(UPDATED) The 48 Club *** Announcing Division 59 Membership ***

@baltimoretrainworks posted:

Apparently the Romans were not as technologically advanced as I thought, they didn't have plywood so I had to use "wood veneer" or "lignum crusta" instead.

I'm going to make myself nuts with all the possible Latin things we could use like:

Four By Eight Wood Veneer    Quattuor Per Octo Lignum Crusta  which sums us up in a nutshell, I need to pick one and move one!

I thank you for your offer to help out with the membership kit, I'll have to think on it.

Come o man, no guts no glory!

I just finished setting up an email address for the club:

The48Club@yahoo.com

So now if we have any real business to discuss or any secret communications we can now!

Jerry

@JohnnieWalker posted:

So here is a sample section of fencing made from the Union Jack decorative metal panel.  I took a wooden dowel and put two vertical cuts into it on each side with a hacksaw . I used that because it was in arms reach when I had the dowels in the vise . The cuts are about a quarter inch deep . The photos don’t  show the gold color very well that I used for the top rail , probably needs a few more coats . I also spray painted the fencing a green color that I had sitting around .  The posts are still in white primer .   Next up is adding a curved section to it .

OOOOOOOoooooh, By Jove I Think You've Got Something There! Beauty Eh!

@Miggy posted:

OOOOOOOoooooh, By Jove I Think You've Got Something There! Beauty Eh!

With a little more tinkering and input I think this type of fencing can find a home on more than one layout . 

Lol, I definitely fit this category.  Nothing permanent year round unfortunately, but we have fun with it.  Always, have it out for the holidays.

Fourteen pages since March 1st!  You really came up with something, Jerry!  Thanks for the great idea!!

@Brian DeFazio posted:

Lol, I definitely fit this category.  Nothing permanent year round unfortunately, but we have fun with it.  Always, have it out for the holidays.

Welcome aboard Brian!

I had a gym teacher back at Patterson Highschool named DeFazio so your name caught my eye right off, any possible relation or is Defazio like my last name Makowiecki, pretty common back in the old country?

1. BYIENGST
2. Whit M
3. GMan-24
4. Engineer Bob
5. lehighline
6. Eric in Houston
7. Scott R
8. Craftech
9. Brian Defazio

@Mark Boyce posted:

Fourteen pages since March 1st!  You really came up with something, Jerry!  Thanks for the great idea!!

Thanks Mark. I never planned on this it was really more of a joke in response to a comment someone made about small layouts, I am however pleasantly surprised. I saw you had a bit of a laugh at the spam I got after 1 minute on the e-mail address, just checked it a few minutes ago and there was almost 36 emails, everyone of them spam. I have never even used the address yet so my best guess is Yahoo sells the addresses, hate to see what we'd get if I set up a FaceBook page for us. But that's not going to happen anytime soon unless there's a call for it, I'd set up a web page first before I went FB.

Well I have to get back to my garden, those potatoes aren't going to plant themselves.

Jerry

Jerry, I suspected you had no idea it would go like this.  😄  I have a yahoo account in my profile for model train related correspondence.  I don’t even look at the spam folder.  I almost never get spam that doesn’t automatically go in that folder.

@baltimoretrainworks posted:

Welcome aboard Brian!

I had a gym teacher back at Patterson Highschool named DeFazio so your name caught my eye right off, any possible relation or is Defazio like my last name Makowiecki, pretty common back in the old country?

1. BYIENGST
2. Whit M
3. GMan-24
4. Engineer Bob
5. lehighline
6. Eric in Houston
7. Scott R
8. Craftech
9. Brian Defazio

Thanks Mark. I never planned on this it was really more of a joke in response to a comment someone made about small layouts, I am however pleasantly surprised. I saw you had a bit of a laugh at the spam I got after 1 minute on the e-mail address, just checked it a few minutes ago and there was almost 36 emails, everyone of them spam. I have never even used the address yet so my best guess is Yahoo sells the addresses, hate to see what we'd get if I set up a FaceBook page for us. But that's not going to happen anytime soon unless there's a call for it, I'd set up a web page first before I went FB.

