What did you do on your layout today?

@ScoutingDad posted:

Matt, I noticed the Marklin HO catenary wires and thought they could be powered from the far end. I now have about 40 feet of the wire and am trying to decide whether to tinker with a short powered section. Nice job on the posts and wire supports. I'll have to checkout the Marklin hangars.

My personal thought on working catenary is that it is overkill. Catenary is a great idea, but, just to allow your electric locomotives to run with their pantographs up for visual effect. Visitors to your layout will have no idea as to whether the power to the locomotive is coming from above or below. You will be the only one who knows that.

@railhead53 posted:

Mark, thanks.  It has been a while and it is good to be back and working on another railroad.  This one will be much smaller than the last, but I am having fun with it.  Bill B.

Bill,

While I really liked your last layout, I think smaller can be better.  While I would like to have a longer run, a twice around roughly the perimeter of my 11x11 room will keep me busy for many years.  Some modelers who are around our age perhaps bite off more than they can chew.  IF someone has help from other modelers, then a larger layout can work, but if a person is doing it by himself like I am, smaller works nicely.

Randy - I may end up just having a non-working catenary, but I am an engineer at heart and I enjoy dabbling in something like this and enjoy the challenge of getting it to work. Heck I might even try two rail if I don't have to mess with polarity issues. Lighting passenger cars would be a challenge however, a battery or supercapacitor with LED lighting would probably work fine - another engineering challenge.

Mark B - I tend to agree with the smaller layout to a point. I would love not to have to do any type of lift ups, outs, aways to access my layout. But with the desire to have at least some track with 072 curves, geometry otherwise requires arguably 15 feet for a dog bone type pattern. That tends to push a layout to 10x15 minimum.  Next layout I am thinking roughly 15x20 max - of course that kind of space is hard to find in homes today - living rooms, kitchens and main bedrooms are off limits - zoning permits would be denied. Still thinking about the Black Diamond layout as a basis but that is 14x36.     

Good Saturday morning guys.  Just before Easter I’m the chief bottle washer, the one making trips down stairs to the garage frig, and the best potato peeler in town.  Carol is the greatest cook in town even though she suffers from MS.  

So with the kids coming from Charleston Easter the layout downtown design is on hold. We have the grandson some next week and we cannot wait!  He an I have catchup to do in the train room running HO and operating the Gantry Crane.  He has not seen the tunnel covered nor listened to the whistle as the engines enter an exit the portals.

I have  enjoyed your bridge lift video Mark and watched the progress of the brick building Mike.  I think the beginnings of the 48 club members is a great way to learn of all the neat designs guys!

So sometime after Easter the downtown Olive Hill may come alive and thanks to Bob and Capetown the streets will be striped and scaled properly via the 1:48.  

@Mark Boyce posted:

Bill,

While I really liked your last layout, I think smaller can be better.  While I would like to have a longer run, a twice around roughly the perimeter of my 11x11 room will keep me busy for many years.  Some modelers who are around our age perhaps bite off more than they can chew.  IF someone has help from other modelers, then a larger layout can work, but if a person is doing it by himself like I am, smaller works nicely.

Hi Mark, Well stated.

"What did you do on your layout today." Me, nothing. Stuck. More fun to take photos of a wreck than to work on the layout. I am struggling with Layout design. What, makes an Oval Loop track interesting? Two loops takes 4 switches!! Taking inventory of track, switches and X crossing. Carpet was easy, no planning needed. I put out a layout and let the kids show what was fun. (Miglet, he said, sometimes kids are tired of trains.) "What sorry **** is This?" lol

What makes a 4x8 OVAL interesting? THAT'S, what I did on my layout... nothing... yesterday... nothing.

Nice to see all the great projects going on. Been busy outside but made a little progress this past week.

Built the raised platform for the background building I recently completed. Got the retaing walls weathered and installed. Tried Chris A's weathering mix, like it, 👍Thanks Chris!

Tried a new method of making vines on the walls using Jute twine as my base. Pretty pleased with it and will experiment some more. Still waiting on LEDs to complete the lighting and then a little more details and plant it on the layout.

Have a Good Easter,

Scott

Scott, the raised platform looks great! Your right about Chris A. and his methods, He is a great teacher and is willing to share!

Well today I started a new building bash! LOL I have a Menards service building that I got 2 of and I had already used the door opening for my BNSF Engine shop! So the rest is free game. I am making another flat for along the window on the track that will be going outside one day! Here are a couple photos for your enjoyment! LOL

I am working on the doors and lighting. But tomorrow I am going to go to work with the wife for Easter so her employees can have the day off!

I hope you all have a great Easter and find time for your layout and trains! Remember Grandkids love trains! LOL

Fishing all morning, a little touchups on my layout project in the afternoon......

@Strap Hanger posted:

Fishing all morning, a little touchups on my layout project in the afternoon......

And you caught ???????

The "Grand Central" looks good.

Scott, the raised platform really looks great!  I like the jute creeping vines!

