Finished decaling 4 LIONEL 15" aluminum offset vista dome cars. (These are prototypically numbered and shown as being owned by CB&Q and SP&S Ry. who provided their cars for use on the NP North Coast Limited.) Next step is to reassemble the cars with their ends, then apply clear coat finish, probably tomorrow.
Very nice work!
P51 - I got excess glue on the windows, so mine are no where near as nice as yours. Mine is dark blue - I have not added the decals as yet nor the top light. I am toying with the idea of getting a flashing LED from Evans for the top lamp and inside as well. Now its finding a Tom Baker Dr. Who for the outside. You know he travels in time so he can show up any place and time. Who knows maybe your outpost is being readied for an invasion by the Daleks or the Master?
FIRST TIMER -- Replaced the knuckle/hand on a LIONEL passenger truck with the benefit of this trembling hands demonstration video from YouTube. Seriously, I'm 73 and I experience my right, dominant hand trembles sometimes and it's completely unpredictable. Well, the fella doing the video has trembling hands and was able to show how to replace a spring/knuckle on a LIONEL postwar coupler. (My hands were steady for this job, thankfully.)
KEY TIP/TRICK--TH applied a small amount of a gel lubricant to the spring and pin to hold them while inserting the knuckle/hand. I used Red n Tacky. Hardest part of the job was removing the pin.
Also, I was glad I had my Greenberg's Repair Manual and a portable vise for this job. It was important for me to orient my coupler as TH did during his video; and, I had a couple of screenshots of the video on my smart phone for reference shown below:
Hi guys sorry I haven't been on for awhile, I hope to change that buts really all up to the CEO! I did get out to the train room for a little while today. Did some cleaning and got one lower loop wood cut and road bed down.
I hope everyone is having a great weekend!
the last photo is when the wife and I went fishing Thursday, sorry no fish but a great morning!
@ScoutingDad posted:P51 - I got excess glue on the windows, so mine are no where near as nice as yours. Mine is dark blue - I have not added the decals as yet nor the top light. I am toying with the idea of getting a flashing LED from Evans for the top lamp and inside as well.
I have a Woodland Scenics plug and play flashing light that I plan on running right up to the base of the light. As for the windows, I placed the walls face down and used liquid glue from the inside and let capillary action do the rest. I used the molded color as it was very close to real British Police Boxes, just used dull coat both inside and out to make the windows translucent. As in the Tom Baker era, you couldn't see in the windows anyway, I'll probably paint the insides of the windows anyway.
The phone door markings are accurate for the modern series, not the one from the 70s and 80s, but I went with it anyway. Maybe someday I'll make me own more accurate markings.
As for details, I highlighted with testors silver, but the matching blue paint I had wasn't thick enough to complete the reinforcements for the windows and the top light supports.
I'm a Tom Baker fan (though I did get to meet Peter Davidson once in the 80s), and would LOVE to find a 1/43 or scale figure of him and/or K9. I've seen figures on eBay that might be good for O scale, but none of the listings are specific on the scale.
Mike, the reverse curve looks like good progress
@Mark Boyce posted:Your layout looks great!. You are doing a nice job cutting the curves of the plywood. I just have a hand held saber saw, and I have trouble controlling it, so my cuts really need covered by scenery.
Mark, check it out!
Gonna use this method, cut with jigsaw and clean up with belt sander.
Joe Gozzo
Joe, that’s really great!!
Lot's of nice projects gents.
@Pingman- the NP cars look great. Been following your ups and downs as you worked on them. Neat tips for replacing springs too.
@p51- Nice model Lee. Not a big fan of the shows but well done.
@mike g.- looks like another lift bridge is in order......
. Have you considered even a simple lift out section? Nice fishing hole too 
@jrstengel- nice work. Nice train room too.
@Victor Bertolina- been following your progress. Very neat and clean work.
I found and fixed a problem with one of my BEEPS. It was stalling over my switches, always at the rear pickup. I found this when I opened it up. Simple fix and we are back in business. I'm going to attempt my first ERR upgrade on one of these soon. Now that I have a Cab-1L, I want to start converting several of my conventional locos to command.
Bob
I have been busy doing my summer activities. But I have been tooling around with my switching layout in my down time. I have added some Atlas structures, ground cover/ ballast, moved a shed over to the scrap yard. Having a nice relaxing Sunday “switching” in the a/c. Have a great Sunday everyone!
I hooked up the CD player to the speakers under the train table. I downloaded some New York City subway sounds and burned them to a CD. Good background audio when I run the MTH subway trains.
Took 3 locomotives, a caboose, and passenger car to Engine House Hobbies in Gaithersburg for repair. One loco, caboose, and passenger car were repaired on the spot by Louie, the repairman. The other two locos, both postwar steamers from 1947 will require a little more of Louie's tender loving care. They will be finished during the coming week.
@Mark Boyce posted:Your layout looks great!. You are doing a nice job cutting the curves of the plywood. I just have a hand held saber saw, and I have trouble controlling it, so my cuts really need covered by scenery.
