@WesternPacific2217 posted:Did some weathering, or rather mudding to the crane and Santa Fe truck. Nothing like that Sierra Nevada foothills red clay! Both the truck and crane are still too clean and need a little more grime on the bodies.
This will do in the mean time.
Happy Holidays.
FIRST TIME SIGHT for me Scott .🤓
Never saw work being done in the mud on a layout before.
What a learning experience this forum provides. 
I wanted to thank Dallas, Chris, Bob, Mike, John, steamfan77, for all the comments and all the other likes in regards to my mud work on the trackside repair scene with crane and truck! I got the idea from watching videos of trackside repairs such as, freight car wheel/axle replacement, knuckle replacement, truck replacement, brake jobs, etc. on real railroads, like CP, BNSF, CSX, UP. Noticing that the rail equipment, both rail car and repair equipment are pretty grungy and dirty (grease, oil, mud, rust, dirt, hydraulic fluid, etc.), and the mechanics seem to be camouflaged in the same stuff!! If you work on the railroad, it's best if you don't mind getting really dirty!
I have family that live in the Sierra Nevada foothills on the California side, and there is tons of red clay mixed in with sand and gravel. When I went up to Paradise, the town that burned down in the camp fire in 2018 to visit what was my Dad's property, I grabbed a freezer bag full of the red clay and brought it home. So some of the red clay on my layout is from that property and serves as a memory of the many times I visited Paradise and my Dad.
So I used the same bag of red clay to muddy up the crane and truck. I just used white glue and sprinkled the dirt onto it and then shook off the excess. With white glue I can always take some HOT water and remove the dirt if I so desire.
Once again, thanks, and wishing you all Happy Holidays!
Hello everyone! I was able to got some more ballast down on the track. Unfortunately, I ran out of ballast. I was almost able to finish the outermost siding. I plan on getting more after the holidays.
Outstanding details Scott! It’s details like that give a scene greater depth. Well done.
Andy
Nice going Trainmaster, a tedious process, but worth the results.
Andy
@Dallas Joseph posted:FIRST TIME SIGHT for me Scott .🤓
Never saw work being done in the mud on a layout before.
What a learning experience this forum provides.
Scott, I have to agree with Dallas, I can't recall seeing mud modeled like that before! It really looks believable!!! Yuck! 
A new floor is being installed in the train room , so when my granddaughter came by , all she could do was 
push a dummy. Her comment, "we need more track". I couldn't agree more !
@trestleking posted:A new floor is being installed in the train room , so when my granddaughter came by , all she could do was
push a dummy. Her comment, "we need more track". I couldn't agree more !
" WE NEED MORE TRACK ".........."out of the mouths of babes .".......................... Need to get busy grandpa
Merry Christmas.
Set up a backdrop.
Finished up getting my 1/2" soft foam laid and glued under my outer track, and track screwed down to my wall anchors glued down into my 2 " rigid foam. Hopefully tomorrow my body will allow me to get under the layout and start wiring my feeder wires from the track and transformer to my barrier strips. Hoping to have the one track running by Christmas for my Polar Express train.
JD Train, Looks great, whose backdrop did you purchase, or did you take the photo and DIY ? The scale of the trees looks perfect with the O scale cars.
JD the backdrop adds a lot of detail. Very nice.
Andy
@JDtrain posted:
Set up a backdrop.
That backdrop really complements your great looking scenic and rolling stock.
Nice work.
@Gary P posted:Finished up getting my 1/2" soft foam laid and glued under my outer track, and track screwed down to my wall anchors glued down into my 2 " rigid foam. Hopefully tomorrow my body will allow me to get under the layout and start wiring my feeder wires from the track and transformer to my barrier strips. Hoping to have the one track running by Christmas for my Polar Express train.
I see a lot of discussion on eveyone crawling around under layouts Gary. How do the electric companies handle power distribution in areas where there is no underground service ?
I have a decent size public park area that I wanted to put up light poles after the fact and I didn't want to start drilling a ton of holes up through the layout.
Since LED lighting doesn't need heavy wire I thought maybe puting in a substation with power and then using the small guage wire to travel along telephone poles to the individual areas that need power just like the big boys handle it.
Don't push yourself too hard Gary , you have to get through the holidays yet .
