Garrett's 2016 Christmas village and train layout

Here's a pic of the underside of the benchwork.  I hope to reuse this for the next few years.  Any further expansions would be build with similar modular 4x4 panels.  The rectangular cutouts at the back are to allow clearance for some curtains with the main body of the layout staged close to a wall

Hey looks like a good start to me.  Two houses ago when I didn't have much space, I set up my 4x8 on a folding table too.  Plywood on top of that and I had a blast running my trains.  It's all in the imagination! Would enjoy seeing more pics as you progress.

Hey looks like a good start to me.  Two houses ago when I didn't have much space, I set up my 4x8 on a folding table too.  Plywood on top of that and I had a blast running my trains.  It's all in the imagination! Would enjoy seeing more pics as you progress.

G,

Looking at the 3D, the inside loop won't fit. The roadbed edges of inner and outer are on top of one another at the bottom.

What's the width and depth of the cut-outs for the curtains?

Try this and see if you like it 8" x 17" cut outs. Road bed is close, no touching.

Wow, looks like a great project for the Season....Keep us posted as your Layout Develops...Thanks for Sharing....Merry Christmas...

Moonman posted:

G,

Looking at the 3D, the inside loop won't fit. The roadbed edges of inner and outer are on top of one another at the bottom.

What's the width and depth of the cut-outs for the curtains?

I think the cutouts are 8 x 18.  The track plan is more of a guideline than a rule.  There will be some changes in final execution.  I'm not bumping out into the rear section due to some scenery elements

leapinlarry posted:

Wow, looks like a great project for the Season....Keep us posted as your Layout Develops...Thanks for Sharing....Merry Christmas...

Thanks.  I've been painting the last few nights.

Looks like a great start!

Your idea about using the plastic fold up table as benchwork to support the layout is brilliant. I never would have thought of it. I learn something every time I read this forum.

I did have to make some adjustments to the final layout.  I thought the O31 would fit neatly inside the O36 fastrack, but it did not

pic of the track on benchwork.  the back corners are slightly off the table because I had to add spacers at the apex of the outside curves.  hope to get to work on it a little more the next few evenings.

I did finally unbox the LionChief Plus North Pole and send it on its maiden run.  I am very happy with the fit and finish, thought I am a bit disappointed that the final production shade of green is not brighter per the marketing materials

maiden run.  not much to look at, but here it is

https://youtu.be/SrXc0zdOTbI

The color is disappointing. I was thinking about buying one.

Miken posted:

The color is disappointing. I was thinking about buying one.

Yes, it would have been very cool in that tin foil green wrapping paper color...

I saw one of the Hallmark sets this weekend and the red on them is shiny, similar to the way the green looks in the Lionel picture above. It is disappointing that the green is so dark. 

I really liked the Hallmark metallic red, but decided against it because of the "starter" 0-8-0 engine.  the LionChief Plus is definitely the way to go

Garrett76 posted:

I really liked the Hallmark metallic red, but decided against it because of the "starter" 0-8-0 engine.  the LionChief Plus is definitely the way to go

Totally agree with you. Since the loco you bought is a little more expensive, I really wish they would have given it the metallic finish!

I recently built the modular benchwork and there are no holes for running cords or wiring.  So, I'm positioning the Dept 56 buildings and Lionel/MTH operating accessories for desired final placement and marking the holes.  Next step will be to remove everything from the benchwork and drill the holes.

Overall view

Red Baron pylon (near Dept 56 Peanuts gang animated skating pond)

Nutcracker auto gateman

Rotating aircraft beacon

Gabe the Lamplighter

Crossing gates

Thanks for looking

Gabe is a favorite of everyone at the museum layout. All of us cannot resist a sequence or two of Gabe when the layout is powered. Mount his button board on the front panel. Every child that has visited plays with it for while.

The layout will look nice, especially when you get it lit.

thanks.  I have several push button switches I am going to mount front facing on the edge of the benchwork so that guests can interact with the layout

Garrett76 posted:

thanks.  I have several push button switches I am going to mount front facing on the edge of the benchwork so that guests can interact with the layout

That will be cool!

holes drilled for wiring

let there be light!

unboxing the Lionel North Pole Central Berkshire Jr

Inner track - Milk and Cookies!  there are 2 milk cars but only one close up pic posted here

Outer loop - LionChief Plus North Pole Central with Reindeer passenger cars and Add-Ons!

Layout overview.  Still have 3 more things to do: add people accessories, add trees, wire operating accessories

Wow, Garrett, I really like the way you have built this layout from the beginning to now... The Green Locomotive and the red Locomotive are Beautiful. The colors are really nice and your villages and design are great....Thank You for this thread. Merry Christmas....

First video up on youtube

https://youtu.be/n3TYP0PHR1Q

Looks wonderful.

Rod Miller

That flying Santa is awesome in the video.  

Thanks for taking the time to post the progress.

Nice job Garrett!

The Video was great, Garrett!!

Very nice result!

Did you have time to get the interactive buttons installed?

I did get the Red Baron pylon and K-Line pushbutton switch connected directly to the CW-80 accessory terminals.  You can see a short clip of pylon rotation in the middle of my video in previous post.  Per conversation on a separate thread, I thought I bought two jumper blocks from Lowe's, but they turned out not to be.   So, I cannot connect multiple accessories in parallel until I get the right parts.  I will probably wait until tear down and then wire everything in preparation for next year.

You make the terminal blocks into a bus by jumpering one side. You can use whatever you have. Some thin bare solid wire, a group of forked spade terminals with small wire loops.

The will give you multiple hot taps and the other for multiple common taps. Mark them to remind you.

"I'm makin' angels!"

I viewed the video with my 5 year old grandson. He really liked the pylons and thought the cookies and milk train was cool after I pointed out what the cars where. He's just learning to read. He asked me "where did he build it?". I thought he meant like the garage or something. He wanted to come over and see it. We visit a lot of layouts for trips. He didn't like that we are kinda far apart.

Moonman posted:

You make the terminal blocks into a bus by jumpering one side. You can use whatever you have. Some thin bare solid wire, a group of forked spade terminals with small wire loops.

The will give you multiple hot taps and the other for multiple common taps. Mark them to remind you.

"I'm makin' angels!"

I'm not sure which terminal block Garrett bought. If it's the black one, they make a jumper strip to convert it to a bus. Here is one.

This can be cut in two to make two separate bus sections on the same block. If Garrett bought the white one, then I have seen wires used to jumper each post.

George