Mike, Good start on another kitbash!  What will it look like when done!  We are all in suspense.   

Ray, that Union Station scene really looks great!  The entrance to the underground really looks great!  I love those, though I have never seen one in person.  Yes, I stay away from big cities.  Did you #D print the great looking railing?  I loved those.  Now everything is solid concrete in the form of Jersey Barriers.

While thinking of starting some scenery on the long grade on my layout, I decided I had better level and mount the backdrop to the wall first.  It looks just the same as it did before, so I didn't take a photograph.

Thanks Bob.  We did alright. My kid, as usual, nailed the most. Biggest was a 15 pound snook. See what you started? Now Mark is calling me “Ray”, LOL!

Thanks Mark. The railing is store bought from here - https://modelbuilderssupply.co...o-gauge-39-fen-4801/

Thank you, Ray!

B&O Fan, I really like how you incorporated that stunning flat atop the retaining wall diorama, gives me some ideas. The vine idea is very creative and well executed. Please let us see when you place it on your layout.

Mike G- I have been really enjoying your kit-bashed flats. I'm getting ideas for an area of the layout where I only have about 5" between the wall and the track. Obviously I can't use full size buildings. Though I plan to try my hand at some scratch building, I'm sure your ideas will create some variety.

Strap Hanger-The station and scene looks great!

Dave

Did some 'train running':

https://ogrforum.com/...4#154730473588915114

Morning guys I hope you all have a great Easter Sunday with the family! My wife and I will be spending the day at the store so our employees can have the day off with there family's .

Ray the station looks Amazing and I love all the taxi's waiting to get some fares!

Mark the scratch building will just be a small loading dock for some mom and pop company! LOL Not sure yet!

Have fun today guys!

I had placed my backdrops on the layout, but hadn't fastened them to the wall so I could adjust the height once the track was in. Yesterday, I screwed most of the the backdrop into the studs. This covers the 'big' wall (11 feet) and the coved corners to the windows on the two adjacent walls.  I only have some smaller sections to do.  Now I don't have to worry about it shifting anymore.  Once, we heard a boom, and I found the large section had tipped over partially knocking down some tools.  Nothing was damaged fortunately.

Mark - The backdrops are looking good 👍.

Have a good Easter,

Scott

Mark I thought we had a lock on earthquakes. The backdrops look great. You are making good progress.

Hey Mark, You did a wonderful job hanging those Outstanding backdrops your daughter painted for you years ago! It's nice to see where they are as I don't think they will get damaged up there!

I worked on some trackside scenery and detail. Happy Easter!

Mark, the back drops really change the total appearance of your layout. It really looks great!

Steve

Jesse,

I have been following your progress and I must say you are putting a lot of detail into your switching layout. Everything from the ground work to the fencing looks really nice. Though it looks great how it is maybe consider a couple of "rips" in the fence and some rusting. Keep the progress coming.

Dave

Mark,

Great use of the backdrops. Backdrops are one of those "immediate" gratification factors in the hobby. It doesn't matter if it's painted or printed you can see results instantly. It also somehow pulls all of the work we have done on the layout together.

Dave

Scott, Bill, Mike, Steve, Dave, thank you!

Bill, ha ha!  Yes you had an earthquake earlier that did damage a structure.

Mike, they won’t get damaged unless I sling some paint on them!  LOL

Jesse, the trackside scenery looks great!

Jesse, Great looking work I really like the loading dock along with the fence. But what really brings it to life is the ground cover you are using IMOP! Keep up the wonderful work!

@Jesse ferguson posted:

I worked on some trackside scenery and detail. Happy Easter!

Less is always more'.. Perfect job Jesse'.. And what a lucky guy having your layout in the living room'.. Extra kudos to the Mrs... 😁 And a Happy Easter to you too'..🐰

Well, I was trying to make a video tour of my layout and show off my ICG engines. I ended up with blooper footage.  Fortunately we did not need to call Fortescue or the EWES for assistance.

Twin Pines RR Bloopers

@ScoutingDad posted:

Well, I was trying to make a video tour of my layout and show off my ICG engines. I ended up with blooper footage.  Fortunately we did not need to call Fortescue or the EWES for assistance.

Twin Pines RR Bloopers

FUN!! Fun, well done. Thank you. Great layout as well. Wow, do those cars roll well!! Can't be post war I guess. well done

B and O fan . The vines on retaining wall look fantastic. The stem effect is so real . I'm gonna youse you're idea on some of my walls . Again thanks for posting this. I really like it thanks.

Miggy - I had to go back before page 1000 to find your Fortescue reference.

The cars are all modern and mostly MTH Premier with a couple of Atlas tossed in. I realized I do not have a single ICG freight car, thought I had a couple box cars. The MTH cars are pretty good rollers, but it is down hill at that point so gravity helps. I had an MTH Premier Husky Stack, that car would go downhill on most any slope, no incentive needed. Nothing I have rolls as good as that one did.