MERRY CHRISTMAS
Dallas, as far as local electric distribution from a substation, I suggest that you look at the Woodland scenic website for their substation and distribution products and observe their photos as that representation would probably work for your needs. Here’s a photo of a somewhat ‘representative’ overhead 3-phase distribution system from their site. Note 3 overhead lines and below the transformer is a neutral. For your house, you’d use one of the upper wires (a phase wire) and the lower neutral wire - the transformer reduces the voltage to your typical house level. Further, utilities would bleed off one phase (upper wire) and the neutral and run it down a street for example. Those poles would have a single phase wire on top of the pole and again the neutral below as well as a transformer. Often more than one residence would be served from the same transformer. The 3 phase would be the first supply coming out of the substation with the bleed off happening further down the line. You can probably observe something like this in your neck of the woods. Hope this helps.
That is a genius solution! Especially for "period" scenes. How many lights can that support?
When you're sent a ZW where the coil has been replaced with a ZW-R coil but the bracket hasn't been updated, so that the coils and contact rattle about in the case...
You do the best you can. 
At least the balsa and basswood shims have the coil nice and tight...
Replacement rollers are on order.
Mitch
BTW, my apologies on my explanation as it is not technically correct regarding how phases are used coming into a home. I was trying to present something that would make for rather easy wiring for the modeling application. You need two wires for your lighting and that’s what I was targeting.
Merry Christmas
@chris a posted:
JD Train, Looks great, whose backdrop did you purchase, or did you take the photo and DIY ? The scale of the trees looks perfect with the O scale cars.
Hi Chris, glad you like it. The backdrop is from Joey Ricard, Trackside Scenery. Merry Christmas. Joe
@Dallas Joseph posted:That backdrop really complements your great looking scenic and rolling stock.
Nice work.
Thank you, have a Merry Christmas. Joe
@Steamfan77 posted:JD the backdrop adds a lot of detail. Very nice.
Andy
Thank you Andy. I checked out your track plan it looks awesome. Merry Christmas, joe
I used my 497 coal loading station and made a mess !
@trestleking posted:A new floor is being installed in the train room , so when my granddaughter came by , all she could do was
Adorable granddaughter, future fashion designer maybe! But it's up to Grandpa to keep her interested in model railroading, we need more women in this hobby IMO. The fact that she thinks you need more track is encouraging! Happy Holidays!
@JDtrain posted:
That is a great scene, and the backdrop has such incredible depth to it. Really nice JDtrain!
@Bob Golfs posted:Dallas, as far as local electric distribution from a substation, I suggest that you look at the Woodland scenic website for their substation and distribution products and observe their photos as that representation would probably work for your needs. Here’s a photo of a somewhat ‘representative’ overhead 3-phase distribution system from their site. Note 3 overhead lines and below the transformer is a neutral. For your house, you’d use one of the upper wires (a phase wire) and the lower neutral wire - the transformer reduces the voltage to your typical house level. Further, utilities would bleed off one phase (upper wire) and the neutral and run it down a street for example. Those poles would have a single phase wire on top of the pole and again the neutral below as well as a transformer. Often more than one residence would be served from the same transformer. The 3 phase would be the first supply coming out of the substation with the bleed off happening further down the line. You can probably observe something like this in your neck of the woods. Hope this helps.
@Bob Golfs posted:BTW, my apologies on my explanation as it is not technically correct regarding how phases are used coming into a home. I was trying to present something that would make for rather easy wiring for the modeling application. You need two wires for your lighting and that’s what I was targeting.
Merry Christmas
WOW Bob.
Just when I was thinking that there was not much new info on wiring for lighting ( especially using LEDs ) than what has been presented on layouts already..🤔...................then along comes YOU 
opening up a new interest for me in what I can get my hands into on the layout.
@JDtrain posted:Thank you Andy. I checked out your track plan it looks awesome. Merry Christmas, joe
Thanks Joe, Merry Christmas to you as well.
Andy
Very simple: RAN SOME OF MY TRAINS
MERRY CHRISTMAS 🎄 EVERYONE !!!!
FREDSTRAINS
I built a hot roll mill building and placed it in front of the slab mill. The new one is 39X10X25 inches . Then I finished the scenery around them and placed a backdrop behind. I'm considering building a soaking pit for the slab mill and lighting it with red and orange LEDS. Looks like I need to make some signage for them.
Both mill buildings have lighting inside. Next I continued to add more scenery along the mainline to the right. Ballasted the track along the back of the scrap yard.
The signal bridge has LEDS in it and is wired to the tracks to show track occupancy.
At the Chicagoland lionel railroad club I finished the scenery around the airport. Before it was just bare wood. Jeff Mills and I redid the runway, added grass parking areas for the planes and turned a single dome tank car into a fuel depot.
Bill T.,
I really like how the steel mill structures came out. The two complement one another and I know the lighting adds another dimension. I'm about try my hand at "wiring" utility poles. Any tips to get started?
