Halloween 2017

          that is COOL !!!!!!!

Nice! How do you like the Halloween Mikado?

I have not heard from anyone else who bought one.

The Paint looks really good on these.

Ok, now this is something I gotta keep an eye on....Great idea!

cswalter posted:

Nice! How do you like the Halloween Mikado?

I have not heard from anyone else who bought one.

The Paint looks really good on these.

 

Only thing I don't like is that the orange paint was a lot glossier in the catalog, I was pretty disappointed that it didn't exactly match the advertising.

That being said it is my first LC+ Loco.  I wish the volume was just a touch louder, but that is personal preference.

With those small things out of the way, I really like this engine.  The blue tooth control works flawlessly.  I may never put batteries in the remote.  The bell is a deep church bell sound.  The whistle and other effects are great too.  I will post some video in the next couple days.

A ribcage tunnel would be cool

Maybe rib texture in "stone"?      

"A ribcage tunnel would be cool"

Halloween brings out the Tom Savini in a lot of us...

I just got mine last Friday.  In the process of doing a new layout but it'll be done a couple weeks before Halloween.  Will have to wait until then to test mine.  Am pleased to hear your feedback of the steamer.  And you have it on the same foam base as me. Now if we could get some passenger cars to run behind it, we'd really be in business.  Thanks for posting this.

IC fan posted:

I just got mine last Friday.  In the process of doing a new layout but it'll be done a couple weeks before Halloween.  Will have to wait until then to test mine.  Am pleased to hear your feedback of the steamer.  And you have it on the same foam base as me. Now if we could get some passenger cars to run behind it, we'd really be in business.  Thanks for posting this.

I am in almost the exact same boat you are.  I wanted to have this project done by the beginning of October but it just not gonna happen that fast.  If the wife and kids and the yard and football season weren't enough to keep me busy, I am also working 11 hour days right now.  The layout is going to be basically 40" by 60", and obviously feature one corner tunnel.   I am taking on a ton of tasks I've never done before to try to make this work.  I am hoping I can use drywall anchors with some white glue and the screw the track down into that.  I should do an experiment tonight but my mother is coming this evening so it will have to wait.

As to cars, some passenger cars would be great.  the All Hallow's Eve cars from a few years ago are pretty nice, but all British and hard to find.  A matching caboose would have been good.  On the plus side, through the forum I was able to find a "spooky sounds" boxcar.  It basically howls or makes creepy laugh noises when you hit the whistle button.  It's pretty great although its much louder than the locomotive!

I hope I haven't bitten off more than I can chew!!

jhz563 posted:

That being said it is my first LC+ Loco.  I wish the volume was just a touch louder, but that is personal preference.

With those small things out of the way, I really like this engine.  The blue tooth control works flawlessly.  I may never put batteries in the remote.  The bell is a deep church bell sound.  The whistle and other effects are great too.  I will post some video in the next couple days.

 

Did you use the remote or Bluetooth App to increase the volume.  The one I saw at the shop the other day had it's volume turned down about half.  Used the app to push it up and it was better.  Worth checking if you haven't.

Okay so I found a reason for putting batteries in the remote.  I tried to take some video tonight, only to realize I couldn't operate the engine from my phone and take video from my phone at the same time!!  Oh the problems of modern society...

What I did do tonight is look around in the garage for a way to fasten the track to the foam base.  I settled on screw-in drywall anchors, based on what I read elsewhere.  I think these are just the ticket. 

I put one in a scrap piece of 2" board with a little bit of white glue. I will see how snug it feels in the morning. In the meantime, here's a quick video of one the anchors going in, minus the glue.

More to come tomorrow.

Okay. i went back down to the garage this morning before work and the White glue attached to the drywall insert did not really make any difference.  I don't really know that the drywall anchors actually need any adhesive in foam, but I would like to try.  I have some of the Glidden Gripper primer to stack sections together. I will try that on another anchor and see how it works.

Otherwise it is time to start laying out all the different Spooky goodies I have gathered so I can be imagining landscapes and tallying up power requirements.  So I started gathering things up this morning.  I actually realized I have even more goodies that are pictured, this should be a busy little display!

I was going to run the engine and take a video, but if I accidentally woke up one of the kids that early my wife would make me the next headless creature walking around!!  To avoid that unpleasantness, here are just a couple pictures. 

Have a ghoul day!!

JHZ563, with your drywall insert being plastic, and your foam base being plastic, white glue will never dry.  Can't get enough air.  That's why the glue doesn't dry up in a properly sealed bottle.  You would need something foam-safe that doesn't require air to dry.  Epoxy comes to mind as it cures, not dries.  And here's an idea, how about Lock-Tite?  It dries in the absence of oxygen.  I haven't ever tried this, so I don't know if it's foam-safe.  But that might be the quick ticket.  Would be worth a try on a scrap piece. 

Can't wait to see your finished layout.  I imagine everybody does a Christmas layout, but not too many do a Halloween layout.  Cool!     

Paul 

We have been doing this for quite a few years, just making minor changes from year to year based on any of the Lemax accessories taking a dive.

Several of the neighbors come over and also participate in passing out the treats

Here's an admittedly very amateur video of what the engine sounds like.  As always, I had help

The additional commentary in the video is perfect looking good and sounds spooky!

JD

Thanks for posting the pictures and Video.

This looks awesome! Happy that they put Halloween sounds in this Mikado.

I will be buying one soon!

Cheers!

Did you have a chance to check the volume.  Can't tell from the video but the one I heard the other day seemed louder.

