Skip to main content

Hi guys, I hope your all having a great day sofar! LOL I know its still early.

JPLoco, Mark, and Dave yes I got it in writing. They are going to reprint and ship out to me and should get 2 copies buy Wednesday. They felt bad because this is what they do for a living, so not only are they reprinting, shipping for free, they also gave me a full refund!

Sitka, it may not be the best camera, but it sure is a wonderful looking layout!

Lee, D. Outstanding work on the Santa Fe trailer! Turned out looking great!

Well as for me, I got my second sheet of plywood and cut it. Set it up into  place just to check things out. Sorry no photos , but then I started the fun job of washing my used Ballast to get the glue off so I can reuse it. I still have alot of that to wash but I wanted to get the track under the second level ballasted so I can move up!

I hope everyone has a great day and finds time for your layouts and trains!

Mike G. - Your control panel made me rethink how I was going to mount the block controls. I decided to make one common panel with both yards on it. Today I cut and assembled both the control panel frame but also a 3 inch extension near the ZW. The control panel frame is hinged to move up so wiring can be accessed easier. I have not cut the plexiglass yet but I did make a rabbit in the frame to accept the plexiglass. There are a couple of cleats to support the panel when its in the down position. Thanks for all the great ideas on the forum.Extension FrameFrame coveredExtension FramePanel Frame AssembledControl Panel Frame Down PositionControl Panel Frame Hinged Up Position

Attachments

Images (5)
  • Extension Frame: Extension Frame
  • Frame covered
  • Panel Frame Assembled
  • Control Panel Frame Down Position
  • Control Panel Frame Hinged Up Position

Mike G. - Your control panel made me rethink how I was going to mount the block controls. I decided to make one common panel with both yards on it. Today I cut and assembled both the control panel frame but also a 3 inch extension near the ZW. The control panel frame is hinged to move up so wiring can be accessed easier. I have not cut the plexiglass yet but I did make a rabbit in the frame to accept the plexiglass. There are a couple of cleats to support the panel when its in the down position. Thanks for all the great ideas on the forum.Extension FrameFrame coveredExtension FramePanel Frame AssembledControl Panel Frame Down PositionControl Panel Frame Hinged Up Position

Victor, looks great I think its going to work wonderful and your going to be very happy with it when your done!

I too am like you that I love all the great ideas the you can get from the forum and how folks here are willing to help each other out!

Today is kind of booked up but if I get the time I am going to break out the little BBQ to try and put a hurry on drying my washed ballast.

I hope everyone has a great day and finds time for there layouts and some fun with there trains!

Morning guys, well yesterday I finished drying a little over 12lbs of washed used ballast and put the first coat of paint down on the area that will be under the town on the second level! Here are a couple photos.IMG_20210826_125224IMG_20210826_140029

Today I am going to work on my control panel as I got the new prints from the printer. If I have time I will do some more painting, I have to paint the side of the rails and dont want to use spray paint. So I went to the local paint store and had them match up some paint from the cap of spray paint I used before!

I hope you all have a great weekend and find time for your layout and fun with your trains!

Attachments

Images (2)
  • IMG_20210826_125224
  • IMG_20210826_140029

Made progress on the control panel over the last couple of days. I cut the 3/16" thick plexiglass using a circular saw with a new 60 tooth carbide blade. Cutting was  easy and did not chip. I test fit the plexiglass with the protective paper still on into the painted frame. There was two pieces of plexiglass left over so I used the smaller one and made a mockup to test the drilling procedure. I am using a step bit to drill 3/8" and 1/2" holes. The step bit works well without chipping.

For the panel, I applied four light coats of yellow paint as the undercoat after scuffing with 600 grit paper. After a day of drying, I masked the locations of the tracks. The layout was created in SCARM and I made a print section for the two yards. I cut the tracks out and was left with a pattern to guide the masking. This was easy and the turnouts and curved tracks were masked onto the plexiglass. The last photo shows the tracks cutout from the SCARM print over the masked panel. cut and fit plexiglass in frameIndicator light and switch mockupPanel MaskedOverlay of tracks cutout

Attachments

Images (4)
  • Panel Masked: Panel Masked
  • Overlay of tracks cutout: SCARM Tracks overlaid on masking
  • Indicator light and switch mockup: Switch and Indicator Mockup
  • cut and fit plexiglass in frame: Cut Plexiglass in frame test fit

@modeltrainsparts & @Tranquil Hollow RR, thanks for the input and ideas. But the think is most of my track is already painted Earth Brown from Rustolium. That is the color match I had done this morning, so I can try to keep things somewhat realistic. If I do nothing you will see nice and bright gold track sides.

