@Mark Boyce posted:Good start, Mike!
LOL Thanks Mark, it's going to be slow going as I have to clean all the ballast off the track and track bed. Then I have to go slow to try and get the roadbed up so I can use it again. But it's a start!
Tomorrow I will continue working on taking up track and cork and laying out the new loop. I hope to get that far if I can!
Updating my lake house layout with switches from Great Lakes last weekend and cork roadbed from Carlton Hobbies this weekend. It’s a slow process to be honest. 
Also, my operating track section was giving my layout some fitting pains. So, since my knowledge of power tools is limited to a power drill, my dad helped me cutting the length of Lionel’s half straight track to a first third, and it fits like a glove.
One more thing: Since I’m getting used to HO Gauge trains, I’m putting a simple oval underneath the table. 
Yes your father's splice is fitting well.
Reminds me of A man's cap from a car show last weekend which read, "Dad's know some things, Grandfather's know Everything!"
And yes the cork will prove to be necessary on the bare plywood. Take it slowly and enjoy your time with your father's assistance...
Take Care!
Busy weekend with honey-do's.
I did squeeze in a little layout time and started on the permanent ground cover for the yard. I cut the baseboard for between tracks two and three. I will wait on the area between track one and the main. I have to put my Lionel control tower, water tower, and passenger station back in place first. On the mock up I thought the "ground" was too smooth and flat so I went back to my old cabinet making days and distressed the boards. I put it face down on my driveway concrete curb and whacked it with a hammer. 
I painted the pieces with a mix of black and brown acrylic and will spray them next. Once they are on the layout I will start on the ground cover.
Bob
the paint is still wet in these pix.
Looking good -- don't be afraid of over doing the black; then add lots of yucky junk on the ground. I'm sure you've ridden the LIRR!
My subway tunnel is about ready to be placed on the layout now that the turtles have arrived.
prior to the turtles I did a test fit on the layout. It’s dark (as expected) so I have more lights coming that I can adjust brightness and hopefully get the right amount of visibility
Andrew, Looks like you have a nice start, since you can make sure you take the time and enjoy the time you are able to spend with your day and your trains and layout. Soak in everything as I am sure he has alot he can teach you! Have fun with him!
Bob, looking good, it's amazing what a hammer and curb can do! I am sure it's going to look wonderful on the layout!
Jrmertz, the subway tunnel is very cool ! Your doing an outstanding job and it's nice to see the turtles have shown up!
As for me I plan on working on taking up more track and road bed! LOL
Bob, was a very good idea to distress the wood. I’m going to keep that in mind for when I’m ready to build my yard area. Thank you.
Demonstrated to my visiting adult son all the changes that have taken place since he was last here. Enjoyed running trains while sharing why I have chosen the Jersey Central.
Jrmertz, The subway tunnel looks great to me. Are the turtles there to keep the bad guys out?
Bob, The hammer sure did make the wood look distressed. I would be distressed too if someone hit me with a hammer. 
Andrew, Looking good. While my did had no interest in trains, I used all I learned from him to do the carpentry and electrical work on my first layout when I was in my early teens. Over 50 years have passed, and I still think of things dad said or showed me way back then.
All I did was a little painting of the Atlas signal tower kit parts. Nothing really to photograph, and now I'm off to let the PT boys beat me up.
Thanks for the comments guys. The stuff I'm using is actually a corrugated plastic sign material. Took the beating better than I expected. 
@Mark Boyce posted:Jrmertz, The subway tunnel looks great to me. Are the turtles there to keep the bad guys out?
Bob, The hammer sure did make the wood look distressed. I would be distressed too if someone hit me with a hammer.
Andrew, Looking good. While my did had no interest in trains, I used all I learned from him to do the carpentry and electrical work on my first layout when I was in my early teens. Over 50 years have passed, and I still think of things dad said or showed me way back then.
All I did was a little painting of the Atlas signal tower kit parts. Nothing really to photograph, and now I'm off to let the PT boys beat me up.
Yep the turtles are protecting the subway. Iron-man is up top already doing the surface protection 
@jrmertz posted:Yep the turtles are protecting the subway. Iron-man is up top already doing the surface protection
👍🏻👍🏻
Bob, I use the same stuff for some of my corrugated roofing.
Well the CEO let me play in the train room today so I was able to get more taken down. I still have more to take down before I can put down some cleaned roadbed and track.
Mike, it is amazing how fast it comes down after how long it takes to build it.
@Mark Boyce posted:Mike, it is amazing how fast it comes down after how long it takes to build it.
Lol it's really not coming down as fast as I thought it would. Here is some advice, if your building your first layout, don't build it like you want it to last forever. Save that for your next layout! LOL
I’m just throwing this out ….sort of late though.
Would it possibly have been easier to have relocated the heat/air rather than remove your track an layout 🤣
I apologize if I may have missed someone else’s mentioning this possibly.
But being trained as an internal auditor I always like to review the alternatives when I discovered any non-compliance, or costly errors 😚
The drawing of the track layout you are considering looks to be an enjoyable alternative Mike. I like multiple layers 😊
Hi Seth, I could have always moved the Heat/AC unit, but then I would not get the second level loop and who knows maybe even more. The good part is the CEO bought into it.
Good point!😊
Mike, I have built a few, and wouldn’t even build my last layout like I want it to last forever. Our daughters and sons-in-law will have enough to do cleaning up my messes when they put me in a home or the funeral parlor. 😉
My advice is carefully plan what you want, look at what has been called your "givens and druthers", plan some more, then with old beat up pieces of track, a piece of chalk, and both a yardstick and a tape measure lay out what you think it will be on the floor, plan some more, repeat this process as many times as necessary, and then build your benchwork and lay your track. My two cents worth.
