Bravo, Mark!!!! Your layout is really coming together. Keep up the great work and creativity. Also, keep the progress videos coming!
Thank you Randy!!
@Mark Boyce posted:I finally got the contacts in to power the lift up bridges when down. Here are two views, both about 2 1/2 minutes long.
Looks great Mark. Your twice around plan makes for a nice run. 
Bob
@Mark Boyce posted:I finally got the contacts in to power the lift up bridges when down. Here are two views, both about 2 1/2 minutes long.
Wow Mark! That looks great. It reminds me of a 2 Rail O gauge layout based on the L&N I saw in Model Railroader a few years ago. It was a multi deck layout and had a similar track layout. Nice backdrop too!
Pennsynut. Building those panels or modules as I call them are a great way to build scenery easier at work bench than on top of layout as you well know. Great work.
@Seth Thomas posted:Capetrainman I appreciate the kind reply.
Since you supplied such nice streets tonight, how did you make your side walks...? Thanks in advance. 😊
Seth Thomas...by placing the buildings flush on a 12" x 12" 6mm "Foamie" pad with a setback of 1.5 inches or so, the sidewalk was created. After painting the black pad gray, the sidewalk was there! By using a 6mm thickness option, the curb was created by using a 3mm "Foamie" pad for Main Street...so the sidewalk height became 3mm. I believe the 3mm sheet for the road was 12" x 18". A 2mm pad was available also to create a little extra height for the sidewalk, if wanted. The pad for buildings and the road was secured to the plywood with a few dabs of construction adhesive...just because I had some on the bench.
The foam pads take paint well. I didn't go to the extent of cutting lines in the foam to simulate sidewalk "cracks," but this could be done easily enough if you want the extra detail. Hope this helps
Attachments
Images (4)
@RSJB18 posted:Looks great Mark. Your twice around plan makes for a nice run.
Bob
Thank you. Bob! I have struggled with the grades on this layout more than I did doing something similar years ago. In fact, at times I wondered if I would have been better just making two separate loops the one next to the wall higher than the other. I'm glad I stuck with the 'original' plan.
@Berkshirelover726 posted:Wow Mark! That looks great. It reminds me of a 2 Rail O gauge layout based on the L&N I saw in Model Railroader a few years ago. It was a multi deck layout and had a similar track layout. Nice backdrop too!
Thank you, Cody! I have seen plans with the similar idea too. Thank you for commenting on the backdrop. I bought it from a Forum member and cut it some to suit my room. There is still some work to do on it.
Capetrainman the streets in your town really look nice. Thank you for the description of how you did it.
https://ogrforum.com/...8#154307984466485508
Great job, Mark!
@Mark Boyce posted:I finally got the contacts in to power the lift up bridges when down. Here are two views, both about 2 1/2 minutes long.
Nice smooth run Mark! Looking GOOD!!
Cheers, Dave
@farmerjohn posted:Pennsynut. Building those panels or modules as I call them are a great way to build scenery easier at work bench than on top of layout as you well know. Great work.
Many thanks John. Your work and imagination are inspiring. I draw on the work of others no matter their talents, and try to apply their ideas and knowledge. Sometimes I surprise myself.
@Capetrainman posted:Seth Thomas...
Paul, thanks for your post on sidewalks. Your modeling in the town has clean lines and your mountain scene is interesting.
pennsy...thank you...
@HCSader73 posted:https://ogrforum.com/...8#154307984466485508
Great job, Mark!
@darlander posted:Nice smooth run Mark! Looking GOOD!!
Cheers, Dave
Thank you Pete and Dave!!
I’m really pleased that you have successfully transformed the “pink lady” to your Blackwater Canyon!
I too enjoyed watch the climb of the rise in the rails. Your bridges and trestles will just get better and better...
Enjoyed the Western Maryland chuff and consist..
Thank you, Seth! Every so often someone refers to the ‘pink lady’ room! It has taken over 4 years, but I am glad it is where it is today!
I tend to run them slow, but that makes the route seem longer, and it is a mountain railroad
Thanks much Capetrainman,
I can do this!
I’m excited
@Mark Boyce posted:I finally got the contacts in to power the lift up bridges when down. Here are two views, both about 2 1/2 minutes long.
@Mark Boyce posted:Thank you, Seth! Every so often someone refers to the ‘pink lady’ room! It has taken over 4 years, but I am glad it is where it is today!
I tend to run them slow, but that makes the route seem longer, and it is a mountain railroad
BrILLANT!! Thats Fantastic..... and the slow run is really quite Dramatic, Mark. Amazingly, There was No Gomez Addams Crash!!
Well done. Proud, we are.
@Capetrainman posted:Seth Thomas...by placing the buildings flush on a 12" x 12" 6mm "Foamie" pad with a setback of 1.5 inches or so, the sidewalk was created. After painting the black pad gray, the sidewalk was there! By using a 6mm thickness option, the curb was created by using a 3mm "Foamie" pad for Main Street...so the sidewalk height became 3mm. I believe the 3mm sheet for the road was 12" x 18". A 2mm pad was available also to create a little extra height for the sidewalk, if wanted. The pad for buildings and the road was secured to the plywood with a few dabs of construction adhesive...just because I had some on the bench.
