What did you do on your layout today?

@chris a posted:

Mark,  Another congratulations on reaching that major milepost marker !   

Bob,  Great write up on the K Line S-2.   That is a really sharp looking paint scheme on that engine.

Jay Francis:  Thanks for your comments and kind words.  No guarantees on that article in the near future, but if you have some specific questions, send me an email and I'll be happy to share what I learned.

I have had two great days here.   My ZW-C set up has had a "gremlin" for quite a while, dropping power intermittently, 99% of the time on Power District 4,  (Track 4), and every once in a blue moon on Track 3, also.  Anyway, a week ago, I purchased the entire ZW-C set up that BlueLine was selling here on the forum, for the NJ Hi-Railers, and after some trouble shooting yesterday, changing out 180 Watt Bricks, one at a time, to no avail, I went ahead and pulled the main ZW controller out and put in the replacement.  Everything is running perfectly.  Words don't describe how happy I am about this, I was dreading the possibility that some how, some where I had made a wiring error that was causing the intermittent issues.   

Today we had another one of those 60 degree days here south of Boston 9 days before Christmas ????  So out came all the supplies:  Made 10 large "puff ball trees" which will become 20 once I slit them in 1/2, clear coated 8 large Sage Brush Trees that I brought back from Arizona when I was there with my sister back in September.  I plan to use two of these large Sage Brush tree armatures in the transition area shown below.   Finally came up with a plan to create a "scenic transition" that was required before I could go much further with finalizing the large back drop buildings behind the Union Station.  Then to top it off I took out the 3M Super 77 Spray Adhesive, and mounted the very last flat to it's 1 inch backing and bricked up 4 small side walls (on the back drop buildings), so I don't have to look at the pink insulation.   

Glad you found your power issues Chris. Sounds like your old ZW-C needs to be serviced. The flats and trees are looking good.

@Jim Van Every posted:

Finally getting the newest addition placed

Nice model Jim.

Chris-Every time you add to this scene it draws me in more and more.

Jim Van Every-I really like what you did with the ITLA building. I configured the building differently to use as a flat but was very tempted to created a full building. Looking good!

Dave

Benchwork and track work is done. Time for some wiring!

Mark, Congratulations on your milestone!
Bob, your electronic know how and willingness to roll up your sleeves is impressive! Well done.
Chris, outstanding additions as always. I’m taking notes.

Jim, nice addition, the building looks great.

Andy

The bridge has been primed and will be ready for paint in a day or two. I want to make sure it is completely dry.

Andy

Last 3 days…

Thanks for the comments and likes on my MP-15. To close the loop...... I now have a fully functioning MP-15 to add to the fleet. Nice to check one more project off the list.

Yes- I have color coded shrink wrap......

With the extra boards gone, I can add some weight.

@RSJB18 posted:

Thanks for the comments and likes on my MP-15. To close the loop...... I now have a fully functioning MP-15 to add to the fleet. Nice to check one more project off the list.

Yes- I have color coded shrink wrap......

With the extra boards gone, I can add some weight.

Bob, I always love your posts about updating, upgrading, and repairing locos, this one is a beautiful locomotive. It's definitely special, and runs great too! Congrats on a successful repair, you must be very pleased!

@WesternPacific2217 posted:

Bob, I always love your posts about updating, upgrading, and repairing locos, this one is a beautiful locomotive. It's definitely special, and runs great too! Congrats on a successful repair, you must be very pleased!

Thanks Scott.

I'm starting to realize that the building and fixing are a lot of fun.

Bob

Excellent work Bob! Runs great.

Andy

Afternoon guys I hope your all having a great day!

@chris a, nice work on the electrical problem! The trees look great! I am starting to think there is nothing you can't do!
@Jim Van Every The tool and die Co. looks perfect! Nice work!

@NSRailfan100, looks like you have a good start! I will be fallowing along to see how things go!

@Steamfan77, Andy wonderful work on your bridge! Your work looks outstanding!

@Jim M Sr, Very Impressive!

@RSJB18, Bob your work looks nice and neat, unlike mine! LOL Even better yet it runs nice and smooth!

Well guys I was able to get out to the train room this morning and finished wiring up all my building that I have on the layout. I have one truck where the headlights are not working, but that's another project for down the road. I also got started on my siding power switch panel. Here is a short video and a photo of my un neat wiring! LOL

@mike g. posted:

Afternoon guys I hope your all having a great day!