@Mark Boyce posted:Gerhardt, I like your drop down bridge. I'll look forward to seeing your lift up bridge and a video when it is all done!!!
Just for curiosity, where do you live in Canada. Province is good enough, I'm not trying to pen you in.
Hi guys, thanks for all the nice comments. I was tied up all day yesterday with my 8 year olds Birthday! We are located in Edmonton, Alberta, so far west and far north. I’m working on constructing the upper loops and supports so I’m not going to cut the track around the lower drop down bridge yet in case I need to move the lower track a 1/2” or something to make things fit. So the video will be delayed. However I did continue tonight with some minor progress of cutting and fitting plywood for steel arch bridges. Also I’ve decided I’m going to try acoustic ceiling tile on top of the plywood to reduce the Fastrack noise as I read that works pretty good. We don’t have Homasote up here readily available, it’s a special order item. I found some tile for cheap so I will try it
Anyways, I love seeing everyone else’s progress. This is always my favorite thread, I just don’t chime in that often.
Getting my 2nd vaccine dose tomorrow. Flights are booked for York in October! Take care,
G
Gerhardt, that's a nice scene. Thank you!
@Seth Thomas posted:I’m just throwing this out ….sort of late though.
Would it possibly have been easier to have relocated the heat/air rather than remove your track an layout 🤣
I apologize if I may have missed someone else’s mentioning this possibly.
But being trained as an internal auditor I always like to review the alternatives when I discovered any non-compliance, or costly errors 😚The drawing of the track layout you are considering looks to be an enjoyable alternative Mike. I like multiple layers 😊
@mike g. posted:Hi Seth, I could have always moved the Heat/AC unit, but then I would not get the second level loop and who knows maybe even more. The good part is the CEO bought into it.
I'm with you on this one Mike. Those units can be moved but then you have a holes in the train room wall to patch. By the time the contractor gets a longer line set, moves the electric, adds gas to the unit, you will be well on your way to the new layout. Besides, if you just moved the unit, you would still want to change the layout but wouldn't be able to blame it on the unit anymore.
Wise move my friend! 
Bob
PS- no layout time for me last night. I did hit the yard pieces with textured black spray paint. I left them in my shed overnight and they should be good and dry tonight so I can glue them down.
I agree Mike and Bob. It just isn't worth moving all that stuff. Carry on!!
Hi guys, so last night I did some more dismantling and a very little today. I have so much track to take up and put back down that I have come to the conclusion that I will save as much road bed as I can. But I'm not going to kill myself over it. I still have all that track to clean. So I ordered some new cork! Lol
I agree, Mike! New cork doesn’t cost much.
Good morning everyone! Well, after a long time of "putting it off" I finally started building the mountain. So far I am using the classic cardboard skeleton method with newspaper "buns" behind the structure. If y'all have any input, it would be very appreciated. Thanks for reading, and happy railroading!
Nice to see someone using the old tried and true method. Keep it up.
Mike g., I feel for you redoing your layout, but I bet when your done it will be fantastic. Actually, you and Farmerjohn seem to always be upgrading, building the layout is always fun, challenging, and inspirational. Gunrunner John, wow, that’s a great display of beautiful motive power, I’m sure it does seem like Christmas unpacking all those boxes. Trainmaster04, that’s going to be a super scene when finished, keep posting pictures, very nice. Gerhardt, awesome work, nice bridge and I like the Lionel artwork behind the bridge, it’s a cool scene. RSJB18, Bob, I like your new yard, it’s a great addition to your layout, keep posting pictures, also, I completely understand Honey Do projects, it’s a good thing. Happy Railroading Everyone 
Your images leave something to be desired.
Morning guys, looks like everyone has been busy on there layouts! I haven't been on in a couple days as I have been trying to get as much done on the layout dismantling as I dont think I will have much time time this weekend, between meeting and helping our son move into his first house and changing the locks for him its going to be a busy weekend.
But I was able to get more taken down and level out the back wall grade to tie it into the upper level. It sure is slow going getting all the cork up and cleaning as much ballast off the tracks that I can. I ordered a 90 degree cutting attachment for my dremel tool cause I have to cut in some switch on some of the track I lucky get to leave in place. Well here are a couple photos for now.
I hope you all have a great weekend and find time for your layout and trains! Most of all I hope you all have fun!
Lookin' good Mike.
@gunrunnerjohn posted:Your images leave something to be desired.
Not again, they were there.
I don't understand what is going on.
I will put the in again.
@gunrunnerjohn posted:Your images leave something to be desired.
Probably too late to be noticed, but:
All Images for my Crossover switch wiring have been reattached.
Hello fellow model railroaders! Well, the saga continues. Yesterday I was able to continue over the mainline and continue down the side of the mountain. I have currently taken a break from that section of the layout and worked on the mountain from the opposite end. Here is a photo of the tunnel and if all goes well I should have another few photos to share later today. Thanks, and happy railroading!
The tunnel is in place. Mostly complete. I’ll be adding some more black paper/foam where wood can be seen to sort of make the tunnel disappear into blackness.
I am quite pleased with the result, I think the kids will enjoy peaking in to see it and see the turtles as well. The tunnel section is viewable from the little window below the legacy remote.
Nice job on the subway tunnel, jrmertz.
Trainmaster04, your plaster hill and tunnel entrance look great.
RWL, the wiring for the switches is very neat!
Mike, you sure are moving along with the demolition!
A customer of my daughter's generously gave me a Hafner Trains clockwork Overland Express train set circa depression era 1933. The wind up set sold for $3.00 back in the day with a figure eight of two rail track. A few small parts, gentle cleaning and a tune up and it runs as good as it did some 88 years ago....
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