The foam pads take paint well. I didn't go to the extent of cutting lines in the foam to simulate sidewalk "cracks," but this could be done easily enough if you want the extra detail. Hope this helps
NICE, I especially like FRANKS!
@Miggy posted:
Scott, thank you!! I do not like train wrecks! No Gomez here, at least I won’t post it if it happens! 👍🏻😄
Capetrainman
Where to obtain the foam board? Is this the product which has a paper backing on each side with a white foam center?
How About the width of your streets in inches?
Thanks to you Capetrainman
@Seth Thomas posted:Capetrainman
Where to obtain the foam board? Is this the product which has a paper backing on each side with a white foam center?
How About the width of your streets in inches?
Thanks to you Capetrainman
Most arts and crafts stores.
Paul, the scenery you built and set in place looks wonderful! Blends in very nicely!
Paul, the streets and sidewalks you built have made me thinking I should go back and do the same thing! But if I do it will be down the road! LOL They sure look great!
Dave, thanks for the nice words about my tower. I have owe it all to Dustin from the forum.
Seth your building turned out looking perfect! Thank you for sharing it with all of us!
Mark, Congratulation on your bridges, They look great and what smooth running trains!
I hope I didnt forget anyone, being away from the computer for a couple day and so much has been done! As for me I have been working on my flats. Man it sure takes quite a few coats of paint to cover that stuff, I already have 2 coats on and still need more. But then again I guess what else am I going to do. I normally go out to the train room around 4am to try and get some stuff done before the light comes up and its time to change over to honey do list. No photos yet as I dont think they are worth it.
Bob, you wouldnt happen to have the item numbers for the lights you ordered from Evens Design?
I hope everyone has a great day and fun with there layout and trains!
@RSJB18 posted:Most arts and crafts stores.
Ok. Thank you!
hopefully the town will happen fast once I get started
@mike g. posted:Seth your building turned out looking perfect! Thank you for sharing it with all of us!
Mark, Congratulation on your bridges, They look great and what smooth running trains!
I hope I didnt forget anyone, being away from the computer for a couple day and so much has been done! As for me I have been working on my flats. Man it sure takes quite a few coats of paint to cover that stuff, I already have 2 coats on and still need more. But then again I guess what else am I going to do. I normally go out to the train room around 4am to try and get some stuff done before the light comes up and its time to change over to honey do list. No photos yet as I dont think they are worth it.
Bob, you wouldnt happen to have the item numbers for the lights you ordered from Evens Design?
I hope everyone has a great day and fun with there layout and trains!
I believe your mentions Mike, they inspire....
Seth nice job on the WS Emporium.
Two other posts worth mentioning - AMfleet25124 posted a video looking from the inside of an HO passenger car - WOW! Worth looking at !!! and SWRR posted a video under "Now this is craftsmanship!" yesterday scratch built trolley system - bodies are manila folders and wood.
Had a bad case of gremlins on the RR the past few days. It started with an electrical smell coming from my switch control panel. One of the DZ-1500 switch buttons appears to be the culprit - replaced it and the smell stopped. I assume there was a partial short somewhere causing overheating. As a result I decided to take the time an re-wire the entire panel to make trouble shooting easier and to make way for a few more button controllers. That led to additional problems with DZ-1500 and DZ-2500 machines. LEDs would light in one direction but not another yet the switches would throw. Reversed LEDs on on switch and then the controller decided not to operate properly. Ended up replacing 3 switch buttons and one machine. I still have one 2500 operator which works properly, but will show both red and green in one direction and only red in the other. Huh? That one I don't understand.
Lastly in my endeavor to address the problems, I replaced a switch machine and was running an engine to test everything. Well the engine had a real issue going over the switch which it had not had before (at least going in the other direction) - sometimes derailing sometimes not. Gave up and went to bed. Woke up in the middle of the night remembering I had left the mount screws partially up and was convinced that was the problem. Went back to sleep. Now I have to see if that was the real problem.
If you don’t do the Daily Digest please go to Hokie71 today and the Cozet Tunnel YouTube.
It’s trains, historical, wonderful information about our past and current American ingenuity and hard work
so it should interest the most of the OGR Forum... a fast 35 minutes you will enjoy
Crozet Tunnel Video,
It’s a YouTube that you can load from a Google inquiry easily
can you tell I’m excited about finding it?
thanks Hokie71
Thank you Scoutingdad
a nice compliment from another great an talented train fan from OGR Forum
And guys, so many of you have shared with me Likes I to my recent photos
I humbly accept 😌😀
@mike g. posted:Paul, the scenery you built and set in place looks wonderful! Blends in very nicely!