Thanks Mark. I am also using a hand held saber saw. Doing my best to control it, so scenery is definitely the answer.
Hi guys, I know I have been a little slow lately staying up to speed and I am sorry about that!
Joe, that's a great idea!
Bob, I sure am glad it was an easy fix! Things sure are looking good on your layout!
Jesse, great looking switching layout! I love all the detail!
Patrick, I cant wait to see your newly painted supply for your layout! I bet the guys will be happy to be getting new engines and so forth!
Well as for me I was able to work a little on the other end of the layout for my lower loop. I had to change somethings up as I don't have enough 072 for the lower track and top track sections. So I made the lower loop 080 so it wouldn't be hidden under the upper section all the time. I am still working on using up my old plywood scraps before I cut into my $54 sheet of 1/2" plywood! Here is where I am as of today.
I hope you all have a great week and find time to have fun with your layout and trains!
@jrstengel posted:Thanks Mark. I am also using a hand held saber saw. Doing my best to control it, so scenery is definitely the answer.
👍🏻👍🏻
Mike, I would really have a hard time getting the nerve to cut a $54 sheet of plywood! I would Measure thrice, and still goof it up! LOL
@mike g. posted:I hope everyon the wife and I went fishing Thursday, sorry no fish but a great morning!
Mike: Remember - Fishing is always great! Catching on the other hand, is incidental and does not always correlate or define a great day of fishing! I have never had a bad day fishing but, I have had several bad days catching. Wonderful picture and I am sure it was a great outing on the water!
Cheers, Dave
Good Evening Everyone,
I have been doing several things on the layout over the last few months and I have described them on my latest layout progress page. Just click on the layout progress link below. Additionally, all projects will be documented on my YouTube page.
Today I continued work on 3 dsl shops row house fronts that I am kit-bashing into a full structure. The photos show the fronts attached to one another, the bracing between the back and right sides, and me test fitting the building. I still need to install interior and exterior details and lighting then I can put the building completely together.
Dave
Ha love it - p51
@p51 posted:Got my scale TARDIS flashing light to flash...
It's only on the layout for this, otherwise it stays in a case on the wall.
I hope you plan on posting pictures of the inside, Lee
Craftech thanks a bunch!
Dave
An easy fix ...
When my two great-grandsons visit my home layout, their SOP is to walk around my L-shaped layout and push every control button on the fascia boards to trigger each accessory. It's fun for them, and it's an "operational test" of the action accessories for me.
One of the accessories (the Lionel REFRESHMENT STAND) was sluggish in operation, so I removed it from the layout and opened it up at my workbench today. Years ago, I lubed that accessories with White Lithium Grease. At the time, I thought that was a good idea; but with time, the grease dried to a sludge and gummed-up the gears. I used 91% Isopropyl Alcohol to clean the gears (especially in the teeth of the gears) and wipe its drive belt. After cleaning the accessory, it now works like it should; the characters move and the ice cream cone twirls.
Not rocket science, but a tip to remember ...
Mike Mottler LCCA 12394
@Pingman posted:FIRST TIMER -- Replaced the knuckle/hand on a LIONEL passenger truck with the benefit of this trembling hands demonstration video from YouTube. Seriously, I'm 73 and I experience my right, dominant hand trembles sometimes and it's completely unpredictable. Well, the fella doing the video has trembling hands and was able to show how to replace a spring/knuckle on a LIONEL postwar coupler. (My hands were steady for this job, thankfully.)
KEY TIP/TRICK--TH applied a small amount of a gel lubricant to the spring and pin to hold them while inserting the knuckle/hand. I used Red n Tacky. Hardest part of the job was removing the pin.
Also, I was glad I had my Greenberg's Repair Manual and a portable vise for this job. It was important for me to orient my coupler as TH did during his video; and, I had a couple of screenshots of the video on my smart phone for reference shown below:
Congrats! Replacing knuckles and coupler springs is one of the hardest repair jobs the first time you do it. My dad does it several times a week so he's got it under his belt but I still take about 5-10 minutes and use a couple of rivets lol
Morning guys, looks like there has been some nice projects getting done!
Mark, the wife told me to measure 4 time before cutting, thats why its still a whole sheet! LOL
Dave, you are so right, never a bad day fishing! We just take out our 12' Aluminum with a electric trolling motor and everything stays nice and quite!
Dave @luvindemtrains your kit bashing is looking great! I hope you post more photos as you go along.
Lee, the police box with the flashing light is outstanding! Sorry I had to look it up as I had never heard of one before! Then again we never really lived in the city.
Well Monday the wife let me work in the train room and I was able to get all the road bed and track laid for my lower level. Now I have to wire and fix all the isolation cuts I made in the tracks! LOL Which means I have to move everything either from one end them back or just mover everything out from under the layout into the garage to a couple days or maybe weeks depending on the CEO! LOL
While I was working on that, a good friend I have had some of his friends moving and brought over a train that they were going to get rid of for me to have! Enjoy!