MartyE posted:

Did you have a chance to check the volume.  Can't tell from the video but the one I heard the other day seemed louder.

I didn't turn up the overall volume yet. It seems a little louder in person than the video.  It's a really fun piece.  

FYI Dollar General has a package of skeleton warriors for $1. They scale out a little tall but how big are skeleton warriors??? 

I am looking forward to this year's Halloween layout in the garage, the local kids stop buy to check out the progress and run the trains.

This is from a few years ago, the new one is a 8x8 layout, it takes about a week to slap together.

Thanks for this vid. Mine isn't in yet. Excited 

I bought one from Legacy station last night.

Here is another video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OD49SJk9h_U

I hope Lionel adds to the App the ability to turn off the key clicks like they did with the iCab.

Love everyone's videos and pictures!

That is a tremendous effort.  Halloween at our house consists of shutting off the lights and watching Netflix in the basement! 

Jon

jhz563, Where did you find that skull ?

The boars head skull came from House of Hauntz.  Nice folks to deal with as they were very responsive to my email questions.

I actually bought two in case I really screwed up the first one.  My kids now play with the second.  The jaw moves open and shut a little bit.  Obviously I had to cut the front of the jaw and spread it some to make room.  I originally wanted a more ferocious dinosaur looking skull but couldn't find anything in the right physical size and price point.

I took some pictures of the spare at the kitchen table this morning, dollar bill used for scale.  One thing you will not is the large bulbous piece between the hinge points of the jaw bone.  I cut that section out to make room for the train.  Also, the whole thing screws together, so it very easy to disassemble for rework.  I initially wanted to go all foam for the frame of the skull piece but spreading the jaw pieces and holding everything required a bit more strength.  The wood is screwed, glued and cut at all kinds of goofy angles.  I still intend to cover the wood frame with foam carved to look like rock before I paint.

There are foam adhesives at the big box stores. The insert isn't a bad idea, but a wood screws tension will likely rip them away from the foam even glued. A machine screw version, (or machine threads cut into those) would be better as it doesnt have to be driven hard to seat.

Glue the track with laytex caulk. Lots of HO track gets planted that way. Done sparingly, it can be cut away and lifted with a putty knife later. Clean up is pretty easy, and laytex takes paint. Priming might help, but Im pretty sure laytex and that foam get along.

                      ghost train pulling into the haunted station......

Moving slowly, but the project is still alive!

Got mine in today. It is nice. Also picked up the Halloween general. I just need the hallows eve train and I ll have all the ween engines. Can't find it anywhere though 

jhz563 posted:

Moving slowly, but the project is still alive!

Hi, Since it appears that the skull and jaw are articulated is it possible to attach a lever system and solenoid to the skull and sensors which would open/close the skull for the train passing thru?

PRRronbh posted:

jhz563 posted:

Moving slowly, but the project is still alive!

Hi, Since it appears that the skull and jaw are articulated is it possible to attach a lever system and solenoid to the skull and sensors which would open/close the skull for the train passing thru?

It would be possible but somewhat difficult.  I needed to split the jaw and force the opening wider just to get a train through.  Also either you would either have to articulate the whole thing or decide on a fixed point.  Making the jaw fixed and raising the head might look a little odd.  If you hold the head still and open the jaw then you need to deal with an actual opening for the track. 

At this point I am way behind because I wanted to be painting by now and I am still imagining land forms.  I have many parts to add and am not sure where to put them all yet.  Hopefully in the next few evenings I will be able to get more of the foam cut to finish the tunnel and imagine a mountain face.  the foam knife I have is okay but underpowered for 2" work so it's really slow going unless you want to make a huge mess.  I also have a battery powered wire type cutter that runs off of 2 d cells.  It works great even on the big stuff as long as you keep shoving fresh batteries in.  

Micheals has there lemax stuff 50% off. I pick up a few scale figures. Think I might get a gondola and glue some creeepers standing u

I almost spoke for you on the time frame.

 Animating in the future might be as simple as the train wheels/ a rely and a tiny 12v servo, thin rods, and hinges. Animatronics is really simple, it just seems like it should be complex.

"Happy Haunting"

Still working at it, a little at a time!

Here is where I've got to tonight...

Bonus shot of my littlest pumpkin, playing with the curlers.

What a sweet little treat 

Seeing the stacked foam, I see oportunity for a possible lighting addition, even last minute. There are small led battery opp. strobe lights "everywhere"/for about $5, and room for a "cave" to fit one, if a hole is dug in the back side of the forward section of raised earth, so the light is facing back into the canyon.(I think aimed right of center?) It should add action and interest in the canyon, without the overwhelming irritation strobes can be when used as flood lights. One or two more layers added so the back wall sits slightly higher would accent the canyon too, more so with the vertical light streaks you should get. Even if your canyon becomes a tunnel, I think the strobe would add to it.

Looks good though!

our layout for this year.

Joe Gozzo

Joe, that looks great!  I won't have nearly as many goodies as this is my first time around.

Adratic,  that area is to become a tunnel. Once the outer wall sections get glued together I do intend to cut another hole looking in.  This should add visual interest and allow for a hand to reach in without taking the top off, if needed.  The top of the tunnel/ mountain still needs to be resolved in my head but I have plenty of material to play with. The top portion will get some dowel rods for alignment but otherwise will lift straight up to handle the inevitable derailment in the tunnel and make the finished product easier to move through doorways.

not to sabbatoge but my video I took before I added rest of cars and to layout