What did you do on your layout today?

Razorback Traction update! 

https://ogrforum.com/...3#155434571104422063

Mitch

@RSJB18 posted:

I got the other two yard tracks installed last night. I soldered drops onto the track and got the two magnets ready to go. When I went to install the magnets I drilled the hole for track 2 and hit the support beam underneath. After a few attempts to drill an angled hole to get out of the beam I decided to call it for the night. The board needs a good clean up before I continue.

@Apples55- changing the switches????? I might as well rip the whole layout down and start over. Not likely in the near future. Thanks for the nudge tho...

Bob

Bob, why does that always happen??  Slow but sure wins the race!

Paul always comes up with ideas 💡 like that!  😄😄

@Mark Boyce posted:

Bob, why does that always happen??  Slow but sure wins the race!

Paul always comes up with ideas 💡 like that!  😄😄

Mark;

I resemble that remark, but take umbrage nonetheless... I am merely try to FULLY enlighten a fellow traveler on the slippery slope

@Apples55 posted:

Mark;

I resemble that remark, but take umbrage nonetheless... I am merely try to FULLY enlighten a fellow traveler on the slippery slope

Paul, I realize that.  You do an excellent job of it!

First, I took one of my spurs and made it a special track to add DCS engines, by adding a remote control to disconnect all the other blocks on the track1 TIU output.  This way, I don't get any of the "there's no engine to add" errors and I don't have to remove all the other engines off the tracks just to add a new dcs-based engine. This was accomplished by removing the spur from the star block distribution board and instead wiring it straight to the TIU output (a couple of inches away, so no length disparities occur), and then inserting a relay the cuts power to the distribution board.  The relay in turn is wired up to an ASC2 accessory controller so when I power the relay, the NC contacts are opened and the power is cut to the rest of the track1 output. This is really handy on the LCS app on the iPad... i can turn track1 and the loading spur off, place the engine on the track, turn on only the spur, add the engine to the remote, and then resume normal activity turning track1 on again. (see pic)

Oh, and the postman delivered my pre-order of woodland scenics  telephone poles. Easy to setup if you follow the instructions to the letter. Otherwise, I could see this becoming a real nightmare with the pre-strung "wires".  Pictures show my first try at installing them. The height is roughly double the height of the engine. I think that's about right.  I want to extend the wires from that last pole to the tunnel.  Would a tube made to look like conduit tacked to the upper right side of the inside of the tunnel portal be appropriate? I'd run 8 wire extensions from that last pole to the conduit.  Good idea or no?

@ScottV posted:

Oh, and the postman delivered my pre-order of woodland scenics  telephone poles. Easy to setup if you follow the instructions to the letter. Otherwise, I could see this becoming a real nightmare with the pre-strung "wires".  Pictures show my first try at installing them. The height is roughly double the height of the engine. I think that's about right.  I want to extend the wires from that last pole to the tunnel.  Would a tube made to look like conduit tacked to the upper right side of the inside of the tunnel portal be appropriate? I'd run 8 wire extensions from that last pole to the conduit.  Good idea or no?

The poles look good Scott. I used some small drink straws painted silver as conduit for wiring on some light poles. Scale looks right IMHO. If you want to keep it realistic then look for a set of insulators to mount to the tunnel face and run the wires through them before going into the pipe.

A tornado blew through the RSJ&B last night and miraculously all of the saw dust and wood chips are gone!

I set the other two magnets in place and installed the additional switches on my control panel. Wiring it all up is next.

Bob

Great work everyone! I haven't had much time to do anything, but I was able to get out this morning and finished painting my second set of 9 little people! That only leaves 32 more to go! LOL

Once they dry I will get them put out on the layout!

I hope everyone has a great weekend and find time to have fun with there layouts and trains!

@RSJB18 posted:

The poles look good Scott. I used some small drink straws painted silver as conduit for wiring on some light poles. Scale looks right IMHO. If you want to keep it realistic then look for a set of insulators to mount to the tunnel face and run the wires through them before going into the pipe.

Bob, thanks.  Yeah I had thought of perhaps doing some type of insulator.  I looked around for real life pictures of lines approaching tunnels, but all I've seen are lines that veer off and head up the mountain/hill. I'll have to look around and see who sells some insulators i can mount.

Hi Scott, what you could do is take a straw paint it black or silver and run your line into it like a conduit that would run along the ceiling or wall inside the tunnel! Just a thought!

@ScottV posted:

Bob, thanks.  Yeah I had thought of perhaps doing some type of insulator.  I looked around for real life pictures of lines approaching tunnels, but all I've seen are lines that veer off and head up the mountain/hill. I'll have to look around and see who sells some insulators i can mount.

https://scalecitydesigns.com/u...-poles-and-hardware/

I know Mike G typically uses Preiser unpainted people.  I have seen only photos from Artista and an Australian outfit doing detailed figures.  Here are a few I have found over the last couple of years. For the most part the men are 6 scale feet, but the thickness of the people varies - making mixing look odd.