Today I installed a 50's Lionel 362 Barrel Loader. I've owned it for two years and never took it out of it's box. I power it with a Lionel VW transformer. The operation is smooth and a little noisy. Now I need a 3562 barrel unloading car and more barrels too. I've already unloaded my six barrels about 20 times just for fun.
Mike G - love the wooden train cars - looks like kids could sit in them.
Ogdenville Bill - I've always liked the barrel loader, but it sure takes up a lot of room on the layout. All the vibrating accessories remind me of the old vibrating football games. Enjoy the new toy and good luck finding the unloader.
Mike, the turnback loops on the lower level look great, as does the little wooden train! Measure 4 times before cutting sounds good to me; on second thought maybe you should sleep on it after measuring, then measure all over again! 
I only know what a Tardis is because that is what Dr. Who uses to travel through time. I never heard of it until our older daughter and son-in-law started watching it when they were in college or maybe even high school. Then I found out recently that Dr. Who has been around since 1963! Who knew!!!
Very nice job on yours, Lee!!!
Bill, nice barrel loader. I had HO trains growing up, so I was unfamiliar with Lionel operating accessories. I have bought a few since moving to O gauge about 10 years ago.
Jeff, I agree the accessories do remind me of the electric football game. My aunt and uncle bought one for my brother and me for Christmas one year. We got frustrated that you had to line up all the players with the little plastic tabs just right underneath for them to go where you wanted them to. We reverted to the table hockey game with the long metal rods you moved to control each player. We literally wore that thing out over the years.
Here is a photograph of my Atlas switch tower I built recently while recovering from back surgery. I may place it elsewhere on the layout, but off hand it seems at the entrance to the little yard is the place. That's about all I have accomplished on the layout since May 24th, surgery day.
I finished working on another steel mill building. This one will be a slab mill. My ingot buggies will come in and slabs of steel will exit . I painted it a dark shade of gray instead of black, to make it look like it is further away from the others. Weathered with rust colored powder. If you notice the corrugated material doesn't go all the way to the end of the building. That's because another building will be in front, a hot rolling mill, next on the workbench.
Also did some painting of a lionel shed and switch tower. I didn't like the stock colors so I brought out the acrylics and went to work. Added windows and floors to it in hope that some day I will put an interior with a desk and pot belly stove. Also a tool rack in the lower floor.
I wired the tower for lights, using yellow bulbs instead of white for a more subtle look.
Then I spent an afternoon making a power supply distribution for the lighting on my layout. I took 3 buck converters and added terminal strips. Each unit is set to a different voltage, 3v,4.5v, for LEDS and 9v for bulbs.
Here they are under my layout. Power is from an old AT&T Uverse 12v battery supply and backup unit. 10 to 30 3 and 4.5v LEDS are in the mill buildings, scrounged from battery operated Christmas light sets.
Odenville Bill
Luv the barrel loader. It's a favorite with the great nephews. I guess the kids like the noise and the "invisible hand" moving the barrels.
Bill T., The slab mill looks great! Just like mill buildings in Western Pennsylvania in the heyday. I have one of those little Lionel sheds that is in need of a paint job, nice work. To top it off, I like your power supply distribution for the lighting on your layout. Looks like a very neat job in the works!
@Mark Boyce posted:Bill T., The slab mill looks great! Just like mill buildings in Western Pennsylvania in the heyday. I have one of those little Lionel sheds that is in need of a paint job, nice work. To top it off, I like your power supply distribution for the lighting on your layout. Looks like a very neat job in the works!
Thank you Mark, I first started with a homemade terminal strip for 12 volts then added terminals for 3, 4.5 ,and 9 volts. I use 3 and 4.5 volt for the LEDS in the mill buildings, 9 volts for bulbs in the switch tower and 12 volts for the Seuthe smoke generator in the ore boat. I can run 19 different accessories from each terminal strip.
Hi guys, wonderful work!
Bill, the barrel loader is going to be a hit on your layout!
Jeff, I like the little wooded train also, but its ment to be a pot holder for plants! LOL at the rate the wife is going I can see down the road I am going to have to figure out how to build some more! LOL
Mark, the tower is great looking! I can see it found its proper home!
Bill T, The Steel Mill building looks outstanding! I really like how you put all your buck convertors together in the same area. Mine are all over the layout and now I am going to have to change that! LOL
Well today I got out and did a little wiring and will do a little tomorrow. But man there are a lot of gaps to fill from my previous track plan and isolation gaps! LOL Guess I have just have to bite the bullet and make it happen!
I hope everyone had a great day and fun with there layout and trains!
I made an Army Hospital tent area using a Menards piece and a Menards Jeep, plus a Woodland Scenics lighted flag pole. 
@mike g. posted:While I was working on that, a good friend I have had some of his friends moving and brought over a train that they were going to get rid of for me to have! Enjoy!
I think a motor and battery from a Little Tykes car would fit in that 0-4-0 (or 2-0-2?) Mike. The track system looks easily repeatable too.
Just sayin' 
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