Paul, the streets and sidewalks you built have made me thinking I should go back and do the same thing! But if I do it will be down the road! LOL They sure look great!
Dave, thanks for the nice words about my tower. I have owe it all to Dustin from the forum.
Seth your building turned out looking perfect! Thank you for sharing it with all of us!
Mark, Congratulation on your bridges, They look great and what smooth running trains!
I hope I didn't forget anyone, being away from the computer for a couple day and so much has been done! As for me I have been working on my flats. Man it sure takes quite a few coats of paint to cover that stuff, I already have 2 coats on and still need more. But then again I guess what else am I going to do. I normally go out to the train room around 4am to try and get some stuff done before the light comes up and its time to change over to honey do list. No photos yet as I dont think they are worth it.
Bob, you wouldn't happen to have the item numbers for the lights you ordered from Evens Design?
I hope everyone has a great day and fun with there layout and trains!
Mike, Thank you very much!! I have trouble remembering everyone because of so many great projects, some days taking up a couple pages. I confess to having used your posts as a sort of template to not miss anyone; you do such a good job. I got away from that. I am going to try to stay on top of this topic a little better and give better encouragement as folks give to me.
@Seth Thomas posted:Capetrainman
Where to obtain the foam board? Is this the product which has a paper backing on each side with a white foam center?
How About the width of your streets in inches?
Thanks to you Capetrainman
Seth, the "Foamies" don't have paper with a foam core, but just flexible foam. As was mentioned above, by one of the guys, the craft stores and the big hobby chain generally have some in stock, but I recall going online to buy the sizes, color (black) and quantity needed. One of the craft stores had the items on line but not stocked in the store. The product takes a flat latex craft paint well, and no issue using construction adhesive to adhere sheets to the base...in my case, plywood. I pulled a couple of labels off of unused sheets. If you like, I'd be happy to snap a picture of them and e-mail to you? Let me know here if interested in more info.
My South Main St. is 9 1/4" wide made for single line parking and two travel lanes..see pic above in front of Frank's Market. I arrived at 9 1/4 by lining up 4, 1/43 cars across the road...two for travel and two for parking.
Paul, “Foamies” is new to me. I’ll have to check it out!
Mark, the item is basically a 9 x 12 or 12 x 18 piece of foam...I found three sources...one of them called the items "Foamies." Sounds like craft speak to me...lol
Thanks Paul...please snap me a picture of the product labels. This would help as I may order online...as I will not be doing the streets immediately. I’ll be doing some measurements and may use styrofoam to perform a dry run on locations of buildings and streets...
I find from your explained process and what I had planned, you have the best option I believe.
You photos if your street was nice.
Paul, if you wouldnt mind could you also email me the information or maybe even just post it here for everyone to see so you dont have to email so many people! LOL
Well I am a little late as its past 4am and I am not out to the train room as of yet. I wanted to get up to speed on everything going on here! I got my third coat of paint on the windows and arches and doors. I can tell they are going to need another one, but they are coming along. I tried acrylic paint on the doors and it just didnt seam to work so yesterday I tried enamel paint, I will see how the next coat of that goes on. Here are a couple photos for your enjoyment.
oops I guess I didn't take a photo of the painted yet, so here is the try at putting mortar. LOL and my painted steps.
I hope you all have a great Friday and weekend! Don't to forget to have fun with your trains and layouts!
Attachments
Images (2)
I had to bump up the voltage on my layout so my electro couplers on my new Bi-Polar would fire. Turns out the 15v from DCS legacy won’t get it done, needs more like 18v for reliable operation. I found a post from 2019 that put me wise to the issue.
Added some details and figures to my loading dock and industrial area .....
Attachments
Images (4)
Mike - FWIW, I use model paint (Testors/Tamiya) for detailing the windows and doors on these resin-type material flats.
I like brown for window frames, gray for arches, window tops, pediments, cornices, etc., and red or green for doors, but it's all personal preference.
I also use clear sticker paper sprayed with a light blue to cover the windows.
I painted the outside of the bottom one with a light brown, but I do the same for brick red, too.
Attachments
Images (2)
Mike, Good looking start on your new building kit. I really like the color of the steps!
Ctcharger, I have mostly MTH engines, and they work fine with 14 volts. When I got my first Legacy or TMCC engine I found I had to increase the voltage to get the electro-couplers to operate. I now have two Legacy engines and one TMCC.
Richie, that is one very busy and profitable looking loading dock. The whole scene looks great! The light blue on the window film is an idea I had not seen before. Yours look great!
I hope to get to the train room later and finish up my lift up bridge wiring. 'Hope' is always the primary word. 
Placed another module in my small town area. A post office as well as a old caboose for a static display.
Attachments
Images (3)
John, your modules look great!!
Farmerjohn, as always, this looks great, a very interesting scene, now how about a picture from the stairway looking at the layout with the scene in the background. That would be a really awesome view, with trains parked waiting on their assignments. Your layout is really coming alive. Thank you for the pictures. Happy Railroading Everyone