Well I have to get back to my garden, those potatoes aren't going to plant themselves.

Jerry

My family is huge, so anything is certainly possible, but I'm not aware of any family in that area. It's always best to find someone else with the last name though (other than Laverne and Shirley references 🤣). Thanks Jerry!

This weeks layout is an O27 dog-bone with reversing loops and stretches out for 16 feet to give an operator a long run for his trains but is only 3 feet wide at most.

It uses an entire sheet of plywood cut as follows:

With the one piece flipped to give a mirror image.

It can be done as on O gauge but the clearance on the switch motors gets close, alternately the smaller loop could be moved a little to the right with the extra 12" being cut off and added to the right end of the layout making your town area larger but at the cost of an area for a rural station  on the other end. Similarly the extra 36"x12" piece could be added to the central mainline area to give your iron horses even more room to stretch their legs!

The track list is as follows:

10 - O27 curves

28 - straights (8.75")

2 - RH O27 switches

2 - LH O27 switches

1 - RCS

2 - 1/2 section straights

2 - 5.6" cut sections

2 - 5.1" cut sections

1 - 5.4" cut section

There is a 1.8" cut section but given the difficulty in cutting really short sections you could just replace it and a full section with 2 - 5.25" cut sections just to make your life easy. I would have just changed the plan but I didn't notice it until I had transferred it over from SCARM to my graphics package and done all the editing to make it a PNG file, my bad.

Haven't had any new members added this week, maybe they're right, maybe no one builds small layout? I like to think that on a smaller layout we can go for more action and not really break the bank and can pack more into it. I've found that layouts with a lot of action get the kids attention more than the larger more realistic layouts. I remember taking my Scout troop one year to do a layout tour in the Baltimore area and almost to a man they were more impressed with the holiday type layouts and the one full up model railroad at the Engineers Club in Baltimore (HO on one side and O on the other) that was done and run as a real railroad got comments like "They don't run very fast" "Nothing moves" (accessories like beacons, water towers etc) and honestly watching someone switch cars and make up a consist was as entertaining as watching potatoes cook. Nothing against those guys but even the adults with our group thought it was boring.

Well that's all for today.

Jerry

@baltimoretrainworks posted:

This weeks layout is an O27 dog-bone with reversing loops and stretches out for 16 feet to give an operator a long run for his trains but is only 3 feet wide at most.

It uses an entire sheet of plywood cut as follows:

With the one piece flipped to give a mirror image.

It can be done as on O gauge but the clearance on the switch motors gets close, alternately the smaller loop could be moved a little to the right with the extra 12" being cut off and added to the right end of the layout making your town area larger but at the cost of an area for a rural station  on the other end. Similarly the extra 36"x12" piece could be added to the central mainline area to give your iron horses even more room to stretch their legs!

The track list is as follows:

10 - O27 curves

28 - straights (8.75")

2 - RH O27 switches

2 - LH O27 switches

1 - RCS

2 - 1/2 section straights

2 - 5.6" cut sections

2 - 5.1" cut sections

1 - 5.4" cut section

There is a 1.8" cut section but given the difficulty in cutting really short sections you could just replace it and a full section with 2 - 5.25" cut sections just to make your life easy. I would have just changed the plan but I didn't notice it until I had transferred it over from SCARM to my graphics package and done all the editing to make it a PNG file, my bad.

Haven't had any new members added this week, maybe they're right, maybe no one builds small layout? I like to think that on a smaller layout we can go for more action and not really break the bank and can pack more into it. I've found that layouts with a lot of action get the kids attention more than the larger more realistic layouts. I remember taking my Scout troop one year to do a layout tour in the Baltimore area and almost to a man they were more impressed with the holiday type layouts and the one full up model railroad at the Engineers Club in Baltimore (HO on one side and O on the other) that was done and run as a real railroad got comments like "They don't run very fast" "Nothing moves" (accessories like beacons, water towers etc) and honestly watching someone switch cars and make up a consist was as entertaining as watching potatoes cook. Nothing against those guys but even the adults with our group thought it was boring.

Well that's all for today.

Jerry

I think that’s a really cool layout design. One could do all kinds of fun stuff with it.  