Victor, looking great! I am glad your not having any problems with the plexiglass, I cut mine with the same blade but on the table saw. I like how your track plans are transfering over to your painted plexiglass. I just don't have the patients or skills to do all that, plus its easier for me to have someone print them up for me. I just tell the wife I cant build everything! LOL

So I too worked on my control panel today, I put down the vinal sticker track plan down, then started drilling new holes and installing toggle switches. I got 16 installed and still have 4 more to do for the upper loop. Sorry no painting today! LOLIMG_20210827_152344

Attachments

Images (1)
  • IMG_20210827_152344

F228556E-B628-4759-B550-06218A434207E7D30DD9-D8AE-401E-83D4-2305BA269781B171C36A-B4CB-4B4B-B1EA-4386A8BFEF42FE44BC7F-3D78-4834-AB66-E9C34BEBCDE7E392FA7C-D5A4-4BBA-86F5-824E3C3272D5244187C6-ABBD-4C86-B5FF-C47E6C13CDC8457DD0B4-1659-461F-81A0-06EC902D74A3FFAE13B5-AE1C-482B-A283-78FCEEB2611AFilled in the downtown Olive Hill this week along Railroad Street with the structures. Street lights went up today. Everything isn’t glued down as yet.

It’s been a long time getting to this point on the scenery.

We will begin connecting all the lighting to the accessories power loop under the layout this weekend.  Hopefully all the connections will work. Probably take me a week to complete the connections.

Attachments

Images (8)
  • F228556E-B628-4759-B550-06218A434207: East Railroad Street
  • E7D30DD9-D8AE-401E-83D4-2305BA269781: The Big House
  • B171C36A-B4CB-4B4B-B1EA-4386A8BFEF42: King Variety
  • FE44BC7F-3D78-4834-AB66-E9C34BEBCDE7: The Dixie Theatre
  • E392FA7C-D5A4-4BBA-86F5-824E3C3272D5: Western Auto
  • 244187C6-ABBD-4C86-B5FF-C47E6C13CDC8: Raybourn Hardware
  • 457DD0B4-1659-461F-81A0-06EC902D74A3: McCarty Men’s & Dailey Jewelry
  • FFAE13B5-AE1C-482B-A283-78FCEEB2611A: West Railroad Street

Mark, thank you sir. I hope to get the control panel finished today so I can move on to ballasting! LOL More fun!

Seth, outstanding Railroad Street! Sure are some wonderful looking old building, reminds me of going threw some of the older towns around my house. It always makes me wonder what it would have been like to live in those days!

Mike the community I grew in was an industrial setting and lots of employment. All that finally ended in 1970.   I can recall the smell of the steam smoke, but only the sounds of diesel.  I understand the pusher for help to the mountain top was the last steam engine on the tracks in Olive Hill.


Downtown Businesses soon began to disappear.  


I’m recreating my memory before it fades.  I will place bus station, fire dept, school, gas stations on the remaining layout areas.  I spent so much time at Monk Dunaway’s Standard Oil station my mom complained that the grease and oil wouldn’t wash outta my clothes nor my veins!

Most of the town, Dave,  are Woodlands Scenic as well as the apartment building.  Three new assembled kits but most of the structures I have purchased used via the OGR forum.  Refurbished several.

All new lights have been installed, primarily LED.

A special Thanks!

to everyone who visits town and shared a like!

Enjoy your weekend.

Victor, your panel looks great!

Seth, all I know is I really like how your layout is coming along!

Dave, if your control panel is anything like the rest of your layout, I know it's going to be outstanding!

As for me today I finished the control panel, painted the side rails, and painted the plywood for the upper level. Oh and started to ballast so I can get the upper level started. Just a few photos.IMG_20210828_151430IMG_20210828_151435IMG_20210828_151443IMG_20210828_151455IMG_20210828_155838

Attachments

Images (5)
  • IMG_20210828_151430
  • IMG_20210828_151435
  • IMG_20210828_151443
  • IMG_20210828_151455
  • IMG_20210828_155838

E170F30D-5D94-4C3C-B23B-3493420D42F7E62E023C-C3BE-4EB7-AE74-B6B0D8718168763041D9-6B34-41CF-A049-C0C09EC4D9D0FCC60838-3296-400B-8FC6-08EDCB4E4844E4E9D0BC-2910-4511-848C-1FEC400964E93E1F8E52-0A02-4054-812D-DAE913F7FD21AA78580D-5425-406F-9818-4B506C2BB8076DD10EEC-7756-4E2E-BA9D-8A661C8BDFA8Today I received this old Lionel FA shell. I need it for my Santa Fe project I’ve started for this winter. So I removed the decals and gave it a good bath/scrubbing painted it and added some Microscale Decals. I hooked it to a Consist of Lionel O27 cars and add my Santa Fe Piggyback Trailer I made last week and gave it a run around the layout. I’m getting hooked on these Lionel O27 cars.