The cheap China sourced figures are reasonably good at fitting inside trains and vehicles - and through a window are fine. Woodland Scenic and Scene-a-rama are reasonably detailed. Does anyone know what the two sets are marked unknown?  The ones on the top left are "soft plastic".

@ScoutingDad posted:

I know Mike G typically uses Preiser unpainted people.  I have seen only photos from Artista and an Australian outfit doing detailed figures.  Here are a few I have found over the last couple of years. For the most part the men are 6 scale feet, but the thickness of the people varies - making mixing look odd.

The cheap China sourced figures are reasonably good at fitting inside trains and vehicles - and through a window are fine. Woodland Scenic and Scene-a-rama are reasonably detailed. Does anyone know what the two sets are marked unknown?  The ones on the top left are "soft plastic".

Those are model power in the upper left corner, scouting dad. I’ve bought those and others to populate my city. Lately, though, I’ve thrown in the towel and placed large orders for Arttista. They are clearly superior to all the others I have and offer more interesting figure poses.  The best supplier I found, with decent pricing and excellent service, is Crusader Rail Services.  -

http://crusaderrail.com/arttista-o.html

My ongoing project is to organize my basement work room. It is coming along, but, now I know how Hercules felt when he was sentenced to clean the Aegean stables. Where is Herc when I need him?

However, I have organized things enough to start again working on small projects. today, I painted the flat car that will serve as the tent pole transport for my Bungling Brothers Circus train. I also can get back to completing my scratch-built Union Station and Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines coaches.

I am making regular visits to a pain management/accupunctureiist physician to try to get enough relief of my lower back pain to once again, continue installing new switches, track and road bed around our city scene. This is a massive undertaking that I should have done 10 years ago.

Thanks for the information guys! I will wait till i am done painting what I have before I buy more~!

Randy, I sure hope you can get your pain under control as I know how it hurts the back, but also the heart not being able to work on your layout and trains!

I worked on the scrapyard area of the layout. Satisfied with the results, and had fun doing it! Win, win.

Jesse,

I really like what you are doing. Every time you show what you have added it fits the scene wonderfully.

Dave

@luvindemtrains

@luvindemtrains posted:

Jesse,

I really like what you are doing. Every time you show what you have added it fits the scene wonderfully.

Dave

posted:

Jesse,

I really like what you are doing. Every time you show what you have added it fits the scene wonderfully.

Dave

Thank you my friend!

I ordered circuit breakers and TVS diodes from Mouser yesterday. Figured it's time to get some proper circuit protection on the layout.

Why now?

Because I finally bought a Cab 1L! I bought it from a forum member. It's in transit and I hope to have it by early next week.

Bob

You’re movin’ on up Bob.

What did I do on my layout today?  I signed a contract with a drywall company to finish the loft above my garage...  the final step before building my layout.   I'll post photos of my progress periodically.  Those who may remember me know that this will be my second large layout...  the first was dismantled and sold when we moved.  Looking forward to this next adventure.

@Tranquil Hollow RR posted:

You’re movin’ on up Bob.

Yes I am Jay. I just added a DCS commander too!

@Chessie posted:

What did I do on my layout today?  I signed a contract with a drywall company to finish the loft above my garage...  the final step before building my layout.   I'll post photos of my progress periodically.  Those who may remember me know that this will be my second large layout...  the first was dismantled and sold when we moved.  Looking forward to this next adventure.

Sounds like a fun adventure. I'll get the popcorn

Bob

ScoutingDad, four of the top ones, the woman with child, mailman, woman with bucket, and conductor with lantern are Plasticville.

Artie

Artie-DL&W and Strap Hanger  ---- Thanks for identifying the people. Now that I look at the people - the K-Line figures appear to be the same as the Plasticville just not painted - woman and child,  mailman.

Today i did some touch-up brush painting on the Bungling Brothers Circus tent pole flat car due to over-spray, in spots, leaking through my masking job. I also cut to length the "tent poles" AKA wooden meat skewers that I bought from Amazon. I am awaiting deliver of the Lionel, post war flat car stakes that I purchase on Ebay. The next circus train car is the canvas transport car.

I also climbed up on my platform and fixed a dip in my track at a joint in the upper level yard that was causing the pilot of our MTH PRR M1-a steam locomotive to short and stall when it touched the center rail. With my deteriorating legs, climbing on platforms is no longer safe for me. This is why I am so slow in laying the new track and switches in my city scene. My son Chris is extremely busy with is job and has little to no time for the train layout. My young, former employee at my brass musical instrument repair business has offered to visit occasionally on Saturdays to help me with the layout. She will be over this coming Saturday. I hope to make progress then.

Chessie, I’m glad you are moving forward towards a new layout

Bob, wow! You are movin on up,  

Randy,  sounds like good plan

I’ve made some more progress on my subway tunnel cutout. The white strips on the tunnel wall will have LEDs behind them so they look like lights  more painting to go and gaps to fill in.  However it is getting closer to complete.