@JohnnieWalker posted:

I think that’s a really cool layout design. One could do all kinds of fun stuff with it.  

One idea I thought of was to place the 2 sheets at 90 degrees to each other, cut 12" off one of the narrow sections and use that piece to fill inside the corner by splitting it diagonally. That would make it 31.5 sq'.

That way is more doable than a 16 foot long layout, essentially makes it 96x96 inches and your control panel can go in the cut out area.

Jerry

That'd make a nice trolley layout, too! 

Mitch

@M. Mitchell Marmel posted:

That'd make a nice trolley layout, too! 

Mitch

I like that idea too, 2 small towns connected by a trolley system.

Jerry

I really like the L shaped one, though both are good.  Very nice Jerry!!

Mitch you are right about a nice trolley layout!

@baltimoretrainworks posted:

I like that idea too, 2 small towns connected by a trolley system.

And a little steeplecab for freight service! 

Mitch

I like them Jerry, a very ingenious use of a "48". I think I prefer the first, because I like straight runs.

But what is 91.5 sq'? Aren't they both 32 sq'? The first has a footprint of 48 sq' and the second 64 sq', right?

@Mark Boyce posted:

Sounds great, Jerry!  I would gladly pay for mine, and I think others would be Willi to chip in for theirs!

Yes, me, too. Gladly pay for them!  Thanks for doing all this legwork, Jerry!

@M. Mitchell Marmel posted:

And a little steeplecab for freight service! 

Mitch

Don't forget the passenger trade, Ladies and gentlemen I present  PCC  #48...

@Will posted:

I like them Jerry, a very ingenious use of a "48". I think I prefer the first, because I like straight runs.

But what is 91.5 sq'? Aren't they both 32 sq'? The first has a footprint of 48 sq' and the second 64 sq', right?

My bad I wrote 91.5 sq' when I meant 31.5 sq'. I've corrected it. Each section of the ELL is 16 sq',  it looses a 1/2sq' because on one of the long sections I cut off 12" length and then diagonally split it to make the inside the corner section, that piece being a 12"x12" right triangle, the other one gets tossed.

I did it that way mostly for ease of construction but one could cut a 45 degree cut on the narrow sections and butt them together like a picture frame and use one of the cut offs in the corner.

Jerry

@baltimoretrainworks posted:

Don't forget the passenger trade....

Heh!  I like it!  Reminds me of the old Atlantic City livery...

@M. Mitchell Marmel posted:

Heh!  I like it!  Reminds me of the old Atlantic City livery...

I like the "wings" on the nose, going to have to add it to the design.

Jerry

Ok, so a project update:

• I have settled on Mianne benchwork that is 4 x 8 with locking casters and a rolling transformer cart. It is much better size for my space, a garage that doubles as an art studio and a space for a treadmill. This limits my track radius, but I have been limited for years anyway, and 036 and 031 Fastrak works just fine for me. Benchwork ordered on 4/4, about 4-6 weeks out.
• Mocked up the track on banquet tables. The tables are 5 x 6, so the track will be longer but not wider.(Mockup assumes 4' wide) But it gives me an idea. Have a small trolley layout it middle for Worlds Fair trolley. The short span is made interesting by the announcement track, so will be worth it.
• Purchased a Lionel ZW-C with two 180 bricks. Like Trainroom Gary's layout, this powers the two mainlines. The trolley line is an MTH trolley so I'm using a Z500. I could buy another 180 brick, but it's overkill. It's overkill anyway, but I love this transformer! It plays in conventional really well with all my MTH locos, including the subways. Transformer commands work flawlessly.
• I thought about adding a third loop above, but I don't think I have space bellow to put the subway piers. Don't think that's going to happen.
• I realized how little I care about scenery. Plasticville works great. I love adding people on strips of plastic that just sit on what I plan on being a green top. Very toy train, not realistic. I may add little details that I make on foam board and drop in, but I don't have much space on a two loop track layout. I enjoy running commuter trains like subways, and passengers. I run no freight unless my circus train freight. When I run pre war it's just really for the fun of running the old steamers, and I can run some Williams 027 passenger cars behind. So, I'm not worried about modeling. I'm not worried about realism at all, in fact.
• I may add some Subway Souvenirs to my layout, and one animated Lemax Circus for movement. But mostly Plasticville Stations, Marx stations, and some business Plasticville.
• Here's a video of the track mock up.