Dave
@third rail posted:I built a hot roll mill building and placed it in front of the slab mill. The new one is 39X10X25 inches . Then I finished the scenery around them and placed a backdrop behind. I'm considering building a soaking pit for the slab mill and lighting it with red and orange LEDS. Looks like I need to make some signage for them.
@Gary P posted:Finished up getting my 1/2" soft foam laid and glued under my outer track, and track screwed down to my wall anchors glued down into my 2 " rigid foam. Hopefully tomorrow my body will allow me to get under the layout and start wiring my feeder wires from the track and transformer to my barrier strips. Hoping to have the one track running by Christmas for my Polar Express train.
Gary, Please don't push yourself too hard! I can appreciate having track powered by Christmas.
@Dallas Joseph posted:I see a lot of discussion on everyone crawling around under layouts Gary. How do the electric companies handle power distribution in areas where there is no underground service ?
I have a decent size public park area that I wanted to put up light poles after the fact and I didn't want to start drilling a ton of holes up through the layout.
Since LED lighting doesn't need heavy wire I thought maybe putting in a substation with power and then using the small gauge wire to travel along telephone poles to the individual areas that need power just like the big boys handle it.
Don't push yourself too hard Gary , you have to get through the holidays yet .
MERRY CHRISTMAS
Dallas, you certainly do have an idea that could work. Having worked almost half of my 43 years of employment at electric utilities, half for telephone company, and a short time for the cable TV company, I am well familiar with overhead wire of all sorts. I can see working out a way disguise a system of pole lines to carry power for structure lighting, etc.
@Bob Golfs posted:Dallas, as far as local electric distribution from a substation, I suggest that you look at the Woodland scenic website for their substation and distribution products and observe their photos as that representation would probably work for your needs. Here’s a photo of a somewhat ‘representative’ overhead 3-phase distribution system from their site. Note 3 overhead lines and below the transformer is a neutral. For your house, you’d use one of the upper wires (a phase wire) and the lower neutral wire - the transformer reduces the voltage to your typical house level. Further, utilities would bleed off one phase (upper wire) and the neutral and run it down a street for example. Those poles would have a single phase wire on top of the pole and again the neutral below as well as a transformer. Often more than one residence would be served from the same transformer. The 3 phase would be the first supply coming out of the substation with the bleed off happening further down the line. You can probably observe something like this in your neck of the woods. Hope this helps.
Taking Bob's suggestion of Woodland Scenics system as a start, you could run a two wire system and actually electrify it. I have been struggling building an HO Walther's kit of a power substation. The small parts reminds me why I switched from HO to O a decade ago. It isn't turning out so great, but I will put it at the back of the layout next to a paper power station backdrop for a 'good enough' effect.
On to Bob's suggestion of Woodland Scenics, I purchased their O gauge built up substation. It reminds me of a few old substations I worked in back in the '70s that some of the equipment dated to the '30s and '40s. Along with it they sent their literature of their power line system Bob referred to. Substitute some real wire for their wire, and it could be done. I need to think about this some for wiring my buildings. Would it be worth it to not have to get under the layout nearly as much? Here is their substation with a sheet of foam behind it to show off the detail.
Bill, the mill buildings look great! They definitely have the right look. Nice job on the airfield at the club!!
Trestleking, your granddaughter has the right idea!!
Great work everyone, today I tried wiring up three Menards accessories and have two of the three working. Merry Christmas Everyone 
@Dallas Joseph posted:I see a lot of discussion on eveyone crawling around under layouts Gary. How do the electric companies handle power distribution in areas where there is no underground service ?
I have a decent size public park area that I wanted to put up light poles after the fact and I didn't want to start drilling a ton of holes up through the layout.
Since LED lighting doesn't need heavy wire I thought maybe puting in a substation with power and then using the small guage wire to travel along telephone poles to the individual areas that need power just like the big boys handle it.
Don't push yourself too hard Gary , you have to get through the holidays yet .
MERRY CHRISTMAS
Yes, I wish I didn't need to get under the layout but I already have all the track feeder wires holes drilled underneath the other loop and wires dropped down so going for it tomorrow and going to give it my best shot to get that one track wired up and running. I'm physically challenged with still rehabbing a left knee replacement, right leg that had Necrotizing Flastiitis (Flesh Eating Bacteria Infection) almost 6 years ago that nearly killed me, and a right hand that got cut up badly in a table saw accident in June, lost the index finger, cut the rest, and still rehabbing them too, but it hasn't stopped me from building my layout. I'm a fighter, and this has been good therapy, physically and mentally that this broken down old fart can still do some things yet. I have my good days and my bad days, but I keep pushing forward. My goal is to be able to run my Polar Express on Christmas. Hoping it happens! Merry Christmas to all and God Bless You All with a safe Christmas.