Attachments

Images (8)
  • E170F30D-5D94-4C3C-B23B-3493420D42F7
  • E62E023C-C3BE-4EB7-AE74-B6B0D8718168
  • 763041D9-6B34-41CF-A049-C0C09EC4D9D0
  • FCC60838-3296-400B-8FC6-08EDCB4E4844
  • E4E9D0BC-2910-4511-848C-1FEC400964E9
  • 3E1F8E52-0A02-4054-812D-DAE913F7FD21
  • AA78580D-5425-406F-9818-4B506C2BB807
  • 6DD10EEC-7756-4E2E-BA9D-8A661C8BDFA8
Videos (1)
trim.D3EC94C5-7250-49F7-B4E2-F5B6C93FD8A6
Last edited by lee drennen
@Seth Thomas posted:




Most of the town, Dave,  are Woodlands Scenic as well as the apartment building.  Three new assembled kits but most of the structures I have purchased used via the OGR forum.  Refurbished several.

All new lights have been installed, primarily LED.

A special Thanks!

to everyone who visits town and shared a like!

Enjoy your weekend.

OK Seth. I didn't realize WS made an apartment building in O Scale. I will have to look it up. Everything is looking good in your town so far. Keep bringing us the progress.

Dave

Lee, neat Santa Fe project, you are really a very talented person how you do all these redo builds!

FECRailroaddog, outstanding work on the boxcar

Bob, Looks great! I hope you get some sun today so you can move ahead with your wonderful build!

Nothing not as of yet today, but I hope to get the ballast all done under where the upper level is going so I can also work on that area.

Mike, Painting the "earth" under the ballast and greenery, etc, that dark grey (Or is it light black?) is what i have been recommending for years. I tell people to look around the outside through a paper towel tube with one eye closed; the predominate color you will see is grey - EXCEPT in the southwest, of course. It looks great plus i like your new track plan.

@mike g. posted:

Victor, your panel looks great!

Seth, all I know is I really like how your layout is coming along!

Dave, if your control panel is anything like the rest of your layout, I know it's going to be outstanding!

As for me today I finished the control panel, painted the side rails, and painted the plywood for the upper level. Oh and started to ballast so I can get the upper level started. Just a few photos.IMG_20210828_151430IMG_20210828_151435IMG_20210828_151443IMG_20210828_151455IMG_20210828_155838

Mike, you're making some nice progress on the new layout...impressive!

@Seth Thomas posted:

Mike the community I grew in was an industrial setting and lots of employment. All that finally ended in 1970.   I can recall the smell of the steam smoke, but only the sounds of diesel.  I understand the pusher for help to the mountain top was the last steam engine on the tracks in Olive Hill.


Downtown Businesses soon began to disappear.  


I’m recreating my memory before it fades.  I will place bus station, fire dept, school, gas stations on the remaining layout areas.  I spent so much time at Monk Dunaway’s Standard Oil station my mom complained that the grease and oil wouldn’t wash outta my clothes nor my veins!

Most of the town, Dave,  are Woodlands Scenic as well as the apartment building.  Three new assembled kits but most of the structures I have purchased used via the OGR forum.  Refurbished several.

All new lights have been installed, primarily LED.

A special Thanks!

to everyone who visits town and shared a like!

Enjoy your weekend.

Seth, sounds like you're moving ahead at a fast pace!  Did you decide on what product you'll use for roads and highways?

Last edited by Capetrainman

My grandkids were over for a visit the last couple of days.  Ryan likes being creative with my cars - not my train cars - but vehicle cars. Apparently my placement on streets is not where they should be. Tops of roofs and bridges are much better places.

ryan with trains

And then I showed him how to operate DCS on my android pad - he was so excited ran upstairs to tell his dad about the great "new toy" on my layout.  He and his sister like to turn out the room lights and dance in the middle section of the layout. All while they had an engine running 120 scale mph, amazingly it ran really well.  I have no idea why they use the middle as a performance stage - no point in trying to figure it out - just enjoy the cacophony. 

Attachments

Images (1)
  • ryan with trains
@lee drennen posted:

Mark I think I left you out thanks for the complement on the trailer sorry

Lee, that is quite alright indeed!!  I type so many comments here, I lose track.

Losing track!  Yes, I have missed a bunch of great projects here, so I will just say, they are all great each in a different way.  I regret I have not done much on the layout.  Yesterday my wife Kim and I took a road trip to Ohio to show her Corner Field Model Railroad Museum, the fantastic work of the Elesh Family; Tom Sr, Vicki, Tom Jr, and Ashley.  I’ll not post any photographs here, but I’ll get some posted when I get them off my phone.

@ScoutingDad posted:

My grandkids were over for a visit the last couple of days.  Ryan likes being creative with my cars - not my train cars - but vehicle cars. Apparently my placement on streets is not where they should be. Tops of roofs and bridges are much better places.

ryan with trains

And then I showed him how to operate DCS on my android pad - he was so excited ran upstairs to tell his dad about the great "new toy" on my layout.  He and his sister like to turn out the room lights and dance in the middle section of the layout. All while they had an engine running 120 scale mph, amazingly it ran really well.  I have no idea why they use the middle as a performance stage - no point in trying to figure it out - just enjoy the cacophony.

Thank you for posting this, Jeff!  It is priceless!!

Add Reply

Post
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×