@pdxtrains I can align with you on enjoying the trains and keeping it toy like. Previously I had a scenic layout in the 1970s. Now I could care less about it. I just enjoy playing and tinkering with my toy trains. That’s what great about his hobby, its what makes you and only you happy.

My 48 Club Super O layout is currently accessory focused. I run two loops that interconnect. It’s just painted white as it started as a Christmas layout with fake snow. My larger Prewar vintage layout is also just white with my stations, accessories and Barclays people meets my tastes. Besides the prewar colors pop against the white table top.

Looking forward to your build and keep us Club members updated on your progress. Enjoy!!!!

While I'm building a larger layout - all the fun in this thread has me wanting to break out the American Flyer stuff I have and start early on a 4x8 Christmas layout!

@Rich Wiemann posted:

@pdxtrains I can align with you on enjoying the trains and keeping it toy like. Previously I had a scenic layout in the 1970s. Now I could care less about it. I just enjoy playing and tinkering with my toy trains. That’s what great about his hobby, its what makes you and only you happy.

My 48 Club Super O layout is currently accessory focused. I run two loops that interconnect. It’s just painted white as it started as a Christmas layout with fake snow. My larger Prewar vintage layout is also just white with my stations, accessories and Barclays people meets my tastes. Besides the prewar colors pop against the white table top.

Looking forward to your build and keep us Club members updated on your progress. Enjoy!!!!

I love this layout, especially that station (?) in the center.

Ive found that simplicity is the new watchword for me as I age. I’m a lunar observer too and used to have gigantic telescopes. Gone now. I’m happily observing with 60 to 80 mm scopes, that I can pick up with one hand and be set up in seconds. Trying to keep it simple all the way around.

@rplst8 posted:

While I'm building a larger layout - all the fun in this thread has me wanting to break out the American Flyer stuff I have and start early on a 4x8 Christmas layout!

Same here, I have a huge box of O27 track I've accumulated over the years and I'm thinking about building that ELL shaped layout I posted a few days ago, I would prefer to use O gauge track but like I said in that post the clearance issues on the switch motors might kill that idea. I'm thinking about designing an S gauge layout next for our American Flyer fans out there, personally I only have one set and a hand car, a couple of switches and a figure 8 of track and it was only set up once about 20 years ago when I got I from a friend of my wifes. Now my uncle is the American Flyer expert in our family, he's got the Royal Blue and a passenger set for it along with some vintage MARX tin buildings including the whistling station which I've always like the sound of so I may try and track one down this year. Honestly I don't even know what radius of track is even out there for American Flyer so it will be a learning experience for me.

And an update on the membership cards, Vistaprint has no idea why the card keeps showing up as white instead of black and cardboard instead of plastic. They are recommending I make the card the way I want it and then send a message along with it to a sales rep to make sure it gets made correctly. Just make me one more step away from having any control over something right? Well at least if it gets screwed up it would be on them then and not me!

Jerry

@pdxtrains posted:

I love this layout, especially that station (?) in the center

Thanks for the compliment, yes simplicity is key for me. Guess that’s why I enjoy prewar, postwar and some MPC items.

That station is a MARX Girard Whistle Station.

@baltimoretrainworks posted:

I like the "wings" on the nose, going to have to add it to the design.

Let me know when you have decals.  I have a "Silver Sightseer" from MTH that would look snappy in that scheme!  ;-)

Mitch

@M. Mitchell Marmel posted:

Let me know when you have decals.  I have a "Silver Sightseer" from MTH that would look snappy in that scheme!  ;-)

Mitch

I have the first PCC car that MTH made, a Philidelphia Septa car, it's a god-awful ugly white and gold color with red accents here and there.

Not sure why I ever bought it, guess I liked the style of the car more than the paint job. My first thought after designing the car was to re-paint the Septa in the 48 livery, might tweak the paint job a bit tho and going to put "THE 48 CLUB" in the destination board above the front windshield.

