New Layout 2021-24......Update, August 12, 2024

@dorfj2 posted:

Peter I have a question - May have been answered a while ago in the initial construction phase but - what exactly are you using for general room lighting ? How many lights etc. and what is the overall size of your train room ?

We recently made settlement and are in the process of moving into our new home in Charleston SC - I have a 20 x 21 foot room  that’s going to be the train room

I am planning on building a layout and displaying trains on the walls similar to what you’re doing  / I was thinking of installing 12 flush mount 6” LED ceiling lights (3000k) - 3 rows of 4 lights - this seems to be the go to amount from most lighting manufacturers - not sure if that’s enough or overkill ???

Just wanted to get your thoughts

Thank you

Joe S

Lights on the stairwell……then the main room and then dimmed…..

Peter

@452 Card posted:

Joe S,

Here is what I have in the train/guest room. My son-in-law is an electrician and this is what he installed. Recessed Halo dimmable LEDS wired to be controlled separately or together, meaning one side or both. Material obtained at Home Depot in a six-pack. They are spaced six feet apart from each other. The center "pillow" LED was the only light there originally. The room size is 18 x22' on a second floor.

When I moved in, I had a similar setup, but I found the lighting wasn't sufficient with normal bulbs. 

I was actually looking at adding drops, but that's such a PITA that I did some more exploring.  After several aborted attempts at replacing the bulbs, I came across these, that solve the problem.  Talk about light!  These suckers really light up the room!

Sunco Lighting 2800 Lumens Outdoor Led Flood Light Waterproof PAR38 LED Bulb, Dimmable, 20W=250W, 3000K Warm White

Peter and 452 Card - Thank you for the feedback on lighting / really helps and much appreciated

I assume you guys are happy with your lighting ??? - I'm going to stick with my plan of 12 ceiling lights as the room is a little over 400 square feet

Thx again

Joe S

Thanks Mark!

Joe, I'm limited by the vaulted ceiling as to how many lights we could install, but the six I have plus the pillow seem to be just right. When they were installed, they were set at the lowest setting in the range. If necessary, they can be turned up brighter. (but not the pillow)

Now back to our regularly scheduled Putnam Division thread......

@dorfj2 posted:

Peter and 452 Card - Thank you for the feedback on lighting / really helps and much appreciated

I assume you guys are happy with your lighting ??? - I'm going to stick with my plan of 12 ceiling lights as the room is a little over 400 square feet

Thx again

Joe S

I am.

Peter

Ross Transfer Table arrived today……..I’m very excited, and, things should get rolling, soon!

Peter

That is an exciting delivery! Can't wait to see it!

@Putnam Division posted:

Ross Transfer Table arrived today……..I’m very excited, and, things should get rolling, soon!

Peter

Peter. If you have some spare time, I wrote an article a few issues back about my Millhouse Transfer table. Not a ROSS but darn close. Maybe there are a few things similar.

Don

@3rail posted:

Peter. If you have some spare time, I wrote an article a few issues back about my Millhouse Transfer table. Not a ROSS but darn close. Maybe there are a few things similar.

Don

Thanks, Don

Peter

Call the young men again  to haul it upstairs!  Congratulations!

@Putnam Division posted:

Ross Transfer Table arrived today……..I’m very excited, and, things should get rolling, soon!

Peter

Now that is something of beauty. I have always been pleased with how well Ross products are packed. I know the first time I got a bunch of track in, I got nuts about the peanuts, but it was better that it was packed the way it was, than with minimal packing material. I used to work in shipping, so I know what flies, and what doesn't move hardly at all. I can't wait to see your article(should you write one as Don suggested) as well as it being popped on the layout when things start coming together sooner than later.

Great addition. Looks like you’ll be staying busy!

Jim......it may even replace the soup tureen for a period of time.....

Peter

@Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:

Now that is something of beauty. I have always been pleased with how well Ross products are packed. I know the first time I got a bunch of track in, I got nuts about the peanuts, but it was better that it was packed the way it was, than with minimal packing material. I used to work in shipping, so I know what flies, and what doesn't move hardly at all. I can't wait to see your article(should you write one as Don suggested) as well as it being popped on the layout when things start coming together sooner than later.