@RSJB18 posted:

I ordered circuit breakers and TVS diodes from Mouser yesterday. Figured it's time to get some proper circuit protection on the layout.

Why now?

Because I finally bought a Cab 1L! I bought it from a forum member. It's in transit and I hope to have it by early next week.

Bob

Wow, Bob, when you fall, you fall HARD... first a DCS Commander, now a Cab1L... can a full blown Legacy system be far behind??? If it snows tomorrow, I’ll hold you responsible

@Apples55 posted:

Wow, Bob, when you fall, you fall HARD... first a DCS Commander, now a Cab1L... can a full blown Legacy system be far behind??? If it snows tomorrow, I’ll hold you responsible

Filling the tank on my snowblower now ❄☃️❄☃️❄☃️

😂😂😂😂😂

The single-motor PW F-3 that pulled the 4 car NP North Coast Limited painted 25+ years ago is being replaced with a twin motor version which needed a new frame for the power unit, pilot and truck sideframes. These were painted yesterday.  The twin motors are needed for the 4 additional cars (all vista domes) just painted.

Also, the new A unit cab is getting some bodywork which I dread since I'm so bad at it as reflected by the absurd quantities of body filler and sandpaper I use for such a modest project.

The Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association generously provided NP shop drawings showing the graphics for the power units and passenger cars of the Loewy design NCL to facilitate decal placement.  That starts tomorrow.

I continue to chip away on my covid projects in spite of spending several days in April visiting National Parks in Utah. Great to be out in the open air for a change. My custom decal order arrived but I have been too busy with the W24 interior and roof detail to apply the decals. When I am finished, I will add three cars to my roster that are currently operating on the North Shore Scenic RR, Duluth, MN.    All three cars will have interior detail and overhead lighting. I am also adding mars lighting electronics to the red overhead taillight on the Northland.   I am still waiting for an order from Digi-Key to arrive to complete the circuity.    

Interesting note on the W24 combined: A beam was installed in the luggage area for the purpose of hanging deer/game.   The Northland and the W24 were parked in a remote location of Northern Minnesota during deer hunting season.   The DM&IRR president would use these two cars to entertain guests and enjoy hunting while roughing it in luxury.  

Cheers, Dave

Dave the W24 looks great!  Excellent history with the deer hunting trips and racks in the car.  It reminds me of when I worked at Mount Storm Power Station in northern West Virginia in the early to mid ‘90s.  The station was on top of the mountain because that was where the coal mine was.  The Western Maryland Railway built a beach line up the mountain and by the ‘90s CSX was hauling a lot of coal up the bends to the station.  We rode a bus subsidized by the state from Keyser WV another CSX town to work.  One day on the way home, one of my coworkers saw a fresh roadkill, and hollered to the driver to stop.  The driver opened the big door, and the guy hauled the deer onto the vinyl floor of the bus.  The truth can be stranger than fiction.

Switching over from diesel modern to something earlier on the layout.  Was putting the subway set away and decided to give the wheels a light oiling - those trucks would never win a pinewood derby. SOOO as long as I was working on them decided to add about 24 little people per car. Then had to take a few photos.

I am going to have to print a few CTA decals for these cars. Suppose MTH could not license them.

Great work everyone! I wish I had more time to get things done but the house painting is top priority to the CEO. I did sneak out the other morning and put another coat of paint on my little people. I know I could move on, but I really want to get these little people behind me! LOL

Well I hope you all have a great week and fun with your layouts!

Your talents are never ending Mike. You are either painting houses or people. Be careful on the ladder.

@ScoutingDad posted:

I know Mike G typically uses Preiser unpainted people.  I have seen only photos from Artista and an Australian outfit doing detailed figures.  Here are a few I have found over the last couple of years. For the most part the men are 6 scale feet, but the thickness of the people varies - making mixing look odd.

The cheap China sourced figures are reasonably good at fitting inside trains and vehicles - and through a window are fine. Woodland Scenic and Scene-a-rama are reasonably detailed. Does anyone know what the two sets are marked unknown?  The ones on the top left are "soft plastic".

Plasticville

Took a short video.....

Jay don't worry I don't like to be up on the ladder so I get as much done as I can when I am up there! Plus after my last Seizure the Doc doesn't like me up there! LOL

Gandy, Love the train, but more so I Love your city scene and how you go from there to rural!

Applied decals to two of four LIONEL 15" offset vista domes in Loewy NP North Coast Limited livery, and trimmed the remaining decals to be applied tomorrow.  Their placement was aided with prototype graphics docs from the Northern Pacific Railway Historical Society.  Photos this weekend.

Will finish up the bodywork on the F-3 A unit this evening and begin painting it tomorrow.

Good morning everyone! For today I ran some trains today. Thanks and I hope y'all enjoy the video!