a Christmas only layout.  Every evening after Thanksgiving I'd be down in the "crappy basement" setting it up.  It was always different and always unique.  Now for Christmas I change a few things on the layout and put a loop under the tree.

Here is a layout from when I changed it every year from scratch.

2002

2003

2004

Well, I actually started mine Oct 17^th.  I thought about posting a thread similar to this, but was a touch embarrassed by the early start.  I actually had a request to have it up for Thanksgiving so our granddaughter could play with it.  My usual D56 laden layout would be too much of a ‘don’t touch that’ experience for her, so I am simplifying it this year.  The idea is to have more straight track so I can incorporate a number of accessories for her to play with.  No multiple levels, no grades, and D56 away from the front.  The bench work is the same, just a different tract plan – 3 loops, no switches.  Couldn’t resist adding some Styrofoam topography though.  Should be able to start adding some D56 buildings in the background today.

The tree will be added after Thanksgiving because my wife felt T-Day was too early for a Xmas tree.  If you like in progress pictures, I can start taking some today.

The picture is what my usual Xmas layout looks like... not very child resistant.

Tom Stoltz

in Maine

In-progress shots are always fun and insightful.

PD

well, since in progress shots are always fun (but in my case not insightful ) here's the base for this year's Christmas layout.  As I mentioned earlier it will be the smallest one that I've built in some 25 years.

It's still 14' wide and the legs are still 11' deep, but notice the big gap in the front middle and also there will not be my usual 4'x10' second layer.  The big white area - I painted a 4'x5' piece of Homasote white and that's where my winter/Christmas scene will be.

But I'm OK with all of that this year.

walt

I often wondered what the sheets of material were that formed the base of your floor layouts, Walt. Now I know - Homasote. In my experience, large sheets of that stuff typically don't withstand repeated handling very well. You must take great care in moving/storing them.

PD

Yes I've started but it won't be running trains for a while.

@pd posted:

I often wondered what the sheets of material were that formed the base of your floor layouts, Walt. Now I know - Homasote. In my experience, large sheets of that stuff typically don't withstand repeated handling very well. You must take great care in moving/storing them.

PD

thanks pd.  I think I mentioned that I have equal sized sheets of blue insulation boar d (a hair smaller than the Homasote pieces) that I lay down first.  The fact that the blue board is a hair smaller means there are gaps between the pieces, which allows for me to run my wires in them.  This way they are hidden and better, when I'm setting up the layout I won't be putting pressure on the wires if they were on the floor under just the Homasote.

I do take care.  I stand them on edge in my garage trying as best as I can to stand them as straight up as possible to avoid bowing.  Of course a little bowing always occurs which is why, if you noticed one of my earlier posts, that I bring them up to the living room 2 or 3 weeks ahead of time to let them lay flat and eliminate the bowing.  it works for me.

Walt

Here's where I am today.  But things will be delayed for ??? days because somehow I separated my shoulder.  Oh well.

Getting ready to start doing the wiring.  Yes, I'll have to temporarily shift the Homasote to get to the gaps mentioned about but I put everything back in place.

walt

No, but I just ordered some micro led lights after seeing pics of them on someone else’s layout. They look amazing in pics and hopefully they’ll look awesome in person!

@Tom Stoltz posted:

Well, I actually started mine Oct 17^th.  I thought about posting a thread similar to this, but was a touch embarrassed by the early start.  I actually had a request to have it up for Thanksgiving so our granddaughter could play with it.  My usual D56 laden layout would be too much of a ‘don’t touch that’ experience for her, so I am simplifying it this year.  The idea is to have more straight track so I can incorporate a number of accessories for her to play with.  No multiple levels, no grades, and D56 away from the front.  The bench work is the same, just a different tract plan – 3 loops, no switches.  Couldn’t resist adding some Styrofoam topography though.  Should be able to start adding some D56 buildings in the background today.

The tree will be added after Thanksgiving because my wife felt T-Day was too early for a Xmas tree.  If you like in progress pictures, I can start taking some today.

The picture is what my usual Xmas layout looks like... not very child resistant.

Tom Stoltz

in Maine

That looks great! I’m a little worried also, as I’m having the neighbors and their kids over (little ones 2) this year.

@Tom Stoltz posted:

Well, I actually started mine Oct 17^th.  I thought about posting a thread similar to this, but was a touch embarrassed by the early start.  I actually had a request to have it up for Thanksgiving so our granddaughter could play with it. 

Tom Stoltz

in Maine

No need for embarrassment Tom.

The CEO here said ours also has to be up for Thanksgiving when all the relatives show up . 

@Don McErlean posted:

Have not really started yet, our Christmas plans with family are still uncertain.  However the Leonardtown and Savannah did have an early visitor this year, looking for a ride "north" after a vacation in Florida!

Best wishes for the season

Don

That fella sure looks like he's really enjoyed his COOKIES and MILK  Don 

@walt rapp posted:

Here's where I am today.  But things will be delayed for ??? days because somehow I separated my shoulder.  Oh well.

Getting ready to start doing the wiring.  Yes, I'll have to temporarily shift the Homasote to get to the gaps mentioned about but I put everything back in place.

walt

Walt, just using the ZWs as a reference that looks to be a sizable layout.  Post pics when it's up.

Sorry bout your shoulder.   That can be very painful and inconvenient.  Good luck.

@aussteve: somewhere I mentioned that it's my typical 14' wide and my typical 11' deep.  Usually though it's a complete 11x14 rectangle with the 2nd 4x10 layer.  this is my first 'U' shaped one.  Quite different thinking required.

- walt

Sorry to hear about the shoulder, Walt. I did that once (dislocate), and it hurt like the devil (possibly worse than when I fractured the same shoulder years later). Anyway, Advil is your friend.

U-shaped layouts are fun as you will have a sense of sitting in it rather than next to it. Wiring a bit more tricky, as you can't just run side-to-side, but it will be a fun variation. Just curious, how many power feeds to a loop of track on your 11x14? I need to add one or two to my outside loop on the permanent layout (roughly 8x14).

PD

Got the ground cover installed

And I’ve been buying stuff!

We moved from our large house in Illinois to a smaller house in San Diego in August.  The garage is stuffed and we're still getting settled.  Sadly I don't think I'll have room for my village this year, will probably just do simple loop around the tree.

Don