I'm thinking a McKeen car....

would look pretty sweet in a similar paint job altho probably not Art-Deco period, a bit early for that !

Jerry

@baltimoretrainworks posted:

I have the first PCC car that MTH made, a Philidelphia Septa car, it's a god-awful ugly white and gold color with red accents here and there.

I have one of those.  It's destined to become the floor and electrics donor for a bronze cast Atlantic City Brilliner... ;-)

What I have in mind is this:

Already has the roof ventilator in place. 

Mitch

@M. Mitchell Marmel posted:

I have one of those.  It's destined to become the floor and electrics donor for a bronze cast Atlantic City Brilliner... ;-)

What I have in mind is this:

Already has the roof ventilator in place. 

Mitch

I think it's a toss up which one has the uglier paint job!

Jerry

Ok, it’s past my bedtime and I’m still reading this thread, so may as well jump in. I’m a newbie to the forum; joined just over a week ago. If I can get the picture to load here’s my last layout, recently dismantled to make room for a new one. Dimensions were 36 x 72 and it was strictly an experiment; hence the rat’s nest of wiring. New setup will be Fastrack on hollow core doors, with some trim added to the ends and sides but just inside the 32 sq ft limit. Please add me to the Century list.

Welcome aboard John  and thanks for ending the drought haven't added a new member since the 7th of April!  As to your "birds nest" looks like some relay action going on there, is this some sort of control system you're working on? I've only slightly dabbled in relay control on layouts but that only lasted till the locomotives got broken in and started coasting past the dead sections and then continuing on their merry way until they collided with the other train on the track, need to make them longer next time.

1. BYIENGST
2. Whit M
3. GMan-24
4. Engineer Bob
5. lehighline
6. Eric in Houston
7. Scott R
8. Craftech
9. Brian Defazio
10. John SW

Jerry

John gets Poobah Points for sheer prewar cool. 

Mitch

John SW, I like your Marx tinplate, some fun stuff to run, for sure. I have the same Marx Jubilee locomotive .. actually two of them.

Rusty

Thank you all for your warm welcome and kind words. I'm grateful to this forum for posting so many good ideas; when I first discovered the group I had a lot of questions, but a week of exploring answered most of them, so many thanks.

Yes, the relays were for train control, also to add non-derailing to all those Marx switches without modifying them or overheating their windings. This was a proof of concept layout; the grand plan was to expand to 4x8 and cram as much 027 track and as many functions onto the table as I could manage. With this setup the two trains could share the short straight on the outer loop without colliding, and either train could run either way. It worked quite well, but on this small a layout it wasn't very interesting to watch. I've had great fun with the tinplate Marx rolling stock, but by the time I had it all debugged the old Lionel Itch had taken hold and I decided to take a different approach entirely. Now I'm thinking of a simple double loop, and my wife has taken an interest in making scenery; this is a very new thing for me/us, and should hold our interest for a while.

Why 4X8 for me? The trains share space with other activities, and when not in use the table needs to roll away and lean against a wall.

John in the Finger Lakes of NY

Welcome to the Forum, John!  Thank you for posting about your layout

Welcome @John SW. I figured that mass of wire and relays was for some fancy train movements and near collisions. Did you happen to get any video of it?

Where are you from in the finger lakes? Ithaca was my old stomping grounds.

Will, I currently live in Canandaigua, but was born and grew up in Ithaca. I have memories of the Black Diamond stopping there, hauled by steam. My dad bought his Lionel stuff from a train shop near Buttermilk Falls; a place full of wonders for a kid. Nostalgia....

@John SW posted:

Will, I currently live in Canandaigua, but was born and grew up in Ithaca. I have memories of the Black Diamond stopping there, hauled by steam. My dad bought his Lionel stuff from a train shop near Buttermilk Falls; a place full of wonders for a kid. Nostalgia....

Welcome John. We are regulars in the Finger Lakes region. My brother-in law is in Auburn/ Skeneateles.

Bob

Welcome, John! Good luck with the new layout.