I’m proud of you working towards your goal, Gary! Keep up the good work when you are able.
@Mark Boyce posted:Gary, Please don't push yourself too hard! I can appreciate having track powered by Christmas.
Dallas, you certainly do have an idea that could work.
Taking Bob's suggestion of Woodland Scenics system as a start, you could run a two wire system and actually electrify it. I have been struggling building an HO Walther's kit of a power substation. The small parts reminds me why I switched from HO to O a decade ago. It isn't turning out so great, but I will put it at the back of the layout next to a paper power station backdrop for a 'good enough' effect.
On to Bob's suggestion of Woodland Scenics, I purchased their O gauge built up substation. It reminds me of a few old substations I worked in back in the '70s that some of the equipment dated to the '30s and '40s. Along with it they sent their literature of their power line system Bob referred to. Substitute some real wire for their wire, and it could be done. I need to think about this some for wiring my buildings. Would it be worth it to not have to get under the layout nearly as much? Here is their substation with a sheet of foam behind it to show off the detail.
I'll have to check out the substation kit Mark.
I really didn't have an idea on the size of wire that i could use for the LEDs but I had a pile of wired grain of wheat type bulbs that I had used for marker lights on some MTH /RKs . The wires were pretty much like sewing thread. I'll have to investigate this further.
For now Mark.........have a MERRY CHRISTMAS.
@luvindemtrains posted:Bill T.,
I really like how the steel mill structures came out. The two complement one another and I know the lighting adds another dimension. I'm about try my hand at "wiring" utility poles. Any tips to get started?
Dave
Thanks Dave,
I used a 0.5mm drill bit in a pin vice. The utility poles are Lionel, they have a flat side on the insulators which is useful for steadying the drill bit. Predrilled all the holes in the insulators and strung 10 lb fishing line through them all before placing them on the layout. As they were placed, I tighten the line and added a drop of CA glue. Sounds easier than it was took a whole afternoon to place 12 poles on the layout and get the wires taught enough.
@third rail posted:Thanks Dave,
I used a 0.5mm drill bit in a pin vice. The utility poles are Lionel, they have a flat side on the insulators which is useful for steadying the drill bit. Predrilled all the holes in the insulators and strung 10 lb fishing line through them all before placing them on the layout. As they were placed, I tighten the line and added a drop of CA glue. Sounds easier than it was took a whole afternoon to place 12 poles on the layout and get the wires taught enough.
That’s an excellent solution to the task at hand, Bill! Having mentioned last night that I worked for utility companies, I have noticed the difference in wire/cable sag on different services. The lines the railroads used are pretty taunt, and yours look great. At the other extreme are power lines that have a certain amount of sag that expands and contracts with air temperature. Modeled power lines need that sag for them to look right for me. I certainly don’t know how to model that, but that is way down the road for me anyway.
@Gary P posted:Yes, I wish I didn't need to get under the layout but I already have all the track feeder wires holes drilled underneath the other loop and wires dropped down so going for it tomorrow and going to give it my best shot to get that one track wired up and running. I'm physically challenged with still rehabbing a left knee replacement, right leg that had Necrotizing Flastiitis (Flesh Eating Bacteria Infection) almost 6 years ago that nearly killed me, and a right hand that got cut up badly in a table saw accident in June, lost the index finger, cut the rest, and still rehabbing them too, but it hasn't stopped me from building my layout. I'm a fighter, and this has been good therapy, physically and mentally that this broken down old fart can still do some things yet. I have my good days and my bad days, but I keep pushing forward. My goal is to be able to run my Polar Express on Christmas. Hoping it happens! Merry Christmas to all and God Bless You All with a safe Christmas.
Power on Gary! We are rooting for you. Any one of your issues probably would stop lesser men!
@Dallas Joseph posted:I'll have to check out the substation kit Mark.
I really didn't have an idea on the size of wire that i could use for the LEDs but I had a pile of wired grain of wheat type bulbs that I had used for marker lights on some MTH /RKs . The wires were pretty much like sewing thread. I'll have to investigate this further.
For now Mark.........have a MERRY CHRISTMAS.
Your biggest issue may be to get the wire to droop properly to look realistic. I would recommend trying a few different types before you go to the layout.
Gary P...keep fighting, you are an inspiration to all us old folks (77 myself) to keep on keepin on! Best wishes for the Holiday, hope you get that track running, but if not...there is always the new year! OBTW...I use an automotive "creeper" to slide under my layout, its on wheels and has a rest for my head, makes things a little easier.
Best wishes
Don
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