@chris a, nice work on the electrical problem! The trees look great! I am starting to think there is nothing you can't do!
@Jim Van Every The tool and die Co. looks perfect! Nice work!

@NSRailfan100, looks like you have a good start! I will be fallowing along to see how things go!

@Steamfan77, Andy wonderful work on your bridge! Your work looks outstanding!

@Jim M Sr, Very Impressive!

@RSJB18, Bob your work looks nice and neat, unlike mine! LOL Even better yet it runs nice and smooth!

Well guys I was able to get out to the train room this morning and finished wiring up all my building that I have on the layout. I have one truck where the headlights are not working, but that's another project for down the road. I also got started on my siding power switch panel. Here is a short video and a photo of my un neat wiring! LOL

Wow Mike that's great. If you turned out the lights you could probably still see. The airport is stunning!

@Dave Ripp. posted:

Wow Mike that's great. If you turned out the lights you could probably still see. The airport is stunning!

Thanks Dave, all the light in the room were off. The only light in the train room are from the buildings on the layout. I even have curtains over the windows.

@mike g. posted:

Afternoon guys I hope your all having a great day

Great looking runway! Thanks for posting the video!

@mike g. posted:

Thanks Dave, all the light in the room were off. The only light in the train room are from the buildings on the layout. I even have curtains over the windows.

Holy cow Mike! Those LED's are really bright.

My son's and I painted the roads and my older son painted the racetrack on our latest 4x4 extension. That track was the reason my wife gave the ok to expanding the train table, she can't say no to her son!

Kazar I powered the doors with tortoise  switch machines .here is some pics.

@luvindemtrains posted:

Chris-Every time you add to this scene it draws me in more and more.

Jim Van Every-I really like what you did with the ITLA building. I configured the building differently to use as a flat but was very tempted to created a full building. Looking good!

Dave

Thank you, still have the fence, tank, etc to finish. I like their kit.

Great job on the lights Mike! Lots of visual interest.

FarmerJohn. Very cool all around.

Andy

Mike G:  Thanks for sharing the video.  Layout looks outstanding at "night", and I know night shots with cameras and video never do justice to how good it looks in person. 

Farmerjohn:  Thanks for posting those photos of the Tortoise and the mechanisms for the roundhouse doors.  Had to take a few minutes and study the photos to see how the lever-arms are rotating the doors on the hinge axis.  Very ingenious use of the high quality, high torque Tortoise machines. 

Finally able to piece together a complete, all original, postwar Lionel #6828 Mobile Crane Car in dark yellow.....not an easy task.

Mike, the layout looks great!  You did a great job getting all the lights in!

John, thank you for posting how you got the enginehouse doors to open remotely.  Very ingenious!

@mike g.- good thing you have that Nuke plant in the corner. They must be working OT to provide enough juice. The layout is really coming along.

@ArtsModelTrains - The expansion looks good. You have a good helper too. Nice work on the painting.

@farmerjohn - that's an ingenious solution. I hope you were able to build most of it on the bench and not have to work upside down under the layout. Are you using the aux contacts to power the tracks in each stall when the doors are open?

@gandydancer1950- congrats on the car. I would imagine that one is hard to find. I'm sure the cranes were often separated from cars too.

@Mark Boyce- I like the new avatar photo Mark.

I plan on getting my PE Berk running under the tree today. We didn't even put the trains out last year so I've got to clean two year old crud off the fastrack first.

Bob

@RSJB18 posted:

@Mark Boyce- I like the new avatar photo Mark.

I plan on getting my PE Berk running under the tree today. We didn't even put the trains out last year so I've got to clean two year old crud off the fastrack first.

Bob

Bob, Thank you!  The old one was over 7 years old, so I thought it was past time for a change.  The old one was taken at work in the summer of 2014, and the new one depicts the retiree in the easy chair. 

I'll look forward to seeing the PE under the tree.  That reminds me, I didn't post what I have under the tree.  I'll get to that after church.

Well I am moving to the dark side.  Could not help myself with picking this up from Legacy Station. An old K-Line F3 A--B--A with TMCC. Took me forever to find the Run/Program switch. The TMCC control box arrives today and the TIU cable tomorrow.  Then its on to wiring it into my DCS. For now its on to making a new space for the Z4000 transformer opening up a narrow space on the layout for more something?  Eventually the front coupler goes away with a filler insert, added MU hoses and classification lights marker lamps. We'll see how that goes.

Jeff, the F3 looks sharp.  I gust got my 3 TMCC engines working with my DCS remote last week.  They all run great!