The packing is AMAZING!

Peter

Great news Peter, that will be a nice feature on the layout.

Andy

@Putnam Division posted:

Jim......it may even replace the soup tureen for a period of time.....

Peter

I'm amazed that flat track hold soup!

I can see the smile on your face from here, that will be an exciting addition!

Exciting developments Peter. I haven't seen a soup tureen in years. My mother had one that she used all the time.

Bob

I'm sure that will look great once installed!

-Greg

Just catching up on this thread. It all looks fabulous!  Very exciting to have cool stuff showing up!  

BTW, I should be seeing that Altoona Model Works smoke stack shortly.

Keep up the great work!

George

Last week, we finished a summer's worth of work on the club layouts.........now, we started to work on mine! A lot of progress today!

Thank you Tom, Rick and Peter(a different one!)

I think we tired grand dog Winnie out!

Have a great day, folks!

Peter

Looks awesome Peter!

Looks like you'll be laying down track any day now!

-Greg

Wow, that's wide!  How are you going to reach the middle?

@Putnam Division

Very nice ! Congratulations

Looks great Peter. Can't wait to see trains running.

Bob

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Wow, that's wide!  How are you going to reach the middle?

John ……..I’m good with a step stool and if needed, the layout can hold me……..but the middle of the big area you saw will be pretty inert……all scenery.

Peter

Wow ... big, beautiful space and benchwork!

I like those flat cars with the armor loads on the display shelf. Winnie's moral support, too.

Looks great Peter.

@Putnam Division posted:

John ……..I’m good with a step stool and if needed, the layout can hold me……..but the middle of the big area you saw will be pretty inert……all scenery.

Works for me, you sure have a huge area to play in, that's for sure!

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Works for me, you sure have a huge area to play in, that's for sure!

Speaking of scenery........

Looks great, Peter!!

@Putnam Division, Peter, Wow, I’m so happy to see you working on your layout, (You have a great crew) in your beautiful train room, or man cave. I know your excited to see your new table work, plywood topping, and soon, trains will be running. It will be a room of so much fun, thanks for keeping us updated. @NYCJOE, #Gunrunner John each have beautiful layouts in the making, and now, you are bringing your amazing ideas to this fun to review forum. All I can say is Wow!!! Model railroading is a fantastic hobby, you All make it fun. Happy Railroading Everyone

Peter,

How are you attaching the plywood to the benchwork? Are you using the material from Mianne, or something else? Very curious about this because I'm stalled right now for that reason.

@452 Card posted:

Peter,

How are you attaching the plywood to the benchwork? Are you using the material from Mianne, or something else? Very curious about this because I'm stalled right now for that reason.

We tossed the hardware from Mianne and used a brad nailer to securely attach the top.  If you just attached it by the corners, it's free to vibrate on the I-beams as you run and create excessive noise.

Progress Peter, progress!

Looks great Peter! You guys don’t fool around, lots of progress in a short time.

Andy

Peter,

Everything looks like it's moving along. Before you know it you'll be laying track.

Dave

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

We tossed the hardware from Mianne and used a brad nailer to securely attach the top.  If you just attached it by the corners, it's free to vibrate on the I-beams as you run and create excessive noise.

Hi John, you are correct about the plywood vibrating on the I-beams. Tim from Mianne sells a special I-beam clip that works great. I’ve purchased quite a few for my latest rebuild.

Gene

@452 Card posted:

Peter,

How are you attaching the plywood to the benchwork? Are you using the material from Mianne, or something else? Very curious about this because I'm stalled right now for that reason.

A little bit of everything......the Mianne corner brackets; screwing direct to the I-beams; small 90 degree L brackets to the I beams; and, small lengths of 1x3s and 1x4s to join the pieces of plywood together then they are juxapposed "in air".

You can see one of the many 1x3s in the picture below....

Peter

Thanks Peter, GRJ and Genemed!

Now I have a direction I want to follow. So many ideas here to consider. A wealth of info.