My post war are in a box. I pull them out for my Christmas round the tree layout along with my RailKing stuff.

@ScoutingDad posted:

Miggy - I had to go back before page 1000 to find your Fortescue reference.

The cars are all modern and mostly MTH Premier with a couple of Atlas tossed in. I realized I do not have a single ICG freight car, thought I had a couple box cars. The MTH cars are pretty good rollers, but it is down hill at that point so gravity helps. I had an MTH Premier Husky Stack, that car would go downhill on most any slope, no incentive needed. Nothing I have rolls as good as that one did.

My post war are in a box. I pull them out for my Christmas round the tree layout along with my RailKing stuff.

Jeff, thanks for the little video. It's really nice to see some of your layout and also to see that all of what happened on your layout means I am not the only one that has these problems!

Jeff, I agree with Mike, I am not the only one with miscues.  I like Premier and Atlas cars as well.  I also noticed you brought the uncoupled train around the curve to the straight track.  I see the same thing that these couplers are usually not in proper alignment to couple on a curve.

Mark and Mike, I think we all have operational challenges from time to time. In this case I just happened to capture the problems during filming. First time I've had a coupler let loose, and that was after several loops around with no issues. 

My biggest ongoing issue is with a couple of switches that decide to throw partway causing derailments. Switch lights show good, but not really. 80% of the time they work fine. One in particular is in a difficult location to get to being about 12 inches out of reach. I have a pop up there but that is only for major layout surgery, takes a while to get lighting wires out of the way and buildings off the deck.

I got some footage of the layout, but the lighting is not good enough so the video is grainy. I have to reshoot. A couple of the views are from angles I cannot possibly see which makes the shot more special.

Here is a short clip - I think the motion correction is causing the frame to creep up, the camera is not moving.

Hope everyone had a Happy Easter.

@Jesse ferguson your switching layout is nice. great work on the details.

Mark B- the backdrops finally found a permanent home. They look great.

@ScoutingDad- Happens to the best of us. Usually we are not brave enough to share with the group .

Reminds me of when I was a kid, I would get my HO layout running perfectly for the whole family to see each Christmas. The moment the spot light was on, something would go haywire without fail.

Didn't do too much this weekend. I soldered some power drops on the new switches and started fitting the three switches on the layout. I came up about a 1/8" shorter than I wanted to but I will fill the gap with some fiber pins in the ends of the tubular track. I called Nassau Hobby looking for straight sections today. Their inventory says they have 100 pcs but they couldn't locate them when I called. waiting for a CB.
PS- my Father-in-law came home from the hospital last Thursday. He's doing OK so far. Thanks to those who sent well wishes.

Bob

@B&O Fan posted:

Nice to see all the great projects going on. Been busy outside but made a little progress this past week.

Built the raised platform for the background building I recently completed. Got the retaing walls weathered and installed. Tried Chris A's weathering mix, like it, 👍Thanks Chris!

Tried a new method of making vines on the walls using Jute twine as my base. Pretty pleased with it and will experiment some more. Still waiting on LEDs to complete the lighting and then a little more details and plant it on the layout.

Have a Good Easter,

Scott

@B&O Fan

Scott:

That is GREAT modeling!!!! The twine is a very convincing vine base. What did you use for the greenery on the vine?

@Jesse ferguson posted:

I worked on some trackside scenery and detail. Happy Easter!

WOW! This looks great! Is this a switching layout?

@Berkshirelover726 posted:

WOW! This looks great! Is this a switching layout?

Thank you and Yes, it is a switching layout. I’ve always liked the HO timesaver type layouts I would see the old timers playing with at the train shows. So I turned a 4x8 into a 2x16 and started putting something similar together. I had to add a foot to accommodate an auto-rack that sometime is in the mix when I play, so it became 2x17.

@Randy Harrison posted:

@B&O Fan

Scott:

That is GREAT modeling!!!! The twine is a very convincing vine base. What did you use for the greenery on the vine?

Hey Randy,

  Thanks for the kind words, the greenery is Woodland Scenics blended turf, (Green blend) T-49.

Stay Safe,

Scott

@Jesse ferguson posted:

Thank you and Yes, it is a switching layout. I’ve always liked the HO timesaver type layouts I would see the old timers playing with at the train shows. So I turned a 4x8 into a 2x16 and started putting something similar together. I had to add a foot to accommodate an auto-rack that sometime is in the mix when I play, so it became 2x17.

That's fantastic. Those timesaver layouts are really fun. I'd love to build one or incorporate it into a bigger layout. Thanks for sharing.

Since my daughter gave me 2 Menard's stackable containers last Christmas, I decided to build two well cars. They are so expensive to buy! I cut off the truck area bases from two Lionel 9xxx series gondolas and then added the centers and sides and trim from styrene, modeling two different types of cars I found pictures of. I had to enlarge two tunnel portals that are on curves, "replant" a couple of trees, and lower the switchstands on two manual switches so the cars would track without derailing. Boy, these things are long!