I just received the 1/50 scale toy crane I ordered and put it in a scene for track side railroad maintenance. Last night I rusted up an old Menards truck and truck pieces in the bed of the Santa Fe truck. Temporarily I used rubber bands to lift the truck, looking for some chain online today. The crane and Santa Fe truck need some weathering and road grime, plus dirt on the tires and treads.

Happy Holidays!

@Sean007 posted:

Great looking runway! Thanks for posting the video!

Sean, here is a better video of the runway!

Afternoon guys, thanks for all the nice words! I was able to get out to the train room today, but more on that later.

@ArtsModelTrains, You and your sons did a great job on painting the roads and race track!

@farmerjohn, what a great idea using the tortoise switch machines! Really is an outstanding project!

@gandydancer1950, Wonderful looking crane car!

@ScoutingDad, Jeff nice looking F3 I hope you have fun in the dark side! LOL

@WesternPacific2217, The new crane looks perfect! You can always check at Walmart for the chain, that's where I found it to tie down my tanks on my flat cars!

Well guys I was able to get my siding power switch panel wired in today and most of the sidings wired up to it. The #5 and #10 switches work fine but the led's are burnt out because I didn't ask for help before I burnt the Led's up! LOL oh well I know they work! I have 3 more sidings to wire in, but I ran out of wire! LOL

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and found time to have fun with your layout and trains!

@mike g. posted:

Sean, here is a better video of the runway!

That is amazing!!

@mike g. posted:

Sean, here is a better video of the runway!

OK, I'm a believer!!!!!! Nice work, Mike!!!

George

@Steamfan77 posted:

The bridge has been primed and will be ready for paint in a day or two. I want to make sure it is completely dry.

Andy

@Steamfan77

Andy:

Your work is true artistry. Bravo!

Thank you for the kind words Randy.

Andy

@farmerjohn posted:

Kazar I powered the doors with tortoise  switch machines .here is some pics.

@farmerjohn

John:

Your solution to the doors opening/closing is brilliant. Do you have a background in engineering?

My Christmas layout

I also got the trains set up under the tree yesterday.

With a little help from a friend....

Obviously your MOW “Forecat”. Merry Christmas, looks like a classic scene.

I'm using Fastrack on my layout. 2 inch rigid foam on top of 1/2 inch plywood. Layed out my track, traced the edges onto the foam, drilled down through the screw holes on the track, glued in plastic wall anchors, had a bunch of 1/2 inch thick soft foam I cut into 3-3/4 strips to put under straights and cut the foam into 2 inch widths to put side by side on curves. Gluing the edges of the soft foam to the rigid foam to hold in place and screw the track down with #6 1-5/8 multi purpose screws. Should definitely help cut the sound generated by trains running over the Fastrack, got about 2/3rds of the outer loop done. Get that finished then get underneath and get all the track feeder wires, buss wires, and barrier strips mounted and wired up so I have one track running, then start doing the inner loop of track, soldering jumper wires between pieces of Fastrack and feeder wires every 6 pieces of Fastrack.

Small repair project grew in scope !!!   Wanted to get my last (6th) 3rd Rail Brass 12-1 Heavyweight Pullman Sleeper on the tracks.  It needed Kadees installed and then I realized most of the windows had come out and were loose inside the compartment.   Well ended up realizing the incandescent lighting circuit heat sink was running extremely HOT, couldn't touch it.  So new LED lights, added 2 more, decided to paint the 12 compartment seating area, floors and seats and add 8 more passengers to the 6 that were there.  Also realized the seating in this area didn't line up correctly with the paired windows, so I drilled and tapped new holes and moved the whole assembly 3/8 of an inch.  While I was in there, decided to decorate the sleeping compartment and draw room.  It's not prototypical, but it's better than nothing.  Installed clear glass windows instead of the frosted ones in these 2 rooms.   I can't stand the obnoxious Yellow/Green color they painted the inside of these cars, so I am covering it with textured heavyweight card stock that I picked up at Joanne Fabrics.  Figured before I get too much further along, I should shoot some "in progress" photos.   Hope to wrap this up today and get it re-assembled and back on the tracks.  I was contemplating painting the inside of the car, but I would have had to paint it before putting in the window glass, and I was concerned about any paint bleeding through and showing up on the edges of the window openings from the outside of the car...   Didn't want to deal with that, so cutting up the cardstock and gluing it in place in the main passenger compartment after the glass was installed was a "safer alternative". 

Very nice Chris.